agtc-10q_20160930.htm

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016

OR

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

Commission File Number: 001-36370

 

APPLIED GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Delaware

59-3553710

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

14193 NW 119th Terrace

Suite 10

Alachua, Florida 32615

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)

(386) 462-2204

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically 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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes      No  

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

 

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

 

Non-accelerated filer

  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company

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

As of October 31, 2016, a total of 18,068,284 shares of the registrant’s outstanding common stock, $0.001 par value per share, were outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 


APPLIED GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

Pages

 

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

ITEM 1.

 

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited) as of September 30, 2016 and June 30, 2016

 

3

 

 

 

Condensed Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015

 

4

 

 

 

 Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015

 

5

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

6

 ITEM 2.

 

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

18

ITEM 3.

 

 

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

23

ITEM 4.

 

 

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

23

 

 

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

ITEM 1.

 

 

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

24

ITEM 1A.

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

24

ITEM 6.

 

 

EXHIBITS

 

24

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

25

 

 

 

 

2


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

APPLIED GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

June 30,

 

In thousands, except per share data

 

2016

 

 

2016

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

55,980

 

 

$

28,868

 

Investments

 

 

77,338

 

 

 

69,664

 

Grants receivable

 

 

34

 

 

 

954

 

Prepaid and other current assets

 

 

2,510

 

 

 

3,089

 

Total current assets

 

 

135,862

 

 

 

102,575

 

Investments

 

 

33,440

 

 

 

74,183

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

2,509

 

 

 

2,627

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

1,308

 

 

 

1,321

 

Other assets

 

 

99

 

 

 

91

 

Total assets

 

$

173,218

 

 

$

180,797

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

1,082

 

 

$

1,331

 

Accrued and other liabilities

 

 

5,845

 

 

 

6,514

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

43,725

 

 

 

46,898

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

50,652

 

 

 

54,743

 

Deferred revenue, net of current portion

 

 

8,214

 

 

 

16,766

 

Total liabilities

 

 

58,866

 

 

 

71,509

 

Stockholders' equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, par value $.001 per share, 150,000 shares authorized; 18,058 and

   18,053 shares issued;  18,053 and 18,048 shares outstanding at September 30, 2016  and June 30, 2016, respectively

 

 

18

 

 

 

18

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

200,742

 

 

 

199,303

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(86,408

)

 

 

(90,033

)

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

114,352

 

 

 

109,288

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 

$

173,218

 

 

$

180,797

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

 

 

3


APPLIED GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

In thousands, except per share amounts

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration revenue

 

$

11,772

 

 

$

10,992

 

Grant and other revenue

 

 

34

 

 

 

70

 

Total revenue

 

 

11,806

 

 

 

11,062

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

 

5,571

 

 

 

17,488

 

General and administrative

 

 

2,846

 

 

 

2,787

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

8,417

 

 

 

20,275

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

 

3,389

 

 

 

(9,213

)

Other income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income, net

 

 

236

 

 

 

90

 

Total other income, net

 

 

236

 

 

 

90

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

3,625

 

 

$

(9,123

)

Net earnings (loss) per share, basic and diluted

 

$

0.20

 

 

$

(0.53

)

Weighted  average shares outstanding - basic

 

 

18,050

 

 

 

17,164

 

Weighted  average shares outstanding - diluted

 

 

18,445

 

 

 

17,164

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

 

 

4


APPLIED GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

In thousands

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

3,625

 

 

$

(9,123

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

1,420

 

 

 

1,123

 

Share-based collaboration expense

 

 

 

 

 

636

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

201

 

 

 

97

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease (increase) in grants receivable

 

 

920

 

 

 

(55

)

Decrease (increase) in prepaid and other assets

 

 

682

 

 

 

(5,838

)

(Decrease) increase in accounts payable

 

 

(249

)

 

 

6,420

 

(Decrease) increase in deferred revenues

 

 

(11,725

)

 

 

98,837

 

(Decrease) increase in accrued and other liabilities

 

 

(669

)

 

 

2,862

 

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

 

 

(5,795

)

 

 

94,959

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of property and equipment

 

 

(21

)

 

 

 

Purchase of and capitalized costs related to intangible assets

 

 

(49

)

 

 

(55

)

Maturity of investments

 

 

35,358

 

 

 

13,030

 

Purchase of investments

 

 

(2,400

)

 

 

(26,072

)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

 

32,888

 

 

 

(13,097

)

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from exercise of common stock options

 

 

19

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs

 

 

 

 

 

19,211

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

19

 

 

 

19,211

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

27,112

 

 

 

101,073

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

 

28,868

 

 

 

39,187

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

55,980

 

 

$

140,260

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

 

 

5


APPLIED GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

(1)

Organization and Operations:

Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (the “Company” or “AGTC”) was incorporated as a Florida corporation on January 19, 1999 and reincorporated as a Delaware corporation on October 24, 2003. The Company is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing gene therapy products designed to transform the lives of patients with severe diseases, primarily in ophthalmology.

In April 2014, the Company completed its initial public offering (“IPO”) in which it sold 4,166,667 shares of common stock at a price of $12.00 per share. The shares began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on March 27, 2014 under the ticker symbol AGTC. In April 2014, the Company sold an additional 625,000 shares of common stock at the offering price of $12.00 per share pursuant to the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. The aggregate net proceeds received by the Company from the IPO offering, including exercise of the over-allotment option, amounted to $51.6 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions and other issuance costs incurred by the Company.

In July 2014, the Company completed a follow on public offering in which it sold 2,000,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $15.00 per share. In August 2014, the Company sold an additional 300,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $15.00 per share pursuant to the full exercise of an overallotment option granted to the underwriters in connection with the follow on offering. The aggregate net proceeds received by the Company from the follow on offering, including exercise of the overallotment option, amounted to $32.0 million, net of underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses.

In July 2015, the Company entered into a collaboration agreement (the “Collaboration Agreement”) with Biogen MA, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Biogen Inc. (“Biogen”), pursuant to which the Company and Biogen will collaborate to develop, seek regulatory approval for and commercialize gene therapy products to treat XLRS, XLRP, and discovery programs targeting three indications based on the Company’s adeno-associated virus vector technologies.  The Collaboration Agreement became effective in August 2015.  Under the Collaboration Agreement, the Company received a non-refundable upfront payment of $94.0 million and a milestone payment of $5.0 million during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.  As a result of the upfront and milestone payments made by Biogen, the Company became liable to its various research partner institutions for sub-license and milestone payments, which led the Company to record an expense for collaboration-related license fees of $12.0 million.

