UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 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, 2022 |
OR
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| |
| For the transition period from _________________ to _______________________ |
Commission file number: 001-38738
ETON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | | 37-1858472 |
(State of incorporation) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
21925 W. Field Parkway, Suite 235
Deer Park, Illinois 60010-7278
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (847) 787-7361
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act | | Trading Symbol | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share | | ETON | | Nasdaq Global Market |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. 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 (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter time 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, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ |
| | Emerging growth company | ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of October 31, 2022, Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc. had outstanding 25,297,037 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| | September 30, 2022 | | | December 31, 2021 | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | |
Current assets: | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 13,378 | | | $ | 14,406 | |
Accounts receivable, net | | | 1,498 | | | | 5,471 | |
Inventories | | | 481 | | | | 550 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | | 1,063 | | | | 3,177 | |
Total current assets | | | 16,420 | | | | 23,604 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Property and equipment, net | | | 73 | | | | 115 | |
Intangible assets, net | | | 4,973 | | | | 3,621 | |
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | | | 42 | | | | 104 | |
Other long-term assets, net | | | 12 | | | | 21 | |
Total assets | | $ | 21,520 | | | $ | 27,465 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | | | | | | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 1,054 | | | $ | 1,774 | |
Current portion of long-term debt | | | 708 | | | | 1,418 | |
Accrued liabilities | | | 2,899 | | | | 1,366 | |
Total current liabilities | | | 4,661 | | | | 4,558 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Long-term debt, net of discount and including accrued fees | | | 5,678 | | | | 5,262 | |
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion | | | — | | | | 15 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities | | | 10,339 | | | | 9,835 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11) | | | - | | | | - | |
| | | | | | | | |
Stockholders’ equity | | | | | | | | |
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 25,297,037 and 24,626,004 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively | | | 25 | | | | 25 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 115,202 | | | | 111,718 | |
Accumulated deficit | | | (104,046 | ) | | | (94,113 | ) |
Total stockholders’ equity | | | 11,181 | | | | 17,630 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | | $ | 21,520 | | | $ | 27,465 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| | 2022 | | | 2021 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
| | For the three months ended | | | For the nine months ended | |
| | September 30, | | | September 30, | | | September 30, | | | September 30, | |
| | 2022 | | | 2021 | | | 2022 | | | 2021 | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Licensing revenue | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 5,000 | | | $ | 14,000 | |
Product sales and royalties | | | 3,219 | | | | 775 | | | | 7,753 | | | | 1,739 | |
Total net revenues | | | 3,219 | | | | 775 | | | | 12,753 | | | | 15,739 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of sales: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Licensing revenue | | | — | | | | — | | | | 990 | | | | 1,500 | |
Product sales and royalties | | | 1,201 | | | | 654 | | | | 3,805 | | | | 955 | |
Total cost of sales | | | 1,201 | | | | 654 | | | | 4,795 | | | | 2,455 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Gross profit | | | 2,018 | | | | 121 | | | | 7,958 | | | | 13,284 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development | | | 744 | | | | 2,678 | | | | 3,052 | | | | 5,554 | |
General and administrative | | | 4,169 | | | | 3,290 | | | | 14,228 | | | | 10,539 | |
Total operating expenses | | | 4,913 | | | | 5,968 | | | | 17,280 | | | | 16,093 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Loss) income from operations | | | (2,895 | ) | | | (5,847 | ) | | | (9,322 | ) | | | (2,809 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other (expense) income: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest and other expense, net | | | (150 | ) | | | (247 | ) | | | (611 | ) | | | (731 | ) |
Gain on PPP loan forgiveness | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 365 | |
Gain on equipment sale | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 181 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income tax expense | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (loss) income | | $ | (3,045 | ) | | $ | (6,094 | ) | | $ | (9,933 | ) | | $ | (2,994 | ) |
Net loss (income) per share, basic | | $ | (0.12 | ) | | $ | (0.24 | ) | | $ | (0.40 | ) | | $ | (0.12 | ) |
Net loss (income) per share, diluted | | $ | (0.12 | ) | | $ | (0.24 | ) | | $ | (0.40 | ) | | $ | (0.12 | ) |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic | | | 25,365 | | | | 25,276 | | | | 25,066 | | | | 25,181 | |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted | | | 25,365 | | | | 25,276 | | | | 25,066 | | | | 25,181 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
For the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
(in thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Common Stock | | | Additional Paid-in | | | Accumulated | | | Total Stockholders’ | |
| | Shares | | | Amount | | | Capital | | | Deficit | | | Equity | |
Balances at June 30, 2022 | | | 25,272,037 | | | $ | 25 | | | $ | 114,218 | | | $ | (101,001 | ) | | $ | 13,242 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Stock-based compensation | | | — | | | | — | | | | 949 | | | | — | | | | 949 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Stock option exercises | | | 25,000 | | | | — | | | | 35 | | | | — | | | | 35 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (3,045 | ) | | | (3,045 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balances at September 30, 2022 | | | 25,297,037 | | | $ | 25 | | | $ | 115,202 | | | $ | (104,046 | ) | | $ | 11,181 | |
| | Common Stock | | | Additional Paid-in | | | Accumulated | | | Total Stockholders’ | |
| | Shares | | | Amount | | | Capital | | | Deficit | | | Equity | |
Balances at June 30, 2021 | | | 24,600,175 | | | $ | 25 | | | $ | 109,769 | | | $ | (89,058 | ) | | $ | 20,736 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Stock-based compensation | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,009 | | | | — | | | | 1,009 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Stock option exercises | | | 6,000 | | | | — | | | | 9 | | | | — | | | | 9 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (6,094 | ) | | | (6,094 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balances at September 30, 2021 | | | 24,606,175 | | | $ | 25 | | | $ | 110,787 | | | $ | (95,152 | ) | | $ | 15,660 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
(in thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| | Common Stock | | | Additional Paid-in | | | Accumulated | | | Total Stockholders’ | |
| | Shares | | | Amount | | | Capital | | | Deficit | | | Equity | |
Balances at December 31, 2021 | | | 24,626,004 | | | $ | 25 | | | $ | 111,718 | | | $ | (94,113 | ) | | $ | 17,630 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Stock-based compensation | | | — | | | | — | | | | 3,088 | | | | — | | | | 3,088 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Employee stock purchase plan | | | 47,585 | | | | — | | | | 117 | | | | — | | | | 117 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Stock option exercises | | | 25,000 | | | | — | | | | 35 | | | | — | | | | 35 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Warrant exercises | | | 598,448 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Warrant extensions | | | — | | | | — | | | | 244 | | | | — | | | | 244 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (9,933 | ) | | | (9,933 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balances at September 30, 2022 | | | 25,297,037 | | | $ | 25 | | | $ | 115,202 | | | $ | (104,046 | ) | | $ | 11,181 | |
| | Common Stock | | | Additional Paid-in | | | Accumulated | | | Total Stockholders’ | |
| | Shares | | | Amount | | | Capital | | | Deficit | | | Equity | |
Balances at December 31, 2020 | | | 24,312,808 | | | $ | 24 | | | $ | 107,797 | | | $ | (92,158 | ) | | $ | 15,663 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Stock-based compensation | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,518 | | | | — | | | | 2,518 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Stock option exercises | | | 144,233 | | | | 1 | | | | 338 | | | | — | | | | 339 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Employee stock purchase plan | | | 29,326 | | | | — | | | | 134 | | | | — | | | | 134 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common stock issued related to restricted stock units | | | 25,000 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Warrant exercises | | | 94,808 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (2,994 | ) | | | (2,994 | ) |
Net income (loss) | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (2,994 | ) | | | (2,994 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balances at September 30, 2021 | | | 24,606,175 | | | $ | 25 | | | $ | 110,787 | | | $ | (95,152 | ) | | $ | 15,660 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | Nine months ended September 30, 2022 | | | Nine months ended September 30, 2021 | |
Cash flows from operating activities | | | | | | | | |
Net loss | | $ | (9,933 | ) | | $ | (2,994 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | | | |
Stock-based compensation | | | 3,332 | | | | 2,518 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 1,522 | | | | 325 | |
Debt discount amortization | | | 96 | | | | 110 | |
Gain on forgiveness of debt | | | — | | | | (365 | ) |
Gain on sale of equipment | | | — | | | | (181 | ) |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Accounts receivable | | | 3,973 | | | | (337 | ) |
Inventories | | | 69 | | | | 908 | |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | | | 2,129 | | | | (283 | ) |
Accounts payable | | | (720 | ) | | | 699 | |
Accrued liabilities | | | 1,513 | | | | (4 | ) |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | | 1,981 | | | | 396 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from investing activities | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from sale of equipment | | | — | | | | 700 | |
Purchase of product license rights | | | (2,750 | ) | | | — | |
Purchases of property and equipment | | | (26 | ) | | | (5 | ) |
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | | | (2,776 | ) | | | 695 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities | | | | | | | | |
Repayment of long-term debt | | | (385 | ) | | | (150 | ) |
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan and stock option exercises | | | 152 | | | | 473 | |
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | | | (233 | ) | | | 323 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Change in cash and cash equivalents | | | (1,028 | ) | | | 1,414 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | | | 14,406 | | | | 21,295 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | | $ | 13,378 | | | $ | 22,709 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information | | | | | | | | |
Cash paid for interest | | $ | 545 | | | $ | 603 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 1 — Company Overview
Eton is an innovative pharmaceutical company focused on developing, acquiring, and commercializing innovative products to address unmet needs in patients suffering from rare diseases.
