Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021

or

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                 to                 

Commission File Number: 001-37758

 

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MOLECULIN BIOTECH, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

 

2834

 

47-4671997

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

 

5300 Memorial Drive,

Suite 950

 

Houston,

 TX

TX

77007

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

713-300-5160

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer ☐

 

Smaller reporting company ☒

Non-accelerated filer ☒

Emerging growth company ☒

Accelerated filer ☐

  

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.): Yes ☐ No ☒

 

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

Title of each class

Trading Symbol (s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

MBRX

The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

 

The registrant had 62,464,56428,444,425 shares of common stock outstanding at November 5, 2020.May 4, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

Moleculin Biotech, Inc.

 

Table of Contents

 

  

Page

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

3

Item 1.

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

3

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 (unaudited) and December 31, 20192020.

3

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Three and Nine Months ended September 30,March 31, 2021 and 2020 and 2019(unaudited)

4

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the NineThree Months ended September 30,March 31, 2021 and 2020 and 2019(unaudited)

5

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the NineThree Months Ended September 30,March 31, 2021 and 2020 and 2019(unaudited)

6

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

7

Item 2.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

1912

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

2516

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

2616

   
 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

2717

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

2717

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

2717

Item 2.

Unregistered sales of Equity Securities and Uses of Proceeds

2817

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

2817

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

2817

Item 5.

Other Information

2817

Item 6.

Exhibits

2918

   
 

Signatures

3019

 

2


 

PART 1 FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

Moleculin Biotech, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except for share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

 
 

September 30,

 

December 31,

  

March 31,

 

December 31,

 
 

2020

  

2019

  

2021

  

2020

 

Assets

          

Current assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

 $12,795  $10,735  $86,293  $15,173 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  2,455   2,749   1,726   2,025 

Total current assets

 15,250  13,484  88,019  17,198 

Furniture and equipment, net

 522  316  438  483 

Intangible assets

 11,148  11,148  11,148  11,148 

Operating lease right-of-use asset

  224   287   179   202 

Total assets

 $27,144  $25,235  $99,784  $29,031 
      

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

          

Current liabilities:

      

Accounts payable

 $1,343  $2,153  $1,928  $1,129 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

  2,095   1,417   2,650   1,791 

Total current liabilities

 3,438  3,570  4,578  2,920 

Operating lease liability - long-term, net of current portion

 190  276  127  159 

Warrant liability - long-term

  9,049   5,818   6,563   8,192 

Total liabilities

 12,677  9,664  11,268  11,271 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)

              

Stockholders' equity

      

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding

 0  0  0  0 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 61,764,225 and 45,727,700 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively

 62  46 

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 28,444,425 and 11,536,720 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively

 28  69 

Additional paid-in capital

 68,649  55,055  149,788  74,671 

Subscription Receivable

 0  (129)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 33  31  61  65 

Accumulated deficit

  (54,277)  (39,561)  (61,361)  (56,916)

Total stockholders’ equity

  14,467   15,571   88,516   17,760 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 $27,144  $25,235  $99,784  $29,031 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3


 

Moleculin Biotech, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

  

2021

  

2020

 

Revenues

 $0  $0  $0  $0  $0  $0 
  

Operating expenses:

              

Research and development

 4,435  2,785  10,971  7,816  4,105  3,206 

General and administrative

 1,659  1,672  5,122  4,748  1,939  1,810 

Depreciation and amortization

  57   51   154   147   44   46 

Total operating expenses

  6,151   4,508   16,247   12,711   6,088   5,062 

Loss from operations

 (6,151) (4,508) (16,247) (12,711) (6,088) (5,062)

Other income:

              

Gain from change in fair value of warrant liability

 2,743  124  1,489  3,059  1,577  3,845 

Other income, net

 10  5  32  5  9  5 

Interest income, net

  3   5   10   10   57   3 

Net loss before taxes

 $(3,395) $(4,374) $(14,716) $(9,637)
Income tax benefit  0  229  0  229 
Net loss $(3,395) $(4,145) $(14,716) $(9,408) $(4,445) $(1,209)
  

Net loss per common share - basic and diluted

 $(0.06) $(0.09) $(0.26) $(0.24) $(0.20) $(0.15)

Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted

  61,474,857   45,464,746   56,979,507   39,034,303   21,808,565   8,321,833 
  

Net Loss

 $(3,395) $(4,145) $(14,716) $(9,408) $(4,445) $(1,209)

Other comprehensive income (loss):

              

Foreign currency translation

  10   (3)  2   (16)  (4)  (33)

Comprehensive loss

 $(3,385) $(4,148) $(14,714) $(9,424) $(4,449) $(1,242)

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4


 

Moleculin Biotech, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

 
 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2020

  

2019

  

2021

  

2020

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

            

Net loss

 $(14,716) $(9,408) $(4,445) $(1,209)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

          

Depreciation and amortization

 154  147  44  46 

Stock-based compensation

 1,265  1,155  405  397 
License rights expense settled in stock 0 490 

Change in fair value of warrant liability

 (1,489) (3,059) (1,577) (3,845)

Operating lease, net of sublease receipts

 90  (10)

Operating lease, net

 113  99 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

          

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 294  (2,337) 299  611 

Accounts payable

 (810) 1,942  799  (947)

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

  565   (1,441)  738   506 

Net cash used in operating activities

  (14,647)  (12,521)  (3,624)  (4,342)

Cash flows from investing activities:

            

Purchase of fixed assets

  (360)  (42)  0   (2)

Net cash used in investing activities

  (360)  (42)  0   (2)

Cash flows from financing activities:

            

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 0  5 

Proceeds from exercise of warrants

 5  1,557  63  0 
Payment of tax liability for vested restricted stock units (17) 0 

Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of issuance costs

  17,077   19,292   74,685   5,291 

Net cash provided by financing activities

  17,065   20,854  74,748  5,291 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

  2   (16) (4) (33)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 2,060  8,275  71,120  914 

Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of period

  10,735   7,134   15,173   10,735 

Cash and cash equivalents, at end of period

 $12,795  $15,409  $86,293  $11,649 
  

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

            

Cash paid for interest

 $0  $1 

Cash paid for taxes

 $20  $15  $0  $6 
Research and development expense settled in stock $0 $490 

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

            

Purchases of property and equipment in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 $316  $21  $0  $23 

  

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5


 

Moleculin Biotech, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(in thousands, except for shares)

(unaudited)

 

 
 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 
 

Common Stock

  

Additional

  

Accumulated

  

Accumulated Other Comprehensive

  

Stockholders'

  

Common Stock

 

Common Stock Subscribed

     Accumulated     
 

Shares

  

Par Value Amount

  

Paid-In Capital

  

Deficit

  

Income (Loss)

  

Equity

  

Shares

  

Par Value Amount

  

Shares

  

Par Value Amount

  

Additional Paid-In Capital

  

Accumulated Deficit

  

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

  

Subscription Receivable

  

Stockholder's Equity

 

Balance, December 31, 2019

 45,727,700  $46  $55,055  $(39,561) $31  $15,571 

Issued for cash - sale of common stock, net of issuance costs of $709

 7,500,000  7  559  0  0  566 

Stock-based compensation

   0  397  0  0  397 

Consolidated net loss

   0  0  (1,209) 0  (1,209)

Cumulative translation adjustment

     0   0   0   (33)  (33)

Balance, March 31, 2020

 53,227,700  $53  $56,011  $(40,770) $(2) $15,292 

Issued for cash - sale of common stock, net of issuance costs of $336

 7,170,964  7  10,000  0  0  10,007 

Balance, December 31, 2020

 11,536,720  $69  26,966  $0  $74,671  $(56,916) $65  $(129) $17,760 
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs of $6,159 16,883,420 18 (26,966) 0 74,537 0 0 129 74,684 
Reverse stock split 14,285 (60) 0 0 60 0 0 0 0 

Warrants exercised

 4,500  0  9  0  0  9  10,000 1 0 0 115 0 0 0 116 

Stock-based compensation

   0  408  0  0  408   0  0 405 0 0 0 405 

Consolidated net loss

   0  0  (10,112) 0  (10,112)  0  0 0 (4,445) 0 0 (4,445)

Cumulative translation adjustment

     0   0   0   25   25     0    0  0  0  (4)  0  (4)

Balance, June 30, 2020

 60,403,164  $60  $66,428  $(50,882) $23  $15,629 
Issued for cash - sale of common stock, net of issuance costs of $135 1,301,126 2 1,778 0 0 1,780 

Common stock issued upon vesting of restricted stock units (net of shares withheld for payment of tax liability)

 59,935  0  (17) 0  0  (17)

Stock-based compensation

   0  460  0  0  460 

Consolidated net loss

   0  0  (3,395) 0  (3,395)

Cumulative translation adjustment

     0   0   0   10   10 

Balance, September 30, 2020

  61,764,225  $62  $68,649  $(54,277) $33  $14,467 

Balance, March 31, 2021

  28,444,425  $28   0  $0  $149,788  $(61,361) $61  $0  $88,516 

 

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

 
  

Common Stock

  

Additional

  

Accumulated

  

Accumulated Other Comprehensive

  

Stockholders'

 
  

Shares

  

Par Value Amount

  

Paid-In Capital

  

Deficit

  

Income (Loss)

  

Equity

 
                         

Balance, December 31, 2018

  28,528,663  $29  $40,564  $(26,356) $35  $14,272 

Issued for cash - sale of common stock, net of issuance costs of $617

  5,250,000   5   3,221   0   0   3,226 

Issued to Lincoln Park - sale of common stock

  605,367   0   883   0   0   883 

Stock options exercised

  25,000   0   5   0   0   5 

Stock-based compensation

     0   348   0   0   348 

Consolidated net loss

     0   0   (4,041)  0   (4,041)

Cumulative translation adjustment

     0   0   0   (11)  (11)

Balance, March 31, 2019

  34,409,030  $34  $45,021  $(30,397) $24  $14,682 

Issued for cash - sale of common stock, net of issuance costs of $1,300

  9,375,000   9   3,575   0   0   3,584 

Warrants exercised

  1,413,018   2   4,729   0   0   4,731 

Stock-based compensation

     0   318   0   0   318 

Consolidated net loss

     0   0   (1,221)  0   (1,221)

Cumulative translation adjustment

     0   0   0   (2)  (2)

Balance, June 30, 2019

  45,197,048  $45  $53,643  $(31,618) $22  $22,092 

Issued to Lincoln Park - sale of common stock, net of issuance costs of $59

  100,674   0   52   0   0   52 

Common stock issued for license rights

  429,978   1   489   0   0   490 

Stock-based compensation

     0   489   0   0   489 

Consolidated net loss

     0   0   (4,145)  0   (4,145)

Cumulative translation adjustment

     0   0   0   (3)  (3)

Balance, September 30, 2019

  45,727,700  $46  $54,673  $(35,763) $19  $18,975 
  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 
  

Common Stock

  

Common Stock Subscribed

        

Accumulated

        
  

Shares

  

Par Value Amount

  

Shares

  

Par Value Amount

  

Additional Paid-In Capital

  

Accumulated Deficit

  

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

  

Subscription Receivable

  

Stockholders' Equity

 
                                     

Balance, December 31, 2019

  7,621,338  $46   0  $0  $55,055  $(39,561) $31  $0  $15,571 

Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs of $709

  1,250,000   7   0   0   559   0   0   0   566 

Stock-based compensation

     0      0   397   0   0   0   397 

Consolidated net loss

     0      0   0   (1,209)  0   0   (1,209)

Cumulative translation adjustment

     0      0   0   0   (33)  0   (33)

Balance, March 31, 2020

  8,871,338  $53   0  $0  $56,011  $(40,770) $(2) $0  $15,292 

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

6


 

Moleculin Biotech, Inc.

Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

1. Nature of Business and Liquidity

 

The terms "MBI" or "the Company", "we", "our", and "us" are used herein to refer to Moleculin Biotech, Inc. MBI is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, organized as a Delaware corporation in July 2015,2015. with itsThe Company's focus is on the treatment of highly resistant cancers and viruses through the development of its drug candidates. These candidates all of which are based substantially on license agreements withdiscoveries licensed from The University of Texas System on behalf of the MD Anderson Cancer Center, which we refer to as MD Anderson. MBI formed Moleculin Australia Pty. Ltd., (MAPL), a wholly owned subsidiary in June 2018, to perform certain preclinical development in Australia. This enableshas enabled the Company to enjoyrealize the benefits of certain research and development tax credits in Australia. In February 2019,the Company entered into an agreement withsublicensed essentially all of the rights to its technologies in 29 countries in Europe and Asia to WPD Pharmaceuticals Sp.z o.o. (WPD or WPD Pharmaceuticals) in exchange for collaboration on development in Poland. Also in 2019, the Company sublicensed its technologies to Animal Life Sciences, LLCInc. (ALI), where the Company has granted a sublicense to ALI toenable research develop, make, have made, use, offer to sell, sell, export or import and commercialize certain licensed productscommercialization for non-human use and share development data. As part of this agreement, ALI issued to the Company a 10% interest in ALI. ALI converted into a corporation and became Animal Life Sciences, Inc.

 

Core Technologies - MBIThe Company has three core technologies: 1) Annamycin, which the Company refers to as a "next generation" anthracycline; 2) a portfolio of Immune/Transcription Modulators, of which WP1066 is one of the lead molecules; and 3) a portfolio of Metabolism/Glycosylation Inhibitors, of which WP1122 is the lead molecule. The Company has six drug candidates, representing all three core technologies, and twothree of which have multipleshown human activity in clinical trials. As of the end of 2020, those three drug candidates accounted for five clinical trials in the United States (US) and allEurope. Two of whichthose trials are based on discoveries made at MD Anderson. These core technologies areexternally funded studies of WP1066 in brain tumors. Two internally funded Phase 1) clinical trials, Annamycin 2) its STAT3 Immune/Transcription Modulators, or simply "Immune/Transcription Modulators" WP1066 portfolio and 3) its Antimetabolite (including Metabolism/Glycosylation Inhibitors) WP1122 portfolio of molecules. The Company’s clinical stage drugs are Annamycin, an anthracycline which is currently inone Phase 1/2 study for the treatment of relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), withand oneWP1220 in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), were successfully concluded. An additional Phase 11/2 clinical trial of Annamycin in AML is also internally funded and is currently ongoing. In 2021, the Company anticipates the initiation of four or more new clinical trials in addition to the three trials continuing from 2020.