The Company is also eligible to receive payments of up to $467.5 million under the Collaboration Agreement based on the successful achievement of future milestones under the two lead programs and up to $592.5 million based on the exercise of the option for and the successful achievement of future milestones under the three discovery programs.  Biogen will pay revenue-based royalties for each licensed product at tiered rates ranging from high single digit to mid-teen percentages of annual net sales of the XLRS or XLRP products and at rates ranging from mid-single digit to low-teen percentages of annual net sales for the discovery products.  Due to the uncertainty surrounding the achievement of the future milestones, such payments were not considered fixed or determinable at the inception of the collaboration agreement and accordingly, will not be recognized as revenue unless and until they become earned.  The Company achieved the first milestone under the XLRS program in August 2015, which triggered a milestone payment from Biogen of $5.0 million and the recording of milestone revenue.  The Company is not able to reasonably predict if and when any of the remaining milestones will be achieved.

In addition to the Collaboration Agreement, in July 2015, the Company also entered into an equity agreement with Biogen.  Under the terms of the equity agreement, Biogen purchased 1,453,957 shares of common stock, at a purchase price equal to $20.63 per share, for an aggregate cash purchase price of $30.0 million.  The Company received these cash proceeds from Biogen in August 2015.  The shares issued to Biogen constitute restricted securities that may not be resold by Biogen other than in a transaction registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirement.

The Company has devoted substantially all of its efforts to research and development, including clinical trials. The Company has not completed the development of any products. The Company has generated revenue from collaboration agreements, sponsored research payments and grants, but has not generated product revenue to date and is subject to a number of risks similar to those of other early stage companies in the biotechnology industry, including dependence on key individuals, the difficulties inherent in the development of commercially viable products, the need to obtain additional capital necessary to fund the development of its products, development by the Company or its competitors of technological innovations, risks of failure of clinical studies, protection of proprietary technology, compliance with government regulations and ability to transition to large-scale production of products. As of September 30, 2016, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $86.4 million and expects to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future. The Company has funded its operations to date primarily through public offerings of its common stock, private placements of its preferred stock, and collaborations. At September 30, 2016, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and investments of $166.8 million.

 

6


 

 

(2)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

 

(a)

Basis of Presentation – The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for each period presented.

The adjustments referred to above are of a normal and recurring nature. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and regulations for interim reporting.

Certain amounts reported previously have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation, with no effect on stockholders’ equity or net loss as previously presented.

The Condensed Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2016 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. These Condensed Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the Company’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any other interim period.

 

(b)

Use of estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

(c)

Cash and cash equivalents— Cash consists of funds held in bank accounts.  Cash equivalents consist of short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less at the time of purchase and generally include money market accounts.

 

(d)

Investments—The Company’s investments consist of certificates of deposit and debt securities classified as held-to-maturity.  Management determines the appropriate classification of debt securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation as of each balance sheet.  Debt securities are classified as held-to-maturity when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity.  Held-to-maturity securities are stated at amortized cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity.  Such amortization is included in investment income.  Interest on securities classified as held-to-maturity is included in investment income.

The Company uses the specific identification method to determine the cost basis of securities sold.

Investments are considered to be impaired when a decline in fair value is judged to be other-than-temporary.  The Company evaluates an investment for impairment by considering the length of time and extent to which market value has been less than cost or amortized cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer as well as specific events or circumstances that may influence the operations of the issuer and the Company’s intent to sell the security or the likelihood that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of the entire amortized cost.  Once a decline in fair value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment charge is recorded to other income (expense) and a new cost basis in the investment is established.

 

(e)

Fair value of financial instruments—The Company is required to disclose information on all assets and liabilities reported at fair value that enables an assessment of the inputs used in determining the reported fair values. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, establishes a hierarchy of inputs used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy applies only to the valuation inputs used in determining the reported fair value of financial instruments and is not a measure of the investment credit quality. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

Level 1—Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2—Valuations based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

 

7


Level 3—Valuations that require inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Company in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

(f)

Intangible assets – Intangible assets primarily include licenses and patents. The Company obtains licenses from third parties and capitalizes the costs related to exclusive licenses that have alternative future use in multiple potential programs. The Company also capitalizes costs related to filing, issuance, and prosecution of patents. The Company reviews its capitalized costs periodically to determine that such costs relate to patent applications that have future value and an alternative future use, and writes off any costs associated with patents that are no longer being actively pursued or that have no future benefit.  Amortization expense is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are generally eight to twenty years. The Company amortizes in-licensed patents and patent applications from the date of the applicable license and internally developed patents and patent applications from the date of the initial application. Licenses and patents converted to research use only are expensed immediately.

 

(g)

Revenue recognition – The Company has generated revenue through collaboration agreements, sponsored research arrangements with nonprofit organizations for the development and commercialization of product candidates and revenues from federal research and development grant programs. The Company recognizes revenue when amounts are realized or realizable and earned. Revenue is considered realizable and earned when the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; (3) the price is fixed or determinable; and (4) collection of the amounts due is reasonably assured.

Amounts received prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria are recorded as deferred revenue in the Company’s balance sheets. Amounts expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as current liabilities. The Company recognizes revenue for reimbursements of research and development costs under collaboration agreements as the services are performed. The Company records these reimbursements as revenue and not as a reduction of research and development expenses, as the Company has the risks and rewards as the principal in the research and development activities.

The Company evaluates the terms of sponsored research agreement grants and federal grants to assess the Company’s obligations and if the Company’s obligations are satisfied by the passage of time, revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis. In situations where the performance of the Company’s obligations has been satisfied when the grant is received, revenue is recognized upon receipt of the grant. Certain grants contain refund provisions. The Company reviews those refund provisions to determine the likelihood of repayment. If the likelihood of repayment of the grant is determined to be remote, the grant is recognized as revenue. If the probability of repayment is determined to be more than remote, the Company records the grant as a deferred revenue liability, until such time that the grant requirements have been satisfied.