The Company currently has three commercial rare disease products, ALKINDI SPRINKLE® for the treatment of adrenocortical insufficiency, Carglumic Acid for the treatment of acute hyperammonemia due to N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) deficiency, and Betaine Anhydrous for the treatment of homocystinuria and has three additional product candidates in late-stage development. The Company is developing dehydrated alcohol injection, which has received Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of methanol poisoning, ZENEO® hydrocortisone autoinjector for the treatment of adrenal crisis, and ET-400.
In addition, the Company is entitled to royalties or milestone payments from six FDA-approved products that the Company developed and out-licensed. The products are Alaway® Preservative Free, EPRONTIA™, Cysteine Hydrochloride, Zonisade®, Biorphen®, and Rezipres®.
Note 2 — Liquidity Considerations
The Company currently believes its existing cash and cash equivalents of $13,378 as of September 30, 2022 along with revenues from approved products and additional milestone payments expected to be paid in 2022 will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months from the date of filing of this quarterly report. This estimate is based on the Company’s current assumptions, including assumptions relating to estimated sales and its ability to manage its spending. The Company could use its available capital resources sooner than currently expected. Accordingly, the Company could seek to obtain additional capital through equity financings, the issuance of debt or other arrangements. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to raise additional capital if needed or under acceptable terms, if at all. The sale of additional equity may dilute existing stockholders and newly issued shares could contain senior rights and preferences compared to currently outstanding common shares. The Company’s existing long-term debt obligation contains covenants and limits the Company’s ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to stockholders. If the Company experiences delays in product sales growth, completing its product development and obtaining regulatory approval for its other product candidates and is unable to obtain such additional financing, operations might need to be scaled back or discontinued.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 3 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The Company has prepared the accompanying condensed financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).
Unaudited Interim Financial Information
The accompanying interim condensed financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2022 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021. The financial data and other information disclosed in these notes related to the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 are also unaudited. The results for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2022, any other interim periods or any future year or period.
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 amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in these financial statements include, but are not limited to, provisions for uncollectible receivables and sales returns, valuation of inventories, useful lives of assets, the impairment of intangible assets, the accrual of research and development expenses and the valuation of common stock, stock options and warrants, and restricted stock units. Estimates are periodically reviewed in light of changes in circumstances, facts and experience. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. Actual results could differ from those estimates or assumptions.
Segment Information
The Company operates the business on the basis of a single reportable segment, which is the business of developing and commercializing prescription drug products. The Company’s chief operating decision-maker is the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), who evaluates the Company as a single operating segment.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. All cash and cash equivalents are held in U.S. financial institutions or invested in short-term U.S. treasury bills or high-grade money market funds. As of September 30, 2022, the Company’s cash is in a non-interest bearing account as well as a government money market fund. From time to time, amounts deposited with its bank exceed federally insured limits. The Company believes the associated credit risk to be minimal.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and are non-interest bearing. Accounts receivable are recorded net of allowances for doubtful accounts, cash discounts for prompt payment, distribution fees, chargebacks and returns and allowances. The total for these reserves amounted to $448 and $96 as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.
Inventories
The Company values its inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the first-in, first-out method of valuation. The Company reviews its inventories for potential excess or obsolete issues on an ongoing basis and will record a write-down if an impairment is identified. Inventories at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 consist solely of purchased finished goods. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 inventories are shown net of a reserve for its Biorphen product of $0 and $1,414, respectively, due to the risk of expiry before this entire stock of inventories is sold.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 3 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of property and equipment is computed utilizing the straight-line method based on the following estimated useful lives: computer hardware and software is depreciated over three years; equipment, furniture and fixtures is depreciated over five years; leasehold improvements are amortized over their estimated useful lives or the remaining lease term, whichever is shorter. Construction in progress is capitalized but not depreciated until it is placed into service.
Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, while renewals and improvements are capitalized.
Intangible Assets
The Company capitalizes payments it makes for licensed products when the payment relates to an FDA-approved product and the cost is recoverable based on expected future cash flows from the product. The cost is amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the product commencing on the approval date in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350 — Intangibles - Goodwill and Other. In November 2021, the Company purchased the rights for its Carglumic Acid product for $3,250 and that cost is being amortized over ten years. A $750 payment related to the approval of Biorphen had been capitalized in 2019 and that cost was being amortized over five years. As a result of the Biorphen sale to Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories S.A. (“Dr. Reddy’s”) (see Note 11), amortization of that asset was accelerated to record $275 of expense in June 2022 with $75 remaining to be amortized through December 31, 2022. A $750 payment related to the approval of Rezipres had been capitalized in Q1 2022 and that cost was being amortized over five years. As a result of the sale to Dr. Reddy’s, amortization of the Rezipres asset was accelerated to record the remaining $738 in the three-month period ended June 30, 2022. In September 2022, the Company purchased the rights for its Betaine Anhydrous product for $2,000 and that cost is being amortized over five years. The intangible assets, net on the Company’s balance sheet reflected $1,777 of accumulated amortization as of September 30, 2022. The Company recorded $135 and $1,398, respectively, of amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. During the periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company reclassified certain amortization expense of intangible assets to cost of sales to conform with the current period presentation. The table below shows the estimated remaining amortization for these products for each of the five years from 2022 to 2026 and thereafter.
Schedule of Intangible Assets Amortization Expense
| | | | |
Year | | Amortization Expense | |
Remainder of 2022 | | $ | 219 | |
2023 | | | 725 | |
2024 | | | 725 | |
2025 | | | 725 | |
2026 | | | 725 | |
Thereafter | | | 1,854 | |
Total estimated amortization expense | | $ | 4,973 | |
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized in the Company’s statements of operations for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. No impairment has been recognized since the Company’s inception in 2017.
Debt Issuance Costs and Debt Discount and Detachable Debt-Related Warrants
Costs incurred to issue debt are deferred and recorded as a reduction to the debt balance in the accompanying balance sheets. The Company amortizes debt issuance costs over the expected term of the related debt using the effective interest method. Debt discounts related to the relative fair value of warrants issued in conjunction with the debt and are also recorded as a reduction to the debt balance and accreted over the expected term of the debt to interest expense using the effective interest method.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 3 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Revenue Recognition for Contracts with Customers
The Company accounts for contracts with its customers in accordance with ASC 606 — Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASC 606 applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards. Under ASC 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.
At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied. Arrangements that include rights to additional goods or services that are exercisable at a customer’s discretion are generally considered options. The Company assesses whether these options provide a material right to the customer and, if so, they are considered performance obligations. The exercise of a material right is accounted for as a contract modification for accounting purposes.
