Table of Contents



 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
 
FORM 10‑Q
þ

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
for the quarterly period ended September 30, 20172018
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 001-3759001-37590
Cerecor Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State of incorporation)
45-0705648
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
400 E. Pratt Street, Suite 606
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
(Address of principal executive offices)
(410) 522‑8707
(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 ☒  þ No ☐ 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S‑T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒  þ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non‑accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b‑2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ¨
 
Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨þ
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company þ
Emerging growth company þ
  

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.þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b‑2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨  No þ
As of November 6, 2017,2018, the registrant had 26,054,85740,806,053 shares of common stock outstanding.
 



Table of Contents


CERECOR INC.
 
FORM 10-Q
 
For the Quarter Ended September 30, 20172018
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

      
     Page
    
  
      
   
      
   
      
   
      
   
      
   
      
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
     
  
     
  


2


Table of Contents


PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements
CERECOR INC. and SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 September 30,
2017
 December 31,
2016
 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
 (unaudited)   (unaudited)  
Assets                    
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents $23,955,397
 $5,127,958
 $6,838,353
 $2,472,187
Accounts receivable, net 3,008,538
 2,935,025
Other receivables 6,264,485
 427,241
Escrowed cash receivable 3,750,803
 
 
 3,752,390
Grants receivable 30,135
 132,472
Inventory, net 1,064,469
 382,153
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 341,025
 391,253
 1,260,304
 703,225
Restricted cash, current portion 29,159
 11,111
Restricted cash-current portion 37,027
 1,959
Total current assets 28,106,519
 5,662,794
 18,473,176
 10,674,180
Property and equipment, net 34,183
 43,243
 92,096
 44,612
Intangible assets, net 32,456,075
 17,664,480
Goodwill 16,411,123
 14,292,282
Restricted cash, net of current portion 62,847
 62,828
 179,735
 131,353
Total assets $28,203,549
 $5,768,865
 $67,612,205
 $42,806,907
Liabilities and stockholders’ (deficit) equity    
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity    
Current liabilities:        
Term debt, net of discount $
 $2,353,667
Accounts payable 312,514
 1,010,209
 $1,535,933
 $1,298,980
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 1,290,683
 947,987
 18,172,630
 7,531,122
Income taxes payable 3,230,000
 
 2,195,048
 2,259,148
Long-term debt- current portion 1,050,000
 
Contingent consideration-current portion 1,957,938
 
Total current liabilities 4,833,197
 4,311,863
 24,911,549
 11,089,250
Long term debt, net of current portion 14,352,224
 
Contingent consideration, net of current portion 7,552,537
 2,576,633
Deferred tax liability, net 37,990
 7,144
License obligations 1,250,000
 1,250,000
 1,250,000
 1,250,000
Other long-term liabilities 
 24,272
Total liabilities 6,083,197
 5,561,863
 48,104,300
 14,947,299
Stockholders’ equity:        
Preferred stock—$0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; zero shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively 
 
Common stock—$0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 26,054,857 and 9,434,141 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively 26,055
 9,434
Preferred stock—$0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017; zero shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 
 
Common stock—$0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017; 40,679,634 and 31,266,989 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively 40,656
 31,268
Additional paid-in capital 77,167,922
 70,232,651
 112,126,404
 83,338,136
Contingently issuable shares 
 2,655,464
Accumulated deficit (55,073,625) (70,035,083) (92,659,155) (58,165,260)
Total stockholders’ equity 22,120,352
 207,002
 19,507,905
 27,859,608
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $28,203,549
 $5,768,865
 $67,612,205
 $42,806,907
 
See accompanying notes to unauditedthe condensed consolidated financial statements.


3


Table of Contents


CERECOR INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
 
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2017 2016 2017 2016
License and other revenue $25,000,000
 $
 $25,000,000
 $
Grant revenue 37,592
 321,497
 579,597
 971,985
   Total revenue 25,037,592
 321,497
 25,579,597
 971,985
Operating expenses:                 
Research and development 964,574
 4,581,605
 2,411,293
 9,376,633
General and administrative 2,151,859
 1,703,188
 4,921,269
 5,989,053
Income (loss) from operations 21,921,159
 (5,963,296) 18,247,035
 (14,393,701)
Other income (expense):        
Change in fair value of warrant liability and unit purchase option liability 64
 (101,246) (1,586) (57,595)
Interest income (expense), net 29,387
 (104,183) (53,991) (381,603)
Total other income (expense) 29,451
 (205,429) (55,577) (439,198)
Net income (loss) before taxes $21,950,610
 $(6,168,725) $18,191,458
 $(14,832,899)
Income tax expense 3,230,000
 
 3,230,000
 
Net income (loss) after taxes $18,720,610
 $(6,168,725) $14,961,458
 $(14,832,899)
         
Net income (loss) per common share, basic and diluted $0.52
 $(0.70) $0.65
 $(1.71)
         
Weighted-average number of common shares - basic 21,382,683
 8,756,393
 14,952,391
 8,685,818
Weighted-average number of common shares - diluted 21,407,702
 8,756,393
 14,960,032
 8,685,818
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2018 2017 2018 2017
Revenues        
Product revenue, net $4,074,786
 $
 $13,045,824

$
Sales force revenue 
 
 296,875


License and other revenue 
 25,000,000
 
 25,000,000
Grant revenue 
 37,592
 

579,597
Total revenues, net 4,074,786
 25,037,592
 13,342,699

25,579,597
         
Operating expenses:        
Cost of product sales 3,111,290
 
 5,397,872


Research and development 1,047,877
 964,574
 3,780,352

2,411,293
Acquired in-process research and development 18,723,952
 
 18,723,952
 
General and administrative 1,884,293
 2,151,859
 7,833,612

4,921,269
Sales and marketing 2,310,760
 
 5,889,137


Amortization expense 1,065,398
 
 3,315,843


Impairment of intangible assets 159,687


 1,861,562


Total operating expenses 28,303,257
 3,116,433
 46,802,330

7,332,562
(Loss) income from operations (24,228,471) 21,921,159
 (33,459,631)
18,247,035
Other (expense) income:     


Change in fair value of contingent consideration, warrant liability and unit purchase option liability (87,838) 64
 (383,179)
(1,586)
Other income 
 
 18,655


Interest (expense) income, net (234,854) 29,387
 (577,664)
(53,991)
Total other (expense) income, net (322,692) 29,451
 (942,188)
(55,577)
Net (loss) income before taxes (24,551,163) 21,950,610
 (34,401,819)
18,191,458
Income tax expense 52,412
 3,230,000
 92,076

3,230,000
Net (loss) income $(24,603,575) $18,720,610
 $(34,493,895)
$14,961,458
Net (loss) income per share of common stock, basic and diluted $(0.71) $0.52
 $(1.05)
$0.65
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic 34,648,641
 21,382,683
 32,749,291
 14,952,391
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted 34,648,641
 21,407,702
 32,749,291

14,960,032
 
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements.


4


Table of Contents


CERECOR INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
 Nine Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2018 2017
Operating activities                    
Net income (loss) $14,961,458
 $(14,832,899)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:    
Depreciation 17,050
 20,468
Net (loss) income $(34,493,895) $14,961,458
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income (used in) provided by operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization 3,333,416
 17,050
Impairment of intangible assets 1,861,562
 
Stock-based compensation expense 852,210
 1,439,194
 1,796,387
 852,210
Acquired in-process research and development, including transaction costs 18,723,952
 
Deferred taxes (47,994) 
Amortization of inventory fair value associated with acquisition of TRx and Avadel Pediatric Products 262,419
 
Non-cash interest expense 20,365
 134,096
 327,224
 20,365
Change in fair value of warrant liability and unit purchase option liability 1,586
 57,595
 22,328
 1,586
Change in fair value of contingent consideration 360,850
 
Changes in assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable, net (73,513) 
Grants receivable 102,337
 (379,256) 
 102,337
Other receivables (3,072,729) 
Inventory, net (226,735) 
Prepaid expenses and other assets 50,228
 191,527
 27,571
 50,228
Escrowed funds receivable (3,750,803) 
Restricted cash (18,067) (79,051)
Escrowed cash receivable 3,752,390
 (3,750,803)
Accounts payable (697,695) 109,908
 172,243
 (697,695)
Income taxes payable (64,100) 3,230,000
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 341,109
 2,478,234
 6,186,178
 341,109
Income taxes payable 3,230,000
 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 15,109,778
 (10,860,184)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities (1,152,446) 15,127,845
Investing activities        
Acquisition of Avadel Pediatric Products (1) 
Cash acquired from the acquisition of Ichorion Therapeutics, Inc. 1,429,876
 
Purchase of property and equipment (7,990) (25,646) (65,057) (7,990)
Net cash used in investing activities (7,990) (25,646)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 1,364,818
 (7,990)
Financing activities        
Proceeds from sale of shares under common stock purchase agreements, net 1,693,498
 1,000,000
Proceeds from option and warrant exercises 508,746
 
Proceeds from sale of shares pursuant to private placement, net 4,650,000
 
 3,857,106
 4,650,000
Proceeds from sales of common stock under employee stock purchase plan, net 35,430
 
Proceeds from sales of common stock under employee stock purchase plan 8,400
 35,430
Proceeds from sale of shares under common stock purchase agreement 
 1,693,498
Payment of contingent consideration (137,008) 
Principal payments on term debt (2,374,031) (2,459,493) 
 (2,374,031)
Payment of financing costs (279,246) (1,467)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 3,725,651
 (1,460,960)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 18,827,439
 (12,346,790)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 5,127,958
 21,161,967
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $23,955,397
 $8,815,177
Payment of offering costs 
 (279,246)
Net cash provided by financing activities 4,237,244
 3,725,651
Increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 4,449,616
 18,845,506
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period 2,605,499
 5,201,897
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $7,055,115
 $24,047,403
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information        
Cash paid for interest $72,526
 $287,841
 $262,500
 $72,526
Supplemental disclosures of noncash financing activities    
Accrued financing costs $
 $101,728
 
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows:

5


Table of Contents


 September 30,
 2018 2017
    
Cash and cash equivalents$6,838,353
 $23,955,397
Restricted cash, current37,027
 29,159
Restricted cash, non-current179,735
 62,847
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash$7,055,115
 $24,047,403

See accompanying notes to unauditedthe condensed consolidated financial statements.



56


Table of Contents


CERECOR INC. and SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements


1. Business

Cerecor Inc. (the “Company”Company or “Cerecor”) is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company with commercial operations and research and development capabilities. The Company is building a robust pipeline of innovative therapies in pediatric healthcare, neurology, and orphan rare diseases. The Company's neurology pipeline is led by CERC-301, which is currently in a Phase I safety study for Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension ("nOH"). The Company is also developing three other neurological clinical and preclinical stage compounds. The Company's pediatric orphan rare disease pipeline is led by CERC-801, CERC-802 and CERC-803. All three of these compounds are preclinical therapies for inherited metabolic disorders known as Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation ("CDGs") by means of substrate replacement therapy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has granted Rare Pediatric Disease designation ("RPDD") to all three compounds. Under the FDA’s Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher ("PRV") program, upon the approval of a new drug application ("NDA") for the treatment of a rare pediatric disease, the sponsor of such application would be eligible for a PRV that can be used to obtain priority review for a subsequent new drug application or biologics license application. The PRV may be sold or transferred an unlimited number of times. The Company expects to file Investigational New Drug ("IND") applications with the FDA for two programs in 2019. Furthermore, the Company plans to leverage the 505(b)(2) NDA pathway for all three compounds to accelerate development and approval. The Company is developing innovative drug candidates for commercialization, license or sale to make a differencealso in the livesprocess of patients with neurologicdeveloping one other preclinical pediatric orphan rare disease compound, CERC-913.

The Company also has a diverse portfolio of marketed products. Our marketed products are led by our prescribed dietary supplements and psychiatric disorders.prescribed drugs. Our prescribed dietary supplements include Poly-Vi-Flor and Tri-Vi-Flor which are prescription vitamin and fluoride supplements used in infants and children to treat or prevent deficiency of essential vitamins and fluoride. The Company’s operations since inception have been limited to organizingCompany also markets a number of prescription drugs that treat a range of pediatric diseases, disorders and staffingconditions. Cerecor's prescription drugs include Millipred®, Veripred®, Ulesfia®, Karbinal™ ER, AcipHex® Sprinkle™ and Cefaclor for Oral Suspension. Finally, the Company acquiring rights tohas one marketed medical device, Flexichamber™.

Cerecor was incorporated in 2011, commenced operations in the second quarter of 2011 and developing certain product candidates, business planning and raising capital.
Liquidity
The Company's financial statements have been prepared oncompleted an accrual basis. The Company has not generated any product revenues and has not yet achieved profitable operations from commercialization. There is no assurance that profitable operations will ever be achieved, and if achieved, could be sustained on a continuing basis.
Prior to the quarter ended September 30, 2017, the Company had incurred recurring operating losses since inception. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company generated net income of $15.0 million and positive cash flows from operations of $15.1 million.initial public offering in October 2015. In August 2017, the Company sold all of its worldwide rights to a prior product candidate, CERC-501 to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Janssen”) in exchange for initial gross proceeds of $25.0$25 million, of which$3.75which $3.75 million was deposited into a twelve-month escrow to secure certain indemnification obligations as well asto Janssen. The Company collected the full amount of the escrow in August of 2018. Additionally, there is a potential future $20.0$20 million regulatory milestone payment. The terms of the agreement provide that Janssen will assume ongoing clinical trials and be responsible for any new development and commercialization of CERC-501.

On November 17, 2017, the Company acquired TRx Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“TRx”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (see "TRx Acquisition" in Note 4 below for a description of the transaction).

On February 16, 2018, Cerecor acquired all rights to Avadel Pharmaceuticals PLC’s (“Avadel”) marketed pediatric products (the “Acquired Products”) for the assumption of certain of Avadel's financial obligations (see "Avadel Pediatric Products Acquisition" in Note 4 below for a description of the transaction).

On September 25, 2018, the Company acquired Ichorion Therapeutics, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments and increasing awareness of inherited metabolic disorders known as CDGs (see "Ichorion Asset Acquisition" in Note 4 below for a description of the transaction).

Liquidity

The Company applies a disciplined decision-making methodology as it evaluates the optimal allocation of the Company's resources between investing in the Company's current commercial product line, the Company's development portfolio and acquisitions or in-licensing of new assets in order to meet its cash flow needs. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, Cerecor generated a net loss of $34.5 million and negative cash flow from operations of $1.2 million.  As of September 30, 2017, the Company2018, Cerecor had an accumulated deficit of $55.1$92.7 million and a balance of $24.0$6.8 million in cash and cash equivalents.  The Company anticipates operating lossesplans to continue foruse this cash and the foreseeable future dueanticipated positive net cash flows from the Company's existing product sales to among other things,offset costs related to its pediatric rare disease preclinical programs, additional clinical development of its product candidates,for our neurology programs, business development, and costs associated with its organizational infrastructure. infrastructure and debt principal and interest payments. Cerecor expects to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses

7

Table of Contents


for the immediate future. Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability in the future is dependent on, among other things, the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of our new product candidates and achieving a level of revenues from our existing product sales adequate to support our cost structure.

The Company believes it will require substantial additional financing to fund its operations and to continue to execute its strategy.clinical development strategy and/or fund future operations. The Company plans to meet its capital requirements primarily through aoperating cash flows from product sales and some combination of equity or debt financings, collaborations, or out-licensing arrangements, strategic alliances, federal and private grants, marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements and inor the longer term, revenue from product sales to the extent its product candidates receive marketing approval and are commercialized. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will be successful in obtaining financing at the level needed to sustain operations and develop its product candidatessale of current or on terms acceptable to the Company, or that the Company will obtain approvals necessary to market its products or achieve profitability or sustainable positive cash flow.future assets. If the Company failsis not able to raise capitalsecure adequate additional funding, the Company may be forced to make reductions in spending, extend payment terms with suppliers, liquidate assets where possible or enter into any suchsuspend or curtail planned programs. If the Company raises additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements it willwith third parties, the Company may have to further delay, scale backrelinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or discontinueproduct candidates.

Our plan to aggressively develop our pipeline, including our recently acquired pediatric rare disease preclinical programs, will require substantial cash inflows in excess of what the developmentCompany expects our current commercial operations to generate.  The Company expects that our existing cash and cash equivalents, together with the proceeds from the execution of management's plan to complete one or more financings through the issuance of its product candidates equity, which could be completed with the Company's majority owner, if necessary, and/or cease its operations altogether.

In April 2017through the Company received $5.0 million in gross proceeds pursuant to a securities purchase agreement with Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd (“Armistice”). The Company has the potential to raise additional cash through an equity distribution agreement with Maxim Group LLC ("Maxim Group") as described in Note 8.

The Company expects its cashout-licensing or sale of current or future assets on hand at September 30, 2017or before May 2019, will enable us to fund futureour operating expenses, capital expenditure requirements, and other non-operating cash payments such as principal payments on our outstanding debt balances through at least December 31, 2018.


November 2019. 

2. Significant Accounting Policies
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”).

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments whichthat are necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 20162017 has been derived from audited financial statements at that date. The interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results that may occur for the full fiscal year.year or any other future period. Certain information and footnote disclosure normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to instructions, rules and regulations prescribed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

6


Table of Contents

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

The Company believes that the disclosures provided herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading when these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are read in conjunction with the December 31, 20162017 audited consolidated financial statements.

Reclassification
During 2018, the Company concluded that going forward it would net amounts due to distributors against open receivable balances. The company has reclassified $0.3 million from accrued expenses and other current liabilities to accounts receivable, net in the December 31, 2017 balance sheet to conform with current period presentation.

Principles of Consolidation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cerecor Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries after elimination of all intercompany balances and transactions.

Variable Interest Entities
The primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity ("VIE") must consolidate the related assets and liabilities. Certain disclosures are required by sponsors, significant interest holders in VIEs and potential VIEs. The Company regularly assesses its relationships with contractual third party and other entities for potential VIEs. In making this assessment, the Company considers the potential that its contracts or other arrangements provide subordinated financial support, absorb losses or rights to residual returns of the entity and the

8


Table of Contents


ability to directly or indirectly make decisions about the entities’ activities. Based on the Company’s assessments performed, management concluded that there were no relationships that constitute a VIE for which the Company was determined to be the primary beneficiary at September 30, 2018. If the Company’s management makes the determination that it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the Company will consolidate the statements of operations and financial condition of the VIE into its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Fair Value Measurements

            Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. The objective of a fair value measurement is to estimate the price to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. Such transactions to sell an asset or transfer a liability are assumed to occur in the principal market for that asset or liability, or in the absence of the principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability.
Assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurement disclosures are required to be classified according to a three-level fair value hierarchy with respect to the inputs (or assumptions) used to determine fair value. The level in which an asset or liability is disclosed within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the related fair value measurement in its entirety. The guidance under the fair value measurement framework applies to other existing accounting guidance in the FASB codification that requires or permits fair value measurements. Refer to related disclosures in Note 5, Fair Value Measurements.

Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, other comprehensive income and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, including estimates related to but not limited to, revenue recognition, share-based compensation, fair value measurements (including those relating to contingent consideration), cash flows used in management's going concern assessment, income taxes, goodwill and other intangible assets, and clinical trial accruals, the warrant liability and the unit purchase option liability.accruals. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and other market‑specific or other relevant assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from those estimates or assumptions.
 
Net Income (Loss) Perper Share, Basic and Diluted

Earnings per share are computed using the two-class method. The two-class method of computing earnings per share is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for common stock and any participating securities according to dividends declared (whether paid or unpaid) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Shares of the unexercised warrants issued in the Armistice Private Placement transactionprivate placement (See Note 9) in 2017 are considered participating securities because these warrants contain a non-forfeitable right to dividends irrespective of whether the warrants are ultimately exercised. Under the two-class method, earnings per common share for the common stock and participating warrants are computed by dividing the sum of distributed earnings to common shareholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of Commoncommon stock and participating warrants outstanding for the period. In applying the two-class method, undistributed earnings are allocated to common stock and participating warrants based on the weighted-average shares outstanding during the period. As the warrants issued in the Armistice transaction do not share in net losses of the Company, they are excluded from weighted average shares and warrants outstanding during periods of net loss.

Diluted net income (loss) per share includes the potential dilutive effect of common stock equivalents as if such securities were converted or exercised during the period, when the effect is dilutive. Common stock equivalents include: (i) outstanding stock options and restricted stock units issued under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Planslong-term incentive plans, which are included under the "treasury stock method" when dilutive,dilutive; (ii) common stock to be issued upon the assumed conversion of the Company's unit purchase option shares, which are included under the "if-converted method" when dilutive,dilutive; (iii) prior to issuance the contingently issuable shares in the TRx acquisition if contingencies would have been satisfied if the end of the contingency period were as of the balance sheet date under the “if converted method” when dilutive; and (iii)(iv) common stock to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding warrants which are included under the "treasury stock method" when dilutive. Because the impact of these items is generally anti-dilutive during periods of net loss, there is no difference between basic and diluted loss per common share for periods with net losses. In addition, net losses are not allocated to the participating securities.

Contingently issuable sharesare included in the calculation of basic income (loss) per share as of the beginning of the period in which all the necessary conditions have been satisfied. Contingently issuable shares are included in diluted net income (loss) per share based on the number of shares, if any, that would be issuable under the terms of the arrangement if the end of the reporting period was the end of the contingency period, if the results are dilutive.


9


Table of Contents


Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost, which approximates their fair value.

Escrowed Cash Receivable

On August 14.14, 2017, the Company sold all of its rights to CERC-501 to Janssen in exchange for initial gross proceeds of $25.0$25 million, of which $3.75 million was deposited into a twelve monthtwelve-month escrow to secure certain indemnification obligations to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Janssen. The Company evaluates its escrowed cash receivable balance each reporting period and establishes a reserve for amounts deemed uncollectible. No reserve was recorded ascollected the full escrow amount in August of September 30, 2017.

2018.

Restricted Cash

The Company establishedRestricted cash consists of the 2016 Employee Stock Purchase Plan in 2016. Eligible employees can purchase common stock through accumulateddeposits, credit card deposits, landlord deposits and payroll deductions at such times as are established byprocessing deposits. The Company has a $125,000 deposit with ADP to facilitate payroll processing, which will be returned to the Plan administrator. At September 30, 2017, $29,200company upon termination of deposits had been made by employees for potential future stock purchases.

7


Tablethe service or a restructuring of Contents


In 2016 the Company entered into a bank services pledge agreement with Silicon Valley Bank.agreement. In exchange for receiving business credit card services from Silicon Valley Bank, the Company deposited $50,000 as collateral with Silicon Valley Bank. This amount will remain deposited with Silicon Valley Bank for the duration the business credit card services are used by the Company. In addition, the Company has deposited $13,000 with the landlord of the Company's office space as a security deposit. These deposits are recorded as restricted cash, net of current portion on the balance sheet atas of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The remaining restricted cash balance relates to the 2016 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Company established the Employee Stock Purchase Plan in 2016 (the "Plan"). Eligible employees can purchase common stock through accumulated payroll deductions at such times as are established by the Plan administrator. Deposits made by employees for potential future stock purchases are recorded as restricted cash.

