UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

 

[x]           ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended October 31, 20162018

or

[ ]            TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from ___________ to ___________

Commission file number:  0-11254

ITUS CORPORATIONANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware

 

11-2622630

(State (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

12100 Wilshire Boulevard,3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 1275250

San Jose, CA 95118

Los Angeles, CA 90025

(310) 484-5200(408) 708-9808

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

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

Title of Each Class:

Common Stock, $.01 par value

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered:

The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

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

None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes [_]  No [x]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.                          Yes [_]  No [x]

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).  Yes [x]  No [_]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  [  ]

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

                Large accelerated filer [__]                                      Accelerated filer  [__]

                Non-accelerated filer  [__] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)[x]                                         Smaller reporting company  [x]

                Emerging growth company [__]

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [__]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes [_]  No [x]

Aggregate market value of the voting stock (which consists solely of shares of common stock) held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of April 30, 20162018 (the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter), computed by reference to the closing sale price of the registrant’s common stock on the NASDAQ on such date ($2.82)3.73): $21,608,013$56,459,801

On November 30, 2016January 9, 2019,the registrant had outstanding 8,752,387 19,292,264 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, which is the registrant’s only class of common stock.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

NONE



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PageTABLE OF CONTENTS

PART IPage

PARTI

Item 1.

Business

2

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

813

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments.Comments

2134

Item 2.

Properties

2134

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

2134

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

2135

PART II

 

PART II

Item 5.

Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

2135

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data.Data

2236

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.Operations

2236

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

2941

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

2941

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

2941

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

2941

Item 9B.

Other Information

3042

PART III

PART III

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

3042

Item 11.

Executive Compensation.Compensation

3649

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

4355

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

4659

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services.Services

4759

PART IV

PART IV

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

4760

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Table of Contents

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING

STATEMENTS

 

Information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Report”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).  Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical facts, but rather reflect our current expectations concerning future events and results.  We generally use the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “likely,” “will” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements.  Such forward-looking statements, including those concerning our expectations, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth in this Report under “Item 1A. – Risk Factors” below.  Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  You are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented in this Report.

 

CERTAIN TERMS USED IN THIS REPORT

 

References in this Report to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “ITUS”“Anixa” means ITUS CorporationAnixa Biosciences, Inc. unless otherwise indicated. 

 

 

PART I

Item 1.       Business.  

Overview

 

We were incorporated on November 5, 1982 under the laws of the State of Delaware.  Effective October 1, 2018, the Company changed its name from ITUS Corporation to Anixa Biosciences, Inc.  From inception through October 2012, our primary operations involved the development of patented technologies in the areas of thin-film displays and encryption.  Beginning inFrom October of 2012 underthrough June 2015 the leadershipprimary operations of a new management team, we recapitalized the Company unencumberedinvolved the Company’s assets, changeddevelopment, acquisition, licensing, and enforcement of patented technologies that were either owned or controlled by the Company’s name and ticker symbol, relocated the Company’s headquarters, and modernized its systems. In July of 2015, the Company’s stock was accepted for listing and began trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market.Company. 

 

In June of 2015, the Company announced the formation of a new subsidiary, Anixa Diagnostics Corporation (“Anixa”Anixa Diagnostics”), to develop Cchek™ a platform for non-invasive blood tests for the early detection of cancer.  That platform is called CchekÔ In July of 2015, ITUSthe Company announced a collaborative research agreement with The Wistar Institute (“Wistar”), the nation’s first independent biomedical research institute and a leading National Cancer Institute designated cancer research center, for the purpose of validating ourproprietary cancer detection methodologies and establishing protocols for identifying certain biomarkers in the blood which we identified and which are known to be associated with malignancies. In August of 2016 ITUS announced the renewal and expansion of our relationship with Wistar.

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In October of 2015, ITUS and Wistar announced favorable results from initial testing of a small group of Breast Cancer patients and healthy controls. One hundred percent (100%) of the blood samples tested from patients with varying stages of breast cancer showed the presence of the biomarkers we identified, and none of the healthy patient blood samples contained the biomarkers. Breast Cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States and throughout the world.

In April of 2016, ITUS announced that we hadWe have demonstrated the efficacy of our CchekÔCchek™ early cancer detection platform with Lung Cancer.  Lung20 different types of cancer, including:  breast, lung, colon, melanoma, ovarian, liver, thyroid, pancreatic, appendiceal, uterine, osteosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, vulvar, prostate, bladder, cervical, head and neck, gastric and testicular cancers.  Breast, lung, colon and prostate cancers represent the four largest categories of cancer worldwide.

Based on a number of factors, including key scientific, clinical, and commercial considerations, the initial commercial focus for Cchek™ will be on a prostate cancer confirmatory test. 

In November 2017, the Company announced the formation of a new subsidiary, Certainty Therapeutics, Inc. (“Certainty”), to develop immuno-therapy drugs against cancer.  Certainty entered into a license agreement with Wistar pursuant to which Certainty was granted an exclusive worldwide, royalty-bearing license to use certain intellectual property owned or controlled by Wistar relating to Wistar’s chimeric endocrine receptor targeted therapy technology (such technology being akin to chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (“CAR-T”) technology).  We have initially focused on the development of a treatment for ovarian cancer, but we also may pursue future applications of the technology for the development of treatments for additional solid tumors.  The license agreement requires Certainty to make certain cash and equity payments to Wistar.  With respect to Certainty’s equity obligations to Wistar, Certainty issued to Wistar shares of its common stock equal to five percent (5%) of the common stock of Certainty.

Following the formation of Certainty and the license agreement with Wistar, Certainty entered into a collaboration agreement with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc. (“Moffitt”) to advance toward human clinical testing the CAR-T technology licensed by Certainty from Wistar aimed initially at treating ovarian cancer.  Certainty is working with researchers at Moffitt to complete studies necessary to submit an Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application with the leading causeU.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”).

Over the next several quarters, we expect Cchek™ and Certainty’s ovarian cancer treatment to be the primary focus of death among cancersthe Company.  As part of our legacy operations, the Company remains engaged in limited patent licensing activities in the U.S. and throughoutarea of encrypted audio/video conference calling.  We do not expect these activities to be a significant part of the world, accounting for approximately 27%Company’s ongoing operations nor do we expect these activities to require material financial resources or attention of all cancer related deaths insenior management.

Over the U.S. and 19% worldwide. In September of 2016, ITUS announced that we had demonstrated the efficacy ofpast several quarters, our CchekÔ early cancer detection platform with Colon Cancer. Colon Cancer is the third most common cancer in menrevenue was derived from technology licensing and the second most common cancer in woman worldwide, with approximately 1.4 million new cases diagnosed each year,sale of patented technologies, including revenue from the settlement of litigation.  In addition to Anixa Diagnostics and approximately 700,000 deaths. At the end of September 2016 through the end of October 2016,Certainty, the Company made similar announcements with respectmay make investments in and form new companies to the efficacydevelop additional emerging technologies.

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Table of our CchekÔ early cancer detection platform for Melanoma, Ovarian Cancer, Liver Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, and Pancreatic Cancer. On November 15, 2016, ITUS announced that we had demonstrated the efficacy of our CchekÔ early cancer detection platform with six additional cancer types including Appendiceal Cancer (cancer of the appendix), Uterine Cancer, Osteosarcoma (cancer of the bone), Leiomyosarcoma (cancer of the soft tissue), Liposarcoma (cancer of the connective tissue), and Vulvar Cancer (cancer of the vulva), bringing the number of cancer types for which the efficacy of CchekÔ has been validated thus far to fourteen.Contents

Cchek™

Our CchekÔ Cchek™ cancer detection platform measures a patient's immune response to a malignancy by detecting the presence, absence, and quantity of certain immune cells that exist in and around a tumor and that entercan be found in the blood stream.  These types of cells and the tumor micro-environment have been the focus of recent ground breaking published and reported research in immuno-oncology, enabling the development of revolutionary immunotherapies used for treating certain cancer types.  Instead of seeking to alter or boost the body's immune system and its ability to destroy cancer cells, as is the case with immunotherapy drugs, weWe have developed proprietary techniques and protocols for measuring the subtle immunological changes that occur in the blood stream during tumor development.  Specifically, we seek to identify a subset of myeloid cells that we believe are diagnostic.  These cells, often referred to as Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs)(“MDSCs”), are identified by specific surface proteins enabling characterization.  We generally refer to MDSC’sMDSCs and other cells of the immune system which we believe can be diagnostic in nature as biomarkers.  Through our proprietary protocols, we have had early success and have demonstrated accuracy in detecting these biomarkers in the peripheral blood of biopsy verified cancer patients, and in distinguishing the blood of healthy patients from the blood of cancer patients.  We utilize Artificial Intelligence (“AI”), specifically a Neural Network (“NN”) to analyze our data and to determine the presence of a tumor.  We believe that a NN is better able to identify subtle changes in immune response than other analytical approaches.  The distinguishing feature of a NN is that it can be trained to answer the key biological questions of interest, in our case whether or not the patient is tumor-bearing, and as it is trained with more data, its ability to answer these questions may improve.  Our goal is to establish Cchek™ as a non-invasive, inexpensive, cancer diagnostic blood test that can reduce or eliminate the need for traditionally expensive, invasive, painful, and often inaccurate cancer diagnostic procedures which are currently in use.

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In each instance where ITUSthe Company has demonstrated the efficacy of its cancer detection platform, fresh (utilized within 48 hours) blood samples from biopsy verified cancer patients have been tested at Wistar using a variety of experimental methodologies and protocols.  Such un-blinded, non-uniform testing is common during the initial development stage of new technologies and diagnostic tests.  Blood samples from patients with differing severities of cancers (with some cancers such as Breast Cancer stage 0I to stage 4)IV) have been tested, including samples from both pre-treatment and post-treatment patients.  In addition, Wistar has also tested blood from healthy donors.  A critical aspect of any cancer diagnostic is the ability to accurately distinguish patients with cancer from healthy patients.  Based upon our encouraging early results, our scientists are working with Wistar to finalizerefine protocols and methodologies for identifying and classifying the immunologic biomarkers that are the foundation for our CchekÔ Cchek™ early cancer detection platform.  Although our scientists, working in collaboration with Wistar, will continue to improve our processes and methodologies to achieve maximum performance, we expect our testing to become more uniform over time, and to eventually test patient samples in a double blinded manner.  While studies comparing biopsy verified cancer patients have been compared to healthy donors, we have not yet evaluatedonly recently begun evaluating benign conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, non-malignant neoplasias, systemic inflammatory conditions, infections, and other potential conditions that impact or may impact the immune system.  Such testing will be necessary for regulatory approval.

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Based upon and following the results of the more extensive clinical study,studies, as well as discussions with the FDA, we will determine what further studies are necessary and whether and when to begin the process of seeking regulatory approval for a cancer screening test or confirmatory diagnostic test based upon our CchekÔ Cchek™ technology.  One manner of seeking regulatory approval is to have a lab certified to run our cancer tests pursuant to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1967 and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1988 (“CLIA”(collectively, “CLIA”).  Among other things, CLIA requires clinical laboratories that perform diagnostic testing to be certified by the state in which the lab is located, as well as the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  If we seek regulatory approval pursuant to CLIA, only those laboratories that are certified under CLIA to run our diagnostic test would be able to process test samples.  CLIA certification may or may not require additional studies.  We could seek to establish our own CLIA certified laboratory to run the diagnostic tests, or we could potentially contract with an existing CLIA certified lab and seek to have that laboratory certified to run our diagnostic test.

 

Another manner of obtaining regulatory approval would be to seek to have Cchek™ approved by The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)the FDA pursuant to what are commonly referred to as either the 510(K) process, or the Premarket Application (“PMA”) process.  The appropriate pathway for FDA approval would depend upon a variety of factors, including the intended use of the test, and the risks associated with such use.  FDA approval can take several years and would entail additional clinical studies.

 

TheOur decision ofas to whether and when to seek CLIA certification or FDA approval of a diagnostic test or tests utilizing our CchekÔ Cchek™ technology will be dependent on a variety of factors, including the results from more extensive clinical studies, the capital requirements of each approval process, the landscape for competitive diagnostic testing, and the time and resources required by each approval process.  It is possible that we may seek to have one or more diagnostic tests approved via CLIA certification, and other diagnostic test or tests approved by the FDA, or that we may seek simultaneous FDA approval and CLIA certification of a particular diagnostic test or tests.

 

4


TableWhile we believe our Cchek™ platform could eventually form the basis of Contentsa pan-cancer (all cancer) test, for our first commercial focus we will seek to launch a confirmatory test for prostate cancer.  We feel such an approach will enable faster clinical and regulatory approval.  

 

Over the next several quarters, we expect Cchek™The decision to be the primaryinitially focus on prostate cancer incorporated a number of the Company. As partfactors, including key scientific, clinical, and commercial considerations.  Our recent studies with prostate cancer have demonstrated excellent sensitivity and specificity—over 90% in a blinded study.  The current standard screening method for prostate cancer, Prostate Specific Antigen (“PSA”) testing, results in large numbers of our legacy operations, the Company remains engagedfalse results, resulting in limited patent licensing activities in the areahigh numbers of encrypted audio/video conference calling. We do not expect these activities to benegative biopsies, and therefore presenting a significant part of the Company’s ongoing operations.

Over the past several quarters, our revenue has been derived from technology licensing and the sale of patented technologies, including in connectiontremendous opportunity for a confirmatory test with the settlement of litigation. In addition to Anixa, the Company may make investments in and form new companies to develop additional emerging technologies.high accuracy. 

 

Preliminary Biomarker ResultsStudies

 

On December 7, 2016 we announced the preliminary results from our CchekÔ Cchek™ cancer patient efficacy study.  Using our most recent protocols and methods for measuring a patients’ immunological response to a malignancy, the Company achieved Sensitivitysensitivity of 92% and Specificityspecificity of 92% for 88 patient samples, including 54 samples from patients with multiple types and severities of cancer, and 34 healthy patients.  During the initial phase of the study, which involved multiple experimental protocols and techniques for measuring immunological responses, the Company reviewed and analyzed data from a total of 315 patient samples, including 228 patients with varying stages of cancer, as well as blood samples from 87 healthy donors.

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Patient samples representing 14 different types of cancer including Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Colon Cancer, Melanoma, Ovarian Cancer, Liver Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Appendiceal Cancer (cancer of the appendix), Uterine Cancer, Osteosarcomabreast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer, appendiceal cancer, uterine cancer, osteosarcoma (cancer of the bone), Leiomyosarcomaleiomyosarcoma (cancer of the soft tissue), Liposarcomaliposarcoma (cancer of the connective tissue), and Vulvar Cancer (cancer of the Vulva)vulvar cancer were included in the study.  The study included samples from patients with early and late stage, biopsy-verified, drug-naïve (before therapy) tumors, as well as biopsy-verified, refractory (unresponsive to attempted chemotherapy) tumors.

 

Sensitivity and specificity are scientific measurements commonly used to determine the accuracy of a diagnostic test, where sensitivity measures how good a test is at identifying people with a particular disease, and specificity measures how good a test is at identifying people without the disease.  Although published results vary widely, established diagnostic tests such as Low Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT), which is used by other companies to screen for Lung Cancer,lung cancer, has sensitivity of approximately 93% and specificity of approximately 73%, the Prostate Specific Antigen (“PSA”)PSA test, which is used by other companies to screen for prostate cancer, has sensitivity of approximately 21% and specificity of approximately 91%, and Mammography, used by other companies to screen for breast cancer and considered to be the “gold standard” for breast cancer screening, has reported sensitivity as low as approximately 68% and specificity as low as approximately 75%.  As these results indicate, current diagnostic testing is hampered by low sensitivity, low specificity or both, meaning that the tests miss a substantial portion of the cancers they are supposed to detect, or miss-diagnose a large number of healthy patients as having cancer.  There is currently no inexpensive, non-invasive, diagnostic test that excels in both sensitivity and specificity.  Our preliminary results, while extremely promising, will have to be confirmed in blinded clinical studies of sufficient size before we can seek marketing approval for CchekÔ from the FDA. 

 

Initial samples in our study were tested utilizing immunostaining and fluorescent microscopic imaging.  While results were promising, subjectivity in interpreting the imaging results together with labor intensive and time consuming sample processing hampered the commercial viability of this approach.  Subsequently, patient samples were analyzed using flow cytometry, enabling more efficient processing and analysis.  In addition, ITUS is developing athe Company implemented its proprietary NN software application using a proprietary neural network,for analysis, which currently relies on up to 13multiple quantitative parameters to analyze test results.  This approach, which is highly data intensive and requires substantial computer processing power to develop, results in a test which can be performed using a desktop computer.  An initial version of our neural network,NN, which was trained to distinguish between the immunological responses from cancer patients and healthy patients, was responsible for the sensitivity and specificity results reported above.  The Company expects to continue to improve its protocols, continue to upgrade its neural network-softwareNN software by increasing the number of patient samples used to train the software and expanding the range of markers, increasing the data resolution, and enhancing the architecture of the software, which may enable better results.

 

In a study released in January 2018, augmenting data from our preliminary study, we reported a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 95%.  All cancer patients were biopsy-verified with all clinical stages (I to IV) included.  The total number of patients in this study was 163, which included 81 cancer patients and 82 healthy donors.  The majority of patient samples collected for this study were from breast cancer and prostate cancer patients, but several other types were also included, bringing the total number of cancer types where we have successfully used Cchek™ to 20.

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In an additional study released in March 2018, we announced the results of a prostate cancer study with Serametrix Corporation (“Serametrix”) in which data from a previous collaboration between Serametrix and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (“MSK”) was re-evaluated using our Cchek™ technology.  Previously, Serametrix analyzed a number of metastatic prostate cancer and normal healthy blood samples using an MSK proprietary assay and algorithm for cancer detection.  Following this, a blinded re-analysis of the data was performed by Anixa Diagnostics, using Cchek™.  This study achieved 92% sensitivity and 92% specificity using 121 prostate cancer and 125 healthy donor samples.

In October 2018, at the 30th Anniversary AACR Special Conference – Convergence: Artificial Intelligence, we presented data demonstrating the ability of Cchek™ to distinguish, among patients scheduled for biopsy, those who had high risk prostate cancer and those who had benign conditions or low grade cancer, for whom surgery is not required and a biopsy is unnecessary.  The Cchek™ data showed the ability to distinguish healthy males from high risk prostate cancer patients with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 100%.  This study further demonstrated the potential for Cchek™ to reduce the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies by up to 56%, while still retaining 89% sensitivity for detecting prostate cancers.

In November 2018, we released the results of our first study demonstrating the ability of Cchek™ to identify the presence of early stage breast cancer.  Our Cchek™ technology demonstrated a sensitivity of 89% when detecting early stage breast cancer (Stage I or II) and a specificity of 95% when used to test blinded samples.  Furthermore, Cchek™ was also able to detect the early stages of breast cancer (Stage 0) in subjects with biopsy-confirmed ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a type of pre-cancerous/non-invasive breast lesion that often leads to invasive breast cancer, with 72% sensitivity. 

Related to our collaborative research agreement, the Company and/or Wistar currently have or have had collaborations with doctors from University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center, The Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute at Christiana Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, Virtua Healthcare System in southern New Jersey, New Jersey Urology, the largest urology practice in the country, and Virtua Health SystemMD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper Hospital in southern New Jersey.  In most cases, patients from participating doctors at these healthcare institutions who are beginning or in some cases, continuing cancer treatment are asked to consent to have an additional tube of blood drawn for the purpose of participating in the CchekÔ patientsCchek™ patient efficacy trials.  Because the number of cancer patients treated by these hospitals varies over time, and the decision whether to participate in the CchekÔ Cchek™ patient studies is ultimately at the discretion of the patient, it is difficult to predict the number of patient samples that we will receive in any given week, or during any given month.  ITUSDue to this unpredictability in sample flow, the Company is currently in discussions with additional doctors and healthcare providers about providing blood samples for our patient efficacy trials, and the Company has capacity available to process an additional quantity of samples.  With the addition of these new sources of patient samples, the Company expects to process enough samples and generate enough data to begin its regulatory discussions in the next 6 to 12 month period.

 

The Market

 

There are four primary markets for a cancer diagnostic test:  screening, confirmatory testing, treatment monitoring, and recurrence testing.

 

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Screening

Screening occurs when asymptomatic people are tested for indications of cancer. Examples of existing screening tests include the mammogram for Breast Cancer, Low Dose Tomography testingbreast cancer, PSA for Lung Cancer,prostate cancer, and colonoscopy for Colon Cancer.colon cancer.  All screening tests have their strengths and weaknesses, and for many cancers there are currently no recommended screening tests available.

 

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Table of ContentsConfirmatory Testing

 

·       Confirmatory testing is used to confirm the results of a screening test.  In certain instances, existing confirmatory testing can be invasive, painful, expensive, and have relatively high risks of complications.  For example, a positive mammogram is often followed up with additional imaging, which can lead to a biopsy during which a needle is inserted into the breast to sample suspicious tissue or lesions.  For Lung Cancer,lung cancer, existing confirmatory diagnostics include bronchoscopies, during which a flexible tube is inserted through the nose or mouth and into the lung, and needle biopsies, during which a long needle is inserted between the ribs and into the lung.  One potential side effect of a lung biopsy is a pneumothorax (commonly referred to as a “collapsed lung”), which has been reported to occur in approximately fifteen percent (15%) of needle biopsies of the lung.  A pneumothorax can lead to other complications and sometimes requires extended hospitalization.  In addition to the potential side effects, biopsies of any sort can be extremely painful for the patient.

 

·        Treatment Monitoring

Treatment monitoring includes follow-on testing to monitor the effectiveness of a specific regimen of treatment.  For example, diagnostic monitoring testing may be used to monitor the effectiveness of a particular type of chemotherapy, to determine how the cancer is responding and whether such treatment should be continued.  Often, imaging techniques are not able to identify whether a treatment is working, so a biopsy is useful, however it is painful and impractical to perform multiple biopsies on a patient.  Therefore, a “liquid biopsy” enabling therapy monitoring via a blood test can be useful.

 

·        Recurrence TestingFinally, recurrence diagnostic

Recurrence testing is used for cancer survivors to test for cancer recurrence.  According to statistics published by the American Cancer Society in 2017, there are currently approximately fifteen million cancer survivors in the U.S., sixty-seven (67%) of which were diagnosed with cancer five or more years ago.  Most cancer survivors live in fear of recurrence, and limitations of existing diagnostics, including repeated exposure to radiation from imaging tests, and invasiveness and costs and pain from tests such as traditional biopsies, prevent cancer survivors from being tested as often as they would like.

 

ITUS’sThe Company’s long term vision is to have one or more tests based upon the CchekÔplatform to serve each of the markets identified above.  At this stage, itWe anticipate the initial market focus of Cchek™ will be in the confirmatory, or pre-biopsy, testing.  We estimate that there is most likelya U.S. market of roughly 12 million biopsies annually and a high rate of negative biopsy results.  Accordingly, we believe that CchekÔ will beginpositioning Cchek™ as a confirmatory diagnosticpre-biopsy test for one particular typewill reduce the number of cancer, but our strategy for entering the market place will not be finalized until we have completed our developmental testingunnecessary biopsies, thus improving patient outcomes and analyzed allreducing healthcare costs.

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Table of our preliminary data.Contents

 

Competition

 

Background

 

Continuing scientific advances and discoveries, the ability to more quickly process and analyze large amounts of scientific data, and decreases in the cost of sophisticated equipment and technologies, have resulted in the potential for significant advances in cancer treatment, and in particular, cancer diagnostics.  Cancer statistics gathered over the past several decades provide overwhelming evidence that the earlier that cancers are detected, the greater the survival rates.  Up until now, doctors have primarily relied upon technologies such as imaging (x-rays, mammograms, CT Scans, MRI’s,scans, MRIs, PET Scans, Ultrasounds)scans, ultrasounds) and biopsies and other invasive procedures for cancer detection and cancer diagnoses.  In many cases, these diagnostic procedures were performed after patients exhibited one or more symptoms of cancer, at which point the cancer may likely no longer be at an early stage.  Existing diagnostic technologies such as imaging have gotten better, and invasive diagnostic procedures such as colonoscopies have become more accurate and less risky, and we expect these types of traditional diagnostic tools to continue to predominate the cancer diagnostic market for the foreseeable future.

 

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We believe that with advancing medical knowledge, improvements in equipment and technologies, and reduction in costs of new technologies, new types of cancer diagnostics will be created and new types of cancer diagnostic testing that will outperform many of the traditional diagnostic tests, eliminate many of the negative consequences of existing diagnostic testing, and ultimately predominate the cancer diagnostic market.

 

We have identified a class and subclasses of biomarkers that we believe are presentmeasurable in the blood of patients with malignancies, and are perfecting a process and methodology for detecting those biomarkers.  The goal is to create a platform, CchekÔ Cchek™, that can be used to launch a series of simple and affordable blood tests that can be used to detect and monitor many of the most deadly forms of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer and others.  It is unlikely that the Company will initially simultaneously launch tests for each of the cancers identified above, and that specific and individual cancer tests for each of the four markets identified above (screening, confirmatory testing, treatment monitoring, recurrence) will be launched over time.

 

Statistics from The American Cancer Society in 2017 indicate that one out of every two males, and one out of every three females that are born today, will develop some form of cancer during their lifetimes.  With approximately 200 million adults in the United States alone, we believe that the market for new, non-invasive cancer diagnostic technologies and testing will be enormous, and that there will be sufficient demand to support many different technologies and tests.

 

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Cancer Diagnostic Technologies

 

If successful, we believe CchekÔ Cchek™ will have several advantages over existing diagnostic technologies.  For example, repeated exposure to radiation from x-ray technologies, such as mammograms, has become an increasing concern for the medical community, causing authorities to re-evaluate the recommended frequency of such x-ray based tests.  Traditional biopsies are often impossible for some tumor based cancers depending on the location of the tumor, and are invasive, expensive, and painful enough to warrant only limited use for other cancers even when the tumor can be accessed.  In addition, such biopsies are limited in their inability to detect the heterogeneity of many cancerous tumors, and the ongoing mutations that are often evident as the tumor progresses.  False positives in existing testing such as the PSA test, result in otherwise healthy patients being misdiagnosed, and subject to unnecessary follow-on treatments and medical procedures.  Patient inconvenience, risk of side effects from anesthesia, and risk of other complications result in low patient compliance with otherwise effective cancer screening tests such as the colonoscopy.  These are just a few examples of the challenges with traditional diagnostic tests that we seek to eliminate with CchekÔ Cchek™.  This will be the foundation for the competitive advantages that we expect to have over existing diagnostic testing.  We expect CchekÔ Cchek™ will be utilized as a component of multiple diagnostic technologies and patient background information to diagnose and manage the patient’s condition.

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Many public and private companies have announced plans and ongoing research efforts to launch non-invasive cancer diagnostic tests and tools that can be used for non-invasive cancer testing.  These companies include well established, and successful biotech companies, start-ups, and companies of all sizes.  Almost every bodily fluid, including blood, plasma, urine, saliva, and excrement, are being studied for biomarkers or indicators of one or more types of cancer.  The term that has been used to describe the category of this type of non-invasive cancer diagnostic testing is “Liquid Biopsy”“liquid biopsy”.  In general, most of these companies are focused on identifying and analyzing one of three types of biomarkers:  circulating tumor cells (“CTC’s”), circulating tumor DNA (“ctDNA”), and Exosomes.exosomes.  Each of these types of biomarkers has their advantages and disadvantages, and we expect that tests incorporating these and other biomarkers will make their way into the cancer diagnostic marketplace.

 

ITUSThe Company believes that its CchekÔ Cchek™ diagnostic platform has the potential for at least three distinct advantages over the types of biomarker tests referred to above.  First, it appears that the biomarkers that we are using may be present in multiple types of and varying severities of cancers.  As a result, we anticipate that CchekÔ Cchek™ will become a platform from which multiple tests could be launched for multiple types of cancers.  Most biomarkers are associated with and useful for only one type or sub-type of cancer. Second, it appears that the biomarkers utilized by CchekÔ Cchek™ may be present in both advanced, and early stages of cancers.  Third, we expect CchekÔ Cchek™ to be significantly less expensive than the technologies commonly used for tests based on CTC’s, ctDNA, and Exosomes.exosomes.

CAR-T therapeutics

Certainty was formed to develop immuno-therapy drugs against cancer, and in November 2017, we entered into a license with Wistar whereby we obtained rights to certain intellectual property surrounding Wistar’s chimeric endocrine receptor targeted therapy technology.

CAR-T therapeutics have demonstrated positive results in B-cell cancers, but very little progress has been made on solid tumors.  Our CAR-T technology is initially focused on ovarian cancer and is based on engineering killer T-cells with the Follicle Stimulating Hormone (“FSH”) to target ovarian cells that express the FSH-Receptor.  Data on this technology, including the animal studies showing efficacy, was published in January 2017 in the journal, Clinical Cancer Research.  The FSH-Receptor has been shown to be a very exclusive protein found on a large percentage of ovarian cancer cells, but not on a significant number of non-ovarian healthy tissues in adult females.  

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We are working with researchers at Moffitt to complete studies necessary to submit an IND application with the FDA.  We then anticipate taking this therapy into human clinical testing for patients suffering from ovarian cancer.  Moffitt is one of the top cancer centers in the country with pre-clinical and clinical expertise with CAR-T technology.  Moffitt has conducted many of the highest profile CAR-T trials in the world.

We have performed numerous studies in preparation for an IND application.  In those studies, several groups of tumor free, female mice were intra-peritoneally infused with increasing concentrations of the murine CAR-T construct and their health status was monitored for up to five months.  The following summarizes the results of these studies:

·        No treated mice showed any signs of pain/stress, difficulty breathing or increased respiratory rate, reduced movement, reduced grooming or feeding, dehydration, anorexia or any other sign of distress.  Control mice also did not show any distress.

·        The treated mice did not show any weight loss.  Control mice also did not show any weight loss.

·        One cohort of treated mice also had blood drawn periodically for measurement of markers for liver function (AST-Aspartate transaminase/ALT-Alanine transaminase), kidney function (creatinine), and metabolic function (glucose).  No abnormal values were observed, as was the case for control mice.

·        Serum IL-6 (interleukin-6) increased in the treated mice, as well as mice treated with control T-cells.  This indicated that the T-cells were inducing the expected inflammatory response.

·        Histological analysis of the ovaries showed that 60% of the treated mice had significant reduction in ovarian mass, while the control mice exhibited no reduction.  This observation confirms that the CAR-T was successfully attacking the ovaries, as we hoped and expected. 

While these results are positive, there are many uncertainties in drug development, and most drugs fail to reach commercialization, we hope to achieve a profitable outcome by eventually licensing our technology to a large pharmaceutical company that has the resources and infrastructure in place to manufacture, market and sell our technology as a cancer treatment.

In October 2018, we attended a pre-IND meeting with the FDA to discuss numerous aspects of the planned clinical trial of our CAR-T therapy for ovarian cancer.  The FDA answered a number of questions, providing a good understanding of the design for the clinical trial in our IND application.  We are in the process of completing the final experiments needed to file our IND application.  The IND application, after review and approval by the FDA, will enable us to begin testing our therapy in ovarian cancer patients.  Assuming the FDA approves our IND application, we anticipate beginning the human clinical trial as early as the summer of 2019. 

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The Market

The American Cancer Society estimates that 1.7 million people in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer in 2018.  The lifetime probability of being diagnosed with an invasive cancer is 39.7% for men and 37.6% for women. It is projected that 610,000 Americans will die from cancer in 2018 and that one in four deaths in the United States is due to cancer.

According to American Cancer Society statistics, ovarian cancer accounts for just 2.5% of all female cancer cases, but 5% of cancer deaths due to the disease’s low survival rate.  It is estimated that in 2018, 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed and 16,000 American women will die from this disease.  Despite continuous advances made in the field of cancer research every year, there remains a significant unmet medical need, as the overall five-year relative survival rate for ovarian cancer patients is 47%.  However, ovarian cancer survival varies substantially by age, with the overall five-year survival rate for women 65 and older of only 29%. 