In late 2020, MBI received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance to proceed with an additional Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of Annamycin for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) lung metastases and the Company expects to commence this study in the US in the second half of 2021. Based on a recently announced reimbursement grant awarded in Poland, MBI expects a second Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of Annamycin in STS lung metastases to be primarily investigator-funded in Europe. MBI also plans to begin a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of Annamycin in combination with Ara-C for the treatment of AML in Europe, by seeking approval for its own clinical trial and a second, similar grant funded trial through its sublicensee, WPD Pharmaceuticals in Poland. The Company is also working with regulatory authorities in the United States of America (US) recently concluding, WP1066, an Immune/Transcription Modulator, which is in twoKingdom (UK) to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of WP1122 in healthy volunteers with the intent to progress to COVID-19 patients either there or in locations where the prevalence of COVID-19 will adequately support recruitment. The Company intends to internally fund the initial trials of WP1122 but may seek external funding opportunities if activity is seen in COVID-19 patients. Additionally, the Company is pursuing filing an Investigative New Drug application (IND) in the US for the treatment of brain tumors, andcertain cancers in WP1220,2021. Finally, the Company continues to seek opportunities to collaborate on a member of the WP1066 portfolio of drugs, which has completed apotential Phase 1 proof-of-concept clinical trial in Poland for the topical treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), a form of skin cancer.

The Company refers to Annamycin as a "Next Generation Anthracycline" since it is designed to avoid the multidrug resistance mechanisms that typically defeat currently approved anthracyclines, as well as to be non-cardiotoxic, which is the dose limiting toxicity for all currently approved anthracyclines. Annamycin is currently in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in Europe, having successfully completed a Phase 1 safety trial in the US in early 2020, and preliminary clinical data suggests that it may have the potential to become the first therapy suitable for the majority of relapsed AML patients regardless of gene mutations. These trials have so far demonstrated safety, including the absence of any cardiotoxicity, and have demonstrated some initial efficacy. Additionally, preclinical research in animal models at MD Anderson demonstrated that Annamycin is able to significantly improve survival in multiple tumors that have metastasized to the lungs. Coupled with research demonstrating that Annamycin is capable of accumulating in the lungs at high levels, this suggests that Annamycin may be well suited to become a treatment for lung-localized tumors and the Company is performing preclinical work to enable an IND or its equivalent to be filed by the end of this year.

WP1066 is one of several Immune/Transcription Modulators in the Company's pipeline that appear capable of stimulating immune response to tumors by inhibiting the errant activity of Regulatory T-Cells (TRegs) while also inhibiting key oncogenic transcription factors, including p-STAT3, c-Myc and HIF-1 alpha. These transcription factors are widely sought targets that may also play a role in the lack of efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in certain resistant tumors. The “proof-of-concept” Phase 1 trial in Poland for WP1220 demonstrated safety and efficacy and the Company intends to attempt to join efforts with a strategic partner for the continued developmentstudy of WP1220 as a topical therapy forin CTCL.

 

The Company is also developing new prodrugsdoes not have manufacturing facilities and all manufacturing activities are contracted out to exploit the potential uses of its WP1122 portfolio of antimetabolites, including inhibitors of glycolysis and glycosylation. Its lead Metabolism/Glycosylation Inhibitor compound, WP1122, provides an opportunity to cut off the fuel supply of tumors and viruses by taking advantage of their overdependence on glucose and glycolysis as compared with healthy cells. New research also points to the potential for the glucose decoy (2-DG) within WP1122 to be capable of enhancing the usefulness of checkpoint inhibitors and inhibiting glycosylation and glycolysis in virally infected cells. During 2020, the Company entered into agreements with several third party research centers to conduct research on WP1122 for antiviral properties against a range of viruses, including Coronavirus. Additional research with other molecules in this portfolio with independent contractors has also begun.

7

Drug Candidates - Within the Company's core technologies, it currently has 5 drug candidates representing 3 substantially different mechanisms of action. Annamycin is a chemotherapy designed to inhibit the replication of DNA of rapidly dividing cells and is the Company's most mature drug candidate. The Company has a trial open in Poland and one that recently completed in the US. The US Phase 1 portion of the Phase 1/2 trial reached key safety end points in early 2020. As a result of discussions with the FDA, the Company will utilize its trial in Europe to establish a recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) and to generate additional safety and efficacy data as requested by the FDA. The Phase 1/2 trial in Poland continues its dose escalation and is in its fifth cohort where patients are being treated at 240mg/m2. The second patient in that cohort experienced a dose limiting toxicity (DLT), secondarily related to concomitant medication not being withheld. The DLT was resolved, and that cohort will be expanded to a total of six patients. If a second DLT in this cohort occurs, then we would enroll three subjects that would be treated at 210mg/m2 to confirm the maximum tolerated dosage. If no additional DLT occurs in the current cohort, then we will progress to the sixth cohort at 300mg/m2. We believe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is slowing the pace of our patient recruitment in our Polish Annamycin clinical trial. We cannot assess when such an impact on our trial will be alleviated or if it will worsen. So far both trials have demonstrated that Annamycin, to date, is safe and is non-cardiotoxic. The trials have demonstrated initial efficacy as well.

In addition to Annamycin, the Company has other drug development projects, two of which are also in clinical trials:

Two separate Phase 1 physician-sponsored clinical trials are under way to evaluate WP1066. One trial is at MD Anderson Cancer Center for the potential treatment of adult patients with brain tumors and the other is at Emory University for the potential treatment of pediatric brain tumors. Both have begun treating patients. In the Emory trial, one of the patients with DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma), showed an apparent response to the treatment with both clinical improvement and radiologic reduction of tumor size. We caution that this is preliminary data and no conclusions should be drawn from this single event.

The Company is also evaluating WP1066 for the potential treatment of AML, pancreatic and other cancers. MBI has begun pre-clinical work that it expects to generate sufficient data for an IND for an intravenous formulation of one of its STAT3 inhibitors, which filing is expected to be submitted in 2021.

WP1220 is an analog of WP1066 for which Polish authorities approved the Company's Clinical Trial Application (CTA) in 2019 for a Phase 1 "proof-of-concept" clinical trial to study the topical treatment of CTCL. This trial was completed, and the Company believes it demonstrated sufficient efficacy to justify a Phase 2 trial. The Company intends to attempt to join efforts with a strategic partner in 2021 for the further development of WP1220 for the treatment of CTCL.

Several molecules in the WP1122 portfolio are being evaluated for their potential to address hard to treat cancers and viruses. This portfolio of antimetabolites includes WP1122 which inhibits glycolysis and glycosylation. The Company has begun preclinical work on WP1122 and other analogs in this portfolio to possibly position one or more of them as treatments for certain cancers and viruses, including the Coronavirus. The Company believes this work may support an IND or its equivalent for WP1122 and/or related compounds.

Clinical Trials - The Company has concluded the initial Phase 1 portion of its Phase 1/2 trial of Annamycin for the potential treatment of AML in the US due to the FDA’s requirement to set the initial dose level relatively low in comparison with previous Annamycin clinical trials.parties. Additionally, the Company believes that patient recruitment for its Annamycin AML clinical trial in Europe will continuedoes not have and does not intend to be more successful than in the US duehave a sales organization. The Company’s overall strategy is to a comparatively lower number of competitive clinical trials and the protocol there being approved to start at a significantly higher dose than in the USseek potential outlicensing opportunities with fewer enrollment screening limitations. This European AML trial is in its fifth cohort in the dose ranging Phase 1 portion of the trial. The Company has also announced plans to submit an IND or its equivalentdevelopment/commercialization strategic partners who are better suited for the usemarketing, sales and distribution of Annamycin to potentially treat lung metastases, which it expects to submit before the end of 2020.

In September 2018, the physician-sponsored WP1066 Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of glioblastoma and melanoma metastasized to the brain, which opened for recruitment in July 2018, began treating patients. In April 2020, a second physician-sponsored Phase 1 trial for the potential treatment of pediatric brain tumors began recruitment and has begun treating patients. In August 2019, the Company completed its proof-of-concept Phase 1 clinical trial in Poland to study WP1220, a part of the WP1066 portfolio, for the treatment of CTCL. This trial demonstrated the safety of WP1220 and also demonstrated, the Company believes, initial efficacy sufficient to support beginning a Phase 2 clinical trial. The Company intends to attempt to join efforts with a strategic partner in 2021 for the further development of WP1220 for the treatment of CTCL.

Moleculin has recently announced discoveries (both internally funded and independently developed) supporting the potential use of WP1122 for the treatment of COVID-19 and other viral diseases. The Company is deploying resources on the development of an IND or its equivalent for testing WP1122 in patients with COVID-19 and/or certain cancers, as such preclinical work may support both viral and cancer indications. It expects to submit such an IND or its equivalent in the first half of 2021, as access to in vivo studies may necessitate such timing.drugs if approved.

 

Licenses - The Company has been granted royalty-bearing, worldwide, exclusive licenses for the patent and technology rights related to all of MBI's drug technologies, as these intellectual property rights are owned in part or entirely by MD Anderson. The Annamycin drug substance is no longer covered by any existing patent protection, however, the Company filed new patent applications in July 2019 for formulation, synthetic process and reconstitution related to MBI's Annamycin drug product candidate, although there is no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining such patent protection. Most of this technology is also licensed from MD Anderson. The Company sponsors significant research at MD Anderson. New patents may result out of this research. From time to time, there are license issues that need to be discussed and handled with MD Anderson such as adding additional patents to existing license agreements and extension of milestones. The Company believes that such issues will be handled in the ordinary course of business.

8

Independently from potential patent protection, MBI has received Orphan Drug designation (ODD) from the FDA for Annamycin for the treatment of AML and for WP1066 for the treatment of glioblastoma. ODD may provide tax and other benefits during product development, and if either product is approved, may lead to a grant of seven-year market exclusivity. Under that exclusivity, which runs from the date of the approval of the New Drug Application (NDA) in the US, the FDA generally (there are important exceptions) could not approve another product containing the same drug for the designated indication. The Company also intends to apply for similar status in the European Union (EU) where market exclusivity could extend to 10 years from the date of Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) approval. Separately, the FDA may also grant market exclusivity of 5 years for newly approved new chemical entities (which the Company believes Annamycin would be one), which would preclude approval of any other annamycin product, but there can be no assurance that such exclusivity will be granted. In April 2019, FDA approved the Company's request for Fast Track Designation for Annamycin for the treatment of relapsed or refractory AML. Fast Track Designation, the purpose of which is to expedite drug development and approval, is granted to drugs intended to treat serious conditions and where data demonstrate the potential to address an unmet medical need.

COVID COVID-19 - In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic, which continues to spread throughout the world. The spread of COVID-19 has caused significant volatility in US and international markets, including Poland, where the CompanyMBI conducts some of its clinical trials and Italy, where its drug supply is produced. There has been limited interruption of the Company’sits drug supply, and somemost Polish clinics where the Company is conducting trials have limitedare limiting access onfor monitoring activities. Additionally, the CompanyMBI believes COVID-19 has materially slowed the progressrecruitment of the Company'spatients for its clinical trials. This could worsen or be alleviated at any time. Furthermore, there is significant uncertainty around the breadth and duration of business disruptions related to COVID-19, as well as its impact on the US and international economies and, as such, the Company is unable to determine if it will have a material impact to its operations.

Nasdaq - On September 30, 2020, Additionally, the Company received a letter from NASDAQ notifyingbelieves that the Company thatpotential for impact to its supply chain due to COVID-19 will be reduced as vaccine production normalizes throughout the last industry. In light of current worldwide trends with respect to COVID-3019, consecutive business days the bid price for the Company's common stock had closed below the minimum $1.00 per share requirement for continued inclusion on the Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the "Bid Price Rule"). The deficiency letterMBI does not result in the immediate delisting of the Company's common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule expect COVID-581019(c)( to materially impact recruitment for current or future oncology trials as COVID-319)(A), hospitalizations have recently decreased. However, the Company has been provided an initial period of 180 calendar days, or until March 29, 2021, to regain compliance withcannot be certain that these trends will continue and there is the Bid Price Rule. If, at any time before March 29, 2021, the bid price for the Company's common stock closes at $1.00 or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days, the Nasdaq Staff will provide written notification to the Company that it complies with the Bid Price Rule, unless the Staff exercises its discretion to extend this 10 day period pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(G). If the Company is not in compliance with the Bid Price Rule by March 29, 2021, the Companypossibility they may be afforded a second180 calendar day period to regain compliance. To qualify, the Company would be required to meet the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other initial listing standards for the Nasdaq Capital Market, except for the minimum bid price requirement. In addition, the Company would be required to notify Nasdaq of its intent to cure the minimum bid price deficiency, which may include, if necessary, implementing a reverse stock split. If the Company does not regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule by March 29, 2021 and is not eligible for an additional compliance period at that time, the Nasdaq Staff will provide written notification to the Company that its common stock may be delisted. The Company would then be entitled to appeal the Nasdaq Staff’s determination to a NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel and request a hearing. There can be no assurance that, if the Company does appeal a delisting determination by the Nasdaq Staff to the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel, that such appeal would be successful. The Company intends to monitor the closing bid price of its common stock and may, if appropriate, consider available options to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule, which could include effecting a reverse stock split. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule.reverse.

 

 

2. Basis of presentation, principles of consolidation, and significant accounting policies and liquidity

Reverse Stock Split - On January 29, 2021, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State and the State of Delaware to effect a reverse stock split of all the issued and outstanding shares of the Company's common stock at a ratio of 1 for 6. The accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements gives retroactive effect to the reverse stock split for all periods presented. Certain amounts in the financial statements, the notes thereto, and elsewhere in the Form 10-Q may be slightly different than previously reported due to rounding up of fractional shares as a result of the reverse stock split.

 

Basis of Presentation – Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Information - The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the US (U.S. GAAP) for financial information, and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with respect to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements furnished reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments), which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. These interim condensed unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 20192020 and December 31, 20182019 and notes thereto contained in the Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 19,2020.24, 2021.

 

Principles of consolidationConsolidation - The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to U.S. GAAP. The companyCompany views its operations and manages its business in 1one operating segment. All long-lived assets of the Company reside in the US.

 

7

Significant Accounting Policies - The Company's significant accounting policies are described in Note 2,Basis of Presentation, principles of consolidation and significant accounting policies, to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. There have been no material changes to the significant accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2021, other than those noted below.

Use of Estimates - The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Management considers many factors in selecting appropriate financial accounting policies and controls, and in developing the estimates and assumptions that are used in the preparation of these financial statements. Management must apply significant judgment in this process. In addition, other factors may affect estimates, including expected business and operational changes, sensitivity and volatility associated with the assumptions used in developing estimates, and whether historical trends are expected to be representative of future trends. The estimation process often may yield a range of potentially reasonable estimates of the ultimate future outcomes and management must select an amount that falls within that range of reasonable estimates. This process may result in actual results differing materially from those estimated amounts used in the preparation of financial statements. Estimates are used in the following areas, among others: fair value estimates on intangible assets, warrants, and stock-based compensation expense, as well as accrued expenses and taxes.