The Company adopted ASU 2016-18 effective January 1, 2018 and now includes restricted cash balances within the cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash balance on the statement of cash flows. All prior periods were retrospectively adjusted to conform to the current period presentation.

Concentration of Credit Risk
 
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk are primarily cash and cash equivalents. The Company maintains a portion of its cash and cash equivalent balances in the form of a money market account with a financial institution that management believes to be credit worthy.creditworthy. The Company has no financial instruments with off‑balance sheet risk of loss.
 
Debt and Equity Issuance CostsInventory

Inventory consists primarily of finished goods stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined on a first-in, first-out basis. The Company mayreviews the composition ofinventory at each reporting period in order to identify obsolete, slow-moving, quantities in excess of expected demand, or otherwise non-saleable items. If non-saleableitems are observed and there are no alternate uses for the inventory, the Company will record debta write-down to net realizable value in the period that thedecline in value is first recognized. These valuation adjustments are recorded based upon various factors for the Company’s products, including the level ofproduct manufactured by the Company, the level of product in the distribution channel, current and equity discountsprojected product demand, the expected shelf life of theproduct and firm inventory purchase commitments.

Goodwill

Goodwill relates to the amount that arose in connection with raising funds through the issuanceacquisitions of convertible notes or equity instruments. These discounts may arise from (i)TRx and Avadel's pediatric products. Goodwill represents the receiptexcess of proceeds less than the facepurchase price over the fair value of the convertible notesnet assets acquired when accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. Goodwill is not amortized but is evaluated for impairment on an annual basis or equity instruments, (ii) allocation of proceeds to beneficial conversion features and/more frequently if an event occurs or (iii) recording derivative liabilities related to embedded features. For debt instruments, these costs are amortized overcircumstances change that would more-likely-than-not reduce the lifefair value of the debt to interest expense utilizing the effective interest method. For equity instruments, these costs are netted against the gross proceeds received from the issuance of the equity.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipmentCompany's reporting unit below its carrying amount. The company consists of computers, office equipment, and furniture and is recorded at cost. Maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend theone reporting unit.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets with definite useful lives of the respective assets are expensed to operations as incurred. Property and equipment are depreciated on a straight‑line basisamortized over their estimated useful lives. The Company uses a lifelives and reviewed for impairment if certain events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of four yearsan asset may not be recoverable. Intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for computersimpairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an intangible

10


Table of Contents


asset might not be recoverable. Impairment losses are measured and software, and five years for equipment and furniture. Upon retirement or sale,recognized to the costextent the carrying value of such assets exceeds their fair value.

Contingent Consideration

Some of the disposed assetCompany’s business acquisitions involve the potential for future payment of consideration that is contingent upon the achievement of operational and commercial milestones and royalty payments on future product sales. The preliminary fair value of contingent consideration liabilities was determined at the acquisition date using unobservable level 3 inputs. These inputs include the estimated amount and timing of projected cash flows, the probability of success (achievement of the contingent event) and the related accumulated depreciation are removed fromrisk-adjusted discount rate used to present value the accounts and any resulting gain or lossprobability-weighted cash flows. Subsequent to the acquisition date, at each reporting period, the contingent consideration liability is recognized.remeasured at current fair value with changes recorded in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

License and Other Revenue

The Company recognizes revenues from collaboration, license or other research or sale arrangements when persuasive evidenceor as performance obligations are satisfied. For milestone payments, the Company assesses, at contract inception, whether the milestones are considered probable of an arrangement exists, deliverybeing achieved. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will occur, the Company will not record revenue until the uncertainty has occurred or services have been rendered,resolved. Milestone payments that are contingent upon regulatory approval are not considered probable of being achieved until the priceapprovals are obtained as it is fixed or determinable and collectabilityoutside the control of the Company. If it is reasonably assured. Revenue from potential future milestones, if substantive, is recognized whenprobable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur, the Company will estimate the milestone is achieved andpayments using the payment is due and collectible.most likely amount method. The Company will re-assess the milestones each reporting period to determine the probability of achievement.

Grant Revenue

Grant Revenue Recognition
revenues are derived from government grants that support the Company’s efforts on specific research projects. The Company determined that the government agencies providing grants to the Company are not our customers. The Company recognizes grant revenue when there is (i) reasonable assurance of compliance with the conditions of the grant and (ii) reasonable assurance that the grant revenue will be received.

Product Revenues, net

The Company generates substantially all of its revenue from sales of prescription pharmaceutical products to its customers and has identified a single product delivery performance obligation, which is the provision of prescription pharmaceutical products to its customers based upon Master Service Agreements in place with wholesaler distributors, purchase orders from retail pharmacies or other direct customers and a contractual arrangement with a specialty pharmacy. The performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time, when control of the product has been transferred to the customer, either at the time the product has been received by the customer or to a lesser extent when the product is shipped. The Company determines the transaction price based on fixed consideration in its contractual agreements and the transaction price is allocated entirely to the performance obligation to provide pharmaceutical products. In determining the transaction price, a significant financing component does not exist because the timing from when the Company delivers product to when the customers pay for the product is less than one year and the customers do not pay for product in advance of the transfer of the product.

Revenues from sales of products are recorded net of any variable consideration for estimated allowances for returns, chargebacks, distributor fees, prompt payment discounts, government rebates and other common gross-to-net revenue adjustments. The identified variable consideration is recorded as a reduction of revenue at the time revenues from product sales are recognized. The Company recognizes revenue only to the extent that it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur in a future period.

Provisions for returns and government rebates are included within current liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Provisions for prompt payment discounts and distributor fees, are included as a reduction to accounts receivable. Calculating these items involves estimates and judgments based on sales or invoice data, contractual terms, historical utilization rates, new information regarding changes in these programs’ regulations and guidelines that would impact the amount of the actual rebates, our expectations regarding future utilization rates for these programs, and channel inventory data. These estimates may differ from actual consideration amount received and the Company will re-assess these estimates and judgments each reporting period to adjust accordingly.

The following table presents net revenues disaggregated by type:

11


Table of Contents


  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2018 2017 2018 2017
Prescribed dietary supplements $2,096,851

$

$5,766,642

$
Prescription drugs 1,977,935



7,279,182


Sales force revenue 


 296,875


License and other revenue 
 25,000,000
 
 25,000,000
Grant revenue 

37,592
 

579,597
Total revenue $4,074,786

$25,037,592
$13,342,699

$25,579,597

Concentration with Customer

As is typical in the pharmaceutical industry, the Company sells its prescription pharmaceutical products (which include prescribed dietary supplements and prescription drugs) in the United States primarily through wholesale distributors and a specialty contracted pharmacy. Wholesale distributors account for substantially all of the Company’s net product revenues and trade receivables. In addition, the Company earns revenue from sales of its prescription pharmaceutical products directly to retail pharmacies.   For the three months ended September 30, 2018, the Company’s three largest customers accounted for approximately 34%, 31% and 27%, respectively, of the Company’s total net product revenues from sale of prescription pharmaceutical products. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company’s three largest customers accounted for approximately 30%, 30% and 24%, respectively, of the Company’s total net product revenues from sale of prescription pharmaceutical products.

Returns and Allowances

Consistent with industry practice, the Company maintains a return policy that allows customers to return product within a specified period both prior to and, in certain cases, subsequent to the product's expiration date. The Company’s return policy generally allows customers to receive credit for expired products within six months prior to expiration and within one year after expiration. The provision for returns and allowances consists of estimates for future product returns and pricing adjustments. The primary factors considered in estimating potential product returns include:

the shelf life or expiration date of each product;
historical levels of expired product returns;
external data with respect to inventory levels in the wholesale distribution channel;
external data with respect to prescription demand for the Company’s products; and
the estimated returns liability to be processed by year of sale based on analysis of lot information related to actual historical returns.

The Company’s estimate for returns and allowances may be impacted by a number of factors, but the principal factor relates to the level of inventory in the distribution channel.

Distribution Fees and Rebates

Consistent with pharmaceutical industry practices, the Company establishes contracts with wholesalers that provide for Distribution Service Fees (“DSA fees”). Settlement of DSA fees generally occur on a monthly or quarterly basis based on net sales for the period. DSA fee accruals are based on contractual fees to be paid to the wholesaler distributors applied to purchases of our products.

The Company is also subject to rebates on sales made under governmental pricing programs. For example, Medicaid rebates are amounts owed based upon contractual agreements or legal requirements with public sector (Medicaid) benefit providers after the final dispensing of the product by a pharmacy to a benefit plan participant. Medicaid reserves are based on expected payments, which are driven by patient usage, contract performance and field inventory that will be subject to a Medicaid rebate. Medicaid rebates are typically billed up to 180 days after the product is shipped, however can be as much as 270 days after the quarter in which the product is dispensed to the Medicaid participant. In addition to the estimates mentioned above, the Company’s calculation also requires other estimates, such as estimates of sales mix, to determine which sales are subject to rebates and the amount of such rebates. Periodically, the Company adjusts the Medicaid rebate provision based on actual claims paid. Due to the delay in billing, adjustments to actual claims paid may incorporate revisions of this provision for several periods. Because Medicaid pricing programs involve particularly difficult interpretations of complex statutes and regulatory guidance, our estimates could differ from actual experience.


12


Table of Contents


In determining estimates for these rebates, the Company considers the terms of the contracts, relevant statutes, historical relationships of rebates to revenues, past payment experience, estimated inventory levels and estimated future trends.

Chargebacks and Sales Discounts

Chargeback accruals are based on the differentials between product acquisition prices paid by wholesalers and lower government contract pricing paid by eligible customers covered under federally qualified programs. Sales discounts accruals are based on payment terms extended to customers.

Sales Force Revenue

Pursuant to a Marketing Agreement with Pharmaceutical Associates, Inc. (“PAI”), the Company received a monthly marketing fee to promote, market and sell certain products on behalf of PAI. The Company also received a matching fee payment for each month of the term of the Marketing Agreement if certain provisions calculated in accordance with the terms and inputs set forth in the Marketing Agreement are met. Marketing fees and any matching payments are recognized as sale force revenue when all the performance obligations have been satisfied, as earned on a monthly basis. The Marketing Agreement with PAI was terminated in April 2018.
Accounting Policy Elections

The Company elected the following practical expedients in applying Topic 606 to its identified revenue streams:

Portfolio approach - contracts within each revenue stream have similar characteristics and the Company believes this approach would not differ materially than if applying Topic 606 to each individual contract.
Modified retrospective approach - the Company applied Topic 606 only to contracts with customers that were not completed at the date of initial application, January 1, 2018.
Significant financing component - the Company does not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component as the Company expects, at contract inception, that the period between when the Company transfers a promised good or service to a customer and when the customer pays for that good or service will be one year or less.
Shipping and handling activities - the Company considers any shipping and handling costs that are incurred after the customer has obtained control of the product as a cost to fulfill a promise and will account for them as an expense.
Contract costs - the Company recognizes the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that the Company otherwise would have recognized is one year or less.

The Company does not incur costs to obtain a contract or costs to fulfill a contract that would result in the capitalization of contract costs. Specifically, internal sales commissions are costs to fulfill a contract and are expensed in the same period that revenue is recognized, which is typically within the same quarterly reporting period. Contract costs are expensed or amortized in “Operating expenses” on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The Company has not made significant changes to the judgments made in applying ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) ("ASU 2014-09") for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Cost of Product Sales

Cost of product sales is comprised of (i) costs to acquire products sold to customers, (ii) royalty, license payments and other agreements granting the Company rights to sell related products, (iii) distribution costs incurred in the sale of products, (iv) the value of any write-offs of obsolete or damaged inventory that cannot be sold, (v) minimum sale obligations and (vi) minimum purchase obligations. The Company acquired the rights to sell certain of its commercial products through license and assignment agreements with the original developers or other parties with interests in these products. These agreements obligate the Company to make payments under varying payment structures based on its net revenue from related products.    

Shipping, Handling, and Freight

The Company includes the cost of shipping, handling, and freight associated with product sales as part of cost of goods sold.

Research and Development Expenses
 
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. These costs include, but are not limited to, employee‑related expenses, including salaries, benefits and stock‑based compensation of research and development personnel; expenses incurred under agreements

13


Table of Contents


with contract research organizations and investigative sites that conduct clinical trials and preclinical studies; the cost of acquiring, developing and manufacturing clinical trial materials; other supplies; facilities, depreciation and other expenses, which includesuch as direct and allocated expenses for rent, utilities and insurance; and costs associated with preclinical activities, regulatory operations, pharmacovigilance, quality and regulatory operations.travel.
 
Costs for certain development activities, such as clinical trials, are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations, or information provided to the Company by its vendors, such as clinical research organizations, with respect to their actual costs incurred. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of the individual arrangements, which may differ from the pattern of costs incurred, and are reflected in the financial statements as prepaid or accrued research and development expense, as the case may be.

8


Table of Contents
Acquired In-Process Research and Development Expenses

Acquired in-process research and development ("IPR&D") expense includes the initial costs of IPR&D projects, acquired directly in a transaction other than a business combination, that do not have an alternative future use.

Sales and Marketing Expenses

Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of professional fees, contractual fees, advertising and marketing cost and salaries, benefits and related costs for sales and sales support personnel, including stock‑based compensation and travel expenses.

Amortization Expense

Amortization expense includes the amortization of the Company's acquired intangible assets. There is no amortization expense included in cost of product sales or sales and marketing expense as all amortization expense is included within its own standalone line in operating expenses in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Impairment of Intangible Assets

Impairment of Intangible assets includes any impairment charges related to the Company's acquired intangible assets.

Comprehensive Loss
 
Comprehensive loss is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non‑owner sources. Comprehensive loss was equal to net loss for all periods presented.

Income Taxes
 
The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Deferred tax assets primarily include net operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards,carryforwards, accrued expenses not currently deductible and the cumulative temporary differences related to certain research and patent costs. Certain tax attributes, including net operating losses and research and development credit carryforwards, may be subject to an annual limitation under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). See Note 1011 for further information. The portion of any deferred tax asset for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized must then be offset by recording a valuation allowance. The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position. The amount for which an exposure exists is measured as the largest amount of benefit determined on a cumulative probability basis that the Company believes is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement of the position.
The Company’s policy is to record interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions as income tax expense. As of September 30, 2017,2018, the Company doesdid not believe any material uncertain tax positions arewere present.

On December 22, 2017, the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” ("TCJA") was enacted, that significantly reforms the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The TCJA, among other things, includes changes to U.S. federal tax rates, imposes significant additional limitations on the deductibility of interest and net operating loss carryforwards, allows for the expensing of capital expenditures, and puts into effect the migration from a “worldwide” system of taxation to a territorial system. See Note 11 below for further discussion related to the tax impact to the Company.


14


Table of Contents


Stock‑Based Compensation
 
The Company applies the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock‑based awards made to employees and non‑employees, including employee stock options, in the statements of operations.

For stock options issued to employees and members of the board of directors for their services, on the board of directors, the Company estimates the grant date fair value of each option using the Black‑Scholes option pricing model. The use of the Black‑Scholes option pricing model requires management to make assumptions with respect to the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of the common stock consistent with the expected life of the option, risk‑free interest rates and expected dividend yields of the common stock. For awards subject to service‑based vesting conditions, including those with a graded vesting schedule, the Company recognizes stock‑based compensation expense equal to the grant date fair value of stock options on a straight‑line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting term. Forfeitures are recorded as they are incurred as opposed to being estimated at the time of grant and revised.

For stock option grants with market-based conditions, compensation expense is recognized ratably over the attribution period. The Company estimates the fair value of the market-based stock option grants using a Monte-Carlo simulation. The Company generally estimates fair value using assumptions, including the risk-free interest rate, the expected volatility of a peer group of similar companies, the expected term of the awards and the expected dividend yield. The expected term for market-based stock option awards is based on the expected term calculated using a Monte-Carlo simulation. These estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. If factors change and different assumptions are used, our stock-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future.

For stock options issued to non‑employees, the Company initially measures the options at their grant date fair values and revalues as the underlying equity instruments vest and are recognized as expense over the earlier of the period ending with the performance commitment date or the date the services are completed in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718 and ASC 505‑50, Equity‑Based Payments to Non‑Employees (“ASC 505‑50”).
 
Clinical Trial Expense Accruals
 
As part of the process of preparing its financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its expenses resulting from its obligations under contracts with vendors, clinical research organizations and consultants and under clinical site agreements in connection with conducting clinical trials. The financial terms of these contracts are subject to negotiations, which vary from contract to contract and may result in payment flows that do not match the periods over which materials or services are provided under such contracts. The Company’s objective is to reflect the appropriate trial expenses in its financial statements by matching those expenses with the period in which services are performed and efforts are expended. The Company accounts for these expenses according to the progress of the trial as measured by subject progression and the timing of various aspects of the trial. The Company determines accrual estimates by taking into account discussion with applicable personnel and outside service providers as to the progress or state of consummation of trials, or the services completed. During the course of a clinical trial, the Company adjusts its clinical expense recognition if actual results differ from its estimates. The Company makes estimates of its accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date based on the facts and circumstances known to it at that time. The Company’s clinical trial accruals are dependent upon the timely and accurate reporting of contract research

9


Table of Contents

organizations and other third‑party vendors. Although the Company does not expect its estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, its understanding of the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed maymight vary and maymight result in it reporting amounts that are too high or too low for any particular period.

Segment Information
 
Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision‑making group, in making decisions on how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is currently represented by the chief executive officer.Company's management team and consists of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Company and the chief executive officermanagement team view the Company’s operations and manage its business as one operating segment. All long‑lived assets of the Company reside in the United States. The Company and the management team view the Company’s operations and manage its business as one operating segment.    

RecentRecently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Adoption of ASC 606


15


Table of Contents


In May 2014, the FinancialFASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) ("ASU 2014-09"). Topic 606, along with amendments issued in 2015, 2016 and 2017, supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, including most industry-specific revenue recognition guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014‑9, Revenue From Contracts With Customers (“Codification. ASU 2014‑9”). Pursuant2014-09 provides a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to this update, an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customersa customer in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entityit expects to be entitledreceive in exchange for those goods or services. On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the new revenue recognition standard for all contracts not completed as of the adoption date using the modified retrospective method. The implementation of the new revenue recognition standard did not have a material quantitative impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements as the timing of revenue recognition for product sales did not significantly change. In August 2015,addition, the Company did not have a material cumulative effect adjustment to Accumulated deficit upon adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on January 1, 2018. The information presented for the periods prior to January 1, 2018 has not been restated and is reported under Topic 605.

The Company recognizes revenue when its performance obligations with its customers have been satisfied. At contract inception, the Company determines if a contract is within the scope of Topic 606 and then evaluates the contract using the following five steps: (1) identify the contract with the customer; (2) identify the performance obligations; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

Other Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14,No. 2017-01, Revenue From Contracts With CustomersBusiness Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business (Topic 606), which delays"ASU 2017-01"). The standard provides guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. If substantially all of the effective datefair value of the gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is concentrated in a single asset or a group of similar assets, the assets acquired (or disposed of) are not considered a business. ASU 2014-9 by one year.  As a result, ASU 2014-9 will be2017-01 is effective for annual reportingfiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (including interim periods within those periods) with early adoption permittedpermitted. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2018.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718) - Scope of Modification Accounting (“ASU 2017-09”) to clarify when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. The guidance is effective prospectively for all companies for annual reportingperiods and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning on or after December 15, 2016. 2017. The adoption of this standard on January 1, 2018 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In MarchNovember 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-8,2016-18, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)Restricted Cash (" (“ASU2016-18"). The guidance is intended to address the diversity that currently exists in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. The new standard requires that entities show the changes in the total of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows and no longer present transfers between cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2018. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-8”)2016-18 the Company applied the retrospective transaction method for each period presented and included $0.1 million of restricted cash in the beginning period cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash balance. The September 30, 2017 statement of cash flows has been updated to include $0.1 million of restricted cash.
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-10, 2016-16, “Revenue From Contracts With CustomersIncome Taxes (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations740), Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory” ("ASU 2016-16"), which requires companies to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. ASU 2016-16 is effective for annual reporting periods, and Licensinginterim periods therein, beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of this standard on January 1, 2018 did not (“ASU 2016-10”), and in Mayhave a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12,2016-15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Narrow-Scope ImprovementsStatement of Cash Flows, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Practical ExpedientsCash Payments (“("ASU 2016-12”2016-15"), eachwhich reduces existing diversity in the classification of which clarifycertain cash receipts and cash payments on the guidance instatements of cash flows. ASU 2014-92016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and have the same effective date as the original standard.for interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company has substantially completed it's assessment of the impact of adoption of ASU 2014-9, ASU 2016-8, ASU 2016-10, or ASU 2016-12this standard on January 1, 2018 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements, and the impact is not expected to be significant. The Company plans to adopt the new standard effective January 1, 2018. The Company continues to monitor additional changes, modifications, clarifications or interpretations being undertaken by the FASB, which may impact the Company’s current conclusions.statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-2,2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) ("ASU 2016-02"). This guidance revises existing practice related to accounting for leases under ASC No. 840, Leases(“ (“ASC 840”) for both lessees and lessors. The new guidance in ASU 2016-22016-02 requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for nearly all leases (other than leases that meet the definition

16


Table of Contents


of a short-term lease). The lease liability will be equal to the present value of lease payments and the right-of-use asset will be based on the lease liability, subject to adjustment such as for initial direct costs. For income statement purposes, the new standard retains a dual model similar to ASC 840, requiring leases to be classified as either operating leases or capital leases. For lessees, operating leases will result in straight-line expense (similar to current accounting by lessees for operating leases under ASC 840) while capital leases will result in a front-loaded expense pattern (similar to current accounting by lessees for capital leases under ASC 840). The new standard is effective for annual reportingthe Company beginning January 1, 2019. In July 2018, the FASB issued both codification improvements, which clarify how to apply certain aspects of the standard, and an update to the transition methods allowable. Companies can either adopt the new standard at the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach or continue to apply the guidance under the current lease standard in the comparative periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted.presented. Companies that elect this option would record a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings on the date of adoption, if necessary. The Company expects to apply the new guidance at the effective date, without adjusting the comparative periods. The Company anticipates that ASU 2016-02 will have an impact to our condensed consolidated balance sheet, as the Company will record an asset and a liability in connection with our leased office space. The Company does not expect an impact to our condensed statement of operations. The Company is in the process of identifying its lease agreements that will be impacted by the new standard and is currently further evaluating the potentialoverall impact of the adoption of this standard on itsto our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016,January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-9, 2017-04 “ImprovementsIntangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” ("ASU 2017-04"). ASU-2017 eliminates step two of the goodwill impairment test and specifies that goodwill impairment should be measured by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. Additionally, the amount of goodwill allocated to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.  The guidance is intended to simplify several areaseach reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount of accounting for share-based compensation, including income tax impacts, classification on the statement of cash flows and forfeitures. The new standardnet assets should be disclosed. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests performed in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application2019 and early adoption is permitted. The new guidance was adopted by the Company effective January 1, 2017 and its adoption did not have any impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In connection with adoption, the Company has elected to account for forfeitures as they occur as opposed to being estimated at the time of grant and revised.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15 Statement of Cash Flows, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (ASU 2016-15), which reduces existing diversity in the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statements of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 I effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted.standard will be applied prospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this standard on its financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash. The guidance is intended to address the diversity

10


Table of Contents

that currently exists in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. The new standard requires that entities show the changes in the total of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows and no longer present transfers between cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this standard on its financial statements.


