美國
證券交易委員會
華盛頓特區20549
形式
(Mark一)
根據1934年證券交易法第13或15(d)條提交的年度報告 |
日終了的財政年度
或
根據1934年證券交易法第13或15(d)條提交的過渡報告 |
委員會文件號:
(註冊人章程中規定的確切名稱) |
(州或其他司法管轄區 | (國稅局僱主 | |
公司或組織) | 識別號) |
(主要行政辦公室地址) | (Zip代碼) |
(註冊人的電話號碼,包括地區代碼)
根據該法第12(b)條登記的證券:
每個班級的標題: |
| 交易符號 |
| 註冊的每個交易所的名稱 |
|
| 的 | ||
|
| 的 |
根據該法第12(g)條登記的證券: 沒有一
如果註冊人是《證券法》第405條所定義的知名經驗豐富的發行人,則通過勾選標記進行驗證。是的
如果註冊人無需根據該法案第13條或第15(d)條提交報告,則通過勾選標記進行驗證。是的
通過勾選標記標明註冊人是否(1)在過去12個月內(或在註冊人被要求提交此類報告的較短期限內)提交了1934年證券交易法第13或15(d)條要求提交的所有報告,以及(2)在過去90天內是否已遵守此類提交要求。
通過勾選標記檢查註冊人是否已在過去12個月內(或在要求註冊人提交此類文件的較短期限內)以電子方式提交了根據S-t法規第405條要求提交的所有交互數據文件。
通過複選標記來確定註冊人是大型加速申報人、加速申報人、非加速申報人、小型報告公司還是新興成長型公司。請參閱《交易法》第120億.2條規則中「大型加速備案人」、「加速備案人」、「小型報告公司」和「新興成長型公司」的定義。
大型加速文件夾 | ☐: | 加速編報公司 | ☐: |
☒ | 小型上市公司 | ||
|
| 新興成長型公司 |
如果是新興成長型公司,請通過勾選標記表明註冊人是否選擇不利用延長的過渡期來遵守根據《交易法》第13(a)條規定的任何新的或修訂的財務會計準則。
通過勾選標記檢查註冊人是否已提交報告並證明其管理層根據《薩班斯-奧克斯利法案》(15 U.S.C.)第404(b)條對其財務報告內部控制有效性的評估7262(b))由編制或發佈審計報告的註冊會計師事務所執行。
如果證券是根據該法案第12(b)條登記的,請通過勾選標記表明文件中包含的登記人的財務報表是否反映了對先前發佈報表的錯誤的更正。☐
通過勾選標記檢查這些錯誤更正是否是需要根據第240.10D-1(b)條對註冊人的任何高管在相關恢復期內收到的激勵性補償進行恢復分析的重述。☐
通過勾選標記檢查註冊人是否是空殼公司(定義見該法案第120億.2條規則)。是的
根據2024年6月28日納斯達克資本市場普通股收盤價,註冊人非關聯公司持有的有投票權和無投票權普通股的總市值約爲美元
截至2025年3月11日,登記人普通股的流通股數量(每股面值0.0001美元)爲
通過引用併入的文獻
沒有。
DERMATA THERAPETICS,Inc.
表格10-K年度報告
截至2024年12月31日的財政年度
目錄
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2 |
目錄 |
關於前瞻性陳述的預防性說明
這份10-K表格年度報告包含根據1995年《私人證券訴訟改革法》(修訂後的1933年《證券法》第27A節)和《1934年證券交易法》(修訂後的《證券交易法》第21E節)的安全港條款作出的前瞻性陳述。前瞻性表述包括有關我們的信念、計劃、目標、目標、預期、預期、假設、估計、意圖和未來表現的表述,涉及已知和未知的風險、不確定性和其他因素,這些風險、不確定性和其他因素可能超出我們的控制範圍,並可能導致我們的實際結果、業績或成就與此類前瞻性表述明示或暗示的未來結果、業績或成就大不相同。除歷史事實以外的所有陳述均爲前瞻性陳述。您可以通過使用「可能」、「可以」、「預期」、「假設」、「應該」、「表明」、「將會」、「相信」、「考慮」、「預期」、「尋求」、「估計」、「繼續」、「計劃」、「指向」、「項目」、「預測」、「可能」、「打算」等詞語來識別這些前瞻性陳述。「目標」、「潛在的」和其他類似的詞語和表達的未來。
有許多重要因素可能導致實際結果與我們任何前瞻性陳述中表達的結果存在重大差異。這些因素包括但不限於:
| · | 我們缺乏運營歷史; |
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| · | 預計我們將在可預見的未來遭受重大運營損失並需要大量額外資本; |
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| · | 我們當前和未來的資本要求,以支持我們對候選產品的開發和商業化努力以及我們滿足資本需求的能力; |
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| · | 我們對我們的候選產品的依賴,這些產品仍處於臨牀開發的不同階段; |
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| · | 我們有能力獲得製造我們藥品所需的足夠數量的原材料; |
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| · | 我們或我們的第三方製造商根據臨牀前和臨牀試驗所需生產我們候選產品cGMP數量的能力,以及隨後我們生產商業批量我們候選產品的能力; |
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| · | 我們有能力爲我們的候選產品完成所需的臨牀試驗,並獲得FDA或不同司法管轄區其他監管機構的批准; |
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| · | 我們缺乏銷售和營銷組織,並且如果我們獲得監管機構批准,我們有能力將候選產品商業化; |
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| · | 我們對第三方生產我們的候選產品的依賴; |
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| · | 我們依賴第三方CRO進行臨牀試驗; |
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| · | 我們維持或保護知識產權有效性的能力; |
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| · | 我們內部開發新發明和知識產權的能力; |
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| · | 對現行法律的解釋和未來法律的段落; |
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| · | 美國和其他國家增加貿易關稅、進口配額或其他貿易限制或措施的影響,包括特朗普總統政府可能在美國貿易政策方面最近和潛在的變化; |
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| · | 投資者接受我們的商業模式; |
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| · | 我們對費用和資本需求的估計是否準確;以及 |
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| · | 我們充分支持組織和業務增長的能力。 |
上述內容並不代表本文包含的前瞻性陳述可能涵蓋的事項或我們面臨的可能導致我們的實際結果與此類前瞻性陳述中預期的結果不同的風險因素的詳盡列表。請參閱「第一部分-第1A項-風險因素」,了解可能對我們的業務和財務表現產生不利影響的其他風險。
所有前瞻性陳述均由本警示通知明確限定。請您不要過度依賴任何前瞻性陳述,這些陳述僅限於本報告日期或通過引用納入本報告的文件日期。我們沒有義務並明確否認任何義務更新、修改或更正任何前瞻性陳述,無論是由於新信息、未來事件還是其他原因。我們真誠地表達了我們的期望、信念和預測,並相信它們有合理的基礎。然而,我們無法向您保證我們的期望、信念或預測將會產生、實現或完成
3 |
目錄 |
第一部分
項目1. 生意場
本報告中所有提及的「Dermata」、「公司」、「我們」、「我們」或「我們的」均指Dermata Therapeutics,Inc.除非另有說明或上下文另有說明。
概述
我們是一家晚期醫療皮膚科公司,專注於識別、開發和商業化用於治療醫療皮膚病和美容應用的創新藥物候選產品,我們認爲這代表着巨大的市場機遇。
皮膚病,如痤瘡、牛皮癬、多汗症和各種美容指徵,每年影響全球數百萬人,這可能會對他們的生活質量和情感健康產生負面影響。雖然目前市場上有多種針對這些適應症的治療選擇,但我們認爲大多數都存在重大缺陷,包括療效平平、應用方案繁瑣以及各種負面副作用,我們認爲所有這些都會導致患者依從性下降。這些適應症中的大多數首先是通過局部治療來治療的,然而,許多患者經常更換治療或由於患者不滿意而完全停止治療。這主要是由於緩慢和適度的應答率,早期的耐受性問題,每天一到兩次的應用計劃和較長的治療時間。鑑於目前外用療法的侷限性,我們認爲有一個重要的機會來滿足沮喪患者的需求,他們正在尋找滿足皮膚病和生活方式需求的外用產品。
我們的兩個候選產品XYNGARI™(前身爲DMT310)和DMT410都融合了我們專有的、多方面的海綿用於局部治療各種皮膚病的技術。我們的海綿這項技術是從一種自然生長的淡水海綿中提取的。湖面海綿或海綿,它被加工成粉末,在塗抹之前立即與流態化試劑混合,形成易於使用的糊狀物。海綿。是一種獨特的淡水海綿,只在世界上特定的地區和特定的環境條件下以商業數量種植,所有這些都賦予了它獨特的抗微生物、消炎和機械性能。這些環境條件、與我們的獨家供應商開發的專有收穫協議以及我們的收穫後加工程序相結合,產生了一種候選製藥產品,它優化了海綿的機械成分和化學成分,創造了一種具有多種作用機制的候選產品,用於治療炎症性皮膚病和美容應用。
我們相信我們的 Spongilla 技術平台將使我們能夠開發XYNGARITM 可以作爲單一、獨立的藥劑,也可以與其他皮膚病學產品一起使用,以將化學化合物局部輸送到真皮中,用於各種皮膚病學適應症。我們相信 Spongilla的 機械和化學成分(我們相信已經證明, 體外、抗微生物和抗炎性能),增加了我們的多功能性 Spongilla 技術平台作爲單一產品在治療痤瘡和銀屑病等多種醫學皮膚病方面的有效性。我們還相信我們的機械性能 Spongilla 該技術允許通過局部應用將各種大分子(如肉毒桿菌毒素、單克隆抗體或真皮填充劑)皮內輸送到目標治療部位,而無需針頭。
我們的主要候選產品XYNGARI™旨在利用我們的海綿我們提供每週一次的治療各種皮膚病的技術,我們最初的重點是痤瘡的治療,在美國市場規模約有3,000名尋求治療的萬患者。2024年11月,我們完成了XYNGARI™治療中重度痤瘡的兩個計劃中的第三階段臨床試驗中的第一個患者登記。我們預計將於2025年3月收到第一階段3試驗的主要結果。每項第三階段研究都將是雙盲、隨機、安慰劑對照的,並在美國和拉丁美洲的不同地點招募500多名年齡在9歲或以上的中到重度痤瘡患者。主要終點包括炎症性和非炎性損害的絕對減少和研究人員對痤瘡的全面評估(IGA)的改善。患者將接受爲期12周的每週一次的XYNGARI™或安慰劑治療,並將每月進行評估。根據FDA的要求,第二階段3研究之後將進行擴展研究,以跟蹤患者12個月的總治療期。
4 |
目錄表 |
此前,XYNGARI™在一項20亿期研究中展示了其治療痤瘡多種原因的能力,我們最初看到,經過四次治療後,炎症性病變減少了45%,XYNGARI™在整個研究中所有三個主要終點(炎症性病變減少、非炎症性病變減少和IGA改善)的所有時間點均取得了統計學顯着的改善。此外,基於XYNGARI™痤瘡試驗中觀察到的多種作用機制和抗炎作用,我們完成了一項10亿期銀屑病概念驗證(Pod)試驗,我們看到了令人鼓舞的結果,需要在收到足夠的資金後進行進一步調查。
XYNGARI™由兩克從自然生長的淡水海綿中加工而成的粉末組成,湖面海綿。患者在塗抹前立即將粉末與流化劑(3%過氧化氫)混合,形成易於塗抹的糊狀物。這種糊狀物像泥漿面膜一樣塗在皮膚上大約10到15分鐘,然後用水洗掉。由於XYNGARI™的S機械成分和化學成分的獨特組合,以及基於我們的第二階段痤瘡數據,我們相信患者將只需要每週使用一次XYNGARI™就能產生預期的治療效果。的機械部件海綿粉末由許多微小的硅質針狀針組成,當按摩到皮膚中時,這些針狀物會穿透角質層(皮膚最外層的保護層),並創建微通道進入真皮,促炎細胞因子和細菌駐留在真皮中。我們認爲,刺突的穿透也導致微通道的打開,這使得氧氣可以進入毛皮脂腺,幫助殺死C.粉刺,它們生長在厭氧(無氧)環境中(痤瘡假單胞菌是導致痤瘡患者炎性病變的細菌)。針刺還會導致死皮表層的週轉,從而增加膠原蛋白的產生,從而使皮膚煥發活力。此外,我們相信,新創建的微通道爲XYNGARI™的S提供了一條管道,將自然產生的化合物輸送到真皮和毛皮脂腺,幫助殺死C. 祛痘消炎。除了抗微生物化合物,XYNGARI™似乎還含有抗炎化合物,如在體外培養實驗,通過減少炎症來抑制炎症C.acnes刺激IL-8的產生,抑制IL-17A和IL-17F的表達。此外,在體外培養在XYNGARI™的S有機化合物的研究中,我們觀察到了對皮脂細胞脂肪生成的抑制,這可能轉化爲減少患者皮脂(人體皮脂腺產生的一種油性和蠟質物質)的產生和患者皮膚的油性,這是許多臨床研究人員在我們的2期痤瘡研究中觀察到的。我們認爲,這些生物和機械效應的結合可能是治療多發性炎症性皮膚病的重要因素,正如我們的臨床試驗所看到的那樣。
我們的第二個候選產品利用我們的技術Spongilla其技術爲DMT410。DMT410包括一次治療我們專有的海綿粉,然後一次局部應用肉毒桿菌毒素進入真皮。目前,肉毒桿菌毒素只被批准通過皮內注射傳遞到真皮,這對患者來說可能是痛苦的,對醫生來說也是耗時的。然而,我們相信DMT410DMT410的S將肉毒桿菌毒素局部輸送到真皮的能力可能與現有的輸送技術具有相似的療效水平,但耐受性問題更少,應用時間更快,可能會取代皮內注射。我們首先在原發性腋窩多汗症患者的1期POC試驗中測試了DMT410,在該試驗中,我們觀察到80%的患者在單一治療四周後體重汗量減少超過50%。目前,近40%的多汗症患者正在接受肉毒桿菌毒素皮內注射治療,我們相信DMT410將有很大的機會打入這一市場,取代肉毒桿菌毒素皮內注射。基於DMT410的S在腋窩多汗症一期試驗中觀察到的有效將肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到真皮的能力,我們還進行了DMT410的一期POC試驗,用於治療多種美容皮膚狀況,包括縮小毛孔、皮脂生成和細紋等。2021年11月,我們宣佈了這項試驗的主要結果,我們看到了有希望的數據,我們認爲這些數據值得對DMT410進行進一步研究。