Competition

The biopharmaceutical industry is characterized by intense and dynamic competition to develop new technologies and proprietary therapies.  Any product candidates that we successfully develop and commercialize will have to compete with existing therapies and new therapies that may become available in the future.  While we believe that our proprietary FSH-Receptor targeted immuno-therapy platform for treating solid tumors and scientific expertise in the field of cell therapy provide us with competitive advantages, we face potential competition from various sources, including larger and better-funded pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as from academic institutions, governmental agencies and public and private research institutions.

Many of our competitors, either alone or with their strategic partners, have substantially greater financial, technical and human resources than we do and significantly greater experience in the discovery and development of product candidates, obtaining FDA and other regulatory approvals of treatments and commercializing those treatments.  Accordingly, our competitors may be more successful than us in obtaining approval for treatments and achieving widespread market acceptance.  Our competitors’ treatments may be more effective, or more effectively marketed and sold, than any treatment we may commercialize and may render our treatments obsolete or non-competitive before we can recover the expenses of developing and commercializing any of our treatments.

Mergers and acquisitions in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors.  These competitors also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel and establishing clinical study sites and subject registration for clinical studies, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our program.  Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies.

We anticipate that we will face intense and increasing competition as new drugs enter the market and advanced technologies become available.  We expect any treatments that we develop and commercialize to compete on the basis of, among other things, efficacy, safety, convenience of administration and delivery, price and the availability of reimbursement from government and other third-party payers. 

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Our commercial opportunity could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize products that are safer, more effective, have fewer or less severe side effects, are more convenient or are less expensive than any products that we may develop.  Our competitors also may obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we are able to enter the market. 

 

Employees

 

As of October 31, 2016,2018, on a consolidated basis, we had eight employees, seven full-time employees.and one part time.

 

Other

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1275, Los Angeles,3150 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, California 90025,95118, our telephone number is 310-484-5200(408) 708-9808 and our Internet website address is www.ITUScorp.com.www.anixa.com.  We make available free of charge on or through our Internet website our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements on Schedule 14A, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  Alternatively, you may also access our reports at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.  You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549, on official business days during the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room.

 

Item 1A.         Risk Factors.

Our business involves a high degree of risk and uncertainty, including the following risks and uncertainties:

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Risks Related to Our Financial Condition and Operations

 

We have a history of losses and may incur additional losses in the future.

 

On a cumulative basis we have sustained substantial losses and negative cash flows from operations since our inception.  As of October 31, 2016,2018, our accumulated deficit was approximately $151,165,000.$170,170,000.  As of October 31, 2016,2018, we had approximately $3,238,000$5,056,000 in cash, and cash equivalents and short-term investments, and working capital of approximately $2,932,000. We$4,273,000.  In fiscal year 2018, we incurred losses of approximately $5,016,000 in fiscal year 2016.$14,243,000 and we experienced negative cash flows from operations of approximately $4,273,000.  We expect to incur material research and development expenses and to continue incurring significant legal and general and administrative expenses in connection with our operations.  As a result, we anticipate that we will incur losses in the future.

As a result of our current lack of financial liquidity, our independent registered public accounting firm (“auditors”) has expressed substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a “going concern.”

As a result of our limited working capital, historical losses and our current burn rate, our auditors’ report for our financial statements for the year ended October 31, 2016, which is included as part of this Annual Report, contains a statement expressing substantial doubt concerning our ability to continue as a “going concern”. Potential sources of capital include income from operations, debt, and the sale of the company’s equity securities. Many factors impact our ability to generate capital including the results of our ongoing clinical trials, the price of our stock, the liquidity of our stock, factors that influence the capital markets, and the overall health of the U.S. and world economies.

Because CchekÔ is at early stages of development, it is not likely that we will generate revenue from operations for the foreseeable future. In the event that we are unable to raise additional capital, the ongoing development of CchekÔ would be materially and adversely impacted as would the continuing viability of the Company.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern.  In order for us to have sufficient capital to execute our business plan, fund our operations and meet our debt obligations over the next 12 months, we will need to raise additional capital.  Although we have been successful in the past in raising capital, we cannot provide any assurance that we will be successful in doing so in the future to the extent necessary to be able to fund our operating activities and debt obligations over the next 12 months, which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.  Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

We will need additional funding in the future which may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all, and, if available, may result in dilution to our stockholders.

 

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Based on currently available information as of December 7, 2016,January 11, 2019, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and expected cash flows from operations will not be sufficient to fund our activities and debt obligations for the next 12 months.  To date, we have relied primarily uponHowever, our projections of future cash needs and cash flows may differ from the public and private sale of equity and debt securities, as well as net proceeds from the December 2014 AUO settlement, to generate the working capital needed to finance our operations.actual results.  If current cash on hand, cash equivalents, short term investments and cash that may be generated from our business operations are insufficient to continue to operate our business, or if we willelect to invest in or acquire a company or companies that are synergistic with or complimentary to our technologies, we may be required to obtain more working capital.  We may seek to obtain working capital through sales of our equity securities or through bank credit facilities or public or private debt from various financial institutions where possible which would be junior to our existing Redemtion Debenture (as defined below).possible.  We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all.  If we do identify sources for additional funding, the sale of additional equity securities or convertible debt could result in dilution to our stockholders.  Additionally, the sale of equity securities or issuance of debt securities may be subject to certain security holder approvals or may result in the downward adjustment of the exercise or conversion price of our outstanding securities.  We can give no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flows in the future to satisfy our liquidity requirements or sustain future operations, or that other sources of funding, such as sales of equity or debt, would be available or would be approved by our security holders, if needed, on favorable terms or at all.  If we fail to obtain additional working capital as and when needed, such failure could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.  Furthermore, such lack of funds may inhibit our ability to respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated capital needs, or may force us to reduce operating expenses, which would significantly harm the business and development of operations.

 

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Failure to pay our secured debt holder may result in a foreclosure.

On September 9, 2014, we issued 140 shares of Series A Preferred Stock having an aggregate value of $3,500,000  (the "Series A Preferred") and a warrant to purchase 370,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “September 2014 Warrant”). The September 2014 Warrant expired on November 11, 2016.  Holders of our Series A Preferred had a one-time right to require the Company to redeem the Series A Preferred shares, which right was set to expire on November 11, 2016 (the "Redemption Date"). Under its terms, the Series A Preferred could only be redeemed from the proceeds of the sale of the Company’s equity securities.  On November 11, 2016 the holder of all of our outstanding Series A Preferred exercised its right of redemption. On December 6, 2016, we entered into an agreement with the holder of the Series A Preferred setting forth the terms under which such redemption would take place (the “Redemption Agreement”) in lieu of paying the redemption from proceeds of the sale of equity securities. Pursuant to the Redemption Agreement, at closing the holder of the Series A Preferred will receive (i) $500,000 in cash,  (ii) a 12% secured debenture evidencing the remaining $3,000,000 amount to be redeemed, $1,000,000 of which is due on or before June 1, 2017 and the remainder of which is due November 11, 2017 (the “Redemption Debenture”), and (iii) a 5 year warrant to purchase 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with substantially the same terms as the expired September 2014 Warrant at an exercise price equal to 10% below the thirty (30) day volume weighted average closing price of our common stock at closing. The Redemption Debenture is secured by a lien on the Company’s assets and prohibits the Company from incurring any senior indebtedness other than equipment financing in connection with the Company’s business.

If we default under the Redemption Debenture, the creditor may seek to obtain a judgment against the Company for the remaining balance of the Redemption Debenture and attempt to foreclose on assets of the Company sufficient to repay the remaining balance of the Redemption Debenture. In the event of a default, if the Company is unable to re-negotiate the terms of the Redemption Debenture or raise sufficient capital to repay the remaining balance of the Redemption Debenture, such default could have a material adverse impact on the ongoing operations of the Company.

The terms set forth in the Redemption Debenture may make it difficult for us to borrow additional funds in the future.

Other than trade debt, he terms of the Redemption Debenture prohibit us from incurring indebtedness that is senior to the Redemption Debenture.  This restriction may make it difficult for us to borrow additional funds from third parties. Additionally, the Redemption Debenture is secured by a lien on the assets of the Company which may prevent us from incurring additional secured debt. If we are unable to raise additional capital through the issuance of debt such failure could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Failure to effectively manage our potential growth could place strains on our managerial, operational and financial resources and could adversely affect our business and operating results.

 

Our business strategy and potential growth may place a strain on managerial, operational and financial resources and systems.  Although we may not grow as we expect, if we fail to manage our growth effectively or to develop and expand our managerial, operational and financial resources and systems, our business and financial results will be materially harmed.

 

10We may use our financial and human resources to pursue a particular research program or product candidate and fail to capitalize on programs or product candidates that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.

Because we have limited resources, we may forego or delay pursuit of opportunities with certain programs or product candidates or for indications that later prove to have greater commercial potential.  Our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities.  Our spending on current and future research and development programs for product candidates may not yield any commercially viable products.  If we do not accurately evaluate the commercial potential or target market for a particular product candidate, we may relinquish valuable rights to that product candidate through strategic collaboration, licensing or other royalty arrangements in cases in which it would have been more advantageous for us to retain sole development and commercialization rights to such product candidate, or we may allocate internal resources to a product candidate which it would have been more advantageous to enter into a partnering arrangement.

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We are currently subject to a putative shareholder derivative complaint which could distract our management and could result in substantial costs or large judgments against us.

On November 5, 2018, a putative shareholder derivative complaint was filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, captioned Howland v. Kumar et al., C.A. No. 2018-0804-KSJM (the “Howland Matter”), that alleges claims for breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment.  The complaint named as defendants certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors, and the Company is named solely as a nominal defendant.  The complaint seeks, on behalf of the Company, a declaration that the defendant officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties, unspecified damages, certain changes to the Company’s internal procedures, and an award of the plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees and costs.  The defendants moved to dismiss the complaint on November 29, 2018 and the parties are currently engaged in briefing the motion.  If the Howland Matter is not dismissed at the pleading stage, we will be required to devote significant time to the adjudication of the matter which will distract our management and may have an adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition.  Further, if the Howland Matter is not dismissed, we could incur substantial costs related to the adjudication of the Howland Matter that may not be covered by insurance. In addition, we are obligated pursuant to Article 10 of our by-laws, as amended (the "By-Laws"), to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or testifies in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative in nature, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company against expenses (including attorneys' fees and disbursements), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding to the full extent permitted by law. Accordingly, we may incur substantial costs related to the indemnification of our current and former officers and directors that were named as defendants in the Howland Matter. While we have director and officer insurance, there is no assurance that our policy will cover any or all of the costs associated with the indemnification of our current and former officers and directors that were named as defendants in the Howland Matter.

Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.

We have incurred net losses since our inception and we may never achieve or sustain profitability.  Generally, losses incurred will carry forward until such losses expire (for losses generated prior to January 1, 2018) or are used to offset future taxable income, if any.  Under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” generally defined as a greater than 50 percentage point change (by value) in its equity ownership by certain stockholders over a three-year period, the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes (such as research tax credits) to offset its post-change income or taxes may be limited.  We have not completed a study to assess whether an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 or 383 has occurred, or whether there have been multiple ownership changes since our inception.  We may have experienced ownership changes in the past and may experience ownership changes in the future as a result of shifts in our stock ownership (some of which shifts are outside our control).  As a result, if we earn net taxable income, our ability to use our pre-change NOL carryforwards to offset such taxable income will be subject to limitations.  Similar provisions of state tax law may also apply to limit our use of accumulated state tax attributes.  As a result, even if we attain profitability, we may be unable to use a material portion of our NOL carryforwards and other tax attributes, which could adversely affect our future cash flows.

We have not yet determined the consequences to our business of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (see the risk factor entitled, “U.S. federal income tax reform could adversely affect us and holders of our common stock” below), which could increase our future U.S. tax expense.  For example, the new tax laws impose a reduction to the maximum deduction allowed for NOLs generated in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, but allow such NOLs to be carried forward indefinitely.  These changes may adversely affect our future cash flows.

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Our employees, scientific advisors, principal investigators, consultants and commercial partners may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including non-compliance with regulatory standards and requirements, and insider trading.

We are exposed to the risk of fraud or other misconduct by our employees, scientific advisors, principal investigators, consultants and commercial partners.  Misconduct by these parties could include intentional failures to comply with the regulations of the FDA or other regulatory bodies, comply with healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations in the United States and abroad, report financial information or data accurately or disclose unauthorized activities to us.  In particular, sales, marketing, and business arrangements in the healthcare industry are subject to extensive laws and regulations intended to prevent fraud, misconduct, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices.  These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, customer incentive programs and other business arrangements.  Such misconduct could also involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of clinical studies, which could result in regulatory sanctions and cause serious harm to our reputation.  We currently have a code of conduct applicable to all of our employees, but it is not always possible to identify and deter employee misconduct, and our code of conduct and the other precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses, or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to comply with these laws or regulations.  If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could result in the imposition of significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, including, without limitation, damages, monetary fines, individual imprisonment, disgorgement of profits, possible exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings, additional reporting or oversight obligations if we become subject to a corporate integrity agreement or other agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with the law and curtailment or restructuring of our operations, which could have a significant impact on our business.  Whether or not we are successful in defending against such actions or investigations, we could incur substantial costs, including legal fees and divert the attention of management in defending ourselves against any of these claims or investigations.

Risks Related to CchekÔour Biotechnology Research & Development Activities

 

Our cancer diagnostic business isand cancer therapeutics businesses are pre-revenue, and subject to the risks of an early stage biotechnology company.

 

Since the Company’s primary focus for the foreseeable future will likely be our cancer diagnostics business,and therapeutics businesses, shareholders should understand that we are primarily an early stage biotechnology company with no history of revenue-generating operations, and our only assets consist of our proprietary and licensed technologies and the know-how of our officers.  Therefore we are subject to all the risks and uncertainties inherent in a new business, in particular new businesses engaged in the early detection of certain cancers. cancers and CAR-T cancer therapeutics.  CchekÔ isand our CAR-T ovarian cancer therapeutics are in itstheir early stages of development, and we still must establish and implement many important functions necessary to commercialize the technology.technologies.

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Accordingly, you should consider the Company’s prospects in light of the costs, uncertainties, delays and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in their pre-revenue generating stages, particularly those in the biotechnology field.  Shareholders should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties that a business with no operating history will face.  In particular, shareholders should consider that there is a significant risk that we will not be able to:

 

·         demonstrate the effectiveness of CchekCchek™;

·         Ô;successfully complete studies necessary to submit an IND application to the FDA for our ovarian cancer therapeutic;

·         implement or execute our current business plan, or that our current business plan is sound;

·         raise sufficient funds in the capital markets or otherwise to fully effectuate our business plan;

·         maintain our management team, including the members of our scientific advisory board;

·         determine that the processes and technologies that we have developed or will develop are commercially viable; and/or

·         attract, enter into or maintain contracts with potential commercial partners such as licensors of technology and suppliers.

 

Any of the foregoing risks may adversely affect the Company and result in the failure of our business.  In addition, we expect to encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other known and unknown factors.  At some point,Over the next several quarters, we will need to transition from a company with a research and development focus to a company capable of supporting clinical trials and commercial activities.  We may not be able to reach such achievements, which would have a material adverse effect on our Company.

 

Our current business model, as it relates to both Cchek™ and our CAR-T cancer therapeutics, relies on strategic collaborations with commercial partners to provide the resources and infrastructure to manufacture and ultimately market and/or sell our technologies.  We may have difficulty in timing the establishment of these partnerships to achieve the greatest economic benefit for the Company, or in establishing these partnerships at all.

We do not currently have the resources and infrastructure to manufacture, market or sell our technologies.  While our technologies have generated interest from multiple potential strategic partners, due to the early stage of development of our technologies, we can give no assurance that we will be able to successfully establish any strategic partnerships.  Further, even if we elect to engage with a potential strategic partner, development of these partnerships can take an extended period of time in which significant analysis is performed by the potential strategic partner on our technologies and our intellectual property, as well as on the market opportunities and how well our technologies may fit strategically with the partner’s existing business.  Accordingly, it will be difficult for us to time the establishment of a strategic partnership to achieve the greatest economic benefit for the Company. 

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We may have difficulty in raising capital for our cancer diagnostic businessdiagnostics and therapeutics businesses and may consume resources faster than expected.

 

We currently do not generate any revenue from CchekÔor otherwiseour ovarian cancer therapeutic nor do we generate any other recurring revenues and as of October 31, 2016,2018, the Company only had $3,238,000approximately $5,056,000 in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.  Therefore, we have a limited source of cash to meet our future capital requirements, which will include the repayment of the Redemption Debentures and may include the expensive process of obtaining FDA approvalapprovals for our ovarian cancer therapeutic and for CchekÔ for each type of cancer for which we desire to launch a diagnostic test.  We do not expect to generate significant revenues for the foreseeable future, and we may not be able to raise funds in the future, which would leave us without resources to continue our operations and force us to resort to the Company raising additional capital in the form of equity or debt financings, which may not be available to us.  We may have difficulty raising needed capital in the near or longer term as a result of, among other factors, the very early stage of our diagnostic business and our lack of revenues as well as the inherent business risks associated with an early stage, biotechnology company and present and future market conditions.  Also, we may consume available resources more rapidly than currently anticipated, resulting in the need for additional funding sooner than anticipated.  Our inability to raise funds could lead to decreases in the price of our common stock and the failure of our cancer diagnostic businessand therapeutic businesses which would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

If we are unable to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection, our competitive position will be harmed.

Our ability to compete and to achieve sustained profitability will be impacted by our ability to protect our Cchek11Ô cancer diagnostic technologies, our CAR-T cancer therapeutics technologies and other proprietary discoveries and technologies.  We expect to rely on a combination of patent protection, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, know-how, and regulatory approvals to protect CchekÔ, our CAR-T cancer therapeutics and any of our other technologies.  Our intellectual property strategy is intended to help develop and maintain our competitive position.  While we have been granted two patents related to CchekÔ, there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain further patent protection for CchekÔ, our CAR-T cancer therapeutics and any other technologies, nor can we be certain that the steps we will have taken will prevent the misappropriation and unauthorized use of our technologies.  If we are not able to obtain and maintain patent protection our competitive position may be harmed.

Third parties may initiate legal proceedings alleging that we are infringing their intellectual property rights, the outcome of which would be uncertain and could have a material adverse effect on the success of our business.

Our commercial success depends upon our ability to develop, manufacture, market and sell our CchekÔ cancer diagnostic technologies, our CAR-T therapeutics, and other proprietary discoveries and technologies without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the proprietary rights or intellectual property of third parties.  We may become party to, or be threatened with, future adversarial proceedings or litigation regarding intellectual property rights with respect to our CchekÔ cancer diagnostic technologies, our CAR-T therapeutics, and other proprietary discoveries and technologies.  Third parties may assert infringement claims against us based on existing patents or patents that may be granted in the future.  If we are found to infringe a third-party's intellectual property rights, we could be required to obtain a license from such third-party to continue developing our CchekÔ cancer diagnostic technologies, our CAR-T therapeutics, and other proprietary discoveries and technologies.  However, we may not be able to obtain any required license on commercially reasonable terms or at all.  Even if we were able to obtain a license, it could be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us.  We could be forced, including by court order, to cease developing the infringing technology or product.  In addition, we could be found liable for monetary damages.  Claims that we have misappropriated the confidential information or trade secrets of third parties can have a similar negative impact on our business.

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If we cannot license rights to use technologies on reasonable terms, we may not be able to commercialize new products in the future.

In the future, we may identify third-party technology we need, including to develop or commercialize new products or services.  In return for the use of a third party’s technology, we may agree to pay the licensor royalties based on sales of our products or services.  Royalties are a component of cost of products or services and affect the margins on our products or services. We may also need to negotiate licenses to patents or patent applications before or after introducing a commercial product.  We may not be able to obtain necessary licenses to patents or patent applications, and our business may suffer if we are unable to enter into the necessary licenses on acceptable terms or at all, if any necessary licenses are subsequently terminated, if the licensors fail to abide by the terms of the licenses or fail to prevent infringement by third parties, or if the licensed patents or other rights are found to be invalid or unenforceable.

Risks Related to CchekÔ

 

While our CchekÔ diagnostic technology has shown favorable results from initial testing, we cannot guarantee that these results will be replicated in future testing nor can we guarantee the success of the technology at all.

 

We have initially used CchekÔ to test the blood of small groups of individuals consisting of cancer patients and healthy patients and have in some studies reported sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 92%over 90%.  While these preliminary results far exceed existing diagnostic testing, there is no guarantee that these results will be replicable when we test a larger group of patients or at all.  If we are unable to consistently attain results that are necessary for commercialization of CchekÔ, our diagnostic technology will not have any monetary value and we will be unable to generate any revenue from this technology.

 

Even if we are able to attain results necessary for the commercialization of CchekÔ, our ability to commercialize the technology in the future will depend on our ability to provide evidence of clinical utility.

 

Our ability to successfully commercialize CchekÔ will depend on numerous factors, including whether health care providers believe that CchekÔ provides sufficient incremental clinical utility; whether the medical community accepts that CchekÔhas sufficient sensitivity (there are no or very few false positives), specificity (detects the cancer the test is supposed to detect) and predictive value to be meaningful in patient care and treatment decisions; whether the cost of the test is reasonably priced and commercially viable; and whether health insurers, government health programs and other third-party payers will cover and pay for CchekÔ and the amount that they will reimburse for such tests.  These factors may present obstacles to commercial acceptance of CchekÔ.  To the extent these obstacles arise, we will need to devote substantial time and resources to overcome these obstacles, and we might not be successful.  Failure to achieve widespread market acceptance of CchekÔ would materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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We are unable to give any assurance that we will be successful in providing sufficient evidence of clinical utility or any assurance that we will have adequate managerial, technical or financial resources to support the studies necessary to provide sufficient evidence of clinical utility of CchekÔ or to adequately differentiate our test from other diagnostic products in the manner, timeframe or cost parameters we anticipate, if at all.  If we are unable to provide evidence of clinical utility and differentiate CchekÔ, we will not be able to generate the revenues and market growth that we seek.  Our failure to generate revenue from the sale of our products would materially adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

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Diagnostic test development involves a lengthy and complex process, and we may be unable to commercialize CchekÔ on a timely basis, or at all.

 

We have begun to devotedevoted considerable resources to research and development for CchekÔ, however there can be no assurance that CchekÔwill be capable of reliably predicting the occurrence or recurrence of any cancers with the sensitivity and specificity necessary to be clinically and commercially useful, or, even if such technology is clinically and commercially useful, that it will result in commercially successful products.  In addition, before we can fully develop CchekÔand commercialize any new products, we will need to:

 

·         conduct substantial research and development;

·         conduct validation studies;

·         expend significant funds;

·         enter into agreements and maintain relationships with third party vendors to provide third party blood samples;

·         obtain regulatory approval (either CLIA, FDA or both); and

·         depending on which regulatory pathway we select, establish or contract with the owner of a CLIA certified laboratory to process test samples.

 

Accordingly, our product development process involves a high degree of risk and may take several years, especially if the Company seeks FDA approval for each of its diagnostic tests.  If CchekÔshould fail at the research or development stage, not produce sufficient clinical validation data to support the effectiveness of the product or not gain regulatory approval or if we should run out of cash to devote towards the commercialization of the technology or fail to establish agreements with necessary third party vendors, we will not make itbe able to commercializationcommercialize CchekÔ and we will not generate any revenue from the technology.

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If we fail to obtain, or if there are delays in obtaining, required regulatory approvals, we will not be able to commercialize our CchekÔtechnology, and our ability to generate revenue and the viability of our Company will be materially impaired.

 

Commercialization of CchekÔ will require that we obtain either CLIA certification, FDA approval or both.  If we are unable to obtain regulatory approval for CchekÔ, we will be unable to commercialize and generate revenue from the technology which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

UnlessUntil we obtain FDA approval for CchekÔ, and unless we establish a CLIA certified laboratory, we will be dependent on laboratory contractors for testing of patient samples that are essential to the development and validation of CchekÔ.

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To pursue the development and validation of CchekÔ, we will require access to test results obtained from patient blood samples.  We have currently contracted with Wistar to provide these services.  Unless and until CchekÔ receives FDA approval, or we may electestablish our own CLIA certified laboratory, we will continue to seek CLIA certificationbe dependent on contractors or collaborators such as Wistar for one or moretesting of our CchekÔ  tests. Failure to receive FDA approval or CLIA certification would have a material adverse effect on our abilitypatient blood samples to develop and validate CchekÔ.

 

We will be dependent on third parties for the patient samples that are essential to the development and validation of CceckCchekÔ.

 

To pursue our development and validation of CchekÔ, we are likely towill need access, over time, to patient blood samples and such patients will need to consent to the use of their blood.  As a result, we have made arrangements with Wistar and neighboring hospitals and medical practices to give us access to patient samples for the development and validation of CchekÔIn the event that we are unable to obtain patient samples, or access to patient samples becomes more limited due to changes in privacy laws governing the use and disclosure of medical information or due to changes in the laws restricting our ability to obtain patient samples and associated information, our ability to pursue the development of CchekÔ may be slowed or halted, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operationsoperations.

 

Our business could be harmed from the loss or suspension of a license or imposition of a fine or penalties under, or future changes in, or changing interpretations of, the law or regulations of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1967, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, or the FDA or other federal, state or local agencies.

 

ITUSWe will need to seek regulatory approval in order to market CchekÔThe clinical laboratory testing industry is subject to extensive federal and state regulation, and many of these statutes and regulations have not been interpreted by the courts.  The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1967, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (collectively “CLIA”) are federal regulatory standards that apply to virtually all clinical laboratories (regardless of the location, size or type of laboratory), including those operated by physicians in their offices, by requiring that they be certified under federal law.  CLIA does not pre-empt state law, which in some cases may be more stringent than federal law and require additional personnel qualifications, quality control, record maintenance and proficiency testing.  The sanction for failure to comply with CLIA and state requirements may be suspension, revocation or limitation of a laboratory’s CLIA certificate, which is necessary to conduct business, as well as significant fines and/or criminal penalties.  Several states have similar laws and we may be subject to similar penalties.  The FDA regulates diagnostic products and periodically inspects and reviews their manufacturing processes and product performance.  We may choose to seek FDA approval for one or more CchekÔtests, as opposed to seeking CLIA certification.  We cannot assure that applicable statutes and regulations will not be interpreted or applied by a prosecutorial, regulatory or judicial authority in a manner that would adversely affect our business.  Potential sanctions for violation of these statutes and regulations include significant fines and the suspension or loss of various licenses, certificates and authorizations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.  In addition, compliance with future legislation could impose additional requirements on us, which may be costly, including FDA regulation of laboratory developed tests.


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Health insurers and other third-party payers may decide not to reimburse our CchekÔ diagnostic testing or may provide inadequate reimbursement, which could jeopardize our commercial prospects and require customers to pay for the tests out of pocket.

 

In the United States, the regulatory process that allows diagnostic tests to be marketed is independent of any coverage determinations made by third-party payers.  For new diagnostic tests, private and government payers decide whether to cover the test, the reimbursement amount for a covered test and the specific conditions for reimbursement.  Physicians may order diagnostic tests that are not reimbursed by third-party payers, but coverage determinations and reimbursement levels and conditions are critical to the commercial success of a diagnostic product.  Each third-party payer makes its own decision about which tests it will cover and how much it will pay, although many payers will follow the lead of Medicare.  As a result, the coverage determination process will be a time-consuming and costly process that requires us to provide scientific, clinical and economic support for the use of CchekÔ diagnostic testing to each payer separately, with no assurance that approval will be obtained.  If third-party payers decide not to cover CchekÔ or if they offer inadequate payment amounts, our ability to generate revenue from CchekÔ could be limited since patients who want to take the diagnostic tests would have to pay for it out of pocket.  Even if one or more third-party payers decide to reimburse for CchekÔdiagnostic testing,, a third-party payer may stop or lower payment at any time, which could reduce revenue.  We cannot predict whether third-party payers will cover CchekÔdiagnostic testing or offer adequate reimbursement.  We also cannot predict the timing of such decisions.  In addition, physicians or patients may decide not to order CchekÔ tests if third-party payments are inadequate, especially if ordering the test could result in financial liability for the patient.

 

Whether or not health insurers and other third-party payers decide to reimburse CchekÔ, the technology may cost patients more than we anticipate.

 

We believe that our CchekÔdiagnostic testing will significantly reduce the cost to patients of screening and confirmatory testing for certain types of cancer.  If, however, the cost to utilize CchekÔis more expensive than we anticipate, many patients and third-party payers may elect not to utilize the technology which would significantly impact our ability to generate revenue on the technology.

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We operate in a competitive market and expect to face intense competition, often from companies with greater resources and experience than us.

 

The clinical diagnostics industry is highly competitive and subject to rapid change.  We are aware of many different types of diagnostic tests available to detect cancer that are currently in use or being developed and many more types of diagnostic tests may be developed in the future.  If we are able to successfully commercialize CchekÔ, all of these tests will compete with our product.  If CchekÔ is more expensive than and/or does not have sufficient specificity, sensitivity or predictive value to compete with tests that are currently on the market, or if any other diagnostic tests that are under development, once successfully developed and commercialized, have greater specificity, sensitivity or predictive value and/or are cheaper than our technology, we may be unable to compete successfully with such products which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Furthermore, as the industry continues to expand and evolve, an increasing number of competitors and potential competitors may enter the market.  Many of these competitors and potential competitors have substantially greater financial, technological, managerial and research and development resources and experience than we do.  Some of these competitors and potential competitors have more experience than we do in the development of diagnostic products, including validation procedures and regulatory matters.  In addition, CchekÔ will compete with product offerings from large and well established companies that have greater marketing and sales experience and capabilities than we do.  If we are unable to compete successfully, we may be unable to sustain and grow our revenue.

If we are unable to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection, our competitive position will be harmed.

Our ability to compete and to achieve sustained profitability will be impacted by our ability to protect our CchekÔ cancer diagnostic technologies and other  proprietary discoveries and technologies. We expect to rely on a combination of patent protection, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, know-how, and regulatory approvals to protect CchekÔ and any of our other technologies. Our intellectual property strategy is intended to help develop and maintain our competitive position. However, there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain patent protection for CchekÔ  and any other technologies, nor can we be certain that the steps we will have taken will prevent the misappropriation and unauthorized use of our technologies. If we are not able to obtain and maintain patent protection our competitive position may be harmed.

Third parties may initiate legal proceedings alleging that we are infringing their intellectual property rights, the outcome of which would be uncertain and could have a material adverse effect on the success of our business.

Our commercial success depends upon our ability to develop, manufacture, market and sell our CchekÔ cancer diagnostic technologies and other proprietary discoveries and technologies without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the proprietary rights or intellectual property of third parties. We may become party to, or be threatened with, future adversarial proceedings or litigation regarding intellectual property rights with respect to our CchekÔ cancer diagnostic technologies and other proprietary discoveries and technologies. Third parties may assert infringement claims against us based on existing patents or patents that may be granted in the future. If we are found to infringe a third-party's intellectual property rights, we could be required to obtain a license from such third-party to continue developing our CchekÔ cancer diagnostic technologies and other proprietary discoveries and technologies. However, we may not be able to obtain any required license on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Even if we were able to obtain a license, it could be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. We could be forced, including by court order, to cease developing the infringing technology or product. In addition, we could be found liable for monetary damages. Claims that we have misappropriated the confidential information or trade secrets of third parties can have a similar negative impact on our business.

 

We are dependent upon a few key personnel and the loss of their services could adversely affect us.

 

Our future success of developing CchekÔwill depend on the efforts of ITUS’s Executive Chairmanthe inventor of the Boardtechnology, our President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Amit Kumar.  We do not have an employment agreement with Dr. Kumar which means that Dr. Kumar does not have a set term of employment and may renegotiate his employment arrangement with the Company at any time.  Further, we do not maintain “key person” life insurance on Dr. Kumar.  The loss of the services of Dr. Kumar could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

Risks Related to our CAR-T therapeutics

Biopharmaceutical product development is a highly speculative undertaking and involves a substantial degree of uncertainty.  We have never generated any revenue from biopharmaceutical product sales and our biopharmaceutical products may never be profitable.