The Company recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) each performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time or over time, and if over time this is based on the use of an output or input method. Any amounts received prior to revenue recognition will be recorded as deferred revenue. Amounts expected to be recognized as revenue within the twelve months following the balance sheet date will be classified as current portion of deferred revenue in the Company’s balance sheets. Amounts not expected to be recognized as revenue within the twelve months following the balance sheet date are classified as long-term deferred revenue, net of current portion.
Milestone Payments – If a commercial contract arrangement includes development and regulatory milestone payments, the Company will evaluate whether the milestone conditions have been achieved and if it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur before recognizing the associated revenue. Milestone payments that are not within the Company’s control or the licensee’s control, such as regulatory approvals, are generally not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received.
Royalties – For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on a level of sales, which are the result of a customer-vendor relationship and for which the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, the Company will recognize revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied or partially satisfied.
Significant Financing Component – In determining the transaction price, the Company will adjust consideration for the effects of the time value of money if the expected period between payment by the licensees and the transfer of the promised goods or services to the licensees will be more than one year.
The Company sells its Alkindi Sprinkle and Carglumic Acid product to one pharmacy distributor customer which provides order fulfilment and inventory storage/distribution services. The Company may sell products in the U.S. to wholesale pharmaceutical distributors, who then sell the product to hospitals and other end-user customers. Sales to wholesalers are made pursuant to purchase orders subject to the terms of a master agreement, and delivery of individual shipments represent performance obligations under each purchase order. The Company uses a third-party logistics (“3PL”) vendor to process and fulfill orders and has concluded it is the principal in the sales to wholesalers because it controls access to the 3PL vendor services rendered and directs the 3PL vendor activities. The Company has no significant obligations to wholesalers to generate pull-through sales.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 3 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
For its Alkindi Sprinkle and Carglumic Acid products, the Company bills at the initial product list price which are subject to offsets for patient co-pay assistance and potential state Medicaid reimbursements which are recorded as a reduction of net revenues at the date of sale/shipment. Selling prices initially billed to wholesalers are subject to discounts for prompt payment and subsequent chargebacks when the wholesalers sell products at negotiated discounted prices to members of certain group purchasing organizations (“GPOs”) and government programs. Because of the shelf life of the product and the Company’s lengthy return period, there may be a significant period of time between when the product is shipped and when it issues credits on returned product.
The Company estimates the transaction price when it receives each purchase order taking into account the expected reductions of the selling price initially billed to the wholesaler/distributor arising from all of the above factors. The Company has developed estimates for future returns and chargebacks and the impact of other discounts and fees it pays, although Alkindi Sprinkle and Carglumic Acid sales are not subject to returns. When estimating these adjustments to the transaction price, the Company reduces it sufficiently to be able to assert that it is probable that there will be no significant reversal of revenue when the ultimate adjustment amounts are known.
The Company stores its Alkindi Sprinkle and Carglumic Acid inventory at its pharmacy distributor customer location, and sales are recorded when stock is pulled and shipped to fulfill specific patient orders. The Company recognizes revenue and cost of sales from products sold to wholesalers upon delivery to the wholesaler location. At that time, the wholesalers take control of the product as they take title, bear the risk of loss of ownership and have an enforceable obligation to pay the Company. They also have the ability to direct sales of product to their customers on terms and at prices they negotiate. Although wholesalers have product return rights, the Company does not believe they have a significant incentive to return the product.
Upon recognition of revenue from product sales, the estimated amounts of credit for product returns, chargebacks, distribution fees, prompt payment discounts, state Medicaid and GPO fees are included in sales reserves, accrued liabilities and net accounts receivable. The Company monitors actual product returns, chargebacks, discounts and fees subsequent to the sale. If these amounts end up differing from its estimates, it will make adjustments to these allowances, which are applied to increase or reduce product sales revenue and earnings in the period of adjustment.
In addition, the Company anticipates it will receive revenues from product licensing agreements where it has contracted for milestone payments and royalties from products it has developed or acquired.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales consists of the profit-sharing and royalty fees with the Company’s product licensing and development partners, the purchase costs for finished products from third-party manufacturers, freight and handling/storage costs from the Company’s 3PL logistics service providers, and amortization expense of certain intangible assets. The cost of sales for profit-sharing and royalty fees and costs for purchased finished products and the associated inbound freight expense is recorded when the associated product sale revenue is recognized in accordance with the terms of shipment to customers while outbound freight and handling/storage fees charged by the 3PL service provider are expensed as they are incurred. Cost of sales also reflects any write-downs or reserve adjustments for the Company’s inventories.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 3 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development (“R&D”) expenses include both internal R&D activities and external contracted services. Internal R&D activity expenses include salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation and other costs to support the Company’s R&D operations. External contracted services include product development efforts such as certain product licensor milestone payments, clinical trial activities, manufacturing and control-related activities and regulatory costs. R&D expenses are charged to operations as incurred. The Company reviews and accrues R&D expenses based on services performed and relies upon estimates of those costs applicable to the stage of completion of each project. Significant judgments and estimates are made in determining the accrued balances at the end of any reporting period. Actual results could differ from the Company’s estimates.
Upfront payments and milestone payments made for the licensing of products that are not yet approved by the FDA are expensed as R&D in the period in which they are incurred. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in R&D activities are recorded as prepaid expenses and are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed.
Income (Loss) Per Share
Basic net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders for the period by the weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares, such as unvested restricted stock, stock options and warrants that are outstanding during the period. Common stock equivalents are excluded from the computation when their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022, common stock equivalents of 5,349,891 and 5,118,574, respectively, are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share because the effect is anti-dilutive. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, common stock equivalents of 4,339,508 and 4,279,400, respectively, are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share because the effect is anti-dilutive. Included in the basic and diluted net income (loss) per share calculation are RSUs awarded to employees or directors that have vested, but the issuance and delivery of the common shares are deferred until the director retires from service as a director.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation under the provisions of ASC — 718 Compensation — Stock Compensation. The guidance under ASC 718 requires companies to estimate the fair value of the stock-based compensation awards on the date of grant and record expense over the related service periods, which are generally the vesting period of the equity awards. The Company estimates the fair value of stock-based option awards using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model (“BSM”). The BSM requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility, the calculation of expected term, forfeitures and the fair value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant, among other inputs. The risk-free interest rate was determined from the implied yields for zero-coupon U.S. government issues with a remaining term approximating the expected life of the options or warrants. Dividends on common stock are assumed to be zero for the BSM valuation of the stock options. The expected term of stock options granted is based on vesting periods and the contractual life of the options. Expected volatilities are based on comparable companies’ historical volatility along with a limited weighting included for the Company’s own volatility, which management believes represents the most accurate basis for estimating expected future volatility under the current conditions. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. The Company uses the closing common stock price on the date of grant for the fair value of the common stock.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 3 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Fair Value Measurements
We measure certain of our assets and liabilities at fair value. Fair value represents the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value accounting requires characterization of the inputs used to measure fair value into a three-level fair value hierarchy as follows:
Level 1 — Inputs based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market is a market in which transactions occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
Level 2 — Observable inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent from the entity.
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that reflect the entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available.
Fair value measurements are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, which may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. The determination of the fair values stated below take into account the market for the Company’s financials, assets and liabilities, the associated credit risk and other factors as required. The Company considers active markets as those in which transactions for the assets or liabilities occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
The Company’s financial instruments included cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and long-term debt obligation. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments, except for the long-term debt obligation, approximate their fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. Based on borrowing rates currently available to the Company, the carrying value of the long-term debt obligation approximates its fair value.
Impact of New Accounting Pronouncements
There were no new accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB during the period that would apply to the Company would have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 4 – Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consist of the following:
Schedule of Property and Equipment
| | | | | | | | |
| | September 30, 2022 | | | December 31, 2021 | |
Computer hardware and software | | $ | 177 | | | $ | 157 | |
Furniture and fixtures | | | 112 | | | | 106 | |
Equipment | | | 52 | | | | 132 | |
Leasehold improvements | | | 71 | | | | 71 | |
Property and equipment, gross | | | 412 | | | | 466 | |
Less: accumulated depreciation | | | (339 | ) | | | (351 | ) |
Property and equipment, net | | $ | 73 | | | $ | 115 | |
Depreciation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $14 and $24, respectively. Depreciation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $53 and $132, respectively. The decrease in depreciation expense was associated with the closure of the Company’s laboratory facility and sale of its equipment in 2021.