 

9

Going ConcernLiquidity and Financial Condition - These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company (EGC) and has not generated any revenues to date. As such, the Company will continueis subject to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. The continuationall of the Company as a going concern is dependent upon the ability ofrisks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies. Since inception, the Company to obtain necessary equity financing to continue operationshas incurred losses and negative cash flows from operating activities. For the attainment of profitable operations. As of September 30, three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company has incurred net losses of $4.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively, and had net cash flows used in operating activities of $3.6 million and $4.3 million, respectively. At March 31, 2021, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $54.3$61.4 million since inception and had not yet generated any revenue from operations. Additionally, management anticipates thatcash and cash equivalents of $86.3 million. The Company expects its cash on hand as of September 30, 2020March 31, 2021, is will be sufficient to fund its plannedthe Company's operations into but not beyond the near term. These factors raise substantial doubt regardingSuch projections are subject to changes in the Company’s internally funded preclinical and clinical activities, including unplanned preclinical and clinical activity. The Company does not expect to experience positive cash flows from operating activities in the near future and anticipates incurring operating losses for the next few years as it supports the development of its core technologies to the point of generating revenue, most likely via outlicensing, and continues to invest in research and development for additional applications of the Company's core technologies and potentially increase its pipeline of drug candidates. The Company anticipates incurring operating losses for the next several years. If the Company needs to raise additional capital in order to continue to execute its business plan, there is no assurance that additional financing will be available when needed or that management will be able to obtain financing on terms acceptable to the Company. A failure to raise sufficient capital could adversely impact the Company's ability to continueachieve its intended business objectives and meet its financial obligations as a going concern. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the recoverabilitythey become due and classification of recorded asset amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. The Company may seek additional funding through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, government or other third-party funding, commercialization, marketing and distribution arrangements, other collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements and delay planned cash outlays or a combination thereof. Management cannot be certain that such events or a combination thereof can be achieved.payable.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquidmaintains cash accounts with original maturities ofprincipally at threeone months or less at the date of acquisition to be cash equivalents. Periodicallyfinancial institution in the ordinary course of business, the CompanyUS, which at times, may carryexceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s limit. The Company has not experienced any losses from cash balances at financial institutions in excess of the Federally insured limitsinsurance limit. The Company’s management does not believe the Company is exposed to significant credit risk at this time due to the financial condition of $250,000.the financial institution where its cash is held.

 

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets - Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following (in thousands):

  

September 30, 2020

  

December 31, 2019

 

Vendor prepayments and deposits

 $1,312  $1,857 

Prepaid insurance

  880   352 

Other current assets

  257   529 

Related party receivables

  5   10 

Non-trade receivables

  1   1 

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets

 $2,455  $2,749 

Vendor prepayments at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, includes approximately $1.1 million and $1.5 million, respectively, for the expansion of Annamycin production commitments on a commercial scale currently expected to be delivered through the remainder of 2020 and into the first quarter of 2021 for use in clinical trials.

Intangible Assets - Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated period of benefit. Acquired intangible assets identified as in-process research and development (IPR&D) assets, are considered indefinite lived until the completion or abandonment of the associated research and development efforts. If the associated research and development effort is abandoned, the related IPR&D assets will be written-off and the Company will record a noncash impairment loss on its statements of operations. For those compounds that reach commercialization, the IPR&D assets will be amortized over their estimated useful lives. The Company evaluates the recoverability of intangible assets periodically and take into account events or circumstances that warrant revised estimates of useful lives or that indicate that impairment exists. NaN impairments of intangible assets have been identified during any of the periods presented. Intangible assets are tested for impairment on an annual basis, and between annual tests if indicators of potential impairment exist, using a fair-value-based approach.

Property and Equipment, net - Leasehold improvements, furniture, equipment and software are recorded at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful life or the remaining lease term. Accumulated depreciation on property and equipment was $0.4 million and $0.3 million at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

Operating Lease Right-of-Use Asset - The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at contract inception or during modifications or renewal of an existing lease. Operating lease assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and operating lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of the lease based upon the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The lease payments used to determine the Company's operating lease assets may include lease incentives, stated rent increases and escalation clauses linked to rates of inflation when determinable and are recognized in the Company's operating lease assets in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company has elected the practical expedient and does not separate lease components from nonlease components for its leases. The Company's operating leases are reflected in operating lease right-of-use asset (ROU), accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and operating lease liability - long-term, net of current portion in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Short-term leases, defined as leases that have a lease term of 12 months or less at the commencement date, are excluded from this treatment and are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Refer to Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies - Lease Obligations Payable for additional information related to the Company’s operating leases.

Cost Method Investment - The Company's cost method investment consists of an investment in a corporation in which it does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over its operating and financial activities. Management evaluates this investment for possible impairment quarterly.

10

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - The Company's financial instruments consist primarily of non-trade receivables, accounts payable, accrued expenses and its warrant liability. The carrying amount of non-trade receivables, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximates their fair value because of the short-term maturity of such.

 

The Company has categorized its assets and liabilities that are valued at fair value on a recurring basis into a three-level fair value hierarchy in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities (Level 1) and lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3).

 

Assets and liabilities recorded in the balance sheets at fair value are categorized based on a hierarchy of inputs as follows:

 

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets of identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

 

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis include the fair value of warrant liability discussed in Note 4.

 

The following table provides assets and liabilities reported at fair value and measured on a recurring basis at September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 and December 31, 20192020 (in thousands): 

 

      

Quoted Prices

  

Significant

  

Significant

 
  

Liabilities

  

in Active

  

Other

  

Other

 
  

Measured

  

Markets for

  

Observable

  

Unobservable

 
  

at Fair

  

Identical

  

Inputs

  

Inputs

 

Description

 

Value

  

Assets (Level 1)

  

(Level 2)

  

(Level 3)

 

Fair value of warrant liability as of September 30, 2020:

 $9,049  $0  $0  $9,049 

Fair value of warrant liability as of December 31, 2019:

 $5,818  $0  $0  $5,818 

Description

 

Fair Value

  

Level 1

  

Level 2

  

Level 3

 

Fair value of warrant liability as of March 31, 2021:

 $6,563  $0  $0  $6,563 

Fair value of warrant liability as of December 31, 2020:

 $8,192  $0  $0  $8,192 

8

 

The table below (in thousands) of Level 3 liabilities begins with the valuation as of the beginning of the thirdfirst quarter and then is adjusted for the issuances and exercises that occurred during the thirdfirst quarter of 20202021 and adjusts for balancesadjusted for changes in fair value that occurred during the currentfirst quarter. The ending balance of the Level 3 financial instrument presented above represents ourthe Company's best estimates and may not be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, could not be realized in immediate settlement of the instruments. 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020

 

Warrant Liability Current

  

Warrant Liability Long-Term

  

Warrant Liability Total

 

Balance, June 30, 2020

 $0  $11,792  $11,792 

Exercise of warrants

  0   0   0 

Change in fair value - net

  0   (2,743)  (2,743)

Balance, September 30, 2020

 $0  $9,049  $9,049 

The table below (in thousands) of Level 3 liabilities begins with the valuation as of December 31, 2019 and then is adjusted for the issuances and exercises, and changes in fair value that occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The ending balance of the Level 3 financial instrument presented above represents our best estimates and may not be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, could not be realized in immediate settlement of the instruments.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

 

Warrant Liability Current

  

Warrant Liability Long-Term

  

Warrant Liability Total

 

Balance, December 31, 2019

 $0  $5,818  $5,818 

Issuances of warrants

  0   4,724   4,724 

Exercise of warrants

  0   (4)  (4)

Change in fair value - net

  0   (1,489)  (1,489)

Balance, September 30, 2020

 $0  $9,049  $9,049 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 

Warrant Liability Long-Term

  

Warrant Liability Total

 

Balance, December 31, 2020

 $8,192  $8,192 

Exercise of warrants

  (52)  (52)

Change in fair value - net

  (1,577)  (1,577)

Balance, March 31, 2021

 $6,563  $6,563 

 

11

Loss Per Common Share - Basic net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. For purposes of this calculation, options to purchase common stock, restricted stock units subject to vesting and warrants to purchase common stock are considered to be common stock equivalents. Diluted net loss per common share is determined using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents. In periods when losses are reported, the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding excludes common stock equivalents, because their inclusion would be antidilutive. For the three months ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 and 20192020, approximately 22.93.8 million and approximately 14.73.1 million, respectively, of potentially dilutive shares were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share due to their antidilutive effect. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, approximately 20.8 million and approximately 11.3 million, respectively, of potentially dilutive shares were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share due to their antidilutive effect.

Stock-based Compensation - Stock-based compensation expense includes the estimated fair value of equity awards vested or expected to vest during the reporting period. The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation awards in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic (ASC) 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (ASC 718). ASC 718 requires all stock-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, restricted stock units, and modifications to existing stock options, to be recognized in the consolidated statements of operations based on their fair values. The grant date fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the grant date fair value of restricted stock awards is determined using the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant (or if the date of grant is not a business day, on the business day prior to the date of the grant). The awards are subject to service vesting conditions. Compensation expense related to awards to employees and directors with service-based vesting conditions is recognized on a straight-line basis based on the grant date fair value over the associated service period of the award, which is generally the vesting term, net of forfeitures which are recognized as they occur. Compensation expense related to awards to non-employees with service-based vesting conditions is recognized based on the then-current fair value at each financial reporting date prior to the measurement date over the associated service period of the award or the vesting event, applicable, which is generally the vesting term. Effective January 1, 2020, the Company began using the volatility of its own stock since it now has sufficient historic data in its stock price.

 

Subsequent Events - The Company’s management reviewed all material events through the date these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were issued for subsequent events disclosure consideration, see other notes and specifically Note 8 - Subsequent Events.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No.2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) (ASU 2018-13). ASU 2018-13 modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, based on the concepts in the Concepts Statement, including the consideration of costs and benefits. The amendments in this ASU are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company's adoption of this pronouncement effective January 1, 2020 did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No.2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740) (ASU 2019-12). ASU 2019-12 modifies the requirements for the timing of adoption of enacted change in tax law. The effects of changes on taxes currently payable or refundable for the current year must be reflected in the computation of annual effective tax rate in the first interim period that includes the enactment date of the new legislation, beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted upon issuance of this ASU. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have, if any, on its financial statements.

 

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity's Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) (ASU 2020-06). ASU 2020-06 amendssimplifies the guidancecomplexity associated with applying U.S. GAAP for the derivatives scope exception forcertain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts in an entity's own equity to reduce form-over-substance-based accounting conclusions. The Board observed that the application of the derivatives scope exception guidance results in accounting for some contracts as derivatives while accounting for economically similar contracts as equity. The Board also decided to improve and amend the related EPS guidance. The amendments in this Update areguidance is effective for public business entities that meet the definition of a Securities Company beginning on January 1, 2022 and Exchange Commission (SEC) filer, excluding entities eligible to be smaller reporting companies as defined byprescribes different transition methods for the SEC, for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years.various provisions. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have, if any, on its financial statements.

 

The Company does not believe that any other recently issued effective pronouncements, or pronouncements issued but not yet effective, if adopted, would have a material effect on the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

12

 

3. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following components (in thousands): 

  

  

September 30, 2020

  

December 31, 2019

 

Accrued chemistry manufacturing and control costs

 $1,086  $49 

Accrued clinical activities

  311   93 

Accrued payroll and bonuses

  247   436 

Operating lease liability - current

  114   103 

Related party payable

  99   99 

Accrued license fees and sponsored research agreements

  95   201 

Accrued legal, regulatory, and professional

  87   272 

Accrued other

  56   164 

Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 $2,095  $1,417 
  

March 31, 2021

  

December 31, 2020

 

Accrued research and development

 $1,299  $907 

Accrued payroll and bonuses

  810   426 

Accrued legal, regulatory, professional and other

  324   262 

Operating lease liability - current

  122   118 

Accrued related party

  95   78 

Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 $2,650  $1,791 

Additionally, accounts payable includes $48,000 as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, for a related party payable. 

 

 

4. Warrants

 

At September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, respectively, the Company has the following warrants outstanding:

  

Number of Shares Under Outstanding Warrants at

  

Number of Shares Under Outstanding Warrants at

  

Weighted Average Exercise Price at

  

Remaining Contractual Life at September 30, 2020

 
  

September 30, 2020

  

December 31, 2019

  

September 30, 2020

  

(No. Years)

 

Liability Classified Warrants (1)

                

Issued February 2017

  404,002   404,002  $1.50   1.4 

Issued February 2018

  2,273,700   2,273,700   2.80   2.9 

Issued June 2018 (2)

  742,991   742,991   2.03   3.2 

Issued March 2019

  1,581,000   1,585,500   1.10   3.5 

Issued April 2019

  5,250,000   5,250,000   1.75   3.6 

Issued February 2020

  6,150,000   0   1.05   4.8 
   16,401,693   10,256,193  $1.58     

Equity Classified Warrants

                

Issued May 2016 - Bonwick

  107,802   107,802  $7.50   0.6 

Issued July 2017 - Consulting (3)

  150,000   150,000   2.61   1.8 

Issued April 2018 - Consulting

  100,000   100,000   3.00   0.5 

Issued August 2019 - Consulting

  150,000   150,000   1.64   1.9 

Issued April 2020 - Consulting

  100,000   0   1.14   4.6 
   607,802   507,802  $3.06     

Balance outstanding

  17,009,495   10,763,995  $1.63     

(1) If the Company subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise) its outstanding shares of its common stock into a smaller number of shares, the warrant exercise price is proportionately reduced and the number of shares under outstanding warrants is proportionately increased. Additionally, if the Company combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) its outstanding shares of common stock into a smaller number of shares, the warrant exercise price is proportionately increased and the number of shares under outstanding warrants is proportionately decreased. Also, the Company may voluntarily reduce the warrant exercise price for its warrants issued in March 2019 and February 2017 and may voluntarily extend the contractual term of its warrants issued in February 2017.

(2) Includes warrants to purchase 710,212 shares at an exercise price of $2.02, expiring December 22, 2023, and warrants to purchase 32,779 shares at an exercise price of $2.32, expiring June 21, 2023.

(3) Includes warrants to purchase 100,000 shares at an exercise price of $2.41 and warrants to purchase 50,000 shares at an exercise price of $3.00.

13

Liability Classified Warrants

 

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model (BSM) to determine the fair value of its warrants at the date of issue and outstanding at each reporting date.

The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon observed interest rates on zero coupon US Treasury bonds linearly interpolated to obtain a maturity period commensurate with the term of the warrants.