We are in the pre-clinical stage of developing our CAR-T therapeutics technology.  Our ability to generate revenue depends in large part on our ability, alone or with partners, to successfully complete the development of, obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for, and commercialize, product candidates.  We do not anticipate generating revenues from sales of such products for the foreseeable future.  Our ability to generate future revenues from product sales of our CAR-T therapeutics technology depends heavily on our success in:

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·        progressing our pre-clinical programs into human clinical trials;

·        completing requisite clinical trials through all phases of clinical development of our ovarian cancer therapy and other potential product candidates;

·        seeking and obtaining marketing approvals for our ovarian cancer therapy and other potential product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials, if any;

·        launching and commercializing our ovarian cancer therapy and other potential product candidates for which we obtain marketing approval, if any, with a partner or, if launched independently, successfully establishing a sales force, marketing and distribution infrastructure;

·        identifying and developing new product candidates;

·        establishing and maintaining supply and manufacturing relationships with third parties;

·        maintaining, protecting, expanding and enforcing our intellectual property; and

·        attracting, hiring and retaining qualified personnel.

Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with biologic product development, we are unable to predict the likelihood or timing for when we may receive regulatory approval of our ovarian cancer therapy and any other potential product candidates or when we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability, if ever.  If we are unable to establish a development and or commercialization partnership, or do not receive regulatory approvals, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.  Even if we or a partner obtain the regulatory approvals to market and sell one or more of our product candidates, we may never generate significant revenues from any commercial sales for several reasons, including because the market for our products may be smaller than we anticipate, or products may not be adopted by physicians and payors or because our products may not be as efficacious or safe as other treatment options.  If we fail to successfully commercialize one or more products, by ourselves or through a partner, we may be unable to generate sufficient revenues to sustain and grow our business and our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected. 

CAR-T cell therapies are novel and present significant challenges.

CAR-T product candidates represent a relatively new field of cellular immunotherapy. Advancing this novel and personalized therapy creates significant challenges for us, or a partner, including:

·        obtaining regulatory approval, as the FDA and other regulatory authorities have limited experience with commercial development of T-cell therapies for cancer;

·        sourcing clinical and, if approved, commercial supplies for the materials used to manufacture and process our product candidates;

·        developing a consistent and reliable process, while limiting contamination risks, for engineering and manufacturing T cells ex vivo and infusing the engineered T cells into the patient;

·        educating medical personnel regarding the potential safety benefits, as well as the challenges, of incorporating our product candidates into their treatment regimens;

·        establishing sales and marketing capabilities upon obtaining any regulatory approval to gain market acceptance of a novel therapy; and

·        the availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors for our novel and personalized therapy.

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Our inability to successfully develop CAR-T cell therapies or develop processes related to the manufacture, sales and marketing of these therapies would adversely affect our business, results of operations and prospects.

While CAR-T technology has shown positive results in B-cell cancers by others, its safety and efficacy has not been seen in solid tumors and we cannot guarantee our CAR-T technology will be safe or effective in ovarian cancer.

CAR-T therapies function through the binding of a genetically engineered killer T-cell to a cancer cell.  However, these engineered T-cells destroy the cell they are bound to whether it is a cancer cell or a healthy cell.  Therefore, the engineered T-cells must be designed to only bind to cancer cells to minimize toxicity.  Our CAR-T technology relies on the natural affinity of FSH to FSH-Receptor.  Research by others has shown that in women the FSH-Receptor protein is found on ovary cells and generally in no other healthy tissue, and therefore, we engineer our T-cells with FSH.  However, as the research in this field is still new, we cannot guarantee that there is no FSH-Receptor on any other healthy tissue in the human body.

While our CAR-T technology has shown favorable results from in-vitro and in-vivo testing, including in large numbers of animals under the Good Laboratory Practice (“GLP”) conditions necessary for inclusion in an IND application, we cannot guarantee that these results will be sufficient for the FDA to allow us to commence human clinical trials.

While studies have generated promising results in large numbers of mice under GLP conditions, and toxicity studies have been performed and have had favorable results, there can be no assurance that the FDA will find these results sufficient to allow us to commence testing of our ovarian cancer therapy in human patients.  If we are unable to commence human clinical trials, or if commencement of such trials is significantly delayed, we may be required to expend significant additional resources, which may not be available to us, and our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

While pre-clinical testing of our ovarian cancer CAR-T therapy has been positive, we may experience unfavorable results once we commence human clinical trials.

We have not initiated clinical trials for our ovarian cancer therapy and we may not be able to commence clinical trials on the time frames we expect.  As this product candidate has only been tested in animals, we face significant uncertainty regarding how effective and safe it will be in human patients and the results from preclinical studies may not be indicative of the results of clinical trials.  Preclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses, and many companies that have believed their product candidates performed satisfactorily in preclinical studies and clinical trials have nonetheless failed to obtain marketing approval for their products.

Even if clinical trials are successfully completed, the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities may not interpret the results as we do, and more clinical trials could be required before we submit our product candidates for approval.  To the extent that the results of our clinical trials are not satisfactory to the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities for support of a marketing application, approval of our product candidates may be significantly delayed, or we may be required to expend significant additional resources, which may not be available to us, to conduct additional clinical trials in support of potential approval of our product candidates.

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We are dependent on third parties to conduct our pre-clinical and clinical trials.

Moffitt is performing the necessary pre-clinical studies to file an IND application to begin human clinical testing of our ovarian cancer therapeutic and will perform the clinical trials.  Unless or until we have an in-house scientific team to perform and manage these studies, we will remain reliant on Moffitt or other third parties for these services.

If we encounter difficulties enrolling patients in our clinical trial, our clinical development activities could be delayed or otherwise adversely affected.

Even if we are permitted to conduct clinical trials for our product candidate, we may experience difficulties in patient enrollment in our clinical trial for a variety of reasons.  The timely completion of clinical trials in accordance with their protocols depends, among other things, on our ability to enroll a sufficient number of patients who remain in the study until its conclusion.  The enrollment of patients depends on many factors, including:

·         the patient eligibility criteria defined in the clinical trial protocol;

·         the size of the patient population required for analysis of the trial’s primary endpoints;

·         the proximity of patients to the study site;

·         the design of the clinical trial;

·         our ability to retain clinical trial investigators with the appropriate competencies and experience;

·         our ability to obtain and maintain patient consents;

·         the risk that patients enrolled in clinical trials will drop out of the clinical trials before completion; and

·         competing clinical trials and approved therapies available for patients.

In particular, our clinical trial will look to enroll patients with late stage ovarian cancer who have failed conventional treatment.  Our clinical trial will compete with other companies' clinical trials for product candidates that are in the same therapeutic area as our product candidate, and this competition will reduce the number and types of patients available to us, because some patients who might have opted to enroll in our clinical trial may instead opt to enroll in a trial being conducted by one of our competitors.  We expect to conduct our clinical trial at the same clinical trial site that some of our competitors use, which will reduce the number of patients who are available for our clinical trial in this clinical trial site.  Moreover, because our product candidate represents a departure from more commonly used methods for cancer treatment, potential patients and their doctors may be inclined to use experimental therapies that use conventional technologies, such as chemotherapy and antibody therapy, rather than enroll patients in our future clinical trial.  Patients may also be unwilling to participate in our clinical trial because of negative publicity from adverse events in the biotechnology or gene therapy industries.

Delays in patient enrollment may result in increased costs or may affect the timing or outcome of our planned clinical trial, which could prevent completion of the clinical trial and adversely affect our ability to advance the development of our ovarian cancer CAR-T therapy.

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Any adverse developments that occur during any clinical trials conducted by academic investigators, our collaborators or other entities conducting clinical trials under independent INDs may negatively affect the conduct of our clinical trial or our ability to obtain regulatory approval or commercialize our product candidate.

CAR-T and other immuno-therapy technologies are being used by third parties in clinical trials for which we are collaborating or in clinical trials which are completely independent of our development programs.  We have little to no control over the conduct of those clinical trials.  If serious adverse events occur during these or any other clinical trials using technologies similar to ours, the FDA and other regulatory authorities may delay our clinical trial, or could delay, limit or deny approval of our product candidate or require us to conduct additional clinical trials as a condition to marketing approval, which would increase our costs.  If we receive regulatory approval for any product candidate and a new and serious safety issue is identified in connection with clinical trials conducted by third parties, the applicable regulatory authorities may withdraw their approval of the product or otherwise restrict our ability to market and sell our product. In addition, treating physicians may be less willing to administer our product due to concerns over such adverse events, which would limit our ability to commercialize our product.

Adverse side effects or other safety risks associated with our ovarian cancer therapy could cause us to suspend or discontinue clinical trials or delay or preclude approval.

In third party clinical trials involving CAR-T cell therapies, the most prominent acute toxicities included symptoms thought to be associated with the release of cytokines, such as fever, low blood pressure and kidney dysfunction.  Some patients also experienced toxicity of the central nervous system, such as confusion, cranial nerve dysfunction and speech impairment.  Adverse side effects attributed to CAR-T therapies were severe and life-threatening in some patients.  The life-threatening events were related to kidney dysfunction and toxicities of the central nervous system.  Severe and life-threatening toxicities occurred primarily in the first two weeks after cell infusion and generally resolved within three weeks.  In the past, several patients have also died in clinical trials by others involving CAR-T cells.

Undesirable side effects observed in our clinical trial, whether or not they are caused by our product candidate, could result in the delay, suspension or termination of clinical trials, by the FDA or other regulatory authorities for a number of reasons.  In addition, because the patients who will be enrolled in our clinical trial are suffering from a life-threatening disease and will often be suffering from multiple complicating conditions it may be difficult to accurately assess the relationship between our product candidate and adverse events experienced by very ill patients.  If we elect or are required to delay, suspend or terminate a clinical trial of our ovarian cancer therapy, the commercial prospects of such therapy will be harmed and our ability to generate product revenues from such therapy will be delayed or eliminated.  In addition, serious adverse events observed in clinical trials could hinder or prevent market acceptance of the product candidate at issue.  Any of these occurrences may harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations significantly.

Clinical trials are expensive, time-consuming and difficult to design and implement.

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Human clinical trials are expensive and difficult to design and implement, in part because they are subject to rigorous regulatory requirements.  Because our CAR-T ovarian cancer therapy is based on relatively new technology and engineered on a patient-by-patient basis, we expect that it will require extensive research and development and have substantial manufacturing and processing costs.  In addition, costs to treat patients with relapsed/refractory cancer and to treat potential side effects that may result from therapies such as our current and future product candidates can be significant.  Accordingly, our clinical trial costs are likely to be significantly higher than for more conventional therapeutic technologies or drug products.  In addition, our proposed personalized product candidates involve several complex and costly manufacturing and processing steps, the costs of which will be borne by us.  The costs of our clinical trials may increase if the FDA does not agree with our clinical development plans or requires us to conduct additional clinical trials to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of our product candidates.

We face significant competition from other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and our operating results will suffer if we fail to compete effectively.

The biopharmaceutical industry is characterized by intense competition and rapid innovation.  Our competitors may be able to develop other compounds or drugs that are able to achieve similar or better results.  Our potential competitors include major multinational pharmaceutical companies, established biotechnology companies, specialty pharmaceutical companies and universities and other research institutions.  Many of our competitors have substantially greater financial, technical and other resources, such as larger research and development staff and experienced marketing and manufacturing organizations and well-established sales forces.  Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large, established companies.  Mergers and acquisitions in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries may result in even more resources being concentrated in our competitors.  Competition may increase further as a result of advances in the commercial applicability of technologies and greater availability of capital for investment in these industries.  Our competitors, either alone or with collaborative partners, may succeed in developing, acquiring or licensing on an exclusive basis drug or biologic products that are more effective, safer, more easily commercialized or less costly than our product candidates or may develop proprietary technologies or secure patent protection that we may need for the development of our technologies and products. 

We rely on a license from Wistar for our CAR-T technology, and if we lose this license we may be subjected to future litigation.

We are party to a royalty-bearing license agreement that grants us rights to use certain intellectual property, including patents and patent applications.  We may need to obtain additional licenses from others to advance our research, development and commercialization activities.  Our license agreement imposes, and we expect that future license agreements if necessary will impose, various development, diligence, commercialization and other obligations on us.

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In spite of our efforts, our licensors might conclude that we have materially breached our obligations under such license agreements and might therefore terminate the license agreements, thereby removing or limiting our ability to develop and commercialize products and technology covered by these license agreements.  If these in-licenses are terminated, or if the underlying patents fail to provide the intended exclusivity, competitors or other third parties might have the freedom to seek regulatory approval of, and to market, products identical to ours and we may be required to cease our development and commercialization activities.  Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial conditions, results of operations and prospects.

Moreover, disputes may arise with respect to any one of our licensing agreements, including:

·        the scope of rights granted under the license agreement and other interpretation-related issues;

·        the extent to which our product candidates, technology and processes infringe on intellectual property of the licensor that is not subject to the licensing agreement;

·        the sublicensing of patent and other rights under the licensing agreement and our collaborative development relationships;

·        our diligence obligations under the license agreement and what activities satisfy those diligence obligations;

·        the inventorship and ownership of inventions and know-how resulting from the joint creation or use of intellectual property by our licensors and us and our partners; and

·        the priority of invention of patented technology.

If we do not prevail in such disputes, we may lose any of such license agreements.

In addition, the agreements under which we currently license intellectual property or technology from third parties are complex, and certain provisions in such agreements may be susceptible to multiple interpretations.  The resolution of any contract interpretation disagreement that may arise could narrow what we believe to be the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or technology, or increase what we believe to be our financial or other obligations under the relevant agreement, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.  Moreover, if disputes over intellectual property that we have licensed prevent or impair our ability to maintain our current licensing arrangements on commercially acceptable terms, we may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize the affected product candidates, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, results of operations and prospects.

Our failure to maintain such licenses could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.  Any of these licenses could be terminated, such as if either party fails to abide by the terms of the license, or if the licensor fails to prevent infringement by third parties or if the licensed patents or other rights are found to be invalid or unenforceable.  Absent the license agreements, we may infringe patents subject to those agreements, and if the license agreements are terminated, we may be subject to litigation by the licensor.  Litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.  If we do not prevail, we may be required to pay damages, including treble damages, attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses, royalties or, be enjoined from selling our products, which could adversely affect our ability to offer products, our ability to continue operations and our financial condition.

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Risks Related to Legacy Patent Licensing Activities

 

In connection with our legacy patent licensing activities, we may not be able to license our patent portfolios which may have an adverse impact on our future operations.

 

We may generate revenues and related cash flows from the licensing and enforcement of patents that we currently own from technologies that we develop and from the rights to license and enforce additional patents we have obtained and may obtain in the future, from third parties.  However, we can give no assurances that we will be able to identify opportunities to exploit such patents or that such opportunities, even if identified, will generate sufficient revenues to sustain future operations.

 

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We, in certain circumstances, rely on representations, warranties and opinions made by third parties that, if determined to be false or inaccurate, may expose us to certain material liabilities.

 

From time to time, we may rely upon the opinions of purported experts.  In certain instances, we may not have the opportunity to independently investigate and verify the facts upon which such opinions are made.  By relying on these opinions, we may be exposed to liabilities in connection with the licensing and enforcement of certain patents and patent rights which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

 

In connection with patent licensing activities conducted by certain of our subsidiaries, a court that has ruled unfavorably against us may also impose sanctions or award attorney’s fees, exposing us and our operating subsidiaries to certain material liabilities.

 

In connection with any of our patent licensing activities, it is possible that a court that has ruled against us may also impose sanctions or award attorney’s fees to defendants, exposing us or our operating subsidiaries to material liabilities, which could materially harm our operating results and our financial condition.

 

Our patented technologies have an uncertain market value.

Many of our patents and technologies are in the early stages of adoption in the commercial and consumer markets. Demand for some of these technologies is untested and is subject to fluctuation based upon the rate at which our licensees will adopt our patents and technologies in their products and services.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

 

The availabilityissuance or sale of shares for sale in the future to raise money or for strategic purposes could reduce the market price of our common stock.

 

In the future, we may issue securities to raise cash for operations, to pay down existing or then existing indebtedness, as consideration for the acquisition of assets, as consideration for receipt of goods or services, to pay for the development of our CchekÔplatform, to pay for the development of our CAR-T cancer therapeutics and for acquisitions of companies.  We have and in the future may issue securities convertible into our common stock.  Any of these events may dilute stockholders' ownership interests in our company and have an adverse impact on the price of our common stock.

 

In addition, sales of a substantial amount of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that these sales may occur, could reduce the market price of our common stock.  This could also impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of our securities.

 

Any actual or anticipated sales of shares by our stockholders may cause the trading price of our common stock to decline.  The sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock by our stockholders, or anticipation of such sales, could make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and at a price that we might otherwise wish to effect sales.

 

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Delaware law and our charter documents contain provisions that could discourage or prevent a potential takeover of our company that might otherwise result in our stockholders receiving a premium over the market price of their shares.

 

Provisions of Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) and our certificate of incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), and by-laws (“By-Laws”)By-Laws, could make the acquisition of our company by means of a tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and the removal of incumbent officers and directors, more difficult.  These provisions include:

 

·        Section 203 of the DGCL, which prohibits a merger with a 15%-or-greater stockholder, such as a party that has completed a successful tender offer, until three years after that party became a 15%-or-greater stockholder;

·        Thethe authorization in our Certificate of Incorporation of undesignated preferred stock, which could be issued without stockholder approval in a manner designed to prevent or discourage a takeover;

·        provisions in our By-Laws establishing advance notice requirements for nominations for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted on by stockholders at stockholder meetings; and

·        Provisionsprovisions in our By-Laws regarding stockholders' rights to call a special meeting of stockholders limit such rights to stockholders of record holding together at least a majority66 2/3% of shares of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting, which could make it more difficult for stockholders to wage a proxy contest for control of our Board of Directors or to vote to repeal any of the anti-takeover provisions contained in our Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws.

Together, these provisions may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that could otherwise involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our common stock.

 

We may fail to meet market expectations because of fluctuations in quarterly operating results, which could cause the price of our common stock to decline.

 

Our reported revenues and operating results have fluctuated in the past and may continue to fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter in the future, specifically as we continue to devote more of our resources towards our CchekÔdiagnostic technology.technology and our CAR-T cancer therapeutics.  It is possible that in future periods, we will have no revenue or, in any event, revenues could fall below the expectations of securities analysts or investors, which could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.  The following are among the factors that could cause our operating results to fluctuate significantly from period to period:

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·        clinical trial results relating to our diagnostic technology;

·        pre-clinical testing results relating to our CAR-T cancer therapeutics;

·        clinical trial results relating to our CAR-T cancer therapeutics;

·        progress with regulatory authorities towards the certification/approval of our diagnostic technology;

·         commercialization oftechnology or our diagnostic technology; andCAR-T cancer therapeutics;

·        costs related to acquisitions, alliances and licenses.

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Biotechnology company stock prices are especially volatile, and this volatility may depress the price of our common stock.

 

The stock market has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations, and the market prices of biotechnology companies have been highly volatile.  We believe that various factors may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate, perhaps substantially, including, among others, the following:

 

·        announcements of developments in the cancer diagnostic testing industry;industry or in the field of CAR-T therapeutics;

·        developments in relationships with third party vendors and laboratories;

·        announcements of developments in our remaining patent enforcement actions;

·        developments or disputes concerning our patents and other intellectual property;

·        our or our competitors' technological innovations;

·        variations in our quarterly operating results;

·        our failure to meet or exceed securities analysts' expectations of our financial results;

·        a change in financial estimates or securities analysts' recommendations;

·        changes in management's or securities analysts' estimates of our financial performance;

·        announcements by us or our competitors of significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, capital commitments, new technologies, or patents; and

·        the timing of or our failure to complete significant transactions.

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In addition, we believe that fluctuations in our stock price during applicable periods can also be impacted by changes in governmental regulations in the diagnostic testing industryand drug development industries and/or court rulings and/or other developments in our remaining patent licensing and enforcement actions.  For example, if government regulators no longer allow for the use of diagnostic technology that has not been granted FDA approval (e.g. denying products that have only received CLIA certification), the time and cost to bring our technology to market will increase which will likely have an adverse impact on our stock price.

 

In the past, companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been the objects of securities class action litigation.  If our common stock was the object of securities class action litigation due to volatility in the market price of our stock, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management's attention and resources, which could materially harm our business and financial results.

 

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Our common stock is currently listed on NASDAQ Capital Market, however if our common stock is delisted for any reason, it will become subject to the SEC’s penny stock rules which may make our shares more difficult to sell.

 

If our common stock is delisted from NASDAQ Capital Market, our common stock will then fit the definition of a penny stock and therefore would be subject to the rules adopted by the SEC regulating broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in penny stocks.  The SEC rules may have the effect of reducing trading activity in our common stock making it more difficult for investors to sell their shares.  The SEC’s rules require a broker or dealer proposing to effect a transaction in a penny stock to deliver the customer a risk disclosure document that provides certain information prescribed by the SEC, including, but not limited to, the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market.  The broker or dealer must also disclose the aggregate amount of any compensation received or receivable by him in connection with such transaction prior to consummating the transaction.  In addition, the SEC’s rules also require a broker or dealer to make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction before completion of the transaction.  The existence of the SEC’s rules may result in a lower trading volume of our common stock and lower trading prices.

 

We have issued a significant number of securities pursuant to our incentive plans and may continue to do so in the future.  The vesting and, if applicable, exercise of these securities and the sale of the shares of common stock issuable thereunder may dilute your percentage ownership interest and may also result in downward pressure on the price of our common stock.

As of the date of this report, we have issued and outstanding options to purchase 7,405,868 shares of our common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $2.75 and 1,500,000 restricted stock awards (including options to purchase 1,500,000 shares of our common stock and a restricted stock award of 1,500,000 shares of our common stock that vest based upon achievement of certain stock price based milestones issued to Dr. Kumar in May 2018).  Further, as of the date of this report, our Board of Directors and Compensation Committee have the authority to issue awards totaling an additional 2,800,000 shares of our common stock (not including any additional shares of common stock that will be available for issuance pursuant to the evergreen provisions in our 2010 Share Incentive Plan and our 2018 Share Incentive Plan on the first business day of the 2020 calendar year as described in more detail herein).  Additionally, we have registered for resale all of the shares of common stock issuable under our incentive plans.  Because the market for our common stock is thinly traded, the sales and/or the perception that those sales may occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.  Furthermore, the mere existence of a significant number of shares of common stock issuable upon vesting and, if applicable, exercise of these securities may be perceived by the market as having a potential dilutive effect, which could lead to a decrease in the price of our common stock.

U.S. federal income tax reform could adversely affect us and holders of our common stock.

On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed into law H.R. 1, originally known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” which significantly reformed the Internal Revenue Code.  The new legislation, among other things, changes the U.S. federal tax rates, imposes significant additional limitations on the deductibility of interest, allows the expensing of capital expenditures, and puts into effect the migration from a “worldwide” system of taxation to a territorial system.  Additionally, the legislation imposes a reduction to the maximum deduction allowed for NOLs generated in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, but allows such NOLs to be carried forward indefinitely.  We continue to examine the impact this tax reform legislation may have on us.  The impact of this tax reform, or of any future administrative guidance interpreting provisions thereof, on holders of our shares is uncertain and could be adverse.  This annual report does not discuss any such tax legislation or the manner in which it might affect holders of our shares.  We urge holders of our shares to consult with their legal and tax advisors with respect to any such legislation and the potential tax consequences of their ownership of our shares.

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We do not anticipate declaring any cash dividends on our common stock which may adversely impact the market price of our stock.

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not plan to pay any cash dividends in the near future.  Our current policy is to retain all funds and any earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business.  If we do not pay dividends, our stock may be less valuable to you because a return on your investment will only occur if our stock price appreciates.

 

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Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

None.

 

Item 2.       Properties.

We lease approximately 2,000 square feet of office space at 3150 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, California (our principal executive offices) from an unrelated party pursuant to a lease that expires September 30, 2019.  Our base rent is approximately $4,000 per month and the lease provides for annual increases of approximately 3% and an escalation clause for increases in certain operating costs.  We also lease approximately 3,000 square feet of office space at 12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California (our principalformer executive offices) from an unrelated party pursuant to a lease that expires May 31, 2019.  We vacated this space during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017 and are currently subleasing the space to an unrelated party.  Our base rent is approximately $11,000 per month and the lease provides for annual increases of approximately 3% and an escalation clause for increases in certain operating costs.  Our sublease pays rent of approximately $4,000 per month and terminates at the expiration of our lease of the premises.

 

Item 3.       Legal Proceedings.

Other than suitsas described below and lawsuits we bring to enforce our patent rights we are not a party to any material pending legal proceedings other than that which arise in the ordinary course of business.  We believe that any liability that may ultimately result from the resolution of these matters will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

On November 5, 2018, a putative shareholder derivative complaint was filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, captioned Howland v. Kumar et al., C.A. No. 2018-0804-KSJM, that alleges claims for breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment.  The complaint named as defendants certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors, and the Company is named solely as a nominal defendant.  The complaint seeks, on behalf of the Company, a declaration that the defendant officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties, unspecified damages, certain changes to the Company’s internal procedures, and an award of the plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees and costs.  The defendants moved to dismiss the complaint on November 29, 2018 and the parties are currently engaged in briefing the motion. Due to the early nature of the complaint and that the complaint does not specify a dollar amount of damages, we cannot make a reasonable estimate of potential losses at this time.

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Item 4.       Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

PART II

 

Item 5.       Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

Market Information

 

Since July 2015, ourOur common stock has tradedtrades on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “ITUS”“ANIX”.  Prior to July 2015, our common stock traded on the OTCQB.  The high and low sales prices as reported by the NASDAQ Capital Market and OTCQB for each quarterly fiscal period during our fiscal years ended October 31, 20162018 and 20152017 is as follows (all sales prices below reflect our one-for-twenty-five reverse stock split which was effected in June 2015):follows: 

 

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Fiscal Period

High

Low

4th quarter 2018

$6.86

$3.10

3rd quarter 2018

  3.87

  2.96

2nd quarter 2018

  5.49

  2.62

1st quarter 2018

  6.43

  1.90

4th quarter 2017

$5.25

$0.60

3rd quarter 2017

  2.05

  0.71

2nd quarter 2017

  5.50

  1.85

1st quarter 2017

  6.60

  4.20

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Fiscal Period

High

Low

 4th quarter 2016

$6.82

$2.85

 3rd quarter 2016

3.70

2.55

2nd quarter 2016

3.31

1.88

 1st quarter 2016

4.85

2.01

 

 

 

 4th quarter 2015

$6.00

$3.50

 3rd quarter 2015

6.40

1.75

2nd quarter 2015

4.10

1.39

 1st quarter 2015

5.53

2.25

 

 

 

 

Holders

 

As of November 30, 2016,January 9, 2019, the approximate number of record holders of our common stock was 299325 and the closing price of our common stock was $5.70$3.90 per share.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

 

See “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.”

 

Dividend Policy

 

No cash dividends have been paid on our common stock since our inception.  We have no present intention to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

DuringThe Company did not issue any unregistered securities during the three months ended October 31, 2016, the Company issued an aggregate2018.

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Table of 1,038 shares of our common stock to various companies in payment of public relations and investor relations services. The common stock was issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as they were issued to accredited investors, without a view to distribution, and were not issued through any general solicitation or advertisement.

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Item 6.       Selected Financial Data.

            Not required for a smaller reporting company.

 

Item 7.       Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

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General

 

In reviewing Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, you should refer to our Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes related thereto.

 

Results of Operations

 

Fiscal Year ended October 31, 20162018 compared with Fiscal Year ended October 31, 20152017

 

Revenue from Licensing Activities

In fiscal year 2016,2018, we recorded revenue from licensing activities of $300,000approximately $1,113,000 from two license agreements.  In fiscal year 2015,2017, we recorded revenue of approximately $363,000 from licensing activities of $255,000 from sixone license agreements and $9,000,000 from AUO as described below.agreement.  The license agreements each provided for a one-time, non-recurring, lump sum paymentspayment in exchange for non-exclusive retroactive and future licenses, and/or covenants not to sue.  Accordingly, the earnings process from these licenses was complete and 100% of the revenue was recognized upon execution of the license agreements.

Revenue from Settlement with AU Optronics Corporation

We did not record any revenue from the settlement with AUO during the fiscal year 2016.  Revenue from the settlement with AUO was $9,000,000agreement.  As discussed in fiscal year 2015.  On December 29, 2014,Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements, as part of our legacy operations, the Company and AUO entered intoremains engaged in limited patent licensing activities which we do not expect to be a Settlement Agreement (the “AUO Settlement Agreement”) and a Patent Assignment Agreement (the “AUO Patent Assignment Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company received an aggregatesignificant part of $9,000,000 from AUO.  The AUO Settlement Agreement and the AUO Patent Assignment Agreement were entered into to resolve a lawsuit filed by the Company against AUO in January of 2013, in connection with the joint development and commercialization of two of the Company’s thin-film display technologies.our ongoing operations or revenue.

 

Inventor Royalties, and Contingent Legal Fees, Litigation and Licensing Expenses Related to Patent Assertion

 

Inventor royalties, and contingent legal fees, decreasedlitigation and licensing expenses related to patent assertion activities increased by approximately $36,000$663,000 in fiscal year 2016,2018, to approximately $111,000,$768,000, from approximately $148,000$105,000 in fiscal year 2015.2017.  The decreaseincrease was primarily due to the decreaseincrease in revenue from licensing activities.related revenues.  Inventor royalties and contingent legal fees are expensed in the period that the related revenues are recognized.  The economic terms of patent agreements and contingent legal fee arrangements vary across the patent portfolios owned or controlled by the Company. 

Litigation and Licensing Expenses

Litigation and licensing expenses decreased by approximately $3,395,000related to approximately $106,000 in fiscal year 2016, from approximately $3,501,000 in fiscal year 2015. Litigation and licensing expenses included approximately $3,298,000 ofpatent assertion, other than contingent legal fees, and litigation costsare expensed in fiscal year 2015, related to the settlement with AUO.

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Amortization of Patents

 

Amortization of patents was approximately $325,000 in fiscal years 20162018 and 2015.2017.  We capitalize patent and patent rights acquisition costs and amortize the cost over the estimated economic useful life.  During fiscal year 2016,2018, we did not capitalize any patents or patent rights.

 

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Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses are related to the development of our early cancer detection and cancer immuno-therapy drug platforms and increased by approximately $845,000$5,215,000 to approximately $1,556,000$6,813,000 in fiscal year 2016,2018, from approximately $711,000$1,598,000 in fiscal 2015.year 2017.  The increase in research and development expenses was primarily due to an increase in employee stock option compensation expense of approximately $2,593,000, the granting of an employee stock awards of approximately $1,602,000, the costs in connectionassociated with the commencement of our collaboration with Moffitt for the development of CchekÔ, including increasedour CAR-T ovarian cancer treatment of approximately $403,000, an increase in employee compensation and related costs, other than equity-based compensation, of approximately $381,000, the costs associated with our license from Wistar for our CAR-T technology of approximately $290,000 that we entered into during the fiscal year 2018 and an increase in stock option compensation expense for options granted to consultants, primarily members of our scientific advisory board, of approximately $626,000 and increased costs related to our collaboration with Wistar of approximately $121,000.$114,000.

 

Marketing, General and Administrative Expenses

Marketing, general

General and administrative expenses decreasedincreased by approximately $2,805,000$2,501,000 to approximately $2,710,000$6,912,000 in fiscal year 2016,2018, from approximately $5,515,000$4,411,000 in fiscal 2015.year 2017.  The decreaseincrease in marketing, general and administrative expenses was principally due to a decreasean increase in employee stock option compensation expense of approximately $1,272,000,$1,902,000, the granting of an employee stock award of approximately $1,258,000, an increase in legal and accounting fees of approximately $180,000 due primarily to our at-the-market equity programs, the defense of the Howland Matter, potential acquisitions and collaborative arrangements and the filing of registration statements, an increase in stock option compensation expense for options granted to consultants, primarily associated with strategic alliances, of approximately $147,000, offset by a decrease in board compensation expense of approximately $454,000 resulting from the fiscal year 2017 grant of shares of Company common stock to the independent directors, a decrease in employee compensation and related costs, other than stock option expense,equity-based compensation, of approximately $552,000, a decrease in consultant stock option expense of approximately $484,000, a decrease in consulting and outside services expense other than stock option expenses of approximately $276,000,$261,000 resulting primarily from the fiscal year 2017 severance arrangement with our former chief executive officer and a decrease in legal and accounting fees of approximately $224,000, offset by an increase in investor relations and public relationsrent expense of approximately $198,000.$115,000 resulting from the fiscal year 2017 relocation of our principal executive offices.