Collaboration revenue

On July 1, 2015, the Company entered into the Collaboration Agreement.  This collaboration is discussed further in Note 6 to these financial statements.  The terms of this agreement and other potential collaboration or commercialization agreements the Company may enter into generally contain multiple elements, or deliverables, which may include, among others, (i) licenses, or options to obtain licenses, to its technology, and (ii) research and development activities to be performed on behalf of the collaborative partner.  Payments made under such arrangements typically include one or more of the following: non-refundable, up-front license fees; option exercise fees; funding of research and/or development efforts; milestone payments; and royalties on future product sales.  

Multiple element arrangements are analyzed to determine whether the deliverables within the agreement can be separated or whether they must be accounted for as a single unit of accounting.  Deliverables under an agreement are required to be accounted for as separate units of accounting provided that (i) a delivered item has value to the customer on a stand-alone basis; and (ii) if the agreement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered item, delivery or performance of the undelivered item is considered probable and substantially in the control of the vendor. The consideration received is allocated among the separate units of accounting using the relative selling price method, and the applicable revenue recognition criteria are applied to each of the separate units.  

The Company determines the estimated selling price for deliverables within each agreement using vendor-specific objective evidence ("VSOE") of selling price, if available, third-party evidence ("TPE") of selling price if VSOE is not available, or best estimate of selling price ("BESP") if neither VSOE nor TPE are available.  Determining the best estimate of selling price for a deliverable requires significant judgment.  The Company uses BESP to estimate the selling price related to licenses to its proprietary technology, since it often does not have VSOE or TPE of selling price for these deliverables.  In those circumstances where it utilizes BESP to determine the estimated selling price of a license to its

 

8


proprietary technology, the Company considers market conditions as well as entity-specific factors, including those factors contemplated in negotiating the agreements as well as internally developed models that include assumptions related to the market opportunity, estimated development costs, probability of success and the time needed to commercialize a product candidate pursuant to the license.  In validating its best estimate of selling price, the Company evaluates whether changes in the key assumptions used to determine the best estimate of selling price will have a significant effect on the allocation of arrangement consideration among multiple deliverables.  

If the delivered element does not have stand-alone value, the arrangement is then accounted for as a single unit of accounting and the Company recognizes the consideration received under the arrangement as revenue on a straight-line basis over its estimated period of performance.  The Company’s anticipated periods of performance, typically the terms of its research and development obligations, are subject to estimates by management and may change over the course of the collaboration agreement.  Such changes could have a material impact on the amount of revenue recorded in future periods.

Milestone revenue

The Company applies the milestone method of accounting to recognize revenue from milestone payments when earned, as evidenced by written acknowledgement from the collaborator or other persuasive evidence that the milestone has been achieved and the payment is non-refundable, provided that the milestone event is substantive.  A milestone event is defined as an event (i) that can only be achieved based in whole or in part on either the Company’s performance or on the occurrence of a specific outcome resulting from the Company’s performance; (ii) for which there is substantive uncertainty at the inception of the arrangement that the event will be achieved; and (iii) that would result in additional payments being due to the Company. Events for which the occurrence is either contingent solely upon the passage of time or the result of a counterparty’s performance are not considered to be milestone events. A milestone event is substantive if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the consideration is commensurate with either the Company’s performance to achieve the milestone, or the enhancement of the value to the delivered item(s) as a result of a specific outcome resulting from the Company’s performance to achieve the milestone; (ii) the consideration relates solely to past performance; and (iii) the consideration is reasonable relative to all the deliverables and payment terms (including other potential milestone consideration) within the arrangement.

The Company assesses whether a milestone is substantive at the inception of the arrangement. If a milestone is deemed substantive and the milestone payment is nonrefundable, the Company recognizes revenue upon the successful accomplishment of that milestone.  Where a milestone is deemed non-substantive, we account for that milestone payment in accordance with the multiple element arrangements guidance and recognize revenue consistent with the related units of accounting for the arrangement over the related performance period.

No milestone revenues were recognized during the quarter ended September 30, 2016.  During the quarter ended September 30, 2015, the Company recognized milestone revenue in the amount of $5.0 million.

Deferred revenue

Amounts received by the Company prior to satisfying the above revenue recognition criteria are recorded as deferred revenue on the balance sheet.  Amounts not expected to be recognized within 12 months of the balance sheet date are classified as non-current deferred revenue.

 

(h)

Research and development – Research and development costs include costs incurred in identifying, developing and testing product candidates and generally comprise compensation and related benefits and non-cash share-based compensation to research related employees; laboratory costs; animal and laboratory maintenance and supplies; rent; utilities; clinical and pre-clinical expenses; and payments for sponsored research, scientific and regulatory consulting fees and testing.

Research and development costs also include license and sub-license fees and other direct and incremental costs incurred pursuant to the negotiation of and entry into collaborative and other partnership arrangements.  Such costs associated with collaborative and other arrangements are expensed as incurred.

As part of the process of preparing its financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its accrued expenses. This process involves reviewing quotations and contracts, identifying services that have been performed on its behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for services for which the Company has not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of the actual cost.  The majority of the Company’s service providers invoice the Company monthly in arrears for services performed or when contractual milestones are met.  The Company makes estimates of its accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in its financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to it at that time.  The significant estimates in the Company’s accrued research and development expenses are related to expenses incurred with respect to academic research centers, contract research organizations, and other vendors in connection with research and development activities for which it has not yet been invoiced.

 

9


 


There may be instances in which the Company’s service providers
require advance payments at the inception of a contract or in which payments made to these vendors will exceed the level of services provided, resulting in a prepayment of the research and development expense. Such prepayments are charged to research and development expense as and when the service is provided or when a specific milestone outlined in the contract is reached.

Prepayments related to research and development activities were $1.8 million and $2.0 million at September 30, 2016 and June 30, 2016, respectively, and are included within the Prepaid and other current assets line item on the balance sheets.

 

 

(i)

Income taxes – The Company uses the asset and liability method for accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The Company is subject to examination of its income tax returns in the federal and state income tax jurisdictions in which it operates.  On December 28, 2015, the United States Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, notified the Company of an income tax audit for the tax period ending June 30, 2014.  As of September 30, 2016, the Company had no liability recorded as an uncertain tax benefit.  Currently, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the ultimate outcome of the IRS audit, however, it believes that it has followed applicable U.S. tax laws and will defend its income tax positions.

As of September 30, 2016 and June 30, 2016, the Company did not have any significant uncertain tax positions.