Note 5 — Long Term Debt
SWK Loan
On November 13, 2019, the Company entered into a credit agreement (the “SWK Credit Agreement”) with SWK Holdings Corporation (“SWK”) which provided for up to $10,000 in financing. The Company received proceeds of $5,000 at closing and was able to borrow an additional $5,000 upon the FDA approval of a second product developed by the Company, excluding its EM-100/Alaway Preservative-Free eye allergy product (“EM-100”). In March 2020, in conjunction with the Company’s Alkindi Sprinkle product licensing agreement (see Note 11) and the Company’s March 2020 sale of additional shares of its common stock, the Company and SWK amended the SWK Credit Agreement. The amendment provided the Company with the option to immediately draw $2,000 and the ability to borrow an additional $3,000 based upon the FDA approval of EM-100 and Alkindi Sprinkle which subsequently occurred in September 2020. Accordingly, the Company borrowed an additional $2,000 on August 11, 2020. The term of the SWK Credit Agreement is for five years and borrowings bear interest at a rate of LIBOR 3-month plus 10.0%, subject to a stated LIBOR floor rate of 2.0%. A 2.0% unused credit limit fee was assessed during the first twelve months after the date of the SWK Credit Agreement and loan fees include a 5.0% exit fee based on the principal amounts drawn which is payable at the end of the term of the SWK Credit Agreement. The Company was required to maintain a minimum cash balance of $3,000, only pay interest on the debt until February 2022 and then pay 5.5% of the loan principal balance commencing on February 15, 2022 and then every three months thereafter until November 13, 2024 at which time the remaining principal balance is due. Borrowings under the SWK Credit Agreement are secured by the Company’s assets. The SWK Credit Agreement contains customary default provisions and covenants which include limits on additional indebtedness. In March 2020, SWK provided a waiver for the Company to obtain loans with the Small Business Association. In February 2021, the Company notified SWK that it will not require additional borrowing capacity under the SWK Credit Agreement and terminated the additional borrowing capacity with SWK.
In connection with the initial $5,000 borrowed in November 2019, the Company issued warrants to SWK to purchase 51,239 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $5.86 per share. The relative fair value of these 51,239 warrants was $226 and was estimated using BSM with the following assumptions: fair value of the Company’s common stock at issuance of $5.75 per share; seven-year contractual term; 95% volatility; 0% dividend rate; and a risk-free interest rate of 1.8%.
In connection with the additional $2,000 borrowed in August 2020, the Company issued warrants for 18,141 shares of its common stock at an exercise price of $6.62 per share. The relative fair value of the 18,141 warrants was $94 and was estimated using BSM with the following assumptions: fair value of the Company’s common stock at issuance of $6.85 per share; seven-year contractual term; 95% volatility; 0% dividend rate; and a risk-free interest rate of 0.4%.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 5 — Long Term Debt (continued)
These warrants (the “SWK Warrants”) are exercisable immediately and have a term of seven years from the date of issuance. The SWK Warrants are subject to a cashless exercise feature, with the exercise price and number of shares issuable upon exercise subject to change in connection with stock splits, dividends, reclassifications and other conditions.
Interest expense of $699 was recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2022, which included $96 of debt discount amortization. Interest expense of $766 was recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, which included $110 of debt discount amortization. As of September 30, 2022, $191 of accrued interest is included in accrued liabilities.
On April 5, 2022, the Company and SWK entered into an amendment to the SWK Credit Agreement which allowed for a deferral of loan principal payments until May 2023 and reduced the interest rate to LIBOR 3-month plus 8.0%, subject to a stated LIBOR floor rate of 2.0%. In accordance with the change, the Company has classified $708 as principal due in the next 12 months and the remainder classified as long-term debt in its balance sheet at September 30, 2022. Because LIBOR was intended to be phased out by the end of 2021, future borrowings under our Credit Agreement could be subject to reference rates other than LIBOR. However, the cessation date has been deferred to June 30, 2023 and we do not expect the planned discontinuation of LIBOR to have a material impact on interest payments incurred under the SWK Credit Agreement. The company is in discussions with SWK regarding an alternate reference rate.
The table below reflects the future payments for the SWK loan principal and interest as of September 30, 2022.
Schedule of Future Payments of Long Term Debt
| | | | |
| | Amount | |
2022 | | $ | 186 | |
2023 | | | 1,740 | |
2024 | | | 6,504 | |
Total payments | | | 8,430 | |
Less: amount representing interest | | | (1,815 | ) |
Loan payable, gross | | | 6,615 | |
Less: current portion of long-term debt | | | (708 | ) |
Less: unamortized discount | | | (229 | ) |
Long-term debt, net of unamortized discount | | $ | 5,678 | |
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 6 — Common Stock
The Company has 50,000,000 authorized shares of $0.001 par value common stock under its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, a holder of the Company’s common stock warrants exercised 600,000 warrants on a cashless basis and the Company issued 598,448 shares of its common stock in connection with the warrant exercise. The intrinsic value of the warrant exercise was $2,268. In June 2022, the Company issued 47,585 shares of its common stock to employees in accordance with its Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”).
Note 7 — Common Stock Warrants
The Company’s outstanding warrants to purchase shares of its common stock at September 30, 2022 are summarized in the table below.
Summary of Warrants Outstanding
Description of Warrants | | No. of Shares | | | Exercise Price | |
Placement Agent Warrants – 2017 Preferred Stock Offering | | | 467,242 | | | $ | 3.00 | |
Placement Agent Warrants - IPO | | | 414,000 | | | $ | 7.50 | |
SWK Warrants – Debt – Tranche #1 | | | 51,239 | | | $ | 5.86 | |
SWK Warrants – Debt – Tranche #2 | | | 18,141 | | | $ | 6.62 | |
Total | | | 950,622 | | | $ | 5.18 (Avg) | |
The holders of these warrants or their permitted transferees, are entitled to rights with respect to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) for their shares that are converted to common stock, including demand registration rights and piggyback registration rights. These rights are provided under the terms of a registration rights agreement between the Company and the investors.
On June 26, 2022, 467,242 warrants from the 2017 preferred stock offering with an exercise price of $3.00 were set to expire. Prior to the expiration, the Company entered into an agreement with the warrant holders, whereby it modified the terms of the warrants to extend the expiration date until December 26, 2022 in exchange for the Company retaining the option of a cashless exercise provision. No other terms were modified. Due to this modification, the Company incurred a modification expense of $244 that is included in general and administration expense on the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2022.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 8 — Share-Based Payment Awards
The Company’s board of directors and stockholders approved the Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2017 Equity Incentive Plan in May 2017 (the “2017 Plan”), which authorized the issuance of up to 5,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. In conjunction with the Company’s IPO in November 2018, the Company’s stockholders and board of directors approved the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended in December 2020, the “2018 Plan”) which succeeded the 2017 Plan. The Company has granted restricted stock awards (“RSAs”), stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) for its common stock under the 2017 Plan and 2018 Plan as detailed in the tables below. There were 673,773 shares available for future issuance under the 2018 Plan as of September 30, 2022.
Shares that are expired, terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised will be available for future awards under the 2018 Plan. In addition, the 2018 Plan provides that commencing January 1, 2019 and through January 1, 2028, the share reserve will be increased annually by 4% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding as of the preceding December 31, subject to a reduction at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors. The exercise price for stock options granted is not less than the fair value of common stock as determined by the board of directors as of the date of grant. The Company uses the closing stock price on the date of grant as the exercise price.
To date, all stock options issued have been non-qualified stock options, and the exercise prices were set at the fair value for the shares at the dates of grant. Options typically have a ten-year life, except for options to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock granted to product consultants in July 2017 that expired, unexercised, in July 2022 as the Company was not able to file certain product submissions to the FDA prior to the five-year expiration date. Furthermore, these option awards to the Company’s product consultants would not vest unless certain product submissions are made to the FDA, and accordingly, the Company has not recorded any expense for these contingently vesting option awards to its product consultants.