3. Net Income (Loss) Per Share of Common Stock, Basic and Diluted
 
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss)loss per share of common stock for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and 2016:

which includes both classes of participating securities: 
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2017 2016 2017 2016
Basic income (loss) per share:        
Net income (loss) $18,720,610
 $(6,168,725) $14,961,458
 $(14,832,899)
Undistributed earnings (loss) allocable to common shares $18,720,610
 $(6,168,725) $14,961,458
 $(14,832,899)
         
Weighted average shares, basic        
   Common stock 21,382,683
 8,756,393
 14,952,391
 8,685,818
   Participating warrants 14,285,714
 
 8,163,265
 
  35,668,397
 8,756,393
 23,115,656
 8,685,818
Basic income (loss) per share:        
   Common shares $0.52
 $(0.70) $0.65
 $(1.71)
   Participating warrants $0.52
 $
 $0.65
 $
         
Diluted income (loss) per share:        
Net income (loss) $11,222,732
 $(6,168,725) $9,677,838
 $(14,832,899)
Net income (loss) reallocated 5,256
 
 1,746
 
Undistributed earnings (loss) allocable to common shares $11,227,988
 $(6,168,725) $9,679,584
 $(14,832,899)
         
Weighted average number of shares - basic 21,382,683
 8,756,393
 14,952,391
 8,685,818
Effect of dilutive securities:        
   Stock options 25,019
 
 7,641
 
   Underwriters' unit purchase option 
 
 
 
      Potentially dilutive shares 25,019
 
 7,641
 
Weighted average number of shares - diluted 21,407,702
 8,756,393
 14,960,032
 8,685,818
         
Diluted income (loss) per share $0.52
 $(0.70) $0.65
 $(1.71)





Shares which have been excluded from diluted per share amounts because their effect would have been antidilutive, include the following:
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2018
2017 2018
2017
Basic (loss) income per share:        
Net (loss) income $(24,603,575) $18,720,610
 $(34,493,895)
$14,961,458
Undistributed (loss) earnings allocable to common shares $(24,603,575) $18,720,610
 $(34,493,895) $14,961,458
         
Weighted average shares, basic        
Common stock 34,648,641
 21,382,683
 32,749,291

14,952,391
Participating warrants 
 14,285,714
 

8,163,265
  34,648,641
 35,668,397
 32,749,291

23,115,656
Basic (loss) income per share:        
Common stock $(0.71) $0.52
 $(1.05)
$0.65
Participating warrants $
 $0.52
 $
 $0.65


1117


Table of Contents


  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2017 2016 2017 2016
Stock options 2,384,560 1,828,441 2,401,938 1,828,441
Warrants 4,661,145 7,400,934 4,661,145 7,400,934
Unit purchase option shares 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000
Diluted (loss) income per share:        
Net (loss) income $(24,603,575) $11,222,732
 $(34,493,895) $9,677,838
Net income reallocated 
 5,256
 
 1,746
Undistributed (loss) earnings allocable to common shares $(24,603,575) $11,227,988
 $(34,493,895) $9,679,584
         
Weighted average shares, basic 34,648,641
 21,382,683
 32,749,291
 14,952,391
Effect of dilutive securities        
Stock options 
 25,019
 
 7,641
Weighted average number of shares - diluted 34,648,641
 21,407,702
 32,749,291
 14,960,032
         
Diluted (loss) income per share: $(0.71)
$0.52

$(1.05)
$0.65

 

The following outstanding securities at September 30, 2018 and 2017 have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted shares outstanding, as they could have been anti-dilutive: 
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2018 2017 2018 2017
Stock options 4,119,187 2,384,560 4,119,187 2,401,938
Warrants on common stock 18,905,064 4,661,145 18,905,064 4,661,145
Restricted Stock Awards 445,000 
 445,000 
Underwriters' unit purchase option 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000

4. Acquisitions

Asset Acquisitions

Ichorion Asset Acquisition

On September 24, 2018, the Company entered into, and subsequently consummated the transactions contemplated by, an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company and Ichorion Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Ichorion Asset Acquisition”), with Ichorion surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.  The consideration for the Ichorion Asset Acquisition consisted of approximately 5.8 million shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, as adjusted for Estimated Working Capital as defined in the Merger Agreement.  The shares are subject to a lockup date through December 31, 2019. Consideration for the Ichorion Asset Acquisition included certain development milestones in the future worth up to an additional $15 million, payable either in shares of Company Common Stock or in cash, at the election of the Company.

The fair value of the common stock shares transferred at closing was approximately $20 million using the Company's stock price close on September 24th and offset by an estimated discount for lack of marketability calculated using guideline public company volatility for comparable companies. The assets acquired consisted primarily of $18.7 million of IPR&D, $1.6 million of cash and $0.2 million assembled workforce. The Company recorded this transaction as an asset purchase as opposed to a business combination as management concluded that substantially all of the value received was related to one group of similar identifiable assets which was the IPR&D for the three preclinical therapies for inherited metabolic disorders known as CDGs (CERC-801, CERC-802 and CERC-803). The Company has considered these assets similar due to similarities in the risks for development, compound type, stage of development, regulatory pathway, patient population and economics of commercialization.  The fair value of the IPR&D was immediately recognized as Acquired In-Process Research and Development expense as the IPR&D asset has no other alternate use due to the stage of development. The acquired IPR&D expense is not tax deductible.  The $0.2 million of transaction costs incurred were recorded to Acquired In-Process Research and Development expense. The assembled workforce asset recorded to intangible assets will be amortized over an estimated useful life of two years.

The contingent consideration related to the development milestones will be recognized if and when such milestones are probable and can be reasonably estimated.


18


Table of Contents


Acquisitions of Businesses

Avadel Pediatric Products Acquisition
On February 16, 2018, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Avadel US Holdings, Inc., Avadel Pharmaceuticals (USA), Inc., Avadel Pediatrics, Inc., Avadel Therapeutics, LLC and Avadel Pharmaceuticals PLC (collectively, the “Sellers”) to purchase and acquire all rights to the Sellers’ pediatric products. Total consideration transferred to the Sellers consisted of a cash payment of one dollar. In addition, the Company assumed existing seller debt due in January 2021 with a fair value of $15.1 million and contingent consideration, referred to as Deferred payments, relating to royalty obligation through February 2026 with a fair value at acquisition date of approximately $7.9 million. As a result of the Avadel Pediatric Products Acquisition, the Company has currently recorded goodwill of $3.8 million, which is deductible over 15 years for income tax purposes.
The transaction was accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. Accordingly, the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition, with the remaining purchase price recorded as goodwill. The goodwill recognized is attributable primarily to strategic opportunities related to an expanded commercial footprint and diversified pediatric product portfolio that is expected to provide revenue and cost synergies. Transaction costs of $0.1 million were included as general and administrative expense in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
During the second quarter of 2018, the Company identified and recorded measurement period adjustments to our preliminary purchase price allocation. These adjustments are reflected in the tables below. If the measurement period adjustments were reflected in the first quarter 2018 Form 10-Q it would have increased operating expenses by $0.3 million consisting primarily of increases to cost of product sales of $0.2 million and sales and marketing expense of $0.1 million. The measurement period adjustments were the result of additional analysis performed and information identified during the second quarter of 2018 based on facts and circumstances that existed as of the purchase date. There were no additional measurement adjustments recorded in the third quarter of 2018.
The following table summarizes the preliminary fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition both as disclosed in the first quarter 2018 Form 10-Q and as adjusted for measurement period adjustments identified during the second quarter:    
     
     
     
At February 16,
2018 (preliminary)
Measurement Period Adjustments
At February 16,
2018 (as adjusted)
     
Inventory $2,549,000
$(1,831,000)$718,000
Prepaid assets 
570,000
570,000
Intangible assets 16,453,000
1,838,000
18,291,000
Accrued expenses 
(362,000)(362,000)
Fair value of debt assumed (15,272,303)197,303
(15,075,000)
Fair value of contingent consideration and deferred payments (7,875,165)(44,835)(7,920,000)
Total net liabilities assumed (4,145,468)367,468
(3,778,000)
Consideration exchanged 241,000
(240,999)1
     Goodwill $4,386,468
$(608,467)$3,778,001
Based on valuation estimates utilizing the estimated sales price of inventory less sales and marketing costs and an allowance for profit, a step-up in the value of inventory of $0.3 million was recorded in the opening balance sheet, of which approximately $0.1 million was charged to cost of goods sold during the post-acquisition period, February 16, 2018 through September 30, 2018.
The purchase price allocation has been prepared on a preliminary basis and is subject to change as additional information becomes available concerning the fair value and tax basis of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Any adjustments to the purchase price allocation will be made as soon as practicable but no later than one year from the February 16, 2018 acquisition date.
The fair values of intangible assets, including marketing rights, licenses and developed technology, were determined using variations of the income approach. Varying discount rates were also applied to the projected net cash flows. The Company believes the assumptions are representative of those a market participant would use in estimating fair value. The preliminary fair value of

19


Table of Contents


intangible assets both as disclosed in the first quarter 2018 Form 10-Q and as adjusted by measurement period adjustments identified during the second quarter includes the following:
      
      
  
At February 16,
2018 (preliminary)
Measurement Period Adjustments
At February 16,
2018 (as adjusted)
Useful Life
      
Acquired Product Marketing Rights - Karbinal $6,221,000
$(21,000)$6,200,000
16 years
Acquired Product Marketing Rights - AcipHex 2,520,000
283,000
2,803,000
10 years
Acquired Product Marketing Rights - Cefaclor 6,291,000
1,320,000
7,611,000
7 years
Acquired Developed Technology - Flexichamber 1,131,000
546,000
1,677,000
10 years
Acquired IPR&D - LiquiTime formulations 290,000
(290,000)
Indefinite
     Total $16,453,000
$1,838,000
$18,291,000
 

TRx Acquisition    
On November 17, 2017, the Company entered into, and consummated the transactions contemplated by, an Equity Interest Purchase Agreement (the “TRx Purchase Agreement”) by and among the Company, TRx, Fremantle Corporation and LRS International LLC, the selling members of TRx (collectively, the “TRx Sellers”), which provided for the purchase of all of the equity and ownership interests of TRx by the Company (the "TRx Acquisition"). The consideration for the TRx acquisition consists of $18.9 million in cash, as adjusted for Estimated Working Capital, Estimated Cash on Hand, Estimated Indebtedness and Estimated Transaction Expenses, as well as 7,534,884 shares of the Company’s common stock having an aggregate value on the closing date of $8.5 million (the "Equity Consideration") and certain potential contingent payments. Upon closing, the Company issued 5,184,920 shares of its common stock to the TRx Sellers.  Pursuant to the TRx Purchase Agreement, the issuance of the remaining 2,349,968 shares were subject to the Company's stockholder approval. In May 2018, stockholder approval was obtained and the remaining shares were issued to the TRx Sellers. The contingent shares were initially recorded to contingently issuable shares, which is recorded within stockholder's equity and were reclassed to common stock and additional paid in capital upon issuance, on the condensed consolidating balance sheet date. As a result of the TRx Acquisition, the Company has currently recorded goodwill of $12.6 million, of which $8.7 million was deductible for income taxes.
During the third quarter of 2018, the Company identified and recorded measurement period adjustments to our preliminary purchase price allocation that was disclosed in prior periods. These adjustments are reflected in the tables below. If the measurement period adjustments were reflected in prior periods it would have decreased general and administrative expenses by $1.0 million, decreased other expense for the change in fair value of contingent consideration by $0.3 million, increased the impairment of intangible assets by $0.2 million, increased intangible amortization expense by $0.1 million and decreased income tax expense by $0.1 million. The measurement period adjustments were the result of an arbitration ruling discussed in further detail in Note 7, the facts and circumstances of which existed as of the acquisition date.

The following table summarizes the preliminary acquisition-date fair value of the consideration transferred at the date of acquisition both as disclosed in prior periods and as adjusted for measurement period adjustments identified during the current quarter:
     
     
     
At November 17,
2017 (preliminary)
Measurement Period AdjustmentsAt November 17, 2017 (as adjusted)
     
Cash $18,900,000
$
$18,900,000
Common stock (including contingently issuable shares) 8,514,419

8,514,419
Contingent payments 2,576,633
(1,210,000)1,366,633
Total consideration transferred $29,991,052
(1,210,000)28,781,052


20


Table of Contents


The TRx Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. Accordingly, the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired, and liabilities assumed, were recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition, with the remaining purchase price recorded as goodwill. The goodwill recognized is attributable primarily to strategic opportunities related to leveraging TRx’s research and development, intellectual property, and processes.
The following table summarizes the preliminary fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition both as disclosed in prior periods and as adjusted for measurement period adjustments identified during the current quarter:
     
     
     
At November 17,
2017 (preliminary)
Measurement Period AdjustmentsAt November 17, 2017 (as adjusted)
     
Fair value of assets acquired:    
Cash and cash equivalents $11,068
$
$11,068
Accounts receivable, net 2,872,545

2,872,545
Inventory 495,777

495,777
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 134,281

134,281
Other receivables 
2,764,515
2,764,515
Identifiable Intangible Assets:   
Acquired product marketing rights - Metafolin 10,465,000
1,522,000
11,987,000
PAI sales and marketing agreement 2,334,000
219,000
2,553,000
Acquired product marketing rights - Millipred 4,714,000
342,000
5,056,000
Acquired product marketing rights - Ulesfia 555,000
(555,000)
Total assets acquired 21,581,671
4,292,515
25,874,186
     
Fair value of liabilities assumed:    
Accounts payable 192,706

192,706
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 4,850,422
3,764,515
8,614,937
Deferred tax liability 839,773
78,840
918,613
Total liabilities assumed 5,882,901
3,843,355
9,726,256
Total identifiable net assets 15,698,770
449,160
16,147,930
Fair value of consideration transferred 29,991,052
(1,210,000)28,781,052
Goodwill $14,292,282
$(1,659,160)$12,633,122

Based on valuation estimates utilizing the estimated selling price of inventory less sales and marketing costs and an allowance for profit, a step-up in the value of inventory of $0.2 million was recorded in the opening balance sheet, of which approximately $0.2 million was charged to cost of product sales during the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
The purchase price allocation has been prepared on a preliminary basis and is subject to change as additional information becomes available concerning the fair value and tax basis of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Any adjustments to the purchase price allocation will be made as soon as practicable but no later than one year from the November 17, 2017 acquisition date.
The fair values of intangible assets, including marketing rights, licenses and developed technology, were determined using variations of the income approach, specifically the multi-period excess earnings method. Varying discount rates were also applied to the projected net cash flows. The Company believes the assumptions are representative of those a market participant would use in estimating fair value. The preliminary fair value of intangible assets both as disclosed in prior periods and as adjusted by measurement period adjustments identified during the current quarter includes the following:

21


Table of Contents


      
      
  At November 17,
2017 (preliminary)
Measurement Period AdjustmentsAt November 17, 2017 (as adjusted)Useful Life
      
Acquired product marketing rights - Metafolin $10,465,000
$1,522,000
$11,987,000
15 years
PAI sales and marketing agreement 2,334,000
219,000
2,553,000
2 years
Acquired product marketing rights - Millipred 4,714,000
342,000
5,056,000
4 years
Acquired product marketing rights - Ulesfia 555,000
(555,000)

     Total $18,068,000
$1,528,000
$19,596,000
 
The Company received written notice to terminate the PAI Sales and Marketing Agreement in the second quarter of 2018. As a result, the Company reassessed the fair value of the PAI sales and marketing agreement on that date (a level III non-recurring fair value measurement) and concluded due to the absence of future cash flows beyond the date of termination that the fair value was $0. An impairment charge was recognized in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 in the amount of $1.9 million, representing the remaining net book value of the PAI sales and marketing agreement intangible asset.

Pro Forma Impact of Business Combinations
The following supplemental unaudited pro forma information presents Cerecor’s financial results as if the acquisitions of Avadel Pediatric Products, which was completed on February 16, 2018, and of TRx, which was completed on November 17, 2017, had each occurred on January 1, 2017:

      
 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 20182017 20182017
 Pro formaPro forma Pro formaPro forma
 

 

Total revenues, net$4,074,786
$30,965,291
 $15,047,699
$41,276,271
Net loss$(24,603,575)$16,881,075
 $(35,539,494)$8,505,715
     Diluted net loss per share$(0.71)$0.63
 $(1.09)$0.42
 

 


The above unaudited pro forma information was determined based on the historical GAAP results of Cerecor, Avadel's pediatric products and TRx. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated results are provided for informational purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of what Cerecor’s condensed consolidated results of operations would have been had the acquisition been completed on the dates indicated or what the condensed consolidated results of operations will be in the future.
5. Fair Value Measurements
 
ASC No. 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value standard also establishes a three‑level hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability on the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:
Level 1—inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for an identical asset or liability in an active market.
Level 2—inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for a similar asset or liability in an active market or model‑derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

22


Table of Contents


Level 3—inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement of the asset or liability.

AtAs of September 30, 20172018 and December 31, 2016,2017, the Company’s financial instruments included cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, short term and long term debt, (prior to its payoff in August 2017), the term loan warrant liability, contingent consideration and the underwriters’ unit purchase option liability. The carrying amounts reported in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate their respective fair values because of the short‑termshort-term nature of these accounts. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt of $15.4 million as of September 30, 2018 was based on current interest rates for similar types of borrowings and is in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The following table presents, for each of the fair value hierarchy levels required under ASC 820, the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
  September 30, 2017
  Fair Value Measurements Using
  
Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
Assets               
Investments in money market funds* $23,715,016
 $
 $
Liabilities      
Warrant liability $
 $
 $531
Unit purchase option liability $
 $
 $6,607

12


Table of Contents

  September 30, 2018
  Fair Value Measurements Using
  Quoted prices in Significant other Significant
  active markets for observable unobservable
  identical assets inputs inputs
  (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3)
Assets               
Investments in money market funds* $2,817,588
 $
 $
Liabilities      
Contingent consideration $
 $
 $9,510,475
Warrant liability** $
 $
 $14,330
Unit purchase option liability** $
 $
 $43,174
 December 31, 2017
 Fair Value Measurements Using
 Quoted prices in Significant other Significant
 December 31, 2016 active markets for observable unobservable
 Fair Value Measurements Using identical assets inputs inputs
 
Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
 (Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3)
Assets                              
Investments in money market funds* $4,758,539
 $
 $
 $471,183
 $
 $
Liabilities            
Warrant liability $
 $
 $5,501
Unit purchase option liability $
 $
 $51
      
Contingent consideration $
 $
 $2,576,633
Warrant liability** $
 $
 $8,185
Unit purchase option liability** $
 $
 $26,991
*Investments in money market funds are reflected in cash and cash equivalents on the accompanying Balance Sheets.condensed consolidated balance sheets.
**Warrant liability and unit purchase option liability are reflected in accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Level 3 Valuation

The Company’s acquisitions of TRx and Avadel's pediatric products (see Note 4) involve the potential for future payment of consideration that is contingent upon the achievement of operational and commercial milestones. The fair value of contingent consideration is determined using unobservable inputs. These inputs include the estimated amount and timing of projected cash flows, the probability of success (achievement of the contingent event) and the risk-adjusted discount rate used to present value the probability-weighted cash flows. Subsequent to the acquisition date, at each reporting period, the contingent consideration liability is remeasured at current fair value with changes recorded in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. Changes in any of the inputs may result in a significantly different fair value adjustment.


23


Table of Contents


The warrant liability (which relates to warrants to purchase shares of common stock as part of the term loan agreement)stock) is marked‑to‑marketmarked-to-market each reporting period with the change in fair value recorded to other income (expense) in the accompanying statements of operations until the warrants are exercised, expire or other facts and circumstances lead the warrant liability to be reclassified to stockholders’ equity. The fair value of the warrant liability is estimated using a Black‑ScholesBlack-Scholes option-pricing model. The significant assumptions used in preparing the option pricing model for valuing the warrant liability as of September 30, 2017,2018, include (i) volatility of 65%52.5%, (ii) risk free interest rate of 1.63%2.82%, (iii) strike price ($8.40), (iv) fair value of common stock ($0.85)4.67), and (v) expected life of 3.12.05 years.
 
The underwriters’ unit purchase option (the “UPO”) was issued to the underwriters of the Company’sCompany's initial public offering (“IPO”("IPO") in 2015 and provides the underwriters the option to purchase up to a total of 40,000 units. The units underlying the UPO will be, immediately upon exercise, separated into shares of common stock, underwriters’ Class A warrants and underwriters’ Class B warrants (such warrants together referred to as the Underwriters’ Warrants). The Underwriters’ Warrants are warrants to purchase shares of common stock.stock (see Note 9 for additional information on the UPO). The Company classifies the UPO as a liability as it is a freestanding marked-to-market derivative instrument that is precluded from being classified in stockholders’ equity. The UPO liability is marked‑to‑marketmarked-to-market each reporting period with the change in fair value recorded to other income (expense) in the accompanying statements of operations until the UPO is exercised, expireexpires or other facts and circumstances lead the UPO to be reclassified to stockholders’ equity. The fair value of the UPO liability is estimated using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model within a Monte Carlo simulation model framework. The significant assumptions used in preparing the simulation model for valuing the UPO as of September 30, 2017,2018, include (i) volatility range of 65%35% to 75%50%, (ii) risk free interest rate range of 0.74%2.12% to 1.63%2.78%, (iii) unit strike price ($7.48), (iv) underwriters’ Class A warrant strike price ($5.23), (v) underwriters’ Class B warrant strike price ($4.49), and (vi) fair value of underlying equity ($0.85), and (vii) optimal exercise point of immediately prior to the expiration of the underwriters’ Class B warrants, which occurred on April 20, 2017.4.67).
 