 

Interest ExpenseImpairment in Carrying Amount of Patent Assets

 

Interest expense increased byThe impairment in carrying amount of patent assets related to our legacy patent licensing activities of approximately $68,000 to approximately $520,000$583,000 in fiscal year 2016,2018 resulted from approximately $452,000 in fiscal 2015. Interest expense in fiscal years 2016 and 2015 consistedthe write down of accreted interest onthe value of our patent acquisition obligation. assets to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows we anticipate receiving from the patent assets as of October 31, 2018.

 

Interest IncomeGain on Extinguishment of Patent Acquisition Obligation

 

24The gain on extinguishment of patent acquisition obligation of approximately $1,548,000 in fiscal year 2017 resulted from the difference in the carrying value of the patent acquisition obligation and the fair value of the shares of common stock issued to satisfy the obligation on the date of extinguishment.

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Interest income decreased toExpense

Interest expense of approximately $13,000$500,000 in fiscal year 20162017 resulted from a patent acquisition obligation which was extinguished in fiscal year 2017.  Accordingly, there was no interest expense recorded in fiscal year 2018.

Interest Income

Interest income increased to approximately $46,000 in fiscal year 2018 compared to approximately $18,000$19,000 in fiscal year 2015,2017, due to a decreasean increase in funds available for short-term investments.

Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

The net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest of approximately $247,000 in fiscal year 2018 represents Wistar’s 5% ownership interest in Certainty’s net loss for the fiscal year.  Wistar’s interest in Certainty commenced in fiscal year 2018 and accordingly, there was no net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in fiscal year 2017.

Deemed Dividend to Preferred Stockholder

The deemed dividend to preferred stockholder of approximately $2,009,000 in fiscal year 2017 resulted from the redemption of our Series A preferred stock.  The difference between the fair value of the consideration given to the holder of our Series A preferred stock and the carrying value of the Series A preferred stock represented a return to the preferred stockholder and was treated in a similar manner as that of dividends paid on preferred stock.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash, cash equivalents and short term investments.

 

Based on currently available information as of December 7, 2016,January 11, 2019, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and expected cash flows from operations will not be sufficient to fund our activities and debt obligations for the next 12twelve months.  Our basic monthly overhead expenses are approximately $300,000, excluding paymentsHowever, our projections of principalfuture cash needs and interest due on our Redemption Debenture in 2017. To date, we have relied primarily upon cash flows may differ from the public and private sale of equity and debt securities, as well as net proceeds from the December 2014 AUO settlement, to generate the working capital needed to finance our operations.actual results.  If current cash on hand, cash equivalents, short term investments and cash that may be generated from our business operations are insufficient to continue to operate our business (including for the defense of the Howland Matter), or if we willelect to invest in or acquire a company or companies that are synergistic with or complimentary to our technologies, we may be required to obtain more working capital.  During fiscal year 2018, we raised approximately $2,470,000 through an at-the-market equity offering which is currently effective and may remain available for us to use in the future.  We may seek to obtain working capital during our fiscal year 2019 or thereafter through sales of our equity securities or through bank credit facilities or public or private debt from various financial institutions where possible and as permitted pursuant to the Redemption Debenture which prohibits the Company from incurring any senior indebtedness other than equipment financing in connection with the Company’s business.possible.  We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all.  If we do identify sources for additional funding,the sale of additional equity securities or convertible debt could result in dilution to our stockholders.  Additionally, the sale of equity securities or issuance of debt securities may be subject to certain security holder approvals or may result in the downward adjustment of the exercise or conversion price of our outstanding securities.  We can give no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flows in the future to satisfy our liquidity requirements or sustain future operations, or that other sources of funding, such as sales of equity or debt, would be available or would be approved by our security holders, if needed, on favorable terms or at all.  If we fail to obtain additional working capital as and when needed, such failure could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.  Furthermore, such lack of funds may inhibit our ability to respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated capital needs, or may force us to reduce operating expenses, which would significantly harm the business and development of operations.

 

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern.  In order for us to have sufficient capital to execute our business plan, fund our operations and meet our debt obligations over the next 12 months, we will need to raise additional capital.  Although we have been successful in the past in raising capital, we cannot provide any assurance that we will be successful in doing so in the future to the extent necessary to be able to fund our operating activities and debt obligations over the next 12 months, which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.  Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome38


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During the year ended October 31, 2016,2018, cash used in operating activities was approximately $3,382,000.$4,273,000.  Cash provided by investing activities was approximately $1,503,000, which resulted$1,462,000, resulting from the proceeds on maturitymaturities of certificates of deposit totaling $3,550,000$5,750,000 which was offset by the purchasepurchases of certificates of deposit totaling $1,900,000$4,250,000 and the purchase of property and equipment of approximately $147,000.  Our cash used in$38,000.  Cash provided by financing activities was approximately $3,000, which resulted$2,528,000, resulting from a royalty paymentthe sale of common stock in an at-the-market equity offering of approximately $36,000 applied to the patent acquisition obligation liability, offset by$2,470,000 and the proceeds from exercise of stock options of approximately $34,000.$58,000.  As a result, our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at October 31, 20162018 decreased approximately $3,531,000$1,783,000 to approximately $3,238,000$5,056,000 from approximately $6,769,000$6,839,000 at the end of fiscal year 2015.

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In October 2015, the Company entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with National Securities Corporation (“National”) to create an at-the-market equity program under which the company could sell up to $10,000,000 worth of its common stock (the “Shares”) from time to time through National, as sales agent. On December 2, 2016, the Company terminated the Agreement with National.2017.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have no variable interest entities or other significant off-balance sheet obligation arrangements.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  In preparing these financial statements, we make assumptions, judgments and estimates that can have a significant impact on amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements.  We base our assumptions, judgments and estimates on historical experience and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Actual results could differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.  On a regular basis, we evaluate our assumptions, judgments and estimates and make changes accordingly.

 

We believe that, of the significant accounting policies discussed in Note 32 to our consolidated financial statements, the following accounting policies require our most difficult, subjective or complex judgments:

 

·Revenue Recognition; and

·Stock-Based Compensation

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenue is recognized when (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) all obligations have been substantially performed pursuant to the terms of the arrangement, (iii) amounts are fixed or determinable, and (iv) the collectability of amounts is reasonably assured.

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Patent Licensing

 

In certain instances, our past revenue arrangements have provided for the payment of contractually determined fees in settlement of litigation and in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company.  These arrangements typically include some combination of the following:  (i) the grant of a non-exclusive, retroactive and future license to manufacture and/or sell products covered by patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company, (ii) a covenant-not-to-sue, (iii) the release of the licensee from certain claims, and (iv) the dismissal of any pending litigation.  In such instances, the intellectual property rights granted have been perpetual in nature, extending until the expiration of the related patents.  Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, management believes we have no further obligations.  As such, the earnings process was determined to be complete and revenue has been recognized upon the execution of the agreement, when collectability was reasonably assured, and when all other revenue recognition criteria were met.

 

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Stock-Based Compensation

 

We account for stock options and stock awards granted to employees and directors using the accounting guidance in ASC 718.  We718 and recognize compensation expense for stock option awards over the requisite or implied service period of the grant.  Wegrant, based on the grant date fair value.  For service-based stock options we use the Black-Scholes pricing model to estimate grant date fair value and for stock awards that vest on date of grant we use grant date market value as fair value.  For stock options and stock awards that vest based on market conditions, such as the trading price of the Company’s common stock exceeding certain price targets, we use a Monte Carlo Simulation in estimating the fair value.

During the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, we recorded stock-based compensation expense related to stock options granted to employees and directors of approximately $874,000$5,718,000 and $2,192,000 during the years ended$1,219,000, respectively, and stock based compensation expense related to stock awards granted to employees and directors, of approximately $2,860,000 and $454,000, respectively.  As of October 31, 20162018, we had unrecognized compensation costs of approximately $6,920,000 related to service-based stock options, approximately $375,000 related to market condition stock options and 2015, respectively.  approximately $1,954,000 related to market condition stock awards granted to employees and directors, which will be recognized in future periods based on the service period of the grant.

We account for stock options and stock awards granted to consultants using the accounting guidance under ASC 505-50.  We recognized stock-based505-50 and recognize compensation expense over the requisite or implied service period of the grant.  For service-based and performance-based stock options we use the Black-Scholes pricing model to estimate fair value at each reporting period and for stock options granted to non-employee consultants duringawards that vest on date of grant we use grant date market value as fair value.  During the years ended October 31, 20162018 and 2015,2017 we recorded consulting expense related to stock options granted to consultants of approximately $-0-$261,000 and $484,000,$3,000, respectively, and consulting expense related to stock awards granted to consultants of approximately $15,000 and $32,000, respectively. 

As of October 31, 2016, there was2018, we had unrecognized compensation costconsulting expense of approximately $249,000 related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements forservice-based stock options granted to employees and directors of approximately $1,139,000,consultants, which will be recognized in future periods upon vestingbased on the service period of the stock options.  grant.

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Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of stock-based awards requires judgment, including estimating stock price volatility, forfeiture rates and expected term.  If factors change and we employ different assumptions in the application of ASC 718 and ASC 505-50 in future periods, the compensation expense that we record may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period.  See Note 32 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.

 

Effect of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014,We discuss the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB")effect of recently issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 (“ASU 2014-09”), Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This amendment updates addressing revenue from contracts with customers, which clarifies existing accounting literature relatingpronouncements in Note 2 to how and when a company recognizes revenue. Under the standard, a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services.  This standard update is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and are to be applied retrospectively or the cumulative effect as of the date of adoption, with early application not permitted.  In July 2015, a one-year deferral of the effective date of the new guidance was approved.  We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.statements.

 

In June 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-12 (“ASU 2014-12”), Compensation – Stock Compensation. This amendment requires that a performance target that affects vesting and could be achieved after the requisite service period shall be treated as a performance condition. Adoption of this standard is required for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect this update to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-15 (“ASU 2014-15”). This amendment requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern every reporting period including interim periods, and to provide related footnote disclosure in certain circumstances. Adoption of this standard is required for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and are to be applied retrospectively or the cumulative effect as of the date of adoption. We do not expect this update to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 (“ASU 2015-03”) to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs. This amendment requires debt issuance costs be presented on the balance sheet as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability, consistent with debt discounts or premiums. Adoption of this standard is required for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and is to be applied retrospectively. The adoption of this amendment on November 1, 2016 did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-17 (“ASU 2015-17”) to simplify the presentation of deferred taxes. This amendment requires that all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with any related valuation allowances, be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet.  Adoption of this standard is required for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016.  We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2015-17 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 (“ASU 2016-02”) which requires lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet. This is expected to increase both reported assets and liabilities. The new lease standard does not substantially change lessor accounting. For public companies, the standard will be effective for the first interim reporting period within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, although early adoption is permitted. Lessees and lessors will be required to apply the new standard at the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements in which they first apply the new guidance, using a modified retrospective transition method.  The requirements of this standard include a significant increase in required disclosures.  We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 (“ASU 2016-09”) that changes the accounting for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees.  The new guidance requires all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. It also allows an employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares than it can today for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting and to make a policy election for forfeitures as they occur. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2016-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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Item 7A.         Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Not required for a smaller reporting company.


Item 8.            Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

See accompanying “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

 

Item 9.            Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None.

 

Item 9A.         Controls and ProceduresProcedures.

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act.  Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief FinancialOperating Officer and Vice President - Finance,Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Exchange Act.  Based upon that evaluation, our President and Chief Executive Officer and theour Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer and Vice President - Finance concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of fiscal year 2016.2018.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act.  Our management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, does not expect that our internal controls over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud.  A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide full assurance that the objectives of the control system are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.  Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

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Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2016.2018.  In making this assessment, our management used the criteria for effective internal control set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in the 2013 Internal Control – Integrated Framework.  Based on this assessment, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of October 31, 2016.

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This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.  Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to a permanent exemption of the Commission that permits the Company to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Accordingly, our management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 20162018 has not been audited by our auditors, Haskell & White LLP.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 20162018 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B.          Other Information.

 

Redemption of Series A PreferredNone.

 

On September 9, 2014, we issued 140 shares of Series A Preferred having an aggregate value of $3,500,000 and the September 2014 Warrant to purchase 370,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The September 2014 Warrant expired on November 11, 2016.  Holders of our Series A Preferred had a one-time right to require the Company to redeem the Series A Preferred shares, which right was set to expire on November 11, 2016. Under its terms, the Series A Preferred could only be redeemed from the proceeds of the sale of the Company’s equity securities.  On November 11, 2016 the holder of all of our outstanding Series A Preferred exercised its right of redemption. On December 6, 2016, we entered into an agreement with the holder of the Series A Preferred setting forth the terms under which such redemption would take place in lieu of paying the redemption from proceeds of sales of equity securities. Pursuant to the Redemption Agreement, upon closing the holder of the Series A Preferred will receive (i) $500,000 in cash  (ii) a 12% secured debenture evidencing the remaining $3,000,000 amount to be redeemed, and (iii) a 5 year warrant to purchase 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock.

The Redemption Debenture shall be paid in cash by the Company as follows: $1,000,000 of the principal amount shall be paid on or before June 1, 2017, and the remaining $2,000,000 of the principal amount shall be paid on or before November 11, 2017. Interest shall accrue on any unpaid principal of the Redemption Debenture at the rate of 12% per annum, payable in cash on the first day of each calendar quarter beginning 90 days after issuance of the Redemption Debenture, with all accrued and unpaid interest to be paid with the final payment of principal under the Redemption Debenture (regardless of such repayment date). The Redemption Debenture is secured by a lien on the Company’s assets and prohibits the Company from incurring any senior indebtedness other than equipment financing in connection with the Company’s business.

The warrant grants the holder the right to purchase 500,000 shares of common stock (such shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant, the “Warrant Shares”) at an exercise price equal to 10% below the thirty (30) day volume weighted average closing price of our common stock at closing. The warrant expires on November 30, 2021.  If there is not an effective registration statement covering the Warrant Shares, the warrant may be exercised on a cashless basis, otherwise the warrant holder must exercise for cash. 

Pursuant to the warrant, the investor may not exercise its warrant if such exercise would result in the investor beneficially owning in excess of 4.99% of our then issued and outstanding common stock.  A holder may, however, increase this limitation (but in no event exceed 9.99% of the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding) by providing the Company with 61 days’ notice that such holder wishes to increase this limitation.  In connection with this transaction, the Company granted the investor registration rights with respect to the Warrant Shares. 

Termination of Sales Agreement

On December 2, 2016, the Company terminated its Sales Agreement with National. The Sales Agreement, which was entered into on October 2, 2015 between the parties, created an at-the-market equity program under which the Company could sell up to $10,000,000 worth of its common stock from time to time through National, as sales agent. The Company did not sell any securities pursuant to the Sales Agreement. The Company elected to terminate the Sales Agreement because it did not desire to pursue an at-the-market equity program.

PART III

 

Item 10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

 

(a)        Our Directors and Executive Officers

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The following table sets forth certain information with respect to all of our directors and executive officers:

 

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Position with the Company and

Principal Occupation

 

 

 

Director and/or

 Executive Officer Since

Name

Age

 

Position with the Company and
Principal Occupation

 

Age

Director and/or
Executive Officer Since

Dr. Amit Kumar

Executive Chairman of the Board

52

2012

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief

Executive Officer

54

2012

Robert A. Berman

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer

53

2012

Dale Fox

Director

49

2014

Lewis H. Titterton, Jr.

Lead Independent Director

74

2017

Dr. John Monahan

Director

72

2016

Dr. Arnold Baskies

Director

67

2016

Director

69

2018

Dr. John Monahan

Director

70

2016

David Cavalier

Director

49

2018

Michael J. Catelani

Chief Financial Officer

50

2016

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer

52

2016

 

We believe that our Board represents a desirable mix of backgrounds, skills, and experiences.  The principal occupation and business experience during the last five years for our executive officers and directors and some of the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to the conclusion that each person should serve as one of our directors in light of our business and structure is as follows:

 

Dr. Amit Kumar, 52, Executive 54, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Chairman of Anixa DiagnosticsOfficer.  . Dr. Kumar has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since July 2017, as a director of the Company since November 30, 2012 and as Chairman of the Board since August 23, 2016.  From June 15, 2015 until August 23, 2016, Dr. Kumarhe served as Vice Chairman of the Company.Board.  Dr. Kumar served as a strategic advisor to the Company since September 19, 2012.  Dr. KumarHe has been Executive Chairman of the board of directors of Anixa Diagnostics Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company since June 15, 2015.  Upon his appointment as Executive Chairman of Anixa, Dr. Kumar resigned from his position as the CEO of Geo Fossil Fuels LLC, an energy company, which he had held since December 2010.  From September 2001 to June 2010, Dr. Kumarhe was President and CEO of CombiMatrix Corporation, a NASDAQ listed biotechnology company and also served as director from September 2000 to June 2012.  Dr. KumarHe was Vice President of Life Sciences of Acacia Research Corporation, a publicly traded investment company, from July 2000 to August 2007 and also served as a director from January 2003 to August 2007.  Dr. Kumar has served as Chairman of the board of directors of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a publicly-held solar energy company, since June 2007, and2007.  He served as a director of Aeolus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly traded biotechnology company, from June 2004 to June 2018.  Dr. Kumar is Chairman of BioCeryx, Inc., a private diagnostic company, Actym Therapeutics, a private biotechnology company, and Ambrosia Medical, LLC, a private age-related therapy company.  Dr. Kumar has served on the board of the American Cancer Society since June 2004.2016.  Dr. Kumar holds an A.B. in Chemistry from Occidental CollegeCollege.  After graduate studies at Stanford University and Caltech, he received his Ph.D. from Caltech and completed his post-doctoral training at Harvard University.  Dr. KumarHe has experience in technology driven startups, both at the board of directors and operating levels, in a broad variety of areas including finance, acquisitions, R&D,research and development, and marketing, and, as described above, has served as a director andand/or officer of anothervarious publicly traded company.companies.

 

Robert A. Berman, 53, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Berman has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since September 19, 2012 and was elected to our Board on November 30, 2012. Mr. Berman has experience in a broad variety of areas including finance, acquisitions, marketing, and the development, licensing, and monetization of intellectual property.  He was recently the CEO of IP Dispute Resolution Corporation (“IPDR”), a consulting company focused on technology licensing and product development, from March 2007 to September 2012. Prior to IPDR, Mr. Berman was the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Acacia Research Corporation from 2000 to March 2007.   Mr. Berman holds a J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law and a B.S. in Entrepreneurial Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.  Mr. Berman has experience in both investing in and starting new ventures and new technologies, in areas including finance, acquisitions, operations, and marketing, and has served as an officer of another publicly traded company.

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Dale Fox, 49, DirectorLewis H. Titterton, Jr., 74, Director.  . Mr.Fox is an entrepreneur Titterton has served as a director since July 2017, and innovator who has launched many companies.as Lead Independent Director since July 2018.  He is currentlypreviously served as a director of the CEO of Tribogenics, a start-up company he co-founded inCompany from August 2010 that develops portable, powerful X-ray devices based, in part, upon a technology conceived and licensed fromthrough August 2016, as the University of California, Los Angeles.  Mr. Fox has raised numerous rounds of capital for many types of companies, including venture capital, strategic investments, and other financings.  Mr. Fox has built executive and advisory teams. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business. Since 2009, Mr. Fox has taught at the Founders Institute where he teaches classes on start-ups and continues to mentor young entrepreneurs.  Mr. Fox is an experienced startup entrepreneur and inventor who has successfully launched a number of companies.  As a result, Mr. Fox has gained experience is a broad variety of other areas including finance, research and development and marketing.

Dr. Arnold Baskies, 67, Director.  Dr. Baskies, Vice Chairman of the NationalBoard from July 2012 through August 2016, and interim Chief Executive Officer from August 2012 until September 2012.  Mr. Titterton is currently Chairman of the Board of NYMED, Inc., a diversified health services company, and he serves on the board of directors of ParkerVision, Inc., a publicly traded wireless technology company.  His background is in high technology with an emphasis on health care and he has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of NYMED, Inc. since 1989.  Mr. Titterton founded MedE America, Inc. in 1986 and was Chief Executive Officer of Management and Planning Services, Inc. from 1978 to 1986.  Mr. Titterton also served as one of our Directors from July 1999 to January 2003. He holds an MBA from the American Cancer Society, isState University of New York at Albany, and a board certified general surgeon and fellowship trained surgical oncologist with special interests in breast cancer, thyroid cancer, and melanoma. Dr. BaskiesB.A. degree from Cornell University.  Mr. Titterton has been involved with our Company as a memberdirector or investor for over twenty years.  Mr. Titterton also has substantial experience with advising on the strategic development of Virtua Surgical Specialists, a multi-specialty practice since 2011. In addition to his pioneering efforts to promote the latest surgicaltechnology companies and nonsurgical techniques, including minimally invasive surgery (and advanced radioguided techniques) for diseasesover forty years of experience in various aspects of the breast, thyroid, and parathyroid glands, he has cared for thousands of surgical patients in his 30-year career. Dr. Baskies received his Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa at Boston University, graduated from the Boston University School of Medicine, completed his surgical residency at Boston Medical Center, and had fellowship training in surgical oncology at the National Cancer Institute.technology industry.

 

Dr. John Monahan, 70,72, Director.  Dr. Monahan has served on our Board since August 2016.  He is an experienced executive and has served on a number of biotechnology company boards over the years.  He is currently a Scientific Advisory Consultant for Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: SYN), a publicly traded biotechnology company, and from 2010 through 2015 he was the Sr. Executive Vice President of Research & Development at Synthetic Biologics, Inc.  He is also a director of Heat Biologics, Inc. (Nasdaq: HTBX), a publicly traded biotechnology company, a position that he has held since 2011, and was a director of Tacere Therapeutics, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Benitec Biopharma Limited (Nasdaq: BNTC)privately held biotechnology company, from 2006 to 2015.2012.  In addition to his work with public companies, Dr. Monahan is also currently a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Agilis Biotherapeutics, Inc., a position that he has held since 2014, and is a board member of several other biotechnology companies.  In addition, in 1992 he founded Avigen, Inc., a biotech company that pioneered the development of gene medicines based on adeno-associated virus vectors, now an industry standard.  Over a 12-year period as its CEO, Dr. Monahan took Avigen public through an initial public offering raising over $235M$235 million and led the company through several Investigational New Drug (IND)IND applications.  Prior to Avigen, Dr. Monahan served as Vice President - Research and Development at Somatix B.V., and Director of Molecular & Cell Biology at Triton Biosciences, Inc.  He was also previously Research Group Chief, Department of Molecular Genetics at Hoffmann-LaRoche Inc., and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Cell Biology at New York University.  Dr. Monahan earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, and a B.S. in Science from University College, Dublin, Ireland.  Dr. Monahan has over 50 publications in scientific literature and has made hundreds of presentations and public TV appearances, to scientific groups, investors and the general public over the years.

 

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Dr. Arnold Baskies, 69, Director.  Dr. Baskies has served on our Board since September 2018.  He previously served as a director of the Company from August 2016 until September 2017.  Arnold M. Baskies, MD, FACS, is a surgical oncologist at Virtua Health Systems in southern New Jersey, where he specializes in surgical oncology and general surgery.  He trained at Boston University Medical Center and the Surgery Branch of the National Cancer Institute (“NIH”) where his early research involved immunotherapy.  He has extensive experience in all facets of general surgical problems, with special interests in the treatment of breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, thyroid cancer, melanoma, and parathyroid disease, and is a co-investigator in several national studies dealing with breast cancer prevention.  He served as chairman of the New Jersey Governor’s Task Force on Early Detection, Prevention and Treatment of Cancer, having created and chaired the cancer control plan for the state from 2000-2016, and is a member of numerous societies, including the Society of Surgical Oncology, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons.  Dr. Baskies has been involved with the American Cancer Society for 40 years.  He was awarded the Society’s Silver Chalice Award in 1998 and the Society’s St. George National Award in 2009.  He has held leadership positions at many levels of the organization, including service as the first board scientific officer for the American Cancer Society Board of Directors in 2015, and was the chief medical officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the former Eastern Division of the American Cancer Society.  In 2017, he served as the Chairman of the Board of the American Cancer Society.  He presently serves as immediate past chair of the American Cancer Society Board of Directors, having served as a member of the Board of Directors since 2013.  He currently chairs the Global Cancer Control Advisory Council for the society.  He received a medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine in 1975 and a bachelor of arts degree from Boston University College of Liberal Arts in 1971.

David Cavalier, 49, Director.  Mr. Cavalier has served on our Board since September 2018.  He is a seasoned executive and investor with over 20 years of experience in the biotechnology sector.  He is currently the President and Chief Operating Officer of Ambrosia Medical, LLC, a company providing therapy for age-related diseases.  Previously, he was the Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Aeolus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company where in 2011 he was instrumental in winning and managing a $118 million advanced research and development contract from the U.S. Government.  Prior to Aeolus, Mr. Cavalier was the founder, portfolio manager and Chief Operating Officer of Xmark Opportunity Partners, a biotechnology investment firm.  Xmark was an activist fund, focused on creating positive change at the board and management level for portfolio companies.  He began his biotech investment career at Brown Simpson Asset Management, where he co-managed the life sciences investment group.  Mr. Cavalier previously worked for Tiger Real Estate, a private investment fund sponsored by Tiger Management Corporation.  He began his career in the Investment Banking Division of Goldman, Sachs & Co. working on debt and equity offerings for public and private real estate companies.  Mr. Cavalier currently serves as the Chairman of the New York Advisory Board for Enterprise Community Partners, a non-profit focused on policy, program and capital solutions for affordable housing.  He received his B.A. from Yale University and his M.Phil. from Oxford University.

Michael J. Catelani, 50,52, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer.Mr. Catelani has served as our Chief Operating Officer since July 2017 and as Chief Financial Officer since November 1, 2016. Previously,  Mr. Catelani is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in finance and operations.  From October 2012 to July 2017, he served as a contract Chief Financial Officer to a number of established privately held businesses in the biotechnology field.  In July 2006, he co-founded Tacere Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company, and served as its Chairman, President and Chief Financial Officer until its sale.sale in October 2012.  While at Tacere, Mr. Catelani was instrumental in establishing and managing a $150 million drug development collaboration with Pfizer, Inc.  Prior to Tacere, Mr. Catelanihe served on the Board of Directors and was the Chief Financial Officer of Benitec Biopharma Limited, an Australian Stock Exchange-listed biotechnology company.  Prior to Benitec, Mr. Catelani served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Axon Instruments, Inc., a U.S. corporation publicly traded on the Australian Stock Exchange that was a leading designer and manufacturer of instrumentation and software systems for biotechnology and diagnostics research.  Prior to Axon, Mr. Catelanihe served as the Vice President of Finance for Media Arts Group, Inc., an NYSE-listed company.  Mr. Catelani has also worked with several early stage start-up companies in a variety of industries, including biotechnology, retail, waste water recovery, and distributed power generation, in both advisory and management roles and has served as a contract Chief Financial Officer to a number of established businesses in the biotechnology field.roles.  Mr. Catelani began his professional career at Ernst & Young and is a CPA.  He received hisholds a B.S. degree in business administration, with a concentration in accountancy, from Sacramento State University and earned hisan MBA from the University of California, Davis.

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Except forOf our current directors and executive officers, Drs. Kumar and Monahan none of our current directors or executive officers hasand Messrs. Titterton and Cavalier have served as a director of another public company within the past five years.

 

(c)       Our Significant Employees

 

We have no significant employees other than our executive management team.

 

(d)       Family Relationships

 

There are no family relationships between or among the directors, executive officers or persons nominated or chosen by the Company to become directors or executive officers.

 

(e)        Involvement of Certain Legal Proceedings

 

To the best of our knowledge, during the past ten years, none of the following occurred with respect to a present or former director or executive officer of the Company:  (1) any bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time; (2) any conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses); (3) being subject to any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his or her involvement in any type of business, securities or banking activities; (4) being found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the Commission or the Commodities Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended or vacated; (5) being subject of, or a party to, any Federal or State judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree or finding relating to an alleged violation of the federal or state securities, commodities, banking or insurance laws or regulations or any settlement thereof or involvement in mail or wire fraud in connection with any business entity not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated and (6) being subject of, or a party to, any disciplinary sanctions or orders imposed by a stock, commodities or derivatives exchange or other self-regulatory organization.

 

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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers and ten percent stockholders to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock with the Commission.  Directors, executive officers and ten percent stockholders are also required to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file.  Based upon a review of these filings, we believe that all required Section 16(a) reports were made on a timely basis during fiscal year 2016.2018.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a formal code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions.  We will provide a copy of our code of ethics to any person without charge, upon request.  For a copy of our code of ethics write to Secretary, ITUS Corporation, 12100 Wilshire Boulevard,Anixa Biosciences, Inc., 3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 1275, Los Angeles, California.250, San Jose, California 95118.

 

Nomination Procedures

On July 9, 2015, the Board established a nominating and corporate governance committee (the “Nominating Committee”).  The Nominating Committee has a charter which will be reviewed on an annual basis by members of the committee and will be at all times composed of exclusively independent directors.  The principal duties and responsibilities of the Nominating Committee are to identify qualified individuals to become board members, recommend to the Board individuals to be designated as nominees for election as directors at the annual meetings of stockholders, and develop and recommend to the Board the Company’s corporate governance guidelines.  In selecting directors, the Nominating Committee will consider candidates that possess qualifications and expertise that will enhance the composition of the Board, including the considerations set forth below.  The considerations set forth below are not meant as minimum qualifications, but rather as guidelines in weighing all of a candidate’s qualifications and expertise.

 

·        Candidates should be individuals of personal integrity and ethical character.

·        Candidates should have background, achievements, and experience that will enhance our Board.  This may come from experience in areas important to our business, substantial accomplishments or prior or current associations with institutions noted for their excellence.

·        Candidates should have demonstrated leadership ability, the intelligence and ability to make independent analytical inquiries and the ability to exercise sound business judgment.

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·        Candidates should be free from conflicts that would impair their ability to discharge the fiduciary duties owed as a director to ITUSAnixa and its stockholders, and we will consider directors’ independence from our management and stockholders.

·        Candidates should have, and be prepared to devote, adequate time and energy to the Board and its committees to ensure the diligent performance of their duties, including by attending meetings of the Board and its committees.

·        Due consideration will be given to the Board’s overall balance of diversity of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences, as well as age, gender and ethnicity.

·        Consideration will also be given to relevant legal and regulatory requirements.

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We are of the view that the continuing service of qualified incumbents promotes stability and continuity in the board room, contributing to the Board’s ability to work as a collective body, while giving us the benefit of the familiarity and insight into our affairs that our directors accumulate during their tenure.  Accordingly, the process of the Nominating Committee for identifying nominees for directors will reflect our practice of generally re-nominating incumbent directors who continue to satisfy the Board’s criteria for membership on the Board, whom the Nominating Committee believes continue to make important contributions and who consent to continue their service on the Board.  If the Nominating Committee determines that an incumbent director consenting to re-nomination continues to be qualified and has satisfactorily performed his or her duties as director during the preceding term, and that there exist no reasons, including considerations relating to the composition and functional needs of the Board as a whole, why in the Nominating Committee’s view the incumbent should not be re-nominated, the Nominating Committee will, absent special circumstances, generally propose the incumbent director for re-election.  Although we do not have a formal policy regarding the consideration of diversity in identifying and evaluating potential director candidates, the Nominating Committee will take into account the personal characteristics (gender, ethnicity and age), skills and experience, qualifications and background of current and prospective directors’ diversity as one factor in identifying and evaluating potential director candidates, so that the Board, as a whole, will possess what the nominating and corporate governance committee believes are appropriate skills, talent, expertise and backgrounds necessary to oversee our Company’s business.