2025年1月17日,我們與Revance Therapeutics,Inc.簽訂了臨床試驗合作協議(「臨床試驗協議」),該公司最近與Crown Labs(「Revance」)合併,據此,我們與Revance合作,打算進行一項多中心2期臨床試驗,以評估XYNGARI™與DAXXUTE ®(daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm)(Revance的A型肉毒桿菌毒素)一起局部應用治療腋窩多汗症(「試驗」)。
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XYNGARI™的應用
圖1: Spongilla 加工成細粉,裝入2克小袋中,裝有6毫升3%H瓶2O2 (過氧化氫)。每週一次,患者將粉末與過氧化氫混合,並將混合物按摩到皮膚上; 10-15分鐘後,即可輕鬆用水去除該產品。
我們認爲,目前的醫學和美容皮膚科領域缺乏創新的治療方案,新的治療方法主要是引入新的配方或舊分子的組合。我們相信,這種創新的缺乏爲我們提供了一個理想的機會來改變患者治療皮膚狀況的方式。憑藉我們預期的每週一次的治療計劃和來自天然來源的候選產品,我們相信我們可以成爲該領域的領導者,以最小的副作用和快速的治療效果改善患者的依從性,正如我們在痤瘡、牛皮癬、多汗症和美容條件下的多項臨床試驗所看到的那樣。如果我們能夠成功地開發我們的候選產品,獲得FDA的批准,建立一個皮膚科醫生的集中處方基礎,並利用我們管理層之前的經驗,我們相信我們有能力建立一個商業組織,在皮膚科領域的核心重點領域開發和商業化治療方案。
我們的臨床開發管道和候選產品
我們的臨床開發管道目前由XYNGARI™和DMZ 410組成,每種產品都在開發用於多種皮膚疾病和病症。在隨附的部分中,我們將描述每個候選產品、其優勢以及我們針對每個候選產品的市場策略。下表和章節中反映的日期僅爲估計值,無法保證下表或章節中包含的活動將按照所示的預期時間軸完成或根本完成。
XYNGARI™
中度至重度粉刺。2023年12月,我們開始招募患者參加XYNGARI™治療中重度痤瘡的兩項3期臨床研究中的第一項,名爲海綿治療痤瘡研究(STAR-1)研究。每項研究都將是雙盲、隨機、安慰劑對照的,並在美國和拉丁美洲的不同地點招募500名年齡在9歲或以上的患者。主要終點將包括炎症性和非炎性損害的絕對減少以及研究人員對痤瘡的全面評估的改善,正如我們在XYNGARI™20期億痤瘡研究中所使用的那樣。患者將接受爲期12周的每週一次的XYNGARI™或安慰劑治療,並將每月進行評估。2024年11月,我們完成了STAR-1研究的登記,總共有520名患者。STAR-1階段3研究預計將在2025年3月得出主要結果.此前,我們完成了一項隨機、雙盲、多中心、安慰劑對照的XYNGARI™治療中重度痤瘡的20期億臨床試驗。在僅僅四次局部治療後,XYNGARI™在所有三個終點(炎性皮損計數、非炎性皮損計數和免疫球蛋白A)方面顯示出與安慰劑相比的統計上的顯著改善,並在第12周繼續從統計上脫離安慰劑。我們相信,如果獲得批准,每週一次應用的這些結果可能會有利地將XYNGARI™定位爲市場上治療中重度痤瘡的一流產品。
輕至中度牛皮癬。2021年10月,我們完成了XYNGARI™的10期億POC試驗,用於每週一次的輕中度銀屑病治療。斑塊型牛皮癬是一種慢性炎症性皮膚病,約佔牛皮癬市場的80%。根據《財富》商業洞察市場研究報告,截至2019年,大多數患者患有輕中度疾病,這使得他們不太可能接受批准的生物治療,這些治療僅適用於中度至重度疾病的患者,作爲一線治療。由於患有輕中度牛皮癬的患者人數衆多,而對於更輕微的疾病缺乏有效的局部治療,我們認爲對副作用有限的有效局部產品的需求很大。基於我們10期™POC試驗的數據、XYNGARI™降低IL-17A和IL-17F的體外數據,以及我們在其治療痤瘡的20期億試驗中觀察到的抗炎作用,我們相信XYNGARI億可能被用作治療不適合生物治療的輕中度銀屑病患者的一線藥物。2021年10月,我們宣佈了XYNGARI™的10期億POC試驗的主要結果,該試驗用於治療30名輕中度銀屑病患者,這些患者的皮損覆蓋了他們身體表面積的2%至30%。患者服用XYNGARI™,每週1次,療程12周。根據在POC試驗中觀察到的有效性、安全性和耐受性,在進入更大的2期安慰劑對照臨床試驗之前,我們開始了額外的工作,以更好地爲我們的臨床試驗設計提供信息。我們計劃在獲得支持這種開發的額外財政資源後,繼續開發用於治療牛皮癬的XYNGARI™。
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DMT410
我們正在開發我們的第二個候選產品SpongillaDMT410平台,用於局部治療皮膚病和美容疾病,通常採用多次皮內注射肉毒桿菌毒素治療。目前,肉毒桿菌毒素必須多次皮內注射,才能成功輸送足夠的肉毒桿菌毒素,才能在所需的治療區域產生預期效果。雖然注射對許多不同的疾病和美容條件都有效,但它們限制了肉毒桿菌毒素在其他情況下的使用,在這些情況下,注射,特別是皮內注射,是困難、疼痛或其他不可行的。其中一些情況包括多汗症、痤瘡、痤瘡疤痕和各種美學適應症,其中DMT410可能是一個可行的治療方案。DMT410的S治療方案使用我們的XYNGARI™一次外用,然後局部應用肉毒毒素一次。這個海綿粉末與流動劑混合,由治療醫生按摩到患者的治療區域,以增強針刺的穿透性,創建進入真皮的微通道。10到15分鐘後,醫生取出Spongilla用水做口罩。然後,醫生將來自注射器的肉毒桿菌毒素精確地釋放到患者的皮膚上。肉毒桿菌毒素然後被按摩到治療區域,以利用由海綿餐廳肉毒桿菌毒素可以穿透角質層進入真皮。我們相信,這種治療應用將使肉毒桿菌毒素能夠局部輸送到真皮,用於治療各種內科疾病,包括治療多汗症、痤瘡和痤瘡疤痕,以及改善皮膚的亮度和亮度,並減少毛孔大小和計數、細紋和皮脂產生。我們相信,DMT410的S肉毒毒素局部給藥可以極大地增加肉毒毒素的市場機會,因爲DMT410的S無針應用,靶向皮內給藥,從而潛在地擴大肉毒毒素的美容市場。
到目前爲止,我們已經完成了DMT410DMT410治療腋窩多汗症的開放標籤10期億POC臨床試驗,以及針對多種美容皮膚條件的開放標籤10期億POC臨床試驗。治療腋窩多汗症的10期億POC試驗包括10名患者,每個腋下接受一次DMT410治療。在使用DMT410進行一次治療四周後,患者的汗液分泌減少。這項試驗的臨床終點包括(I)重量測量汗量比基線減少50%以上的患者的百分比,(Ii)重量汗量低於50毫克的患者的百分比,以及(Iii)重量汗量變化的百分比。在使用DMT410進行一次治療四周後,80%的患者體重汗量下降超過50%,85%的患者體重汗量低於50毫克,患者的體重汗量比基線平均減少75%。我們認爲,這些結果表明,DMT410可能有助於將肉毒桿菌毒素局部輸送到真皮,其治療效果類似於多次(估計15-20)皮內注射肉毒桿菌毒素。對於DMT410,我們相信肉毒桿菌毒素可以局部應用,以穿透皮膚進入真皮,而不需要多次注射。
我們還完成了DMT410十(10)名患者的10期億POC開放標籤試驗,用於治療多種美容皮膚狀況(毛孔大小、整體美容改善、亮度、光度、皮脂產生、細紋、眉間紋、前額紋和外眼角紋),並於2021年11月公佈了背線試驗結果。在DMT410的10期億POC試驗中,患者接受了一次DMT410治療,並每四周接受一次爲期16周的評估,以確定DMT410的S安全性和耐受性、有效性及其治療效果持續時間。我們在2021年11月公佈了主要結果,在那裏我們觀察到試驗的許多終點都有所改善。在第8周,80%的患者的全局美容功能至少有25%的改善,60%的患者的毛孔大小改善了25%。同樣在第8周,90%的患者光度至少改善了1點,60%的患者亮度至少改善了1點。這些醫生的分級結果得到了Canfield Science的VISIA和Primos視覺分析相機系統提供的客觀分析的支持。基於這些結果,我們繼續積極與肉毒桿菌毒素公司討論合作機會,以在更大的安慰劑對照的第二階段試驗中繼續開發DMT410,在該試驗中,我們可以研究將多劑量肉毒桿菌毒素應用於整個面部。我們相信,這些結果,再加上我們對多汗症的研究結果,清楚地表明DMT410‘S聯合療法可以極大地擴大肉毒桿菌毒素用於美容皮膚疾病以及其他皮膚病,如多汗症、痤瘡或痤瘡疤痕的潛在適應症。
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2025年1月,我們與Revance簽訂了臨床試驗協議,根據協議,我們打算與Revance合作進行一項多中心第二期臨床試驗,以評估XYNGARI™與Revance的A型肉毒毒素DAXXIFY®(DaxibotulinumoxinA-LAMM)在治療原發性腋窩多汗症方面的局部應用。根據《臨床試驗協議》,我們打算贊助、進行和資助一項2a期臨床試驗,以評估XYNGARI™和DAXXIFY®與XYNGARI™和安慰劑治療中重度腋汗症患者的安全性、耐受性和初步療效,爲期16周。腋窩多汗症試驗預計將是隨機(1:1:1:1)、雙盲、劑量範圍、安慰劑對照的,並打算在美國招募大約48名患者。預計終點是:(I)體重測量汗量比基線減少50%以上的患者的百分比,(Ii)體重汗量低於50毫克的患者的百分比,以及(Iii)體重測量汗量與基線相比的平均絕對變化。預計患者將定期接受四次評估。根據臨床試驗協議,Dermata和Revance將成立一個聯合開發委員會,以促進與試驗相關的各方之間的溝通。
無法保證XYNGARI™或DMZ 410將獲得FDA批准用於上述任何適應症。
我們的戰略
我們計劃對差異化的醫療和美容皮膚病學候選產品進行許可、開發和商業化,用於治療各種皮膚病和病症,我們認爲這些產品在市場上存在重大未滿足的需求。該戰略的關鍵組成部分如下:
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| 治療痤瘡的XYNGARI™的完全開發和監管批准。我們於2023年12月啓動了XYNGARI™治療中重度痤瘡的兩項STAR-1期3期臨床試驗中的第一項,並於2024年11月完成了STAR-1期3期試驗的登記。我們預計將在2025年3月收到STAR-1試驗的頂級結果。如果STAR-1試驗的結果爲陽性,我們計劃在2025年啓動名爲STAR-2的XYNGARI™第三階段臨床試驗,隨後應美國食品和藥物管理局的要求進行長期擴展研究。我們還計劃啓動FDA要求的大鼠皮膚致癌性研究和小型豬重複劑量皮膚毒性研究。假設第三階段計劃取得積極結果,我們計劃在研究完成約6個月後向FDA提交新藥申請(NDA)。
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| · | 爲我們的XYNGARI™項目探索互惠互利的合作伙伴關係。如果我們的XYNGARI™STAR-1第三階段試驗取得了積極的結果,我們將尋找合作伙伴,幫助德瑪塔完成XYNGARI™第三階段項目的開發,最終目標是將XYNGARI™商業化。如果我們無法爲XYNGARI™計劃找到互惠互利的合作伙伴,那麼我們將計劃繼續該開發計劃,並準備向FDA提交保密協議。 |
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| · | 擴大與Revance在多汗症和美容皮膚條件下的DMT410計劃的互惠合作伙伴關係。2025年1月,我們與Revance簽訂了臨床試驗合作協議,探索在2a期臨床試驗中使用XYNGARI™和DAXXIFY®局部治療腋汗症。如果成功,我們將尋求在其他方面擴大與Revance的合作伙伴關係。 |
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| · | 完成XYNGARI™治療牛皮癬的2期試驗。2021年10月,我們宣佈了我們在輕中度銀屑病患者中進行的10期億POC試驗的主要結果。我們相信,這項POC研究的結果證明了XYNGARI™進一步開發用於治療牛皮癬。如果成功開發並商業化,我們相信XYNGARI™將成爲第一個治療牛皮癬的每週一次的局部產品。XYNGARI治療牛皮癬的™計劃目前被擱置,在獲得額外資金和/或戰略合作伙伴的情況下將有進一步的進展。 |
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| · | 在我們的產品組合中收購或授權其他皮膚科項目,以補充我們當前的候選產品。我們不斷評估潛在的合作機會,這些機會將支持我們當前的候選產品組合,併爲我們的組織提供實質性的價值。我們打算專注於開發早期到中期的候選產品,以生成臨床數據,並可能進入開發的後期階段,最終走向商業化。 |
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| · | 通過與能夠幫助我們在世界各地將候選產品商業化的公司合作,最大限度地提高我們產品組合的價值。我們計劃探索與世界各地建立了專注於皮膚科醫生的商業組織的公司的合作伙伴關係。 |
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| · | 進一步加強我們的知識產權組合,通向新的化學實體或NCE的途徑,排他性,原材料供應,並推進我們的監管申報。我們計劃繼續加強我們的XYNGARI™和DMT410的知識產權組合,尋求XYNGARI™的NCE獨家經營權,維持我們對原材料需求的獨家供應協議,並繼續保護我們的專有信息。我們相信,如果我們的候選產品獲得監管部門的批准,這些活動將成爲我們的主要競爭優勢。 |
上述內容中反映的日期僅爲估計,無法保證所包含的活動將在所提供的預期時間軸上完成或根本完成。此外,無法保證我們將成功開發XYNGARI™或DMT410或我們未來可能開發的任何其他候選產品,也無法保證XYNGARI™或DMT410或我們未來可能開發的任何其他候選產品將獲得FDA對任何適應症的批准。
皮膚病學市場概覽
我們目前專注於醫療和美容皮膚科市場,其中包括多種常見和未得到充分治療的皮膚病和條件,如粉刺、牛皮癬、多汗症和多種美容皮膚狀況,其中一些目前沒有獲得批准的產品,包括減少細紋、毛孔大小、皮脂產生以及改善光度和整體皮膚質量。我們認爲,這些疾病和狀況會對患者的生活質量造成重大負面影響,包括身體和情感創傷以及社會恥辱,導致患者不斷尋求更好的治療選擇,以幫助改善他們的病情。我們還認爲,這些市場沒有經歷與其他市場相同的發展和進步,因爲最近批准的創新局部產品除了現有化合物的重新配方或組合之外,很少有其他產品。我們相信,我們的候選產品將在市場中佔據有利位置,併爲服務不足的醫療和美容皮膚病市場提供創新的解決方案。