The tabletables presented below isare a summary of changes in the fair value of the Company’s Level 3 valuations for the warrant liability, UPO liability and unit purchase option liabilitycontingent consideration for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
 
  
Warrant
Liability
 
Unit purchase
option liability
 Total
Balance at December 31, 2016 $5,501
 $51
 $5,552
Change in fair value (4,970) 6,556
 1,586
Balance at September 30, 2017 $531
 $6,607
 $7,138
  Warrant liability Unit purchase option liability Contingent Consideration Total
Balance at December 31, 2017 $8,185
 $26,991
 $2,576,633
 $2,611,809
Issuance of contingent consideration 
 
 7,920,000
 7,920,000
Payment of contingent consideration 
 
 (137,008) (137,008)
Purchase price allocation measurement period adjustment of contingent consideration 
 
 (1,210,000) (1,210,000)
Change in fair value 6,145
 16,183
 360,850
 383,178
Balance at September 30, 2018 $14,330
 $43,174
 $9,510,475
 $9,567,979
 
  Warrant Unit purchase  
  liability option liability Total
Balance at December 31, 2016 $5,501
 $51
 $5,552
Change in fair value (4,970) 6,556
 1,586
Balance at September 30, 2017 $531
 $6,607
 $7,138
The fair value of contingent consideration increased $0.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The increase in fair value of contingent consideration is primarily attributable to an increase in the fair value of the contingent consideration related to the Avadel Pediatric Products Acquisition, which was driven by an increase in the net sales forecast.

No other changes in valuation techniques or inputs occurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 20172018 and no2017. No transfers of assets between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value measurement hierarchy occurred during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.

5.6. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following:
 

1324


Table of Contents


 September 30,
2017
 December 31,
2016
 As of
 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
Sales returns and allowances $6,055,315
 $3,829,030
Compensation and benefits $524,409
 $272,601
 1,803,554
 1,401,514
General and administrative 1,072,619
 1,001,454
Minimum sales commitments, royalties payable, and purchase obligations 8,033,438
 743,010
Research and development expenses 452,139
 315,937
 620,004
 299,480
General and administrative 306,997
 160,116
Accrued interest 
 193,781
Warrant and UPO liability 7,138
 5,552
Other 587,700
 256,634
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities $1,290,683
 $947,987
 $18,172,630
 $7,531,122

6. License7. Agreements

Lilly CERC-611 LicenseSignificant changes to our outstanding Agreements since December 31, 2017 are as follows:

On September 22, 2016,Lachlan Pharmaceuticals

In November 2017, the Company acquired TRx and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Zylera. The previous owners of TRx beneficially own more than 10% of our outstanding common stock. Zylera, which is now our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into the First Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement (the “Lachlan Agreement”) with Lachlan Pharmaceuticals, an Irish company controlled by the previous owners of TRx (“Lachlan”), effective December 18, 2015. Pursuant to the Lachlan Agreement, Lachlan named Zylera as its exclusive license agreementdistributor of Ulesfia in the United States and agreed to supply Ulesfia to Zylera exclusively for marketing and sale in the United States.
Pursuant to the Lachlan Agreement, Zylera is obligated to purchase a minimum of 20,000 units per year, or approximately $1.2 million worth of product, from Lachlan, subject to certain termination rights. Zylera must pay Lachlan $58.84 per unit and handling fees that are equal to $3.66 per unit of fully packaged Ulesfia in 2018, and escalate at a rate of 10% annually, as well as reimburse Lachlan for all product liability insurance fees incurred by Lachlan. The Lachlan Agreement also requires that Zylera make certain cumulative net sales milestone payments and royalty payments to Lachlan with Eli Lillya $3 million annual minimum payment unless and Company (“Lilly”) pursuant to which the Company received exclusive, global rights to develop and commercialize CERC-611, previously referred to as LY3130481,until there has been a potent and selective Transmembrane AMPA Receptor Regulatory Proteins (“TARP”) γ-8-dependent α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (“AMPA”) receptor antagonist. The terms of the license agreement provide for an upfront payment of $2.0 million, of which $750,000 was due within 30 days of the effective date of the license agreement, and the remaining balance of $1.25 million is due after the first subject is dosed with CERC-611 in“Market Change” involving a multiple ascending dose study and is recorded as license obligations on the balance sheet at September 30, 2017. Additional payments may be due upon achievement of development and commercialization milestones, including the first commercial sale. Upon commercialization, the Companynew successful competitive product. Lachlan is obligated to pay Lilly milestoneidentical amounts to an unrelated third party from which it obtained rights to Ulesfia, with the payments ultimately going to Summers Laboratories, Inc. (“Summers Labs”). Because of the dispute described below, the Company has not made any payments to Lachlan under the Lachlan Agreement subsequent to the acquisition date.
On December 10, 2016, Zylera informed Lachlan that a Market Change had occurred due to the introduction of Arbor Pharmaceuticals' lice product, Sklice®.  On June 5, 2017, Lachlan and Zylera entered into joint legal representation along with other unrelated third parties in negotiation and arbitration of a dispute with Summers Labs regarding the existence of a Market Change and the concomitant obligations of the parties. The arbitration panel issued an interim ruling on October 23, 2018 that no market change had occurred up to and including the date of the hearing. The issuance of the final award is scheduled for December 4, 2018. The final award has no direct bearing on the Company as the Company was not a named defendant to the original claim by Summers Labs and a royalty on net sales.
Merck CERC-301 License
In 2013,federal court denied Zylera's ability to be a counterclaimant in the matter. However, the Company entered into an exclusive licensehas interpreted this ruling's impact on the Lachlan agreement with Merck & Co., Inc. (“Merck”) pursuant to which Merck grantedmean that a market change has not occurred, and the Company rights relating to certain small molecule compounds. In considerationminimum purchase obligation and minimum royalty provisions of the license, thecontract are active and due for any prior periods as well as going forward for any future periods. The Company may be required to make initial payments totaling $1.5has recognized a $6.9 million upon the achievementliability for these minimum obligations in accrued liabilities as of certain milestones. Pursuant to the license agreement the Company paid an initial payment of $750,000, and upon achievement of acceptance by the United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, of Merck pre-clinical data and FDA approval of a Phase 3 clinical trial the Company will pay an additional $750,000. Additional payments may be due upon achievement of development and regulatory milestones, including the first commercial sale. Upon commercialization, the Company is obligated to pay Merck milestone payments and royalties on net sales.
Lilly CERC-501 License
On August 14. 2017, the Company sold all of its rights to CERC-501 to Janssen in exchange for initial gross proceeds of $25.0 million, of which $3.75 million was deposited into a twelve month escrow to secure certain indemnification obligations to Janssen (see Note 11). In addition to the initial proceeds,September 30, 2018. Under the terms of the agreement provide for a potential future $20 million regulatory milestone payment. Further,TRx Purchase Agreement, the terms of the agreement provide that Janssen will assume ongoing clinical trials and be responsible for any new development and commercialization of CERC-501.
Merck CERC-406 License
In 2013,former TRx owners are required to indemnify the Company entered into a separate exclusive license agreement with Merck pursuantfor 100% of all pre-acquisition losses related this arbitration, including legal costs, and possible minimum payments in excess of $1 million. Furthermore, the former TRx owners are required to which Merck grantedindemnify the Company certain rightsfor 50% of post-acquisition Ulesfia losses, which would include losses resulting from having to fund these minimum obligations. The Company has recorded an indemnity receivable of $6.1 million in small molecule compoundsother receivables as of September 30, 2018, which are known to inhibit the activity of COMT. In consideration of the license, the Company made a $200,000 upfront paymentbelieves is fully collectible. The post-acquisition minimum obligations net of amounts recorded within the indemnity receivable of $1.7 million has been recorded in cost of product sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. If the Company fails to Merck. Additional paymentsmake these minimum obligations timely then the Lachlan Agreement may be due upon the achievement of development and regulatory milestones. Upon commercialization of a COMT product,terminated by Lachlan, in which case the Company is requiredwould no longer be able to pay Merck royalties on net sales.sell the Ulesfia product, but it would also not be subject to future minimum obligations.

Commercial, Supply, and Distribution Agreements
7. Term Loan
In August 2014, the Company entered into a $7.5 million secured term loan from a finance company. The loan was secured by a lien on all of the Company’s assets, excluding intellectual property, which was subject to a negative pledge. The loan contained certain additional nonfinancial covenants. In connection with the loan agreement, the Company’s cash and investment accounts were subject to account control agreements with the finance company that gave the finance company the right to assume control of the accounts in the event of a loan default. Loan defaults were defined in the loan agreement andAcquired Product Marketing Rights - Karbinal

1425


Table of Contents


included, among others,
On February 16, 2018, in connection with the finance company’s determination that there wasacquisition of Avadel's pediatric products, the Company entered into a material adverse changesupply and distribution agreement with TRIS Pharma (the "Karbinal Agreement"), under which the Company is granted the exclusive right to distribute and sell the product in the Company’s operations. Interest on the loan was at a rateUnited States. The initial term of the greaterKarbinal Agreement is 20 years. The Company will pay TRIS a royalty equal to 23.5% of 7.95%net sales. Avadel has agreed to offset the 23.5% royalty payable by 8.5%, or 7.95% plusfor a net royalty equal to 15%, in fiscal year 2018 and 2019 for net sales of Karbinal. The make-whole payment is capped at $750,000 each year. The Karbinal Agreement also contains minimum unit sales commitments. The Karbinal Agreement also has multiple commercial milestone obligations that aggregate up to $3.0 million based on cumulative net sales, the prime rate as reportedfirst of which is triggered at $40.0 million.

Acquired Product Marketing Rights - AcipHex

On February 16, 2018, in The Wall Street Journal minus 3.25%. On August 1, 2017,connection with the term loan maturedacquisition of Avadel's pediatric products, the Company assumed the License and Assignment Agreement for AcipHex (“AcipHex Agreement”) between Eisai, Inc. and FSC Therapeutics, LLC dated June 2014 and the Supply Agreement between Eisai, Inc. and FSC Laboratories, Inc. dated June 2014. Per the AcipHex Agreement, the Company made a final payment of $494,231 which included a termination fee of $187,500. Debt consistedis granted the exclusive license to exploit the products in the territory (U.S.) and an exclusive license to use Eisai trademarks to sell the products. Eisai will manufacture and supply the requirements for supply of the following asproducts. The term of September 30, 2017the AcipHex Agreement is perpetual unless terminated per the agreement. Eisai will receive (a) a royalty with respect to the sales of AcipHex equal to 15.0% of Net Sales. The royalties are payable until the first commercial sale of an unauthorized generic product in the territory or the date that is five years from the effective date of the agreement. A maximum $8.0 million of sales-based milestone payments is possible should AcipHex accumulated net sales exceed $50.0 million.

Acquired Product Marketing Rights- Cefaclor

On February 16, 2018, in connection with the acquisition of Avadel's pediatric products, the Company assumed the License, Supply and Distribution Agreement for Cefaclor between Yung Shin Pharm. Ind, Co., Ltd. and FSC Therapeutics, LLC dated March 2015 (“Cefaclor Agreement”). The initial term of the Cefaclor Agreement runs through December 31, 2016:2024 and will automatically renew for additional, successive twelve-month periods unless terminated by either party. Yung Shin will receive a royalty equal to 15.0% of Net Sales of Cefaclor. A maximum $6.5 million of sales-based milestone payments is possible should Cefaclor accumulated net sales exceed $40.0 million.

8. Deerfield Obligation
 
  September 30, 2017 December 31,
2016
Term loan $
 $2,374,031
Less: debt discount 
 (20,364)
Term Loan, net of debt discount $
 $2,353,667
In relation to the Company's acquisition of Avadel's pediatric products on February 16, 2018, the Company assumed an obligation that Avadel had to Deerfield CSF, (the "Deerfield Obligation"). Beginning in July 2018 through October 2020, the Company will pay a quarterly payment of $262,500 to Deerfield. In January 2021, a balloon payment of $15,250,000 is due. On the acquisition date, the Company determined the fair value of these payments to be $15,075,000 using a market participant's estimated cost of debt. Management performed a credit risk analysis that determined the Company's credit rating to be B to BB plus the yield on a ten-year treasury security. The difference between the gross value and fair value of these payments will be recorded as interest expense in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations through January 2021 using the effective interest method. Interest expense which includes amortization of a discount and the accrual of a termination fee, was approximately $1,000 and $110,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $95,000 and $404,0002018 was $0.2 million. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively,2018 was $0.6 million. The amounts due within the next year are included in current portion of long-term debt on the accompanying statementsCompany's condensed consolidated balance sheets. The amounts due in greater than one year are included in long-term debt, net of operations.
current portion, on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Deerfield Obligation was $15.4 million as of September 30, 2018, of which $1.1 million is recorded as a current liability.
    
8.9. Capital Structure

On October 20, 2015,According to the Company filed anCompany's amended and restated certificate of incorporation, in connection with the closing of its IPO. The amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the Company is authorized to issue two classes of stock, common stock and preferred stock, and eliminates all references to the previously existing seriesstock. As of preferred stock. At September 30, 2017,2018, the total number of shares of capital stock the Company was authorized to issue was 205,000,000 of which 200,000,000 was common stock and 5,000,000 was preferred stock. All shares of common and preferred stock have a par value of $0.001 per share. On April 27, 2017, the Company further amended its amended and restated certificate of incorporation in connection with the closing of the Armistice Private Placement (as defined below) with the filing of a Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”) of Cerecor Inc. (the “Certificate of Designation”). The Certificate of Designation authorized the issuance of 4,179 shares of Series A Preferred Stock to Armistice with a stated value of $1,000 per share, convertible into 11,940,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $0.35 per share.share and was approved by its shareholders on June 30, 2017. On July 6, 2017, Armistice converted all of its outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock into common stock. Subsequent to the conversion of Armistice’s Series A Preferred Stock into common stock, Armistice has a majority voting control over the Company.

Common Stock
Initial Public Offering
On October 20, 2015, the Company closed an IPO of its units. Each unit consisted of one share of common stock, one Class A warrant to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $4.55 per share and one Class B warrant to purchase one-half share of common stock at an exercise price of $3.90 per full share (the “units”). The Class A warrants expire on October 20, 2018 and the Class B warrants expired on April 20, 2017 (the "Class B Expiration Date.") The closing of the IPO resulted in the sale of 4,000,000 units at an initial public offering price of $6.50 per unit for gross proceeds of $26.0 million. The net proceeds of the IPO, after underwriting discounts, commissions and expenses, and before offering expenses, to the Company were approximately $23.6 million. On November 13, 2015, the units separated into common stock, Class A warrants and Class B warrants and began trading separately on the NASDAQ Capital Market. On the Class B Expiration Date, the Class B warrants ceased trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market. No Class B warrants were exercised prior to the Class B Expiration Date.
On November 23, 2015, the underwriter of the IPO exercised its over-allotment option for 20,000 shares of common stock, 551,900 Class A warrants to purchase one share of common stock and 551,900 Class B warrants to purchase one-half share of common stock for additional gross proceeds of $135,319.
The common stock and accompanying Class A warrants and Class B warrants have been classified to stockholders’ equity in the Company’s balance sheet.
Underwriter’s Unit Purchase Option

1526


Table of Contents


The underwriter of the IPO received, for $100 in the aggregate, the right to purchase up to a total of 40,000 units (or 1% of the units sold in the IPO) exercisable at $7.48 per unit (or 115% of the public offering price per unit in the IPO). The units underlying the UPO will be, immediately upon exercise, separated into shares of common stock and the Underwriters’ Warrants such that, upon exercise, the holder of a UPO will not receive actual units but will instead receive the shares of common stock and Underwriters’ Warrants, to the extent that any portion of the Underwriters’ Warrants underlying such units have not otherwise expired. The exercise prices of the underwriters’ Class A warrants and underwriter’s Class B warrants underlying the UPO are $5.23 and $4.49, respectively. The UPO may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, at the holder’s option, and expires on October 14, 2020; however, following the expiration of underwriters’ Class B warrants on April 20, 2017, the UPO is exercisable only for shares of common stock and underwriters’ Class A warrants at an exercise price of $7.475 per unit; provided further, that, following the expiration of underwriters’ Class A warrants on October 20, 2018, the UPO will be exercisable only for shares of common stock at an exercise price of $7.47. The Company classified the UPO as a liability as it is a freestanding marked-to-market derivative instrument that is precluded from being classified in stockholders’ equity. The fair value of the UPO is re-measured each reporting period and the change in fair value is recognized in the statement of operations (see Note 4).
Common Stock
 
The Aspire Capital TransactionIchorion Asset Acquisition

On September 8, 2016,25, 2018, under the terms of the Ichorion Asset Acquisition noted above in Note 4, the Company issued 5.8 million common stock shares upon closing.

Armistice Private Placements

On August 17, 2018, the Company entered into a common stocksecurities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Aspire Capital,Armistice, pursuant to which Aspire Capital committed to purchase up to an aggregate of $15.0 million ofthe Company sold 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, over$0.001 par value per share for a purchase price of $3.91 per share, which was the 30-month termclosing price of shares of the Purchase Agreement. Upon execution of the Purchase Agreement, the Company issued and sold to Aspire Capital 250,000 shares of common stock at a price per share of $4.00, for grossCommon Stock on August 16, 2018. Net proceeds of $1.0 million. Additionally, as consideration for Aspire Capital entering into the Purchase Agreement, the Company issued 175,000 shares of common stock as a commitment fee. The net proceeds of the Aspire Capital transaction, after offering expenses, to the Companythis securities purchase agreement were approximately $1,900,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had sold 763,998 shares of common stock to Aspire Capital under the Purchase Agreement. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company sold an additional 965,165 shares of common stock to Aspire Capital under the terms of the Purchase Agreement for gross proceeds of approximately $789,000. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company does not have any remaining shares available to issue under the purchase agreement. The Company may not issue any additional shares of common stock to Aspire Capital under the Purchase Agreement unless shareholder approval is obtained.$3.9 million.


The Maxim Group Equity Distribution Agreement

On January 27, 2017, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with Maxim Group LLC ("Maxim"), as sales agent, pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, through Maxim, up to $12,075,338 in shares of its common stock. The Company has no obligation to sell any of the shares, and may at any time suspend offers under the Equity Distribution Agreement.

As of the September 30, 2017, the Company had sold 1,336,433 shares of its common stock through Maxim under the Equity Distribution Agreement for gross proceeds of$938,000 and the Company has the potential to sell up to approximately $2.9 million in additional shares of its common stock under the registration statement on Form S-3.

Armistice Private Placement

On April 27, 2017, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Armistice, pursuant to which Armistice purchased $5.0 million of the Company’s securities, consisting of 2,345,714 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $0.35 per share and 4,179 shares of Series A Preferred Stock at a price of $1,000 per share. The Company received $4.65 million in net proceeds from the Armistice Private Placement. The number of shares of common stock that were purchased in the private placement constituted approximately 19.99% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of the Armistice Private Placement. Armistice also received warrantsto purchase up to 14,285,714 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.40 per share. Under the terms of the securities purchase agreement, the Series A Preferred Stock were not convertible into common stock, and the warrants were not exercisable until the Company received approval of the private placement by the Company’s shareholders as required by the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Capital Market. The Company received shareholder approval for this transaction on June 30, 2017, at which time the warrants became exercisable and the Series A Preferred Stock became convertible into common stock.


16


Table of Contents

As multiple instruments were issued in a single transaction, the Company initially allocated the issuance proceeds among the preferred stock, common stock and warrants using the relative allocation method. As the warrants were determined to be indexed to the Company’s stock, and would only be settled in common shares, entirely in the control of the Company, the warrant instrument was accounted for as an equity instrument. Fair value of the warrants was initially determined upon issuance using the Black-Scholes Model (level 3 fair value measurement). Armistice converted all of the Series A Preferred Stock into 11,940,000 shares of common stock on July 6, 2017.
Contingently Issuable Shares

Under the terms of TRx acquisition noted above in Note 4, the Company was required to issue common stock having an aggregate value as calculated in the TRx Purchase Agreement on the Closing Date of $8.1 million (the “Equity Consideration”).  Upon closing, the Company issued 5,184,920 shares of its common stock.  Pursuant to the TRx Purchase Agreement, the issuance of the remaining 2,349,968 shares as a part of the Equity Consideration was subject to stockholder approval and entirely contingent upon gaining such stockholder approval at the Company's 2018 Annual Stockholder's Meeting. This approval was obtained in May 2018 and the remaining shares were issued to the TRx Sellers.

Voting
Common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors, and does not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election.
Dividends
The holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of legally available funds.
Liquidation
In the event of the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of the Company’s common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all debts and other liabilities.

27


Table of Contents


Rights and Preferences
Holders of the Company’s common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Company’s common stock.

Common Stock Warrants
 
At September 30, 2017,2018, the following common stock purchase warrants were outstanding:
 
Number of shares Exercise price Expiration
underlying warrants per share date
80,966 $28.00
 August 2018
4,551,900 $4.55
 October 2018
40,000* $5.23
 October 2018
3,571 $28.00
 December 2018
22,328* $8.40
 October 2020
2,380 $8.68
 May 2022
14,285,714 $0.40
 June 2022
18,986,859    
Number of shares Exercise price Expiration
underlying warrants per share date
4,551,071 $4.55
 October 2018
40,000* $5.23
 October 2018
3,571 $28.00
 December 2018
22,328* $8.40
 October 2020
2,380* $8.68
 May 2022
14,285,714 $0.40
 June 2022
18,905,064    
*Accounted for as a liability instrument (see Note 4)5)


In October 2018, approximately 0.1 million of the 4.6 million warrants listed above with an exercise price of $4.55 were exercised, generating proceeds of approximately $0.6 million. The remaining 4.5 million warrants expired.

9.10. Stock-Based Compensation
2016 Equity Incentive Plan
On April 5, 2016, the Company’s board of directors adopted the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) as the successor to the 2015 Omnibus Plan (the “2015 Plan”). The 2016 Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders and became effective on May 18, 2016 (the “2016 Plan Effective Date”).

As of the 2016 Plan Effective Date, no additional grants will be made under the 2015 Plan or the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”), which was previously succeeded by the 2015 Plan effective October 13, 2015. Outstanding grants under the 2015 Plan and 2011 Plan will continue in effect according to their terms as in effect under the applicable plan.

Upon the 2016 Plan Effective Date, the 2016 Plan reserved and authorized up to 600,000 additional shares of common stock for issuance, as well as 464,476 unallocated shares remaining available for grant of new awards under the 2015 Plan. An Amended and Restated 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2016 Amended Plan) was approved by the Company's stockholders in May 2018 which increased the share reserve by an additional 1.4 million shares. During the term of the 2016 Amended Plan, the share reserve will automatically increase on the first trading day in January of each calendar year, beginning in 2017, by an amount equal to 4% of the total number of outstanding shares of common stock of the Company on the last trading day in December of the prior calendar year. On January 1, 2017, the shares reserved for issuance increased by 377,365. As of September 30, 2017,2018, there were 483,214730,067 shares available for future issuance under the 2016 Plan.