 

If the incumbent directors are not nominated for re-election or if there is otherwise a vacancy on the Board, the Nominating Committee may solicit recommendations for nominees from persons that the Nominating Committee believes are likely to be familiar with qualified candidates, including from members of the Board and management.  While the Nominating Committee may also engage a professional search firm to assist in identifying qualified candidates, the Nominating Committee did not engage any third party to identify or evaluate or assist in identifying or evaluating the Director Nominees.  We do not have a policy with regard to the consideration of director candidates recommended by stockholders.  Due to the size of our Company and Board, the Nominating Committee does not believe that such a policy is necessary.

 

Depending on its level of familiarity with the candidates, the Nominating Committee may choose to interview certain candidates that it believes may possess qualifications and expertise required for membership on the Board.  It may also gather such other information it deems appropriate to develop a well-rounded view of the candidate.  Based on reports from those interviews or from Board members with personal knowledge and experience with a candidate, and on all other available information and relevant considerations, the Nominating Committee will select and nominate candidates who, in its view, are most suited for membership on the Board.

 

35The members of the nominating committee are Dr. Arnold Baskies (Chairman), Dr. John Monahan and Lewis H. Titterton, Jr.

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The members of the nominating committee are Dale Fox (Chairman) and Drs. Arnold Baskies and John Monahan.

Audit Committee and Audit Committee Financial Expert

On July 9, 2015, the Board established a separately-designated standing audit committee (the “Audit Committee”) established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, and Nasdaq Listing Rules.  The Audit Committee has a charter which will be reviewed on an annual basis by members of the committee and will be at all times composed of exclusively independent directors who are “financially literate,” meaning they are able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including the Company’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. In addition, the committee will have at least one member who qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

The principal duties and responsibilities of the Company’s Audit Committee are to appoint the Company’s independent auditors, oversee the quality and integrity of the Company’s financial reporting and the audit of the Company’s financial statements by its independent auditors and in fulfilling its obligations, the Company’s Audit Committee will review with the Company’s management and independent auditors the scope and result of the annual audit, the auditors’ independence and the Company’s accounting policies.

 

The Audit Committee will be required to report regularly to the Board to discuss any issues that arise with respect to the quality or integrity of the Company’s financial statements, its compliance with legal or regulatory requirements and the performance and independence of the Company’s independent auditors.

 

The members of the Audit Committee are Drs.Dr. John Monahan (Chairman), Lewis H. Titterton, Jr.  and Dr. Arnold Baskies, and Dale Fox.Baskies. Our Board has determined that Dr. Monahan qualifies as an Audit Committee financial expert as defined by SEC rules, based on his education, experience and background.  Please see Dr. Monahan’s biographical information above for a description of his relevant experience.

 

Item 11.Executive CompensationCompensation..

The following table sets forth certain information for the fiscal years ended October 31, 20162018 and 2015,2017, with respect to compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our Executive Chairman ourof the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer (the “Named Executive Officers”).  No other executive officer received total compensation in excess of $100,000 during fiscal year 2016. 2018.

 

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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

 

 

 

 

All Other

Compensation

($) (3)

Total

Compensation

($)

Name and

Principal Position

 

Salary

($)

Bonus

($)

Option Awards

($) (2)

Year

Dr. Amit Kumar (1)

2016

$300,000

$200,000

$566,896

$12,000

$1,078,896

Executive Chairman of the Board

2015

$112,500

  $-

$-

$-

$112,500

Robert A. Berman

2016

$300,000

$200,000

$566,896

$-

$1.066,896

Chief Executive Officer and Director

2015

$300,000

$150,000

$169,081

$4,160

$623,241

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Henry P. Herms (4)

2016

$87,500

$-

$85,034

$-

$172,534

Chief Financial Officer, Vice President- Finance

2015

$168,000

$-

$16,252

$-

$184,252

 

 

  

 

  

   

 

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

              

Name and

 

Salary

Bonus

Stock Awards

Option Awards

All Other Compensation

Total Compensation

Principal Position

Year

($)

($)

($) (1)

 

($) (1)

 

($) (2)

 

($)

Dr. Amit Kumar

2018

$

425,000  

$

233,333  

$

4,814,265  

$

6,085,336  

$

34,700  

$

11,592,634 

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (3)

2017

$

300,000  

$

-  

$

$

141,938  

$

12,000  

$

453,938 

Michael J. Catelani

2018

$

248,583  

$

33,333 

$

-  

$

1,625,000  

$

-  

$

1,906,916  

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer (4)

2017

$

174,561  

$

-  

$

-  

$

385,859  

$

-  

$

560,420  

 

(1)              On June 15, 2015 Dr. Kumar was appointed Vice Chairman of the Company and Executive Chairman of Anixa Diagnostics Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The above table represents Dr. Kumar’s compensation subsequent to June 15, 2015.  Prior to that date Dr. Kumar received compensation for his services as a consultant.For more information about Dr. Kumar’s consultancy arrangements, see the section entitled “Transactions with Related Persons” below.

(2)          Amounts in the Option Awards column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock option awards made during the fiscal years ended October 31, 2016 for each Named Executive OfficerThese amounts have been calculated in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718 and also reflects the repricing of outstanding options on February 5, 2015.718.  A discussion of assumptions used in valuation of option awards may be found in Note 32 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for fiscal year ended October 31, 2016,2018, included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 

(3)     Amounts inThese amounts reflect our accounting expense for these stock options and restricted stock awards and do not correspond to the All Other Compensation column reflect, for eachactual value that may be recognized by our Named Executive Officer,Officers.

(2)              These amounts reflect the sum of the incremental cost to us of all perquisites and personal benefits, which for Dr. Kumar consisted solely of compensation for use of a home office and reimbursement of medical insurance benefits for Dr. Kumar.

(3)              Effective January 1, 2019, Dr. Kumar’s base salary was increased from $450,000 per year to $481,500 per year.  In addition, Dr. Kumar will receive a cash bonus of $150,000 to be paid on the next regularly scheduled pay date after January 1, 2019.

(4)              Effective January 1, 2019, Mr. Berman consisted solelyCatelani’s base salary was increased from $252,500 per year to $265,125 per year.  In addition, Mr. Catelani will receive a cash bonus of life insurance premiums.

(4)      Mr, Herms resigned his position as Chief Financial Officer, Vice President-Finance$50,000 to be paid on Novemberthe next regularly scheduled pay date after January 1, 2016. Mr. Herms will retire from the Company on December 31, 2016.2019.

 

Employment Agreements

 

EmploymentConsulting Agreement with Robert BermanDr. Amit Kumar

 

On September 19, 2012, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with Mr. Berman (the “Berman Agreement”) to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  Pursuant to the Berman Agreement, Mr. Berman initially received an annual base salary of $290,000, which was increased to $300,000 by the Board effective November 1, 2013.

If Mr. Berman’s employment is terminated by the Company or he terminates his employment for any reason or no reason, the Company shall be obligated to pay to Mr. Berman only any earned compensation and/or bonus due under the Berman Agreement, any unpaid reasonable and necessary expenses, and any accrued and unpaid benefits due to him in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company’s benefit plans and policies including any accrued but unpaid vacation up to the cap of 20 days through the date of termination.  All such payments shall be made in a lump sum immediately following termination as required by law.

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Consulting Agreement with Amit Kumar

On September 19, 2012, the Company entered into a Consulting Agreement with Dr. Amit Kumar (the “Kumar Agreement”) pursuant to which Dr. Kumar agreed to provide business consulting services for an initial annual consulting fee of $120,000.  On June 15, 2015, Dr. Kumar was appointed Vice Chairman of the Company and Executive Chairman of Anixa Diagnostics Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.Diagnostics.  As a result of this appointment, Dr. Kumar’s annual cash compensation was increased to $300,000 by the Board.  On August 23, 2016, Dr. Kumar was appointed Executive Chairman of the Company, and on July 6, 2017, Dr. Kumar was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  On January 1, 2018, Dr. Kumar’s annual salary was increased to $450,000.  Effective January 1, 2019, Dr. Kumar’s annual salary was increased to $481,500 by the Compensation Committee of the Board.  The terms of the Kumar Agreement still remain in effect.

 

If Dr. Kumar’s services are terminated by the Company or he terminates his services for any reason or no reason, the Company shall be obligated to pay to Dr. Kumar only any earned compensation and/or bonus due under the Kumar Agreement and any unpaid reasonable and necessary expenses, due to him through the date of termination.  All such payments shall be made in a lump sum immediately following termination.

 

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Stock Options

Stock Option Awards

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to unexercised stock options held by the Named Executive Officers outstanding on October 31, 2016:2018:

 

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END TABLE

Option Awards

 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)

Exercisable

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#)

Un-Exercisable

Option Exercise Price

($)

Option Expiration
Date

Name

Dr. Amit Kumar

320,000(1)

 

$2.575

9/19/2022

 

106,667(2)

 

$2.575

9/19/2022

 

213,333(3)

 

$2.575

9/19/2022

 

38,889(4)

1,111(4)

$2.575

11/8/2023

 

44,444(5)

 155,556(5)

$2.920

2/18/2026

Robert A. Berman

320,000(1)

 

$2.575

9/19/2022

 

106,667(2)

 

$2.575

9/19/2022

 

213,333(3)

  

$2.575

9/19/2022

 

38,889(4)

1,111(4)

$2.575

11/8/2023

 

44,444(5)

155,556(5)

$2.920

2/18/2026

Henry P. Herms

3,000

 

$2.575

11/11/2017

 

4,000

 

$2.575

10/7/2019

 

4,000

 

$2.575

6/1/2021

 

12,000

             

$2.575

9/19/2022

 

21,389(4)

611(4)

$2.575

11/8/2023

 

6,667(5)

23,333(5)

$2.920

2/18/2026

38


OUTSTANDING OPTION AWARDS

Name

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) 

Option Exercise Price

Option Expiration Date

Exercisable

Un-Exercisable

($)

Time-based Option Awards

Dr. Amit Kumar

320,000      

 

$0.67

9/19/2022

106,667      

 

$0.67

9/19/2022

213,333      

 

$0.67

9/19/2022

40,000      

 

$0.67

11/8/2023

        177,778 (1)

         22,222 (1)

$0.67

2/18/2026

        100,000 (2)

       500,000 (2)

$3.70

5/8/2028

Michael J. Catelani 

          33,336 (3)

         16,664 (3)

$0.67

11/15/2026

          62,500 (4)

       137,500 (4)

$0.67

7/6/2027

          83,333 (2)

       416,667 (2)

$3.70

5/8/2028

Performance-based Option Awards

Dr. Amit Kumar

         500,000 (5)

    1,000,000 (5)

$3.70

5/8/2028

 

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(1)               Options vested and became exercisable in 36 consecutive monthly installments, beginning October 31, 2012 and continuing through September 30, 2015.

(2)        Options vested upon achievement of a cash milestone.

(3)        Options were to vest in two equal installments upon achievement of certain stock price targets.  On November 8, 2013, the vesting conditions were modified by the Board to provide that the unvested portion of the stock options vest in 23 consecutive monthly installments, commencing on November 30, 2013 through September 30, 2015. 

(4)        Options vest and became exercisable in 36 consecutive monthly installments, beginning December 31, 2013 and continuing through November 30, 2016.

(5)        Options vest and becamebecome exercisable in 36 consecutive monthly installments, beginning March 31, 2016 and continuing through February 28, 2019.

(2)               Options vest and become exercisable in 36 consecutive monthly installments, beginning May 31, 2018 and continuing through April 30, 2021.

(3)               Options vest and become exercisable in one installment of 16,666 on November 1, 2017 and the remainder in eight consecutive quarterly installments, beginning January 31, 2018 and continuing through October 31, 2019.

(4)               Options vest and become exercisable in one installment of 50,000 on July 6, 2018 and the remainder in twelve consecutive quarterly installments, beginning October 31, 2018 and continuing through July 31, 2021.

(5)               Options shall vest as follows:  (i) 500,000 shares vest if during any 20 trading day period on or before May 31, 2021, the average closing stock price of the Company’s Common Stock is at least $5.00, (ii) 500,000 shares vest if during any 20 trading day period on or before May 31, 2021, the average closing stock price of the Company’s Common Stock is at least $7.00, and (iii) 500,000 shares vest if during any 20 trading day period on or before May 31, 2021, the average closing stock price of the Company’s Common Stock is at least $8.00.

 

The following table summarizes stock option grants during fiscal year 2016.

GRANTS OF PLAN BASED AWARDS TABLE

 

 

All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options

Exercise Price of Option Awards

Grant Date
Fair Value

Name

Grant Date

(#)

($)

($)

Dr. Amit Kumar

2/18/16

200,000

$2.920

$566,896

Robert A. Berman

2/18/16

200,000

$2.920

$566,896

Henry P. Herms

2/18/16

30,000

$2.920

$85,034

The following table summarizes the exercise of stock options during fiscal 2016 by Named Executive Officers:

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The following table summarizes stock option grants made to the Named Executive Officers during fiscal year 2018.

 

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED TABLE

Option Awards

 

Number of Shares

Acquired on Exercise

(#)

Value Realized

on Exercise

($) (1)

 

Name

Henry P. Herms

4,000

$9,060

GRANTS OF PLAN BASED AWARDS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Date

All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options

(#)

 

 

Exercise Price of Option Awards

($)

 

 

 

 

Grant Date Fair Value

($)

Time-based Option Awards

Dr. Amit Kumar

5/8/2018

      600,000      

$3.70

$ 1,950,000

Michael J. Catelani

5/8/2018

      500,000      

$3.70

$ 1,625,000

Performance-based Option Awards

Dr. Amit Kumar

5/8/2018

    1,500,000 (1)

$3.70

$ 4,135,336

 

(1)               See description of option award performance terms above.

(1)

Stock Option Exercises

During the year ended October 31, 2018, no stock options were exercised by Named Executive Officers.

Stock Awards

On May 8, 2018, a restricted stock award of 1,500,000 shares of common stock was granted under our 2018 Share Incentive Plan to Dr. Kumar.  The value realizedrestricted stock award vests in its entirety if during any 20 trading day period on exercise is calculated based onor before May 31, 2021, the difference between the exerciseaverage closing stock price of the options and the market priceCompany’s Common Stock is at least $11.00.  The grant date fair value of thethis restricted stock at the time of exercise.award was $4,814,265.

 

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

 

            Dr. Amit Kumar

 

Options granted Dr. Kumar on November 8, 2013 and February 18, 2016 provide for the vesting of the unvested portion of his options to be accelerated and such accelerated options to become immediately exercisable if Dr. Kumar is terminated without cause or upon a change in control as defined below.  The intrinsic value of options granted on November 8, 2013February 18, 2016 would be $4,194,$75,110, which was calculated by multiplying (a) 1,111 options (being the number of options granted to him on November 8, 2013 that would be accelerated) by (b) an amount equal to the excess of (x) our closing share price on October 31, 2016 of $6.35 and (y) the options’ exercise price of $2.575 per share. The intrinsic value of options granted on February 18, 2016 would be $533,557, which was calculated by multiplying (a) 155,55622,222 options (being the number of options granted to him on February 18, 2016 that would be accelerated) by (b) an amount equal to the excess of (x) our closing share price on October 31, 20162018 of $6.35$4.05 and (y) the options’ exercise price of $2.92$0.67 per share.

 

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The time-based and performance-based options granted Dr. Kumar on May 8, 2018 provide for the vesting of the unvested portion of his options to be accelerated and such accelerated options to become immediately exercisable upon a change in control as defined below.  The intrinsic value of options granted on May 8, 2018 would be $525,000, which was calculated by multiplying (a) 1,500,000 options (being the number of options granted to him on May 8, 2018 that would be accelerated) by (b) an amount equal to the excess of (x) our closing share price on October 31, 2018 of $4.05 and (y) the options’ exercise price of $3.70 per share.

Robert A. BermanMichael J. Catelani

 

Options granted Mr. BermanCatelani on November 15, 2016 and May 8, 20132018 provide for the vesting of the unvested portion of his options to be accelerated and February 18,such accelerated options to become immediately exercisable upon a change in control as defined below.  The intrinsic value of options granted on November 15, 2016 would be $56,324, which was calculated by multiplying (a) 16,664 options (being the number of options granted to him on November 15, 2016 that would be accelerated) by (b) an amount equal to the excess of (x) our closing share price on October 31, 2018 of $4.05 and (y) the options’ exercise price of $0.67 per share.  The intrinsic value of options granted on May 8, 2018 would be $145,833, which was calculated by multiplying (a) 416,667 options (being the number of options granted to him on May 8, 2018 that would be accelerated) by (b) an amount equal to the excess of (x) our closing share price on October 31, 2018 of $4.05 and (y) the options’ exercise price of $3.70 per share.

Options granted Mr. Catelani on July 6, 2017 provide for the vesting of the unvested portion of his options to be accelerated and such accelerated options to become immediately exercisable if Mr. BermanCatelani is terminated without cause or upon a change in control as defined below.  The intrinsic value of options granted on November 8, 2013July 6, 2017 would be $4,194,$464,750, which was calculated by multiplying (a) 1,111137,500 options (being the number of options granted to him on November 8, 2013July 6, 2017 that would be accelerated) by (b) an amount equal to the excess of (x) our closing share price on October 31, 20162018 of $6.35$4.05 and (y) the options’ exercise price of $2.575 per share. The intrinsic value of options granted on February 18, 2016 would be $533,557, which was calculated by multiplying (a) 155,556 options (being the number of options granted to him on February 18, 2016 that would be accelerated) by (b) an amount equal to the excess of (x) our closing share price on October 31, 2016 of $6.35 and (y) the options’ exercise price of $2.92 per share.

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In addition to the acceleration of the options, if Mr. Berman’s employment is terminated by the Company or he terminates his employment for any reason or no reason, the Company shall be obligated to pay to Mr. Berman only any earned compensation and/or bonus due under the Berman Agreement, any unpaid reasonable and necessary expenses, and any accrued and unpaid benefits due to him in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Company’s benefit plans and policies including any accrued but unpaid vacation up to the cap of 20 days through the date of termination (which accrued and unpaid benefits would have a maximum value of $23,077).

Henry P. Herms

Options granted Mr. Herms on November 8, 2013 and February 18, 2016 provide for the vesting of the unvested portion of his options to be accelerated and such accelerated options to become immediately exercisable if Mr. Herms is terminated without cause or upon a change in control as defined below. The intrinsic value of options granted on November 8, 2013 would be $2,307, which was calculated by multiplying (a) 611 options (being the number of options granted to him on November 8, 2013 that would be accelerated) by (b) an amount equal to the excess of (x) our closing share price on October 31, 2016 of $6.35 and (y) the options’ exercise price of $2.575 per share. The intrinsic value of options granted on February 18, 2016 would be $80,032, which was calculated by multiplying (a) 23,333 options (being the number of options granted to him on February 18, 2016 that would be accelerated) by (b) an amount equal to the excess of (x) our closing share price on October 31, 2016 of $6.35 and (y) the options’ exercise price of $2.92$0.67 per share.

 

Under theour 2010 Share Incentive Plan and our 2018 Share Incentive Plan, “change in control” means:

 

·        Change in Ownership:  A change in ownership of the Company occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company, excluding the acquisition of additional stock by a person or more than one person acting as a group who is considered to own more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company.

·        Change in Effective Control:  A change in effective control of the Company occurs on the date that either:

o   Anyany one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 30% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Company; or

oa majority of the members of the Board is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board before the date of the appointment or election; provided, that this paragraph will apply only to the Company if no other corporation is a majority shareholder.

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·        Change in Ownership of Substantial Assets:  A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company'sCompany’s assets occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of the assets of the Company immediately before such acquisition or acquisitions.  For this purpose, “gross fair market value” means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

 

It is the intent that this definition be construed consistent with the definition of “Change of Control” as defined under Code Section 409A and the applicable treasury regulations, as amended from time to time.

 

Director Compensation

Director’s Compensation

There is no present arrangement for cash compensation of directors for services in that capacity.  Consistent with the non-employee director compensation approved on March 28, 2013 for calendar year 2013, on November 8, 2013, the Board approved an amendment to the 2010 Share Incentive Plan to provide that on January 1st1st of each year commencing on January 1, 2014, each non-employee director (a “Director Participant”) of the Company at that time shall automatically be granted a 10 year nonqualified stock option to purchase 12,000 shares of common stock (or 16,000 in the case of the Chairman of the Board to the extent he qualifies as a Director Participant), with an exercise price equal to the closing price on the date of grant, that will vest in four equal quarterly installments in the year of grant.grant (the “Annual Grant”).  In addition, each person who is a Director Participant and joins the Board after January 1 of any year, shall be granted on the date such person joins the Board, a nonqualified stock option to purchase 12,000 shares of common stock (or 16,000 in the case of the Chairman of the Board) pro-rated based upon the number of calendar quarters remaining in the calendar year in which such person joins the Board (rounded up for partial quarters) (the “New Director Grant”).  Effective January 1, 2018 through the expiration of the 2010 Share Incentive Plan, each Director Participant has waived their right to receive the Annual Grant.

On July 26, 2018, the independent members of the Board appointed Mr. Titterton as the lead independent director of the Company.  As the Lead Independent Director, Mr. Titterton’s responsibilities include presiding at meetings of the Board at which the Chairman of the Board (who also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Company) is not present, including executive sessions of the independent directors, and serving as a liaison between the Chairman of the Board and the independent directors.  In connection with his appointment as Lead Independent Director, Mr. Titterton was granted a 10 year nonqualified stock option to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $3.46, such option to vest quarterly over three years.

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On October 8, 2018, Drs. Monahan and Baskies and Mr. Cavalier were each granted a 10 year nonqualified stock option to purchase 45,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $5.29, such option vesting monthly over a one year period. 

 

Our employee directors,director, Dr. Amit Kumar, and Robert A. Berman, did not receive any additional compensation for services provided as a director during fiscal year 2016.2018.  The following table sets forth compensation of Dale Fox and Drs.Lewis H. Titterton, Jr., Dr. John Monahan, Dr. Arnold Baskies, and John Monahan,David Cavalier, our non-employee directors, and Lewis H. Titterton and Bruce F. Johnson and Richard H. Williams, our former non-employee directors, for fiscal year 2016:2018:

 

DIRECTORS COMPENSATION

All Other

Option Awards

Bonus

Compensation

Name

($) (1)

($)

($)

Dale Fox

$33,939

$ -

$ -

Dr. Arnold Baskies

$18,240

$ -

$ -

Dr. John Monahan

$18,240

$ -

$ -

Lewis H. Titterton

$45,251

$ -

$ -

Bruce F. Johnson

$38,939

$ -

$ -

DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION

 

 

All Other

Total

 

Option Awards

Compensation

Compensation

Name

($) (1)(2)

($)

($)

Lewis H. Titterton, Jr.

$

899,100

$

-

$

899,100

Dr. John Monahan

$

202,140

$

-

$

202,140

Dr. Arnold Baskies (3)

$

202,140

$

-

$

202,140

David Cavalier (3)

$

202,140

$

-

$

202,140

Bruce F. Johnson (3)

$

-

$

-

$

-

Richard H. Williams (3)

$

-

$

-

$

-

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Table of Contents

 

(1)              Amounts in the Option Awards column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of stock option awards made during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2016,These amounts have been calculated in accordance with ASC 718.718.  A discussion of assumptions used in valuation of option awards may be found in Notes 3Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for fiscal year ended October 31, 2016,2018, included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  These amounts reflect our accounting expense for these stock options and restricted stock awards and do not correspond to the actual value that may be recognized by our directors. 

(2)              At October 31, 2016, Dale Fox and Drs. Arnold2018, Mr. Titterton, Dr. Monahan, Dr. Baskies and John Monahan, nd Lewis Titterton and Bruce JohnsonMr. Cavalier held unexercised stock options to purchase 30,000, 6,000, 6,000, 256,400610,000, 113,000, 83,000 and 52,80045,000 shares respectively, of our common stock.

(3)              Messrs. Johnson and Williams resigned as directors, and Dr. Baskies and Mr. Cavalier became directors, on September 27, 2018.

 

Item 1212..          Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our common stock beneficially owned as of November 30, 2016January 9, 2019 (or exercisable within 60 days of such date) by (a) each person who is known by our management to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, (b) each of our directors and executive officers, and (c) all directors and executive officers as a group:

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)

Percent of Class
(6)

 

Directors and Officers of the Company

Dr. Amit Kumar

12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1275

Los Angeles, CA 90025

847,533

8.93%

Robert A. Berman
12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1275

Los Angeles, CA 90025

786,683

8.29%

Dale Fox

12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1275

Los Angeles, CA 90025

30,000

*

Dr. Arnold Baskies
12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1275

Los Angeles, CA 90025

7,000

*

Dr. John Monahan
12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1275

Los Angeles, CA 90025

6,000

*

Michael J. Catelani
12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1275

Los Angeles, CA 90025

-

-

All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (6 persons)

    1,677,216

16.32%

5% Stockholders of the Company

Lewis H. Titterton

1900 Purdy Avenue, Unit 2904

Miami Beach, FL 33139

802,812

8.91%

Bruce F. Johnson

6519 Shabbona Road
Indian Head Park, IL 60525

471,919

5.36%


* Less than 1%.

4355


 

Table of Contents

 

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)

 

Percent of Class

(7)

Directors and Officers of the Company

Dr. Amit Kumar
3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250
San Jose, CA 95118

3,198,667

15.3%

Lewis H. Titterton, Jr.
3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250
San Jose, CA 95118

1,203,544

6.1%

Dr. John Monahan
3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250
San Jose, CA 95118

   136,750

*%

Dr. Arnold Baskies
3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250
San Jose, CA 95118

     54,416

*%

David Cavalier
3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250
San Jose, CA 95118

     18,750

*%

Michael J. Catelani
3150 Almaden Expressway, Suite 250
San Jose, CA 95118

   253,641

1.3%

All Directors and Executive Officers as a
Group (6 persons)

4,865,768

22.5%

* Less than 1%.

(1)              A beneficial owner of a security includes any person who directly or indirectly has or shares voting power and/or investment power with respect to such security or has the right to obtain such voting power and/or investment power within sixty (60) days.  Except as otherwise noted, each designated beneficial owner in this Annual Report on Form 10-K has sole voting power and investment power with respect to the shares of common stock beneficially owned by such person.

(2)              Includes 101,125240,000 shares, 101,125274,000 shares, 30,00086,750 shares, 6,00053,416 shares, 6,00018,750 shares, 112,502 shares and 244,250785,418 shares which Dr. Amit Kumar, Robert A. Berman, Dale Fox,Lewis H. Titterton, Jr., Dr. John Monahan, Dr. Arnold Baskies, Dr. John MonahanDavid Cavalier, Michael J. Catelani and all directors and executive officers as a group, respectively, and 170,400 shares and 40,800 shares which Lewis H. Titterrton and Bruce Johnson, respectively, have the right to acquire within 60 days upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the 2003 2010 Share Incentive PlanPlan.  and/or the 2010 Share Incentive Plan

(3)              Includes 2,000666,667 shares, that138,889 shares and 805,556 shares which Dr. Amit Kumar, Michael J. Catelani and all directors and executive officers as a group, respectively, andhave the right to acquire within 60 days upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the 2018 Share Incentive Plan. 

(4)              Includes 2,000 shares, 2,000 shares and 4,000 shares that Dr. Amit Kumar, Lewis H. Titterton, Jr. and all directors and executive officers as a group, respectively, have the right to acquire within 60 days upon exercise of warrants purchased by them in the private placement on July 15, 2014.

(5)              Includes 640,000 shares, 640,00086,000 shares and 1,280,000726,000 shares which Dr. Amit Kumar, Robert A. BermanLewis H. Titterton, Jr. and all directors and executive officers as a group, respectively, and 86,000 shares and 12,000 shares that Lewis H. Titterton and Bruce Johnson, respectively, have the right to acquire within 60 days pursuant to option agreements with the Company.

(6)              Includes 1,500,000 restricted shares of common stock awarded to Dr. Amit Kumar pursuant to the 2018 Share Incentive Plan for which Dr. Kumar has voting rights but that vest only if during any twenty (20) trading day period on or before May 31, 2021 in which Dr. Kumar is employed by Anixa, the average closing stock price of the Company’s common stock is at least $11.00.

(6)        (7)              Based on 8,752,38719,292,264 shares of common stock outstanding as of November 30, 2016.January 9, 2019.

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Change in Control

 

We are not aware of any arrangement that might result in a change in control of the Company in the future.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following is information as of October 31, 20162018 about shares of our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under all equity compensation plans in effect as of that date, including our 2003 Share Incentive Plan, our 2010 Share Incentive Plan and our 20102018 Share Incentive Plan.  See Note 5 to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on these plans.

 

44


Plan category

Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a)

Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights

Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (1)(2)

3,923,868

$1.87

291,394

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (3)

3,482,000

$3.73

18,000

Table of Contents

 

Plan category

 

Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights 
(a)

 

Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights

 

Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column
 (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (1)(2)

 

3,086,472

 

$4.02

 

431,956

 

(1)              On April 23, 2003 the Board adopted the 2003 Share Incentive Plan.  Officers, key employees and non-employee directors of, and consultants to, the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates were eligible to participate in the 2003 Share Incentive Plan.  The 2003 Share Incentive Plan provided for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards and stock units (the “2003 Benefits”).  The maximum number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2003 Share Incentive Plan was 2,800,000.  The 2003 Share Incentive Plan was administered by the Stock Option Committee through June 2004, from June 2004 through July 2010, by the Board of Directors, from July 2010 through August 2012, by the Stock Option Committee, from August 2012 through November 2012, by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, from November 2012 to July 2015, by the Board of Directors and since July 2015 by the Compensation Committee, which determined the option price, term and provisions of the 2003 Benefits.  The 2003 Share Incentive Plan contains provisions for equitable adjustment of the 2003 Benefits in the event of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, spinoff, combination of shares, exchange of shares, dividends in kind or other like change in capital structure or distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to stockholders of the Company.  The 2003 Share Incentive Plan terminated with respect to additional grants on April 21, 2013. 

 

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(2)              On July 14, 2010 the Board adopted the 2010 Share Incentive Plan.  Officers, key employees and non-employee directors of, and consultants to, the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates are eligible to participate in the 2010 Share Incentive Plan.  The 2010 Share Incentive Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, and performance awards and stock units (the “2010 Benefits”).  The maximum number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2010 Share Incentive Plan was initially 600,000 shares.  On July 6, 2011 and August 29, 2012, the 2010 Share Incentive Plan was amended by our Board to increase the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be granted to 1,080,000 and 1,200,000 shares, respectively.  On November 8,, 2013,, the Board approved an amendment to provide that effective and following November 8, 2013,, the maximum aggregate number of shares available for issuance will be 800,000 shares.  Additionally, commencing on the first business day in 2014 and on the first business day of each calendar year thereafter, the maximum aggregate number of shares available for issuance shall be replenished such that, as of such first business day, the maximum aggregate number of shares available for issuance shall be 800,000 shares.  Current and future non-employeesnon-employee directors are automatically granted a 10 year nonqualified stock option to purchase 12,000 shares of Common Stock (or 16,000 in the case of the Chairman of the Board) on January 1st of each year that will vest in four equal quarterly installmentsinstallments.  The 2010 Share Incentive Plan was administered by the Stock Option Committee through August 2012, from August 2012 through November 2012, by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, from November 2012 through July 2015, by the Board of Directors and since July 2015, by the Compensation Committee, which determines the option price, term and provisions of the 2010 Benefits.  The 2010 Share Incentive Plan terminates with respect to additional grants on July 14, 2020.  The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the 2010 Share Incentive Plan at any time.