In July 2022 and September 2022, the Company’s board of directors approved modifications of certain outstanding awards of two senior executives, one of whom retired in May 2022 and the other whose employment was terminated in July 2022. The combined awards had an exercise price range of $1.37 to $8.61 which were set to expire 90 days after retirement or termination as the case may be, and the Company extended the expiration dates to April 2023. No other terms were modified. Due to these modifications, the Company incurred a modification expense of approximately $16 and $88 that is included in general and administration expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022, respectively.
For the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company’s total stock-based compensation expense was $ and $1,009, respectively. Of these amounts, $893 and $838 was recorded in general and administrative expenses, respectively, and $56 and $171 was recorded in research and development expenses, respectively.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company’s total stock-based compensation expense was $3,332 and $2,518, respectively. Of these amounts, $3,102 and $2,110 was recorded in general and administrative expenses, respectively, and $230 and $408 was recorded in research and development expenses, respectively.
Stock Options
The following table summarizes stock option activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2022:
Summary of Stock Option Activity
| | Shares | | | Weighted Average Exercise Price | | | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Yrs) | | | Aggregate Intrinsic Value | |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2021 | | | 3,513,719 | | | $ | 5.22 | | | | | | | | | |
Issued | | | 1,268,770 | | | $ | 3.76 | | | | | | | | | |
Exercised | | | (25,000 | ) | | $ | 1.38 | | | | | | | | | |
Forfeited/Cancelled | | | (420,197 | ) | | $ | 6.04 | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding as of September 30, 2022 | | | 4,337,292 | | | $ | 4.73 | | | | 7.7 | | | $ | 437 | |
Exercisable at September 30, 2022 | | | 2,789,537 | | | $ | 4.63 | | | | 7.1 | | | $ | 401 | |
Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2022 | | | 4,287,292 | | | $ | 4.77 | | | | 7.7 | | | $ | 401 | |
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 8 — Share-Based Payment Awards (continued)
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 at September 30, 2022 for those stock options that had strike prices lower than the fair value of the Company’s common stock.
Stock-based compensation related to stock options was $853 and $2,850 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively. As of September 30, 2022, there was a total of $4,532 of unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested stock option awards. The weighted average grant date fair value of stock option awards for the nine-months ended September 30, 2022 was $2.38 per share. In the nine-month period ended September 30, 2022, there was one stock option exercise which totaled 25,000 shares at an exercise price of $1.38 per share with an intrinsic value of $31. In the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, stock option exercises totaled 144,233 shares at an average exercise price of $2.35 per share with an intrinsic value of $682.
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
The following table summarizes restricted stock unit activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2022:
Schedule of Restricted Stock Unit Activity
| | Number of Units | | | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value Per Unit | |
Outstanding and unvested as of December 31, 2021 | | | — | | | $ | — | |
Granted | | | 373,606 | | | $ | 2.63 | |
Vested | | | — | | | | — | |
Forfeited | | | (4,000 | ) | | $ | 2.63 | |
Outstanding and unvested as of September 30, 2022 | | | 369,606 | | | $ | 2.63 | |
Stock-based compensation related to RSUs was $53 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. As of September 30, 2022, there was $919 of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested RSUs which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 4 years.
The Company’s 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) provides for an initial reserve of 150,000 shares and this reserve is automatically increased on January 1 of each year by the lesser of 1% of the outstanding common shares at December 31 of the preceding year or 150,000 shares, subject to reduction at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors. As of September 30, 2022, there were 582,595 shares available for issuance under the ESPP.
The annual offerings consist of two stock purchase periods, with the first purchase period ending in June and the second purchase period ending in December. The terms of the ESPP permit employees of the Company to use payroll deductions to purchase stock at a price per share that is at least the lesser of (1) 85% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the first date of an offering or (2) 85% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of purchase. After the initial offering period ended, subsequent twelve-month offering periods automatically commence over the term of the ESPP on the day that immediately follows the conclusion of the preceding offering, each consisting of two purchase periods approximately six months in duration.
For the first nine months of 2022 and 2021 there were 47,585 and 29,326 share issuances, respectively, under the ESPP. The weighted average grant date fair value of share awards in the first nine months of 2022 and 2021 was $1.32 and $2.83, respectively. Employees contributed $174 and $192 via payroll deductions during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Company recorded an expense of $97 and $83 related to the ESPP in the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the accompanying condensed balance sheets include $65 and $22, respectively, in accrued liabilities for remaining employee ESPP contributions.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 9 — Related-Party Transactions
Harrow
The Chief Executive Officer of Harrow Health, Inc. (“Harrow”) was a member of the Company’s board of directors until March 17, 2021 when he retired from service with the board. The Company issued 25,000 shares to the Harrow CEO in April 2021 after his retirement from the Company’s board associated with RSU’s that were previously fully vested. As of September 30, 2022, Harrow owned 1,982,000 shares of Eton’s common shares which represents 7.8% of the Company’s common shares outstanding.
In March 2021, the Company closed its laboratory operation in Lake Zurich, Illinois and in May 2021 it reached an agreement for Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Harrow, to purchase its lab equipment for $700 which was $181 above the Company’s net book value of the equipment.
Chief Executive Officer
The CEO has a partial interest in a company that the Company has partnered with for its EM-100/Alaway Preservative Free eye allergy product as described below.
The Company acquired the exclusive rights to sell the EM-100 product in the United States pursuant to a sales and marketing agreement (the “Eyemax Agreement”) dated August 11, 2017 between the Company and Eyemax LLC (“Eyemax”), an entity affiliated with the Company’s CEO. The Company also held a right of first refusal to obtain the exclusive license rights for geographic areas outside of the United States. Pursuant to the Eyemax Agreement, the Company was responsible for all costs of testing and FDA approval of the product, other than the FDA filing fee which was paid by Eyemax. The Company was also to be responsible for commercializing the product in the United States at its expense. The Company paid Eyemax $250 upon execution of the Eyemax Agreement, which was recorded as a component of R&D expense. Under the terms of the original agreement, the Company would pay Eyemax $250 upon FDA approval and $500 upon the first commercial sale of the product and pay Eyemax a royalty of 10% on the net sales of all products. The Eyemax Agreement was for an initial term of 10 years from the date of the Eyemax Agreement, subject to successive two-year renewals unless the Company elected to terminate the Eyemax Agreement.
On February 18, 2019, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Agreement with Eyemax amending the Sales Agreement (the “Amended Agreement”). Pursuant to the Amended Agreement, Eyemax sold the Company all of its right, title and interest in EM-100, including any such product that incorporates or utilizes Eyemax’s intellectual property rights. Under the Amended Agreement, the Company assumed certain liabilities of Eyemax under its Exclusive Development & Supply Agreement with Excelvision SAS dated as of July 11, 2013, as amended (the “Excelvision Agreement”), with respect to certain territories and arising during certain time periods. Pursuant to the Amended Agreement, the Company paid Eyemax two milestone payments: (i) one milestone payment for $250 upon regulatory approval in the territory by the FDA of the first single agent product and (ii) one milestone payment for $500 following the first commercial sale of the first single agent product in the territory. Following payment of the milestones, the Company is entitled to retain all of the non-royalty transaction revenues and royalties up to $2,000 (the “Recovery Amount”). After the Company has retained the full Recovery Amount, it is entitled to retain half of all royalty and non-royalty transaction revenue. The Company has realized $1,799 of the non-royalty and royalty revenue as of September 30, 2022. The Amended Agreement also contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities by the parties. The EM-100 asset and its associated product rights were sold to Bausch Health on February 18, 2019 and future potential royalties of twelve percent on Bausch Health sales of the product, named Alaway® Preservative Free by Bausch, which was approved by the FDA in September 2020, will be split between Eyemax and the Company. The royalty from Bausch Health is subject to reduction if a competitive product with the same active pharmaceutical ingredient is launched in the U.S. or if the product’s U.S market share falls below a specified target percentage.
There were no amounts due to Eyemax under the terms of the Amended Agreement as of September 30, 2022 or December 31, 2021.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 10 — Leases
The Company recognizes a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for substantially all leases, including operating leases, and separates lease components from non-lease components related to its office space lease.