TheOption grants to employees and directors expire after ten years. Employee options typically vest over four years. Options granted to directors typically vest over three years. Directors may elect to receive stock options in lieu of board compensation which vest immediately. For stock options granted to employees and non-employee directors, the estimated grant date fair market value of the Company’s stock‑basedstock-based awards is amortized ratably over the employees’individuals’ service periods, which is the period in which the awards vest.

For stock options issued to non‑employees, the Company measures the options at their fair value on the date at which the related service is complete. Expense is recognized over the period during which services are rendered by such non-employees until completed. At the end of each financial reporting period prior to the completion of the service, the fair value of the awards is remeasured using the then current fair market value of the Company's common stock and updated assumptions in the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Stock-based compensation expense includes expense related to stock options, restricted stock units and ESPP shares. The amount of stock-based compensation expense recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 as follows: 

1728


Table of Contents


  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2018
2017 2018
2017
Research and development $32,202
 $41,323
 $64,077

$123,883
General and administrative 843,122
 222,924
 1,599,703

728,327
Sales and marketing 69,809
 
 132,607


Total stock-based compensation $945,133
 $264,247
 $1,796,387

$852,210
Stock-based compensation during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 includes $0.3 million of expense related to modifications of awards related to a separated executive.
Stock options with service-based vesting conditions

The Company has granted awards that contain service-based vesting conditions. The compensation cost for these options is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting periods. A summary of option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 20172018 is as follows:
  Options Outstanding
  
Number of
shares
 
Weighted‑average
exercise price
 
Fair value of
options
granted
 
Weighted average
remaining
contractual term
(in years)
Balance, December 31, 2016 1,849,359
 $5.57
       
Granted 578,611
 $0.74
 $301,743
  
     Forfeited (18,391) $5.63
    
Balance, September 30, 2017 2,409,579
 $4.41
   8.12
Exercisable at September 30, 2017 1,467,463
 $5.25
   7.65
  Options Outstanding
  Number of shares Weighted average exercise price Grant date fair value of options Weighted average remaining contractual term (in years)
Balance at December 31, 2017 2,823,489
 $3.93
 

 7.29
Granted 1,504,700
 $3.88
 $3,475,857
 
Exercised (243,115) $2.08
    
Forfeited (465,887) $2.73
 

 
Balance at September 30, 2018 3,619,187
 $4.18
 

 7.97
Exercisable at September 30, 2018 1,832,581
 $4.88
 

 6.72

The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the stock options and the fair value of the Company’s common stock for those stock options that had exercise prices lower than the fair value of the Company’s common stock. As of September 30, 2018, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding, was $4.4 million. The total grant date fair value of shares which vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $943,270. The per‑share weighted‑average grant date fair value of the options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was estimated at $2.31. There were 476,399 options that vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 with a weighted average exercise price of $3.27.

Stock options with market-based vesting conditions

The Company has granted awards that contain market-based vesting conditions. Activity for the market-based options was as follows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018:


29


Table of Contents


  Options Outstanding
  Number of shares Weighted average exercise price Weighted average remaining contractual term (in years) Aggregate intrinsic value (1)
Balance at December 31, 2017 
      
Granted 500,000
 $4.24
    
Exercised 
      
Forfeited 
      
Balance at September 30, 2018 500,000
 $4.24
 9.49 215,000
Exercisable at September 30, 2018 
      
(1) The aggregate intrinsic value in the above table represents the total pre-tax amount that a participant would receive if the option had been exercised on the last day of the respective fiscal period. Options with a market value less than its exercise value are not included in the intrinsic value amount.
 
The weighted-average grant-date fair value of stock options with market-based vesting conditions granted during the first nine months of fiscal year 2018 was $2.52 per share or $1,260,000. At September 30, 2018, there was $1,030,068 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested market-based vesting conditions awards. This compensation cost is expected to be recognized over the next 2.3 years.

Stock-based compensation assumptions

The following table shows the assumptions used to compute stock-based compensation expense for stock options granted to employees and members of the board of directors under the Black-Scholes valuation model, and the assumptions used to compute stock-based compensation expense market-based stock option grants under a Monte Carlo simulation, for nine months ended September 30, 2018:
Service-based options
Expected dividend yield—%
Expected volatility55 - 65%
Expected life (in years)5.0 - 6.25
Risk-free interest rate2.53 - 2.94%
Market-based options
Expected dividend yield—%
Expected volatility60%
Expected life (in years)10
Risk-free interest rate2.84%
Restricted Stock Award

The Company has granted restricted stock awards ("RSA") to certain employees. The Company measures the fair value of the restricted awards using the stock price on the date of the grant. The restricted shares vest annually over a four year period beginning on the first anniversary of the award. The stock compensation expense on this award for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $227,858. At September 30, 2018, there was $1,670,642 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to the RSA grants. This compensation cost is expected to be recognized over the next 3.5 years.
The following table summarizes the Company's RSA grants for nine months ended September 30, 2018:

30


Table of Contents


  Non-vested RSAs Outstanding
  Number of shares Weighted average grant date fair value
Non-vested RSAs at December 31, 2017 
 $
Granted 445,000
 $4.27
Vested 
 $
Forfeited 
 $
Non-vested RSAs at September 30, 2018 445,000
  

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

On April 5, 2016, the Company’s board of directors approved the 2016 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). The ESPP was approved by the Company’s stockholders and became effective on May 18, 2016 (the “ESPP Effective Date”).

Under the ESPP, eligible employees can purchase common stock through accumulated payroll deductions at such times as are established by the administrator. The ESPP is administered by the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors. Under the ESPP, eligible employees may purchase stock at 95%85% of the lower of the fair market value of a share of the Company’s common stock (i) on the first day of an offering period or (ii) on the purchase date. Eligible employees may contribute up to 15% of their earnings during the offering period. The Company’s board of directors may establish a maximum number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be purchased by any participant, or all participants in the aggregate, during each offering or offering period. Under the ESPP, a participant may not purchase more than 10,000 shares during any purchase period or accrue rights to purchase more than $25,000 of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock for each calendar year in which such right is outstanding.

Upon the ESPP Effective Date, the ESPPCompany reserved and authorized up to 500,000 shares of common stock for issuance.issuance under the ESPP. On January 1 of each calendar year, the aggregate number of shares that may be issued under the ESPP shall automatically increase by a number equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the total number of shares of the Company’s capital stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, and (ii) 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, or (iii) a number of shares of the Company’s common stock as determined by the Company’s board of directors or compensation committee. Employees purchased 20,000The number of shares during 2016increased by 94,341 and 33,406 shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.312,669 on January 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018, respectively. As of September 30, 2017, 540,9352018, 806,390 shares remained available for issuance.

In accordance with the guidance in ASC 718-50,Employee Share Purchase Plans (“ASC 718-50”), the ability to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at the lower of the offering date price or the purchase date price represents an option and, therefore, the ESPP is a compensatory plan under this guidance. Accordingly, stock-based compensation expense is determined based on the option’s grant-date fair value and is recognized over the requisite service period of the option. The Company used the Black-Scholes valuation model and recognized stock-based compensation expense of $20,886$31,788 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, which is included in the table above with all other stock-based compensation.

11. Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes was $52,412 and $69,492$92,076 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.2018, respectively, and is comprised of several components including current year state income tax related to one of the Company's wholly owned subsidiaries and current year amortization of tax deductible goodwill that gives rise to indefinite lived deferred tax liability impacting the amount of valuation allowance required. Additionally, discrete to the quarter, the Company recorded interest and penalties on the outstanding taxes payable to the IRS and a benefit for release of valuation allowance as a result of the adjustments made to the accounting for the TRx Acquisition described earlier.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 ("TCJA") was passed late in the fourth quarter of 2017, ongoing guidance and accounting interpretation are expected over the next year, and significant data and analysis is required to finalize amounts recorded pursuant to the TCJA. In accordance with Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications for the Tax Act (“SAB 118"), the Company considers the accounting for the deferred tax re-measurements and other items to be incomplete due to the forthcoming guidance and its ongoing analysis of final year-end data and tax positions. SAB 118 allows the Company to record provisional amounts during a measurement period not to extend beyond one year from the enactment date. Since the Tax Act was passed late in the fourth quarter of 2017, ongoing guidance and accounting interpretation are expected over the next year, and significant data and analysis is required to finalize amounts recorded pursuant to the Tax Act, the Company considers the accounting for the deferred tax re-measurements and other

Stock‑based compensation expense recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2017 2016 2017 2016
Research and development $41,323
 $43,861
 $123,883
 $95,013
General and administrative 222,924
 243,913
 728,327
 1,344,181
Total stock-based compensation $264,247
 $287,774
 $852,210
 $1,439,194

10. Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes was $3.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The effective tax rate for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017 was 17.76% as compared to 0% for the corresponding period in the

1831


Table of Contents


prior year. The increase in the rate is attributableitems to changes in projected incomeas well as limitations on the utilization of NOL carryforwards as described below for the year primarilybe incomplete due to the saleforthcoming guidance and its ongoing analysis of CERC-501. In addition, the Company was able to utilize net operating loss ("NOL") carryforwards of $2.7 million, which were previously subject to a valuation allowance, to offset a portion of projected income for the year considering Internal Revenue Code Section 382 limitations.
As of December 31, 2016 the Company had $52.2 million of federal and Maryland state NOL carryforwards that will begin to expire in 2031. As of December 31, 2016 the Company also had $1.8 million and $57,000 of federal and Maryland state research and development credits, respectively, that will begin to expire in 2018. The NOL and research and development credit carryforwards are subject to review and possible adjustment by the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities. NOLfinal year-end data and tax credit carryforwards are also subjectpositions. The Company expects to an annual limitationcomplete its analysis within the measurement period in accordance with SAB 118. The Company did not change any provisional estimates recognized in 2017 in the event of certain cumulative changescurrent quarter. Any adjustments to these amounts will be recorded to current tax expense in 2018 when the analysis is complete.

12. Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation
The Company is party in various contractual disputes, litigation, and potential claims arising in the ownership interestordinary course of significant shareholders overbusiness. The Company does not believe that the resolution of these matters will have a three‑year periodmaterial adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations except as otherwise disclosed in excess of 50%, as defined under Sections 382 and 383this document. See Note 7 for further discussion of the Internal Revenue CodeLachlan legal arbitration.

Purchase obligations
The Company has unconditional purchase obligations as a result of 1986, as amended, as well as similar state tax provisions. The amountrecent acquisitions that include agreements to purchase goods that are enforceable and legally binding and that specify all significant terms including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the annual limitation depends upon the value of the Company immediately before the change, changes to the Company’s capital during a specified period prior to the change, and the federal published interest rate. Considering ownership changestransaction. Purchase obligations exclude agreements that took place previously as well as during 2017 including the Armistice transaction, the Company is completing an analysis under Section 382 of the Code, and has initially determined the utilization of the NOLs and other tax attributes will be limited on a go forward basis. Approximately $2.7 million of NOL carryforwards will be available in 2017 and the Company will be able to utilize the NOL carryforwards to offset a portion of projected income for the year. Upon completion of the analysis by year end, to the extent there is a limitation, which could be significant, there would be a reduction in the deferred tax assets with an offsetting reduction in the valuation allowance, with no impact on current period income tax expense.
In assessing the realizability of the remaining net deferred tax assets, the Company considers all relevant positive and negative evidence to determine whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized.are cancelable at any time without penalty. The realization of the gross deferred tax assets is dependent on several factors, including the generation of sufficient taxable income prior to the expiration of the net operating loss carryforwards. Other than the amount of NOL that is available to offset net income generated through September 30, 2017 there was a full valuation allowance against the net deferred tax assetsunconditional purchase obligations outstanding as of September 30, 2018 include the following:

Lachlan Pharmaceuticals Minimum Purchase and Minimum Royalties Obligations

As discussed in Note 7, in November 2017, the Company acquired TRx and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Zylera. The previous owners of TRx beneficially own more than 10% of our outstanding common stock. Zylera, which is now our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into an agreement with Lachlan Pharmaceuticals, an Irish company controlled by the previous owners of TRx (“Lachlan”), effective December 31, 2016.18, 2015. Pursuant to the Lachlan Agreement, Lachlan named Zylera as its exclusive distributor of Ulesfia in the United States and agreed to supply Ulesfia to Zylera exclusively for marketing and sale in the United States.

The Lachlan Agreement requires Zylera to purchase a minimum of 20,000 units per year, or approximately $1.2 million worth of product, from Lachlan, unless and until there has been a “Market Change” involving a new successful competitive product. Zylera must pay Lachlan $58.84 per unit and handling fees that are equal to $3.66 per unit of fully packaged Ulesfia in 2018 and escalate at a rate of 10% annually. The Lachlan Agreement also requires that Zylera make certain cumulative net sales milestone payments and royalty payments to Lachlan with a $3.0 million annual minimum payment unless and until there has been a “Market Change” involving a new successful competitive product. The Company expects a successful competitive product will enter the market in early 2021 and therefore the future minimum purchase obligations and royalty payments are expected through 2020.

As of September 30, 2018, future minimum purchase obligations and future minimum royalty payments to Lachlan are as follows:

        
        
  Q4 2018*2019*2020*20212022Total*
        
Minimum Purchase Obligations $312,501
1,257,326
1,265,378
$2,835,205
Minimum Royalties 750,000
3,000,000
3,000,000
6,750,000
     Total $1,062,501
4,257,326
4,265,378
$9,585,205

*Per the TRx Purchase Agreement, the previous owners of TRx are required to indemnify the Company for 50% of post-acquisition Ulesfia losses, which include the future minimum purchase obligations and future minimum royalties disclosed above. Thus, the Company's future net payouts related to the Ulesfia product will be significantly reduced as a result of the indemnification.

Karbinal Royalty Make Whole Payments

32


Table of Contents



As discussed in Note 7, on February 16, 2018, in connection with the acquisition of Avadel's pediatric products, the Company entered into a supply and distribution agreement with TRIS Pharma (the "Karbinal Agreement"). As part of this agreement, the Company has an annual minimum sales commitment of 70,000 units through 2033. The Company is required to pay TRIS a royalty make whole payment of $30 for each unit under the 70,000 units annual minimum sales commitment through 2033. The Company has accrued $0.3 million related to the Karbinal royalty make whole payment for each of the three and nine months ending September 30, 2018. The future royalty make whole payments is unknown as the amount owed to TRIS is dependent on the number of units sold.
11. Commitments and Contingencies

Office Lease
 
The Company’sIn 2013, the Company entered into a lease for corporate office space which is leased under an operating lease, is locatedlocation in Baltimore, Maryland. The lease provided for three months of rent abatement and includes escalating rent payments. Rent expense is recognized on a straight‑line basis over the term of the lease. Rent expense forunder the office lease amounted to approximately $125,000$44,000 and $132,000, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20172018 and 2016. Pursuant2017. The lease expires on December 31, 2018.

During the third quarter of 2018, the Company entered into a lease for the Company's new corporate headquarters in Rockville, Maryland. The Company will be occupying the space for $161,671 in annual base rent, subject to annual 2.5% increases over the termsterm of suchthe lease. The lease provides for a rent abatement, pursuant to which the Company’s futureLandlord will forego annual fixed rent and additional rent for a period of 12 months following the Company's date of occupancy. The lease obligation ishas an initial term of 10 years from the date the Company makes its first annual fixed rent payment, or approximately March 1, 2020, subject to early termination. The Company has the option to extend the lease two times, each for a period of five years, and may terminate the lease as of the sixth anniversary of the rent commencement date, upon the payment of a termination fee in the amount of $308,889. The lease has been classified as an operating lease. An immaterial amount of rent expense was recognized for this property for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

As of September 30, 2018, minimum operating lease obligations for the new office space are as follows:
Year ending December 31,  
2017* $39,433
2018 158,716
  $198,149
   
*    Three months remaining in 2017
Obligations to Contract Research Organizations and External Service Providers
The Company has entered into agreements with contract research organizations and other external service providers for services, primarily in connection with the clinical trials and development of the Company’s product candidates. The Company was contractually obligated for up to approximately $1.2 million of future services under these agreements as of September 30, 2017. The Company’s actual contractual obligations will vary depending upon several factors, including the progress and results of the underlying services.
   
   
  Minimum Lease Payments
   
2019 $
2020 138,094
2021 169,165
2022 173,394
2023 177,729
Thereafter 1,198,161
Total $1,856,543



1933


Table of Contents


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the information incorporated herein by reference contain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “plans,” “intends,” “estimates,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “continue,” “seeks,” “aims,” “projects,” “predicts,” “pro forma,” “anticipates,” “potential” or other similar words (including their use in the negative), or by discussions of future matters such as the receipt of the escrowed initial gross proceeds amount or the potential future regulatory milestone payment from Janssen, the development of product candidates or products, potential attributes and benefits of product candidates, the expansion of Cerecor's drug portfolio, Cerecor's ability to identify new indications for it's current portfolio and new product candidates that could be in-licensed, technology enhancements, possible changes in legislation, and other statements that are not historical. Although our forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of our management, these statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known by us. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include those below and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, particularly in Part II – Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” as well as in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on March 10, 2017April 2, 2018 as amended on May 25, 2018 and September 7, 2018, and in our other filings with the SEC. Statements made herein are as of the date of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, we do not undertake, and we specifically disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statement.
 
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited financial statements and related notes that appear in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and with our audited financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 20162017 appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2017.April 2, 2018, as amended on May 25, 2018 and September 7, 2018.
Overview
We are a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company with commercial operations and research and development capabilities. We are building a robust pipeline of innovative therapies in pediatric healthcare, neurology, and orphan rare diseases. The Company's neurology pipeline is led by CERC-301, which is currently in a Phase I safety study for Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension ("nOH"). The Company is also developing three other neurological clinical and preclinical stage compounds. The Company's pediatric orphan rare disease pipeline is led by CERC-801, CERC-802 and CERC-803. All three compounds are preclinical therapies for inherited metabolic disorders known as Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation ("CDGs") by means of substrate replacement therapy. The FDA has granted Rare Pediatric Disease designation to all three compounds. Under the FDA’s Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher ("PRV") program, upon the approval of a new drug application ("NDA") for the treatment of a rare pediatric disease, the sponsor of such application would be eligible for a PRV that can be used to obtain priority review for a subsequent new drug application or biologics license application. The PRV may be sold or transferred an unlimited number of times.  We expect to file Investigational New Drug ("IND") applications with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration ("FDA") for two programs in 2019. Furthermore, we plan to leverage the 505(b)(2) NDA pathway for all three compounds to accelerate development and approval. The Company is also in the process of developing one other preclinical pediatric orphan rare disease compound, CERC-913.

The Company also has a diverse portfolio of marketed products. Our marketed products are led by our prescribed dietary supplements and prescribed drugs. Our prescribed dietary supplements include Poly-Vi-Flor and Tri-Vi-Flor which are prescription vitamin and fluoride supplements used in infants and children to treat or prevent deficiency of essential vitamins and fluoride. The Company also markets a number of prescription drugs that treat a range of pediatric diseases, disorders and conditions. Cerecor's prescription drugs include Millipred®, Veripred®, Ulesfia®, Karbinal™ ER, AcipHex® Sprinkle™ and Cefaclor for Oral Suspension. Finally, the Company has one marketed medical device, Flexichamber™.

Cerecor was incorporated in 2011, commenced operations in the second quarter of 2011 and completed an initial public offering in October 2015. In August 2017, the Company sold its worldwide rights to CERC-501 to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Janssen”) in exchange for initial gross proceeds of $25 million, of which $3.75 million was deposited into a twelve-month escrow. The Company collected the full escrow in August 2018. Additionally, there is a potential future $20 million regulatory milestone payment. The terms of the agreement provide that Janssen will assume ongoing clinical trials and be responsible for any new development and commercialization of CERC-501.

On November 17, 2017, the Company acquired TRx Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“TRx”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (see "TRx Acquisition" in Note 4 for a description of the transaction).


Overview
34


Table of Contents


We areOn February 16, 2018, Cerecor purchased and acquired all rights to Avadel Pharmaceuticals PLC’s (“Avadel”) marketed pediatric products (the “Acquired Products”) for the assumption of certain of Avadel's financial obligations (see "Avadel Pediatric Products Acquisition" in Note 4 for a description of the transaction).

On September 25, 2018, the Company acquired Ichorion Therapeutics, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company that isfocused on developing innovative drug candidatestreatments and increasing awareness of inherited metabolic disorders known as CDGs (see "Ichorion Asset Acquisition" in Note 4 for either commercialization, license or sale to make a difference indescription of the lives of patients with neurologic and psychiatric disorders. Our lead drug candidate is CERC-301, which we currently intend to explore as a novel treatment for orphan neurologic indications. We also have two pre-clinical stage compounds, CERC-611 and CERC-406.transaction).

Our portfolio of product candidates is summarized below:

CERC-301: Orphan Neurologic Diseases. Neurological Indication.CERC‑301 belongs to a class of compounds known as antagonists of the N‑methyl‑D‑aspartate, or NMDA, receptor, a receptor subtype of the glutamate neurotransmitter system that is responsible for controlling neurologic adaptation. We believe CERC‑301 specificallyselectively blocks the NMDA receptor subunit 2B, or NR2B.NR2B (also called GluN2B). Given its specific mechanism of action and demonstrated tolerability profile, we believe CERC-301 may be well suited to address unmet medical needs in neurologic indications. We are now embarking oninitiated a pre-clinicalPhase I study in 2018 for neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (“nOH”), a condition that is part of a larger category called orthostatic hypotension (OH), which is also known as postural hypotension. nOH is caused by dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system and clinical programcauses people to feel faint when they stand or sit up. We will continue to explore the use of CERC-301 in orphan neurologic conditions.conditions in preclinical and clinical studies.

CERC-611: Adjunctive Treatment of Partial-Onset Seizures in Epilepsy.CERC-611 is a potent and selective antagonist of transmembrane alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid ("AMPA") receptor regulatory protein (“TARP”)-ã8-dependent AMPA receptor regulatory proteins, or TARP, 8-dependent á -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid, or AMPA, receptor antagonist, or inhibitor.in preclinical development. TARPs are a recently discovered family of proteins that have been found to associate with, and modulate the activity of, AMPA receptors. TARP 8-dependenty8-dependent AMPA receptors are localized primarily in the hippocampus, a region of the brain with importance in complex partial seizures and particularly relevant to seizure origination and/or propagation. We believe CERC-611 may beis the first drug candidate to selectively target and functionally block region-specific AMPA receptors after oral dosing, which we believe may improve the efficacy and side effect profile of CERC-611 over current anti-epileptics. Research also suggests that selectively targeting individual TARPs may enable selective modulation of specific brain circuits without globally affecting synaptic transmission. The clinical strategy for CERC-611 is currently being reevaluated due to a partial clinical hold.  The exposure limits imposed by the agency currently allows for subtherapeutic dosing.  We are investigating opportunities to broaden the exposure limits. We intend to develop CERC-611 as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures with or without secondarily generalized seizures, in patients with epilepsy.