(3)              The 2018 Share Incentive Plan was adopted by the Board on January 25, 2018 and approved by our shareholders on March 29, 2018.  Officers, key employees and non-employee directors of, and consultants to, the Company or any of its subsidiaries and affiliates are eligible to participate in the 2018 Share Incentive Plan.  The 2018 Share Incentive Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards and stock units (the “2018 Benefits”).  The maximum number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2018 Share Incentive Plan was initially 5,000,000 shares.  Additionally, commencing on the first business day in January 2019 and on the first business day of each calendar year thereafter, the maximum aggregate number of shares available for issuance shall be replenished such that, as of such first business day, the maximum aggregate number of shares available for issuance shall be 2,000,000 shares.  The 2018 Share Incentive Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee, which determines the option price, term and provisions of the 2018 Benefits.  The 2018 Share Incentive Plan terminates with respect to additional grants on March 28, 2028.  The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the 2018 Share Incentive Plan at any time, subject in certain respects to obtaining shareholder approval.

45

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Item 13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

Transactions with Related Persons

 

Aside from compensation arrangements with executive officers described above, there are no other transactions entered into by the Company with related persons.

Related Person Transaction Approval Policy

While we have no written policy regarding approval of transactions between us and a related person, our Board, as matter of appropriate corporate governance, reviews and approves all such transactions, to the extent required by applicable rules and regulations.  Generally, management would present to the Board for approval at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting any related person transactions proposed to be entered into by us.  The Board may approve the transaction if it is deemed to be in the best interests of our stockholders and the Company.

 

Director Independence

 

Our Board oversees the activities of our management in the handling of the business and affairs of our company.  Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Capital MarketsMarket and we are subject to listing requirements which include the requirement that our Board be comprised of a majority of “independent” directors.  Dale FoxLewis H. Titterton, Jr., Dr. John Monahan, and Drs.Dr. Arnold Baskies and John Monahan currently meet the definition of “independent” as defined by the SEC. Until December 26, 2018, David Cavalier served as the chief executive officer of a company that Dr. Amit Kumar served as the chairman of board of directors, and as such Mr. Cavalier does not qualify as an “independent” director.  Dr. Amit Kumar is an employee of the Company and as such does not qualify as an “independent” director.  The Board of Directors has separately designated audit, nominating and compensation committees. Our directors, Robert A. Berman and Dr. Amit Kumar, are employees of, or consultants to, the Company and as such do not qualify as “independent” directors. 

 

46


Table of ContentsItem 14.Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

 

Item 14.          Principal Accounting Audit Fees and Services.

The following table describes fees for professional audit services rendered and billed by Haskell & White LLP, our present independent registered public accounting firm and principal accountant, for the audit of our consolidated financial statements and for other services during fiscal years 20162018 and 2015.2017.

59


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Type of Fee

 2016

2015

2018

2017

Audit Fees (1)

$

79,910

 

$

97,390

$

82,035

 $

81,125

Audit Related Fees (2)

7,500

34,500

17,750

19,620

Tax Fees (3)

 

25,025

 

21,000

 

22,000

  

24,000

All Other Fees (4)

 

12,450

 

6,400

 

15,950

 

49,350

Total

$

124,885

$

159,290

$

137,735

 $

174,095

 

(1)              Audit fees for fiscal years 20162018 and 20152017 represent fees billed for services rendered by Haskell & White LLP for the audit of our consolidated financial statements and review of our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

(2)              Audit related fees for fiscal years 20162018 and 20152017 represent fees billed for services rendered by Haskell & White LLP in connection with our Registration Statements filed during fiscal years 20162018 and 2015.2017.

(3)              Tax Fees for fiscal years 20162018 and 20152017 represent fees billed for services rendered by Haskell & White LLP for the preparation of Federal and State income tax returns.

(4)              All other fees for fiscal years 20162018 and 20152017 represent fees billed for services rendered by Haskell & White LLP in connection with the preparation of comfort letters and research of various tax subjects.

 

Procedures For Board of Directors Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditor

 

Our Board wasis ultimately responsible for reviewing and approving, in advance, any audit and any permissible non-audit engagement or relationship between us and our independent registered public accounting firm.  On July 9, 2015, the Board established an Audit Committee which assumedwas authorized to assume these responsibilities.  Haskell & White LLP’s engagement to conduct our fiscal year 20162018 audit was approved by our Board on May 19, 2016.August 13, 2018.   

 

 

PART IV

Item 15.          Exhibits, Financial Statement SchedulesSchedules.

(a)(1)(2) Financial Statement Schedules

See accompanying “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements.”

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Table of Contents

 

(b)       Exhibits

3.1               

3.1

Certificate of Incorporation, as amended.  (Incorporated by reference to Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 1992 and Form S-3, dated February 11, 2014.)

3.2

Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2013.)

3.3

Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 8-K, dated September 4, 2014.)

3.4

Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 8-K, dated September 10, 2014.)

3.5

Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 8-K, dated June 25, 2015.)

3.6

Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2018.)

3.7

Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 8-K, dated October 1, 2018.)

3.8

Amended and Restated By-laws.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to our Form 8-K dated, October, 1, 2018.)

4.1

Form of Warrant issued to investors in connection with the Company’s registered direct offering.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Form 8-K, dated July 15, 2014.)

4.2

Form of Warrant issued to Adaptive Capital LLC.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to our Form 10-K, dated December 7, 2016.).

10.1

2003 Share Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to our Form S-8 dated May 5, 2003.)

10.2

Amendment No. 1 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(e) to our Form S-8 dated November 9, 2004.)

10.3

Amendment No. 2 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2006.)

10.4

Amendment No. 3 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2006.)

10.5

Amendment No. 4 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(g) to our Form S-8 dated September 21, 2007.)

10.6

Amendment No. 5 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(g) to our Form S-8 dated January 21, 2009.)

10.7

Amendment No. 6 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to our Form 8-K, dated July 20, 2010.)

10.8

2010 Share Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K, dated July 20, 2010.)

10.9

Amendment No. 1 to the 2010 Share Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K, dated July 7, 2011.)

10.10

Amendment No. 2 to the 2010 Share Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K, dated September 5, 2012.)

10.11

Amendment No. 3 to the 2010 Share Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2014.)

10.12

2018 Share Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to our Form S-8 dated October 1, 2018.)

3.2                Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation. (Incorporated by reference to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2013.)61

3.3                Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 on Form 8-K, dated September 4, 2014.)

3.4                Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of our Form 8-K, dated September 10, 2014.)

3.5                Amended and Restated By-laws. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 8-K dated, November 8, 2012.)

3.6                Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 on Form 8-K, dated June 25, 2015.)

4.1                Form of Warrant issued to investors in connection with the Company’s registered direct offering. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K, dated July 15, 2014).

4.2                Form of Warrant to be issued to Adaptive Capital LLC (filed herewith).

10.1              2003 Share Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to our Form S-8 dated May 5, 2003.)

10.2              Amendment No. 1 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(e) to our Form S-8 dated November 9, 2004.)

10.3              Amendment No. 2 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2006.)

10.4              Amendment No. 3 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2006.)

10.5              Amendment No. 4 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(g) to our Form S-8 dated September 21, 2007.)

10.6              Amendment No. 5 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(g) to our Form S-8 dated January 21, 2009.)

10.7              Amendment No. 6 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to our Form 8-K, dated July 20, 2010.)

10.8              2010 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K, dated July 20, 2010.)

10.9              Amendment No. 1 to the 2010 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K, dated July 7, 2011.)

10.10            Amendment No. 2 to the 2010 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K, dated September 5, 2012.)

10.11            Amendment No. 3 to the 2010 Share Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2014.)


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10.13

Consulting Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2012, between the Company and Amit Kumar.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012.)  (Portions of this exhibit have been redacted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment. The redacted portions have been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.)

10.14

Letter Agreement, dated October 17, 2016, between the Company and Mike Catelani.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to our Form 10-K, dated December 7, 2016.)

10.15

License Agreement, dated November 13, 2017, between Certainty Therapeutics, Inc. and The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to our Form 10-K, dated January 9, 2018.)  (Portions of this exhibit have been redacted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.  The redacted portions have been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.)

10.16

Collaboration Agreement, dated November 17, 2017, between Certainty Therapeutics, Inc. and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to our Form 10-K, dated January 9, 2018.)  (Portions of this exhibit have been redacted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.  The redacted portions have been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.)

10.17

At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, dated March 27, 2018, between the Company and B. Riley FBR, Inc.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K, dated March 27, 2018.)

21

Subsidiaries of Anixa Biosciences, Inc.  (Filed herewith.)

23.1

Consent of Haskell & White LLP.  (Filed herewith.)

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated January 11, 2019.  (Filed herewith.)

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated January 11, 2019.  (Filed herewith.)

32.1

Statement of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code, dated January 11, 2019.  (Filed herewith.)

32.2

Statement of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code, dated January 11, 2019.  (Filed herewith.)

10.12            Employment Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2012, between the Company and Robert Berman. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012.)  (Portions of Section 4 of this exhibit have been redacted and filed separately with the Commission in accordance with a request for, and related Order by the Commission, dated May 3, 2013, File No. 0-11254-CF#29240, granting confidential treatment for portions of Section 4 of this exhibit to pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)

10.13            Consulting Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2012, between the Company and Amit Kumar.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012.)  (Portions of Section 4 of this exhibit have been redacted and filed separately with the Commission in accordance with a request for, and related Order by the Commission, dated May 3, 2013, File No. 0-11254-CF#29240, granting confidential treatment for portions of Section 4 of this exhibit to pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)62

10.14            Securities Purchase Agreement, dated July 15, 2014, between the Company and the Purchasers named therein in connection with the Company’s registered direct offering. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K, dated July 15, 2014.)

10.15            Termination Agreements, each dated August 29, 2014, relating to the Company’s transaction with Videocon Industries Limited. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to our Form S-1 dated December 8, 2014.)

10.16            Debt Conversion Agreement, dated September 9, 2014, between the Company and Adaptive Capital, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to our Form S-1 dated December 8, 2014.)

10.17            Warrant issued to Adaptive Capital, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to our Form S-1 dated December 8, 2014.)

10.18            At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, dated October 2, 2015, between the Company and National Securities Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K, dated October 2, 2015.)

10.19            Letter Agreement, dated December 6, 2016, between the Company and Adaptive Capital LLC (Filed herewith).

10.20            Form of 12% Secured Debenture, dated December [ ], 2016, to be issued to Adaptive Capital LLC (Filed herewith).

10.21            Letter Agreement, dated October 17, 2016, between the Company and Mike Catelani (Filed herewith).

21                 Subsidiaries of ITUS Corporation. (Filed herewith.)

23.1              Consent of Haskell & White LLP.  (Filed herewith.)

31.1              Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated December 5, 2016.  (Filed herewith.)

31.2              Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated December 5, 2016.  (Filed herewith.)

32.1              Statement of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code, dated December 5, 2016.  (Furnished herewith.)

32.2              Statement of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code, dated December 5, 2016.  (Furnished herewith.)

99.1              Collaborative Research Agreement, dated July 14, 2015, between Anixa Diagnostic Corporation and The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology (Filed herewith) (Portions of this exhibit have been redacted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment. The redacted portions have been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.)

99.2              First Amendment to The Collaborative Research Agreement, dated August 4, 2016, between Anixa Diagnostic Corporation and The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology (Filed herewith) (Portions of this exhibit have been redacted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment. The redacted portions have been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.)

99.3              Collaborative Research Agreement, dated August 4, 2016, between Anixa Diagnostic Corporation and The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology. (Filed herewith) (Portions of this exhibit have been redacted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment. The redacted portions have been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.)


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

ITUS CORPORATION

Anixa Biosciences, Inc.

By:    

/s/ Amit Kumar

Dr. Amit Kumar

Chairman of the Board, President and

January 11, 2019

By:  /s/ Robert A. Berman                                 
Robert Berman
President and

December 7, 2016                                                  Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

By:  /s/ Robert A. Berman                               
Robert A. Berman

President, Chief Executive Officer

December 7, 2016                                                  and Director (Principal

By: 

/s/ Amit Kumar

Dr. Amit Kumar

Chairman of the Board, President and

Chief Executive Officer

January 11, 2019

(Principal Executive Officer)

By: 

/s/ Michael J. Catelani

Michael J. Catelani

Chief Operating Officer and

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial

January 11, 2019

and Accounting Officer)

By: 

/s/ Lewis H. Titterton, Jr.

Lewis H. Titterton, Jr.

January 11, 2019

Director

By: 

/s/ John Monahan

Dr. John Monahan

January 11, 2019

Director

By: 

/s/ Arnold Baskies

Dr. Arnold Baskies

January 11, 2019

Director

By: 

/s/ David Cavalier

David Cavalier

January 11, 2019

Director

 

 

By:  /s/ Michael J. Catelani                               
Michael J. Catelani

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial

December 7, 2016                                                  and Accounting Officer)

                                                                        By:  /s/ Dr. Amit Kumar
                                                                               Dr. Amit Kumar
December 7, 2016                                                  Executive Chairman of the Board

By:  /s/ Dale Fox                                             

Dale Fox

December 7, 2016                                                   Director

By:  /s/ Dr. Arnold Baskies                              

Dr. Arnold Baskies

December 7, 2016                                                   Director

By:  /s/ Dr. John Monahan                               

Dr. John Monahan

December 7, 2016                                                   Director

5063


Table of Contents

 

EXHIBITSANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

3.1                Certificate of Incorporation, as amended.  (Incorporated by reference to Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 1992 and Form S-3, dated February 11, 2014.)

3.2                Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation. (Incorporated by reference to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2013.)

3.3                Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 on Form 8-K, dated September 4, 2014.)

3.4                Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of our Form 8-K, dated September 10, 2014.)

3.5                Amended and Restated By-laws. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Form 8-K dated, November 8, 2012.)

3.6                Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 on Form 8-K, dated June 25, 2015.)

4.1                Form of Warrant issued to investors in connection with the Company’s registered direct offering. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K, dated July 15, 2014).

4.2                Form of Warrant to be issued to Adaptive Capital LLC (filed herewith).

10.1              2003 Share Incentive Plan.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to our Form S-8 dated May 5, 2003.)

10.2              Amendment No. 1 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(e) to our Form S-8 dated November 9, 2004.)

10.3              Amendment No. 2 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2006.)

10.4              Amendment No. 3 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2006.)

10.5              Amendment No. 4 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(g) to our Form S-8 dated September 21, 2007.)

10.6              Amendment No. 5 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(g) to our Form S-8 dated January 21, 2009.)

10.7              Amendment No. 6 to the 2003 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to our Form 8-K, dated July 20, 2010.)

10.8              2010 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K, dated July 20, 2010.)

10.9              Amendment No. 1 to the 2010 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K, dated July 7, 2011.)

10.10            Amendment No. 2 to the 2010 Share Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 8-K, dated September 5, 2012.)

10.11            Amendment No. 3 to the 2010 Share Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2014.)


51


Table of Contents

10.12            Employment Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2012, between the Company and Robert Berman. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012.)  (Portions of Section 4 of this exhibit have been redacted and filed separately with the Commission in accordance with a request for, and related Order by the Commission, dated May 3, 2013, File No. 0-11254-CF#29240, granting confidential treatment for portions of Section 4 of this exhibit to pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)

10.13            Consulting Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2012, between the Company and Amit Kumar.  (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012.)  (Portions of Section 4 of this exhibit have been redacted and filed separately with the Commission in accordance with a request for, and related Order by the Commission, dated May 3, 2013, File No. 0-11254-CF#29240, granting confidential treatment for portions of Section 4 of this exhibit to pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)

10.14            Securities Purchase Agreement, dated July 15, 2014, between the Company and the Purchasers named therein in connection with the Company’s registered direct offering. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K, dated July 15, 2014.)

10.15            Termination Agreements, each dated August 29, 2014, relating to the Company’s transaction with Videocon Industries Limited. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to our Form S-1 dated December 8, 2014.)

10.16            Debt Conversion Agreement, dated September 9, 2014, between the Company and Adaptive Capital, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to our Form S-1 dated December 8, 2014.)

10.17            Warrant issued to Adaptive Capital, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to our Form S-1 dated December 8, 2014.)

10.18            At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, dated October 2, 2015, between the Company and National Securities Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K, dated October 2, 2015.)

10.19            Letter Agreement, dated December 6, 2016, between the Company and Adaptive Capital LLC (Filed herewith).

10.20            Form of 12% Secured Debenture, dated December [ ], 2016, to be issued to Adaptive Capital LLC (Filed herewith).

10.21            Letter Agreement, dated October 17, 2016, between the Company and Mike Catelani (Filed herewith).

21                 Subsidiaries of ITUS Corporation. (Filed herewith.)

23.1              Consent of Haskell & White LLP.  (Filed herewith.)

31.1              Certification of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated December 5, 2016.  (Filed herewith.)

31.2              Certification of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated December 5, 2016.  (Filed herewith.)

32.1              Statement of Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code, dated December 5, 2016.  (Furnished herewith.)

32.2              Statement of Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code, dated December 5, 2016.  (Furnished herewith.)

99.1              Collaborative Research Agreement, dated July 14, 2015, between Anixa Diagnostic Corporation and The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology (Filed herewith) (Portions of this exhibit have been redacted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment. The redacted portions have been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.)

99.2              First Amendment to The Collaborative Research Agreement, dated August 4, 2016, between Anixa Diagnostic Corporation and The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology (Filed herewith) (Portions of this exhibit have been redacted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment. The redacted portions have been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.)

99.3              Collaborative Research Agreement, dated August 4, 2016, between Anixa Diagnostic Corporation and The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology. (Filed herewith) (Portions of this exhibit have been redacted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment. The redacted portions have been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.)


52


Table of Contents

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
OCTOBER 31, 2016
2018

Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

F-1


Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 31, 20162018 and 20152017

F-2


Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended October 31, 20162018 and 20152017

F-3


Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended October 31, 20162018 and 20152017

F-4


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended October 31, 20162018 and 20152017

F-5F-6


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

F-6  –  F-24F-7

 

Additional information required by schedules called for under Regulation S-X is either not applicable or is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.


 


Table of Contents

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

  

To Thethe Board of Directors and Shareholders

ITUS CorporationAnixa Biosciences, Inc.

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of ITUS CorporationAnixa Biosciences, Inc. (the “Company”) as of October 31, 20162018 and 2015,2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended October 31, 20162018, and 2015. Thesethe related notes (collectively, the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of October 31, 2018 and 2017, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended October 31, 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Basis for Opinion

The consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on thesethe Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement.misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company has determined that it is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included considerationAs part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit includes

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error of fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An auditOur audits also includes assessingincluded evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statement presentation.statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of October 31, 2016 and 2015, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years ended October 31, 2016 and 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has limited working capital and limited revenue-generating operations and a history of net losses and net operating cash flow deficits. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.

 

 

/s/ Haskell & White LLP

HASKELL & WHITE LLP

 

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2013.

Irvine, California
December 7, 2016

F-1


ITUS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

October 31,

2016

October 31,

2015

ASSETS

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

2,488,323

$

4,369,219

Short–term investments in certificates of deposit

 

750,000

 

 

2,400,000

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

162,069

 

126,528

Total current assets

 

3,400,392

 

 

6,895,747

Patents, net of accumulated amortization of $965,040 and $639,744, respectively

 

2,071,071

 

 

2,396,367

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $46,950 and $13,617, respectively

 

156,644

 

43,456

Total assets

$

5,628,107

 

$

9,335,570

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$

468,756

 

$

380,765

Royalties and contingent legal fees payable

 

-

 

213,017

Total current liabilities

 

468,756

 

 

593,782

Patent acquisition obligation (Note 6)

 

4,171,876

 

 

3,688,187

Total liabilities

 

4,640,632

 

4,281,969

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 6 and 7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, par value $100 per share; 19,860 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding

-

 

 

-

Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $100 per share; 140 shares authorized, issued and outstanding

14,000

    

14,000

Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 24,000,000 shares authorized;

 

 

 

 

 

8,752,387 and 8,724,878 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

87,524

87,249

Additional paid-in capital

 

152,051,144

 

 

151,101,117

Accumulated deficit

 

(151,165,193)

 

(146,148,765)

Total shareholders’ equity   

 

987,475

 

 

5,053,601

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

5,628,107

 

$

9,335,570


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
See Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.January 11, 2019

F-2F-1


 

Table of Contents

ITUS CORPORATION

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

For the years ended October 31,

 2016

 2015

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue from licensing activities

$

300,000

$

255,000

Settlement with AU Optronics Corporation

 

-

 

9,000,000

Total revenue

 

300,000

 

9,255,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

Inventor royalties and contingent legal fees

 

111,192

 

 

147,670

Litigation and licensing expenses

106,224

3,500,852

Amortization of patents

 

325,296

 

 

325,291

Research and development expenses (including non-cash stock option

compensation expenses of $259,930 and $306,584, respectively)

 

1,556,459

 

 

711,391

Marketing, general and administrative expenses (including non-cash stock

option compensation expense of $613,631 and $2,369,806, respectively)

 

2,709,841

 

5,514,555

Total operating costs and expenses

 

4,809,012

 

10,199,759

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from operations

(4,509,012)

(944,759)

Interest expense (Note 6)

 

(519,946)

 

 

(451,906)

Interest income

 

12,530

 

17,622

Loss before income taxes

 

(5,016,428)

 

 

(1,379,043)

Provision for income taxes (Note 7)

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

$

(5,016,428)

$

(1,379,043)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss per share:

Basic and diluted

$

(0.57)

$

(0.16)

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted

 

8,739,453

 

8,760,126

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

October 31,

2018

October 31,

2017

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

3,055,890

 

$

3,339,374

Short–term investments in certificates of deposit

2,000,000

3,500,000

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

482,482

 

 

174,566

Total current assets

5,538,372

7,013,940

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patents, net of impairment of $582,979 in 2018 and accumulated amortization of $1,615,632
    and $1,290,336, respectively

837,500

1,745,775

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $53,799 and $35,725, respectively

 

72,670

 

52,701

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

$

6,448,542

$

8,812,416

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

582,012

 

$

480,324

Accrued expenses

 

683,099

 

409,169

Total current liabilities

 

1,265,111

 

 

889,493

Commitments and contingencies (Note 6 and 7)

 

 

 

 

 

Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, par value $100 per share; 19,860 shares authorized; no shares
    issued or outstanding

 

-

 

 

-

Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $100 per share; 140 shares
    authorized; no shares issued or outstanding

-

-

Common stock, par value $.01 per share; 48,000,000 and 24,000,000 shares
    authorized, respectively; 18,908,632 and 16,602,759 shares issued and
    outstanding, respectively

 

189,086

 

 

166,028

Additional paid-in capital

175,415,931

 

163,931,079

Accumulated deficit

 

(170,170,209)

 

 

(156,174,184)

Total shareholders’ equity

5,434,808

7,922,923

Noncontrolling interest (Note 2)

 

(251,377)

 

        

-

Total equity

 

5,183,431

 

7,922,923

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

$

6,448,542

$

8,812,416

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
See Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

F-3
F-2


 
ITUS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2016 and 2015

Series A
Convertable
Preferred Stock

Common Stock

Paid-in

 Capital

Accumulated

Deficit

Total
Shareholders'
Equity

Shares

Par Value

Shares

 Par Value

BALANCE, October 31, 2014

140

 

$

14,000

 

8,788,176

 

$

87,882

 

$

148,677,413

 

$

(144,769,722)

 

$

4,009,573

Stock option compensation to employees and consultants

-

-

-

                -

2,676,309

                        -

2,676,309

Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options

-

 

 

-

 

17,334

 

 

173

 

 

44,462

 

 

                        -

 

 

44,635

Common stock issued to consultants

-

-

11,600

116

45,984

                        -

46,100

Repurchase 92,232 shares of common stock and cancellation

       

 

 

          

 

   

 

 

           

 

 

        

 

 

                      

 

 

         

of warrants to purchase 16,000 shares of common stock

-

-

              -

                  -

(343,973)

                         -

(343,973)

Retire common stock repurchased

-

 

 

-

 

(92,232)

 

 

(922)

 

 

922

 

 

                        -

 

 

        -

Net Loss

-

 

-

              -

 

                 -

 

                     -

 

(1,379,043)

 

(1,379,043)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE, October 31, 2015

140

14,000

8,724,878

87,249

151,101,117

(146,148,765)

5,053,601

Stock option compensation to employees and consultants

-

 

 

-

 

              -

 

 

                -

 

 

873,561

 

 

                        -

 

 

873,561

Common stock issued upon exercise of stock options

-

-

12,676

127

33,454

                        -

33,581

Common stock issued to consultants

-

 

 

-

 

10,833

 

 

108

 

 

31,252

 

 

                        -

 

 

31,360

Common stock issued to acquire patents

-

-

4,000

40

11,760

                        -

11,800

Net Loss

-

 

 

-

 

             -

 

 

                -

 

 

                       -

 

 

(5,016,428)

 

 

(5,016,428)

BALANCE, October 31, 2016

140

$

14,000

8,752,387

$

87,524

$

152,051,144

$

(151,165,193)

$

987,475

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.
See Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.


F-4


Table of Contents

ITUS CORPORATION

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

  For the years ended October 31,

 2016

 2015

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

$

(5,016,428)

$

(1,379,043)

Stock option compensation to employees and consultants

 

873,561

 

 

2,676,309

Common stock issued to consultants

31,360

46,100

Amortization of patents

 

325,296

 

 

325,291

Accretion of interest on patent acquisition obligations to interest expense

519,946

451,906

Loss on acquisition of common stock and warrants to purchase common stock

 

-

 

 

101,280

Common stock issued to acquire patent license

11,800

-

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

 

33,333

 

 

12,515

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

-

10,680

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

-

400,000

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(35,541)

 

 

(65,951)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

87,991

(868,661)

Royalties and contingent legal fees payable

 

(213,017)

 

 

(347,059)

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

 

(3,381,699)

 

1,363,367

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

Disbursements to acquire short-term investments in certificates of deposit                                                               

 

(1,900,000)

 

 

(2,900,000)

Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments in certificates of deposit         

3,550,000

3,000,000

Purchase of property and equipment

 

(146,521)

 

 

(54,776)

Net cash provided by investing activities

 

1,503,479

 

45,224

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options

 

33,581

 

 

44,635

Royalty payment applied to patent acquisition obligation

(36,257)

-

Payments to acquire 92,232 shares of common stock and cancellation of warrants to purchase 16,000 shares of common stock

 

 -

 

 

 (445,253)

Net cash used in financing activities

(2,676)

(400,618)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(1,880,896)

 

 

1,007,973

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

4,369,219

 

3,361,246

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$

2,488,323

 

$

4,369,219

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

See Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 

For the years ended October 31,

2018

2017

 

Revenue

$

1,112,500

 

$

362,500

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Inventor royalties, contingent legal fees, litigation and licensing expenses

768,410

104,556

Amortization of patents

 

325,296

 

 

325,296

Research and development expenses (including non-cash share based
    compensation expenses of $4,596,866 and $288,187, respectively)

6,813,043

1,597,550

General and administrative expenses (including non-cash share based
    compensation expenses of $4,298,748 and $1,388,585, respectively)

 

6,911,830

 

4,410,682

Impairment in carrying amount of patent assets (Note 2)

 

582,979

 

 

-

Total operating costs and expenses

 

15,401,558

 

6,438,084

Loss from operations

 

(14,289,058)

 

 

(6,075,584)

 

 

Gain on extinguishment of patent acquisition obligation (Note 4)

 

-

 

 

1,547,608

Interest expense (Notes 4 and 5)

 

-

 

 

(500,455)

Interest income

 

45,974

 

19,440

Loss before income taxes

 

(14,243,084)

 

 

(5,008,991)

Provision for income taxes (Note 7)

 

-

 

-

Net loss

 

(14,243,084)

 

 

(5,008,991)

Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

(247,059)

 

-

Net loss attributable to common shareholders before deemed dividend

 

(13,996,025)

 

 

(5,008,991)

Deemed dividend to preferred stockholder (Note 5)

 

-

 

(2,008,775)

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

$

(13,996,025)

$

(7,017,766)

Net loss per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted

$

(0.79)

$

(0.58)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

Basic and diluted

 

17,624,335

 

12,197,340

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

 

F-5
F-3


 

Table of Contents

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2018 and 2017

Series A

Convertible

Preferred Stock

Additional

Paid-in

Capital

Total

Shareholders

Equity

Non-

controlling

Interest

Common Stock

Accumulated

Deficit

Total

Equity

Shares

Par Value

Shares

Par Value

BALANCE, October 31, 2016

140

 

$

14,000

 

8,752,387

 

$

87,524

 

$

152,051,144

 

$

(151,165,193)

 

$

987,475

 

$

-

 

$

987,475

Stock option compensation to employees and
    directors 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

1,219,468

 

 

-

 

 

1,219,468

 

 

-

 

 

1,219,468

Stock option compensation to consultants  

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

3,304

 

 

-

 

 

3,304

 

 

-

 

 

3,304

Common stock issued upon exercise of stock
    options

-

 

 

-

 

40,220

 

 

402

 

 

6,871

 

 

-

 

 

7,273

 

 

-

 

 

7,273

Stock award compensation to directors pursuant
    to stock incentive plan  

-

 

 

-

 

200,000

 

 

2,000

 

 

452,000

 

 

-

 

 

454,000

 

 

-

 

 

454,000

Common stock issued to consultants

-

 

 

-

 

9,463

 

 

95

 

 

32,329

 

 

-

 

 

32,424

 

 

-

 

 

32,424

  

Redemption of convertible preferred stock

(140)

 

 

(14,000)

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(3,486,000)

 

 

-

 

 

(3,500,000)

 

 

-

 

 

(3,500,000)

Common stock issued to repay patent
    acquisition obligation

-

 

 

-

 

947,606

 

 

9,476

 

 

2,842,818

 

 

-

 

 

2,852,294

 

 

-

 

 

2,852,294

Common stock issued in shareholder rights
    offering

-

 

 

-

 

1,989,207

 

 

19,892

 

 

4,183,410

 

 

-

 

 

4,203,302

 

 

-

 

 

4,203,302

Common stock issued in registered direct
    offering

-

 

 

-

 

3,425,376

 

 

34,254

 

 

3,177,534

 

 

-

 

 

3,211,788

 

 

-

 

 

3,211,788

Common stock issued in at-the-market offering

-

 

 

-

 

   1,238,500

 

 

12,385

 

 

3,448,201

 

 

-

 

 

3,460,586

 

 

-

 

 

3,460,586

Net Loss

-

 

-

-

 

-

 

-

 

(5,008,991)

 

(5,008,991)

 

 

-

 

(5,008,991)

BALANCE, October 31, 2017

-

 

$

-

 

16,602,759

 

$

166,028

 

$

163,931,079

 

$

(156,174,184)

 

$

7,922,923

 

$

-

 

$

7,922,923

Stock option compensation to employees and
    directors 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

5,717,651

 

 

-

 

 

5,717,651

 

 

-

 

 

5,717,651

Stock options and warrants issued to consultants  

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

318,139

 

 

-

 

 

318,139

 

 

-

 

 

318,139

CONTINUED

F-4


Table of Contents

ITUS CORPORATIONANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2018 and 2017

CONTINUED

Series A

Convertible

Preferred Stock

Additional

Paid-in

Capital

Total

Shareholders

Equity

Non-

controlling

Interest

Common Stock

Accumulated

Deficit

Total

Equity

Shares

Par Value

Shares

Par Value

Common stock issued upon exercise of stock
    options and warrants

-

 

 

-

 

76,636

 

 

766

 

 

57,372

 

 

-

 

 

58,138

 

 

-

 

 

58,138

Restricted stock award compensation to
    employee pursuant to stock incentive plan  

-

 

 

-

 

1,500,000

 

 

15,000

 

 

2,844,824

 

 

-

 

 

2,859,824

 

 

-

 

 

2,859,824

Common stock issued to consultants

-

 

 

-

 

5,347

 

 

53

 

 

14,949

 

 

-

 

 

15,002

 

 

-

 

 

15,002

 

Common stock issued in at-the-market offering

-

 

 

-

 

723,890

 

 

7,239

 

 

2,462,943

 

 

-

 

 

2,470,182

 

 

-

 

 

2,470,182

Issuance of noncontrolling interest in Certainty
    Therapeutics, Inc.

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

68,974

 

 

-

 

 

68,974

 

 

(4,318)

 

 

64,656

Net Loss

-

 

-

-

 

-

 

-

 

(13,996,025)

 

(13,996,025)

 

(247,059)

 

(14,243,084)

BALANCE, October 31, 2018

-

$

-

18,908,632

$

189,086

$

175,415,931

$

(170,170,209)

$

5,434,808

$

(251,377)

$

5,183,431

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.