Estimated volatility is a measure of the amount by which the Company's stock price is expected to fluctuate each year during the expected life of the warrants. Beginning in 2020, only the volatility of the Company's own stock is used in the BSM as it now has sufficient historic data in its stock price. In 2019, the Company used the volatility of its own stock blended with the volatility of peer entities due to the lack of sufficient historical data of its stock price.

 

The assumptions used in determining the fair value of the Company’s outstanding liability classified warrants are as follows:

 

  

September 30, 2020March 31, 2021

  

December 31, 20192020

 

Risk-free interest rate

 0.1% to 0.3%0.7%  1.6%0.1% to 1.7%0.3% 

Volatility

 112.5%96.5% to 124.1%136.1%  97.5%113.7% to 107.5%127.4% 

Expected life (years)

 1.40.9 to 4.94.5  2.11.1 to 4.34.6 

Dividend yield

 —%  —% 

9

 

A summary of the Company's liability classified warrant activity during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 and related information follows: 

  

Number of Shares

  

Range of Warrant Exercise

  

Weighted Average

  

Weighted Average Remaining Contractual

 
  

Under Warrant

  

Price per Share

  

Exercise Price

  

Life (Years)

 

Balance at January 1, 2020

  10,256,193  $1.10  $2.80  $1.89   4.0 

Granted

  6,150,000   1.05   1.05   1.05   4.8 

Exercised

  (4,500)  1.10   1.10   1.10    

Expired

  0   0   0   0    

Balance at September 30, 2020

  16,401,693  $1.05  $2.80  $1.58   3.9 
                     

Vested and Exercisable at September 30, 2020

  16,401,693  $1.10  $2.80  $1.89   3.9 

 

In connection with the Company's stock offering that closed in February 2020, the Company issued warrants to purchase 5,625,000 shares of its common stock, that are exercisable six months from the date of issuance, at a price of $1.05 per share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, and expire five years from the date they are first exercisable, and issued Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. a warrant (Underwriter Warrant) to purchase up to 525,000 shares of its common stock with an exercise price of $1.05 per share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, which expires in February 2025.

  

Number of Shares

  

Range of Warrant Exercise

  

Weighted Average

  

Weighted Average Remaining Contractual

 
  

Under Warrant

  

Price per Share

  

Exercise Price

  

Life (Years)

 

Balance at January 1, 2021

  2,733,645  $6.30  $16.80  $9.45   3.6 

Granted

  0   0   0   0    

Exercised

  (10,000)  6.30   6.30   6.30    

Expired

  0             

Balance at March 31, 2021

  2,723,645  $6.30  $16.80  $9.46   3.4 

Exercisable at March 31, 2021

  2,723,645  $6.30  $16.80  $9.46   3.4 

 

For a summary of the changes in fair value associated with ourthe Company's warrant liability for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021, see Note 2 - Basis of presentation, principles of consolidation and significant accounting policies - Fair Value of Financial Instruments.

 

Equity Classified Warrants

 

In April 2020, equity warrants to purchase up to 100,000 shares of common stock were issued to a consultant, with vesting contingent on certain conditions focused on generating up to $10 million of approved research and development expenditures on the Company's drug portfolio.

14

At September 30,March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, the Company had 607,802109,639 equity classified warrants outstanding and 512,80285,472 warrants were exercisable. At December 31, 2019, the Company had 507,802 equity classified warrants outstanding and all were exercisable.

 

The Company recordedThere was 0 and $92,000 in stock compensation expense for non-employee consulting agreements equity classified warrants for the three months ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 and 20192020, respectively and $5,000 and $94,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. At September 30, 2020, there was $91,000$124,000 of unrecognized stock compensation expense related to the Company's equity-classified warrants.

 

 

5. Equity

 

July 2020 Q12021Stock Issuances

 

In July 2020,February 2021, pursuant to the 2019 ATM Agreement, the Company issued 1,301,126entered into an underwritten public offering for the sale by the Company of 14,273,684 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $4.75 per share and granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,141,052 shares of common stock at an average price of $1.47 per share throughoffered in the ATM Prospectus Supplement.public offering, which was exercised. The Company received total proceeds of $1.9$78.0 million, netprior to deducting the underwriting discount and other estimated offering expenses. In January 2021 the Company issued 468,684 shares for gross proceeds of $0.1$2.9 million in transaction expenses. Previously, in April 2020, pursuant tousing the Company's At The Market Agreement with Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. The Company terminated the 20192020 ATM Agreement on February 2, 2021. Additionally, during the Companyfirst quarter of 2021,10,000 shares were issued 7,170,964 sharesdue to the exercise of common stock at an average price of $1.44 per share through the ATM Prospectus Supplement. The Companywarrants related to past public offerings. Gross proceeds received total proceeds of $10.3 million, net of $0.3 million in transaction expenses.due to these exercises approximated $63,000.

 

February Q12020Stock OfferingIssuances

 

In February 2020, the Company entered into subscription agreements with certain institutional investors for the sale by the Company of 7,500,0001,250,000 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase 5,625,000937,501 shares of common stock at a combined public offering price of $0.80$4.80 per share and related warrant. The Company received total proceeds of $6.0 million, net of $0.7 million in transactionprior to deducting the placement agent fees and other offering expenses. See Note 4 - Warrants for equity classified warrants granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

 

Stock-basedStock-Based Compensation and Outstanding Awards

 

Under the terms of the Company’s 2015 Stock Plan, as amended, and approved by its stockholders in June 2020, 10.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock were available for grant to employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The 2015 Stock Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock awards, stock unit awards, orand stock appreciation rights. As of September 30, 2020March 31, 2021, there were 4,409,132726,493 shares remaining to be issued under the 2015 Stock Plan. The Company did not have any grants, exercises, or forfeitures of any stock-based awards during the three months ended March 31, 2021.

 

Stock-based compensation for the three and ninemonths ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 and 20192020, respectively (in thousands):

 

  

Three Months Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
  

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 

General and administrative

 $366  $430  $1,029  $1,003 

Research and development

  94   59   236   152 

Total Stock-based Compensation Expense

 $460  $489  $1,265  $1,155 

Each of the Company's stock-based compensation arrangements are discussed below.

Stock Options

Stock option awards are generally granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of the Company’s stock at the date of grant. Stock option awards generally have a 10-year contractual term and vest over a 4-year period for employees and over a 1 to 3-year period for directors from the grant date on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The grant-date fair value of stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Additionally, the Company’s stock options provide for full vesting of unvested outstanding options, in the event of a change of control of the Company.

The fair value of each stock option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model that uses the assumptions noted below. The expected term of the stock option awards was computed using the “plain vanilla” method as prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin 107 because the Company does not have sufficient data regarding employee exercise behavior to estimate the expected term. Beginning in 2020, the Company used the volatility of its own stock in the BSM as it now has sufficient historic data in its stock price. Prior to 2020, the volatility was determined by referring to the average historical volatility of a peer group of public companies combined with its own due to the lack of sufficient historical data of its stock price. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

15

The fair value of the option grants has been estimated, with the following weighted-average assumptions:

Nine Months Ended September 30,

Stock Option Assumptions:20202019

Risk-free interest rate

0.2% to 0.5%1.0% to 1.3%

Expected volatility of common stock

125.4% to 128.0%85% to 100%

Expected life (years)

3.8 to 6.35.3 to 6.3

Expected dividend yield

—%—%

Stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 is as follows:

      

Weighted Average Grant Date

  

Weighted Average

  

Weighted Average Remaining Contractual

  

Aggregate Intrinsic

 
  

Number of Shares

  

Fair Value

  

Exercise Price

  

Term (in years)

  

Value

 

Outstanding, December 31, 2019

  3,836,000  $1.59  $2.26   8.3  $0 

Granted

  1,554,750  $0.83  $0.95         

Exercised

  0  $0  $0         

Forfeited

  (20,000) $0.89  $1.06         

Outstanding, September 30, 2020

  5,370,750  $1.37  $1.88   8.1  $0 

Exercisable, September 30, 2020

  1,978,917  $1.91  $2.79   7.2  $0 

Options granted during 2020 have an aggregated fair value of $1.3 million that was calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. At September 30, 2020, total compensation cost not yet recognized was $3.0 million and the weighted average period over which this amount is expected to be recognized is 2.65 years. The aggregate fair value of options vesting in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, was $1.2 million and $1.0 million, respectively. In July 2020, the Company granted 1,349,750 employee stock options. In August 2020, the Company issued 100,000 options to Dr. Waldemar Priebe, one of the Company's founders and chair of our Scientific Advisory Board. In October 2020, the Company granted 40,000 stock options, with 3-year annual vesting upon appointment of Elizabeth Cermak to the Company's Board of Director's.

Restricted Stock

Restricted stock units are granted with a grant date fair value determined using the closing price of the Company's common stock on the grant date. Restricted stock units vest annually in 4 equal installments. Additionally, the Company’s restricted stock unit agreements provide for full vesting of the restricted stock award in the event of a change of control of the Company.

Restricted stock unit activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 is as follows:

      

Weighted Average Grant Date

  

Weighted Average Remaining Contractual

 
  

Number of Shares

  

Fair Value

  

Term (in years)

 

Unvested Shares, December 31, 2019

  316,907  $1.31   3.5 

Granted

  353,211  $0.93     

Vested

  (79,227) $1.31     

Unvested Shares, September 30, 2020

  590,891  $1.08   3.3 

 As of September 30, 2020, total compensation cost not yet recognized was $0.6 million and the weighted average period over which this amount is expected to be recognized is 3.3 years. 

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

General and administrative

 $309  $334 

Research and development

  96   63 

Total stock-based compensation expense

 $405  $397 

 

 

6. Income Taxes 

 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company does not expect to pay any significant federal, state, or foreign income taxes in 20202021 as a result of the losses recorded during the three and ninemonths ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 and the additional losses expected for the remainder of 20202021 and cumulative net operating loss carryforwards. Accounting standards require the consideration of a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets if it is “more likely than not” that some component or all of the benefits of deferred tax assets will not be realized. As a result, as of September 30, 2020March 31, 2021, the Company maintained a full valuation allowance for all deferred tax assets.

 

1610

The Company recorded an0 income tax provision of 0 and $229,000 for the three and ninemonths ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 and 20192020, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 and 20192020 is 0% and 5.2%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 is 0% and 1.4%, respectively. The total income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was comprised of research and development tax credits recoverable, associated with Moleculin Australia Pty. Ltd, (MAPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary formed in June 2018, related to preclinical development in Australia. There were 0 research and development tax credits for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. . The income tax rates vary from the federal and state statutory rates primarily due to the change in fair value of the stock warrants and valuation allowances on the Company’s deferred tax assets. The Company estimates its annual effective tax rate at the end of each quarterly period. Jurisdictions with a projected loss for the year where no0 tax benefit can be recognized due to the valuation allowance could result in a higher or lower effective tax rate during a particular quarter depending on the mix and timing of actual earnings versus annual projections.

 

On March 27, 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to provide certain relief as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act, among other things, includes provisions relating to net operating loss carry back periods, alternative minimum tax credit refunds, and modification to the net interest deduction limitations. The CARES Act did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The Company continues to monitor any effects that may result from the CARES Act.

 

7. Commitments and Contingencies

 

In addition to the commitments and contingencies described elsewhere in these notes, see below for a discussion of the Company's commitments and contingencies as of September 30, 2020March 31, 2021.

 

Lease Obligations Payable

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company did not enter into any lease arrangements requiring any additional right-of-use assets or liabilities to be recorded.

 

The following summarizes quantitative information about the Company's operating leases for the three and ninemonths ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 and 20192020, respectively (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

  

2021

  

2020

 

Lease cost:

              

Operating lease cost

 $29  $15  $87  $31  $29  $29 

Variable lease cost

 7  7 

Short-term lease cost

 4  12  13  38   0   4 

Variable lease cost

  7   7   22   19 

Total

 $40  $34  $122  $88  $36  $40 

 

The Company recorded approximately $10,000 and $31,000 in sublease income from a related party for the three and ninemonths ended September 30, March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Sublease income is recorded as other income, net on the Company's condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. Operating cash flows from operating leases was $34,000 and $33,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. 

 

Other supplemental cash flow information for operating leases is as follows (in thousands):

  

Three Months Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
  

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

 

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

                

Operating cash flows from operating leases

 $34  $20  $100  $41 

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:

                

Operating leases

 $0  $212  $0  $321 

17

At September 30, 2020March 31, 2021, future minimum liabilities under ASC 842 for the Company's operating leases were as follows (in thousands):

 

Maturity of lease liabilities

 

As of September 30, 2020

  

As of March 31, 2021

 

2020 (remaining three months)

 $34 

2021

  138 

2021 (remaining nine months)

 $104 

2022

  105   105 

2023

  56   56 

2024

  10   10 

2025 and thereafter

  0   0 

Total lease payments

  343   275 

Less: imputed interest

  (39)  (26)

Present value of operating lease liabilities

 $304  $249 

 

As of September 30, 2020March 31, 2021, the weighted average remaining lease term for operating leases is 2.72.2 years, and the weighted average discount rate is 9.6%. The interest rate implicit in lease contracts is typically not readily determinable and as such, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on a peer analysis using information available at the commencement date, which represents an internally developed rate that would be incurred to borrow, on a collateralized basis, over a similar term, an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment.

 

Licenses

 

MD Anderson - Total expenses related to the Company's license agreements with MD Anderson were $61,000$38,000 and $60,000$61,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 and 2019, respectively, and $183,000 and $180,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020and 2019, respectively.

 

HPI - On March 16, 2020, the Company entered into two agreements with a related party, Houston Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (HPI). The first agreement, which has a term of 2two years, continues a prior consulting arrangement with HPI on the Company's licensed molecules and requires payments for $43,500 per quarter to HPI. The second agreement, which can be cancelled with sixty days' notice by either party, allows the Company's employees access to laboratory equipment owned by HPI for a payment of $15,000 per quarter to HPI. Total expenses related to the Company's agreements with HPI were $59,000 and 0$108,500 for the three months ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 and 2019, respectively, and $226,000 and $75,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020and 2019, respectively.

 

Sponsored Research Agreements with MD Anderson - MBI entered intohas a Sponsored Laboratory Study Agreement with MD Anderson expiring in October 2021.In February 2021, the Company extended this Agreement until December 31, 2022. The expenses recognized under this MD Anderson agreement with regards to the Sponsored Laboratory Study AgreementAgreements were $212,000$94,000 and $177,000$179,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 and 2019, respectively, and $537,000 and $366,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020and 2019, respectively.