 

(j)

Share-based compensation – The Company accounts for share-based awards issued to employees in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation and generally recognizes share-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the periods during which the employees are required to provide service in exchange for the award.  In addition, the Company issues stock options and restricted shares of common stock to non-employees in exchange for consulting services and accounts for these in accordance with the provisions of ASC Subtopic 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-employees (“ASC 505-50”).  Under ASC 505-50, share-based awards to non-employees are subject to periodic fair value re-measurement over their vesting terms.

For purposes of calculating stock-based compensation, the Company estimates the fair value of stock options using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model.  The determination of the fair value of share-based payment awards utilizing the Black-Scholes model is affected by the Company’s stock price and a number of assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate and expected dividends.  If factors change and the Company employs different assumptions, stock-based compensation expense may differ significantly from what has been recorded in the past. If there is a difference between the assumptions used in determining stock-based compensation expense and the actual factors which become known over time, specifically with respect to anticipated forfeitures, the Company may change the input factors used in determining stock-based compensation costs for future grants. These changes, if any, may materially impact the Company’s results of operations in the period such changes are made.

 

(k)

Comprehensive income or loss – Comprehensive income or loss consists of net income or loss and changes in equity during a period from transactions and other equity and circumstances generated from non-owner sources. The Company’s net income or loss equals comprehensive income or loss for both periods presented.

 

(l)

New Accounting Pronouncements – In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) in order to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for those leases previously classified as operating leases under GAAP.  The standard requires, in most instances, a lessee to recognize on its balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and also a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term.  The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those periods, using a modified retrospective approach and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of this standard on its financial statements.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which amends ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation.  The amendments simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, forfeitures, and classification on the statement of cash flows.  The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of this standard on its financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance that requires companies to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange

 

10


for those goods or services. It also requires enhanced disclosures about revenue, provides guidance for transactions that were not previously addressed comprehensively, and improves guidance for multiple-element arrangements. The guidance applies to any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards. In July 2015, the FASB delayed the effective date of this guidance by one year.  The guidance is now effective for public companies for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 as well as interim periods within those annual periods using either the full retrospective approach or modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its financial statements.


 

11


(3)

Share-based Compensation Plans:

The Company uses stock options and awards of restricted stock to provide long-term incentives for its employees, non-employee directors and certain consultants.  The Company has two equity compensation plans under which awards are currently authorized for issuance, the 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the 2013 Equity and Incentive Plan.  No awards have been issued to date under the 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and all of the 128,571 shares previously authorized under this plan remain available for issuance.   A summary of the stock option activity for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price

 

 

Shares

 

 

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price

 

Outstanding at June 30,

 

 

2,037

 

 

$

13.71

 

 

 

1,484

 

 

$

11.83

 

Granted

 

 

337

 

 

 

15.53

 

 

 

372

 

 

 

18.41

 

Exercised

 

 

(5

)

 

 

3.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

(12

)

 

 

19.36

 

 

 

(26

)

 

 

9.57

 

Expired

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 30,

 

 

2,357

 

 

$

13.97

 

 

 

1,830

 

 

$

13.22

 

Exercisable at September 30,

 

 

1,093

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

500

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average fair value of options granted

   during the period

 

$

10.62

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

12.83

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, share-based expense related to stock options awarded to employees, non-employee directors and consultants amounted to approximately $1.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively.   

For the three months ended September 30, 2016, the Company did not incur any share-based expense associated with restricted share awards granted to employees and non-employee consultants.  For the three months ended September 30, 2015, share-based expense associated with restricted share awards granted to employees and non-employee consultants amounted to $98,000.

As of September 30, 2016, there was $13.4 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options.

 

 


 

12


(4)

Investments:

Cash in excess of immediate requirements is invested in accordance with the Company’s investment policy that primarily seeks to maintain adequate liquidity and preserve capital.

The following table summarizes the Company’s investments by category as of September 30, 2016 and June 30, 2016:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

June 30,

 

In thousands

 

2016

 

 

2016

 

Investments - Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

$

14,793

 

 

$

18,093

 

Debt securities - held-to-maturity

 

 

62,545

 

 

 

51,571

 

 

 

$

77,338

 

 

$

69,664

 

Investments - Noncurrent:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificates of deposit

 

$

981

 

 

$

2,544

 

Debt securities - held-to-maturity

 

 

32,459

 

 

 

71,639

 

 

 

$

33,440

 

 

$

74,183

 

 

 

A summary of the Company’s debt securities classified as held-to-maturity is as follows:

 

 

 

At September 30, 2016

 

In thousands

 

Amortized Cost

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Gains

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Fair Value

 

Investments - Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agency obligations

 

$

55,842

 

 

$

7

 

 

$

(10

)

 

 

55,839

 

Corporate obligations

 

 

6,703

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

6,702

 

 

 

$

62,545

 

 

$

7

 

 

$

(11

)

 

$

62,541

 

Investments - Noncurrent:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agency obligations

 

$

32,459

 

 

$

2

 

 

$

(35

)

 

$

32,426

 

 

 

$

32,459

 

 

$

2

 

 

$

(35

)

 

$

32,426

 

 

 

 

 

At June 30, 2016

 

In thousands

 

Amortized Cost

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Gains

 

 

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

 

 

Fair Value

 

Investments - Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agency obligations

 

$

40,609

 

 

$

12

 

 

$

(2

)

 

 

40,619

 

Corporate obligations

 

 

10,962

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

10,964

 

 

 

$

51,571

 

 

$

15

 

 

$

(3

)

 

$

51,583

 

Investments - Noncurrent:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. government and agency obligations

 

$

71,639

 

 

$

53

 

 

$

(11

)

 

$

71,681

 

 

 

$

71,639

 

 

$

53

 

 

$

(11

)

 

$

71,681

 

 


 

13


The amortized cost and fair value of held-to-maturity debt securities as of September 30, 2016, by contractual maturity, were as follows:

 

In thousands

 

Amortized Cost

 

 

Fair Value

 

Due in one year or less

 

$

62,545

 

 

$

62,541

 

Due after one year through two years

 

 

32,459

 

 

 

32,426

 

 

 

$

95,004

 

 

$

94,967

 

 

The Company believes that the unrealized losses disclosed above were primarily driven by interest rate changes rather than by unfavorable changes in the credit ratings associated with these securities and as a result, the Company continues to expect to collect the principal and interest due on its debt securities that have an amortized cost in excess of fair value. At each reporting period, the Company evaluates securities for impairment when the fair value of the investment is less than its amortized cost. The Company evaluated the underlying credit quality and credit ratings of the issuers, noting neither a significant deterioration since purchase nor other factors leading to an other-than-temporary impairment. Therefore, the Company believes these losses to be temporary. As of September 30, 2016, the Company did not have the intent to sell any of the securities that were in an unrealized loss position at that date.