F-5


Table of Contents

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 For the years ended October 31,

2018

2017

Cash flows from operating activities:

Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

Net loss

$

(14,243,084)

$

(5,008,991)

Stock option compensation to employees and directors

5,717,651

1,219,468

Stock options and warrants issued to consultants

318,139

3,304

Stock award compensation to employee and directors pursuant to stock incentive

   plan

2,859,824

454,000

Common stock issued to consultants

15,002

32,424

Amortization of patents

325,296

325,296

Accretion of interest on patent acquisition obligations to interest expense

-

228,026

Depreciation of property and equipment

18,435

43,216

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

-

45,915

Impairment in carrying amount of patent assets

582,979

                     -

Gain on extinguishment of patent acquisition obligation

-

(1,547,608)

Issuance of noncontrolling interest in Certainty Therapeutics, Inc. expensed as a

    license fee

64,656

-

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

(307,916)

(12,497)

Accounts payable

101,688

107,100

Accrued expenses

 

273,930

 

313,637

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(4,273,400)

 

(3,796,710)

Cash flows from investing activities:

Disbursements to acquire short-term investments in certificates of deposit

(4,250,000)

(5,501,000)

Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments in certificates of deposit

5,750,000

2,751,000

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

                     -

45,000

Purchase of property and equipment

 

(38,404)

 

(30,188)

   Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

1,461,596

 

(2,735,188)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from sale of common stock in shareholder rights offering

-

4,203,302

Proceeds from sale of common stock in registered direct offering

-

3,211,788

Proceeds from sale of common stock in at-the-market offering

2,470,182

3,460,586

Redemption of convertible preferred stock

-

(500,000)

Payments made on secured debenture

-

(3,000,000)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 

58,138

 

7,273

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

2,528,320

 

7,382,949

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

(283,484)

851,051

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

3,339,374

 

2,488,323

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$

3,055,890

$

3,339,374

Supplemental cash flow information:

Cash payments for interest

$

-

$

272,429

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities:

Redemption of Series A convertible preferred stock into secured debenture (Note 5)

$

-

$

3,000,000

Common stock issued to pay patent acquisition obligation (Note 4)

$

-

$

2,852,294

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

F-6

Table of Contents

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.         BUSINESS AND FUNDING

Description of Business

As used herein, “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “ITUS”“Anixa” means ITUS CorporationAnixa Biosciences, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.  From inception through October 2012, our primary operations involved the development of patented technologies in the areas of thin-film displays and encryption.  Beginning inFrom October of 2012 underthrough June 2015 the leadershipprimary operations of a new management team, we recapitalized the Company unencumberedinvolved the Company’s assets, changeddevelopment, acquisition, licensing, and enforcement of patented technologies that were either owned or controlled by the Company’s name and ticker symbol, relocated the Company’s headquarters, and modernized its systems.  In July of 2015, the Company’s stock was accepted for listing and began trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market.Company. 

 

In June of 2015, the Company announced the formation of a new subsidiary, Anixa Diagnostics Corporation (“Anixa”Anixa Diagnostics”), to develop Cchek™ a platform for non-invasive blood tests for the early detection of cancer.  That platform is called CchekÔ In July of 2015, ITUSthe Company announced a collaborative research agreement with The Wistar Institute (“Wistar”), the nation’s first independent biomedical research institute and a leading National Cancer Institute designated cancer research center, for the purpose of validating ourproprietary cancer detection methodologies and establishing protocols for identifying certain biomarkers in the blood which we identified and which are known to be associated with malignancies.  In August of 2016 ITUS announced the renewal and expansion of our relationship with Wistar.  In October of 2015, ITUS and Wistar announced favorable results from initial testing of a small group of Breast Cancer patients and healthy controls.  One hundred percent (100%) of the blood samples tested from patients with varying stages of Breast Cancer showed the presence of the biomarkers we identified, and none of the healthy patient blood samples contained the biomarkers.  Breast Cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States and throughout the world.

 

In April of 2016, ITUS announced that we hadWe have demonstrated the efficacy of our CchekÔ Cchek™ early cancer detection platform with Lung Cancer.  Lung20 different types of cancer, including:  breast, lung, colon, melanoma, ovarian, liver, thyroid, pancreatic, appendiceal, uterine, osteosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, vulvar, prostate, bladder, cervical, head and neck, gastric and testicular cancers.  Breast, lung, colon and prostate cancers represent the four largest categories of cancer worldwide.

Based on a number of factors, including key scientific, clinical, and commercial considerations, the initial commercial focus for Cchek™ will be on a prostate cancer confirmatory test. 

In November 2017, the Company announced the formation of a new subsidiary, Certainty Therapeutics, Inc. (“Certainty”), to develop immuno-therapy drugs against cancer.  Certainty entered into a license agreement with Wistar pursuant to which Certainty was granted an exclusive worldwide, royalty-bearing license to use certain intellectual property owned or controlled by Wistar relating to Wistar’s chimeric endocrine receptor targeted therapy technology (such technology being akin to chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (“CAR-T”) technology).  We have initially focused on the development of a treatment for ovarian cancer, but we also may pursue future applications of the technology for the development of treatments for additional solid tumors.  The license agreement requires Certainty to make certain cash and equity payments to Wistar.  With respect to Certainty’s equity obligations to Wistar, Certainty issued to Wistar shares of its common stock equal to five percent (5%) of the common stock of Certainty.

Following the formation of Certainty and the license agreement with Wistar, Certainty entered into a collaboration agreement with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc. (“Moffitt”) to advance toward human clinical testing the CAR-T technology licensed by Certainty from Wistar aimed initially at treating ovarian cancer.  Certainty is the leading cause of death among cancers inworking with researchers at Moffitt to complete studies necessary to submit an Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application with the U.S. Food and throughout the world, accounting for approximately 27 percentDrug Administration (“FDA”).

F-7


Table of all cancer related deaths in the U.S. and 19 percent worldwide. In September of 2016, ITUS announced that we had demonstrated the efficacy of our CchekContentsÔ early cancer detection platform with Colon Cancer. Colon Cancer is the third most common cancer in men and the second most common cancer in woman worldwide, with approximately 1.4 million new cases diagnosed each year, and approximately 700,000 deaths. At the end of September 2016 through the end of October 2016, the Company made similar announcements with respect to the efficacy of our CchekÔ early cancer detection platform for Melanoma, Ovarian Cancer, Liver Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, and Pancreatic Cancer. On November 15, 2016, ITUS announced that we had demonstrated the efficacy of our CchekÔ early cancer detection platform with six additional cancer types including Appendiceal Cancer (cancer of the appendix), Uterine Cancer, Osteosarcoma (cancer of the bone), Leiomyosarcoma (cancer of the soft tissue), Liposarcoma (cancer of the connective tissue), and Vulvar Cancer (cancer of the vulva), bringing the number of cancer types for which the efficacy of CchekÔ has been validated thus far to fourteen.

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Over the next several quarters, we expect Cchek™ and Certainty’s ovarian cancer treatment to be the primary focus of the Company.  As part of our legacy operations, the Company remains engaged in limited patent licensing activities in the area of encrypted audio/video conference calling.  We do not expect these activities to be a significant part of the Company’s ongoing operations.operations nor do we expect these activities to require material financial resources or attention of senior management.

 

F-6

During years ended October 31, 2016 and 2015,Over the past several quarters, our revenue has beenwas derived from technology licensing and the sale of patented technologies, including in connection withrevenue from the settlement of litigation.  In addition to Anixa Diagnostics and Certainty, the Company may make investments in and form new companies to develop additional emerging technologies.

AUO Lawsuit and Settlement

            On December 29, 2014, the Company and AUO Optronics Corporation (“AUO”) entered into a Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) and a Patent Assignment Agreement (the “Patent Assignment Agreement” and together with the Settlement Agreement, the “Agreements”) pursuant to which the Company received an aggregate of $9,000,000 from AUO.  The Agreements were entered into to resolve a lawsuit filed by the Company against AUO, relating to the Company’s patented ePaper® Electrophoretic Display, and Nano Field Emission Display (“nFED”) technologies.

Background

In May 2011, the Company entered into an Exclusive License Agreement (the “EPD License Agreement”) and a License Agreement (the “Nano Display License Agreement”) with AUO (together the “AUO License Agreements”).  Under the EPD License Agreement, the Company provided AUO with an exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide license to its ePaper® Electrophoretic Display (“EPD”) patents and technology, in connection with AUO jointly developing EPD products with the Company.  Under the Nano Display License Agreement, the Company provided AUO with a non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide license to its Nano Field Emission Display patents and technology, in connection with AUO jointly developing nFED products with the Company.

On January 28, 2013, the Company terminated the AUO License Agreements due to numerous alleged material and continual breaches of the agreements by AUO.  On January 28, 2013, the Company also filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against AUO and E Ink Corporation in connection with the AUO License Agreements, alleging breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraudulent inducement, unjust enrichment, unfair business practices, and other charges (the “AUO/E Ink Lawsuit”).  In June 2013, the Company and AUO agreed to arbitrate the charges (the case against E Ink Corporation had been dismissed without prejudice) (the “AUO/E Ink Arbitration”).

The Agreements

Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, AUO paid the Company $2,000,000 in U.S. currency, net of any Taiwanese withholding taxes. The Settlement Agreement further provides that:

·         the Company will dismiss the AUO/E Ink Lawsuit and AUO/E Ink Arbitration, with prejudice;

·         the AUO License Agreements are terminated;

·         AUO gives up all rights to the nFED Technology;


F-7


·       for a period of two years, the Company agrees not to initiate (whether on its own or through a third party) any patent infringement lawsuits against AUO or its affiliates alleging infringement by AUO’s or AUO’s affiliates products or services, for patents owned or controlled by the Company as of the date of the Settlement Agreement.  Any potential damages for patent infringement will toll uninterrupted during this two-year period. The prohibition does not apply to patents acquired by the Company after the date of the Settlement Agreement; and 

·       each of AUO and the Company mutually released each other from all claims that either may have against the other in connection with the AUO License Agreements, including any claims relating to the ePaper® Electrophoretic Display and nFED patents and technologies.

 Pursuant to the Patent Assignment Agreement, AUO paid the Company $7,000,000 in U.S. currency, net of any Taiwanese withholding taxes in exchange for the Company’s ePaper® Electrophoretic Display patent portfolio for which AUO was previously the exclusive licensee, consisting of:

·         10 active U.S. patents and 1 U.S. pending patent application; and

·         103 expired and/or abandoned U.S. and foreign patents and/or patent applications.

In connection with the lawsuit and settlement, the Company incurred a total of approximately $3,604,000 of legal fees and litigation costs.

 

Funding

In October 2015, the “Company entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the “Agreement”) with National Securities Corporation (“National”) to create an at-the-market equity program under which it may sell up to $10,000,000 worth of its common stock (the “Shares”) from time to time through National, as sales agent. The Company has no obligation to sell any of the Shares, and may at any time suspend offers under the Agreement or terminate the Agreement. The Shares will be issued pursuant to the Company’s previously filed registration statement that was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 18, 2015. As of October 31, 2016, no Shares have been sold under the Agreement.

During the year ended October 31, 2016, cash used in operating activities was approximately $3,382,000.  Cash provided by investing activities was approximately $1,503,000, which resulted from the proceeds on maturity of certificates of deposit totaling $3,550,000 which was offset by the purchase of certificates of deposit totaling $1,900,000 and the purchase of property and equipment of approximately $147,000.  Our cash used in financing activities was approximately $3,000, which resulted from a royalty payment of approximately $36,000 applied to the patent acquisition obligation liability, offset by the proceeds from exercise of stock options of approximately $34,000.  As a result, our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at October 31, 2016 decreased approximately $3,531,000 to approximately $3,238,000 from approximately $6,769,000 at the end of fiscal year 2015.

F-8


Based on currently available information as of December 7, 2016,January 11, 2019, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and expected cash flows from operations will not be sufficient to fund our activities and debt obligations (Note 2) for the next 12twelve months.  To date, we have relied primarily uponHowever, our projections of future cash needs and cash flows may differ from the public and private sale of equity and debt securities, as well as net proceeds from the December 2014 AUO settlement, to generate the working capital needed to finance our operations.actual results.  If current cash on hand, cash equivalents, short term investments and cash that may be generated from our business operations are insufficient to continue to operate our business (including for the defense of the Howland Matter), or if we willelect to invest in or acquire a company or companies that are synergistic with or complimentary to our technologies, we may be required to obtain more working capital.  During fiscal year 2018, we raised approximately $2,470,000 through an at-the-market equity offering which is currently effective and may remain available for us to use in the future.  We may seek to obtain working capital during our fiscal year 2019 or thereafter through sales of our equity securities or through bank credit facilities or public or private debt from various financial institutions where possible and as permitted pursuant to our existing indebtedness.possible.  We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all.  If we do identify sources for additional funding, the sale of additional equity securities or convertible debt could result in dilution to our stockholders.  Additionally, the sale of equity securities or issuance of debt securities may be subject to certain security holder approvals or may result in the downward adjustment of the exercise or conversion price of our outstanding securities.  We can give no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flows in the future to satisfy our liquidity requirements or sustain future operations, or that other sources of funding, such as sales of equity or debt, would be available or would be approved by our security holders, if needed, on favorable terms or at all.  If we fail to obtain additional working capital as and when needed, such failure could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.  Furthermore, such lack of funds may inhibit our ability to respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated capital needs, or may force us to reduce operating expenses, which would significantly harm the business and development of operations.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern. In order for us to have sufficient capital to execute our business plan, fund our operations and meet our debt obligations over the next 12 months, we will need to raise additional capital. Although we have been successful in the past in raising capital, we cannot provide any assurance that we will be successful in doing so in the future to the extent necessary to be able to fund our operating activities and debt obligations over the next 12 months, which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

2.         SUBSEQUENT EVENT

 

On November 11, 2016,During the holderyear ended October 31, 2018, cash used in operating activities was approximately $4,273,000.  Cash provided by investing activities was approximately $1,462,000, resulting from the proceeds on maturities of all our outstanding Series A Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred”) with an aggregate stated valuecertificates of $3,500,000 exercised its rightdeposit totaling $5,750,000, which was offset by the purchases of redemption to receive such amount from proceedscertificates of deposit totaling $4,250,000 and the purchase of property and equipment of approximately $38,000.  Cash provided by financing activities was approximately $2,528,000, resulting from the sale of the Company’scommon stock in an at-the-market equity securities.  On December 6, 2016, we entered into an agreement with the holderoffering of the Series A Preferred setting forth the terms under which such redemption would take place (the “Series A Redemption Terms”).  Pursuant to the Series A Redemption Terms, at closing the holder of the Series A Preferred will receive (i) $500,000 in cash,  (ii) a 12% secured debenture evidencing the remaining $3,000,000 amount to be redeemed, $1,000,000 of which is due on or before June 1, 2017approximately $2,470,000 and the remainderproceeds from exercise of which is due November 11, 2017 (the “Redemption Debenture”),stock options of approximately $58,000.  As a result, our cash, cash equivalents, and (iii) a 5short-term investments at October 31, 2018 decreased approximately $1,783,000 to approximately $5,056,000 from approximately $6,839,000 at the end of fiscal year warrant to purchase 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price equal to 10% below the thirty (30) day volume weighted average closing price of our common stock  at closing. The Redemption Debenture is secured by a lien on the Company’s assets and prohibits the Company from incurring any senior indebtedness other than equipment financing in connection with the Company’s business.

2017.

 

3.F-8


Table of Contents

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2.         SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of ITUS CorporationAnixa Biosciences, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries.  All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling interest represents Wistar’s equity ownership in Certainty and is presented as a component of equity.  The following table sets forth the changes in noncontrolling interest for the year ended October 31, 2018:

Balance October 31, 2017

$

-

Issuance of noncontrolling interest in Certainty

(4,318)

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

(247,059)

Balance October 31, 2018

$

(251,377)

 Revenue Recognition

 

Revenue is recognized when (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) all obligations have been substantially performed pursuant to the terms of the arrangement, (iii) amounts are fixed or determinable, and (iv) the collectability of amounts is reasonably assured.

F-9


ITUS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Patent Licensing

 

In certain instances, our past revenue arrangements have provided for the payment of contractually determined fees in settlement of litigation and in consideration for the grant of certain intellectual property rights for patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company.  These arrangements typically include some combination of the following: (i) the grant of a non-exclusive, retroactive and future license to manufacture and/or sell products covered by patented technologies owned or controlled by the Company, (ii) a covenant-not-to-sue, (iii) the release of the licensee from certain claims, and (iv) the dismissal of any pending litigation.  In such instances, the intellectual property rights granted have been perpetual in nature, extending until the expiration of the related patents.  Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, we had no further obligations.   As such, the earnings process was complete and revenue has been recognized upon the execution of the agreement, when collectability was reasonably assured, and when all other revenue recognition criteria were met.

 

Inventor Royalties and Contingent Legal Fees

 

Inventor royalties and contingent legal fees are expensed in the consolidated statements of operations in the period that the related revenues are recognized.

 

F-9


Table of Contents

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses, consisting primarily of salariesemployee compensation, payments to third parties for research and development activities and other direct costs associated with developing a platform for non-invasive blood tests for early detection of cancer and developing immuno-therapy drugs against cancer, are expensed in the consolidated financial statements in the year incurred.

Fair Value Measurements

Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC"(“ASC”) 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”) defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  In accordance with ASC 820, we have categorized our financial assets and liabilities, based on the priority of the inputs to the valuation technique, into a three-level fair value hierarchy as set forth below.  If the inputs used to measure the financial instruments fall within different levels of the hierarchy, the categorization is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument.

 

Financial assets and liabilities recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are categorized based on the inputs to the valuation techniques as follows:

 

Level 1 - Financial instruments whose values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in an active market which we have the ability to access at the measurement date.

 

Level 2 - Financial instruments whose values are based on quoted market prices in markets where trading occurs infrequently or whose values are based on quoted prices of instruments with similar attributes in active markets. 

 

F-10


ITUS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Level 3 – Financial instruments whose values are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.  These inputs reflect management’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in pricing the instrument. 

 

The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2016:2018:

 

  

Level 1

 Level 2

 Level 3

 Total

      

 

      

 

      

 

      

Money market funds –  

    Cash and cash equivalents

$

      

2,031,331

 

$

      

-

 

$

      

-

 

$

      

2,031,331

Certificates of deposit –

    Cash and cash equivalents

 

750,000

 

             -

 

-

 

        

750,000

 Short term investments

 

-

 

 

2,000,000

 

 

-

 

 

2,000,000

Total financial assets

$

2,781,331

 

$

2,000,000

 

$

-

 

$

4,781,331

F-10

  

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Money market funds – Cash  and cash equivalents

$

1,899,136

 

$

 -

 

$

-

 

$

1,899,136

Certificates of deposit - Short term investments

 

-

 

750,000

 

 -

 

750,000

Total financial assets

$

1,899,136

 

$

750,000

 

$

-

 

$

2,649,136


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ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2015:2017:

 

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

      

      

      

Money market funds – Cash and cash equivalents

$

467,967

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

467,967

Certificates of deposit - Short term investments

 

-

 

2,400,000

 

-

 

2,400,000

Total financial assets

$

467,967

 

$

2,400,000

 

$

-

 

$

2,867,967

The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial liabilities measured at fair value on the transaction date and then adjusted for the subsequent accretion of interest, as of October 31, 2016:

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Patent acquisition obligation

 

-

 

 

-

 

$

4,171,876

 

$

4,171,876

The following table presents the hierarchy for our financial liabilities measured at fair value on the transaction date and then adjusted for the subsequent accretion of interest, as of October 31, 2015:

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Patent acquisition obligation

 

-

 

 

-

 

$

3,688,187

 

$

3,688,187

The following table sets forth a summary of the changes in the fair value of the Company’s Level 3 financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

F-11


ITUS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Patent acquisition obligation:

Balance October 31, 2014

$

3,236,281

Accretion of interest on patent obligation

 

451,906

Balance October 31, 2015

 

3,688,187

Accretion of interest on patent obligation

519,946

Royalty payment applied to patent acquisition obligation

 

(36,257)

Balance October 31, 2016

$

4,171,876

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

      

 

      

 

      

Money market funds –

    Cash and cash equivalents

$

3,079,282

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

3,079,282

Certificates of deposit –

    Short term investments

 

-

 

3,500,000

 

-

 

3,500,000

Total financial assets

$

3,079,282

 

$

3,500,000

 

$

-

 

$

6,579,282

 

Our non-financial assets that are measured on a non-recurring basis include our patents and property and equipment which are measured using fair value techniques whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate a condition of impairment exists.  The estimated fair value of prepaid expenses, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates their individual carrying amounts due to the short termshort-term nature of these measurements.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash equivalents consists of highly liquid, short termshort-term investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased.

 

Short-term Investments

            At October 31, 20162018 and 2015,2017, we had certificates of deposit with maturities greater than 90 days and less than 12 months when acquired of $750,000$2,000,000 and $2,400,000,$3,500,000, respectively, that were classified as short-term investments and reported at fair value.  

 

Patents

 

Our only identifiable intangible assets are patents and patent rights.  We capitalize patent and patent rights acquisition costs and amortize the cost over the estimated economic useful life.  No patent acquisition costs were capitalized during the years ended October 31, 20162018 and 2015.2017.  We recorded patent amortization expense of approximately $325,000 and $325,000 during each of the years ended October 31, 20162018 and 2015, respectively.2017.  As of October 31, 2018, we recorded a write-down of the carrying amount of capitalized patents of approximately $583,000.  See Impairment below.

 

Impairment

 

Long-lived assets, including intangible assets that are amortized, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company evaluates potential impairment by comparing the carrying amount of the assets with the estimated undiscounted future cash flows associated with them. Should the analysis indicate that an asset is not recoverable, the carrying value of the asset would be reduced to fair value and a corresponding charge would be recognized.

 

F-12 In evaluating the carrying amount of capitalized patents at October 31, 2018, we determined that based on estimated undiscounted future cash flows a write-down of the carrying amount of approximately $583,000 should be recorded as of October 31, 2018.

F-11

ITUS CORPORATIONANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Intangible assets that are not amortized are reviewed for impairment at least annually. The Company evaluates potential impairment by comparing the carrying amount of the asset with its estimated fair value. Should the carrying amount exceed the estimated fair value, a corresponding charge would be recognized for the difference.

 

Income Taxes

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the estimated future tax effects of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse.  A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

Stock-Based Compensation

We maintain stock equity incentive plans under which we may grant non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance and performance-based awards, or stock units to employees, non-employee directors and consultants.

Stock Option Compensation Expense

 

We account for stock options granted to employees and directors using the accounting guidance in ASC 718 “Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”).  In accordance with ASC 718, we estimate the fair value of service based options and performance based options on the date of grant, using the Black-Scholes pricing model.  For options vesting if the trading price of the Company’s common stock achieves a defined target, we use a Monte Carlo simulation in estimating the fair value at grant date.  We recognize compensation expense for stock option awards over the requisite or implied service period of the grant.  With respect to performance based awards, compensation expense is recognized when the performance target is deemed probable.  We recorded stock-based compensation expense, related to service based stock options granted to employees and directors, of approximately $874,000$1,959,000 and $2,192,000,$1,223,000, during the years ended October 31, 20162018 and 2015,2017, respectively.

 

Included in stock-based compensation cost for service based options granted to employees and directors during the years ended October 31, 20162018 and 20152017 was approximately $393,000$785,000 and $2,093,000,$967,000, respectively, related to the amortization of compensation cost for stock options granted in prior periods but not yet vested.  As of October 31, 2016,2018, there was unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested service based stock options granted to employees and directors related to service based options of approximately $1,139,000$6,920,000, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.32.4 years.

For stock options granted to employees that vest based on market conditions, such as the trading price of the Company’s common stock exceeding certain price targets, we use a Monte Carlo Simulation in estimating the fair value at grant date and recognize compensation cost over the implied service period (median time to vest).  On May 8, 2018, we issued market condition options to purchase 1,500,000 shares of common stock, to our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, vesting at target trading prices of $5.00 to $8.00 per share before May 31, 2021, with implied service periods of three to seven months.  The assumptions used in the Monte Carlo Simulation were stock price on date of grant and exercise price of $3.70, contract term of 10 years, expected volatility of 119.6% and risk-free interest rate of 2.97%.  We recorded stock-based compensation expense related to market condition stock options granted to employees of approximately $3,759,000 during the year ended October 31, 2018.  As of October 31, 2018, the unrecognized compensation cost related to market condition stock options was approximately $375,000, which will be recognized during the first quarter of fiscal year 2019.  We did not have any market condition stock options in fiscal year 2017.

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ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

We account for stock options granted to consultants using the accounting guidance included in ASC 505-50 “Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees” (“ASC 505-50”).  In accordance with ASC 505-50, we estimate the fair value of service based stock options and performance based options at each reporting period, using the Black-Scholes pricing model.  For options vesting if the trading price of the Company’s common stock achieves a defined target we estimate the fair value at each reporting period using a Monte Carlo simulation.  We recognize compensation expense for service based stock options and options subject to market conditionsover the requisite or implied service period of the grant.  For performance based awards, compensation expense is recognized whenover the requisite or implied service period if it is probable that the performance target is achieved.condition will be satisfied.

 

F-13


We recorded consulting expense, related to service based and performance based stock options granted to consultants, during the years ended October 31, 20162018 and 20152017 of approximately $-0-$261,000 and $484,000,$3,000, respectively.  Included stock-based consulting expense for the year ended October 31, 2018 was approximately $47,000 related to compensation cost for stock options granted in prior periods but not yet vested. Stock-based consulting expense for the yearsyear ended October 31, 2016 and 2015 includes approximately $-0- and $484,000, respectively, related to the2017 did not include any amortization of compensation cost for stock options granted in prior periods but vested in the current period.periods.  As of October 31, 2016,2018, there was no unrecognized consulting expense related to non-vested stock options granted to consultants. consultants, related to service based options of approximately $249,000, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.7 years.

 

Fair Value Determination 

 

We use the Black-Scholes pricing model in estimating the fair value of stock options granted to employees and directors which vest over a specific period of time or upon achieving performance targets.time.  To determine the weighted average fair value of stock options on the date of grant, employees and directors are included in a single group.  The fair value of stock options granted to consultants is determined on an individual basis.  The stock options we granted during the year ended October 31, 20152018 consisted of awards with 10-year terms that vest over one year, options with 10-year terms that vest over12 to 36 months. The stock options we granted during the year ended October 31, 20142017 consisted of awards with 10-year terms that vest over one year and options with 10-year terms that vest over 366 to 48 months options with 5-year terms which vest immediately and options with 10-year terms which vest upon achievement of performance milestones. 

 

The following weighted average assumptions were used in estimating the fair value of stock options granted during the years ended October 31, 20162018 and 2015:2017:

 

For the Year

Ended October 31,

For the Year

Ended October 31,

For the Year

Ended October 31,

2016

2015

2018

 

2017

Weighted average fair value at grant date

$

2.84

 

$

3.09

$3.31

 

$1.72

Valuation assumptions:

 

Expected life (years)

 

5.70

 

 

5.75

5.74

 

5.63

Expected volatility

181.1%

117.8%

124.94%

 

119.2%

Risk-free interest rate

 

1.26%

 

 

2.01%

2.80%

 

1.94%

Expected dividend yield

0%

0%

0%

 

0%

 

The expected term of stock options represents the weighted average period the stock options are expected to remain outstanding.  We use the simplified method, which is a weighted average of the vesting term and contractual term, to determine expected term.  The simplified method was adopted since we do not believe that historical experience is representative of future performance because of the impact of the changes in our operations and the change in terms from historical options which vested immediately to terms including vesting periods of up to three years.  Under the Black-Scholes pricing model, we estimated the expected volatility of our shares of common stock based upon the historical volatility of our share price over a period of time equal to the expected term of the options.  We estimated the risk-free interest rate based on the implied yield available on the applicable grant date of a U.S. Treasury note with a term equal to the expected term of the underlying grants.  We made the dividend yield assumption based on our history of not paying dividends and our expectation not to pay dividends in the future. 

 

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ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Under ASC 718, the amount of stock-based compensation expense recognized is based on the portion of the awards that are ultimately expected to vest.  Accordingly, if deemed necessary, we reduce the fair value of the stock option awards for expected forfeitures, which are forfeitures of the unvested portion of surrendered options.  Based on our historical experience and future expectations, we have not reduced the amount of stock-based compensation expenses for anticipated forfeitures.

 

F-14 


ITUS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We will reconsider use of the Black-Scholes pricing model if additional information becomes available in the future that indicates another model would be more appropriate.  If factors change and we employ different assumptions in the application of ASC 718 in future periods, the compensation expense that we record under ASC 718 may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period.

Stock Award Compensation Expense

We account for stock awards granted to employees and directors in accordance with ASC 718.  For stock awards vested at date of grant we recognize expense based on the grant date market price of the underlying common stock.  During the year ended October 31, 2017 we issued 200,000 shares vested at date of grant to directors for services rendered and recorded an expense of $454,000. We did not issue any stock awards vested at date of grant during fiscal year 2018. 

On May 8, 2018, a restricted stock award of 1,500,000 shares of common stock was granted to our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.  The restricted stock award vests in its entirety upon achievement of a target trading price of $11.00 per share of the Company’s common stock before May 31, 2021.  For restricted stock awards vesting upon achievement of a price target of our common stock we use a Monte Carlo Simulation in estimating the fair value at grant date and recognize compensation cost over the implied service period (median time to vest).  The assumptions used in the Monte Carlo Simulation were stock price on date of grant of $3.70, contract term of 3.06 years, expected volatility of 128.8% and risk-free interest rate of 2.66%.  During the year ended October 31, 2018 we recorded compensation expense related to the restricted stock award of approximately $2,860,000.  As of October 31, 2018, the unrecognized compensation cost related to the restricted stock award was approximately $1,954,000, which will be recognized over future periods through the second quarter of fiscal 2019.  We did not issue any restricted stock awards during fiscal year 2017. 

We account for stock awards granted to consultants in accordance with ASC 505-50.  For stock awards vested at date of grant we recognize expense based on the grant date market price of the underlying common stock.  During the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, we issued 9,463 shares and 5,347 shares, respectively, of common stock vested at date of grant to consultants for services rendered.  We recorded consulting expense for the years ended October31, 2018 and 2017 of approximately $15,000 and $32,000, respectively, for the shares of common stock issued to consultants.

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ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Net Loss Per Share of Common Stock

In accordance with ASC 260, “Earnings Per Share”, basic net loss per common share (“Basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  Diluted net loss per common share (“Diluted EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares and dilutive common share equivalents and convertible securities then outstanding.  Diluted EPS for all years presented is the same as Basic EPS, as the inclusion of the effect of common share equivalents then outstanding would be anti-dilutive.  For this reason, excluded from the calculation of Diluted EPS for the years ended October 31, 20162018 and 2015,2017, were options to purchase 3,086,4727,405,868 and 2,672,4713,447,846 shares, respectively, and warrants to purchase 707,379829,400 shares and 1,028,931829,400 shares, respectively, preferred stock convertible into 739,958 shares.respectively.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Estimates and assumptions are used for, but not limited to, determining stock-based compensation, asset impairment evaluations, tax assets and liabilities, license fee revenue, the allowance for doubtful accounts, depreciation lives and other contingencies.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Subsequent Events

We evaluated all events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date through the date of this filing. During this period, the Company did not have any material subsequent events that impacted its financial statements.