The Company’s operating lease cost as presented in the “Research and Development” and “General and Administrative” captions in the condensed statements of operations was $0 and $22, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and $0 and $21, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2021. The Company’s operating lease cost as presented in the “Research and Development” and “General and Administrative” captions in the condensed statements of operations was $0 and $64, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and $9 and $64, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities was $66 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The ROU asset amortization for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022 was $21 and $62, respectively, and is reflected within depreciation and amortization on the Company’s condensed statements of cash flows. The ROU asset amortization for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 was $20 and $69, respectively, and is reflected within depreciation and amortization on the Company’s condensed statements of cash flows. As of September 30, 2022, the weighted-average remaining lease term was 0.5 years, and the weighted-average incremental borrowing rate was 5.4%.
The table below presents the lease-related assets and liabilities recorded on the balance sheet as of September 30, 2022 (in thousands).
Schedule of Lease-related Assets and Liabilities
Assets | | Classification | | | |
Operating lease right-of-use assets | | Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | | $ | 42 | |
Total leased assets | | | | $ | 42 | |
Liabilities | | | | | | |
Operating lease liabilities, current | | Accrued liabilities | | $ | 36 | |
Total operating lease liabilities | | | | $ | 36 | |
The Company’s future lease commitments for its administrative offices in Deer Park, Illinois as of September 30, 2022 is as indicated below:
Schedule of Future Lease Commitments
| | Total | | | 2022 | | | 2023 | | | 2024 | | | Thereafter | |
Undiscounted lease payments | | $ | 37 | | | | 22 | | | | 15 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Less: Imputed interest | | | (1 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total lease liabilities | | $ | 36 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The Company is evaluating its future facility needs and has not renewed its lease which expires on March 31, 2023.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 11 — Commitments and Contingencies
Legal
The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims that may arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company is not aware of any pending or threatened litigation matters at this time that may have a material impact on the operations of the Company.
License and product development agreements
The Company has entered into various agreements in addition to those discussed above which are described below.
The Company acquired the exclusive rights to sell the Cysteine Hydrochloride product in the United States pursuant to a sales and marketing agreement dated November 17, 2017 with an unaffiliated third party (the “Sales Agreement”). Pursuant to the Sales Agreement, the licensor is responsible for obtaining FDA approval, at its expense, and the Company was responsible for commercializing the product in the United States at its expense. In February 2020, the Sales Agreement was amended and under the revised terms, the Company would be responsible for paragraph IV related litigation and will be entitled to 62.5% of product profit. The initial term was for the first 10 years following the first commercial sale of the product.
On February 8, 2019, the Company entered into an Exclusive Licensing and Supply Agreement (the “ET-202 License Agreement”) with Sintetica SA (“Sintetica”) for marketing rights in the United States to Biorphen® which is used for the treatment of clinically important hypotension resulting primarily from vasodilation in the setting of anesthesia. The product was submitted to the FDA for review and subsequently received FDA approval on October 21, 2019. Pursuant to the terms of the ET-202 License Agreement, the Company is responsible for marketing activities and Sintetica is responsible for development, manufacturing, and the regulatory activities related to approval. Sintetica is entitled to receive the first $500 of product profits and all additional profit would be split 50% to the Company and 50% to Sintetica. The ET-202 License Agreement has a ten-year term from the first commercial sale of Biorphen which occurred in November 2019.
On February 8, 2019, the Company also entered into an Exclusive Licensing and Supply Agreement (the “ET-203 License Agreement”) with Sintetica for marketing rights in the United States to ephedrine HCl (brand name Rezipres®), an injectable product candidate for use in the hospital setting. Pursuant to the terms of the ET-203 License Agreement, the Company will be responsible for marketing activities and Sintetica will be responsible for development, manufacturing, and regulatory activities related to obtaining regulatory approval. The product was successfully resubmitted in late 2020 and the Company paid a $600 milestone fee in July 2021 and paid $750 in April 2022 after the first commercial sale of the product in March 2022. Sintetica is entitled to receive the first $500 of product profits and all additional profit would be split 50% to the Company and 50% to Sintetica. The ET-203 License Agreement has a ten-year term from first commercial sale of product which occurred in March 2022.
In June 2022, the Company sold its rights in the three aforementioned products Cysteine Hydrochloride, Biorphen®, and Rezipres® to Dr. Reddy’s. Under the terms of the transaction, Dr. Reddy’s assumed immediate ownership of Eton’s rights and interest in the products. Eton will continue to sell its existing Biorphen inventory until the end of 2022. The Company received $5,000 at closing, recorded as licensing revenue in the three months ended June 30, 2022, and would receive up to $45,000 of additional payments based on the achievement of certain event-based and sales-based milestones. Of the $5,000 received at closing, $250 was held in escrow to address potential indemnity claims during the 12-month period following the effective date of the agreement. In addition, 10% of any additional payments paid by Dr. Reddy’s during the 12-month period following the effective date will be held in escrow and subsequently released to Eton upon expiration of the 12-month period following the effective date. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, $812 of Sintetica profit share receivables were expensed as cost of goods sold in the three months ended June 30, 2022.
The three oral solution pediatric neurology product candidates discussed below, Topiramate, Zonisamide and Lamotrigine were developed by the Company and its various product candidate development partners, and the Company subsequently sold all its rights and interests in these three products to Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Azurity”) in 2021. The Company has recognized $17,000 in milestone revenues to date from these three products and may receive up to $25,000 in additional milestone revenues related to FDA product approvals and the future sales levels for the products. Azurity has assumed royalty or profit share obligations owed to development partners as well as additional milestone payments based on sales volume targets.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 11 — Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, the Company worked with Tulex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Tulex”) as a third-party contract manufacturer to develop an oral solution for Topiramate (fka ET-101) which targets a neurological condition. The Company subsequently filed the product with the FDA in October 2020, received approval from the FDA in November 2021, and the product was launched by Azurity in December 2021. The Company recognized a $5,000 milestone revenue at launch which was reflected in accounts receivable on the Company’s balance sheet at December 31, 2021 and subsequently collected in January 2022.
On January 23, 2019, the Company entered into a Licensing and Supply Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Liqmeds Worldwide Limited (“LMW”) for Zonisamide oral liquid, a development stage product candidate (“ET-104”). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company was responsible for regulatory and marketing activities and LMW was responsible for development and manufacturing of ET-104. The Company will pay $650 upon issuance of patent covering ET-104 listed in the FDA’s Orange Book and $500 in the event that product sales in excess of $10,000 were achieved within a calendar year. In addition, the Company was required to pay the licensor 35% of the net profit from product sales. The Agreement was for an initial term of 10 years from the date of the first commercial sale of the product. The Company was to retain sole ownership of the NDA after expiration of the Agreement.
On June 12, 2019, the Company entered into an Exclusive Licensing and Supply Agreement (the “ET-105 License Agreement”) with Aucta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Aucta”) for marketing rights in the United States to Lamotrigine, an oral suspension product candidate for use as an adjunct therapy for partial seizures, primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and generalized seizures of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in patients two years of age and older. Pursuant to the terms of the ET-105 License Agreement, the Company was to be responsible for marketing activities and Aucta will be responsible for development, manufacturing, and regulatory activities related to obtaining regulatory approval. The Company will pay $2,450 upon FDA approval and commercial sales of the product candidate and another $1,000 upon issuance of an Orange-book listed patent. If Aucta successfully completes a Lamotrigine product line extension product, Eton will pay $1,500 upon FDA acceptance of the product filing, $1,500 upon FDA approval and commercial sales of the extension product candidate and $450 if the intellectual property for the extension product is transferred to Azurity. Aucta will be entitled to receive milestone payments from the Company of up to $3,000 based on commercial success of the product, including $1,000 when net sales exceed $10 million in a calendar year, and $2,000 when net sales exceed $20 million in a calendar year.
On March 27, 2020, the Company entered into an Exclusive Licensing and Supply Agreement (the “Alkindi License Agreement”) with Diurnal Limited (“Diurnal”) for marketing Alkindi Sprinkle in the United States. Alkindi Sprinkle’s New Drug Application (“NDA”) was approved by the FDA on September 29, 2020 as a replacement therapy in pediatric patients with adrenocortical insufficiency.