 

 

(5)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Investments:

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value in the Company’s financial statements or have fair values disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. These assets and liabilities are classified into one of three levels of a hierarchy defined by GAAP. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular item to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, including the consideration of inputs specific to the asset or liability.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value and determine the fair value hierarchy classification of each class of financial instrument included in the table below:

Cash and Cash Equivalents. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value as maturities are less than three months.

Certificates of Deposit. The Company’s certificates of deposit are placed through an account registry service.  The fair value measurement of the Company’s certificates of deposit is considered Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy as the inputs are based on quoted prices for identical assets in markets that are not active.  The carrying amounts of the Company’s certificates of deposit reported in the balance sheets approximate fair value.

Debt securities – held-to-maturity. The Company’s investments in debt securities classified as held-to-maturity generally include U.S. Treasury Securities, government agency obligations, and corporate obligations. U.S. Treasury Securities are valued using quoted market prices. Valuation adjustments are not applied. Accordingly, U.S. Treasury Securities are considered Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of U.S. government agency obligations and corporate obligations are generally determined using recently executed transactions, broker quotes, market price quotations where these are available or other observable market inputs for the same or similar securities. As such, the Company classifies its investments in U.S. government agency obligations and corporate obligations within Level 2 of the hierarchy.

 

14


The following fair value hierarchy table presents information about each major category of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

 

In thousands

 

Quoted prices

in active

markets

(Level 1)

 

 

Significant

other observable inputs

(Level 2)

 

 

Significant unobservable

inputs

(Level 3)

 

 

Total Fair

Value

 

 

Total

Carrying

Value

 

September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

55,980

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

55,980

 

 

$

55,980

 

Certificates of deposit

 

 

 

 

 

15,770

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,770

 

 

 

15,774

 

Held-to-maturity investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate obligations

 

 

 

 

 

6,702

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,702

 

 

 

6,703

 

U.S. government and agency obligations

 

 

67,378

 

 

 

20,887

 

 

 

 

 

 

88,265

 

 

 

88,301

 

Total assets

 

$

123,358

 

 

$

43,359

 

 

$

 

 

$

166,717

 

 

$

166,758

 

June 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

28,868

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

28,868

 

 

$

28,868

 

Certificates of deposit

 

 

 

 

 

20,626

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,626

 

 

 

20,637

 

Held-to-maturity investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate obligations

 

 

 

 

 

10,964

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,964

 

 

 

10,962

 

U.S. government and agency obligations

 

 

73,809

 

 

 

38,491

 

 

 

 

 

 

112,300

 

 

 

112,248

 

Total assets

 

$

102,677

 

 

$

70,081

 

 

$

 

 

$

172,758

 

 

$

172,715

 

 

 


 

15


(6)     Collaboration Agreement with Biogen

On July 1, 2015, the Company entered into a Collaboration Agreement with Biogen, pursuant to which the Company and Biogen will collaborate to develop, seek regulatory approval for and commercialize gene therapy products to treat XLRS, XLRP, and discovery programs targeting three indications based on the Company’s adeno-associated virus vector technologies.  The Collaboration Agreement became effective on August 14, 2015.

Under the Collaboration Agreement, the Company will conduct all development activities through regulatory approval in the United States for the XLRS program, and all development activities through the completion of the first in human clinical trial for the XLRP program.  In addition, the Collaboration Agreement provides for discovery programs targeting three indications whereby the Company will conduct discovery, research and development activities for those additional drug candidates through the stage of clinical candidate designation, after which, Biogen may exercise an option to continue to develop, seek regulatory approval for and commercialize the designated clinical candidate.  In February 2016, the Company announced Biogen’s selection of adrenoleukodystrophy as the non-ophthalmic indication of the three discovery programs.  Under the terms of the Collaboration Agreement, the Company, in part through its participation in joint committees with Biogen, will participate in overseeing the development and commercialization of these specific programs.

The Company has granted to Biogen with respect to the XLRS and XLRP programs, and upon exercise of the option for the applicable discovery program, an exclusive, royalty-bearing license, with the right to grant sublicenses, to use adeno-associated virus vector technology and other technology controlled by the Company for the licensed products or discovery programs developed under the Collaboration Agreement.  Biogen and the Company have also granted each other worldwide licenses, with the right to grant sublicenses, of their respective interests in other intellectual property developed under the collaboration outside of the licensed products or discovery programs.

Biogen will also receive an exclusive license to use the Company’s proprietary manufacturing technology platform to make AAV vectors for up to six genes, three of which are at the Company’s discretion, in exchange for payment of milestones and royalties.

Activities under the Collaboration Agreement were evaluated under ASC 605-25, Revenue Recognition—Multiple Element Arrangements, as amended by ASU 2009-13, Revenue Recognition ("ASC 605-25"), to determine if they represented a multiple element revenue arrangement.  The Collaboration Agreement includes the following significant deliverables: (1) for each of the XLRS and XLRP programs, exclusive, royalty-bearing licenses, with the right to grant sublicenses, to use adeno-associated virus vector technology and other technology controlled by the Company for the purpose of researching, developing, manufacturing and commercializing licensed products developed under the arrangement (the “License Deliverables”); (2) for each of the three discovery programs, exercisable options to obtain exclusive licenses to develop, seek regulatory approval for and commercialize any of the designated clinical candidates under such discovery programs (the “Option Deliverables”); and (3) the performance obligations to conduct research and development activities through (a) regulatory approval in the United States, in the case of the XLRS program; (b) completion of the first in human clinical trial, in the case of the XLRP program; and (c) the stage of clinical candidate designation, in the case of each of the three discovery programs (the “R&D Activity Deliverables”).  