20


TableCERC-406 and CERC-425: Adjunctive Treatment of Contents

CERC-406: Residual Cognitive Impairment.Parkinson's Disease. CERC-406 is aand CERC-425 are preclinical candidatecandidates from our proprietary platform of compounds that inhibit catechol-O-methyltransferase, or COMT, within the brain, which we refer to as our COMTi platform. We believe CERC‑406they may have the potential to be developed for the adjunct treatment of residual cognitive impairment symptoms.Parkinson’s disease.

CERC-800's (CERC-801, CERC-802, and CERC-803): Substrate Replacement Therapies for CDGs.CERC-801, CERC-802 and CERC-803 represent genetically-targeted, small molecule, substrate replacement therapies with established therapeutic utility for the treatment of CDGs. CDGs are a rapidly expanding group of rare Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEMs) due to defects in glycosylation. Glycosylation is the process by which carbohydrate complexes are created, modified and attached to proteins and lipids, creating glycoconjugates that are essential for cell structure and function in all tissues and organs. CDG is caused by a specific inherited mutation and more than 100 CDGs have been identified to date. CDGs typically present in infancy and can be associated with a broad spectrum of symptoms that include severe, disabling or life-threatening cases. Oral administration of CERC-801, CERC-802 or CERC-803 can replenish critical metabolic intermediates that are reduced or absent due to genetic mutation, overcoming single enzyme defects to support glycoprotein synthesis, maintenance and function. CERC-801 utilizes D-galactose as the active pharmaceutical ingredient to treat Phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM1) Deficiency; CERC-802 utilizes D-mannose as the active pharmaceutical ingredient to treat Mannose-Phosphate Isomerase (MPI) Deficiency; and CERC-803 utilizes L-fucose as the active pharmaceutical ingredient to treat Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Type II (LADII).

The FDA has granted Rare Pediatric Disease designation to CERC-801, CERC-802 and CERC-803.  Under the FDA’s PRV program, upon the approval of a NDA for the treatment of a rare pediatric disease, the sponsor of such application would be eligible for a PRV that can be used to obtain priority review for a subsequent new drug application or biologics license application. The PRV may be sold or transferred an unlimited number of times.  We expect to file IND applications with the FDA for two programs in 2019. Furthermore, we plan both to evaluateleverage the 505(b)(2) NDA pathway for all three compounds to accelerate development and approval.

35


Table of Contents



CERC-913: ProTide Nucleotide for Mitochondrial Disorder. CERC-913 is a genetically-targeted, small molecule substrate replacement therapy that uses a prodrug approach to overcome a single enzyme defect to treat mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion syndromes ("MDS"). A prodrug is a medication or compound that, after administration, is metabolized into a pharmacologically active substance. The ProTide prodrug platform is a clinically-validated approach to nucleoside monophosphate prodrugs. Some patients suffering from MDS lack a nucleoside kinase that produces nucleoside monophosphates for mtDNA synthesis. Direct substrate replacement of nucleoside monophosphates is impractical due to instability in plasma and low cell permeability. By masking a nucleoside monophosphate as a prodrug with improved drug-like properties, we can deliver the substrate to the desired subcellular compartment and bypass the missing nucleoside kinase. CERC-913 is intended for pediatric MDS patients with symptoms that manifest primarily in the liver, with 50% of patients experiencing liver failure in the first few years of life. CERC-913 is in preclinical development and we intend to file an IND in 2020.

Our strategy for increasing shareholder value includes:

Growing sales of the existing commercial products in our current portfolio, for potentialincluding by identifying and investing in growth opportunities such as new treatment indications and new geographic markets;
Acquiring or licensing rights to identify potential newclinically meaningful and differentiated products that are already on the market for pediatric use or in late-stage development for pediatric indications that are near market launch;
Pursuing targeted, differentiated preclinical and clinical stage product candidates for rare disorders or orphan diseases; and
Advancing our pipeline of compounds through development and / or commercialized assets.to regulatory approval.

AtFor the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we2018, the Company generated a net loss of $34.5 million and negative cash flows from operations of $1.2 million. The Company applies a disciplined decision-making methodology as it evaluates the optimal allocation of the Company's resources between investing in the Company's current commercial product line, the Company's development portfolio and acquisitions or in-licensing of new assets in order to meet its cash flow needs. As of September 30, 2018, Cerecor had $24.0an accumulated deficit of $92.7 million and a balance of $6.8 million in cash and cash equivalentsequivalents.  The Company plans to use this cash and $4.8 million in current liabilities. In August 2017, we sold all of our rights to a prior product candidate, CERC-501, to Janssen in exchange for initial gross proceeds of $25.0 million, of which $3.75 million was deposited into a twelve month escrow to secure certain indemnification obligations to Janssen, as well as a potential future $20.0 million regulatory milestone payment.

We will need additional funding to complete the development of any of ouranticipated positive net cash flows from the Company's existing product candidates or any new product candidates we decide to pursue. We intend to seek future funding for our development programs and operations from further offerings of equity or debt securities, non-dilutive financing arrangements such as federal grants, collaboration agreements or out-licensing arrangements. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other agreements or transactions on favorable terms, or at all. If we fail to raise capital or enter into such other arrangements or transactions, we may experience a significant delay, scale-back or discontinue the development of one or more of our product candidates or be forced to cease our operations altogether.

We were incorporated in Delaware in 2011 and commenced operations in the second quarter of 2011. Since inception, our operations have included organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital and developing our product candidates. We have no products approved for commercial sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales to date, and we continue to incur significant research, development and other expensesoffset costs related to its pediatric rare disease preclinical programs, clinical development for our ongoing operations. We have incurred losses in each period since our inception. As of September 30, 2017 we had an accumulated deficit of $55.1 million.neurology programs, business development, costs associated with its organizational infrastructure and debt principal and interest payments. We expect to continue to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeableimmediate future. Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability in the future as we continueis dependent on the development, regulatory approval and clinical trialscommercialization of our new product candidates and achieving a level of revenues from our existing product sales adequate to support our cost structure.

The Company believes it will require additional financing to continue to execute its clinical development strategy and/or fund future operations. The Company plans to meet its capital requirements through operating cash flows from product sales and some combination of equity or debt financings, collaborations, out-licensing arrangements, strategic alliances, federal and private grants, marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements or the sale of current or future assets. If we are not able to secure adequate additional funding, we may be forced to make reductions in spending, extend payment terms with suppliers, liquidate assets where possible or suspend or curtail planned programs. If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates.

Our plans to aggressively develop our pipeline, including our recently acquired pediatric rare disease preclinical programs, will require substantial cash inflows in excess of what we anticipate our current commercial operations to generate. We have financedexpect that our operations primarilyexisting cash and cash equivalents, together with the proceeds from the execution of management's plan to complete one or more financings through a public offering, private placements of our common stock and convertible preferred stock, the issuance of debt andequity, which could be completed with the Company's majority owner, if necessary, and/or through the out-licensing or sale of current or future assets on or before May 2019, will enable us to fund our operating expenses, capital expenditure requirements, and other non-operating cash payments such as principal payments on our outstanding debt balances through November 2019. 
Recent Developments

Ichorion Asset Acquisition

On September 24, 2018, we entered into a merger agreement in which we acquired Ichorion Therapeutics, Inc. The consideration for the merger at closing consisted of 5.8 million shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, as adjusted for Estimated Working Capital.  The shares are subject to a lockup date through December 31, 2019.

36


Table of Contents


Consideration for the Ichorion Asset Acquisition included certain development milestones in the future worth up to an additional $15 million, payable either in shares of Company Common Stock or in cash, at the election of the Company

Substantially all of the value of Ichorion was related to one group of similar identifiable assets which was the IPR&D for the three preclinical therapies for CDGs (CERC-801, CERC-802 and CERC-803) and as such the Company accounted for this transaction as an asset acquisition. The Ichorion Asset Acquisition aligns with our strategy to develop treatments for pediatric orphan rare diseases. All three compounds are for therapies for inherited metabolic disorders known as CDGs by means of substrate replacement therapy and are preclinical. The FDA has granted Rare Pediatric Disease designation to all three compounds. Under the FDA’s PRV program, upon the approval of a NDA for the treatment of a rare pediatric disease, the sponsor of such application would be eligible for a PRV that can be used to obtain priority review for a subsequent new drug application or biologics license application. The PRV may be sold or transferred an unlimited number of times.  We expect to file IND applications with the FDA for two programs in 2019. Furthermore, we plan to leverage the 505(b)(2) NDA pathway for all three compounds to accelerate development and approval. The Company is in the process of developing one other preclinical molecule for a pediatric orphan rare disease.

See Item 1, Note 4 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for more information on the Ichorion Asset Acquisition.

Avadel Pediatric Products Acquisition

On February 16, 2018, the Company purchased and acquired all rights to CERC-501. Our abilityAvadel Pharmaceuticals PLC’s (“Avadel”) marketed pediatric products (the “Avadel Products”) for the assumption of certain of Avadel's financial obligations to becomeDeerfield CSF, LLC, which includes a loan with a face value of $15 million due in January 2021 and remain profitable dependsits related interest payments as well as a 15% annual royalty on net sales of the Avadel Products through February 2026 (the “Avadel Acquisition”). The Avadel Products consist of Karbinal™ ER, AcipHex® Sprinkle™, Cefaclor for Oral Suspension, and Flexichamber™.
See Item 1, Note 4 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for more information on the Avadel Pediatric Products Acquisition.

TRx Acquisition

On November 17, 2017, the Company acquired TRx, including its wholly-owned subsidiary Zylera Pharmaceuticals, LLC and its franchise of commercial medications led by Poly-Vi-Flor® (multivitamin and fluoride supplement tablet, chewable), Tri-Vi-Flor® (multivitamin and fluoride supplement suspension/drops), Millipred®, Veripred® and Ulesfia®. Zylera Pharma Corp, and Princeton, LLC. Under the terms of the transaction, the Company paid $18.9 million in cash and $8.5 million in Cerecor common stock. TRx shareholders will be eligible to receive up to an additional $7 million in contingent payments upon achievement of certain commercial and regulatory milestones.

Lachlan Pharmaceuticals

In November 2017, the Company acquired TRx and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Zylera. The previous owners of TRx beneficially own more than 10% of our abilityoutstanding common stock. Zylera, which is now our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into the First Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement (the “Lachlan Agreement”) with Lachlan Pharmaceuticals, an Irish company controlled by the previous owners of TRx (“Lachlan”), effective December 18, 2015. Pursuant to generatethe Lachlan Agreement, Lachlan named Zylera as its exclusive distributor of Ulesfia in the United States and agreed to supply Ulesfia to Zylera exclusively for marketing and sale in the United States.
Pursuant to the Lachlan Agreement, Zylera is obligated to purchase a minimum of 20,000 units per year, or approximately $1.2 million worth of product, revenue. We do not expectfrom Lachlan, subject to generate anycertain termination rights. Zylera must pay Lachlan $58.84 per unit and handling fees that are equal to $3.66 per unit of fully packaged Ulesfia in 2018, and escalate at a rate of 10% annually, as well as reimburse Lachlan for all product revenueliability insurance fees incurred by Lachlan. The Lachlan Agreement also requires that Zylera make certain cumulative net sales milestone payments and royalty payments to Lachlan with a $3 million annual minimum payment unless and until we obtain marketing approvalthere has been a “Market Change” involving a new successful competitive product. Lachlan is obligated to pay identical amounts to an unrelated third party from which it obtained rights to Ulesfia, with the payments ultimately going to Summers Laboratories, Inc. (“Summers Labs”). Because of the dispute described below, the Company has not made any payments to Lachlan under the Lachlan Agreement subsequent to the acquisition date.
On December 10, 2016, Zylera informed Lachlan that a Market Change had occurred due to the introduction of Arbor Pharmaceuticals' lice product, Sklice®.  On June 5, 2017, Lachlan and Zylera entered into joint legal representation along with

37


Table of Contents


other unrelated third parties in negotiation and arbitration of a dispute with Summers Labs regarding the existence of a Market Change and the concomitant obligations of the parties. The arbitration panel issued an interim ruling on October 23, 2018 that no market change had occurred up to and including the date of the hearing. The issuance of the final award is scheduled for December 4, 2018. The final award has no direct bearing on the Company as the Company was not a named defendant to the original claim by Summers Labs and commercialize,a federal court denied Zylera's ability to be a counterclaimant in the matter. However, the Company has interpreted this ruling's impact on the Lachlan agreement to mean that a market change has not occurred and the minimum purchase obligation and minimum royalty provisions of the contract are active and due for any prior periods as well as going forward for any future periods. The Company has recognized a $6.9 million liability for these minimum obligations in accrued liabilities as of ourSeptember 30, 2018. Under the terms of the TRx Purchase Agreement, the former TRx owners are required to indemnify the Company for 100% of all pre-acquisition losses related this arbitration, including legal costs, and possible minimum payments in excess of $1 million. Furthermore, the former TRx owners are required to indemnify the Company for 50% of post-acquisition Ulesfia losses, which would include losses resulting from having to fund these minimum obligations. The Company has recorded an indemnity receivable of $6.1 million in other receivables as of September 30, 2018, which the Company believes is fully collectible. The post-acquisition minimum obligations net of amounts recorded within the indemnity receivable has been recorded in cost of goods sold for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. If the Company fails to make these minimum obligations timely then the Lachlan Agreement may be terminated by Lachlan, in which case the Company would no longer be able to sell the Ulesfia product, candidates. There canbut it would also not be no assurance assubject to whether or when we will achieve profitability. future minimum obligations.

Components of Operating Results

License, Other and Grant Revenue
 
To date, we have primarilyPrior to the acquisitions of TRx and Avadel's pediatric products, the Company derived revenue primarily from the sale of CERC-501 to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Janssen") in August 2017 and research grants from the National Institutes of Health. We have not generated any revenue from commercial product sales to date. We will not generate any commercial revenue, if ever, until one of our product candidates receives marketing approval and we successfully commercialize such product candidates.
In April 2016, wethe Company received a research and development grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA, at the National Institutes of Health to provide additional resources for the period from May 2016 through April 2017 for a Phase 2 clinical trial for CERC-501. Additionally, in July 2016, wethe Company received a research and development grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, or NIAAA, at the National Institutes of Health to provide additional resources for the period of July 2016 through AugustDecember 2017 to progress the development of CERC-501 for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. We recognizeThe Company recognizes revenue under grants in earnings on a systemic basis in the period the related expenditures for which the grants are intended to compensate are incurred. Grant revenues are derived from government grants that support the Company’s efforts on specific research projects. The Company determined that the government agencies providing grants to the Company are not our customers.
Product Revenue, Net

In August 2017, we soldThe Company generates substantially all of our rightsrevenue from sales of prescription pharmaceutical products to our customers and have identified a single product delivery performance obligation, which is the provision of prescription pharmaceutical products to our customers based upon Master Service Agreements in place with wholesaler distributors, purchase orders from retail pharmacies or other direct customers and a contractual arrangement with a specialty pharmacy. The performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time, when control of the product has been transferred to the customer, either at the time the product has been received by the customer or to a priorlesser extent when the product candidate, CERC-501,is shipped. The Company determines the transaction price based on fixed consideration in its contractual agreements and the transaction price is allocated entirely to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Janssen,the performance obligation to provide pharmaceutical products. In determining the transaction price, a significant financing component does not exist since the timing from when the Company delivers product to when the customers pay for the product is less than one year and the customers do not pay for product in exchangeadvance of the transfer of the product.

Revenues from sales of products are recorded net of any variable consideration for initial gross proceeds of $25.0 million, of which $3.75 million was deposited into a twelve-month escrow to secure certain indemnification obligations, as wellestimated allowances for returns, chargebacks, distributor fees, prompt payment discounts, government rebates and other common gross-to-net revenue adjustments. The identified variable consideration is recorded as a potentialreduction of revenue at the time revenues from product sales are recognized. The Company recognizes revenue only to the extent that it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur in a future $20.0 million regulatory milestone payment. Theperiod.

Provisions for returns and government rebates are included within current liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Provisions for prompt payment discounts and distributor fees, are included as a reduction to accounts receivable. Calculating these items involves estimates and judgments based on sales or invoice data, contractual terms, historical utilization rates, new information regarding changes in these programs’ regulations and guidelines that would impact the amount of the agreement provide that Janssen will assume ongoing clinical trialsactual rebates, our expectations regarding future utilization rates for these programs, and be responsible for any new development and commercialization of CERC-501.channel inventory data. These estimates may differ from actual

2138


Table of Contents


consideration amount received and the Company will re-assess these estimates and judgments each reporting period to adjust accordingly.

Returns and Allowances

Consistent with industry practice, the Company maintains a return policy that allows customers to return product within a specified period both subsequent to and, in certain cases, prior to the product's expiration date. Our return policy generally allows customers to receive credit for expired products within six months prior to expiration and within one year after expiration. The provision for returns and allowances consists of estimates for future product returns and pricing adjustments. The primary factors considered in estimating potential product returns include:

the shelf life or expiration date of each product;
historical levels of expired product returns;
external data with respect to inventory levels in the wholesale distribution channel;
external data with respect to prescription demand for our products; and
the estimated returns liability to be processed by year of sale based on analysis of lot information related to actual historical returns.

The Company's estimate for returns and allowances may be impacted by a number of factors, but the principal factor relates to the level of inventory in the distribution channel. If the Company becomes aware of an increase in the level of inventory of its products in the distribution channel, the Company considers the reasons for the increase to determine whether the Company believes the increase is temporary or other-than-temporary. Increases in inventory levels assessed as temporary will not result in an adjustment to the provision for returns and allowances. Conversely, other-than-temporary increases in inventory levels may be an indication that future product returns could be higher than originally anticipated and, accordingly, the Company may need to adjust the provision for returns and allowances. Some of the factors that may be an indication that an increase in inventory levels will be other-than-temporary include:

declining sales trends based on prescription demand;
regulatory approvals that could shorten the shelf life of our products, which could result in a period of higher returns related to older product still in the distribution channel;
introduction of new product or generic competition; and
increasing price competition from generic competitors.

Distribution Fees and Rebates

Consistent with pharmaceutical industry practices, the Company establishes contracts with wholesalers that provide for Distribution Service Fees (“DSA fees”). Settlement of DSA fees may generally occur on a monthly or quarterly basis based on net sales for the period. DSA fee accruals are based on contractual fees to be paid to the wholesaler distributors applied to purchases of our products.

The Company is also subject to rebates on sales made under governmental pricing programs. For example, Medicaid rebates are amounts owed based upon contractual agreements or legal requirements with public sector (Medicaid) benefit providers after the final dispensing of the product by a pharmacy to a benefit plan participant. Medicaid reserves are based on expected payments, which are driven by patient us age, contract performance and field inventory that will be subject to a Medicaid rebate. Medicaid rebates are typically billed up to 180 days after the product is shipped, however can be as much as 270 days after the quarter in which the product is dispensed to the Medicaid participant. In addition to the estimates mentioned above, our calculation also requires other estimates, such as estimates of sales mix, to determine which sales are subject to rebates and the amount of such rebates. Periodically, the Company adjusts the Medicaid rebate provision based on actual claims paid. Due to the delay in billing, adjustments to actual claims paid may incorporate revisions of this provision for several periods. Because Medicaid pricing programs involve particularly difficult interpretations of complex statutes and regulatory guidance, our estimates could differ from actual experience.

In determining estimates for these rebates, the Company considers the terms of the contracts, relevant statutes, historical relationships of rebates to revenues, past payment experience, estimated inventory levels and estimated future trends.

Chargebacks and Sales Discounts

Chargeback accruals are based on the differentials between product acquisition prices paid by wholesalers and lower government contract pricing paid by eligible customers covered under federally qualified programs. Sales discounts accruals are based on payment terms extended to customers.

39


Table of Contents



Sales Force Revenue
Pursuant to a Marketing Agreement with Pharmaceutical Associates, Inc. (“PAI”), the Company received a monthly marketing fee to promote, market and sell certain products on behalf of PAI. The Company also received a matching fee payment for each month of the term of the Marketing Agreement if certain provisions calculated in accordance with the terms and inputs set forth in the Marketing Agreement are met. Marketing fees and any matching payments are recognized as sale force revenue when all the performance obligations have been satisfied, as invoiced on a month basis. This contract was terminated in April 2018.
Accounting Policy Elections

The Company elected the following practical expedients in applying Topic 606 to its identified revenue streams:

Portfolio approach - contracts within each revenue stream have similar characteristics and the Company believes this approach would not differ materially than if applying Topic 606 to each individual contract.
Modified retrospective approach - the Company applied Topic 606 only to contracts with customers which were not completed at the date of initial application, January 1, 2018.
Significant financing component - the Company did not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component as the Company expects, at contract inception, that the period between when the Company transfers a promised good or service to a customer and when the customer pays for that good or service will be one year or less.
Shipping and handling activities - the Company considers any shipping and handling costs that are incurred after the customer has obtained control of the product as a cost to fulfill a promise and will account for them as an expense.
Contract costs - the Company recognizes the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that the Company otherwise would have recognized is one year or less.

The Company does not incur costs to obtain a contract or costs to fulfill a contract that would result in the capitalization of contract costs. Specifically, internal sales commissions are costs to fulfill a contract and are expensed in the same period that revenue is recognized, which is typically within the same quarterly reporting period. Contract costs are expensed or amortized in “Operating expenses” on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company has not made significant changes to the judgments made in applying ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) ("ASU 2014-09") for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Cost of Product Sales
Cost of product sales is comprised of (i) costs to acquire products sold to customers; (ii) royalty, license payments and other agreements granting the Company rights to sell related products; (iii) distribution costs incurred in the sale of products; (iv) the value of any write-offs of obsolete or damaged inventory that cannot be sold and (v) accruals for minimum sale obligations.

Research and Development Expenses
    
Our research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred manufacturing, developing, testing and seeking marketing approval for our product candidates. These costs include both external costs, which are study‑specific costs, and internal research and development costs, which are not directly allocated to our product candidates.

External costs include:
expenses incurred under agreements with third‑party contract research organizations and investigative sites that conduct our clinical trials, preclinical studies, as well as manufacturing, quality and regulatory activities;
payments made to contract manufacturers for drug substance and acquiring, developing and manufacturing clinical trial materials; and
payments related to acquisitions of our product candidates and preclinical platform, platform; and
milestone payments, and fees associated with the prosecution and maintenance of patents.
Internal costs include:

40


Table of Contents


personnel‑related expenses, including salaries, benefits and stock‑based compensation expense;expense and travel expenses;
consulting costs related to our internal research and development programs;
allocated facilities, depreciation and other expenses, which include rent and utilities, as well as other supplies;supplies and licensing fees;
software licensing;
questionnaire costs; and
product liability insurance.
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. We recordThe Company records costs for some development activities, such as clinical trials, based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as subject enrollment, clinical site activations or information provided to us by our vendors.
We trackThe Company tracks external costs by program and subsequently by product candidate once a product candidate has been selected for development. Product candidates in later stage clinical development generally have higher research and development expenses than those in earlier stages of development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of the clinical trials.
As of September 30, 2017, we2018, the Company had fourfive full-time employees who were primarily engaged in research and development.