 

 

8. Subsequent Events

 

In addition to the subsequent events discussed elsewhere in these notes, see below for a discussion of ourthe Company's subsequent events occurring after September 30, 2020March 31, 2021.

 

2020 ATM Agreement - As previously reported, in July 2020, theThe Company entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (Agreement) with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (2020 ATM Agreement). Pursuantagreement, effective subsequent to the terms of the Agreement, the Company mayMarch 31, 2021, sell from time to time through Oppenheimer shares of the Company’s common stock with an aggregate sales priceinvestor relations consultant and as part of up to $15.0 million. Inthat agreement October 2020, the Company issued 700,339 shares of common stock at an average price of $0.83 per share through the 2020 ATM Agreement, resulting in net proceeds to the Company of $0.6 million. The Company paid a commission to Oppenheimer equal to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of its common stock under the 2020 ATM Agreement. The 2019 ATM Agreement expired at the end of the third quarter.

2020 Lincoln Park Equity Line - On November 11, 2020, the Company entered into a purchase agreement (the “2020 Purchase Agreement”) and a registration rights agreement (the “2020 Registration Rights Agreement”) with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (“Lincoln Park”). Pursuant to the terms of the 2020 Purchase Agreement, Lincoln Park has agreed to purchase from the Company up to $22.0 million of the Company’s common stock (subject to certain limitations) from time to time during the term of the 2020 Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the 2020 Registration Rights Agreement, the Company filed with the SEC a registration statement to register the shares that have been or may be issued to Lincoln Park under the 2020 Purchase Agreement.

Pursuant to the terms of the 2020 Purchase Agreement, at the time the Company signed the 2020 Purchase Agreement and the 2020 Registration Rights Agreement, the Company issued 760,194  shares of common stock to Lincoln Park as consideration for its commitment to purchase shares of our common stock under the 2020 Purchase Agreement and may issue an additional 304,077 shares pro-rata when and if Lincoln Park purchases (at the Company’s discretion) the $22.0 million aggregate commitment. 

On November 12, 2020, the Company sold Lincoln Park at $0.707 per share 2,829,2145,000 shares of common stock forwill be issued in the aggregate considerationbetween April 1, 2021 and  December 31, 2021. Additionally, the Company entered to an advisory agreement on April 29, 2021 with a consultant, pursuant to which the Company issued a warrant to purchase 71,500 shares of $2.0 million,common stock which will vest equally and issued 27,643 in additional commitment shares.quarterly over five years, or earlier upon a change of control, and only while services are being rendered.

 

On November 11, 2020, the Company terminated its purchase agreement dated October 4, 2018 with Lincoln Park.

1811

 

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

 

This Form 10-Q, including the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contains certain forward-looking statements. Historical results may not indicate future performance. Our forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events, are based on assumptions and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements.

 

Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

 The success or the lack thereof, including the ability to recruit patients, of our clinical trials through all phases of clinical development;
Our ability to satisfy any requirements imposed by the FDA (or its foreign equivalents) as a condition of our clinical trials proceeding or beginning as planned;

The impact the recent Coronavirus outbreak will have on our ability to continue our operations includingof COVID-19 our clinical trials, clinical drug candidate supplies, preclinical activities and our ability to raise future financing;

 

Our ability to continue our relationship with MD Anderson, including our ability to maintain current licenses and license future intellectual property resulting from our sponsored research agreements with MD Anderson;

 

Our ability to obtain additional funding to commence or continue our clinical trials, fund operations and develop our product candidates;

 

Our ability to satisfy any requirements imposed by the FDA (or its foreign equivalents) as a condition of our clinical trials proceeding or beginning as planned;

The success, including the ability to recruit patients, of our clinical trials through all phases of clinical development;

The need to obtain and retain regulatory approval of our drug candidates, both in the United States and in Poland, and in countries deemed necessary for future trials;

 

Our ability to complete our clinical trials in a timely fashion and within our expected budget and resources;

 

Compliance with obligations under intellectual property licenses with third parties;

 

Any delays in regulatory review and approval of drug candidates in clinical development;

Potential efficacy of our drug candidates;
 

Our ability to commercialize our drug candidates;

 

Market acceptance of our drug candidates;

 

Competition from existing therapies or new therapies that may emerge;

 

Potential product liability claims;

 

Our dependency on third-party manufacturers to successfully, and timely, supply or manufacture our drug candidates for our preclinical work and our clinical trials;

 

Our ability to establish or maintain collaborations, licensing or other arrangements;

 

The ability of our sublicense partners to successfully develop our product candidates in accordance with our sublicense agreements;

 

The effects of future government shutdowns on our ability to raise financing;

Our ability and third parties’ abilities to protect intellectual property rights;

 

Our ability to adequately support future growth; and

 

Our ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage our business effectively.

 

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, including any changes that might result from any facts, events, or circumstances after the date hereof that may bear upon forward-looking statements. Furthermore, we cannot guarantee future results, events, levels of activity, performance, or achievements.

 

Overview

 

Moleculin Biotech, Inc., a Delaware corporation, isWe are a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of highly resistant cancers and viruses. We have three core technologies, all of which are based substantially on discoveries made at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson). We have three drug candidates, representing two of theThese three core technologies thatare Annamycin, the WP1066 Portfolio, and the WP1122 Portfolio and include a total of six drug candidates, three of which have now shown human activity in clinical trials.

 

Three Core Technologies

We consider Annamycin to be a "next generation" anthracycline, unlike any currently approved anthracyclines, as it is designed to avoid multidrug resistance mechanisms with little to no cardiotoxicity (the efficacy of all currently approved anthracyclines is limited by both multidrug resistance and cardiotoxicity). WP1066 is one of several Immune/Transcription Modulators, designed to stimulate the immune response to tumors by inhibiting the errant activity of Regulatory T-Cells (TRegs) while also inhibiting key oncogenic transcription factors, including p-STAT3 (phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3), c-Myc (a cellular signal transducer named after a homologous avian virus called Myelocytomatosis) and HIF-1α (hypoxia inducible factor 1α). These transcription factors are widely sought targets that are believed to contribute to an increase in cell survival and proliferation, and the angiogenesis (coopting vasculature for blood supply), invasion, metastasis and inflammation associated with tumors. They may also play a role in the inability of immune checkpoint inhibitors to affect more resistant tumors. WP1220 is a close analog to WP1066 that we have developed as a potential topical therapy for skin-related diseases.

Our third core technology is centered on new compounds designed to target the roles of glycolysis and glycosylation in both cancer and viral diseases. As an example, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) is a glucose decoy that is capable of inhibiting glycolysis, thereby cutting off the primary fuel supply for both cancer cells and viral host cells by taking advantage of their high level of dependence on glucose in comparison to healthy cells. In 2019, thoseaddition, 2-DG is capable of altering glycosylation, a process by which, when coopted by tumors, cancer cells are believed to evade the body’s immune response. In the case of viruses like SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible for COVID-19), glycosylation forms the glycoprotein spikes surrounding the coronavirus that give it its name and enable both evasion of the immune response and the ability to infect new host cells. One of the limitations of 2-DG, however, is how rapidly it is metabolized, resulting in a short circulation time and limited tissue/organ distribution characteristics. Our lead Metabolism/Glycosylation Inhibitor, WP1122, is a prodrug of 2-DG that appears to improve the drug-like properties of 2-DG by increasing its circulation time and improving tissue/organ distribution. Recent published research has identified that 2-DG has antiviral potential against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and, based on publicly available information, a recently completed Phase 2 clinical trial by an unrelated company in India has reported efficacy in COVID-19 patients, resulting in the Emergency Use Authorization of 2-DG by the Drugs Controller General of India. New research also points to the potential for 2-DG to be capable of enhancing the usefulness of checkpoint inhibitors. Considering that WP1122 generally outperforms 2-DG alone in both in vitro and in vivo tumor models and in viral in vitro models, we believe WP1122 has the opportunity to become an important drug to potentiate existing therapies, including checkpoint inhibitors. We are also engaged in preclinical development of additional antimetabolites (WP1096 and WP1097) targeting glycolysis and glycosylation.

12

Clinical Trials

During 2020, three of our drug candidates were active inaccounted for five clinical trials in the US and Europe. Of these five clinicalTwo of those trials two are primarilyongoing externally funded. For twofunded studies of WP1066 in brain tumors. Two of our internally funded trials, we successfully concluded the Phase 1 portion recentlyclinical trials have concluded. The US trial for Annamycin in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) successfully met its safety endpoint, and are conducting follow-up observations. We anticipate pursuing pre-clinical workthe trial for WP1220 in 2020 for twocutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) demonstrated an objective response rate of 45% and a clinical benefit rate of 100%. An additional Phase 1 trials expected to begin in 2021 sponsored by us and two to three other Phase 1 trials we expect to be externally sponsored. In 2020, one externally funded1/2 clinical trial began. Currently,of Annamycin in AML is also internally funded and is currently ongoing. In 2021, we have threeanticipate the initiation of four or more new clinical trials active in addition to the US and in Europe with only one internally funded.three trials continuing from 2020.

 

Below we use certain terms to describe our clinical trials. By "internally funded” we mean that the primary costs of the preclinical activity and clinical trials are funded by us. “Externally funded” drug candidates include those for which preclinical work is funded and performed by external collaborators and for which clinical trials are investigator-initiated. In such casesphysician sponsored. For externally funded research, any grant funds that support such preclinical work or clinical trials and most of the associated expenses doare not flow throughreflected in our financial statements. We do provideHowever, the costs of drug product and other minor supporting activities that we provide for externally funded preclinical activities and clinical trials.trials are included in our financial statements.

 

We recently announced collaborationsRecently reported data from our sponsored research demonstrates that in AML mouse models, the combination of Annamycin with third parties to assist usAra-C (a chemotherapy drug commonly used in developing potential treatmentsAML patients) has a synergistic effect, suggesting that this combination may be more beneficial for diseases like COVID-19. The preclinical work to evaluate the potential of molecules within the WP1122 portfolio of antimetabolites (which include inhibitors of glycolysis and glycosylation) against the viruses is mostly similar to the preclinical work we originally planned for 2020 to develop WP1122 for cancer indications.AML patients than Annamycin as a single agent. Accordingly, we believe the preclinical work under way for WP1122 will support an Investigational New Drug (IND) application or its equivalent for either cancer-related or virus-relatedplan to begin a Phase 1/2 clinical trials (or both)trial of Annamycin in the first half of 2021. This timing is mainly due to the limited access to in vivo testing. Additionally, we are primarily relying on such collaborations for testing other molecules in the WP1122 portfolio against other hard to treat viruses.

19

Based on our positive pre-clinical and clinical activity thus far, we have further narrowed our internal development focus to our nearest term opportunities, especially where human activity has been shown in clinical trials. This focus is primarily on preclinical and clinical activitiescombination with Annamycin, preclinical activities associated with an intravenous version of WP1066 and IND-enabling studies of WP1122. We intend to rely on external funding, to the extent available, for other projects. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the associated opportunity has accelerated our development of the WP1122 portfolio with a combined effort of internally and externally funded preclinical work to support an IND application with the FDA or its international equivalentAra-C for the treatment of COVID-19 or a cancer indication or both. We believe our overall narrowing of focus will allow us to limit our cash needs to the essential opportunities until we reach a significant value inflection point, although we will continue to require additional external capital during this period. In addition, institutional supportAML in Europe, by seeking approval for our technologies has increasedown internally funded clinical trial in Europe and a second, similar trial through our sublicensee, WPD Pharmaceuticals, in Poland. Furthermore, we believe such support may provide external fundingreceived U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance in late 2020 to help support future cash needs. Such expectations assume some formproceed with a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of government or strategic collaboration for WP1122 if it is successful in advancing from preclinical to clinical activityAnnamycin for the treatment of viruses. We have no commitments at this time for such funding,soft tissue sarcoma (STS) lung metastases and we can provide no assurances that such funding canare preparing to begin this internally funded trial in the US in the third quarter of 2021. Additionally, we expect in 2021 a second Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of Annamycin in sarcoma lung metastases to be obtained. At this time we do not intend to pursue clinicalprimarily investigator-funded in Europe.

WP1066 is currently in two US physician-sponsored Phase 1 trials, for WP1122one at MD Anderson for the treatment of viruses until we are able to secure external funding for such trials.

Of our three clinical stage drug candidates, Annamycin is currentlyglioblastoma (GBM) in a clinical trialadults and another at Emory University for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in Poland. It is also being studied for the treatment of cancers metastasized to the lungs. WP1066, an Immune/Transcription Modulator (p-STAT3 inhibitor) is intended to target a wide range of tumors, including brain tumors such as glioblastoma (GBM) and pediatric brain tumors (like diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG, and medulloblastoma), as well as pancreatic cancer. It is currently in two investigator-initiated clinical trials, one for adult GBM and another for pediatric brain tumors (like(including DIPG and medulloblastoma). We began and completed a "proof-of-concept" Phase 1 clinical trial in 20192020 in Poland for a third drug, WP1220 (a molecule similar to WP1066)in the WP1066 portfolio), for the topical treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). We intend to attempt to join effortsare actively seeking collaboration with a strategic partner in the near term for external funding for the continued development of WP1220 in a Phase 2 clinical trial as a topical therapy for CTCL. WeCTCL, and based on the pace of current discussions, we do not anticipate this trial to begin this year. If we are not successful in this outreach, we may choose to use internal funds to generate additional human data to facilitate such outreach efforts.

Finally, we are also engaged in preclinical development of additional drug candidates, including additional Immune/Transcription Modulators, as well as antimetabolites, including Metabolism/Glycosylation Inhibitors.

We consider Annamycin to be a "next generation" anthracycline, unlike any currently approved anthracyclines, as it is designed to avoid multidrug resistance mechanismsdiscussions with little to no cardiotoxicity (two problems common to all currently approved anthracyclines). We recently received an independent expert cardiology assessment confirming the absence of cardiotoxicityregulatory authorities in the first 19 patients treated with Annamycin in both our US and EuropeanUnited Kingdom (UK) to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of WP1122 in healthy volunteers with the intent to progress to COVID-19 patients either there or in locations where the prevalence of COVID-19 will adequately support recruitment. We intend to internally fund the initial trials validating Annamycin's lack of cardiotoxicity. WP1122 but may seek external funding opportunities. Additionally, we are planning to file an IND in the US for the treatment of certain cancers with WP1122.

In summary, we had five clinical trials underway or concluded in 2020 and we now expect up to seven or more clinical trials to be underway or approved in 2021, including externally funded trials.

Update on Clinical Trials and Licensing

Annamycin

Annamycin is currently in one Phase 1/2 clinical trial in Europe, withand the Phase 1 portion of another Phase 1/2 AML trial having been recently concluded in the US has been concluded, subject to continued patient observations. The US trial met its primary endpointfinal database lock and closure, which should occur in the third quarter of safety. As a result of discussions with the FDA, the Company will focus on establishing a recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) in its2021. 