The Company determined that all of the License Deliverables and Option Deliverables did not have stand-alone value and did not meet the criteria to be accounted for as separate units of accounting under ASC 605-25.  The factors considered by the Company in making this determination included, among other things, the unique and specialized nature of its proprietary technology and intellectual property, and the development stages of each of the XLRS, XLRP and the discovery programs targeting three indications.  Accordingly, the License Deliverables under each of the XLRS and XLRP programs and the Option Deliverables under each of the discovery programs have been combined with the R&D Activity Deliverables associated with each related program and as a result, the Company’s separate units of accounting under its collaboration with Biogen, comprise the XLRS program, the XLRP program, and each of the three discovery programs.

Under the Collaboration Agreement, the Company received a non-refundable upfront payment of $94.0 million in August 2015 which it recorded as deferred revenue.  This upfront payment of $94.0 million was allocated among the separate units of accounting discussed above using the relative selling price method.  In addition to the Collaboration Agreement, on July 1, 2015, the Company also entered into an equity agreement with Biogen.  Under the terms of this equity agreement, Biogen purchased 1,453,957 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a purchase price equal to $20.63 per share, for an aggregate cash purchase price of $30.0 million which the Company also received in August 2015. The shares issued to Biogen represented approximately 8.1% of the Company’s outstanding common stock on a post-issuance basis, calculated on the number of shares that were outstanding at June 30, 2015, and constitute restricted securities that may not be resold by Biogen other than in a transaction registered under, or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Accounting standards for multiple element arrangements contain a presumption that separate contracts negotiated or entered into at or near to the same time with the same entity were likely negotiated as a package and should be evaluated as a single agreement.  The Company determined that the price of $20.63 paid by Biogen included a premium of $7.45 per share over the fair value of the company’s stock price, calculated based upon the stock price on the date of close of the agreement and adjusted for lack of marketability due to restrictions.  Accordingly, the total premium of $10.8 million was also recorded as deferred revenue and, together with the $94.0 million, allocated to the separate units of accounting identified above using the relative selling price method as discussed in Note 2 to these financial statements.  The Company

 

16


will record revenue based on the revenue recognition criteria applicable to each separate unit of accounting.  For amounts received up-front and initially deferred, the Company will recognize the deferred revenue on a straight-line basis over the estimated service periods in which it is required to perform the research and development activities associated with each unit of accounting, anticipated to be between 2 and 3 years.

During the three months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized revenue of approximately $11.8 million from its collaboration with Biogen.  Below is a summary of the components of the collaboration revenue:

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Amortization of non-refundable upfront fees

 

$

11,725

 

 

$

5,992

 

Milestone revenue

 

 

 

 

 

5,000

 

Other

 

 

47

 

 

 

 

Total collaboration revenue

 

$

11,772

 

 

$

10,992

 

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2015, the Company recorded $5.0 million of milestone revenue after having achieved a patient enrollment-based milestone under the Collaboration Agreement.  Other revenue is primarily comprised of reimbursable costs for post-funding development activities conducted by the Company.

As a result of the upfront payment of $94.0 million made by Biogen and achievement of the $5.0 million milestone as discussed above, the Company became liable to various research partner institutions for sub-license and other payments under existing agreements with such institutions.  These agreements obligate the Company to pay to each research partner institution, amounts that range from 5% to 10% of certain proceeds received from collaboration and other arrangements, including any milestone payments received under such arrangements.  As a result, the Company recorded total collaboration costs of approximately $12.0 million associated with such obligations during the three months ended September 30, 2015. These collaboration costs included $636,000 of expense that was settled during that period by the issuance of 40,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to a research partner institution, pursuant to the terms of the existing agreement with that institution. The remainder of these sub-license and milestone fees were fully paid in cash during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

 

The Company is also eligible to receive payments of up to $467.5 million based on the successful achievement of future milestones under the two lead programs and up to $592.5 million based on the exercise of the option for and the successful achievement of future milestones under the three discovery programs.  Biogen will pay revenue-based royalties for each licensed product at tiered rates ranging from high single digit to mid-teen percentages of annual net sales of the XLRS or XLRP products and at rates ranging from mid-single digit to low-teen percentages of annual net sales for the discovery products.  Due to the uncertainty surrounding the achievement of the future milestones, such payments were not considered fixed or determinable at the inception of the Collaboration Agreement and accordingly, will not be recognized as revenue unless and until they become earned.  The Company is not able to reasonably predict if or when the remaining milestones will be achieved.

 

 

17


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

The following discussion and analysis provides an overview of our financial condition as of September 30, 2016, and results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Condensed Financial Statements and accompanying notes, as well as our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2016.  In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates, assumptions and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include those discussed below and elsewhere in this report under “Part II, Other Information—Item 1A, Risk Factors.” Forward-looking statements include information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies and operations, financing plans, potential growth opportunities, potential market opportunities and the effects of competition. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” “would” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent our management’s plans, estimates, assumptions and beliefs only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

As used herein, except as otherwise indicated by context, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company” refer to Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation.

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company using gene therapy based on adeno-associated virus, or AAV, to develop genetic therapies to treat patients with inherited diseases.  Each treatment is precisely designed to address a specific genetic disorder.  Our most advanced gene therapy programs are designed to produce treatments that will restore visual function in patients with rare blinding diseases.  Genetic therapies are complex with interdependent components that must work in harmony.  Fifteen years of gene therapy experience allows us to design and construct all critical gene therapy components and bring them together to develop potentially effective treatments for patients.  We are committed to attracting and maintaining a team with a substantial breadth of clinical and scientific expertise who can foster an atmosphere of scientific growth and discovery.  

Our most advanced products consist of four ophthalmology development programs across three targets, X‑linked retinoschisis, or XLRS, X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, or XLRP, caused by mutations in the RPGR gene, and achromatopsia, or ACHM, caused by mutations in either the CNGB3 gene or the CNGA3 gene. These three inherited orphan diseases of the eye are caused by mutations in single genes that significantly affect visual function and currently lack effective medical treatments.  Our XLRS and XLRP programs are subject to our collaboration agreement with Biogen.  Our XLRS and CNGB3-related ACHM product candidates are currently in phase 1/2 human clinical trials, we recently filed an Investigational New Drug application, or IND, for our CNGA3-related ACHM product candidate, while our XLRP product candidate is in the preclinical stage.  Updates to our development pipeline goals include the following:

 

For our XLRS program, as of October 2016, we have enrolled a total of nine patients –six of whom are in the low dose group and three are in the middle dose group which completes those two groups.  Safety data to date has shown that our XLRS product candidate has been generally well tolerated, though we have observed mild to moderate ocular inflammation in the majority of patients, which resolved either without treatment or after treatment with topical or oral corticosteroids.  As specified in the clinical trial protocol, safety data from the first nine patients will be reviewed by a Data and Safety Monitoring Committee, or DSMC, before enrolling patients in the high dose group.