Acquired In-Process Research and Development Expenses

Acquired in-process research and development ("IPR&D") expense includes the initial costs of IPR&D projects, acquired directly in a transaction other than a business combination, that do not have an alternative future use.

General and Administrative Expenses
 
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of professional fees, patent costs and salaries, benefits and related costs for executive and other personnel, including stock‑based compensation and travel expenses. Other general and administrative expenses include facility‑related costs, communication expenses and professional fees for legal, including patent‑related expenses, consulting, tax and accounting services, insurance, depreciation, integration and general corporate expenses.

 Sales and Marketing Expenses
Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of professional fees, advertising and marketing cost and salaries, contractual costs and benefits and related costs for sales and sales support personnel, including stock‑based compensation and travel expenses.

Amortization Expense

Amortization expense includes the amortization of the Company's acquired intangible assets. There is no amortization expense included in cost of product sales or sales and marketing expense as all amortization expense is included within its own standalone line in operating expenses in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Impairment of Intangible Assets

Impairment of intangible assets includes any impairment charges related to the Company's acquired intangible assets. The Company received written notice to terminate the PAI Sales and Marketing Agreement in the second quarter of 2018. An impairment charge was recognized in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 in the amount of $1.9 million, representing the remaining net book value of the PAI sales and marketing agreement intangible asset.

Change in Contingent Consideration, Fair Value of Warrant Liability and Unit Purchase Option Liability

In 2014, the Company issued warrants to purchase 625,208 shares of Series B convertible preferred stock. Upon the closing of our initial public offering, or IPO, in October 2015 these warrants became warrants to purchase 22,328 shares of common stock, in accordance with their terms. These warrants represent a freestanding financial instrument that is indexed to an obligation, which the Company refers to as the Warrant Liability. These warrants are classified as a liability at fair value. This liability is remeasured at each balance sheet date and the change in fair value is recorded within our statement of operations. The warrants expire in October 2020.

41


Table of Contents



As part of our IPO, the underwriter received a unit purchase option, or UPO, to purchase up to 40,000 units, whereby a unit is comprised of one share of our common stock, one Class A warrant to purchase one share of our common stock and one Class B warrant to purchase one-half share of our common stock. The Class B warrants expired in April 2017. The UPO is classified as a liability at its respective fair value. This liability is remeasured at each balance sheet date and the change in fair value is recorded within our statement of operations. The UPO expires in October 2020.

The Company’s business acquisitions involve the potential for future payment of consideration that is contingent upon the achievement of operational and commercial milestones and royalty payments on future product sales. The preliminary fair value of contingent consideration liabilities was determined at the acquisition date using unobservable level 3 inputs. These inputs include the estimated amount and timing of projected cash flows, the probability of success (achievement of the contingent event) and the risk-adjusted discount rate used to present value the probability-weighted cash flows. Subsequent to the acquisition date, at each reporting period, the contingent consideration liability is remeasured at current fair value with changes recorded in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Changes in any of the inputs may result in a significantly different fair value adjustment.

Interest Expense, Netnet

Net interest expense is primarily related to interest paymentsexpense pursuant to the terms of our term debt facility entered intoobligation assumed on February 16, 2018 as described in August 2014, as well as the amortization of the debt discounts and premiums and deferred financing fees in connection with such term debt facility. We made the final payment under this facility on August 1, 2017.Note 8. Deerfield Obligation.
 
Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense was incurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2017 as a result of our net income for the same period.

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

22


Table of Contents

 
This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported period. In accordance with GAAP, we basethe Company bases our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those related to clinical and preclinical trial expenses and stock‑based compensation. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
 
WhileThere have been no significant changes to our significantcritical accounting policies are more fullyfrom those disclosed in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K except for the adoption of new accounting standards, including the new standard related to revenue recognition, as described in Note 2 to the auditedinterim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. For further details regarding revenues and cash flows arising from contracts with customers, refer to Note 2 to the interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Metrics
In addition to disclosing financial results that are determined in accordance with GAAP, the Company also uses the following non-GAAP financial metrics to understand and evaluate our operating performance:
EBITDA, which the Company defines as GAAP net income adjusted for (i) taxes, (ii) interest expense, (iii) interest income, (iv) amortization of intangible assets, (v) depreciation, and (vi) inventory step-up adjustment recognized in earnings;

Adjusted EBITDA, which the Company defines as EBITDA as defined above further adjusted for (i) share-based compensation expense, (ii) change in fair value of contingent consideration, warrant liability and unit purchase option liability, (iii) restructuring costs, (iv) acquisition and integration-related expenses, (v) impairment of intangible assets, (vi) arbitration costs related to the Lachlan transaction which is further described in Item 1 Note 7, (vii) acquired IPR&D, which is further described in Item 1 Note 4, and (viii) sale or out-licensing of Company assets.

The Company updated our definition of Adjusted EBITDA during the third quarter of 2018 to adjust for acquired IPR&D and sale or out-licensing of Company assets. These updates did not impact previous presentation of prior periods.

The Company believes that providing this additional information is useful to the reader to better assess and understand our operating performance, primarily because management typically monitors the business adjusted for these items in addition to GAAP results. These non-GAAP financial metrics should be considered supplemental to and not a substitute for financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Our definition of these non-GAAP metrics may differ from similarly titled metrics used by others. The Company views these non-GAAP financial metrics as a means to facilitate our financial and operational

42


Table of Contents


decision-making, including evaluation of our historical operating results and comparison to competitors’ operating results. These non-GAAP financial metrics reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed with GAAP results may provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business. The determination of the amounts that are adjusted from these non-GAAP financial metrics is a matter of management judgment and depends upon, among other factors, the nature of the underlying expense or income amounts. Because non-GAAP financial metrics adjust for the effect of items that will increase or decrease our reported results of operations, we strongly encourage investors to review our consolidated financial statements appearing atand periodic reports in their entirety.

The following tables present reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial metrics to the endmost directly comparable GAAP financial measure for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:

  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2018 2017 2018 2017
         
  (in thousands)
GAAP Net (loss) income $(24,604) $18,721
 $(34,494)
$14,961
Non-GAAP Adjustments:     


Income tax expense 52
 3,230
 92

3,230
Interest expense (income), net 235
 (29) 578

54
Amortization of intangible assets 1,065
 
 3,316


Depreciation 5
 5
 18

17
Inventory step-up adjustment recorded in earnings 85
 
 262


EBITDA $(23,162) $21,927
 $(30,228)
$18,262
Non-GAAP Adjustments:     


Share based compensation 945
 264
 1,796

852
Change in fair value of contingent consideration, warrant liability and unit purchase option liability 88
 
 383

2
Restructuring costs 320
 400
 533

400
Acquisition and integration related expenses 
 
 741


Impairment of intangible assets 160
 
 1,862
 
Lachlan legal arbitration costs (1,038) 
 (178)

Acquired in-process research and development 18,724
 
 18,724
 
Sale or out-licensing of Company assets 
 (25,000) 
 (25,000)
     Total Non-GAAP Adjustments 19,199
 (24,336) 23,861

(23,746)
Adjusted EBITDA $(3,963) $(2,409) $(6,367)
$(5,484)

Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017
The following table summarizes our revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
  Three Months Ended September 30,
  2018 2017
     
  (in thousands)
Product revenue, net $4,075
 $
License and other revenue $
 $25,000
Grant revenue $
 $38
  $4,075
 $25,038

Product Revenue, net    

43


Table of Contents



Product revenue, net was $4.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, and represents revenues from the sale of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, we believepediatric products following the following accounting policies are critical toacquisition of TRx in November 2017 and Avadel's pediatric products in February 2018. There were no product revenues reported for the portrayal of our financial condition and results. We have reviewed these critical accounting policies and estimates with the audit committee of our board of directors.three months ended September 30, 2017.

License and Other Revenue

We recognize revenues from collaboration,There was no license orand other research or sale arrangements when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered,revenue for the price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.

Grant Revenue Recognition
We recognize grant revenue when there is (i) reasonable assurance of compliance with the conditions of the grant and (ii) reasonable assurance that the grant will be received. We recognize revenue under grants in earnings on a systemic basis in the period the related expenditures for which the grants are intended to compensate are incurred.

Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three Months Endedthree months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $25.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. In the third quarter of 2017, and 2016

License and Other Revenue

On August 14. 2017, wethe Company sold CERC-501 to Janssen in exchange for initial gross proceeds of $25.0 million, of which $3.75 million was deposited into a twelve month escrow to secure certain indemnification obligations to Janssen. In addition to the initial proceeds, the terms of the agreement provide for a potential future $20 million regulatory milestone payment. The terms of the agreement provide that Janssen will assume ongoing clinical trials and be responsible for any new development and commercialization of CERC-501.million.  

Grant Revenue

The following table summarizes ourThere was no grant revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:
  Three Months Ended
  September 30,
  2017 2016
  (in thousands)
Grant revenue $38
 $321
Grant revenue under the NIAAA grant was approximately $38,0002018, compared to $0.04 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. We recognized approximately $321,000 of grant revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2016 for the NIDA grant. Our grant revenues arerelated to CERC-501 and were dependent upon the timing and progress of the underlying studies and development activities. We had a reduced level of research and development activities in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the prior year period, which resulted in a reduction inThe grant revenue underand study costs related to these grants were discontinued with the current NIAAA grant compared to the ongoing research conducted under the NIDA grant in 2016. The Company soldsale of CERC-501 to Janssen in August 2017 and does not expect any further grant revenues.of 2017.


23Cost of Product Sales


TableCost of Contents
product sales was $3.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and relate to the cost of product sales from our recently acquired pediatric products. There are no costs of product sales reported for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

Research and Development Expenses
 
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 20172018 and 2016:2017:
 Three Months Ended Three Months Ended September 30,
 September 30, 2018 2017
 2017 2016    
 (in thousands) (in thousands)
CERC-301 $362
 $1,142
CERC-501 14
 896
CERC-611 175
 2,019
CERC-406 
 17
Preclinical expenses $120
 $277
Clinical expenses 473
 143
CMC expenses 18
 136
Internal expenses not allocated to programs:      
  
Salaries, benefits and related costs 194
 400
 324
 170
Stock-based compensation expense 41
 44
 32
 198
Other 179
 64
 81
 41
 $965
 $4,582
 $1,048
 $965
 
Research and development expenses were $965,000$1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of approximately $3.62018, increased by $0.1 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016. Costs for CERC-301 decreased2017. Clinical costs increased by $780,000, primarily due to the completion of the Phase 2 clinical trial for the adjunctive treatment of MDD. Costs for CERC-501 decreased by $882,000$0.3 million from the prior year period asprimarily due to activities for our Phase 2CERC-301 clinical trial with CERC-501 was completedstudy in nOH. Salaries, benefits and related costs increased $0.2 million from the previous year due to the hiring of a Chief Scientific Officer in the fourthcurrent quarter, as well as an increase in employee benefits and other salary related costs. Stock-based compensation decreased $0.2 million from the previous year due to the acceleration of stock options in the third quarter of 2016. The Company sold CERC-501 to Janssen in August 2017. We purchased CERC-6112017 for $2.0 million in September 2016 and are currentlya senior executive who resigned in the processperiod.

Acquired In-Process Research and Development Expenses

The following table summarizes our acquired in-process research and development expenses for three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:

44


Table of preparing that compoundContents


  Three Months Ended September 30,
  2018 2017
     
  (in thousands)
Acquired in-process research and development $18,724
 $

As part of the asset acquisition of Ichorion, the Company acquired $18.7 million of in-process research and development for additionalthree preclinical therapies for inherited metabolic disorders known as CDGs (CERC-801, CERC-802 and CERC-803). The fair value of the IPR&D was immediately recognized as acquired in-process research and development expense as the IPR&D asset has no other alternate use due to the stage of development. There was no acquired in-process research and development expense for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

General and Administrative Expenses
The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017: 
 Three Months Ended Three Months Ended September 30,
 September 30, 2018 2017
 2017 2016    
 (in thousands) (in thousands)
Salaries, benefits and related costs $744
 $556
 $1,139
 $744
Legal, consulting and other professional expenses 1,047
 725
 (203) 1,047
Stock-based compensation expense 223
 244
 843
 223
Other general and administrative expenses 138
 178
Other 105
 138
 $2,152
 $1,703
 $1,884
 $2,152
 
General and administrative expenses were $2.2$1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, an increase2018, which is a decrease of $0.4$0.3 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016. This increase2017. Salaries, benefits and related costs increased by $0.4 million due primarily to the current period severance costs of a senior executive that was primarilyseparated in the third quarter of 2018. Legal, consulting and other professional expenses decreased $1.3 million mainly due to severance accrualsa $1.0 million reversal of legal expenses due to a purchase price allocation measurement period adjustment identified for our former chiefTRx during the third quarter of 2018. Stock-based compensation expense increased by $0.6 million primarily as a result of the acceleration of stock options for a senior executive officer, who resignedseparated in August, 2017the third quarter of 2018.

Sales and increased legal fees associated with the sale of all of our rights to CERC-501.Marketing Expenses
 
Change in Fair Value of Warrant LiabilityThe following table summarizes our sales and Unit Purchase Option Liability
We recognized a net gain on the change in fair value of our warrant liability and UPO liability of $64 during the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to a net gain of $101,000marketing expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2016.2018 and 2017: 
  Three Months Ended September 30,
  2018 2017
     
  (in thousands)
Salaries, benefits and related costs $1,456
 $
Logistics, insurance and other commercial operations expenses 338
 
Stock-based compensation expense 70
 
Advertising and marketing expense 415
 
Other 32
 
  $2,311
 $
 
The $101,000 gain onCompany began to incur sales and marketing expenses upon acquiring TRx in November 2017. Salaries, benefits and related costs resulted from the changesales and sales support personnel needed to maintain and grow our commercial sales activities in fair value duringconnection with our recent acquisitions of TRx and Avadel's pediatric products. Logistics, insurance and other commercial operations expenses were incurred in order to support commercial operations. Advertising and marketing expenses were incurred to support the 2016 period was primarily dueportfolio of pediatric drug products for sale. During the third quarter of 2018, the Company initiated an expansion of the sales force. The Company expects costs to thecontinue to increase in fair value of the warrant liability and UPO liability. These increases were attributable to a decrease in our common stock price compared tofuture periods until the previous quarter-end.expansion is completed.
    
Interest Expense, Net
Net interest expense decreased by $134,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in interest associated with a reduction in the principal balance of our secured term loan facility. We made the final payment under this term loan on August 1, 2017.

2445


Table of Contents


Amortization Expense

The following table summarizes our amortization expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:

  Three Months Ended September 30,
  2018 2017
     
  (in thousands)
Amortization of intangible assets $1,065
 $

Amortization expense was $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The amortization expense relates to the acquisition of intangible assets as part of the acquisitions of TRx and Avadel's pediatric products. No amortization expense was recognized for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

Impairment of intangible assets

The Company recorded impairment of intangible asset expense of $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 due to a purchase price allocation measurement period adjustment identified for TRx during the third quarter of 2018 and due to the impairment of the PAI sales and marketing agreement intangible upon termination of the corresponding agreement during the second quarter of 2018. No expense related to impairment of intangible assets was recognized for the three months ended September 30, 2017.

Other (Expense) Income

The following table summarizes our other income for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
  Three Months Ended September 30,
  2018 2017
     
  (in thousands)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration, warranty liability and unit purchase option liability $(88) $
Other income 
 
Interest (expense) income (235) 29
  $(323) $29

Other expense was $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to other income of $0.03 million during the same period in 2017. The change was primarily a result of the recognition of interest expense of $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to interest income of $0.03 million in the same period in 2017. The interest expense recognized in the third quarter of 2018 relates to interest expense for the Deerfield Obligation assumed as part of the Avadel's pediatric products acquisition, which took place in the first quarter of 2018.

Income Tax Expense

The provision for income taxes was $52,412 for the three months ended September 30, 2018. The provision for income taxes is composed of state income tax for one of the Company's wholly owned subsidiaries. Our annual effective tax rate as of September 30, 2018 was approximately 0%.The provision for income taxes was $3.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 due to the net income generated from the sale of CERC-501. Our annual effective tax rate asCERC-501 to Janssen in August of September 30, 2017 was approximately 18 percent. Our effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate due to the Company’s ability to utilize a portion of its prior net operating losses, which were previously subject to a valuation allowance, to offset current period income. We currently expect to generate an income tax benefit during the 42017.th quarter due to additional expected operating losses during that period.

Comparison of the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017

46


Table of Contents


The following table summarizes our revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2018 2017
     
  (in thousands)
Product revenue, net $13,046
 $
Sales force revenue 297
 
License and other revenue 
 25,000
Grant revenue 
 580
  $13,343
 $25,580

Product Revenue, Net    

Product revenue, net was $13.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, and represents revenues from the sale of our pediatric products following the acquisition of TRx in November 2017 and 2016Avadel's pediatric products in February 2018. There were no product revenues reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Sales Force Revenue

Sales force revenue was $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. There are no sales force revenues reported for nine months ended September 30, 2017. The PAI contract was canceled during the second quarter of 2018, and the Company does not expect additional sales force revenue from the contract.     

License and Other Revenue

On August 14.There was no license and other revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $25.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. In the third quarter of 2017, wethe Company sold CERC-501 to Janssen in exchange for initial gross proceeds of $25.0 million, of which $3.75 million was deposited into a twelve month escrow to secure certain indemnification obligations to Janssen. In addition to the initial proceeds, the terms of the agreement provide for a potential future $20 million regulatory milestone payment. The terms of the agreement provide that Janssen will assume ongoing clinical trials and be responsible for any new development and commercialization of CERC-501.million.  

Grant Revenue

The following table summarizes ourThere was no grant revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:
  Nine Months Ended
  September 30,
  2017 2016
  (in thousands)
Grant revenue $580
 $972
Grant revenue from the NIAAA grant was $580,0002018, compared to $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Revenue of $972,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was derived from the NIDA grant. Our grant revenues arerelated to CERC-501 and were dependent upon the timing and progress of the underlying studies and development activities. We had a reduced levelThe grant revenue and study costs related to these grants were discontinued with the sale of researchCERC-501 to Janssen in August of 2017.

Cost of Product Sales

Cost of product sales was $5.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and development activities in the current year period comparedrelate to the on-going clinical trial work in prior year period, which resulted in a reductioncost of grant revenue underproduct sales from our recently acquired pediatric products. There are no costs of product sales reported for the current NIAAA grant compared to the NIDA grant in 2016.nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Research and Development Expenses
 
The following table summarizes our research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 20172018 and 2016:2017:

47


Table of Contents


 Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30,
 September 30, 2018 2017
 2017 2016    
 (in thousands) (in thousands)
CERC-301 $484
 $2,534
CERC-501 596
 3,145
CERC-611 216
 2,019
CERC-406 2
 121
Preclinical expenses $1,403

$347
Clinical expenses 1,122

509
CMC expenses 157

452
Internal expenses not allocated to programs:      
  
Salaries, benefits and related costs 743
 1,285
 809

758
Stock-based compensation expense 124
 95
 64

124
Other 246
 178
 225

221
 $2,411
 $9,377
 $3,780

$2,411
 
Research and development expenses were $2.4increased by $1.4 million compared to the same period in 2017. Preclinical expenses increased by $1.1 million compared to nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily due to toxicology studies in support of clinical development. Clinical costs increased by $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of approximately $7.0 million2018 compared to the same period in 2017 primarily due to activities related to clinical study in nOH. CMC costs decreased $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Costs 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 due to higher prior year spending on clinical trial material stability and drug product to support clinical development.

Acquired In-Process Research and Development Expenses

The following table summarizes our acquired in-process research and development expenses for CERC-301 decreasedthe nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:
   Nine Months Ended September 30,
   2018 2017
   (in thousands)
Acquired in-process research and development $18,724
 $
      
As part of the asset acquisition of Ichorion, the Company acquired $18.7 million of in-process research and development for three preclinical therapies for inherited metabolic disorders known as CDGs (CERC-801, CERC-802 and CERC-803). The fair value of the IPR&D was immediately recognized as Acquired In-Process Research and Development expense as the IPR&D asset has no other alternate use due to the stage of development. There was no acquired in-process research and development expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.  

General and Administrative Expenses
The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017: 
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2018 2017
     
  (in thousands)
Salaries, benefits and related costs $2,614

$1,665
Legal, consulting and other professional expenses 3,324

2,150
Stock-based compensation expense 1,600

728
Other 296
 378
  $7,834

$4,921
General and administrative expenses increased by $2.0$2.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. Salaries, benefits and related costs increased by $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period of 2017 due to the current year recognition of severance costs of senior executives that was separated in the third quarter of 2018 as well as an increase in employee benefits and other salary related costs. Legal, consulting and other professional expenses increased by $1.2 million compared to the same period of 2017 primarily as a result of the legal, compliance

2548


Table of Contents


and integration costs associated with our acquisitions. Stock-based compensation expense also increased by $0.9 million over the same period comparison primarily as a result of the acceleration of the stock options of a senior executive who was separated in the period, in addition to options granted to new senior executives.

Sales and Marketing Expenses
The following table summarizes our sales and marketing expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017: 
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2018 2017
     
  (in thousands)
Salaries, benefits and related costs $4,086

$
Logistics, insurance and other commercial operations expenses 847


Stock-based compensation expense 133


Advertising and marketing expense 728


Other 95


  $5,889

$
The Company began to incur sales and marketing expenses upon acquiring TRx in November 2017. Salaries, benefits and related costs resulted from the prior year period, primarily duesales and sales support personnel needed to the completionmaintain and grow our commercial sales activities in connection with our recent acquisitions of enrollment during the Phase 2 clinical trial for the adjunctive treatment of MDDTRx and Avadel's pediatric products. Logistics, insurance and other commercial operations expenses were incurred in 2016. We did not perform any clinical trials for CERC-301 in 2017, however costsorder to support commercial operations. Advertising and marketing expenses were incurred to analyze potential other indicationssupport the portfolio of pediatric drug products for CERC-301 in 2017. Costs for CERC-501 decreased by $2.5 million fromsale. During the prior year period as our Phase 2 clinical trial with CERC-501 was completed in the fourththird quarter of 2016. We sold all2018, the Company initiated an expansion of the sales force. The Company expects costs to continue to increase in future periods until the expansion is completed.