The trial in Europe and generating additional safety and efficacy data as requested by the FDA. The Poland trial is in its fifth cohort, where patients are being treated at 240 mg/m2. The second patientPatient 2 in thatthis cohort experienced certain elevated liver enzymes (AST and ALT), which under the current protocol, are considered a dose limiting toxicity (DLT),. In this instance, the DLT was secondarily related to concomitant medication not being withheld. TheAlthough that DLT resolved, in accordance with the trial protocol, the cohort was resolved,expanded and that cohort will be expanded tohas now enrolled a total of sixfive patients. If a second DLTIn March 2021, patient 4 in this cohort occurs, then we would enrollexperienced a similar DLT, which also resolved. Although treatment was discontinued for Patients 2 and 4, a total of three subjects that would bepatients in this cohort received the full dose of Annamycin without any DLTs and, based on preliminary data, all three responded to treatment, with one relapsed patient experiencing a complete response (CR), a refractory patient experiencing a partial response (PR) and another relapsed patient completely clearing circulating blasts. With this preliminary data, 40% of the patients being treated at 210240 mg/m2 to confirmexperienced clinical benefit. Combining these results with prior cohorts in Poland and with the maximum tolerated dosage. If no additional DLT occurscohorts in the current cohort, then we will progress toUS trial, six of seventeen relapsed AML patients or 35% experienced clinical benefit (CR, CRi, PR, or Bridge-To-Transplant). One refractory patient in the sixth cohort at 300 mg/m2.Poland trial experienced a PR.

 

We believeAlthough the impactelevated liver enzymes described above meet the test of a “Dose Limiting Toxicity” per the COVID-19 pandemic is slowing the paceclinical trial protocol, our medical advisors have determined that these instances were transient and self-limited with no evidence of our patient recruitmentserious sequalae (related longer-term negative effects) and, therefore, should not be considered DLTs in our Polish Annamycin clinical trial. We cannot assess when such an impact on our trial will be alleviatedfuture patients unless these elevated enzyme levels do not return to near baseline (baseline or less than or equal to grade 1) within a reasonable time or if it will worsen.

In 2019, preclinical workthere is other evidence of serious sequalae. Based on Annamycin demonstrated activity against certain cancers metastasized to the lungs. With this new data, we heldare planning to amend the protocol for this trial in Poland to change the DLT criteria as it relates to transient grade 3 elevations to allow us to dose three additional patients in the 240 mg/m2 cohort. If no DLT is experienced with these next three patients, we will escalate dosing in new cohorts by 30 mg/m2 instead of the 60 mg/m2 previously planned, and with a Pre-IND Meetingde-escalation of 15 mg/m2 at the DLT dose if future patients experience a DLT. We cannot provide any assurance that such an amendment will be approved.

Additionally, our sublicense partner, WPD Pharmaceuticals Sp.z o.o. (WPD), recently announced that it was conditionally awarded a reimbursement grant of approximately $6.7 million (20.4 million PLN) from the Polish National Center for Research and Development (“NCRD”), for the development of Annamycin. The funds will be used for the continued development of Annamycin, including a clinical trial of Annamycin in combination with Ara-C for which this grant is expected to cover the FDAreimbursement of about 60% of planned costs. WPD is a sub-licensee of certain technologies from us in 29 countries in Europe and Asia. We expect that this trial will begin in 2021 but since this is an externally funded trial, we cannot provide any assurance regarding actual timing.

13

Regarding our planned US clinical trial of Annamycin for the treatment of STS lung metastases, we executed a clinical trial agreement with with Sarcoma Oncology Research Center, an institution in Santa Monica, CA to be the first clinical site. We expect this trial to begin in the third quarter of 2020,2021.

Earlier in 2021, we announced that the Agencja Badań Medycznych (The Medical Research Agency) a Polish state agency responsible for development of scientific research in the field of medical and with that input we intendhealth sciences, awarded a grant equivalent to file an IND or its equivalent for$1.5 million to the Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute to fund a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of Annamycin for the treatment of cancer metastasizedSTS lung metastases. The grant-funded clinical trial will be led by Prof. Piotr Rutkowski, MD, PhD, Head of Department of Soft Tissue/Bone Sarcoma and Melanoma at the Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology in Warsaw, Poland. Prof. Piotr Rutkowski will be assisted, in part, by WPD who will provide support in preparation for and conduct of the clinical trial, which is expected to begin this year. As a part of the collaboration between Moleculin and Prof. Rutkowski, Moleculin will be supplying the drug product and other ancillary services necessary for the clinical trial, but Moleculin will not participate in conducting the clinical trial. This trial is independent from and will be in addition to the lungsUS clinical trial Moleculin is planning to conduct with Annamycin by the end of 2020, although no assurances can be given that such trial will begin.in STS lung metastases.

 

WP1066 is one

The clinical trial of several Immune/Transcription Modulators designed to stimulate the immune response to tumors by inhibiting the errant activity of Regulatory TCells (TRegs) while also inhibiting key oncogenic transcription factors, including p-STAT3, c-Myc and HIF-1á. These transcription factors are widely sought targets that may also play a role in the inability of immune checkpoint inhibitors to affect more resistant tumors. WP1066 is currently in two US physician-sponsored Phase 1 clinical trials, one at MD Anderson for the treatment of adult brain tumors at MD Anderson has completed the fourth cohort at 8mg/kg in the dose escalation phase. In the first quarter of 2021, we were notified that the physician sponsoring this trial is leaving MD Anderson. As a result, MD Anderson has notified us that they will be closing this trial. Several additional institutions have expressed an interest in sponsoring similar research on WP1066 in brain tumors, so to help ensure the potential continuation of this important research, regardless of the sponsoring institution, we have requested the IND for this trial to be transferred into our name with the FDA, although we can provide no assurance as to when, or if, this transfer will be completed. While we are working to continue this research in additional physician-sponsored trials, we expect that continued research on WP1066 in adult GBM will be temporarily delayed in adults and another2021.

Three patients have now been treated in the second cohort of the Phase 1 dose escalation portion of physician-sponsored clinical trial at Emory University for the treatment of pediatric brain tumors. The trial at MD Anderson has begun the fourth and final cohort in the dose escalation phase. The Emory trial has now successfully treated three patients in the first cohort and the first patient in the second cohort has begun treatmenttumors with WP1066 at the dose level of 6mg/kg and this dose has been deemed to be safe. Recruitment will now begin for the third cohort with dosing at 12 mg/kg. In

WP1122

Based on previously announced data demonstrating the antiviral potential of our lead antimetabolite molecule, WP1122, we intend to test the drug candidate for the potential treatment of COVID-19. Although we have previously disclosed that antiviral clinical trials in the US will be dependent upon demonstrating efficacy in an appropriate COVID-19 animal model, we recently engaged in discussions with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom (UK) regarding the potential for beginning clinical trials of WP1122 without the need for additional preclinical animal efficacy models. Based on our initial discussions with the MHRA, we believe that a COVID-19 animal model will not be required in order to submit a clinical trial oneapplication (CTA) for a Phase 1 clinical trial beginning with healthy volunteers in that country, although no final determination has been made by the MHRA. Based on this feedback, we intend to proceed with the submission of a CTA for a Phase 1 clinical trial of WP1122 in the patients with DIPG showed an apparent responseUK.

The preclinical work to evaluate molecules within the WP1122 portfolio of antimetabolites (which include molecules capable of inhibiting glycolysis and altering glycosylation) for viral indications is mostly similar to the treatment with bothpreclinical work we originally planned as part of developing WP1122 for cancer indications. Accordingly, we believe the preclinical work we have completed for WP1122 will also support an IND application or its equivalent in other countries for cancer-related clinical improvementtrials. We continue to plan to submit such an IND in the US in 2021.

COVID-19 Impact on Clinical Trials

The spread of COVID-19 has caused significant volatility in US and radiologic reductioninternational markets, including Poland, where we conduct some of tumor size. We caution that this preliminaryour clinical trials, and Italy, where our drug supply is produced. There has been limited interruption of our drug supply, and most Polish clinics where we are conducting trials are limiting access for monitoring activities, which could delay our ability to collect data and no conclusions shouldauthorize new patient recruitment. Additionally, we believe COVID-19 has materially slowed the ability of approved sites to recruit patients for our trials. This could worsen or be drawn from this single event. Another physician-sponsored Phase 1 trialalleviated at any time. Furthermore, there is being consideredsignificant uncertainty around the breadth and duration of business disruptions related to COVID-19, as well as its impact on the US and international economies and, as such, we are unable to determine if it will have a material impact to our operations. Recently, we continue to experience a limited increase in activity with regard to recruitment of new patients in Poland. Additionally, we believe that the potential for impact to our supply chain due to COVID-19 has been reduced as vaccine production normalizes throughout the treatment of GBMindustry. Considering current worldwide trends with WP1066 in combination with radiation, although no assurances can be given that such trialrespect to COVID-19, we cannot determine whether COVID-19 will begin.materially impact recruitment for current or future trials.

 

20

Licensing

 

Although WP1122 is a prodrug of 2-DG, the WP1122 Portfolio includes other antimetabolites comprising prodrugs of alternate sugar structures that may also prove useful as antiviral and/or anticancer therapies. The Company isWe are currently evaluating some of these other antimetabolite molecules for potential translational development.in discussions with MD Anderson regarding amendments to existing licenses and new licenses related to Annamycin and WP1122.

 

Recent Business Developments

 

Below are recent business developments.

 

Annamycin

 

          Independent Study Validates Annamycin's Ability to TargetFDA Approval of Fast Track Designation for Annamycin in the Treatment of Sarcoma Lung Localized Tumors Metastases

 

On October 21, 2020, we announced results from an independent laboratory validating internal animal studies showing the ability of Annamycin to target lung localized tumors. The relevance of targeting lung localized tumors is that it could provide a means to address a significant unmet need in cancer therapy. Specifically, there are limited treatment options for lung metastases resulting from a primary tumor, even though the primary tumor may have been treatable. 

Successful Completion of Pre-IND Meeting with the FDA

On September 9, 2020,March 30, 2021, we announced that we successfully completed a Pre-IND Meeting with the FDA regarding the development planhad approved our request for Fast Track Designation for our drug, Annamycin, including the clinical study design and dosing strategy for the initial Phase 1b/2 protocol for soft tissue sarcomas withtreatment of STS lung metastases. We submitted a proposed clinical protocol for FDA review entitled, "Phase 1b/2 Study of Liposomal Annamycin (Annamycin) in Subjects with Previously Treated Soft-Tissue Sarcomas with Pulmonary Metastases." The proposed study is an open-label, multicenter, single-arm, dose escalation and expansion study to evaluate single-agent Annamycin in up to 55 patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) with lung metastases for whom chemotherapy is considered appropriate. The primary objectives of the dose escalation phase are to evaluate the safety of Annamycin and identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D).

 

2114


 

WP1066

 

Positive Interim Results in Adult Glioblastoma Clinical TrialAwarded New Rare Pediatric Disease Designation from U.S. FDA for WP1066 for the Treatment of Ependymoma

 

On October 13, 2020,April 14, 2021, we announced additional preliminary data fromthat the Phase 1 clinical trial ofFDA has granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPD) to our immuno-stimulating STAT3p-STAT3 inhibitor, WP1066, in patients with GBM. This supports the progression of the trial to the fourth and final dose escalation cohort. Three patients have completed treatment in the third cohort at a dose level of 8 mg/kg with no adverse events related to WP1066 and the study will now proceed to the next higher dose of 16 mg/kg.

Positive Interim Results in Pediatric Brain Tumor Phase 1 Clinical Trial

On October 1, 2020, we announced preliminary first cohort data from the Emory University physician-sponsored clinical trial being conducted at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta by Dr. Tobey MacDonald, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program. He is studying the use of WP1066 (AflacST1901), a proprietary Moleculin drug candidate, as a potential treatment for childhood brain tumors. The first three patients in the trial received treatment at a dose level of 4 mg/kg with no adverse events related to WP1066 and the study will now proceed to the next higher dose of 6 mg/kg. One of these patients with DIPG, showed an apparent response to the treatment with both clinical improvement and radiologic reduction of tumor size. We caution that this is preliminary data and no conclusions should be drawn from this single event.

ependymoma.

 

WP1122

 

Additional Collaboration on Drug Candidate TargetingIQVIA to Manage Potential COVID-19 Clinical Trial

 

On October 29, 2020, we announced we have entered into an agreement with the University of Campinas in São Paulo, Brazil to further enable collaboration into its research on the anti-viral capabilities of our drug candidate WP1122, specifically for the coronavirus. Recently the University of Campinas published independent research demonstrating that SARS-CoV-2 infection is supported by elevated glucose levels and that inhibition of glycolysis with 2-DG effectively eliminated viral load in vitro. WP1122 is a prodrug of 2-DG.

New Antiviral Drug Candidates Demonstrate In Vitro Activity Against HIV

On OctoberApril 6, 2020, we announced preliminary new findings from our research collaboration with the Rega Institute in Leuven, Belgium, that demonstrates our drug candidates, WP1096 and WP1097, are showing significant in vitro activity in a range of infectious diseases. In addition to activity against SARS-CoV-2, antiviral activity has now been documented for HIV, Zika and Dengue Fever. WP1096 and its close analog, WP1097, are structurally slightly different agents within our WP1122 portfolio. While we are continuing our preclinical development work on WP1122, including in vivo testing for SARS-CoV-2, we have now expanded our infectious disease program to include these two molecules. 

Significant In Vitro Activity Against COVID-19 Virus for New Antimetabolites

On September 29, 2020, we announced that our research team has discovered that a molecule within our portfolio of antimetabolites has displayed significant in vitro antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. Independent laboratory testing of the new drug candidate, called "WP1096," has now repeatedly demonstrated a therapeutic index of greater than 10, which is considered by our team to be an industry-standard commercialization threshold for in vitro performance of antiviral drugs. 

In Vivo Testing Contracted for WP1122

On September 14, 2020, we announced that we have contracted with an independent laboratory to test the antiviral activity of our WP1122 portfolio in a COVID-19 animal model. We contracted with an independent laboratory for in vivo testing of our drug candidate, WP1122 and another candidate from the same portfolio development as a possible treatment for COVID-19. The testing will involve that laboratory's hamster model and SARS-COV-2. We have since postponed this testing to determine if a more preferred animal model can be obtained.