 

For our CNGB3-related ACHM product candidate, as of October 2016 we have enrolled three patients in the low dose group, which completes that group.  As specified in the clinical trial protocol, safety data from the first three patients will be reviewed by a DSMC before enrolling patients in the middle dose group.

 

For our CNGA3-related ACHM product candidate, we filed an IND with the United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, in October 2016 and began working with investigative sites to allow review by their Institutional Review Boards prior to initiating the Phase 1/2 clinical trial for that program.

 

For our XLRP product candidate, IND-enabling good laboratory practices, or GLP, toxicology studies are underway in two relevant disease models — a naturally occurring dog model and a RPGR knockout mouse model. After completion of these studies, we expect to submit an IND for that product candidate to the FDA in 2017.

 

As part of our partnership with Biogen, we are also developing new treatments for three additional indications, two of which are for ophthalmic diseases and one for a non-ophthalmic condition.  Biogen has designated adrenoleukodystrophy, or ALD,

 

18


 

as the non-ophthalmic discovery program under this partnership.  ALD is an X-linked genetic disorder that causes damage to the nervous system and adrenal glands, primarily in young boys.

 

We have other new product candidates in early stages of development that are solely owned by us, including several indications in our new otology initiative.

 

We are also conducting preclinical research to develop new product candidates for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, by leveraging our experience developing products in orphan ophthalmology and our work with a previous partner on a first generation product for wet AMD.

 

Since our inception in 1999, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to development efforts relating to our proof-of-concept programs in ophthalmology and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, or AAT deficiency, an inherited orphan lung disease, including activities to manufacture product in compliance with good manufacturing practices, preparing to conduct and conducting clinical trials of our product candidates, providing general and administrative support for these operations and protecting our intellectual property. We do not have any products approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales.  To date, we have financed our operations primarily through the sale of equity securities, proceeds from our collaboration with Biogen and, to a lesser extent, through research grants from third parties or milestone payments from a collaborator.

While we expect to continue to generate some revenue from partnering, we do not anticipate that we will generate revenue from product sales unless and until we successfully complete development and obtain regulatory approval for one or more of our product candidates, which we expect will take a number of years and which we believe is subject to significant uncertainty.  As a result, we expect to incur losses for the foreseeable future, and we expect these losses to increase as we continue our development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, our product candidates and begin to commercialize any approved products. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we are unable to predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when or if we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our financial statements. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to accrued expenses and share-based compensation.  We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

For a description of those of our accounting policies that, in our opinion, involve the most significant application of judgment or involve complex estimation and which could, if different judgments or estimates were made, materially affect our reported results of operations, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2016.    

New Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Note 2 to the condensed financial statements included in this quarterly report for further information on recently issued accounting standards.


 

19


Results of Operations

Comparison of three months ended September 30, 2016 to three months ended September 30, 2015

Revenue

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Increase

 

 

% Increase

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Collaboration revenue

 

$

11,772

 

 

$

10,992

 

 

$

780

 

 

 

7

%

Grant revenue

 

 

34

 

 

 

70

 

 

 

(36

)

 

 

(51

)%

Total revenue

 

$

11,806

 

 

$

11,062

 

 

$

744

 

 

 

7

%

 

Total revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $11.8 million compared to $11.1 million generated during the same period in 2015.  Collaboration revenue recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2016 resulted primarily from the amortization of upfront fees received under our collaboration with Biogen.  Collaboration revenue recorded in 2015 was comprised of the amortization of these upfront fees, beginning in August 2015, and also includes milestone revenue of $5.0 million that was recorded in the period following the achievement of a patient enrollment-based milestone pursuant to the terms of the collaboration agreement with Biogen. Grant revenue generated during the three months ended September 30, 2016 decreased compared to the three months ended September 30, 2015 due largely to reduced research and development activities under grant-funded projects.

 

Research and development expense

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Increase

 

 

% Increase

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Collaboration costs

 

$

 

 

$

12,034

 

 

$

(12,034

)

 

 

(100

)%

Outside program costs

 

 

2,280

 

 

 

3,057

 

 

 

(777

)

 

 

(25

)%

Employee-related costs

 

 

1,603

 

 

 

1,238

 

 

 

365

 

 

 

29

%

Share-based compensation

 

 

634

 

 

 

299

 

 

 

335

 

 

 

112

%

Laboratory supplies

 

 

362

 

 

 

191

 

 

 

171

 

 

 

90

%

Licenses and related fees

 

 

42

 

 

 

451

 

 

 

(409

)

 

 

(91

)%

Other

 

 

650

 

 

 

218

 

 

 

432

 

 

 

198

%

Total research and development expense

 

$

5,571

 

 

$

17,488

 

 

$

(11,917

)

 

 

(68

)%

 

Research and development expense for the three months ended September 30, 2016 decreased by $11.9 million to $5.6 million compared to the same period in 2015.  The decrease was largely driven by the impact of collaboration-related costs and license fees that were incurred in 2015 as a result of our entry into and receipt of fees and payments under the collaboration agreement with Biogen and which did not recur in 2016.  In addition, outside program costs decreased in 2016 compared to 2015 due largely to temporary delays encountered during the conduct of phase 1/2 human clinical trials for our XLRS and CNGB3-related ACHM product candidates.  The impact of these decreases was partially offset by higher employee-related and share-based compensation expenses and increased laboratory supply costs that were driven primarily by the hiring of additional employees and the incremental impact of new share-based incentives awarded in 2016.    

General and administrative expense

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Increase

 

 

% Increase

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

(Decrease)

 

 

 

(dollars in thousands)

 

Employee-related costs

 

$

1,021

 

 

$

614

 

 

$

407

 

 

 

66

%

Share-based compensation

 

 

786

 

 

 

824

 

 

 

(38

)

 

 

(5

)%

Legal and professional fees

 

 

285

 

 

 

473

 

 

 

(188

)

 

 

(40

)%

Other

 

 

754

 

 

 

876

 

 

 

(122

)

 

 

(14

)%

Total general and administrative expense

 

$

2,846

 

 

$

2,787

 

 

$

59

 

 

 

2

%

 

 

20


General and administrative expense for the three months ended September 30, 2016 increased by $59,000 to $2.8 million compared to the same period in 2015.  The increase was primarily driven by higher employee-related costs from the hiring of additional employees to support our continued expansion, partially offset by lower legal and professional fees.  The higher legal and professional fees incurred in 2015 were largely attributable to professional consultations associated with the negotiation and entry into our collaboration with Biogen.