近年來,由於新的治療選擇和更多的患者獲得護理機會,美國醫療皮膚病學市場經歷了顯着增長。根據當前市場數據,2024年美國醫療皮膚病學市場價值超過83亿美元,到2028年估計價值超過92亿美元。
美國整形外科醫生協會估計,2023年美國進行了超過2500万次微創整容手術,其中約950万次使用肉毒桿菌毒素。有很多因素繼續推動美容皮膚病學市場的增長,例如患者(包括年輕患者)的接受度更高,以及患者願意花在美容皮膚護理上的可自由支配現金。我們還相信,患者越來越願意自付費用進行有效的皮膚治療,以實現他們想要的個人美觀外觀,這進一步支持了這些市場的需求和定價。
基於上述情況,我們認爲,與許多其他基於處方的專業市場相比,皮膚病學市場(包括美容和醫療)提供了低成本的商業化機會,因爲皮膚病學領域的專家數量相對較少。根據美國皮膚病學會的數據,2023年美國約有11,000名皮膚科醫生,我們計劃針對這些皮膚科醫生的一部分,他們是競爭產品的較大處方者,並且治療了很大一部分具有我們批准適應症的患者。我們相信,基於處方和基於現金支付的產品線的結合是一個有吸引力的商業機會,因爲它融合了皮膚病學市場的多個方面,這些方面獨立於更大的醫療保健市場。
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我們的背景 海綿技術
Spongilla Lacustris概覽
湖泊海綿,或Spongilla,是一種淡水海綿海綿亞綱在世界特定地區大量生長在淡水河和湖泊中的科。它在冬季休眠,每年根據棲息地的生長條件,從結殼到指狀,再到分枝,每年都會再生。雖然它生長在北半球的許多地方,但只有某些地方生長的數量和質量足以支持商業製藥產品。其中一個地點是俄羅斯中部的伏爾加河,我們在那裏與已知的較大供應商之一簽署了獨家供應協議海綿XYNGARI™的原材料,我們相信這爲我們提供了可靠的供應來源Spongilla可預見的未來的原材料。傳統上,當地人會收穫少量的海綿因爲它被認爲具有藥用價值,並將其用作民間藥物來治療各種炎症,包括關節炎。在過去的22年裏,我們的獨家供應商改進了其收穫方法和程序,現在能夠年復一年地提供符合我們發佈標準的高質量原材料。我們的供應商有能力收集和加工大量的Spongilla每年。我們相信,我們的供應商將能夠提供所需數量和質量的原材料,以滿足我們的臨床和商業需求。自簽訂獨家供應協議以來,我們一直能夠訂購和接收大量原材料,以支持我們正在進行的開發活動,併爲提交保密協議準備批次。
的傳統用法海綿在俄羅斯已經提供了大量的安全數據。2003年,俄羅斯衛生部表示,Spongilla每年有100多萬人使用,幾乎沒有報告安全問題。2017年,我們參考FDA的植物藥行業開發指南或植物學指南,在向FDA皮膚病和牙科產品部門提交的調查新藥(IND)申請中提交了這些安全信息,以及其他各種出版物和非臨床研究。這份意見書使FDA能夠批准我們的IND用於XYNGARI™,使我們能夠直接進入患者的第二階段臨床試驗,部分原因是這種歷史的人類接觸。2023年,美國食品和藥物管理局還證實,XYNGARI™將根據保密協議提交申請。雖然我們仍然需要在提交NDA之前完成某些非臨床和藥代動力學研究,但我們能夠在完成此類工作之前從戰略上節約資源,同時收集人類臨床療效和安全性數據。自那以後,我們已經完成了與FDA的第二階段會議,這爲我們提供了進入第一個正在進行的第三階段研究的批准,並提供了提交保密協議所需的框架。
斯潘吉拉的多重作用機制
的獨特屬性湖泊海綿不僅允許我們參考FDA的植物學指南,還有助於確保每年充足的原材料供應的可持續再生。而當海綿從技術上講,它是動物王國的一部分,它的生長和行爲更類似於植物,因爲它每年都能完全再生,即使在惡劣的環境條件下也是如此。除了每年導致海綿重新生長外,海綿生存的惡劣環境條件有助於我們的Spongilla技術的多種作用機制。基於22年來收穫的知識Spongilla,我們的供應商可以認可必要的環境條件和Spongilla確保最佳的原料收穫,最大限度地提高原料含有有效製藥產品所需特性的可能性。這些性能包括機械和化學成分,這些成分是海綿原材料中自然產生的部分,並有助於我們的Spongilla技術在治療皮膚病和皮膚病方面的作用機制。
XYNGARI™的機械部件來自 Spongilla的骨骼結構,由通過有機材料結合在一起的硅質針狀物組成,如下圖2所示。這些針狀物是光滑的、棒狀的形狀,兩端都有一個點,如果 Spongilla 是在我們指定的環境條件下收穫的,針狀物的平均長度在150-300微米之間,直徑約爲10-15微米。雖然還有其他種類的淡水和海綿,但它們的許多針狀物都可以被倒鉤或鉤覆蓋,如圖3所示,我們認爲這些針狀物會卡在皮膚中或兩端包含鈍的針狀物,使皮膚難以穿透。
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圖2:硅質針狀物 Spongilla
圖3:海綿針
在美國收穫和進一步加工後,我們的針狀體的形式和大小使它們成爲穿透角質層和皮膚屏障的理想機制,並在不穿透較大血管所在的皮下組織的情況下暫時創建進入真皮的微通道。這些新創建的微通道暫時打開皮膚的屏障,允許大小化合物有針對性地輸送到真皮中。目前大多數外用產品都含有滲透促進劑,幫助活性分子通過角質層進入真皮,如二甲基亞碸(DMSO)。然而,DMSO只能幫助小分子滲透,通常無法幫助大分子,如肉毒桿菌毒素,在局部遞送。這些滲透促進劑也會引起不想要的副作用,如皮膚乾燥或大蒜,如味道、呼吸和體味。我們相信我們的Spongilla與其他局部應用的產品相比,該技術的區別在於能夠通過局部應用實現小分子和大分子的傳遞,而刺激性和副作用更少。
除了在皮膚中產生許多微通道外,我們相信針狀物的穿透還可以打開封閉的粉刺,讓氧氣進入堵塞的毛囊毛囊腺體的缺氧環境,在那裏 C.粉刺 而其他細菌則生存下來。最後,我們相信針狀物可以促進皮膚內膠原蛋白的產生,從而加速皮膚的年輕期,從而以比皮膚正常更新週期更快的速度將煥然一新的皮膚帶到表面。通常,皮膚需要三到四周的時間才能在表面形成新的層,而我們相信 海綿技術可以讓這個過程在不到一週的時間內完成。我們相信這可以減少治療炎症性皮膚疾病和病症的時間,同時還可以改善患者皮膚的外觀。
我們的海綿該技術還包含多種活性化合物,我們相信這些化合物可能有助於我們的候選產品治療多種皮膚科皮膚疾病和病症。我們相信的一部分 海綿餐廳自然防禦機制是創造有機材料來對抗其生長水中的自然敵人。這種有機材料將其針狀物結合在一起,形成海綿的骨骼結構。根據多項體外研究,我們相信海綿中的有機化合物與針狀物分離後,具有抗炎和抗菌性能。我們觀察到了抗炎活性,包括減少C.痤瘡刺激人細胞系中IL-8的產生,並下調IL-17 A和IL-17 F的產生。此外,在我們的體外研究中,我們觀察到了毛囊細胞脂肪生成的抑制,這可能會導致患者皮膚的油脂產生和油性減少。
雖然我們相信我們的每一個機械或化學成分 Spongilla 技術可能有利於治療各種疾病,我們相信每種機制與另一種機制相結合時的影響可能會大大增強。每次治療中包含的大量針狀物通過角質層創建了許多微通道,使化學成分能夠充分滲透和輸送到治療區域,以對抗炎症和殺死細菌。
FDA植物性藥物行業開發指南
目前批准的大多數局部皮膚病產品只由FDA的皮膚病和牙科產品辦公室進行審查,並遵循標準的批准途徑。然而,由於我們的主要候選產品XYNGARI™是從天然來源提取的,它將由FDA皮膚科和牙科產品辦公室與FDA植物審查部共同審查。而當Spongilla不是植物學的,FDA允許我們參考植物學關於原材料質量控制和批次一致性的指導意見,通過開發並進入商業化。我們相信,我們能夠參考植物學指南並從植物審查部獲得關於XYNGARI™的信息,這爲我們提供了XYNGARI™監管途徑的關鍵優勢,如果獲得批准的話。這些優勢包括能夠在FDA確認收到我們的IND信函後進入人類臨床研究,隨後的研究可能會繼續進行,從而節省了我們獲得人類臨床數據的大量財政資源。此外,雖然我們認爲我們的海綿含有多種活性化合物,但根據我們對FDA反饋的監管分析和植物指南,我們認爲我們只需要提供可識別和可量化的活性成分,以顯示質量控制和批次之間的一致性。我們認爲,這將使潛在競爭對手更難複製XYNGARI™,因爲他們無法了解我們候選產品的每個組件,並證明他們的產品在組成上是相似的。因此,我們認爲,擁有類似產品或候選產品的競爭對手必須遵循我們必須完成的所有制造、開發和監管步驟,才能獲得FDA的批准。然而,不能保證我們成功地完成了XYNGARI™的開發,或者XYNGARI™將獲得美國食品和藥物管理局的批准。
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我們的候選產品
XYNGARI™
我們的主要候選產品XYNGARI™是一種獨特的、每週一次的自然衍生局部產品,最初是爲治療中重度痤瘡而開發的。是從淡水中提取的湖泊海綿,或Spongilla,在特定的環境條件下生長在整個北半球的特定地點. 我們的Spongilla原材料 是由我們在俄羅斯的獨家合作伙伴根據我們供應商近22年的經驗和我們在理想藥物產品方面的專業知識遵守嚴格的協議收穫的。這些嚴格方案的結果是形成了一致的、年復一年可重複使用的化學結構,這對於生產能夠用於製藥產品的材料至關重要。收穫後,Spongilla被運往我們在美國的製造工廠,在包裝成香包之前,進一步加工成統一的粉末。在治療之前,患者將粉末與稀釋劑(過氧化氫)混合形成糊狀,然後患者可以將其塗抹在治療區域,以治療他們疾病的多個方面。XYNGARI™利用海綿餐廳機械針刺,幫助患者的皮膚重新表面,同時也創建通過角質層的微通道,以允許穿透海綿餐廳天然產生的有機化合物有助於治療各種皮膚病。我們相信這些有機化合物可以通過新創建的微通道進入真皮和皮脂腺,炎症性和非炎症性痤瘡病變都源於真皮和皮脂腺。XYNGARI™靶向治療痤瘡的多個方面,結合了海綿變成一種易於塗抹的產品,每週只需塗抹一次。如果獲得美國食品和藥物管理局的批准,我們相信XYNGARI™的機械和化學特性的結合將有可能以更少的治療方法、更少的副作用和更好的耐受性來更快地起效,而不是目前市場上銷售的其他局部痤瘡產品。
XYNGARI™用於治療痤瘡
市場機遇.痤瘡的特徵是有鱗的紅色皮膚區域、非炎症性黑頭和白頭、炎症性病變、丘疹和膿包,偶爾出現在面部、頸部、胸部、背部、肩膀和上臂上的囊腫和疤痕。它影響了美國約5000万人,2023年,美國確診病例估計爲3260万例,其中約85%的美國青少年患有某種形式的痤瘡。根據GlobalData Inc.的數據,2016年美國處方痤瘡市場的處方藥銷售額約爲26亿美元,預計2026年將達到約38亿美元。價格變化
大多數患者在青少年時期都會經歷某種形式的痤瘡,對於一些患者來說,他們的痤瘡可能會隨着時間的推移而減少,或者至少在25歲時趨於減少。然而,沒有辦法預測痤瘡需要多長時間才能完全消失,有些人在30多歲、40多歲及以後就患有痤瘡。雖然痤瘡不會危及生命,但由於社會恥辱、面部永久疤痕的巨大風險、自尊心下降和社交退縮,痤瘡會給那些患有痤瘡的人造成嚴重創傷。因此,我們相信,通過每週一次的有效局部產品進行早期積極治療可能會減輕這種疾病的總體長期影響,並可能導致患者的生活質量提高。
由於痤瘡對患者的生活質量產生負面影響,對面部美觀產生負面影響,患有痤瘡的患者往往會高度積極地治療痤瘡,我們相信願意支付更多自付費用以獲得更高價格和高效的治療,例如XYNGARI™。我們相信,尋求易於使用且有效的局部產品的患者將比其他適應症的其他處方藥能夠承受更低的報銷率,如果我們最終能夠獲得XYNGARI™的批准併成功商業化,則可以獲得有利的定價。此外,如果獲得批准,我們相信XYNGARI™的天然特性可能會使我們能夠擴大我們可瞄準的痤瘡市場,將那些重視使用XYNGARI™等天然衍生產品的患者納入其中。
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根據痤瘡的嚴重程度,痤瘡市場可以分爲三個不同的類別:
| · | 輕度痤瘡:特徵爲很少有丘疹或膿包;通常使用非處方產品或局部處方療法治療。 |
| · | 中度痤瘡:特徵爲多發性丘疹和膿包,伴有中度炎症;通常通過口服和局部處方療法的組合治療。 |
| · | 嚴重痤瘡:特徵爲大量丘疹和膿包,有許多結節和/或囊腫以及明顯的炎症;目前通過口服和局部聯合治療以及光動力療法作爲三線治療選擇進行治療。 |
當前護理標準的侷限性.雖然當前的治療選擇可能對某些患者有效,但當前痤瘡產品存在許多侷限性和缺陷,導致患者依從性較差。目前批准的所有治療痤瘡的局部療法都必須每天使用一到兩次,以使活性成分在皮膚內積聚,從而有效治療疾病。每天多次塗抹的要求對於患者來說變得非常繁重和耗時,導致許多患者未能遵守嚴格的塗抹方案和/或跳過多次治療。正確的使用和塗抹時間表對於局部痤瘡產品尤其重要,患者依從性不佳可能導致治療效果下降,並最終導致患者因缺乏效果而停止治療。
目前的許多痤瘡產品,例如必須每天至少使用一次或兩次的維生素A,每次使用後可能會導致嚴重刺痛、灼燒和剝落。這些耐受性問題可能在第一次塗抹後開始出現,以及它們引起的嚴重不適,導致許多患者停止必要的每日塗抹時間表或完全使用該產品。衆所周知,第一次治療後,過氧化苯甲酯(BPO)會導致皮膚乾燥,而類維生素A會導致許多局部皮膚反應,包括紅斑、灼燒和剝落。在阿達帕林/BPO的聯合研究中觀察到,超過20%的受試者報告中度或重度紅斑和刺痛/灼燒。
最後,大多數外用產品都不可避免地有6-8周的潛伏期,直到患者的痤瘡皮損有明確的改善。這意味着他們可能不得不忍受30到60次應用,才能觀察到他們的痤瘡正在改善(假設每天或兩次),同時還要應對這些外用產品可能帶來的灼熱、刺痛和脫皮。我們認爲,青少年構成了痤瘡市場的最大部分,他們對缺乏迅速感覺到的效果會導致過早停止治療變得不耐煩。缺乏快速的治療效果、副作用和繁瑣的應用時間表都極大地導致了患者的不依從性問題,並最終可能導致當前局部治療的治療失敗。我們認爲患者更關心快速的療效和低的副作用,而不是成本,因此我們相信患者將更願意爲具有這些屬性的產品支付更高的自掏腰包成本。
我們針對中度至重度痤瘡的解決方案。 如果獲得批准,我們相信XYNGARI ' s ™每週一次的塗抹方案和明顯的快速治療效果將提高患者的依從性,從而可能增加改善痤瘡結果的可能性。使用我們的多方面,每週一次 Spongilla 在治療技術方面,我們正在開發XYNGARI™,試圖使XYNGARI™成爲所有痤瘡患者的首選治療選擇,從而爲皮膚科醫生治療痤瘡的方式帶來範式轉變。我們設計了XYNGARI™來治療痤瘡的多種因素,同時還試圖通過易於使用和可接受的耐受性來提高患者的依從性。