Corporate

Appointment of Elizabeth Cermak to Board of Directors

On October 5, 2020,2021, we announced the appointmentengagement of Elizabeth (Liz) Cermak, an accomplished life sciences board director with deep pharmaceutical business development expertise,IQVIA Biotech, a contract research organization (CRO) to manage our Boardefforts to begin potential clinical trials of Directors.

2020 Lincoln Park Equity Line

WP1122 for the treatment of COVID-19.

On November 11, 2020, we entered into a purchase agreement (the “2020 Purchase Agreement”) and a registration rights agreement (the “2020 Registration Rights Agreement”) with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (“Lincoln Park”). Pursuant to the terms of the 2020 Purchase Agreement, Lincoln Park has agreed to purchase from us up to $22.0 million of our common stock (subject to certain limitations) from time to time during the term of the 2020 Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the 2020 Registration Rights Agreement, we filed with the SEC a registration statement to register the shares that have been or may be issued to Lincoln Park under the 2020 Purchase Agreement.

Pursuant to the terms of the 2020 Purchase Agreement, at the time we signed the 2020 Purchase Agreement and the 2020 Registration Rights Agreement, we issued 760,194 shares of common stock to Lincoln Park as consideration for its commitment to purchase shares of our common stock under the 2020 Purchase Agreement and may issue an additional 304,077 shares pro-rata when and if Lincoln Park purchases (at our discretion) the $22.0 million aggregate commitment.

On November 12, 2020, we sold Lincoln Park at $.707 per share 2,829,214 shares of common stock for aggregate consideration of $2.0 million, and issued 27,643 in additional commitment shares.

On November 11, 2020, we terminated our purchase agreement dated October 4, 2018 with Lincoln Park.

 

22

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, data derived from our statement of operations (in thousands) and such changes in the periods are discussed below in approximate amounts:

 

Moleculin Biotech, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

  

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended September 30,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2020

  

2019

  

2020

  

2019

  

2021

  

2020

 

Revenues

 $  $  $  $  $  $ 
  

Operating expenses:

              

Research and development

 4,435  2,785  10,971  7,816  4,105  3,206 

General and administrative

 1,659  1,672  5,122  4,748  1,939  1,810 

Depreciation and amortization

  57   51   154   147   44   46 

Total operating expenses

  6,151   4,508   16,247   12,711   6,088   5,062 

Loss from operations

 (6,151) (4,508) (16,247) (12,711) (6,088) (5,062)

Other income (loss):

         

Other income:

     

Gain from change in fair value of warrant liability

 2,743  124  1,489  3,059  1,577  3,845 

Other income, net

 10  5  32  5  9  5 

Interest income, net

  3   5   10   10   57   3 

Net loss before taxes

 $(3,395) $(4,374) $(14,716) $(9,637)

Net loss

 $(4,445) $(1,209)

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2019March 31, 2020

 

Research and Development Expense. Research and development (R&D) expense was $4.4$4.1 million and $2.8$3.2 million for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2021 and 2020, and 2019, respectively. The increase of $1.6$0.9 million is mainly related to increased clinical trial activity as described above, increased license fees and costs related to sponsored research agreements and costs related to manufacturing of additional drug product and two additional employees in R&D headcount.product.

 

General and Administrative Expense. General and administrative expense was $1.7$1.9 million and $1.8 million for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2021 and 2020, and 2019, respectively. The increase of $0.1 million is mainly related to an increase in our directors' and officers' liability insurance, which was offset by a similar decrease in travel expenses.

 

Gain from Change in Fair Value of Warrant Liability. We recorded a net gain of $2.7$1.6 million in the thirdfirst quarter of 20202021 as compared to a net gain of $0.1$3.8 million in the thirdfirst quarter of 2019,2020, for the change in fair value on revaluation of our warrant liability associated with our warrants issued in conjunction with our stock offerings. We are required to revalue our liability-classified warrants at the time of each warrant exercise, if applicable, and at the end of each reporting period and reflect in the statement of operations a gain or loss from the change in fair value of the warrant in the period in which the change occurred. We calculated the fair value of the warrants outstanding using the Black-Scholes model. A gain results principally from a decline in our share price during the period and a loss results principally from an increase in our share price.

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

Research and Development Expense. R&D expense was $11.0 million and $7.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase of $3.2 million is mainly related to increased clinical trial activity, increased license fees and costs related to sponsored research agreements, costs related to manufacturing of additional drug product and two additional employees in R&D headcount.

General and Administrative Expense. General and administrative expense was $5.1 million and $4.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase of $0.4 million was mainly attributable to increased payroll costs for an additional finance employee, increased stock-based compensation expense for annual employee stock, and increased costs for directors and officer's liability insurance being partially offset by reduced travel expenses.

Gain from Change in Fair Value of Warrant Liability. We recorded a net gain of $1.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to a net gain of $3.1 million in 2019, for the change in fair value on revaluation of our warrant liability associated with our warrants issued in conjunction with our stock offerings. We are required to revalue our liability-classified warrants at the time of each warrant exercise, if applicable, and at the end of each reporting period and reflect in the statement of operations a gain or loss from the change in fair value of the warrant in the period in which the change occurred. We calculated the fair value of the warrants outstanding using the Black-Scholes model. A gain results principally from a decline in our share price during the period and a loss results principally from an increase in our share price.

23

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The following table sets forth our primary sources and uses of cash for the period indicated (in thousands): 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2020

  

2019

  

2021

  

2020

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 $(14,647) $(12,521) $(3,624) $(4,342)

Net cash used in investing activities

 (360) (42)   (2)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 17,065  20,854  74,748  5,291 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

  2   (16)  (4)  (33)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 $2,060  $8,275  $71,120  $914 

 

As of September 30, 2020,March 31, 2021, there was $0.3$0.4 million of cash on hand in Australia. We maintain a bank account in Australia and we know of no related limitations impacting our liquidity in Australia.

15

 

Cash used in operating activities

 

Cash used in operations was $14.6$3.6 million for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2020.March 31, 2021. This $2.1$0.7 million increasedecrease over the prior year period of $12.5$4.3 million was primarily due to:to an increase in accounts payable, which was slightly offset by: 1) payments for developing, manufacturing and testing drug product as we prepared for clinical trials; 2) an increase in R&D employee and contractor headcount and associated payroll costs; 3) an increase in paid sponsored research and related expenses; and 4) an increase in license fees. These are all a reflection of the ongoing clinical and pre-clinical activity and the associated increase in general and administrative support for our three core drug technologies.

 

Cash used in investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $360,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to $42,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase relates to mass spectrometer equipment purchased for the lab in 2020. The equipment will be used to analyze uptake, metabolism, and tissue organ distribution of anti-cancer and anti-viral agents, which is critical for determination of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of the drugs.

Cash provided in financing activities

 

In July 2019,February 2021, we entered intocompleted an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (2019 ATM Agreement) with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (Oppenheimer). Pursuant to the termsunderwritten public offering of the 2019 ATM Agreement, we may offer and sell, from time to time, our common stock through Oppenheimer, acting as agent, through an "at the market offering" as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) (ATM Offering) promulgated under the Securities Act.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, pursuant to the 2019 ATM Agreement, we issued 8,472,090aggregate of 14,273,684 shares of common stock at an averagea public offering price of $1.45$4.75 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $11.9 million.share. We paidgranted the underwriters a commission to Oppenheimer equal to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of our common stock under the 2019 ATM Agreement. In the third quarter of 2020, the 2019 ATM Agreement expired and was terminated.

On November 11, 2020, we entered into a purchase agreement (the “2020 Purchase Agreement”) and a registration rights agreement (the “2020 Registration Rights Agreement”) with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (“Lincoln Park”). Pursuant to the terms of the 2020 Purchase Agreement, Lincoln Park has agreed30-day option to purchase from us up to $22.0 million of the Company’s common stock (subject to certain limitations) from time to time during the term of the 2020 Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the 2020 Registration Rights Agreement, we filed with the SEC a registration statement to register the shares that have been or may be issued to Lincoln Park under the 2020 Purchase Agreement.

Pursuant to the terms of the 2020 Purchase Agreement, at the time we signed the 2020 Purchase Agreement and the 2020 Registration Rights Agreement, we issued 760,194an additional 2,141,052 shares of common stock offered in the public offering. The offering closed on February 5, 2021 and gross proceeds of the offering were approximately $67.8 million, prior to Lincoln Park as consideration for its commitmentdeducting the underwriting discount and other offering expenses. On February 10, 2021, the underwriters of the public offering exercised in full their option to purchase shares of our common stock under the 2020 Purchase Agreement and may issue an additional 304,077 shares pro-rata when and if Lincoln Park purchases (at our discretion) the $22.0 million aggregate commitment.

On November 12, 2020, we sold Lincoln Park at $.707 per share 2,829,214 shares of common stock for aggregate consideration of $2.0 million, and issued 27,643 in additional commitment shares.

On November 11, 2020, we terminated our purchase agreement dated October 4, 2018 with Lincoln Park.

24

In July 2020, we entered into a new At Market Issuance Sales Agreement with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (2020 ATM Agreement). Pursuant to the terms of the 2020 ATM Agreement, the Company may sell from time to time through Oppenheimer shares of the Company’s common stock with an aggregate sales price of up to $15.0 million. Subsequent to the quarter ended September 30, 2020, we issued 700,3392,141,052 shares of common stock at an averagethe public offering price of $0.83$4.75 per share, resulting in netbringing total gross proceeds to approximately $78.0 million before underwriting discount.

In January 2021 we issued 468,684 shares for gross proceeds of $0.6$2.9 million in October 2020.using our At The Market Agreement with Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. We terminated the ATM Agreement on February 2, 2021. Additionally, during the first quarter of 2021, 10,000 shares were issued due to the exercise of warrants related to past public offerings. Gross proceeds received due to these exercises approximated $63,000.

 

In February 2020, we entered into subscription agreements with institutional investors to purchase of 7,500,0001,250,000 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase 5,625,000937,501 shares of common stock at a combined public offering price of $0.80$4.80 per share and related warrant resulting in gross proceeds of $6.0 million. Each warrant has an exercise price of $1.05$6.30 per share and were exercisable six months from the date of issuance and will expire five years from the date they were first exercisable.

 

In April 2019, we completed subscription agreements with institutional investors to purchase an aggregate of 9,375,000 units at a public offering price of $1.60 per unit in a registered direct offering. Each unit is comprised of one share of common stock and 0.5 of a warrant to purchase one share of common stock resulting in gross proceeds of $15.0 million. Each warrant has an exercise price of $1.75 per share and is exercisable immediately. The warrants will expire five years from the date of issuance.

Additionally, during the second quarter of 2019, 1,413,018 shares were issued due to the exercise of various warrants related to past public offerings. Gross proceeds received due to these exercises approximated $1.6 million.

In March 2019, we completed an underwritten offering of 5,250,000 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase 2,650,000 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $5.3 million. Additionally, we sold 605,367 shares of our common stock to Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC for $0.9 million.

We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2020 plus the cash raised and committed subsequent to the quarterMarch 31, 2021 will be sufficient to fundmeet our planned operations intoprojected operating requirements, which include a forecasted increase over our current R&D rate of expenditures, through at least the third quarter of 2021, without the issuance of additional equity for cash. Any such issuances should extend the funding of our planned operations beyond the third quarter of 2021.year 2023. Such plansprojections are subject to our stock price, market conditions, changes in planned expenses depending onour internally funded preclinical and clinical enrollment progress,activities, including unplanned preclinical and clinical activity. We anticipate incurring operating losses for the use ofnext several years as we support the preclinical and clinical activities necessary to prepare our drug product or a combination thereof. Based on the Company's current assessment, the Company does not expect any material impact on its liquidity duecandidates for successful out licensing, including our efforts to the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 virus.

We will not generate revenue from product sales unless and untilexpand our technologies. These factors raise uncertainties about our ability to fund operations in future years. If we successfully complete development of, obtain regulatory approval for and begin to commercialize one or more of our product candidates, which we expect will take a number of years and is subject to significant uncertainty. Accordingly, we anticipate that we will need to raise additional capital in order to fundcontinue to execute our future operations. Until such timebusiness plan, there is no assurance that additional financing will be available when needed or that we can generate substantial revenue from product sales, if ever, we expectwill be able to finance our operating activities through a combination of equity offerings and debt financings, and we may seekobtain financing on terms acceptable to us. A failure to raise additionalsufficient capital through strategic collaborations. However, we may be unablecould adversely impact our ability to raise additional funds or enter into such arrangements when needed on favorable terms, or at all, which would have a negative impact onachieve our intended business objectives and meet our financial conditionobligations as they become due and could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our development programs or commercialization efforts or grant to others rights to develop or market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves. Failure to receive additional funding could cause us to cease operations, in part or in full. Furthermore, even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans, we may seek additional capital due to favorable market conditions or strategic considerations, which may cause dilution to our existing stockholders.payable.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

 

There have been no material changes to the Company'sour critical accounting policies and use of estimates from those disclosed in the Company’sour Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.2020. For a discussion of our critical accounting policies and use of estimates, refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Estimates in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.2020.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS

 

Not applicable to us, as we are a smaller reporting company.

25

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed in our filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that material information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who is our principal executive officer, and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), who is our principal financial and accounting officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Our CEO and CFO have evaluated these disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and have determined that such disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting discussed below.

In lightas of the material weakness described below, we performed additional procedures during the quarter and additional analysis and procedures post-closing to ensure our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Accordingly, we believe that the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this report fairly present, in all material respects, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.

A material weakness is a control deficiency (within the meaning of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard 1305) or combination of control deficiencies that result in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim condensed consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected.

During the last quarter of fiscal 2016, and as our operational activities increased, management determined that it does not have sufficient segregation of duties within its accounting functions, which is a basic internal control. Due to our size and nature, segregation of all conflicting duties may not always be possible and may not be economically feasible. However, to the extent possible, the initiation of transactions, the custody of assets and the recording of transactions should be performed by separate individuals. Management evaluated the impact of our failure to maintain effective segregation of duties on our assessment of our internal control over financial reporting and has concluded that the control deficiency represents a material weakness.March 31, 2021.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

With input and oversight from the Audit Committee, management is actively implementing a remediation plan to ensure that control deficiencies contributing to the material weakness are remediated such that these controls will operate effectively. We are taking, and expect to continue to take the following remediation actions which have facilitated the proper segregation of duties in the initiation of transactions, the recording of transactions, and the custody of assets:

● Implemented new information technology systems and policies and procedures;

● Management added additional accounting and IT personnel, including the use of qualified contractors;

● Developed formalized accounting procedures and clearly defined authorities;

● Engaged third party specialists to assess and document the design of our internal controls over financial reporting including the evaluation of proper segregation of duties, and to identify and evaluate any weaknesses in our information systems;

● Reported regularly to the audit committee on the progress and results of the remediation plan, including the identification, status and resolution of internal control deficiencies;

We believe that these actions, and the improvements we expect to achieve as a result, will effectively remediate the material weakness previously identified. However, the material weaknessThere has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting will not be considered remediated until(as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15-d-15(f) under the remediated controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are operating effectively. We expect thatExchange Act) during the remediation of this material weakness will be completed in 2020.