Liquidity and capital resources

We have incurred cumulative losses and negative cash flows from operations since our inception in 1999, and as of September 30, 2016, we had an accumulated deficit of $86.4 million.  It will be several years, if ever, before we have a product candidate ready for commercialization. We expect that our research and development and general and administrative expenses will continue to increase and as a result, we anticipate that we will require additional capital to fund our operations, which we may raise through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings, other third-party funding, marketing and distribution arrangements and other collaborations, strategic alliances and licensing arrangements.

As of September 30, 2016, we had cash, cash equivalents, and investments totaling $166.8 million. We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, and investments at September 30, 2016 will be sufficient to enable us to advance planned preclinical studies and clinical trials for our lead product candidates and currently planned discovery programs for at least the next two years.

Cash in excess of immediate requirements is invested in accordance with our investment policy which primarily seeks to maintain adequate liquidity and preserve capital by generally limiting investments to certificates of deposit and investment-grade debt securities that mature within 24 months.  As of September 30, 2016, our cash and cash equivalents were held in bank accounts and money market funds, while our short and long-term investments consisted of certificates of deposit and corporate and government bonds, none of which mature more than 24 months after the balance sheet date, consistent with our investment policy that seeks to maintain adequate liquidity and preserve capital.  

Cash flows

The following table sets forth the primary sources and uses of cash for each of the periods set forth below:

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Net cash provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

$

(5,795

)

 

$

94,959

 

Investing activities

 

 

32,888

 

 

 

(13,097

)

Financing activities

 

 

19

 

 

 

19,211

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

$

27,112

 

 

$

101,073

 

Operating activities.  For the three months ended September 30, 2016, net cash used in operating activities was primarily the result of cash payments made for normal business operations and the impact of changes in our working capital accounts.  For the three months ended September 30, 2015, net cash provided by operating activities was primarily associated with the upfront cash proceeds of $104.8 million, which included an allocation of $10.8 million from the equity agreement, received during that period following our collaboration with Biogen.  Those cash proceeds were partially offset by the impact of the net loss incurred during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and changes in our working capital accounts.

Investing activities.  Net cash provided by investing activities for the three months ended September 30, 2016 consisted primarily of cash proceeds of $35.4 million from the maturity of investments, partially offset by cash outflows of $2.4 million related to the purchase of investments securities. For the three months ended September 30, 2015, net cash used in investing activities consisted primarily of cash outflows of $26.1 million related to the purchase of investment securities, partially offset by $13.0 million of proceeds from the maturity of investments.  

Financing activities.  Net cash provided by financing activities during the three months ended September 30, 2016 was associated with the exercise of common stock options.  For the three months ended September 30, 2015, net cash provided by financing activities of $19.2 million was primarily related to the shares of common stock purchased by Biogen pursuant to the equity agreement that was negotiated and entered into contemporaneously with the Biogen collaboration agreement in July 2015. 

 

 

21


Operating capital requirements

To date, we have not generated any revenue from product sales. We do not know when, or if, we will generate any revenue from product sales. We do not expect to generate significant revenue from product sales unless and until we obtain regulatory approval of and commercialize one of our current or future product candidates. We anticipate that we will continue to generate losses for the foreseeable future as we continue the development of, and seek regulatory approvals for, our product candidates, and begin to commercialize any approved products. We are subject to all of the risks incident in the development of new gene therapy products, and we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors that may adversely affect our business.

In order to complete the process of obtaining regulatory approval for our lead product candidates and to build the sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure that we believe will be necessary to commercialize our lead product candidates, if approved, we will require substantial additional funding.

 

 

 

 

22


ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Refer to Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a description of our market risks.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

As discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2016, our management has determined that we have a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting which relates to the design and operation of our closing and financial reporting processes. Refer to Part II, Item 9A, “Controls and Procedures,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2016 for a discussion of the actions that we have previously undertaken to remediate this material weakness. During the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we continued to: (a) provide functional and system training to employees and to prepare detailed documentation to clearly define key tasks and actions; (b) document and formalize our accounting policies and internal control processes and to help strengthen supervisory reviews by our management; and (c) design and implement monthly manual controls to manage our financial reporting close processes and to help ensure an adequate level of segregation of duties within our finance and accounting function.  Although we had not fully remediated this material weakness as of September 30, 2016, we continue to actively engage in the implementation of these and other remediation efforts to address this material weakness.  

Notwithstanding the material weakness described above, our management has concluded that the financial statements covered by this report present fairly, in all material respects, our financial position, results of operation and cash flows in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to us, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, we recognize that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, as ours are designed to do, and we necessarily were required to apply our judgment in evaluating whether the benefits of the controls and procedures that we adopt outweigh their costs.

As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of June 30, 2016 was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. As a result of the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting relating to the design and operation of our closing and financial reporting processes disclosed below, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at the reasonable assurance level as of September 30, 2016.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

As described under “Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financial reporting,” above, during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q we have taken and are taking remedial actions intended to correct material weaknesses in our system of internal controls over financial reporting, which remedial actions have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting. Except for those remedial actions, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


 

23


 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are not a party to any pending legal proceedings. However, because of the nature of our business, we may be subject at any particular time to lawsuits or other claims arising in the ordinary course of our business, and we expect that this will continue to be the case in the future.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Refer to Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2016 for a listing of our risk factors. There has been no material change in such risk factors since June 30, 2016.

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number

Description

 

 

3.1

Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, event date March 26, 2014, filed on April 1, 2014)

 

 

3.2

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, event date March 26, 2014, filed on April 1, 2014)

 

 

31.1*

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer of Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation

 

 

31.2*

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer of Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation

 

 

32.1**

Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation

 

 

101*

Interactive Data Files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (XBRL)

 

 

 

 

*

Filed herewith.

**

Furnished herewith.

 

 

 

 

24


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

APPLIED GENETIC TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

(Registrant)

 

 

By:

/s/ Lawrence E. Bullock

 

Lawrence E. Bullock

 

 

 

Date: November 8, 2016

 

 

 

25