如果獲得批准,我們相信XYNGARI™有可能補救目前治療中重度痤瘡的許多負面特徵,包括繁瑣的治療方案、負面副作用(包括灼熱、刺痛、瘙癢或乾燥,最早可能在第一次治療時發生,此後每天持續),以及延遲見效時間(可能需要長達八週)。XYNGARI™的設計是每週只使用一次,而不是一天一到兩次。我們認爲每週一次的時間表可能有助於提高患者的依從性,因爲這對患者來說不那麼繁重。此外,在我們的20期億痤瘡試驗中,平均而言,患者在僅僅四次治療後炎性痤瘡皮損減少了約45%,在12周後炎性皮損減少了高達62%。此外,在爲期12周的試驗結束時,大約90%的患者沒有或輕微的耐受性問題,沒有患者經歷任何嚴重的耐受性問題。
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此外,在我們的20亿期試驗中,我們觀察到XYNGARI™在所有三個終點方面與安慰劑開始顯示出統計學顯着差異,同時炎症和非炎症性病變也迅速減少。我們相信,這種快速可見的反應鼓勵患者繼續遵守每週一次的應用計劃,導致病變持續減少,直到第12周試驗結束。因此,我們相信,只需每週塗抹一次、更快地達到治療效果和更少耐受性問題的局部產品可能會帶來更大的治療成功,因爲患者的依從性得到改善,從而產生忠誠和重複使用者。
XYNGARI™用於治療輕中度銀屑病
根據從我們的10亿期Pod試驗和 體外 XYNGARI™已顯示出對IL-17 A和IL-17 F的下調作用,並且易於應用於表面積較小的輕中度銀屑病病變。
銀屑病的特徵是「斑塊」,即皮膚上隆起的紅色區域,覆蓋着一層銀色或白色的死亡皮膚細胞,稱爲「鱗片」。牛皮癬的斑塊可以出現在身體的任何部位,但最常見的是頭皮、膝蓋、肘部、軀幹和四肢,斑塊經常發癢,有時還會疼痛。銀屑病皮損的特徵是角質形成細胞過度增殖和主要由T細胞組成的富含淋巴細胞的浸潤物。在真皮和表皮中,萬億淋巴細胞與抗原提呈細胞相互作用,分泌Th1和Th17型細胞因子。這些被激活的T細胞及其分泌的炎性細胞因子被認爲是導致牛皮癬皮損的原因。除了廣泛的抗炎特性外,我們在臨床痤瘡研究中觀察到,XYNGARI的™能力在體外顯示出對IL-17A和IL-17F的劑量依賴性抑制,這兩種細胞因子與牛皮癬的發病機制有關。因此,XYNGARI™可能提供一種方法,以一種易於應用的方案,直接對局部耐受性良好的銀屑病皮損進行有針對性的抗炎治療。
市場機會。目前,輕到中度疾病的患者要麼診斷不足,要麼治療不足,要麼沒有得到治療。這讓患者尋求新的有效治療選擇。牛皮癬是一種慢性炎症性皮膚病,估計影響高達3.2%的世界人口,2020年全球銷售額爲1.42美元億,預計到2030年將增加到2.75美元億。斑塊型牛皮癬是最常見的牛皮癬,發生在80-90%以上的牛皮癬患者中,其中約80%的患者出現輕度銀屑病,20%的患者出現中到重度銀屑病。除了銀屑病皮損導致的毀容外,患者還可能經歷瘙癢或瘙癢,這對患者來說可能特別常見和令人煩惱。牛皮癬不僅會造成直接的臨床挑戰,而且患者的生活質量也會受到負面影響。患者可能會因他們的疾病而遭受重大的心理影響,包括社會恥辱、被拒絕和羞恥感、工作場所的歧視和生產力下降等。這些患者通常都在尋找一種安全有效的產品來治療他們的疾病。
現行護理標準的侷限性。大多數可用的治療方法都針對中到重度疾病,這意味着輕度患者治療不足,五分之一的患者對目前的治療不滿意。對輕度牛皮癬患者的治療大多是通用的,但往往不足以控制患者的疾病。由於全身暴露的減少,輕度銀屑病患者首先接受局部治療,如Vtama、Zoryve、Opzelure和Eucrisa。然而,患者經常認爲局部治療是銀屑病的負面因素之一,我們認爲部分原因是可用的選擇有限,如煤焦油、維甲酸、鈣調神經磷酸酶抑制劑和皮質類固醇。雖然局部類固醇是一種非常常見的治療方法,但缺點包括只能短期使用,並與下丘腦垂體腎上腺軸抑制、皮膚萎縮(變薄)、紋狀(妊娠紋)和毛細血管擴張(蜘蛛靜脈)等副作用有關。此外,其中一些副作用是不可逆轉的,即使在停止治療後仍然存在。因此,不推薦長期使用高效力的局部類固醇,醫生通常也不會開出用於面部治療的處方。此外,反彈是類固醇治療的一個已知挑戰,在類固醇停用後,牛皮癬的恢復甚至比開始類固醇治療之前更差。
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雖然生物療法,包括Enbrel、Cosentyx、Humira和Stelara等藥物可用於治療牛皮癬,但它們的使用仍然高度侷限於中到重度疾病的患者。在美國,只有不到20%的患者患有中到重度牛皮癬,我們認爲絕大多數牛皮癬市場沒有長期有效的治療選擇。雖然更多的數據導致了生物製品的吸收,但由於多種因素,它們仍然有限,包括僅適用於中到重度患者、高昂的成本、隨之而來的報銷和准入限制、頻繁的患者自付、副作用的感知風險以及患者對注射的恐懼。此外,我們認爲,與治療粉刺等其他炎症性皮膚病的其他外用產品相比,治療輕度牛皮癬的外用產品有溢價的空間。這是基於這樣一個事實,即當比較生物療法的成本時,一種治療輕度牛皮癬的有效且安全的局部產品可能會對市場產生很大的影響。生物療法每年的成本可能爲5萬美元。因此,我們認爲,醫生更有可能在生物治療之前很久就爲牛皮癬開出局部產品,而患有輕度牛皮癬的患者更喜歡使用局部產品,而不是全身治療。
存在治療銀屑病的非生物系統治療選擇,但由於不良的副作用,它們的使用也受到限制。阿普瑞司特(Otezla)是一種口服PDE4抑制劑,2019年在所有適應症中的銷售額超過10亿美元,但由於其僅限於中重度患者、症狀改善溫和且不良事件頻繁,在銀屑病中僅佔很小的患者份額。我們相信,仍然非常需要將治療輕中度銀屑病的產品推向市場。
由於現有局部治療的缺點以及缺乏通過慢性治療提供強勁症狀改善的選擇,特別是在過去25年中,我們認爲仍然需要一種安全、有效且易於應用的慢性疾病局部治療,該治療具有低副作用風險、良好的耐受性,並且可以輕鬆應用於所有解剖區域。
我們針對輕度至中度銀屑病的解決方案.與痤瘡患者的需求類似,我們相信銀屑病患者可能會更好地遵守易於應用且比當前治療選擇需要更少的應用時間的治療方法。XYNGARI™如果獲得批准,可用作輕中度銀屑病患者的一線治療方法。我們相信XYNGARI™中的針狀物將有助於破碎銀屑病病變,而XYNGARI™的抗炎成分則有助於病變的癒合。由於歷史上的使用 Spongilla 以及迄今爲止在我們的臨床研究中收集的人類安全數據,我們相信XYNGARI™因其獨特的治療效果以及可接受的安全性和耐受性特徵,可能適合慢性銀屑病的長期治療。
除了XYNGARI™的機械作用外,這種有機物質的提取物在體外還顯示出劑量依賴的抑制IL-17A和IL-17F分泌的作用。在真皮和表皮中,萬億淋巴細胞與抗原提呈細胞相互作用,分泌Th1和Th17型細胞因子,包括干擾素-γ、白介素2、白介素17、白介素22和腫瘤壞死因子-α。這些激活的T細胞及其分泌的炎性細胞因子被認爲是導致牛皮癬患者皮膚損害的原因,並是疾病免疫途徑的根本貢獻者。我們知道市場上有多種已獲批准的IL-17A抑制劑,如Suckinumab(Cosentyx®,諾華)和Ixekizumab(Taltz®,禮來),但這些都是生物製劑,僅適用於需要系統治療的中到重度銀屑病患者。作爲這些生物治療候選的有限患者群體只佔整個牛皮癬市場的一小部分。因此,一種局部產品,可以抑制皮膚中的IL-17途徑,並最大限度地減少全身暴露,將是醫生和患者的理想選擇。
基於迄今爲止產生的XYNGARI™的臨床和非臨床數據,以及XYNGARI™的S治療銀屑病皮損的軼事證據,我們於2021年10月在輕中度銀屑病患者中完成了10期億,開放標籤,POC研究。這項試驗包括對30名輕中度牛皮癬患者進行爲期12周的每週一次的XYNGARI™治療,這些患者的皮損覆蓋了他們身體表面積的2%到30%。這項試驗的主要終點是醫生的全球評估,這是一個衡量醫生對目標皮損部位牛皮癬嚴重程度的6分量表,牛皮癬面積嚴重程度指數量表也是一個6分量表,衡量牛皮癬疾病的嚴重程度,考慮到定性皮損特徵(紅斑、厚度和鱗屑)和表面積受累程度,而瘙癢視覺模擬評分包括患者對瘙癢或瘙癢的測量,以及正常耐受性和安全性評估。我們在2021年10月公佈了主要結果,根據POC試驗中看到的有效性、安全性和耐受性概況,我們啓動了額外的工作,以便在收到足夠的資金後進入更大的第2階段、安慰劑對照臨床試驗之前,更好地爲臨床試驗設計提供信息。
DMT400用於大分子的局部遞送
DMT400是我們的治療方案,它利用了我們的Spongilla通過局部應用而不是注射來促進大分子(如肉毒桿菌毒素、單抗、真皮填充物或疫苗)皮內遞送的技術。這些大分子非常有效,被批准用於治療多種醫療和美容皮膚狀況和疾病,但目前尚未被批准以局部形式使用,因爲分子結構太大,無法穿透皮膚最外層的防禦屏障角質層。因此,目前所有針對皮膚狀況和疾病的大分子治療方案都必須進行肌肉內或皮內注射,有時需要多次注射。我們相信,DMT400的S局部應用方案可以爲患者提供一種針對內科和美容皮膚病的局部治療選擇,使用他們以前在局部治療中無法獲得的產品。
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圖4:硅質針狀微通道
DMT400的工作原理是,首先將我們專有的海綿粉局部應用於海綿機械針刺穿透皮膚的治療區域,從而創建進入真皮的微通道,如上圖4所示。與真皮滾筒或其他微針技術不同,我們獨特的針刺在皮膚中保留一到兩天,使微通道保持開放,而不是像使用真皮滾筒後那樣關閉。當微通道打開較長時間時,大分子可以局部應用於皮膚,從而能夠滲透到真皮中。我們相信,這種局部使用的大分子可以按摩到新創建的微通道中,從而促進大分子通過微通道進入真皮,而不需要注射。這種定向遞送到真皮而不是遞送到體循環,可能會減少這些大分子的全身擴散,從而潛在地減少注射的副作用,同時增加對疾病所在部位的靶嚮應用。
DMZ 410治療先天性腋窩多汗症
我們最初使用DMT410計劃測試了DMT400治療,該計劃包括局部應用我們專有的海綿粉,然後局部應用肉毒桿菌毒素(一種大分子)。DMZ 410最初是在一項對十(10)名患有先天性腋窩多汗症的患者進行的10亿期Pod試驗中進行的,以確定我們的海綿粉是否可以成功促進肉毒桿菌毒素和潛在的其他大分子的皮內輸送。根據這項研究的結果,我們相信我們成功地將活性肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到真皮中,用於治療原始性腋窩多汗症和潛在的其他皮膚疾病。
市場機遇。多汗症是一種改變生活的疾病,過度出汗與體溫調節要求不成比例。雖然許多患者可能會在特定的觸發因素(如情緒壓力)下表現出這種過度出汗,但其他人可能會自發地表現出症狀。通常,多汗症的診斷部分是基於主觀測量,即測量出汗過多如何影響患者的生活質量。醫生也會通過重力測量汗量,儘管目前還沒有定義多汗症的標準閾值。據信,僅在美國,估計就有1,500名萬患者受到影響。根據GlobalData Inc.的市場數據,2020年美國處方藥多汗症市場的處方藥銷售額約爲6,600美元萬,預計2030年將達到約28200美元的萬,其中近40%來自肉毒桿菌注射。根據2016年美國多汗症患病率和嚴重程度的最新報告,腋窩(腋下)多汗症是這種疾病最常見的形式。然而,患者也會受到其他形式的影響,如手掌(手)和足底(腳)多汗症,我們相信DMT410可能能夠治療和避免在皮內注射管理不善的研究中看到的副作用。
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現行護理標準的侷限性。雖然多汗症的患病率很高,但治療選擇有限,許多治療方案都會帶來有害的副作用,使患者的接受度較低。典型的一線治療通常是以氯化鋁爲基礎的止汗劑,但許多都有潛在的缺點。首先,日常應用可能很耗時,導致患者依從性差。其次,許多止汗劑對皮膚有刺激性,導致停止治療。最後,局部的氯化鋁治療有短暫的持續時間,需要經常重複使用才能保持汗液控制。最近,已經對局部抗膽鹼藥物進行了研究並獲得批准,例如Botanix Inc.(以前由Fresh Track,Inc.開發)。和Journey Medical Corporation(以前由Dermira,Inc.開發),但我們認爲它們往往具有與非標籤使用的系統性抗膽鹼藥物相同的副作用。這些副作用包括口乾、眼睛乾燥、視力模糊、頭痛、尿瀦留等。這種不受歡迎的副作用往往令人無法忍受,以至於多達三分之一的患者被迫退出治療。如果局部或全身治療失敗,患者可以皮內注射肉毒桿菌毒素,這已被證明有很好的治療效果,但治療非常受技術驅動,需要訓練有素的醫生將毒素注射到真皮的薄層。很多時候,肉毒桿菌毒素的治療反應不佳是由於劑量不正確或不足或給藥不正確。患者也可能經歷注射部位的疼痛或不適,這可能伴隨着腫脹和瘀傷。然而,對於皮內注射肉毒桿菌毒素治療手汗症,如果用藥不當,最顯著的不良事件是一過性手無力。作爲最後的手段,如果侵入性較小的治療方案失敗,患者還可能尋求手術治療他們的多汗症。雖然多汗症患者有治療選擇,但只有大約一半的受影響個人尋求治療,因爲與疾病診斷相關的社交尷尬。我們認爲,這在市場上留下了一個巨大的空白,市場上的產品結合了肉毒桿菌毒素的有效性和局部治療的安全性和耐受性。我們相信,如果DMT410成功商業化,可以解決這一服務不足的市場機會。
我們針對原發性腋窩多汗症的解決方案。雖然原發性腋窩多汗症是特發性的,但其機制被認爲是受影響區域的分泌腺(汗腺)神經源性過度活動。根據肉毒桿菌毒素批准的總結基礎,我們知道A型肉毒毒素對多汗症有臨牀效果,多汗症通過擾亂對小汗腺的交感刺激而起作用,從而顯著減少4至12個月的腋下出汗。根據肉毒桿菌的包裝插入物,皮內注射50單位肉毒桿菌毒素後,在接受肉毒桿菌或安慰劑治療的患者中,分別有81%和41%的患者在四周後腋窩汗液產量減少了50%以上。雖然皮內注射肉毒桿菌毒素似乎非常有效,但治療需要在每個腋下多次注射,這對治療醫生來說很耗時,而且由於真皮的薄性質,給藥對技術非常敏感。此外,考慮到靶組織的性質更敏感,以及需要注射的次數,人們認爲注射部位疼痛是缺乏依從性的主要原因。因此,我們相信,一種能夠穿透角質層將肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到真皮的局部應用方案,可能能夠表現出類似的療效,但依從性和採用率更高。在DMT410用於治療腋窩多汗症的10期億POC研究中,我們發現在第4周,80%的患者腋下汗量減少了50%以上。這一結果支持了我們的信念,即局部應用肉毒桿菌毒素通過我們的海綿真皮注射技術可能是皮內注射的一種可行的替代方案。如果獲得批准,DMT410可以消除皮內注射肉毒桿菌毒素的需要。因此,我們相信DMT410可能是治療原發性腋窩多汗症患者的一種有利的治療選擇。此外,我們還相信,DMT410可能是一種有效的治療由於DMT410‘S將肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到真皮內而導致的手掌或足底多汗症,而不像皮內注射肉毒桿菌毒素那樣存在毒素遠距離擴散到肌肉的風險。DMT410可以限制皮內注射的副作用,包括手無力和用藥疼痛。不能保證DMT410將獲得FDA對多汗症的批准。