Amortization Expense

The following table summarizes our rights to CERC-501 to Janssen in August 2017. We purchased CERC-611 inamortization expense for the nine months ended September 2016 for $2.0 million30, 2018 and are currently in the process of preparing that compound for additional development.2017:
General and Administrative Expenses
  Nine Months Ended
  September 30,
  2017 2016
  (in thousands)
Salaries, benefits and related costs $1,665
 $1,808
Legal, consulting and other professional expenses 2,150
 2,186
Stock-based compensation expense 728
 1,344
Other general and administrative expenses 378
 651
  $4,921
 $5,989
   Nine Months Ended September 30,
   2018 2017
   (in thousands)
Amortization of intangible assets $3,316
 $
      

General and administrative expenses were $4.9
Amortization expense was $3.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, a decrease of $1.1 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Salaries, benefits and related costs decreased by $143,000 primarily due to a temporary reduction in headcount and certain employee benefits. Stock-based compensation2018. No amortization expense decreased by $616,000, which was primarily driven by the modification of grants made to our former chief executive officer in the first quarter of 2016. Other general and administrative expenses decreased by $273,000 due to efforts to reduce certain other operating costs in order to preserve cash.
Change in Fair Value of Warrant Liability and Unit Purchase Option Liability
We recognized a net gain on the change in fair value of our warrant liability and UPO liability of $2,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to a net gain of $58,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.2017. The amortization expense in 2018 relates to the acquisition of intangible assets as part of the acquisitions of TRx and Avadel's pediatric products. 

Impairment of Intangible Assets

The $58,000 gain oncompany recorded impairment of intangible asset expense of $1.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 due to the impairment of the PAI sales and marketing agreement intangible upon termination of the corresponding agreement. No expense related to impairment of intangible assets was recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Other Expense

The following table summarizes our other income (expense) for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:

49


Table of Contents


  Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2018 2017
     
  (in thousands)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration, warranty liability and unit purchase option liability $(383) $(2)
Other income 19
 
Interest expense (578) (54)
  $(942) $(56)

Other expense was $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to $0.1 million for the same period in 2017. The change in fair value during the 2016 period was primarilyof contingent consideration, warranty liability and unit purchase option liability decreased $0.4 million due to the decreaseincrease in the fair value of the warrant liability and UPO liability. These decreases were attributable to a decrease in our common stock price comparedcontingent consideration related to the previous year-end.

Interest Expense, Net
Net interest expense decreased by $328,000Avadel Pediatric Products Acquisition, which was recorded as other expense. The fair value of the contingent consideration related to the acquisition of Avadel's pediatric products increased due to an increase in the net sales forecast. There was no contingent consideration for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 comparedas it relates to the acquisitions of TRx and Avadel's pediatric products. Additionally, interest expense increased $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.2018 as compared to the same period in 2017. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in interest associated with a reductionexpense recognized in the principal balancenine months ended September 30, 2018 relates to interest expense for the Deerfield Obligation assumed as part of our secured term loan facility. We made the final payment under this term loan on August 1, 2017.

Avadel Pediatric Products Acquisition, which took place in the first quarter of 2018.

Income Tax Expense

The provision for income taxes was $92,076 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Our annual effective tax rate as of September 30, 2018 was approximately 0%. The provision for income taxes was $3.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 due to the net income generated from the sale of CERC-501. Our annual effective tax rate asCERC-501 to Janssen in August of September 30, 2017 was approximately 18 percent. Our effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate due to the Company’s ability to utilize a portion of its prior net operating losses, which were previously subject to a valuation allowance, to offset current period income. We currently expect to generate an income tax benefit during the 4th quarter due to additional expected operating losses during that period.2017.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have devoted most of our cash resources to research and development and general and administrative activities. Since our inception, we have incurred net losses and negative cash flows from our operations. We expect to incur significant expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future as we continue the development, preclincial and clinical trials of, and seek marketing approval for, our product candidates. We incurred net income (losses) of $15.0 million and $(14.8) million for

26


TableThe Company applies a disciplined decision-making methodology as it evaluates the optimal allocation of Contents

the Company's resources between investing in the Company's current commercial product line, the Company's development portfolio and acquisitions or in-licensing of new assets in order to meet its cash flow needs. For the nine months ended September 30, 20172018, Cerecor generated a net loss of $34.5 million and 2016, respectively. Atnegative cash flow from operations of $1.2 million.  As of September 30, 2017 we2018, Cerecor had an accumulated deficit of $55.1$92.7 million net working capitaland a balance of $23.3$6.8 million andin cash and cash equivalents of $24.0 million primarily dueequivalents.  The Company plans to use this cash and the sale of CERC-501. To date, we have not generated any commercial revenuesanticipated positive net cash flows from the sale of productsCompany's existing product sales to offset costs related to its pediatric rare disease preclinical programs, clinical development for our neurology programs, business development, costs associated with its organizational infrastructure and we do not anticipate generating any revenues fromdebt principal and interest payments. Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability in the commercial sale of our product candidates forfuture is dependent on, among other things, the foreseeable future. Historically, we have financed our operations principally through private and public placements of common stock, private placements of convertible preferred stock and convertible and nonconvertible debt. In April 2017, we raised gross proceeds of $5.0 million from a private placement of our equity securities. On August 14. 2017, we sold all of our rights to CERC-501 to Janssen in exchange for initial gross proceeds of $25.0 million, of which $3.75 million was deposited into a twelve month escrow to secure certain indemnification obligations to Janssen. In addition to the initial proceeds, the terms of the agreement provide for a potential future $20 milliondevelopment, regulatory milestone payment. Further, the terms of the agreement provide that Janssen will assume ongoing clinical trials and be responsible for any new developmentapproval and commercialization of CERC-501.our new product candidates and achieving a level of revenues from our existing product sales adequate to support our cost structure.

WeThe Company believes it will require substantial additional financing to fund our operations to continue to execute our strategy. Ourits clinical development strategy isand/or fund future operations. The Company plans to seek funding for our operationsmeet its capital requirements through operating cash flows from further offeringsproduct sales and some combination of equity or debt securities, non-dilutive financing arrangements such as federal grants, collaboration agreements orfinancings, collaborations, out-licensing arrangements, strategic alliances, federal and private grants, marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements or the sale of current or future assets. If the Company is not able to exploresecure adequate additional funding, the Company may be forced to make reductions in spending, extend payment terms with suppliers, liquidate assets where possible or suspend or curtail planned programs. If the Company raises additional funds through collaborations, strategic alternatives such as an acquisition, merger,alliances or business combination. Based onlicensing arrangements with third parties, the Company may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates.

Our plan to aggressively develop our pipeline, including our recently acquired pediatric rare disease preclinical programs, will require substantial cash inflows in excess of what the Company expects our current research and development plans we expectcommercial operations to generate.  The Company expects that our existing cash and cash equivalents, together with the initial proceeds from the Janssenexecution of management's plan to complete one or more financings through the issuance of equity, which could be completed with the Company's majority owner, if necessary, and/or through the out-licensing or sale of current or future assets on or before May 2019, will enable us to fund our operating expenses, and capital expenditure requirements, and other non-operating cash payments such as principal payments on our outstanding debt balances through 2018.at least November 2019. 

Term LoanUses of Liquidity

In August 2014,
50


Table of Contents


Ichorion Asset Acquisition

On September 24, 2018, the Company entered into a merger agreement in which we received a $7.5acquired Ichorion Therapeutics, Inc. The consideration for the Ichorion Asset Acquisition at closing consisted of 5.8 million secured term loan from a finance company.shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, as adjusted for Estimated Working Capital.  The loan was secured by a lien on all our assets, excluding intellectual property, which wasshares are subject to a negative pledge. The loan agreement containedlockup date of December 31, 2019. Consideration for the Merger included certain development milestones in the future worth up to an additional nonfinancial covenants. In connection$15 million, payable either in shares of Company Common Stock or in cash, at the election of the Company. There will be future cash outflow for research and development costs associated with the loandevelopment of the assets acquired as part of the Ichorion Asset Acquisition (CERC-801, CERC-802, CERC-803 and CERC-913).

TRx Pharmaceuticals, LLC Acquisition

On November 17, 2017, Cerecor and TRx Pharmaceuticals, LLC ("TRx") entered into a purchase agreement ourin which the Company acquired TRx, including subsidiary Zylera Pharmaceuticals, LLC and its franchise of pediatric medications. The consideration for the acquisition consists of $18.9 million in cash, and investment accounts were subject to account control agreementsworking capital adjustments, as well as approximately 7.5 million shares of our common stock having a market value of $8.5 million and certain contingent consideration with a fair value of $2.6 million.
Avadel Pediatric Products Acquisition

On February 16, 2018, the finance companyCompany entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Avadel US Holdings, Inc. (“Avadel”), Avadel Pharmaceuticals (USA), Inc., Avadel Pediatrics, Inc., Avadel Therapeutics, LLC and Avadel Pharmaceuticals PLC (collectively “Avadel”) to purchase and acquire all rights in Avadel’s pediatric products.  The Company made a nominal cash payment for the acquired assets, and assumed certain of Avadel’s financial obligations to Deerfield CSF, LLC, which include a $15.3 million loan due in January 2021 and certain royalty obligations through February 2026.

Deerfield Obligation

In relation to the Company's acquisition of Avadel's pediatric products on February 16, 2018, the Company assumed an obligation that giveAvadel had to Deerfield CSF, (the "Deerfield Obligation").

Deerfield Debt Obligation

  September 30, December 31,
  2018 2017
     
Deerfield Obligation $15,402,224

$
Less: debt discount 


Deerfield Obligation, net of debt discount 15,402,224


Less: current portion 1,050,000


Long term debt, net of current portion and debt discount $14,352,224

$
     

Beginning in July 2018 through October 2020, the finance companyCompany will pay a quarterly payment of $0.3 million to Deerfield. In January 2021, a balloon payment of $15.3 million is due. On the rightacquisition date, the Company determined the fair value of these payments to assume controlbe $15.1 million using its estimated cost of debt. Management performed a credit risk analysis that determined the accountsCompany's credit rating to be B to BB plus the yield on a ten-year treasury security. The difference between the gross value and fair value of these payments will be recorded as interest expense in the eventCompany's condensed consolidated statements of a loan default. Loan defaults were definedoperations through January 2021 using the effective interest method. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $0.6 million. The amounts due within the next year are included in the loan agreement and include, among others, the finance company’s determination that there was a material adverse changecurrent portion of long-term debt on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. The amounts due in greater than one year are included in long-term debt on our operations, other than adverse results of clinical trials. Interest on the loan was at a rate of the greater of 7.95%, or 7.95% plus the prime rate as reported in The Wall Street Journal minus 3.25%. On August 1, 2017, we made the final payment of $494,231 under the loan, which included a termination fee of $187,500.condensed consolidated balance sheets.


Cash Flows
 

51


Table of Contents


The following table summarizes our cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 20172018 and 2016:
2017: 
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 2017
 2017 2016    
 (in thousands) (in thousands)
Net cash provided by (used in):        
Operating activities $15,110
 $(10,860) $(1,152) $15,128
Investing activities (8) (26) 1,365
 (8)
Financing activities 3,726
 (1,461) 4,237
 3,726
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents $18,828
 $(12,347)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents $4,450
 $18,846
 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
 
Net cash used in operating activities was $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and consisted primarily of a net loss of $34.5 million, offset by non-cash acquired in-process research and development of $18.7 million, depreciation and amortization of $3.3 million, non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $1.8 million, impairment of intangible assets of $1.9 million and changes in working capital, primarily, an increase in escrowed cash receivable of $3.8 million and an increase in accrued expenses of $6.2 million.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $15.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and consisted primarily of net income of $15.0 million driven by our sale of CERC-501 to Janssen in the third quarter of 2017 for $25.0 million, partially offset by an increase in escrowed cash receivable of $3.8 million which resulted from the sale of all of our rights to CERC-501 and a $698,000 decrease in accounts payable. These were offset by non‑cashnon-cash stock-based compensation expense of $852,000.$0.9 million.
        
Net Cash provided by (used in) investing activities
Our net cash used in operatingprovided by investing activities was $10.9$1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 20162018 and consisted primarily of a net losscash received as part of $14.8 million, offsetthe Ichorion Asset Acquisition.

Net cash used in investing activities was $7,990 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily for the purchase of property and equipment.

Net Cash provided by non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $1.4 million and an increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities of $2.5 million.financing activities
 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities was $4.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, which primarily
consisted of net proceeds of $3.9 million from a private placement of equity securities to Armistice Capital and $0.5 million of proceeds from option and warrant exercises, partially offset by $0.1 million payment of contingent consideration.

27


Table of Contents

Net cash provided by financing activities was $3.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, which primarily consisted of grossnet proceeds of $1.7 million from the sale of common stock under an equity distribution agreement with the Maxim Group and $4.6 million net from a private placement of equity securities to Armistice Capital, Master Fund Ltd,$1.7 million from the sale of common stock to Aspire Capital and Maxim Group under their Purchase and Distribution Agreement, partially offset by principal payments on our term loan of $2.4 million.

Net cash used in financing activities was $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, which consisted primarily of proceeds of $1.0 million from the sale of common stock offset by principal payments on our term loan of $2.5 million.

Operating and Capital Expenditure Requirements
We have not achieved profitability since our inception and, while we did recognize license and other revenue from the sale of CERC-501, we expect to continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future. We expect to continue to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that relate to being a public company. In addition, the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act, as well as rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and the NASDAQ Stock Market, requires public companies to implement specified corporate governance practices that are inapplicable to private companies. We expect these rules and regulations will continue to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time consuming and costly. Based on our research and development plans, we expect that our existing cash and cash equivalents, together with the initial proceeds of $25.0 million from the Janssen sale, of which $3.75 million will be held in escrow for twelve months, which will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2018. We will require substantial additional financing to fund our operations and to continue to develop our product candidates. Our strategy is to seek funding for our operations from further offerings of equity or debt securities, non-dilutive financing arrangements such as federal grants, collaboration agreements or out-licensing arrangements, and to explore strategic alternatives such as an acquisition, merger, or business combination.
Each of our product candidates are still in the early stages of preclinical and clinical development and the outcome of these efforts is uncertain. We cannot estimate the actual amounts necessary to successfully complete the development and commercialization of our product candidates or whether, or when, we may generate revenue.
We will need to raise substantial additional capital in the future to fund our operations and to further develop our product candidates and we anticipate funding our operations from further offerings of equity or debt securities, non-dilutive financing arrangements such as federal grants, collaboration agreements or out-licensing arrangements, and to explore strategic alternatives such as an acquisition, merger, or business combination. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional equity or debt financing, or strategic alternatives, on terms acceptable to us, if at all. If we raise additional funds through collaboration and licensing agreements with third parties, it may be necessary to relinquish valuable rights to our product candidates, technologies or future revenue streams or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. There can also be no assurance that the exploration of strategic alternatives will result in any such transaction. Our future capital requirements will depend on many forward‑looking factors, including:

the progress and results of any clinical trials for CERC-301

the progress and results of any clinical trials for CERC-611 and any changes to our development plan with respect to CERC-611, if any;
our plan and ability to enter into collaborative or licensing agreements for the development and commercialization of our product candidates; 
the number and development requirements of any other product candidates that we may pursue; 
the scope, progress, results and costs of researching and developing our product candidates or any future product candidates, both in the United States and in territories outside the United States; 
the costs, timing and outcome of regulatory review of our product candidates or any future product candidates, both in the United States and in territories outside the United States; 

28


Table of Contents

the costs and timing of future commercialization activities, including product manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution for any of our product candidates for which we receive marketing approval;
the costs and timing of any product candidate acquisition or in‑licensing opportunities;
any product liability or other lawsuits related to our products; 
the expenses needed to attract and retain skilled personnel; 
the revenue, if any, received from commercial sales of our product candidates for which we receive marketing approval; and

the costs involved in preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and enforcing our intellectual property rights and defending our intellectual property‑related claims, both in the United States and in territories outside the United States.

We have entered into agreements with contract research organizations and other external service providers for services, primarily in connection with the clinical trials and development of our product candidates. We were contractually obligated for up to approximately $1.2 million of future services under these agreements as of September 30, 2017. Our actual contractual obligations will vary depending upon several factors, including the progress and results of the underlying services.

Please refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” at Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional risks associated with our substantial capital requirements.

Off‑Balance Sheet Arrangements

We doThe Company does not have any off-balanceoff‑balance sheet arrangements, as defined by applicable SEC rules and regulations.

RecentRecently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

See Item 1 of Part I, “Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements,” Note 2, of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

JOBS Act
The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, reduce reporting requirements for an “emerging growth company.” As an emerging growth company, the Company has elected to not take advantage of the extended transition period afforded by the JOBS Act for the implementation of new or revised accounting standards and, as a result, will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non‑emerging growth companies.

2952


Table of Contents



Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures aboutAbout Market RiskRisk.
 
Interest Rate Risk

We maintainThe Company maintains a short-term investment portfolio consisting mainly of highly liquid short-term money market funds, which we consider to be cash equivalents. These investments earn interest at variable rates and, as a result, decreases in market interest rates would generally result in decreased interest income. We doThe Company does not believe that a 10% increase or decrease in interest rates would have a material effect on the fair value of our investment portfolio due to the short-term nature of these instruments, and accordingly we dothe Company does not expect our operating results or cash flows to be materially affected by a sudden change in market interest rates.
 

Item 4. Controls and ProceduresProcedures.
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As required by Rule 13a-15(b) and Rule 15d-15(b) of the Exchange Act, our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, conducted an evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures arewere effective at the reasonable assurance level in ensuring that information required to be disclosedas of the end of the period covered by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control overOver Financial Reporting

There have not been anywere no changes in our internal controlscontrol over financial reporting identified in management’s evaluation pursuant to Rules 13a-15(d) or 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act during the quarter ended September 30, 2017period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Attestation Report of Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm due to an exemption established by the JOBS Act for emerging growth companies.




PART II – OTHER INFORMATION



3053


Table of Contents



PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal ProceedingsProceedings.
 
WeLachlan Pharmaceuticals

In November 2017, the Company acquired TRx and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Zylera. The previous owners of TRx beneficially own more than 10% of our outstanding common stock. Zylera, which is now our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into the First Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement (the “Lachlan Agreement”) with Lachlan Pharmaceuticals, an Irish company controlled by the previous owners of TRx (“Lachlan”), effective December 18, 2015. Pursuant to the Lachlan Agreement, Lachlan named Zylera as its exclusive distributor of Ulesfia in the United States and agreed to supply Ulesfia to Zylera exclusively for marketing and sale in the United States.
Pursuant to the Lachlan Agreement, Zylera is obligated to purchase a minimum of 20,000 units per year, or approximately $1.2 million worth of product, from Lachlan, subject to certain termination rights. Zylera must pay Lachlan $58.84 per unit and handling fees that are equal to $3.66 per unit of fully packaged Ulesfia in 2018, and escalate at a rate of 10% annually, as well as reimburse Lachlan for all product liability insurance fees incurred by Lachlan. The Lachlan Agreement also requires that Zylera make certain cumulative net sales milestone payments and royalty payments to Lachlan with a $3 million annual minimum payment unless and until there has been a “Market Change” involving a new successful competitive product. Lachlan is obligated to pay identical amounts to an unrelated third party from which it obtained rights to Ulesfia, with the payments ultimately going to Summers Laboratories, Inc. (“Summers Labs”). Because of the dispute described below, the Company has not currentlymade any payments to Lachlan under the Lachlan Agreement subsequent to the acquisition date.
On December 10, 2016, Zylera informed Lachlan that a partyMarket Change had occurred due to the introduction of Arbor Pharmaceuticals' lice product, Sklice®.  On June 5, 2017, Lachlan and Zylera entered into joint legal representation along with other unrelated third parties in negotiation and arbitration of a dispute with Summers Labs regarding the existence of a Market Change and the concomitant obligations of the parties. The arbitration panel issued an interim ruling on October 23, 2018 that no market change had occurred up to and including the date of the hearing. The issuance of the final award is scheduled for December 4, 2018. The final award has no direct bearing on the Company as the Company was not a named defendant to the original claim by Summers Labs and a federal court denied Zylera's ability to be a counterclaimant in the matter. However, the Company has interpreted this ruling's impact on the Lachlan agreement to mean that a market change has not occurred and the minimum purchase obligation and minimum royalty provisions of the contract are active and due for any materialprior periods as well as going forward for any future periods. The Company has recognized a $6.9 million liability for these minimum obligations in accrued liabilities as of September 30, 2018. Under the terms of the TRx Purchase Agreement, the former TRx owners are required to indemnify the Company for 100% of all pre-acquisition losses related this arbitration, including legal proceedingscosts, and wepossible minimum payments in excess of $1 million. Furthermore, the former TRx owners are required to indemnify the Company for 50% of post-acquisition Ulesfia losses, which would include losses resulting from having to fund these minimum obligations. The Company has recorded an indemnity receivable of $6.1 million in other receivables as of September 30, 2018, which the Company believes is fully collectible. The post-acquisition minimum obligations net of amounts recorded within the indemnity receivable has been recorded in cost of goods sold for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. If the Company fails to make these minimum obligations timely then the Lachlan Agreement may be terminated by Lachlan, in which case the Company would no longer be able to sell the Ulesfia product, but it would also not aware of any pending or threatened legal proceeding against us that we believe could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, cash flows or financial condition.be subject to future minimum obligations.

Item 1A. Risk FactorsFactors.
 
In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016,2017, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2017,April 2, 2018 and amended on May 25, 2018 and September 7, 2018, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. Our risk factors as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have not changed materially from those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. However, the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that wethe Company currently deemdeems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or future results of operations and the trading price of our common stock.

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

None.

Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures.

None.

Item 5.Other Information.

None.


3154


Table of Contents


Item 6.  ExhibitsExhibits.
Exhibit
Number
 Description of Exhibit
 
  
2.1
 
   
3.110.1#
 


 
  
3.1.110.2#
 


   
3.210.3#
 

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.9

4.1

4.11

4.12

32


Table of Contents

4.13

4.14
   
4.1510.4
 

10.5


10.6
   
31.1
 

 
  
31.2
 
 
  
32.132.1*
*
 
  
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document.

 
  
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.


 
  
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

 
  
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

 
  
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.Document

 
  
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

#   Management contract or compensatory agreement.

55


Table of Contents


*   These certifications areThis certification is being furnished solely to accompany this Quarterly Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, and are not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the registrant, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.



3356


Table of Contents


SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
    
Cerecor Inc.
    
Date: November 13, 2018 /s/    John KaiserPeter Greenleaf
   John KaiserPeter Greenleaf
   
Interim Chief Executive Officer
(on behalf of the registrant and as the registrant’s Principal Executive Officer)
Date: November 6, 2017  
Date: November 13, 2018/s/    Joseph M. Miller
   /s/    Mariam E. Morris
Mariam E. MorrisJoseph M. Miller
   
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
Date: November 6, 2017  









3457