Effect of Recently Issued Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 (“ASU 2014-09”), Revenue from Contracts with Customers.  This amendment updates addressing revenue from contracts with customers, which clarifies existing accounting literature relating to how and when a company recognizes revenue. Under the standard, a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services.  This standard update iswas effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and arewas to be applied retrospectively or the cumulative effect as of the date of adoption, with early application not permitted.  In July 2015, a one-year deferral of the effective date of the new guidance was approved.  We are currently evaluating the impactThe Company adopted ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

F-15


ITUS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

In June 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-12 (“ASU 2014-12”), Compensation – Stock Compensation.  This amendment requires that a performance target that affects vesting and could be achieved after the requisite service period shall be treated as a performance condition. Adoption of this standard is required for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted.November 1, 2018.  We do not expect this updatethe adoption of ASU 2014-09 to have a significantmaterial impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-15 (“ASU 2014-15”). This amendment requires management to assess an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern every reporting period including interim periods, and to provide related footnote disclosure in certain circumstances.statements. Adoption of this standard is required for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and are to be applied retrospectively or the cumulative effect asASU 2014-09 will require additional disclosure of the date of adoption. We do not expect this update to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 (“ASU 2015-03”) to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs. This amendment requires debt issuance costs be presented on the balance sheet as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability, consistent with debt discounts or premiums. Adoption of this standard is required for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015 and is to be applied retrospectively. The adoption of this amendment on November 1, 2016 did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In November 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-17 (“ASU 2015-17”) to simplify the presentation of deferred taxes. This amendment requires that all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with any related valuation allowances, be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet. Adoption of this standard is required for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU 2015-17 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.accounting policies.  

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 (“ASU 2016-02”) which requires lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet. This is expected to increase both reported assets and liabilities.  The new lease standard does not substantially change lessor accounting. For public companies, the standard will be effective for the first interim reporting period within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, although early adoption is permitted.  Lessees and lessors will be required to apply the new standard at the beginning of the earliest period presented in the financial statements in which they first apply the new guidance, using a modified retrospective transition method.  The requirements of this standard include a significant increase in required disclosures.  We are currently evaluating the impactThe disclosure requirements of ASU 2016-02 will be effective for the Company on November 1, 2019.  We began a detailed assessment of the impact that this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, and our analysis is currently ongoing.

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ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

In May 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-09 (“ASU 2017-09”) that provides guidance on determining which changes to the terms and conditions of share-based payment awards require an entity to apply modification accounting.  This update is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years.  The Company adopted ASU 2017-09 on November 1, 2018.  We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In March 2016,June 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-092018-07 (“ASU 2016-09”2018-07”) that changes, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting.  This amendment expands the accountingscope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. The new guidance requires all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. It also allows an employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares than it can today for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accountingacquiring goods and to make a policy election for forfeitures as they occur.  The guidanceservices from nonemployees.  This standard update is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and2018, including interim periods within those years. that fiscal year.  Early adoption is permitted.  ASU 2018-07 will be effective for the Company on November 1, 2019.  We are currently evaluatingdo not expect the impactadoption of ASU 2016-09 will2018-07 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

F-16


Concentration of Credit Risks

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk are cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable.  Cash equivalents are primarily highly rated money market funds. Short-term investments are certificates of deposit within federally insured limits.  Where applicable, management reviews our accounts receivable and other receivables for potential doubtful accounts and maintains an allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts.  Our policy is to write-off uncollectable amounts at the time it is determined that collection will not occur.

 

Two licenseesOne licensee accounted for 67% and 33%, respectively,100% of revenues from patent licensing activities during each fiscal year 2016. Three licensees accounted for 53%, 37%2018 and 10%, respectively, of revenues from patent licensing activities during fiscal year 2015.2017.

 

4.3.         ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accounts payable and accruedAccrued liabilities consist of the following as of:

October 31,

2018

 2017

Accrued severance costs

$

-

 

$

237,563

Payroll and related expenses

 

62,965

 

 

51,643

Accrued royalty

 

366,670

 

 

-

Accrued collaborative research and license expense

187,500

-

Accrued other

65,964

 

119,963

$

683,099

$

409,169

 

October 31,

2016

2015

Accounts payable

$

373,224

 

$

374,703

Payroll and related expenses

49,901

-

Accrued other

 

45,631

 

 

6,062

$

468,756

$

380,765

5.4.         SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITYPATENT ACQUISITION OBLIGATION

 

Reverse Stock Split

On June 26, 2015,In November 2013, we effectedincurred a 1-for-25 reverse stock split (the “Stock Split”)patent acquisition obligation due no later than November 2017 related to the acquisition of our issued common stock and preferred stock.  Each shareholders’ percentage ownership and proportional voting power remained unchanged as a resultpatents.  The payment due in November 2017 was payable at the option of the Stock Split.  All applicable share data, per share amounts and related informationCompany in cash or common stock.  We recorded interest expense of approximately $228,000 for the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retroactively to give effect to the Stock Split.  As a result of the Stock Split, the number of shares of our common stock and preferred stock authorized was also decreased by the same proportion as the outstanding shares.

Common Stock Issuances

During the yearsyear ended October 31, 2016 and 2015, we2017 for the accretion of interest on patent acquisition obligation. 

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ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

            On March 27, 2017, the Company issued 10,833947,606 shares and 11,600 shares, respectively, of common stock to consultants for services rendered, pursuant toin satisfaction of the 2010 Share Plan.  We recorded consulting expense forobligation.  The carrying value of the years ended October 31, 2016 and 2015patent acquisition obligation at the date of extinguishment was approximately $31,000 and $46,000, respectively, for$4,400,000.  The fair value of the shares of common stock issued to consultants.satisfy the obligation on the date of extinguishment was approximately $2,843,000, resulting in the recognition of a gain on the debt extinguishment of approximately $1,548,000.

5.         SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Stock Option Plans

As of October 31, 2016,2018, we have twothree stock option plans: the ITUS CorporationAnixa Biosciences, Inc. 2003 Share Incentive Plan (the “2003 Share Plan”) and, the ITUS CorporationAnixa Biosciences, Inc. 2010 Share Incentive Plan (the “2010 Share Plan”) and the Anixa Biosciences, Inc. 2018 Share Incentive Plan (the “2018 Share Plan”) which were adopted by our Board of Directors on April 21, 2003, and July 14, 2010 and January 25, 2018, respectively.  The 2018 Share Plan was approved by our shareholders on March 29, 2018

F-17


common stock, respectively, were exercised with aggregate proceeds of approximately $58,000 and $7,000, respectively.  Under certain circumstances, stock options may be exercised on a cashless basis.  During the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, 9,459 and 9,980 shares of common stock, respectively, were withheld in connection with cashless exercises of stock options.

ITUS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


The 2003 Share Plan provided for the grant of nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards and stock units to key employees, directors and consultants.  The maximum number of shares of common stock in the 2003 Share Plan was 2,800,000 shares. The 2003 Share Plan was administered by the Stock Option Committee through June 2004, from June 2004 through July 2010, by the Board of Directors, from July 2010 through August 2012, by the Stock Option Committee, from August 2012 through November 2012, by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, from November 2012 to July 2015, by the Board of Directors and since July 2015 by the Compensation Committee, which determined the option price, term and provisions of each option.  The exercise price with respect to all of the options granted under the 2003 Share Plan since its inception was equal to the fair market value of the underlying common stock at the grant date.   In accordance with the provisions of the 2003 Share Plan, the plan terminated with respect to the grant of future options on April 21, 2013.

Information regarding the 2003 Share Plan for the two years ended October 31, 20162018 is as follows:

 

Weighted

Average Exercise

 Price Per Share

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value

Weighted

Average Exercise

 Price Per Share

Aggregate

 Intrinsic Value

Shares

Aggregate

 Intrinsic Value

Options Outstanding at October 31, 2014

 

 

 

Options Outstanding at October 31, 2016

225,600

 

 

$  18.69      

 

Exercised

(5,800)

 

  $    1.39      

Forfeited

(189,200)

 

 

$  21.55      

 

Options Outstanding at October 31, 2017

30,600

 

$    3.16      

Exercised

(10,600)

 

 

$    0.67      

 

Forfeited

(123,791)

 

$14.71

 

 

 

(8,000)

 

$    7.04      

Options Outstanding and Exercisable at

October 31, 2018

12,000

 

$    2.77      

 

 

$    20,530     

Options Outstanding at October 31, 2015

Exercised

(11,080)

 

$2.58

 

 

 

Forfeited

Options Outstanding and Exercisable at
October 31, 2016

225,600

$18.69

 

$

142,470

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ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable under the 2003 Share Plan as of October 31, 2016:2018:

Weighted Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Range of

Exercise Prices

Number

Outstanding

$  1.79 - $  7.75

 

41,200

 

1.77

 

$2.91

$14.75 - $17.50

50,400

.43

$16.98

$20.50 - $23.00

 

94,000

 

.83

 

$22.04

$29.25

40,000

.81

$29.25

Weighted Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Range of

Exercise Prices

Number

Outstanding

$0.67 -  $17.50

 

12,000

 

0.74

 

$ 2.77

 


F-18


The 2010 Share Plan provides for the grant of nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards and stock units to key employees, directors and consultants.  The maximum numberOn the first business day of shares of common stock in the 2010 Share Plan was initially 600,000 shares. On July 6, 2011, the 2010 Share Plan was amended by our Board of Directors to increase the maximum number of shares of common stock in the plan to 1,080,000 shares and on August 29, 2012, the maximum number of shares in the plan was further increased to 1,200,000 shares.  On November 8, 2013, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to provide that effective November 8, 2013,each calendar year the maximum aggregate number of shares available for future issuance will be 800,000 shares and that on the first business day in 2014 and on the first business day of each calendar year thereafter the maximum aggregate number of shares available for future issuance shall beis replenished such that 800,000 shares will beare available. Accordingly, on November 8, 2013, January 2, 2014 and January 2, 2015, the number of shares in the 2010 Share Plan was increased to 1,957,000 shares, 2,225,400 shares and 2,569,400 shares, respectively.  In addition, on November 8, 2013, the 2010 Share Plan was amended to provide that on the first business day of each year commencing on January 2, 2014, each non-employee director of the Company at that time shall automatically be granted a 10-year stock option to purchase 12,000 shares of common stock (16,000 for the Chairman) that will vest in four equal quarterly installments. The 2010 Share Plan was administered by the Stock Option Committee through August 2012, from August 2012 through November 2012, by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, from November 2012 through July 2015, by the Board of Directors and since July 2015, by the Compensation Committee, which determines the option price, term and provisions of each option.  The exercise price with respect to all of the options granted under the 2010 Share Plan was equal to the fair market value of the underlying common stock at the grant date.  As of October 31, 2016,2018, the 2010 Share Plan had 431,956291,394 shares available for future grants. 

Information regarding the 2010 Share Plan as of October 31, 20162018 is as follows:

 

 Weighted

Average Exercise

Price Per Share

Aggregate 

Intrinsic

Value

 Weighted

Average Exercise

 Price Per Share

 Weighted

Average Exercise

 Price Per Share

Aggregate
 Intrinsic

 Value

Shares

Options Outstanding at October 31, 2014

728,561

 

$5.75

 

 

Options Outstanding at October 31, 2016

1,080,872

 

 

$    3.12       

 

 

Granted

682,000

 

$    2.03       

 

Exercised

(13,334)

 

$2.58

 

   

(44,400)

 

 

$    0.67       

 

   

Forfeited

(81,226)

 

$    6.20       

Options Outstanding at October 31, 2015

526,272

 

$3.33

 

 

Options Outstanding at October 31, 2017

1,637,246

 

 

$    1.50       

 

 

Granted

610,000

 

$    3.68       

Exercised

(2,400)

 

$4.25

 

 

(65,578)

 

 

$    1.33       

 

 

Options Outstanding at October 31, 2016

1,080,872

$3.12

$

3,569,079

Options Exercisable at October 31, 2016

659,439

 

$3.16

 

$

2,126,338

Forfeited

(49,800)

 

 

$    2.15       

 

 

Options Outstanding at October 31, 2018

2,131,868

 

$    2.11       

 

$    4,366,005   

Options Exercisable at October 31, 2018

1,421,037

 

 

$    1.77       

 

$    3,324,421   


The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding under the 2010 Share Plan as of October 31, 2016:2018:

Options Outstanding

Options Exercisable

Options Outstanding

Options Exercisable

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Range of

Exercise Prices

Number

Outstanding

Number

Exercisable

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Number

Outstanding

Number

Exercisable

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

td.58 - $9.25

1,080,872

7.71

$3.12

6.71

$3.16

Range of

Exercise Prices

Number

Outstanding

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

Number

Exercisable

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

700,919

6.08

$0.67

td.27 - $3.01

707,134

td.57

$3.46 - $7.00

486,734

 

4.75

$4.76


F-19

F-18


 

Table of Contents

ITUS CORPORATIONANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The 2018 Share Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock awards, performance awards and stock units to employees, directors and consultants.  On the first business day of each calendar year the maximum aggregate number of shares available for future issuance is replenished such that 2,000,000 shares are available.  The exercise price with respect to all of the options granted under the 2018 Share Plan was equal to the fair market value of the underlying common stock at the grant date.  As of October 31, 2018, the 2018 Share Plan had 18,000 shares available for future grants.   Information regarding the 2018 Share Plan as of October 31, 2018 is as follows:

Weighted

Average Exercise

Price Per Share

Aggregate

Intrinsic

Value

Shares

 

Options Outstanding at October 31, 2017

      - 

 

Granted

3,482,000

 

 

$  3.65

 

 

 

Options Outstanding at October 31, 2018

3,482,000

 

 

$  3.73

 

 

$ 1,152,620

Options Exercisable at October 31, 2018

828,611

 

$  3.71

 

$    280,991

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding under the 2018 Share Plan as of October 31, 2018:

Options Outstanding

Options Exercisable

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Range of

Exercise Prices

Number

Outstanding

Number

Exercisable

 

  $ 3.70 - $4.61

3,482,000

9.52

$3.73

828,611

9.52

$3.71

In addition to options granted under the 2003 Share Plan, the 2010 Share Plan and the 20102018 Share Plan, during the years ended October 31, 2012 and 2013, the Board of Directors approved the grant of stock options to purchase 1,660,000 shares and 120,000 shares, respectively.

 

Information regarding stock options that were not granted under the 2003 Share Plan, the 2010 Share Plan or the 20102018 Share Plan for the two years ended October 31, 20162018 is as follows:

 

Weighted

Average Exercise

Price Per Share

Aggregate

Intrinsic

Value

Shares

      

Options Outstanding at October 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016

1,780,000

 

$2.70

 

 

Options Outstanding and exercisable at October 31, 2016

1,780,000

$2.70

$

6,494,275

Weighted

Average Exercise

Price Per Share

Aggregate

Intrinsic

Value

Shares

 

      

      

Options Outstanding and exercisable at

    October 31, 2017

1,780,000

 

 

$   1.58

 

 

 

Options Outstanding and exercisable at 

    October 31, 2018

1,780,000

 

$   1.58

 

$   4,497,180

 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable that were not granted under the 2003 Share Plan, the 2010 Share Plan or the 20102018 Share Plan as of October 31, 2016:2017:

Weighted Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

Number

Outstanding and

Exercisable

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Range of

Exercise Prices

$0.67

1,046,000

3.80

$0.67

$ 2.58 - $ 5.56

734,000

3.34

$2.88

 

F-19

Weighted Average

Remaining

Contractual Life

(in years)

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Range of

Exercise Prices

Number

Outstanding

$ 2.58 - $ 5.56

 

1,780,000

 

5.76

 

$2.70


Table of Contents

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Re-Priced Stock Options

 

On January 28, 2015,September 6, 2017 the Board of Directors authorized management of the Company to re-pricere-priced 2,029,600 issued and outstanding stock options (the “Re-Priced Options”) for all of the officers, directors and employees of the Company, at any time prior to February 16, 2015.  On February 5, 2015, management acted to re-price 2,184,125 issued and outstanding stock options (the “Re-Priced Options”) pursuant to the authority granted by the Board of Directors.Company.  The new exercise price of the Re-Priced Options is $2.575,$0.67, the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock on February 5, 2015.September 6, 2017.  All other terms of the previously granted Re-Priced Options remain the same.  The Company recorded additional stock-based compensation of approximately $297,000,$261,000, as of February 5, 2015,September 6, 2017, related to this re-pricing.  This amount was determined to be the incremental value of the fair value of the Re-Priced Options compared to the fair value of the original option immediately before the re-pricing.  Accordingly, 18,200 stock options in the 2003 Share Plan with exercise prices of $2.58, 965,400 stock options in the 2010 Share Plan with exercise prices ranging from $0.82 to $5.30 and 1,046,000 stock options that were not granted under the 2003 Share Plan or the 2010 Share plan with exercise prices of $2.58, were re-priced.

 

Preferred Stock

 

In May 1986, our shareholders authorized 200,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $100 per share.  The shares of preferred stock may be issued in series at the direction of the Board of Directors, and the relative rights, preferences and limitations of such shares will all be determined by the Board of Directors.  As of October 31, 2016, 140 shares of preferred stock had been designated and issued as Series A Preferred Stock. 

F-20 


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ITUS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

On September 9, 2014, the Company designated 140 shares of the preferred stock as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share, in accordance with the Certificate of Designation of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 9, 2014 (the “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock”).  On September 9, 2014, 140 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock with a stated value of $25,000 per share were issued in connection with the conversion of a Convertible Debenture due November 2016.

Ranking          

The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock ranked senior to the Company’s common stock, to all series of any other classes of equity which may be issued and to any indebtedness, unless the Company obtained the prior written consent of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock holder.

Redemption

At any time on or after November 11, 2016 (the “Redemption Date”), and upon at least 60 days prior written notice to the Company (a “Redemption Notice”), any holder of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock had a one-time right to require the Company to redeem all or some of its shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (a “Redemption”) for cash generated from a subsequent sale of the Company’s equity securities.  The redemption price being equal to the stated value ($25,000 per share) of the shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock being converted, (the “Redemption Purchase Price”).  Upon receipt of a Redemption Notice, the Company shall complete a sale or sales of its equity securities for the purpose of accumulating net proceeds sufficient to pay the Redemption Purchase Price.

On September 9, 2016, the holder of 140 shares of theall our outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock delivered a Redemption Notice(the “Series A Preferred”) with an aggregate stated value of $3,500,000 exercised its right of redemption to the Company requesting a redemption date of November 11, 2016 (it being understood by the holder of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock that the Company may only redeem shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock with thereceive such amount from proceeds from the sale of the Company’s equity securities).securities.  On December 6, 2016, we entered into an agreement with the holder of the Series A Preferred Stocksetting forth the terms under which such redemption would take place (the “Series A Redemption Terms”).  Pursuant to exchangethe Series A Redemption Terms, on December 9, 2016 the holder of the Series A Preferred Stock forreceived (i) $500,000 in cash, (ii) a 12% secured debenture cashevidencing the remaining $3,000,000 amount to be redeemed, $1,000,000 of which was due on or before June 1, 2017 and warrants. See Note 2, Subsequent Event. 

Optional Conversion

Holdersthe remainder of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock had the right at any time convert their shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into such number ofwhich was due November 11, 2017 (the “Redemption Debenture”), and (iii) a 5 year warrant to purchase 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in suchat an amountexercise price equal to (a)10% below the statedthirty (30) day volume weighted average closing price of our common stock at closing (the “Redemption Warrant”). The Redemption Debenture was secured by a lien on the Company’s assets and prohibited the Company from incurring any senior indebtedness other than equipment financing in connection with the Company’s business.  The Redemption Debenture was paid in full during fiscal year 2017.  Interest expense during the year ended October 31, 2017 in connection with the Redemption Debenture was approximately $272,000.

The difference between the fair value of $25,000 per sharethe consideration given to the holder of the shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock being converted, divided by the conversion price of $4.73, multiplied by (b) the number of shares ofour Series A Preferred Stock being converted. 

The holder did not haveand the right to convert any portioncarrying value of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock if after giving effectrepresents a return to suchthe preferred stockholder which is treated in a similar manner as that of dividends paid on preferred stock.  In the redemption, the Series A Preferred holder received $500,000 in cash, the Redemption Debenture with a present value of approximately $2,999,000 and the Redemption Warrant with a fair value of approximately $2,801,000, determined using the Black Scholes pricing model, and waived the Series A Preferred’s conversion right with an intrinsic value of approximately $792,000, resulting in total consideration given to the Series A Preferred holder together with any affiliate thereof, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99%approximately $5,508,000.  The difference between the fair value of the numberconsideration and the $3,500,000 carrying value of sharesthe Series A Preferred resulted in a deemed dividend to the Series A Preferred holder of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion.approximately $2,009,000.

 

F-21 F-20


 

Table of Contents

ITUS CORPORATIONANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The embedded conversion option had certain anti-dilution protection provisions which would be triggered if the Company issues its common stock, or certain common stock equivalents, (as defined) at a price below $3.55 per share.

Board and Observer Rights

Each holder of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock shall have the right, upon 10 days' prior written notice, to designate one representative, reasonably acceptable to the Company, who shall be entitled to attend and observe meetings of the Company’s Board of Directors in a non-voting observer capacity (the “Observer”).

Accounting for the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

The Company determined that the economic characteristics and risks of the conversion feature and the preferred stock instrument were clearly and closely related as equity instruments and accordingly, the conversion feature would not require separate accounting.   In addition, the redemption feature was contingent upon Series A Convertible Preferred Stock not being converted into common stock and upon the holder delivering a redemption notice to the Company.   Further, the redemption purchase price may only be paid from the proceeds of a subsequent sale of equity securities. Accordingly, the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was accounted for as an equity instrument. Further, because the conversion rate of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of $4.73 per share was less than the Company’s closing stock price on the date of this transaction, the Company determined that the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock contained a beneficial conversion feature. The beneficial conversion feature was recorded in additional paid-in-capital as a result of the Company’s accumulated deficit.

 

Common Stock Purchase Warrants

 

During the year ended October 31, 2018 we issued a warrant, expiring on June 5, 2021, to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock at $3.65 per share and recorded approximately $57,000 of consulting expense based on the fair value of the warrant.  In October 2018, we issued 9,917 shares of common stock upon the exercise of the warrant on a cashless basis.

As of October 31, 2016,2018, we had warrants to purchase 10,000 shares and 10,000 shares of common stock at $9.25 and $13.875 per share, respectively, expiring on August 19, 2019, warrants to purchase 369,979 shares of common stock at $7.75 per share expiring on November 11, 2016, warrants to purchase 8,000 shares of common stock at $6.925 per share expiring on June 2, 2017 and warrants to purchase 309,400 shares of common stock at $10.00 per share expiring on July 15, 2019.2019 and warrants to purchase 500,000 shares of common stock at $5.03 per share expiring on November 30, 2021.


6.         COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Patent Acquisition Obligations

As of October 31, 2016, we have incurred obligations due no later than November 2017 related to the acquisition of patents, which have a discounted present value of approximately $4,172,000, and which amount will be reduced by royalties paid during the period, if any.  The payment due in November 2017 is payable at the option of the Company in cash or common stock.  We recorded interest expense of approximately $520,000 and $452,000, respectively, for the years ended October 31, 2016 and 2015, for the accretion of interest on patent acquisition obligations.  The payment due date of November 2017 may be extended for up to two years if any patent infringement lawsuit initiated by the Company is stayed because of any re-exam or similar proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

F-22 


Table of Contents

ITUS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Leases

We lease approximately 3,0002,000 square feet of office space in Los Angeles,at 3150 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, California (our principal executive offices) from an unrelated party pursuant to a lease that expires May 31,September 30, 2019.  The lease containsOur base rentals ofrent is approximately $11,000$4,000 per month withand the lease provides for annual increases of approximately 3% and an escalation clause for increases in certain operating expenses.  costs.  We also lease approximately 3,000 square feet of office space at 12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California (our former executive offices) from an unrelated party pursuant to a lease that expires May 31, 2019.  Our base rent is approximately $11,000 per month and the lease provides for annual increases of approximately 3% and an escalation clause for increases in certain operating costs. 

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 we vacated the office space at 12100 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California and as of October 31, 2018 we have accrued an expense of approximately $31,000 related to future rents of these facilities.  As of August 1, 2018, we have subleased these facilities.  As of October 31, 2016,2018, our non-cancelable operating lease commitments for the yearsyear ending October 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 werewas approximately $129,000, 134,000 and $80,000, respectively.$129,000.  Rent expense for the years ended October 31, 20162018 and 2015,2017, was approximately $104,000$114,000 and $100,000,$229,000, respectively. 

Litigation Matters

On December 29, 2014, we settled our lawsuit against AUO which had been filed on January 28, 2013. For a more detailed description of the settlement with AUO see Note 1, “Business and Funding - Description of Business - AUO Lawsuit and Settlement”.

Other than suitsbelow and lawsuits we bring to enforce our patent rights we are not a party to any material pending legal proceedings other than that which arise in the ordinary course of business.  We believe that any liability that may ultimately result from the resolution of these matters will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

On November 5, 2018, a putative shareholder derivative complaint was filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, captioned Howland v. Kumar et al., C.A. No. 2018-0804-KSJM, that alleges claims for breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment.  The complaint named as defendants certain of the Company’s current and former officers and directors, and the Company is named solely as a nominal defendant.  The complaint seeks, on behalf of the Company, a declaration that the defendant officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties, unspecified damages, certain changes to the Company’s internal procedures, and an award of the plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees and costs.  The defendants moved to dismiss the complaint on November 29, 2018 and the parties are currently engaged in briefing the motion. Due to the early nature of the complaint and that the complaint does not specify a dollar amount of damages, we cannot make a reasonable estimate of potential losses at this time.

F-21


Table of Contents

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Collaborative Agreement with Moffitt

            As of October 31, 2018, our commitments under the collaborative agreement with Moffitt for the years ending October 31, 2019 and 2020 were approximately $455,000 and $228,000, respectively.

 

7.         INCOME TAXES   

 

Income tax provision (benefit) consists of the following:

Year Ended October 31,

Year Ended October 31,

2016

2015

2018

 2017

Federal:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

-

Deferred

 

(1,631,000)

 

(487,000)

 

(1,784,000)

 

12,534,000

State:

 

Current

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

Deferred

(134,000)

(120,000)

(1,206,000)

4,351,000

Adjustment to valuation allowance related to net deferred tax assets

 

1,765,000

 

 

607,000

 

2,990,000

 

(16,885,000)

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

-

 

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax asset, net, at October 31, 20162018 and 2015,2017, are as follows:

2016

2015

2018

 2017

Long-term deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal and state NOL and tax credit carryforwards

$

33,079,000

$

31,261,000

$

19,282,000

$

18,961,000

Deferred compensation

 

6,232,000

 

 

6,522,000

 

6,176,000

 

 

3,718,000

Intangibles

713,000

483,000

754,000

543,000

Other

 

289,000

 

 

282,000

 

205,000

 

205,000

Subtotal

40,313,000

38,548,000

26,417,000

23,427,000

 

 

 

 

 

Less: valuation allowance

 

(40,313,000)

 

(38,548,000)

 

(26,417,000)

 

(23,427,000)

Deferred tax asset, net

$

-

 

$

-

$

-

$

-

 

F-23 


TableAs a result of Contents

ITUS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

the passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, management has determined that the federal statutory rate used to estimate the benefit of the deferred tax asset or liability should be changed from 34% to 21%.

As of October 31, 2016,2018, we had tax net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards of approximately $79,428,000$82,686,000 and $1,110,000,$1,398,000, respectively, available within statutory limits (expiring at various dates between 20202019 and 2035)2038), to offset any future regular Federal corporate taxable income and taxes payable.  If the tax benefits relating to deductions of option holders’ income are ultimately realized, those benefits will be credited directly to additional paid-in capital.  Certain changes in stock ownership can result in a limitation on the amount of net operating loss and tax credit carryovers that can be utilized each year. As of October 31, 2016,2018, management has not determined the extent of any such limitations, if any.

F-22


Table of Contents

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We had New York California and PennsylvaniaCalifornia tax net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $76,847,000, $4,849,000$70,611,000 and $841,000,$14,581,000, respectively, as of October 31, 2016,2018, available within statutory limits (expiring at various dates between 20202019 and 2035)2038), to offset future corporate taxable income and taxes payable, if any, under certain computations of such taxes.

We have provided a valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset due to our current and historical pre-tax losses and the uncertainty regarding their realizability.  The primary differences from the Federalblended federal statutory rate in effect for our fiscal year ended October 31, 2018 of 34%23% and the effective rate of 0% is attributable to certain permanent differences and a change in the valuation allowance.  The following is a reconciliation of income taxes at the Federal statutory tax rate to income tax expense (benefit):

Year Ended October 31,

2016

2015

Income tax benefit at U.S.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal statutory income  Tax rate

$

(1,706,000)

(34.0)

%

$

(469,000)

(34.0)

%

State income taxes

 

(411,000)

 

(8.2)

%

 

 

(117,000)

 

(8.5)

%

Permanent differences

2,000

0.1

%

1,000

0.1

%

Expiring net operating  losses, credits and other

350,000

 

7.0 

%

 

 

(22,000)

 

(1.6)

%

Change in valuation allowance

1,765,000

35.1

%

607,000

44.0

%

Income tax provision

$

-

 

0.0

%

 

$

-

 

0.0

%

Year Ended October 31,

2018

 2017

Income tax benefit at U.S.

   Federal statutory income

   tax rate

$

(3,276,000)

 

(23.0%)

 

$

(1,703,000)

 

(34.0%)

State income taxes

(1,259,000)

(8.84%)

(443,000)

(8.84%)

Permanent differences

 

14,000

 

0.10%

 

 

(10,000)

 

(0.20%)

Expiring net operating 

   losses, credits and other

1,246,000

9.12%

-

-

Rate changes

 

285,000

 

2.00%

 

 

19,041,000

 

380.13%

Change in valuation

   allowance

 

2,990,000

 

20.62%

 

 

(16,885,000)

 

(337.09%)

Income tax provision

$

-

0.0%

$

-

0.0%

 

During the two fiscal years ended October 31, 2016,2018, we incurred no Federal and no State income taxes.  We have no unrecognized tax benefits as of October 31, 20162018 and 20152017 and we account for interest and penalties related to income tax matters in marketing, general and administrative expenses.  Tax years to which our net operating losses relate remain open to examination by Federal authorities and other jurisdictions to the extent which the net operating losses have yet to be utilized.

8.         SEGMENT INFORMATION

We follow the accounting guidance of ASC 280 “Segment Reporting” (“ASC 280”).  Reportable operating segments are determined based on the management approach.  The management approach, as defined by ASC 280, is based on the way that the chief operating decision-maker organizes the segments within an enterprise for making operating decisions and assessing performance.  While our results of operations are primarily reviewed on a consolidated basis, the chief operating decision-maker manages the enterprise in three reportable segments, each with different operating and potential revenue generating characteristics: (i) development of our Cchek™ cancer detection platform, (ii) development of CAR-T therapeutics and (iii) our legacy patent licensing activities.  The following represents selected financial information for our segments for the years ended October 31, 2018 and 2017:

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Table of Contents

ANIXA BIOSCIENCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2018

2017

Net income (loss):

Cchek™ cancer detection platform

$

(5,920,457)

$

(5,014,164)

CAR-T therapeutics

(7,073,322)

(504,405)

Patent licensing

 

(1,249,305)

 

509,578

Total

$

(14,243,084)

$

(5,008,991)

Operating costs and expenses

$

15,401,558

$

6,438,084

Less non-cash share based compensation

 

(8,895,614)

 

(1,676,772)

Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash
    share based compensation

$

6,505,944

$

4,761,312

Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash

    share based compensation:

Cchek™ cancer detection platform

$

2,431,810

$

3,659,280

CAR-T therapeutics

2,120,614

342,064

Patent licensing

 

1,953,520

 

759,968

Total

$

6,505,944

$

4,761,312

Total assets:

Cchek™ cancer detection platform

$

2,545,803

$

5,684,915

CAR-T therapeutics

2,157,359

521,326

Patent licensing

 

1,745,380

 

2,606,175

Total

$

6,448,542

$

8,812,416

Operating costs and expenses excluding non-cash share based compensation is the measurement the chief operating decision-maker uses in managing the enterprise. 

The Company’s consolidated revenue of $1,112,500 and impairment in carrying amount of patent assets of $582,979 for the year ended October 31, 2018 were solely related to our patent licensing segment.  The Company’s consolidated revenue of $362,500, gain on extinguishment of patent acquisition obligation of $1,547,608 and interest expense of $500,455 for the year ended October 31, 2017 were solely related to our patent licensing segment.  All our revenue is generated domestically (United States) based on the country in which the licensee is located.

 

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