治療美容疾病的DMT410除了用於治療多汗症和其他醫學皮膚科疾病,如痤瘡,根據我們最近的10期億POC試驗的數據,DMT410用於治療多種美容皮膚病,如毛孔大小、皮脂產生、細紋、亮度和皮膚亮度,我們相信DMT410有機會用於治療多種美容皮膚病。肉毒桿菌毒素已知可以治療各種美容皮膚狀況,但要達到這些積極效果,肉毒桿菌毒素需要被輸送到真皮而不是肌肉才能產生預期的效果。DMT410DMT410‘S獨特大小的針刺通過角質層進入真皮,形成足夠大的微通道,使肉毒桿菌毒素能夠傳遞到真皮。然而,針狀體的長度不足以到達肌肉層,這限制了毒素的潛在遠程傳播和潛在的副作用。肉毒桿菌毒素的作用是阻止乙酰膽鹼釋放到突觸間隙,在那裏它與膽鹼能受體結合,從而抑制交感神經功能。這種抑制膽鹼能傳遞的能力使其適用於治療腺體高分泌的指徵,如皮脂產生或多汗,這部分是由過度活躍的交感神經引起的。對於美容適應症,由於肉毒桿菌毒素必須輸送到真皮,因此皮內注射通常是必要的,但與肌肉靶向注射相比,爲了覆蓋更大的表面積來治療這些美容皮膚狀況,皮內注射可能需要多次注射。皮內注射也很難有效地實施,可能會讓患者感到痛苦。這往往會導致這種療法的不良採用,這就是爲什麼我們認爲目前還沒有批准的美學適應症使用皮內注射。此外,還沒有肉毒桿菌毒素的局部配方被批准,可能是因爲分子的大小以及它很難穿透角質層到達真皮。因此,由於目前還沒有批准用於美容皮膚條件的肉毒桿菌毒素的皮內注射或局部應用方法,我們相信可以通過局部應用將肉毒桿菌毒素成功地輸送到真皮以改善患者的美學外觀的產品有很大的市場機會。如果獲得批准,我們相信DMT410可以滿足這一市場需求。
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護理標準的侷限性雖然多年來,肌肉注射肉毒桿菌毒素已被批准用於美容治療,如減少眉間紋、外眼角或額部皺紋,但還有許多其他美容皮膚狀況,如毛孔擴大、皮脂分泌過多、細紋、光度降低和亮度降低,肉毒桿菌毒素已被證明有改善作用,但肉毒桿菌毒素產品,無論是通過皮內注射還是局部應用,尚未被批准用於這些適應症。這可能是因爲這些美容適應症通常需要將肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到真皮而不是肌肉,由於真皮的薄性質,這可能比向肌肉注射更困難。此外,需要皮內注射的面部區域要敏感得多,因此對患者來說可能更痛苦。這些皮內美容適應症通常需要更廣泛的肉毒桿菌毒素散佈到真皮,而不是向面部深層線條所需的肌肉中注射少量肉毒桿菌毒素。一些皮內研究需要在面部進行25-30次皮內注射,才能將足夠數量的肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到真皮。由於一些患者害怕打針,一種可以避免使用針頭的治療方法對這些人群來說是可取的。此外,肉毒桿菌毒素的局部應用一直很困難,因爲分子的大小使得肉毒桿菌毒素難以穿透角質層,導致許多局部應用無效或停止。例如,Revance的RT001產品在治療魚尾紋的第三階段試驗中沒有達到主要或其他次要終點,因此,Revance目前不打算繼續開發該計劃。另一家肉毒桿菌毒素公司Allergan(現在是AbbVie的一部分)在2016年收購了一家公司,以開發一種局部肉毒桿菌毒素計劃。然而,我們相信Allergan還沒有對這個項目進行過任何研究。我們相信,大多數肉毒桿菌毒素公司仍有興趣開發一種局部注射肉毒桿菌毒素的方法,這種方法痛苦較小,易於應用,提供更廣泛的毒素覆蓋範圍,並限制毒素的潛在遠程傳播,但尚未成功開發出任何產品。
我們的美容皮膚病解決方案我們相信,像DMT410這樣的候選產品可能能夠成功地將肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到覆蓋比注射更大的面部真皮,將爲各種美容皮膚狀況提供新的治療選擇,例如減少毛孔大小、皮脂產生和細紋,以及改善皮膚亮度和亮度,從而潛在地擴大肉毒桿菌毒素用於肌肉注射治療深層細紋的市場。我們相信DMT410可能能夠爲患者提供一種局部治療選擇,而不會出現通常與注射肉毒桿菌毒素相關的疼痛和不適。此外,我們相信對皮膚科醫生來說,管理將更容易,耗時更少,使其成爲他們可以提供的額外的價值驅動的治療選擇。雖然目前肉毒桿菌毒素已被批准用於面部肌肉注射,以治療更深層次的皺紋,如眉間皺紋、外眼角皺紋和額部皺紋,但面部仍有許多其他美容條件,可以從皮內注射肉毒桿菌毒素,特別是通過局部應用來極大地受益。某些美容指徵,如減少細紋、毛孔大小和皮脂生成,以及提高光度和亮度,通常不是通過肌肉注射來治療的,但需要肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到真皮才能產生適當的效果。利用DMT410的S獨特尺寸的針刺,我們相信它可以在真皮中創建許多微通道,從而爲肉毒桿菌毒素的局部應用提供了一條途徑。肉毒桿菌毒素一旦進入真皮,就能起到減少皮脂生成的作用,反過來又可以減少毛孔大小和皮膚的總體油性。此外,肉毒桿菌毒素已被證明對面部線條的平均體積和深度有有益的影響,使皮膚看起來更光滑。因此,我們認爲可能需要一種產品,如DMT410,可以促進肉毒桿菌毒素在真皮中的局部應用,以治療各種美容皮膚狀況。
如果獲得批准,我們相信DMT410有潛力將肉毒桿菌毒素的治療市場擴大到多種其他美容皮膚疾病。我們相信DMT410可以是一種有效的產品,可以提供生物活性肉毒桿菌毒素,局部應用於治療毛孔大小、皮脂生成、細紋、光度、亮度、整體美觀等方面。我們最近完成了DMT410的10期億POC試驗,用於治療多種美容皮膚狀況,我們檢查了一次治療後毛孔大小、皮脂產品、光度、亮度和整體美容的改善。我們相信,這項POC試驗產生的數據表明,DMT410能夠將肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到真皮,並顯示出孔徑縮小、減少皮脂產生、改善光度、改善亮度,並改善患者的整體美感。這項研究也沒有產生不良事件,並提供了可接受的耐受性數據,僅在治療15分鐘後出現輕微的耐受性影響。我們相信這些數據證明了這一計劃的進一步發展,我們目前正在尋找具有肉毒桿菌毒素的合作伙伴,他們希望爲需要將肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到真皮的美容皮膚條件而開發。不能保證DMT410將獲得FDA批准的任何美容適應症,也不能保證我們將能夠找到合作伙伴進行開發。
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我們的主要候選產品的臨牀進展
XYNGARI™ 痤瘡三期臨牀試驗計劃
2023年12月,我們啓動了XYNGARI™第三階段臨牀計劃,題爲海綿治療痤瘡研究(STAR)。XYNGARI™第三階段臨牀計劃將包括兩項第三階段臨牀試驗,以評估XYNGARI™治療中重度面部痤瘡的有效性、安全性和耐受性。每個3期試驗將是隨機(2:1)、雙盲、安慰劑對照,並將在美國和拉丁美洲招募大約500-600名年齡在9歲及以上的中到重度痤瘡患者。主要終點是炎性和非炎症性病變計數和調查者整體評估(IGA)治療應答率與基線相比的平均變化。免疫球蛋白A按5分制(0-4分)進行測量,治療反應定義爲較基線至少改善2分,免疫球蛋白A評分爲0(可用)或1(幾乎可用)。患者將接受爲期12周的每週一次的XYNGARI™或安慰劑治療,並將每月進行評估。STAR-1是兩個關鍵的3期試驗中的第一個,預計2025年3月將有主要結果。在獲得足夠的資金後,我們打算啓動STAR-2第二階段3臨牀試驗,我們預計隨後將按照FDA的要求進行長期擴展研究。如果是肯定的,第三階段計劃的結果將被用來支持向FDA提交保密協議。
XYNGARI™ 痤瘡20億期臨牀結果
2020年6月,我們收到了XYNGARI™治療痤瘡的隨機、雙盲、安慰劑對照、20期億臨牀試驗的結果,該試驗每週治療一次,持續12周。我們在美國14個地點招募了181名中到重度痤瘡患者。患者年齡必須在12歲或以上,至少有二十(20)個非炎性病變,二十(20)個炎性病變,不超過兩(2)個結節或囊腫,並且是IGA痤瘡分級中的中度或重度(即3或4)。IGA量表由5分組成,0-4分,0分爲清晰,1分爲基本清楚,4分爲嚴重痤瘡,由治療醫生進行分級。患者被隨機分爲兩組,要麼接受XYNGARI™治療,要麼接受安慰劑治療。患者被要求將該產品(無論是XYNGARI™還是安慰劑)塗抹在整個面部,每週一次,持續12周,前兩週在辦公室進行,由訓練有素的研究人員監督,然後由患者在家進行其餘10周的治療。
該試驗的主要臨牀終點包括炎症性病變相對於基線的絕對減少。次要臨牀終點包括:
| · | 非炎症性病變相對於基線的絕對減少; |
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| · | IGA的響應者是IGA量表發生2級變化並且在研究結束時爲0或1的患者;以及 |
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| · | 安全性和耐受性。 |
我們20億期研究顯示的所有統計分析和數據均針對意向治療(ITT)人群。ITT人群包括隨機分配組中的所有隨機受試者,無論接受的研究藥物或是否完成了研究。ITT方法提供了治療組之間的公正比較。
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該試驗於2020年6月完成,對試驗的所有療效終點,即炎性和非炎性病變和免疫球蛋白反應者的減少,顯示出統計上顯著的、我們相信具有臨牀意義的效果。值得注意的是,在僅治療4次後,所有療效終點的治療效果在四周時具有統計學意義,與安慰劑相比,在第8周和第12周繼續具有統計學意義。患者在第4周時炎性病變減少了45%,在第12周時達到62%,而在第4周和第12周時,安慰劑的炎性病變分別減少了24%和42%。對非炎症性病變的療效在四周後也具有統計學意義,非炎症性病變在第四周減少約36%的治療效果在12周達到58%,與安慰劑相比在統計學上具有顯著意義。此外,與安慰劑相比,在第4周和第12周,炎症性和非炎症性病變計數減少的百分比的P值都低於0.001。
我們還看到IGA早期出現了統計學顯着的分離,XYNGARI™組中15%的患者認爲IGA量表有緩解者,或者IGA評分爲0分「清除」或1分「幾乎清除」,僅接受4次治療後,相比之下,安慰劑組患者的這一比例略高於2%。這種統計學差異在試驗的剩餘部分繼續存在,在試驗完成時(即第12周),XYNGARI™組中44%的患者是IGA反應者,而安慰劑組中這一比例爲17%。該差異具有統計學意義,P值小於0.001。
試驗中未報告與藥物相關的嚴重不良事件。大多數患者似乎也可以耐受該藥物,超過92%的患者在第12周時沒有出現或輕微耐受性,沒有報告嚴重乾燥、剝落、紅斑或灼燒/刺痛。在那些確實報告耐受性問題的患者中,他們還報告說,這些問題通常是暫時的,並且在無需干預的情況下迅速解決。基於這些數據,在與FDA舉行第二階段結束會議後,我們啓動了針對中度至重度痤瘡的第三階段項目,具有相同的臨牀終點和相同的XYNGARI™配方。
以下圖表和表格顯示了XYNGARI™和安慰劑從基線至研究結束或第12周炎症和非炎症性病變的絕對減少(圖5),以及XYNGARI ™和安慰劑從基線至研究結束或第12周炎症和非炎症性病變的減少百分比(圖6)。儘管非炎症性病變的減少是該試驗的次要終點,但這是FDA批准所需的3期痤瘡研究的必要指標。
圖5:XYNGARI ™和安慰劑從基線至研究結束或第12周的炎症性和非炎症性病變的平均減少
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目錄 |
圖6。XYNGARI™和安慰劑從基線至研究結束或第12周炎症性和非炎症性病變的減少百分比
圖7。第29天或第4周、第57天或第8周和第85天或第12周的研究者總體評估響應率
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目錄 |
(1) | 如上圖和表中所使用的,對「P值」(相對於安慰劑)的引用意味着當斷言相關患者組和安慰劑組的結果之間存在真正差異時錯誤的可能性。例如,小於0.001的「P值」表明治療組中觀察到的結果和安慰劑組中觀察到的結果相同的可能性小於萬分之一。「P值」等於或小於0.05意味着給定差異具有統計學意義。 |
(2) | 「成功」定義爲IGA評分爲「清晰」或「幾乎清晰」,並且研究完成後IGA評分發生2級變化。 |
此外,XYNGARI™的安全性和耐受性似乎是可以接受的,對於少數發生治療後出現的不良事件的患者,如下圖8所示。在這項20億期試驗中,沒有接受XYNGARI™治療的受試者在研究結束時出現嚴重的局部皮膚反應,也沒有任何患者接受劑量調整。大多數耐受性問題都很輕微,在使用後不久就得到了解決,無需任何補救藥物,如下圖8所示。總體而言,每週一次使用XYNGARI™,持續12周,患者總體安全且耐受性良好。
系統器官類別首選團隊 |
| XYNGARI™ (N=91) N (%) |
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| 安慰劑 (N=90) N (%) |
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全身性障礙和用藥部位情況 |
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| 5(5.5) |
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| 2(2.2) | ||
外用藥部位紅斑 |
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| 4(4.4) |
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| 1(1.1) | ||
用藥部位瘙癢 |
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| 2(2.2) |