For the initial licensing milestone fee, the Company paid Diurnal $3,500 in cash and issued 379,474 shares of its common stock to Diurnal which were valued at $1,264 based on the Company’s closing stock price of $3.33 on March 26, 2020. The total amount of $4,764 was recorded as a component of research and development expense in the Company’s statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020. The Company will also pay Diurnal $2,500 if the product obtains orphan drug exclusivity status from the FDA.
On June 15, 2021, the Company acquired U.S. and Canadian rights to Crossject S.A.’s (“Crossject”) ZENEO® hydrocortisone needleless autoinjector, which is under development as a rescue treatment for adrenal crisis. The Company paid Crossject $500 upon signing, $500 in March 2022 upon a completion of a successful technical batch and could pay up to $4,000 in additional development milestones and up to $6,000 in commercial milestones, as well as a 10% royalty on net sales.
On October 28, 2021, the Company acquired the U.S. marketing rights to Carglumic Acid Tablets. The product’s Abbreviated New Drug Application (“ANDA”), which is owned by Novitium Pharma, was approved by the FDA on October 12, 2021. The product is an AB-rated, substitutable generic version of Carbaglu®. The Company paid $3,250 upon signing and retains 50% of the product profits with the balance being distributed to the licensor and manufacturer. The Company launched this product in December 2021.
On September 13, 2022, the Company acquired an FDA approved ANDA for Betaine Anhydrous for oral solution. The ANDA was approved by the FDA on January 28, 2022. The Company paid $2,000 upon signing and could pay up to $1,000 in commercial milestones. The Company will retain 65% of the product profits with the balance being distributed to the licensor.
Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 11 — Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
Indemnification
As permitted under Delaware law and in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, the Company is required to indemnify its officers and directors for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is or was serving in such capacity. The Company is also party to indemnification agreements with its directors and officers. The Company believes the fair value of the indemnification rights and agreements is minimal. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded any liabilities for these indemnification rights and agreements as of September 30, 2022 or December 31, 2021.
Note 12 — Subsequent Events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the filing date of this Form 10-Q and has determined that no subsequent events have occurred that would require recognition in the condensed financial statements or disclosure in the notes thereto.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with (i) our unaudited interim condensed financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and (ii) our audited financial statements and notes thereto and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations Included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 16, 2022 (the “2021 10-K”).
Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), including, without limitation, statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or future strategies that are signified by the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “plan”, “seek” or similar language. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based on information available to us on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Our business and financial performance are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. In evaluating our business, you should carefully consider other matters set forth in our SEC filings including the Risk Factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A of our 2021 10-K.
Overview
We are an innovative pharmaceutical company focused on developing, acquiring, and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical products that fulfill an unmet need in patients suffering from rare diseases. The Company currently has three commercial rare disease products, ALKINDI SPRINKLE® for the treatment of adrenocortical insufficiency, Carglumic Acid for the treatment of acute hyperammonemia due to N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) deficiency, and Betaine Anhydrous for the treatment of homocystinuria, and has three additional product candidates in late-stage development. The Company is developing dehydrated alcohol injection, which has received Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of methanol poisoning, ZENEO® hydrocortisone autoinjector for the treatment of adrenal crisis, and ET-400.
In addition, the Company is entitled to royalties or milestone payments from six FDA-approved products that the Company developed and out-licensed. The products are Alaway® Preservative Free, EPRONTIATM, Cysteine Hydrochloride, Zonisade®, Biorphen®, and Rezipres®.
Results of Operations
For the three months ended September 30, 2022, we had $3,219 in total revenue that generated a gross profit of $2,018. We had total revenue of $775 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2021 that generated a gross profit of $121 for the period.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we had $12,753 in revenue from licensing, product sales and royalties which included $5,000 of revenue from the Dr. Reddy’s agreement and generated total gross profit of $7,958. We had total revenue of $15,739 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 which reflected Azurity and Bausch milestone revenues of $14,000 plus product sales and royalty revenues which generated a total gross profit of $13,284 for the period.
Research and Development Expenses
For the three months ended September 30, 2022, we incurred $744 of research and development (“R&D”) expenses as compared to the $2,678 for the same period in 2021. The decrease was primarily due to a $1,100 fee to Sintetica in 2021 related to the Biorphen vial and Rezipres vial projects, and decreased development costs for our other new product candidates.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we incurred $3,052 of R&D expenses as compared to the $5,554 for the same period in 2021. The decrease was primarily due to a $500 fee to Crossject upon execution of the agreement for ZENEO hydrocortisone autoinjector development in 2021, a $1,100 fee to Sintetica related to the Biorphen vial and Rezipres vial projects, and decreased development costs for our other new product candidates.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses consist primarily of employee compensation expenses, legal and professional fees, product marketing expenses, distribution expenses, business insurance, travel expenses and general office expenses.
For the three-month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, we incurred $4,169 and $3,290, respectively, of G&A expenses. The increase in G&A expenses was mainly due to incremental marketing and compensation to support our product sales growth, partially offset by decreased legal and consulting expenses.
For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, we incurred $14,228 and $10,539, respectively, of G&A expenses. The increase in G&A expenses was mainly due to incremental marketing, legal, and compensation to support our product sales growth.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2022, we had total assets of $21.5 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $13.4 million and we had working capital of $11.8 million. We had previously capitalized our operations from the June 2017 private placement of approximately $20.1 million of Series A preferred stock which converted into shares of our common stock concurrent with our IPO in November 2018 and also the IPO which provided us with net proceeds of $22.0 million. In addition, we entered into a Credit Agreement with SWK Holdings in November 2019 whereby we drew a $5.0 million loan amount at closing and an additional $2.0 million in August 2020. In March and April 2020, we received net proceeds of approximately $7.8 million from the sale of shares of our common stock, and in October 2020, we received net proceeds of approximately $21.0 million from a public offering of our common stock at an offering price of $7.00 per share. We believe that our existing funding, revenues from our approved products and additional milestone payments expected to be received in 2022 will be sufficient for at least the next twelve months of our operations. However, our projected estimates for our product development spending, administrative expenses and our working capital requirements could be inaccurate, or we may experience growth more quickly or on a larger scale than we expect, any of which could result in the depletion of capital resources more rapidly than anticipated and could require us to seek additional financing earlier than we expect to support our operations.
Cash Flows
The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022 and 2021:
| | Nine months ended September 30, 2022 | | | Nine months ended September 30, 2021 | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | $ | 1,981 | | | $ | 396 | |
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities | | | (2,776 | ) | | | 695 | |
Cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities | | | (233 | ) | | | 323 | |
Change in cash and cash equivalents | | $ | (1,028 | ) | | $ | 1,414 | |
The decrease in cash provided by (used in) investing activities was primarily the result of a $700 sale of lab equipment in 2021, a $750 Rezipres milestone payment to Sintetica in 2022, and a $2,000 payment related to the acquisition of Betaine Anhydrous in 2022. The 2022 financing activities included an initial payment on our loan principal (see Note 5) whereas the 2021 financing activity was primarily the result of stock option exercises.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our condensed financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The preparation of our condensed financial statements and related disclosures requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, costs and expenses in our condensed financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that we believe are 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. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
While our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in Note 3 to our financial statements included herein, we believe that the following accounting policies are those most critical to the judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
We account for contracts with our customers in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606 — Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASC 606 applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards. Under ASC 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.
At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of ASC 606, we assess the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. We then recognize as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied. Arrangements that include rights to additional goods or services that are exercisable at a customer’s discretion are generally considered options. We assess whether these options provide a material right to the customer and, if so, they are considered performance obligations. The exercise of a material right is accounted for as a contract modification for accounting purposes.
We recognize as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) each performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time or over time, and if over time this is based on the use of an output or input method. Any amounts received prior to revenue recognition will be recorded as deferred revenue. Amounts expected to be recognized as revenue within the twelve months following the balance sheet date will be classified as current portion of deferred revenue in our balance sheets. Amounts not expected to be recognized as revenue within the twelve months following the balance sheet date are classified as long-term deferred revenue, net of current portion.