We continuously seek to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our internal controls. There have been no changes, except for items described above, in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred in the ninethree months ended September 30, 2020March 31, 2021 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Our employees are working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we do not believe that our adjustments to how we work have materially impacted our internal controls over financial reporting. We continue to monitor and assess the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our internal controls and strive to minimize the impact on our internal control design and operating effectiveness.

 

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

None.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

For information regarding factors that could affect our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.2020. Except as updated below, there have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20192020 as filed with the SEC.

 

Interim or preliminary data fromChanges to the patent law in the U.S. and other jurisdictions could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our clinical trialsability to protect our future drugs and our drug candidates.

As is the case with other biopharmaceutical companies, our success is heavily dependent on intellectual property, particularly patents that we announcelicense or publish from time to time may change as more patient data become availablehold directly. Obtaining and are subject to audit and verification procedures that could result in material changesenforcing patents in the final data.
 
            We have
biopharmaceutical industry involve both technological and legal complexity and is therefore costly, time-consuming and inherently uncertain. Recent patent reform legislation in the past,U.S. and intend inother countries, including the future,Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or Leahy-Smith Act, signed into law on September 16, 2011, could increase those uncertainties and costs. The Leahy-Smith Act includes a number of significant changes to publicly disclose preliminary data fromU.S. patent law. These include provisions that affect the way patent applications are prosecuted, redefine prior art and provide more efficient and cost-effective avenues for competitors to challenge the validity of patents. In addition, the Leahy-Smith Act has transformed the U.S. patent system into a first-to-file system. The first-to-file provisions, however, only become effective on March 16, 2013. Accordingly, it is not yet clear what, if any, impact the Leahy-Smith Act will have on the operation of our clinical trials, which is based on a preliminary analysisbusiness. However, the Leahy-Smith Act and its implementation could make it more difficult to obtain patent protection for our inventions and increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of then-available data,our patent applications and the results and related findings and conclusions are subject to change following a full analyses of all data related to the particular trial. We also make assumptions, estimations, calculations and conclusions as partenforcement or defense of our analysesissued patents, all of data, and we may not have received or had the opportunity to fully and carefully evaluate all data. As a result, the preliminary results that we report may differ from future results of the same trials, or different conclusions or considerations may qualify such results once additional data have been received and fully evaluated. Preliminary data also remain subject to audit and verification procedures that may result in the final data being materially different from the preliminary data we previously published. As a result, preliminary data should be viewed with caution until the final data are available. We may also disclose interim data from our clinical trials. Interim data from clinical trials that we may complete are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues and more patient data become available. Adverse differences between preliminary or interim data and final datawhich could significantly harm our business, prospects. Further, disclosureresults of preliminaryoperations and financial condition. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on several patent cases in recent years, either narrowing the scope of patent protection available in certain circumstances or interim data by us could resultweakening the rights of patent owners in volatility in the price of shares of our common stock.

certain situations. In addition, others, including regulatory agencies, may not accept or agree with our assumptions, estimates, calculations, conclusions or analyses or may interpret or weighthere have been recent proposals for additional changes to the importance of data differently, which could impact the approvabilitypatent laws of the particular drug candidateU.S. and our business in general. In addition, the information we choose to publicly disclose regarding a particular study or clinical trial is based on what is typically extensive information, and you or others may not agree with what we determine is the material or otherwise appropriate information to include in our disclosure, and any information we determine not to disclose may ultimately be deemed significant with respect to future decisions, conclusions, views, activities or otherwise regarding a particular drug candidate or our business. If the interim dataother countries that, we report differ from actual results, or if others, including regulatory authorities, disagree with the conclusions reached,adopted, could impact our ability to obtain approvalpatent protection for our proprietary technology or our ability to enforce our proprietary technology. Depending on future actions by the U.S. Congress, the U.S. courts, the USPTO and commercializethe relevant law-making bodies in other countries, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that would weaken our currentability to obtain new patents or anyto enforce our future drug candidate, our business, operating results, prospects or financial conditionexisting patents and patents that we might obtain in the future.

We may be materially harmed.subject to adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes that could negatively impact our financial condition.

 

The COVID-19 outbreak has delayed recruitmentrules dealing with U.S. federal, state and local income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department. Changes to tax laws (which changes may have retroactive application) could adversely affect our clinical trialsstockholders or us. In recent years, many such changes have been made and changes are likely to continue to occur in the future. We cannot predict whether, when, in what form, or with what effective dates, tax laws, regulations and rulings may continuebe enacted, promulgated or worsen, may affect the business of the FDA, EMA or other health authorities,decided, which could result in delaysan increase in meetings relatedour, or our stockholders’, tax liability or require changes in the manner in which we operate in order to minimize increases in our planned clinical trialstax liability. The impact of these and ultimately of reviewsother future changes in tax laws is uncertain and approvals of our product candidates.

The COVID-19 outbreak has delayed recruitment in clinical trials and may continue or worsen. Additionally, it may delay the approvals of our product candidates due to its effect on the business of the FDA, EMA or other health authorities, which could result in delays in meetings related to planned clinical trials. The spread of COVID-19 may also slow potential enrollment of clinical trials and reduce the number of eligible patients for our clinical trials. The COVID-19 outbreak and mitigation measures also have had and may continue to have an adverse impact on global economic conditions which could have an adverse effect on our business, andcash flow, financial condition including impairing our ability to raise capital when needed. The extent to which the COVID-19 outbreak impacts our business and operations will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information that may emerge concerning the severityor results of the virus and the actions to contain its impact. We have relationships with contract research organizations to conduct certain pre-clinical programs and testing and other services in Europe and those business operations are subject to potential business interruptions arising from protective measures that may be taken by the governmental or other agencies or governing bodies. In addition, certain of our collaborative relationships with research facilities and academic research institutions in the United States, Europe and in Australia may be materially and adversely impacted by protective measures taken by those institutions or federal and state agencies and governing bodies to restrict access to, or suspend operations at, such facilities. Such protective measures, including quarantines, travel restrictions and business shutdowns, may also  have a material negative affect on our core operations.

If we breach any of the agreements under which we license patent rights or if we fail to meet certain development deadlines, pay certain fees including extension fees or exercise certain rights to technology, we could lose or fail to obtain license rights that are important to our business.

We license all of our technology from MD Anderson, and we must meet various payment and other obligations under our license agreements with MD Anderson. Our license agreements generally require that we meet various milestones by certain dates, each of which generally requires the payment of additional fees, including extension fees. To date, we have been able meet such milestones, pay certain fees or have been able to enter into extensions with MD Anderson related to such milestones. However, our failure to meet any financial or other obligations under our license agreements in a timely manner could result in the loss of our rights to our core technologies.

27

We are a party to a number of license agreements with MD Anderson under which we are granted rights to intellectual property that are critical to our business and we expect that we will need to enter into additional license agreements in the future with MD Anderson based on development work we are pursuing under a sponsored research agreement. With respect to inventions arising from our sponsored research agreement, MD Anderson has provided us with an option to negotiate a royalty-bearing, exclusive license to any invention or discovery that is conceived or reduced to practice. However, regardless of such option to negotiate, we may be unable to negotiate a license within the specified time frame or under terms that are acceptable to us. If we are unable to do so, the institution may offer the intellectual property rights to other parties, potentially blocking our ability to pursue a program based on that technology.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

None. 

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.

 

On November 11, 2020, Moleculin Biotech, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (“Lincoln Park”), pursuant to which Lincoln Park has committed to purchase up to $22.0 million of shares (the “Purchase Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”). Concurrently with entering into the Purchase Agreement, the Company also entered into a registration rights agreement with Lincoln Park, pursuant to which it agreed to provide Lincoln Park with certain registration rights related to the shares issued under the Purchase Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). On the Commencement Date (as defined below), the Company sold Lincoln Park 2,829,214.00  shares of Common Stock for aggregate consideration of $2,000,000.

Beginning on the Commencement Date (as defined below) and thereafter, the Company has the right, in its sole discretion, to present Lincoln Park with a purchase notice (a “Regular Purchase Notice”), directing Lincoln Park to purchase up to 500,000 Purchase Shares (the “Regular Purchase Amount”) (a “Regular Purchase”). The Regular Purchase Amount may be increased to up to 750,000 shares if the closing sale price of the Common Stock is not below $1.00 per share, and to up to 1,000,000 shares if the closing sale price of the Common Stock is not below $1.50 per share. The Company and Lincoln Park may mutually agree to increase the Regular Purchase Amount.

The Purchase Agreement provides for a purchase price per Purchase Share for each Regular Purchase (the “Purchase Price”) equal to the lesser of:

•    the lowest sale price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the purchase date of such shares; and

•    the average of the three lowest closing sale prices for the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market during the ten consecutive business days ending on the business day immediately preceding the purchase date of such shares.

In addition, on any date on which the Company submits a Regular Purchase Notice for the maximum amount allowed for such a Regular Purchase to Lincoln Park, it also has the right, in its sole discretion, to present Lincoln Park with an accelerated purchase notice (an “Accelerated Purchase Notice”), directing Lincoln Park to purchase an amount of Purchase Shares (an “Accelerated Purchase”), which number of Purchase Shares will not exceed the lesser of (i) 300% of the number of shares purchased pursuant to such Regular Purchase and (ii) 30% of the total number of shares of the Common Stock traded on Nasdaq during all or a specified period on the applicable Accelerated Purchase date as set forth in the Purchase Agreement. The purchase price per Purchase Share for each such Accelerated Purchase will be equal to 97% of the lesser of:

•    the volume-weighted average price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market during the applicable measurement period on the applicable Accelerated Purchase date; and

•    the closing sale price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the applicable Accelerated Purchase date.

The Company may also direct Lincoln Park, on any business day on which an Accelerated Purchase has been completed and all of the shares to be purchased thereunder have been properly delivered to Lincoln Park in accordance with the Purchase Agreement, to make purchases of an additional amount of our Common Stock upon the same terms as an Accelerated Purchase, (an “Additional Accelerated Purchase”).

The purchase price of Regular Purchases, Accelerated Purchases and Additional Accelerated Purchases and the minimum closing sale price for a Regular Purchase will be adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction occurring during the business days used to compute the purchase price. The aggregate number of shares that the Company can sell to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement may in no case exceed 12,486,666 shares (subject to adjustment as described above) of the Common Stock (which is equal to approximately 19.99% of the shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the execution of the Purchase Agreement) (the “Exchange Cap”), unless (i) stockholder approval is obtained to issue Purchase Shares above the Exchange Cap, in which case the Exchange Cap will no longer apply, or (ii) the average price of all applicable sales of our Common Stock to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement equals or exceeds the lower of (A) the official closing price of our Common Stock on Nasdaq on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the Purchase Agreement and (B) the average official closing price of our Common Stock on Nasdaq for the five consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the Purchase Agreement, adjusted such that the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement are exempt from the Exchange Cap limitation under applicable Nasdaq rules); provided that at no time may Lincoln Park (together with its affiliates) beneficially own more than 9.99%  of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock. The Company issued 760,194  shares of Common Stock to Lincoln Park as a commitment fee in connection with entering into the Purchase Agreement and may issue an additional 304,077 shares pro-rata when and if Lincoln Park purchases (at the Company’s discretion) the $22,000,000 aggregate commitment (the “Commitment Shares” and together with the Purchase Shares, the “Shares”).None.

 

2817


 

The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, covenants, closing conditions and indemnification and termination provisions. Sales under the Purchase Agreement may commence only after certain conditions have been satisfied (the date on which all requisite conditions have been satisfied, the “Commencement Date”), which conditions include the delivery to Lincoln Park of a prospectus supplement covering the shares of Common Stock issued or sold by the Company to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement, the filing with The Nasdaq Stock Market of a Listing of Additional Shares notification with respect to the Shares and Nasdaq having raised no objection to the consummation of transactions contemplated under the Purchase Agreement, and the receipt by Lincoln Park of a customary opinion of counsel and other certificates and closing documents. We anticipate that such conditions will be satisfied on or around November 12, 2020.

The Purchase Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time, at its sole discretion, without any cost or penalty, by giving one business day notice to Lincoln Park to terminate the Purchase Agreement. Lincoln Park has covenanted not to cause or engage in any manner whatsoever, any direct or indirect short selling or hedging of the Common Stock. Although the Company has agreed to reimburse Lincoln Park for a limited portion of the fees it incurred in connection with the Purchase Agreement, the Company did not pay any additional amounts to reimburse or otherwise compensate Lincoln Park in connection with the transaction, other than the issuance of the Commitment Shares.


            There are no limitations on use of proceeds, financial or business covenants, restrictions on future financings (other than restrictions on the Company’s ability to enter into variable rate transactions described in the Purchase Agreement), rights of first refusal, participation rights, penalties or liquidated damages in the Purchase Agreement. The Company may deliver Purchase Notices under the Purchase Agreement, subject to market conditions, and in light of its capital needs from time to time and under the limitations contained in the Purchase Agreement. Any proceeds that the Company receives under the Purchase Agreement are expected to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

On November 11, 2020, the Company terminated its purchase agreement dated October 4, 2018 with Lincoln Park.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

   

10.13.1

 

At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, dated July 17, 2020, byCertificate of Amendment to the Amended and amongRestated Certificate of Incorporation of Moleculin Biotech, Inc., filed with the Company and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (incorporated by reference to exhibit 1.13.1 of the Company's Form 8-K filed July 17, 2020)

10.2Purchase Agreement (LPC-Moleculin Biotech, Inc.)
10.3Registration Rights Agreement (LPC-Moleculin Biotech, Inc.)January 29, 2021)
   

31.1*

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

31.2*

 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

32.1*

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

32.2*

 

Certification of Principal Accounting and Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

   

101.INS*

 

Inline XBRL Instance Document (the Instance Document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document) 

   

101.SCH*

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

   

101.CAL*

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

   

101.DEF*

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

   

101.LAB*

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

   

101.PRE*

 

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

   
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

 

* Filed herewith.

 

2918


 

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.

 

 

MOLECULIN BIOTECH, INC.

   

Date: NovemberMay 12, 20202021

By:

/s/ Walter V. Klemp

  

Walter V. Klemp,

  

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

(Principal Executive Officer)

   

Date: November12, 2020May 12, 2021

By:

/s/ Jonathan P. Foster

  

Jonathan P. Foster,

  

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

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