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| 2(2.2) | ||
應用部位乾燥 |
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| 1(1.1) |
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| 0(0.0) | ||
給藥部位表皮脫落 |
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| 1(1.1) |
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| 0(0.0) |
22 |
目錄 |
圖8。治療後出現的不良事件
圖9。局部耐受性
XYNGARI™ 痤瘡的2a期臨牀結果
2018年,我們進行了XYNGARI™的首次臨牀試驗,這是一項XYNGARI™治療痤瘡的隨機、雙盲、2x 2析因、安慰劑對照、2a期臨牀試驗。我們招募了121名患者,以評估DM XYNGARI™ T310與3%H混合的耐受性、安全性和有效性2O2 對患有中度至重度面部痤瘡的男性和女性患者進行局部給藥12周後。該研究採用2x 2析因設計來評估研究產品每個成分的貢獻(即, 湖海綿 外用粉劑和3%H2O2 USP)。如上所述,這項2a期臨牀試驗採用了與我們用於治療痤瘡的XYNGARI™ 20億期臨牀試驗相同的臨牀終點。
患者隨機分爲四個治療組之一,XYNGARI ™ +3%H2O2、XYNGARI ™ +水、安慰劑+3%H2O2,或安慰劑+水(對照)。要求患者將指定的研究藥物塗抹在整個面部,最多每週一次,持續12周(84天),從第1天開始至第78天(如適用)。在第29和57天的研究中心訪視期間,根據研究者的總體評估(IGA)評分,確定每例患者是否繼續每週一次或以較低的每兩週一次的頻率(每2週一次)。具體來說,在第29天或第57天訪視時IGA> 1的患者繼續每週一次應用研究藥物,而在這些相同訪視時IGA> 1的患者隨後被指示每兩週應用其分配的研究藥物(參見下圖10以了解研究藥物應用頻率算法的演示)。
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目錄 |
圖10。按研究訪問列出的應用頻率算法
當比較XYNGARI™ +3%H時,這項2a期試驗對其終點(炎症性病變的絕對減少)顯示出具有統計學意義和臨牀意義的影響2O2 和安慰劑+水(對照)組在第8周和第12周或研究結束時。第12周,XYNGARI™ +3%H2O2 較基線減少16處病變,而安慰劑+水較基線減少11處病變,p值小於0.05。在所有治療組中,較基線平均下降(即,改善)第15、29、57和85天炎症性和非炎症性病變計數。然而,XYNGARI™ +3%H之間沒有統計學意義差異2O2 組與安慰劑+水(對照)組的非炎症性病變計數較基線的平均變化。
我們沒有觀察到XYNGARI™ +3%H之間存在統計學顯着差異2O2 組和安慰劑+水(對照)組在任何訪視時IGA治療成功(IGA評分爲1或0,變化2級)或IGA較基線改善1級或2級的患者百分比。第85天,XYNGARI™ +3%H2O2、XYNGARI™ +水、安慰劑+3%H2O2、和安慰劑+水組中,分別有29.6%、20.0%、27.6%和34.5%的患者有IGA治療反應;分別有66.7%、66.7%、65.5%和55.2%的受試者IGA較基線改善1級;分別有37.0%、20.0%、27.6%和34.5%的受試者IGA較基線改善2級。
安慰劑分析:在與試驗中的臨牀研究人員交談後,確定非炎症性病變中安慰劑的反應高於正常水平可能部分是由於安慰劑的粘性,這需要患者擦洗面部,導致皮膚剝落並去除油脂塞(白頭和黑頭),從而減少非炎症性病變計數。我們認爲,這導致的安慰劑反應率遠高於其他局部2期痤瘡試驗中觀察到的安慰劑反應率。由於安慰劑不足,我們爲20億期臨牀試驗開發了一種新的專有安慰劑配方。
每週一次與每兩週一次的治療計劃:由於這是XYNGARI™首次在中重度痤瘡患者中進行爲期12周的研究,因此選擇了保守的研究設計,以確保患者的耐受性和安全性,同時試圖維持療效。因此,我們允許IGA治療響應者(IGA評分爲0或1)改爲每兩週或每兩週一次的應用時間表,如上所述。這導致27名患者中有3名接受XYNGARI™ +3%H治療2O2 安慰劑+水組的29名患者中,0名患者從第8周的IGA評分爲1(治療有反應者)到第12周的IGA評分恢復至2(治療失敗)。因此,我們在中重度痤瘡患者中進行的XYNGARI™ 20億期臨牀試驗僅納入每週一次應用,持續12周,沒有每兩週選擇。
安慰劑+3%H之間沒有觀察到統計學或臨牀差異2O2 以及安慰劑+水組,我們認爲這表明3%H2O2 本身沒有治療效果。
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目錄 |
XYNGARI™ 治療痤瘡的下一步措施
在2023年6月第二階段會議結束時收到積極反饋並與FDA保持一致後,我們於2023年12月開始招募患者參加針對中重度痤瘡的XYNGARI ™三期STAR-1臨牀試驗。
XYNGARI™三期計劃將包括兩個多中心的安慰劑對照試驗,其臨牀終點與我們最近成功的XYNGARI™治療中重度痤瘡的20期億臨牀試驗相同,隨後將進行長期擴展研究。一旦我們收到第三階段計劃的結果,假設結果是積極的,我們計劃在不久之後向FDA提交保密協議。這一第三階段計劃旨在證明與安慰劑相比,XYNGARI™治療中重度痤瘡的安全性和有效性。在我們計劃的第三階段計劃之前或同時,我們打算繼續進行和完成支持提交NDA所需的其他非臨牀研究。如果XYNGARI™被批准用於治療痤瘡,我們相信XYNGARI™最終將成爲治療非處方藥或處方到OTC的有吸引力的藥物,這可能會提供更大的銷售機會。不能保證XYNGARI™將獲得美國食品和藥物管理局的批准,用於治療痤瘡。
XYNGARI™ 銀屑病的1a期臨牀結果
我們完成了XYNGARI™的1a期Pod試驗,用於治療輕中度銀屑病。這是一項開放標籤、多中心、爲期12周的研究,針對30名輕至中度銀屑病患者,銀屑病病變覆蓋了2-30%的身體表面積。該試驗旨在評估XYNGARI™每週一次治療的耐受性、安全性和有效性,XYNGARI™由2克 海綿 粉末與6毫升3%H混合2O2.選擇1處輕度或中度病變,要求患者在整個病變處使用XYNGARI™,每週一次,持續12周,前兩週在經過培訓的工作人員的監督下在辦公室進行治療,然後其餘10次每週治療由患者在家進行。
本研究的終點包括:
| · | 醫生對疾病嚴重程度的總體評估(PGA),成功定義爲靶病變部位沒有疾病或疾病非常輕微,5分制評分分別爲0或1。 |
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| · | 目標病變部位的銀屑病面積嚴重程度指數(PasI)定義爲無銀屑病或輕度銀屑病,在6分制上評分分別爲0或1。這要求每種銀屑病體徵(如脫屑、紅斑和斑塊抬高)的評分爲0或1,才能將受試者視爲響應者。 |
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| · | 瘙癢視覺模擬量表(ASA)查看瘙癢症(瘙癢)較基線的平均變化和百分比變化。 |
所有療效分析均使用接受治療的人群進行,其中包括接受至少一劑研究藥物的所有入組患者和符合方案人群,其中包括研究期間沒有影響療效分析的重大方案違反的所有入組患者。
25 |
目錄 |
該試驗於2021年8月完成,顯示出可接受的安全性和耐受性特徵,我們認爲這具有臨牀意義,需要進一步研究XYNGARI™作爲輕中度銀屑病的潛在治療方法。第8周時,29.6%的患者的靶病變PGA評分爲0或1。XYNGARI™還顯示,第8周時,25.9%的患者的靶病變的總PasI評分爲0或1分。值得注意的是,XYNGARI™在第8周時瘙癢症(瘙癢)較基線減少了19.6%,峰值減少了22.5%。我們相信,Pod試驗的這些發現對於XYNGARI™作爲輕中度銀屑病的一種易於應用的局部治療方法的潛在用途是令人鼓舞的,並且具有可接受的安全性和耐受性。
試驗中未報告與藥物相關的嚴重不良事件,僅報告了兩起治療後出現的不良事件,均爲用藥部位瘙癢症。此外,大多數患者似乎也能耐受該藥物。在那些確實報告耐受性問題的患者中,他們還報告說,這些問題通常是暫時的,並且在無需干預的情況下迅速解決。
XYNGARI™ 銀屑病的下一步措施
我們對我們的第一階段POC試驗中已經看到的數據感到高興,特別是看到瘙癢的減少,因爲這是牛皮癬患者的主要主訴之一。我們正在設計XYNGARI™治療牛皮癬的第二階段研究。第二階段研究將是XYNGARI™治療牛皮癬的一項更大規模的隨機、雙盲、安慰劑對照研究。根據10期億概念驗證研究的數據,我們正在考慮增加更多的ARM,以檢查每週一次的治療,可能會增強我們的10期億試驗中的治療效果。此外,由於銀屑病的獨特性質和銀屑病斑塊的一般厚度,我們還可以考慮增加應用壓力和應用時間。我們認爲,與沒有增厚皮膚的痤瘡應用方案相比,較厚的銀屑病斑塊可能需要更密集的治療。我們相信XYNGARI™可能是牛皮癬患者的一流治療選擇。XYNGARI治療牛皮癬的™計劃目前被擱置,在獲得額外資金和/或戰略合作伙伴的情況下將有進一步的進展。不能保證XYNGARI™將獲得美國食品和藥物管理局的批准,用於治療牛皮癬。
DMT410 10億期。先天性腋窩多汗症
2019年第一季度,我們完成了一項用於治療中至重度初級腋窩多汗症的10億期開放標籤、Pod試驗。在這項研究中,我們對十(10)名患者進行了一次塗抹我們專有的海綿粉,然後在每個腋窩局部塗抹一次BOTOX(按標籤重新配製)。對患者進行了4周的跟蹤,之後測量他們的出汗量,並與基線測量結果進行比較。
本試驗的終點包括:
| · | 重量測量的汗液產生量較基線減少不到50%的患者百分比, |
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| · | 重量出汗量超過50毫克的患者百分比,以及 |
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| · | 重量出汗產生的百分比變化。 |
26 |
目錄 |
4周後,80%的患者的重量出汗量下降超過50%,85%的患者的重量出汗量低於50毫克,患者的重量出汗量較基線下降75%。基於這些臨牀數據,我們相信我們能夠通過局部應用將肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到真皮中,用於治療原始性腋窩多汗症。DMT410治療也具有可接受的安全性和耐受性。
2025年1月17日,我們與最近與皇冠實驗室合併的Revance Treateutics,Inc.(Revance)簽訂了臨牀試驗協議,根據協議,我們打算與Revance合作進行一項多中心臨牀試驗,以評估XYNGARI™與DAXXIFY®的局部應用。根據《臨牀試驗協議》,我們打算贊助、進行和資助一項2a期臨牀試驗,以評估XYNGARI™和DAXXIFY®與XYNGARI™和安慰劑治療中重度腋汗症患者的安全性、耐受性和初步療效,爲期16周。Revance試驗預計將是隨機(1:1:1:1)、雙盲、安慰劑對照的,打算在美國的不同地點招募大約48名患者。預計終點是:(I)體重測量汗量比基線減少50%以上的患者的百分比,(Ii)體重汗量低於50毫克的患者的百分比,以及(Iii)體重測量汗量與基線相比的平均絕對變化。預計患者將定期接受四次評估。根據臨牀試驗協議,我們和Revance將成立一個聯合開發委員會,以促進與Revance試驗相關的各方之間的溝通。如果成功,我們計劃與Revance探索更廣泛的合作伙伴關係,在更多的適應症中研究DMT410。不能保證DMT410將獲得FDA的批准,用於治療多汗症。
DMZ 410第1b階段-美觀條件
2020年11月,我們招募了我們的第一位患者參加DMT410DMT410的10期億開放標籤POC試驗,用於治療上面部皺紋以及其他多種受真皮毒素傳遞影響的美容皮膚狀況,如毛孔大小、皮脂生成、亮度、光度、細紋和全球美容改善。由於我們沒有獲得肉毒桿菌毒素產品的權利,FDA要求我們使用肉毒桿菌的批准適應症、上面部紋路、該適應症的批准劑量(肉毒毒素單位)和批准的給藥途徑,通常是肌肉注射,而不是真皮注射。然而,我們的主要興趣是研究DMT410對需要將肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到真皮而不是肌肉的美學皮膚條件的臨牀效果。這是因爲我們相信,DMT410只將肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到真皮,而不是肌肉,從而將肉毒桿菌毒素的效果限制在真皮上出現的美容條件,如細紋、毛孔大小、皮脂產生等。有了這些限制,我們開始了POC試驗,招募了十(10)名年齡在18歲或以上的女性患者,每個患者都接受了一次DMT410治療,包括一次局部使用我們的專利海綿粉,然後一次局部使用肉毒桿菌,根據標籤重組,到上面部。患者被跟蹤十六(16)周,以確定我們的終點的實現以及效果的持續時間。我們還收集了安全性和耐受性數據。我們在2021年11月收到了這項研究的主要數據,並認爲我們在多個美容終點方面取得的結果足以證明DM410用於治療各種美容皮膚疾病的進一步研究。
本試驗的終點是:
| · | 研究人員根據面部皺紋等級(FWS)對外斜角、前額和眉間線條的評估達到無或輕度的患者的一部分,該量表由5分組成,0分表示沒有,1分表示幾乎沒有。要被認爲是應答者,患者和醫生都必須就分數達成一致。 |
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| · | 根據全球美容改善評分(GAIS),在醫生對孔徑大小改善的評估上取得改善的患者的部分,該評分由5分制組成,0分爲無改善,1分爲小於或等於25%的改善,2分爲26-50%的改善,3分爲51-75%的改善,4分爲76-100%的改善。 |
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| · | 基於10點視覺模擬標尺的亮度與基線的平均值和百分比變化。 |
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| · | 基於10點視覺模擬比例尺的亮度與基線的平均值和百分比變化。 |
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| · | 部分患者在醫生對眼底細紋的FWS評估上達到兩級改善。 |