Milestone Payments – If a commercial contract arrangement includes development and regulatory milestone payments, we will evaluate whether the milestone conditions have been achieved and if it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur before recognizing the associated revenue. Milestone payments that are not within our control or the licensee’s control, such as regulatory approvals, are generally not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received.
Royalties – For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on a level of sales, which are the result of a customer-vendor relationship and for which the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties relate, we will recognize revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur, or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied or partially satisfied.
Significant Financing Component – In determining the transaction price, we will adjust consideration for the effects of the time value of money if the expected period between payment by the licensees and the transfer of the promised goods or services to the licensees will be more than one year.
We sell our Alkindi Sprinkle product to one pharmacy distributor customer which provides order fulfillment and inventory storage/distribution services. We may sell products in the U.S. to wholesale pharmaceutical distributors, who then sell the product to hospitals and other end-user customers. Sales to wholesalers are made pursuant to purchase orders subject to the terms of a master agreement, and delivery of individual shipments of products represent performance obligations under each purchase order. We use a third-party logistics (“3PL”) vendor to process and fulfill orders and have concluded it is the principal in the sales to wholesalers because it controls access to the 3PL vendor services rendered and directs the 3PL vendor activities. We have no significant obligations to wholesalers to generate pull-through sales.
For our Alkindi Sprinkle product, we bill at the initial product list prices which are subject to offsets for patient co-pay assistance and potential state Medicaid reimbursements which are recorded as a reduction of net revenues at the date of sale/shipment. Selling prices initially billed to wholesalers are subject to discounts for prompt payment and subsequent chargebacks when products are sold at negotiated discounted prices to members of certain group purchasing organizations (“GPOs”) and government programs. In addition, we pay fees to wholesalers for their distribution services, inventory reporting and chargeback processing. We pay GPOs fees for administrative services and for access to GPO members and concluded the benefits received in exchange for these fees are not distinct from our sales, and accordingly we apply these amounts to reduce revenues. Wholesalers also have rights to return eligible, unsold product nearing or past the expiration date. Because of product shelf life and our lengthy return period, there may be a significant period of time between when the product is shipped and when we issue credits on returned product.
We estimate the transaction price when we receive each purchase order, taking into account the expected reductions of the selling price initially billed to the wholesaler arising from all of the above factors. We have developed estimates for future returns and chargebacks and the impact of the other discounts and fees we pay. Our sales of Alkindi Sprinkle to our distributor are not subject to returns. When estimating these adjustments to the transaction price, it is sufficiently reduced to be able to assert that it is probable that there will be no significant reversal of revenue when the ultimate adjustment amounts are known.
We store our Alkindi Sprinkle inventory at our pharmacy distributor customer location and sales are recorded when stock is pulled and shipped to fulfill specific patient orders. We may recognize revenue from other product sales and related cost of sales upon product delivery to the wholesaler location. At that time, the wholesalers take control of the product as they take title, bear the risk of loss of ownership, and have an enforceable obligation to pay us. They also have the ability to direct sales of product to their customers on terms and at prices they negotiate. Although wholesalers have product return rights, we do not believe they have a significant incentive to return the product to us.
Upon recognition of revenue from product sales, the estimated amounts of credit for product returns, chargebacks, distribution fees, prompt payment discounts, state Medicaid and GPO fees are included in sales reserves, accrued liabilities and net accounts receivable. We monitor actual product returns, chargebacks, discounts and fees subsequent to the sale. If these amounts end up differing from our estimates, we will make adjustments to these allowances, which are applied to increase or reduce product sales revenue and earnings in the period of adjustment.
Stock-Based Compensation
We account for stock-based compensation under the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) – 718 Compensation – Stock Compensation. The guidance under ASC 718 requires companies to estimate the fair value of the stock-based compensation awards on the date of grant and record expense over the related service periods, which are generally the vesting period of the equity awards. Compensation expense is recognized over the period during which services are rendered by consultants and non-employees until completed. At the end of each financial reporting period prior to completion of the service, the fair value of these awards is remeasured using the then-current fair value of our common stock and updated assumption inputs in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model (“BSM”).
We estimate the fair value of stock-based option awards to our using the BSM. The BSM requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility, the calculation of expected term, forfeitures and the fair value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant, among other inputs. The risk-free interest rate was determined from the implied yields for zero-coupon U.S. government issues with a remaining term approximating the expected life of the options or warrants. Dividends on common stock are assumed to be zero for the BSM valuation of the stock options. The expected term of stock options granted is based on vesting periods and the contractual life of the options. Expected volatilities are based on comparable companies’ historical volatility along with a limited weighting included for our own volatility subsequent to our IPO, which we believe represents the most accurate basis for estimating expected future volatility under the current conditions. We account for forfeitures as they occur.
Prior to our initial public offering in November 2018, the fair value of the shares of common stock underlying our stock-based awards was determined by our board of directors, with input from management. Because there had been no public market for our common stock prior to the IPO, our board of directors had determined the fair value of the common stock on the grant-date of the stock-based award by considering a number of objective and subjective factors, including enterprise valuations of our common stock performed by an unrelated third-party specialist, valuations of comparable companies, sales of our convertible preferred stock to unrelated third parties, operating and financial performance, the lack of liquidity of our capital stock, and general and industry-specific economic outlook. Following our IPO, we use the closing stock price on the date of grant for the fair value of the common stock.
Research and Development Expenses
R&D expenses include both internal R&D activities and external contracted services. Internal R&D activity expenses include salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation and other costs to support our R&D operations. External contracted services include product development efforts including certain product licensor milestone payments, clinical trial activities, manufacturing and control-related activities and regulatory costs. R&D expenses are charged to operations as incurred. We review and accrue R&D expenses based on services performed and rely upon estimates of those costs applicable to the stage of completion of each project. Significant judgments and estimates are made in determining the accrued balances at the end of any reporting period. Actual results could differ from our estimates.
Upfront payments and milestone payments made for the licensing of technology for products that are not yet approved by the FDA are expensed as R&D in the period in which they are incurred. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in R&D activities are recorded as prepaid expenses and are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed.
Off Balance Sheet Transactions
We do not have any off-balance sheet transactions.
JOBS Act Transition Period
In April 2012, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), was enacted. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Thus, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this extended transition period and, as a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for other public companies.
We are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on other exemptions and reduced reporting requirements under the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions, as an emerging growth company, we may rely on certain of these exemptions, including without limitation, (i) providing an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and (ii) complying with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements, known as the auditor discussion and analysis. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier to occur of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) December 31, 2023, which is the end of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our IPO, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenues of at least $1.07 billion or (c) in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the rules of the SEC, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve capital. We do not utilize hedging contracts or similar instruments. We are exposed to certain market risks relating primarily to interest rate risk on our cash and cash equivalents invested during the period and risks relating to the financial viability of the institutions which hold our capital and through which we have invested our funds. We manage such risks by investing in short-term, liquid, highly-rated instruments. As of September 30, 2022, our cash is in a non-interest bearing account as well as a government money market fund. We do not currently have exposure to foreign currency risk.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
The design of any disclosure controls and procedures also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
With respect to the nine-month period ended September 30, 2022, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operations of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon this evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Management does not expect that our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control systems are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, no evaluation of internal control over financial reporting can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been or will be detected.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There has not been any change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the period ended September 30, 2022 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
None.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
We operate in a dynamic and rapidly changing environment that involves numerous risks and uncertainties. Certain factors may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations, and you should carefully consider them. Other events that we do not currently anticipate or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our results of operations and financial condition.
You should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our 2021 10-K, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, cash flows or future results. The risk factors described in our 2021 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on March 16, 2022, are not the only risks facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or future results.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
Not applicable.
Item 6. Exhibits
The exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index are either filed or furnished with this report or incorporated herein by reference.
EXHIBIT INDEX
* | These certifications are 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. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| ETON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. |
| | |
November 10, 2022 | By: | /s/ Sean E. Brynjelsen |
| | Sean E. Brynjelsen |
| | President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | (Principal Executive Officer) |
| | |
| By: | /s/ James R. Gruber |
| | James R. Gruber |
| | Chief Financial Officer |
| | (Principal Financial Officer) |