有效性分析是在ITT和符合方案(PP)人群中進行的,這意味着所有完成研究且沒有重大方案違反的患者人群。除了上面列出的醫生測量的終點外,我們還實施了Canfield Science的2維MISIA和3維PRIMOS成像技術,以提供許多美學終點的客觀分析。
根據對前額、外眼角和眉間線的評估,在這項研究中沒有患者被認爲是響應者,而一些患者在整個研究過程中確實實現了至少一級的變化。這一結果並不意外,因爲BOTOX僅被批准用於注射到肌肉中用於這些適應症,我們不相信我們會看到任何潛在的毒素從真皮外遠距離擴散到肌肉。看到毒素沒有潛在的遠距離傳播對我們來說是令人鼓舞的,因爲它提供了重要的安全數據,雖然DMS 410可以應用於比注射更大的治療區域,但它似乎不會傳播到真皮之外,從而可能會導致不必要的面部影響。
我們相信DMS 410的真正潛力在於美學終點,這些終點可能會受到將BOTOX輸送到真皮而不是肌肉的影響。這些臨牀終點包括毛孔大小、整體美觀改善、亮度、亮度和細紋。下表(圖11)顯示了毛孔尺寸的改善,或總體毛孔尺寸的減少,患者的毛孔尺寸至少改善25%,用於評估GAI,或皮膚質量的總體改善,患者的GAI至少改善25%,用於評估亮度或皮膚顏色和紋理的組合均勻性,患者的亮度至少提高1分,並且對於亮度或面部反射的光區域的強度的評估,患者的亮度至少提高1分。
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圖11:美學終點
除了醫生測量的終點外,我們還利用Canfield Science的2維MISIA和3維PRIMOS成像技術來收集有關一些關鍵終點的額外客觀數據。基於MISIA系統,患者在第4周時的毛孔計數減少了14.1%,毛孔面積減少了14.3%。第4周時,患者的皺紋數量減少了16.5%,皺紋面積減少了11.5%。使用PRIMOS圖像分析,患者發現平均線(由較深的面部線組成)下降了12.1%,平均粗糙度(由表面細紋組成)下降了6.5%。我們相信,治療醫生看到的主觀影響通過使用Canfield相機系統的客觀測量得到了進一步驗證。
試驗中未報告與藥物相關的不良事件。患者對該藥物的耐受性良好,治療後15分鐘僅報告了輕度刺痛和紅斑,第4、8、12或16周沒有報告耐受性問題。
DMZ 410美觀的下一步
我們對DMT410DMT41010期億POC試驗的結果感到非常鼓舞,該試驗用於治療多種美容皮膚狀況。這是一項基於臨牀試驗設計限制的DMT410信號檢測試驗,用於治療各種美觀的皮膚狀況,包括我們能夠應用的肉毒桿菌數量的限制,需要包括的臨牀終點,以及可以治療的面部區域。即使有了這些限制,我們相信我們已經取得了足夠的結果,足以保證該計劃的繼續發展,因爲仍然沒有批准的肉毒桿菌毒素,無論是通過注射還是局部,來治療我們看到治療效果的許多終點。我們認爲,許多終點在第八(8)周或第十二(12)周出現改善,並在第16周開始恢復到基線水平,這進一步支持了這一事實。這與肉毒桿菌在效果開始消退之前持續約三(3)個月的知識是一致的。我們相信,如果我們能夠進行包括多劑量肉毒桿菌毒素在內的更大規模的第二階段臨牀試驗,我們將能夠找到治療各種美容皮膚狀況的最佳劑量,包括毛孔大小、皮脂產生、細紋、光度、亮度和整體美學改善。我們知道肉毒桿菌毒素已經顯示出對這些終端的療效,但關於最佳劑量或給藥程序的研究很少,這可能是由於皮內注射的挑戰,以及缺乏能夠有效地將肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到足夠大的治療區域的局部應用,以治療許多此類美容皮膚疾病。我們相信DMT410可以滿足這一需求,正如我們的10期億數據所顯示的那樣,因此我們繼續與Revance和其他可能有興趣幫助我們進一步開發適用於多種美容皮膚條件的DMT410計劃的公司討論合作機會。不能保證我們能夠成功地與肉毒桿菌毒素公司談判合作,以治療美容皮膚疾病,也不能保證DMT410將獲得FDA批准,用於治療任何美容皮膚疾病。
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製造
我們目前沒有擁有或運營任何製造設施,也不計劃在不久的將來擁有任何製造設施。我們一直依賴第三方合作伙伴來生產用於臨牀前研究和臨牀試驗的產品,如果我們的候選製劑獲得批准,短期內可能會繼續依賴這些合作伙伴來商業生產我們的原料藥和製劑。爲我們的候選產品生產活性藥物成分(API)需要來自天然來源的原材料。
到目前爲止,我們已經獲得了天然來源的海綿原材料直接來自我們在俄羅斯的供應商。2020年2月,我們與該供應商簽署了獨家供應協議海綿原材料.我們的供應商有超過22年的收集和加工經驗海綿有能力收集和處理大量的海綿一年一次。我們相信,我們的供應商能夠並將繼續能夠收穫足夠數量的原材料,以滿足我們的開發和潛在的商業需求,如果候選產品獲得批准使用這些原材料的話。我們收到了多批貨物海綿2023財年和2024財年我們的供應商提供的原材料包含額外數量的海綿原材料,我們相信這將爲我們提供足夠數量的海綿要啓動和完成治療中重度痤瘡的3期計劃,請完成DMT410治療腋窩多汗症的20期億試驗,並在成功完成兩項3期研究的情況下支持XYNGARI XYNGARI治療痤瘡的保密協議的申請。然而,我們正在探索替代製造來源,以確保我們能夠獲得足夠的製造能力,以經濟高效的方式滿足對我們任何候選產品的潛在需求。見「商業-材料協議-德瑪塔治療有限責任公司和瑞卡農場有限責任公司之間的供應協議」“了解更多有關我們的供應信息海綿.
我們可能開發的任何候選藥品的開發和商業數量都需要按照FDA和我們尋求批准的其他司法管轄區監管機構的要求進行收穫、在工廠中生產和加工。我們目前僱用內部資源來管理我們的製造承包商。我們候選藥品的相關製造商已告知我們,它們符合當前的藥物非臨牀研究質量管理規範(cGLP)和GMP。
我們依賴完整的供應鏈,同時支持我們的2期和3期臨牀供應要求,我們相信我們的製造商有能力擴展我們的流程以支持我們未來的商業需求。我們的供應商和製造商是根據其組織的能力、對法規的遵守情況、人員以及設備的類型和能力進行專門選擇的。根據FDA與人用臨牀材料相關的階段適當法規,開發了從原材料獲取到成品製劑生產的生產工藝每個階段的檢測方法,並獲得了令人滿意的合格資格。與我們生產運營每個階段(包括產品發佈)相關的分析方法和操作程序將繼續發展和驗證,作爲我們第3期臨牀用品和商業生產總體開發計劃的一部分。
商業化
鑑於我們的發展階段,我們目前沒有任何內部銷售、營銷或分銷基礎設施或能力。如果獲得批准,我們打算通過建立一個專注於皮膚科醫生的專業銷售組織,或與一家已經擁有專注於皮膚科醫生的銷售隊伍的公司合作,將XYNGARI™或我們可能成功開發的任何其他候選產品在美國商業化。我們相信,一個由大約50-60名銷售代表組成的以科學爲導向、以客戶爲中心的團隊將使我們能夠接觸到美國最有潛力開出XYNGARI™處方的目標皮膚科醫生。未來,我們可能會獨立或與戰略合作伙伴一起爲更多的地理區域開發和商業化XYNGARI™。如果XYNGARI™獲得批准,我們能夠成功地將其商業化,我們相信XYNGARI™最終可以成爲一個有吸引力的處方到OTC轉換目標,這將提供一個更大的可尋址市場和更大的銷售機會。
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競爭
我們計劃經營的醫療和美容製藥行業具有競爭力,並會受到實踐變化的影響。雖然我們相信我們獨特的自然技術、知識、經驗和資源爲我們提供了競爭優勢,但就我們當前的項目或我們未來可能尋求開發或商業化的任何其他候選產品而言,我們可能會面臨來自許多不同來源的競爭。可能的競爭對手可能包括製藥公司、學術和醫療機構、政府機構以及公共和私人研究機構。這些潛在競爭對手有能力有效地商業化、營銷和推廣已批准的產品,包括向實際和潛在客戶傳達產品的有效性、安全性和價值。
我們的許多潛在競爭對手擁有比我們更多的製造、財務、研發、人員和營銷資源。我們的潛在競爭對手在獲得FDA和外國監管機構的營銷批准方面也可能擁有更多的經驗和專業知識。除了產品開發、測試、批准和推廣外,製藥行業的其他競爭因素還包括行業整合、產品質量和價格、產品技術、聲譽、客戶服務和技術信息獲取。因此,我們的潛在競爭對手可能能夠開發有競爭力或更好的產品,並進行更積極的競爭,並在比我們更長的時間內保持競爭優勢。面對競爭,我們的產品可能會過時或缺乏經濟可行性。
如果獲得批准,影響XYNGARI™成功的關鍵競爭因素可能是其療效、安全性、管理和交付的便利性、價格以及從政府和其他第三方付款人那裏獲得補償的可能性。關於治療中重度痤瘡的XYNGARI™,如果獲得批准,我們將主要與其他外用產品、口腔產品、辦公室程序(如激光手術)、非處方藥、非處方藥和順勢療法等療法競爭。關於治療輕中度牛皮癬的XYNGARI™,如果獲得批准,我們將面臨來自局部療法、口服療法、全身療法、照相療法和順勢療法的競爭。然而,根據我們的臨牀試驗,我們認爲XYNGARI™與目前的治療方案相比具有多種競爭優勢,副作用明顯較少。我們在這些適應症方面的主要競爭對手將是太陽製藥工業有限公司、Sol-Gel技術有限公司、Arcutis BioTreateutics,Inc.、Almirall S.A.、Galderma S.A.和輝瑞的產品。我們主要候選產品的業務-臨牀進展我們已完成和正在進行的臨牀試驗的結果。雖然我們不知道有任何潛在的類似於XYNGARI™的局部競爭產品用於治療痤瘡和牛皮癬,但這種潛在的類似競爭產品目前可能正在開發中。
我們也正處於用於治療各種醫療和美容皮膚狀況和疾病的DMZ 410臨牀開發的早期階段,如果我們未來獲得上市批准,我們將與傳統療法競爭,例如局部產品、口服產品、辦公室程序,例如肉毒桿菌毒素注射劑、標籤外藥物、非處方藥物和順道療法,以及適用市場的其他新進入者。
我們還希望在尋找合適的合作者或合作伙伴以幫助我們的候選產品組合在目標商業市場商業化的過程中面臨競爭。
知識產權
概述
我們的商業成功在一定程度上取決於我們是否有能力爲XYNGARI™、DMT400DMT410和我們未來的任何候選產品、醫療設備、方法學、分析、藥物開發技術、收穫程序、專有技術獲得和維護專利保護;在不侵犯或以其他方式侵犯他人專有權的情況下運營;以及防止他人侵犯或以其他方式侵犯我們的專有權。我們的戰略是通過提交與我們的候選產品相關的美國和外國專利申請以及對我們業務的發展和實施至關重要的其他專有技術、發明和改進來保護我們的專有地位。我們還依靠商業祕密、商標、技術訣竅、持續的技術創新、排他性協議、保密和保密協議、許可協議、發明轉讓和潛在的許可內機會來發展和維護我們的專有地位。
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專利組合
我們的專利財產由在許可和獨家擁有的專利申請組成。通常,我們首先提交美國臨時專利申請,然後直接或根據《專利合作條約》(PCT)提交申請,該條約是一項國際專利法條約,爲提交單一初始專利申請以尋求發明的專利保護提供了統一的程序,同時在任何一個指定的成員司法管轄區和國家,包括在美國。儘管PCT申請不作爲專利發佈,但它允許申請人通過稍後提交的國家階段申請在任何成員國尋求保護。我們目前的專利組合中擁有多項專利和專利申請,並將繼續尋求所有候選產品的額外專利覆蓋範圍。
XYNGARI™
我們的XYNGARI™產品組合包括兩個系列,一個是授權的,另一個是德瑪塔擁有的。獲得許可的家族包括維拉尼公司獲得許可的與治療皮膚疾病的治療組合物和方法有關的專利和專利申請。授權內組合包括一項未決的非臨時美國專利申請,兩項已授權的美國專利,以及澳大利亞、巴西、加拿大、法國、德國、愛爾蘭、意大利、墨西哥、俄羅斯、新加坡、韓國、西班牙、瑞士和英國的已授權外國專利。此外,在日本頒發的外國專利已經失效,不再有效。這些授權專利在2022年至2023年之間到期,沒有獲得任何專利期限調整或延長。根據FDA可能批准XYNGARI™治療痤瘡的預期時間,2022年和2023年到期的專利對我們的業務並不重要,因爲我們預計這些專利不會爲我們的候選產品提供任何保護,因此我們向許可方提供了放棄某些許可專利的通知。我們預計,我們的知識產權組合將受到XYNGARI™和我們其他候選產品的任何潛在的NCE獨家經營權的保護,維護我們對原材料需求的獨家供應協議,以及我們繼續努力保護我們的專有信息。我們還擁有另一個與XYNGARI™相關的DELMATA家族,最近由美國專利商標局在美國頒發了一項名爲「治療皮膚狀況的組合物和方法」的專利(美國專利號12,208,123)。我們在澳大利亞和加拿大也有申請待決。這一系列指的是XYNGARI™原料藥和藥物產品的特定屬性,以及基於在提交申請之前收到的數據用於治療痤瘡的治療相關屬性。這一專利家族中的專利如果獲得批准,預計將在2041年到期,不會有任何專利期限調整或延長。
DMT410
我們的DMT410投資組合包括德瑪塔擁有的兩個家族。第一個家族包括一項在日本已頒發的專利,一項在澳大利亞允許的申請,一項正在申請中的美國非臨時專利,以及六項在加拿大、中國、歐洲專利局、日本、香港和韓國正在申請中的外國專利。這些專利/專利申請涉及使用我們的專利海綿粉與多種類型的肉毒桿菌毒素相結合治療皮膚病的組合物,用於治療醫療和美容皮膚狀況和疾病。這一專利系列中的專利如果獲得批准,預計將在2039年到期,不會進行任何專利期限調整或延長。第二個家族與我們的某些臨牀方法有關,與海綿粉和肉毒桿菌毒素有關。這第二個家族包括兩個未決的美國非臨時申請和在澳大利亞、加拿大、歐洲專利局、日本和韓國未決的額外申請。這一專利家族中的專利,如果獲得批准,預計將在2041年到期,不會有任何專利期限調整或延長。
DMT400
我們的DMT400投資組合包括Dermata擁有的三個家族。第一家庭由美國懸而未決的申請組成,加拿大和日本將我們的海綿粉與許多已批准和開發階段的單克隆抗體結合起來,用於治療皮膚病。該專利系列中的專利如果獲得批准,預計將於2039年到期,不會進行任何專利期限調整或延長。第二個家庭由美國正在處理的申請組成,澳大利亞、日本和韓國,涵蓋了通過皮膚填充劑與我們專有的海綿粉結合治療疾病的組合物。該專利系列中的專利如果獲得批准,預計將於2040年到期,不會進行任何專利期限調整或延長。第三個家族由2024年1月提交的一份未決的PCT申請組成,涵蓋了通過疫苗與我們專有的海綿粉組合治療疾病的組合物。
儘管我們相信我們的專利組合爲XYNGARI™、DMT410和DMT400以及其他聯合治療方案提供了顯着的保護,但在某種程度上,我們的專利提供的保護可能比聲稱化學結構的專利提供的保護更有限。以前未知。因此,其他方可能會與我們競爭,例如,通過獨立開發或獲得圍繞我們的專利權利要求設計但可能含有相同或相似的活性成分的競爭性局部製劑,或者通過尋求使我們的專利無效。
個別專利的期限取決於獲得這些專利的國家的法律。在我們提交申請的大多數國家,專利期是從非臨時專利申請的最早優先申請日起20年。但是,由於遵守FDA的要求或因美國專利商標局或USPTO在起訴過程中遇到的延誤而引起的延誤,美國專利的有效期可以延長。例如,哈奇-瓦克斯曼法案允許FDA批准的藥物在專利到期後延長最多五年的專利期。專利期延長的長度與藥物接受監管審查的時間長短有關。專利期延長不得超過自產品批准之日起14年的剩餘專利期,且只能延長一項適用於經批准的藥物的專利。歐洲和其他司法管轄區也有類似的規定,以延長涵蓋經批准的藥物的專利的期限。未來,如果我們的候選產品獲得FDA的批准,我們預計將爲涵蓋這些候選產品的專利申請延長專利期限。我們打算在任何司法管轄區尋求專利期限延長,如果有,並且我們也有可能符合條件的專利;但是,不能保證包括美國專利商標局和美國FDA在內的適用當局會同意我們對是否應該批准這種延長,以及即使批准了這種延長的長度的評估。
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其他知識產權
除了專利保護外,我們還嚴重依賴商業祕密,包括未獲得專利的專業知識、技術創新、技術規格和分析以及其他專有信息來試圖發展和保持我們的競爭優勢。我們相信,由於此類信息的複雜性和缺乏有效期,我們保護非專利知識和商業祕密的能力與我們的專利組合一樣重要,甚至更重要。
我們在美國和某些其他司法管轄區(如果有的話)尋求商標保護,我們認爲適當。我們目前在美國和多個其他司法管轄區註冊了Dermata。我們打算在包括美國在內的各個司法管轄區提交與我們的治療候選藥物相關的商標註冊申請。
材料協議
Dermata Therapeutics,LLC和Villani,Inc.之間的許可協議
2017年3月31日,我們與Villani,Inc.簽訂了許可協議(或許可協議)(or、Villani),據此Villani已根據許可專利(定義見許可協議)授予我們獨家、可再許可、承擔版稅的許可(或許可),以制定、開發、尋求監管機構批准、製造或銷售包含以下內容的產品 湖海綿 (單獨或與其他活性或非活性成分組合)用於治療使用某些許可專有技術(或許可產品)開發的皮膚疾病、失調和病症,包括但不限於痤瘡、紅斑鼻、銀屑病、特應性皮炎、SSE皮炎、光化角化病和溼疹。我們負責開發(包括製造、包裝、非臨牀研究、臨牀試驗和獲得監管機構批准)和商業化(包括營銷、推廣、分銷等)適用於所有許可產品。
在部分考慮許可證時,我們免除了向維拉尼提供的40萬美元未償貸款,並同意向維拉尼提供未來里程碑付款。根據許可協議應向Villani支付的里程碑付款已修訂爲下文與我們加入第二次許可修正案(定義如下)相關的金額。
許可協議可(i)任何一方因重大違約行爲提前90天書面通知終止,如果重大付款違約行爲未在通知期內得到糾正,則提前30天通知終止,(ii)如果任何一方啓動自願破產程序、解散或結束其業務,則在向任何一方發出書面通知後立即終止,(iii)如果任何一方陷入非自願破產程序,且該程序在90天內未被駁回或中止,則立即向任何一方發出書面通知。
許可協議包括與賠償、知識產權保護、保密、補救措施和保證等相關的習慣條款。
2019年6月4日,我們與Villani簽訂了許可修訂和和解協議(或第一許可修訂)。根據第一個許可修正案,我們向Villani支付了總計750,000美元的里程碑付款,併爲了換取某些專業知識,我們向Villani發行了5,221,156個1c系列優先單位(哪些單位因我們轉換爲特拉華州公司而轉換爲我們系列1c優先股的股份,相當於發行時我們總資本(按完全稀釋計算)的5%)。發行時,這些單位的價值爲730,962美元。我們隨後根據第二許可修正案註銷了向Villani發行的系列1c優先股的股份,如下所述。根據第一個許可修正案,我們還同意向Villani支付某些里程碑付款,該費率隨後根據第二個許可修正案進行了修改,如下所述。
2021年7月30日,我們簽訂了許可與和解協議的第二個修正案(或第二個許可證修正案),根據該修正案,爲了解決根據第一個許可證修正案產生的某些爭議,我們同意交換維拉尼擁有的1C系列優先股的股份,以換取根據許可協議應付給維拉尼的里程碑付款和特許權使用費的增加。根據第二許可修正案應支付的版稅費率等於許可產品和HMW組合產品(定義見許可協議)淨銷售額的個位數百分比,受第二許可修正案中規定的某些調整的影響。版稅按國家/地區和許可產品逐個支付,從許可協議生效之日起至(I)在該國家/地區的最後一項有效索賠到期(已於2023年到期)、(Ii)該許可產品在該國家/地區的監管排他性到期、(Iii)自該許可產品在該國家/地區首次商業銷售之日起15年內支付的版稅。根據第二個許可修正案,如果我們再許可許可,我們有義務向Villani支付從屬許可收入的10%至30%之間的再許可費用(如許可協議中的定義)。未來應支付給維拉尼的此類里程碑付款(根據維拉尼的選擇,全部以現金或股權形式支付給維拉尼)在開發里程碑中總計高達350萬,在銷售里程碑中高達3,700美元萬。到目前爲止,我們已就許可協議向Villani支付了總計1,750,000美元,包括750,000美元的里程碑付款和我們首次公開募股結束時的100美元萬付款。
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公司與Revance Therapeutics,Inc.之間的臨牀試驗合作協議
2025年1月17日,公司與Revance治療公司(Revance)簽訂了臨牀試驗合作協議(臨牀試驗協議),根據協議,公司和Revance打算進行一項多中心臨牀試驗(試驗),以評估XYNGARI的局部應用TM根據臨牀試驗協議的條款,Revance已向公司授予非獨家、全球範圍內、不可轉讓、免版稅的許可,有權再許可(受限制)、使用某些Revance知識產權(僅在公司根據臨牀試驗協議進行試驗所必需或有用時)、使用某些Revance知識產權(受限制)。該公司已向Revance授予使用XYNGARI的類似許可證TM和臨牀試驗協議項下的其他化合物(S)。臨牀試驗協議將在試驗完成、試驗產生的數據交付以及對試驗產生的數據完成任何統計分析後終止。任何一方在收到書面違反通知之日起30天后仍未治癒的重大違約,均可終止《臨牀試驗協議》。此外,如果任何一方合理地認爲爲了保護參加試驗的受試者的安全、健康或福利,任何一方均可在書面通知下立即終止《臨牀試驗協議》。該公司已同意贊助、實施和資助2a期臨牀試驗,但臨牀試驗協議中沒有考慮任何財務義務或對價。
公司與Reka-Farm LLC之間的供應協議
2020年2月27日,我們與Reka-Farm,LLC(或Reka-Farm)簽訂了獨家供應協議(或供應協議),Reka-Farm將向我們提供 海綿開發候選產品所需的原材料。供應協議期限無限期,除非終止。在供應協議期限內,Reka-Farm禁止供應 海綿 用於開發和銷售俄羅斯聯邦境外的任何其他產品,化妝品產品(定義見供應協議)除外。
根據供應協議,我們將向Reka-Farm提供我們的兩年滾動預測 海綿原材料需求和此類預測應從2021年1月1日開始每半年向Reka-Farm提供一次(每份爲預測)。根據供應協議,Reka-Farm已保證其有能力向我們提供所需數量的 海綿如每個預測前12個月的每個預測中所指定的那樣。所有預測對我們不具約束力。如果Reka-Farm無法向我們提供 海綿原材料符合預測,所有可用數量 海綿然後Reka-Farm應優先向我們提供,直到所有金額 海綿提供了預測中規定的內容。
根據供應協議,我們每公斤支付預先協商的價格 海綿 由Reka-Farm供應,我們需要向Reka-Farm支付不到我們開發的任何產品淨銷售額(定義見供應協議)百分之一的特許權使用費,其中包含 海綿原材料由Reka-Farm提供。
供應協議可(i)任何一方因重大違約行爲在90天書面通知後終止,如果此類重大違約行爲未在通知期內得到糾正,以及(ii)我們在90天書面通知Reka-Farm後以任何理由或無理由終止。
供應協議包括與賠償、知識產權保護、保密、補救措施、保證以及某些質量要求等相關的習慣條款。
政府監管
我們的活動和產品在很大程度上受到許多政府實體的監管,包括美國食品和藥物管理局(FDA)以及其他國家的類似機構。這些實體對我們產品的研究、開發、測試、安全、有效性、製造、儲存、分銷、標籤、文件、廣告和銷售等進行監管。在我們的候選藥物在美國和外國司法管轄區商業化之前,我們必須獲得FDA和其他國家/地區類似機構的監管批准。在這一監管框架內進行產品開發需要數年時間,並涉及大量資源支出。許多最初看起來很有希望的候選藥物最終沒有上市,因爲它們在測試時被發現不安全或無效。我們無法將產品商業化,這將削弱我們賺取未來收入的能力。
獲得監管批准以及隨後遵守適當的聯邦、州、地方和外國法規和法規的過程需要花費大量時間和財政資源。在產品開發過程、批准過程中或批准後的任何時候未能遵守適用要求,申請人可能會受到行政或司法制裁。這些制裁可能包括FDA拒絕批准待決申請、撤回批准、臨牀擱置、警告信、產品召回或退出市場、產品扣押、完全或部分暫停生產或分銷、禁令、罰款、拒絕政府合同、歸還、沒收或民事或刑事處罰。任何機構或司法執法行動都可能對我們產生重大不利影響。
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美國的藥物開發
臨牀前開發
我們未來可能開發或收購的產品必須得到FDA的批准,才能在美國合法上市。對於新的化學實體,臨牀前開發階段通常涉及合成活性成分、開發配方和確定製造工藝、藥物穩定性以及開展支持後續臨牀測試的非人類毒理學、藥理學和藥物代謝研究。這些臨牀前實驗室和動物試驗通常是根據FDA的良好實驗室操作規範進行的。作爲IND申請的一部分,藥物贊助商必須向FDA提交臨牀前試驗的結果,以及製造信息、分析數據和任何可用的臨牀數據或文獻,以及擬議的臨牀方案,這是FDA授權給人類使用研究藥物或生物製品的請求。其他國家也要求提交類似的申請。在IND獲得批准後,繼續進行實驗室和動物試驗。
臨牀試驗
臨牀開發階段通常可以分爲三個可能重疊的連續階段:第一階段、第二階段和第三階段臨牀試驗。在第一階段,通常情況下,少量健康志願者最初接觸單次遞增劑量的候選產品,然後再接觸多次遞增劑量的候選產品。這些研究的主要目的是評估藥物的新陳代謝、藥理作用和一般安全性。第二階段試驗通常涉及對受疾病影響的患者進行研究,以確定產生預期益處所需的劑量、常見的短期副作用和風險。第二階段研究通常受到良好的控制,密切監測,並在相對較少的患者中進行,通常涉及不超過數百名受試者。第三階段試驗的目的是收集關於有效性和安全性的額外信息,這些信息是評估藥物的總體效益-風險關係所需的,併爲醫生標籤提供充分的基礎。第三階段研究通常包括數百至數千名受試者,並受到嚴格控制和監測。除了這些1-3期試驗外,可能還會進行其他試驗,以收集更多的安全性、藥動學和藥效學信息。活性成分與FDA已經批准的藥物相同或相似的藥物,其開發計劃往往比該機構全新的化合物更精簡,往往會跳過第一階段和第二階段的試驗。
在開始臨牀試驗之前,必須向FDA提交臨牀計劃。如果FDA對臨牀計劃或擬議研究的安全性感到擔憂,他們可以隨時暫停或終止研究。研究必須按照良好的臨牀實踐進行,並報告研究進展和任何不良經歷。研究還接受獨立機構審查委員會的審查,該委員會負責監督特定地點的研究並保護人類研究對象。一旦研究啓動,獨立機構審查委員會也可以暫停或終止。因此,我們無法確定提交IND會導致FDA允許開始臨牀試驗,或者一旦開始,不會出現可能導致試驗暫停或終止的問題。
批准後研究,有時稱爲4期臨牀試驗,可能會在初步上市批准後進行。有時,這些研究用於從預期治療條件下的患者治療中獲得額外經驗。在某些情況下,FDA可能會強制執行第四期研究。在其他情況下,批准後研究旨在獲得藥物的額外適應症或開發藥物的新劑量形式。
化學、控制和製造開發
在臨牀試驗的同時,公司通常會完成額外的動物和實驗室研究,開發有關藥物化學和物理特徵的額外信息,確定藥物的擬議商業配方,並根據FDA當前的藥品生產質量管理規範(「GMP」)要求最終確定商業批量生產產品的工藝。生產過程必須始終如一地生產出高質量的藥物批次,並且除其他外,製造商必須開發測試最終藥物的身份、強度、質量和純度的方法。此外,必須選擇和測試適當的包裝,並進行穩定性研究,以證明包裝的有效性以及化合物在保質期內不會發生不可接受的變質。
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臨牀試驗信息的披露
FDA監管產品(包括生物製品)的臨牀試驗申辦者必須在www.clinicaltrials. gov網站上註冊並披露某些臨牀試驗信息。與產品、患者人群、研究階段、試驗地點和研究人員以及臨牀試驗的其他方面相關的信息隨後作爲註冊的一部分公開。申辦者還有義務披露臨牀試驗完成後的結果。在某些情況下,臨牀試驗結果的披露可能會推遲至試驗完成之日後最多兩年。競爭對手可能會使用這些公開信息來獲取有關臨牀開發項目進展以及臨牀試驗設計的知識。
特殊協議評估
聯邦食品、藥物和化妝品法案指示FDA根據贊助商的書面請求與贊助商會面,以便就臨牀試驗的設計和規模達成一致,這些臨牀試驗旨在形成新藥申請(NDA)或生物許可申請(BLA)中療效聲明的主要依據。如果達成協議,FDA將把協議簡化爲書面形式,並將其納入行政記錄。這項協議被稱爲特別協議評估(SPA)。雖然FDA關於spa的指南規定,有文件記錄的spa應被視爲對審查部門具有約束力,但如果適用某些例外情況,FDA有權更改其評估。例外包括在方案評估時尚未認識到的公共衛生問題,對後來曝光的安全性或有效性測試至關重要的重大科學問題的確定,贊助商未能遵循商定的方案,或FDA對被確定爲錯誤的數據、假設或信息的依賴。
美國的審查和批准
關鍵或三期試驗完成後,分析數據以確定安全性和有效性。然後,數據以NDA或BLA的形式提交給FDA,同時還附上擬議的產品標籤以及有關用於確保產品質量的製造和測試過程和設施的信息。在美國,藥品銷售之前必須獲得FDA對NDA或BLA的批准。NDA或BLA必須包含安全性、純度、效力和功效的證明,這需要廣泛的臨牀前和臨牀測試。
FDA可能會重新分析臨牀試驗數據,這可能會導致FDA和我們在審查過程中進行廣泛討論。FDA對申請的審查和評估是廣泛且耗時的,可能需要數年時間才能完成。FDA可能會對新產品的生產設施進行批准前檢查,以確定它們是否符合當前的藥品生產質量管理規範要求,還可能審計臨牀和臨牀前試驗的數據。
不能保證FDA在進行此類審查時會採取有利或迅速的行動,我們在努力獲得FDA批准的過程中可能會遇到重大困難或成本。FDA可以要求在產品標籤中包括某些禁忌症、警告或預防措施,或者可以將NDA或BLA的批准條件包括對擬議標籤的其他更改、制定足夠的控制和規範,或承諾進行上市後測試或臨牀試驗和監督計劃,以監控已商業化的經批准產品的安全性。此外,FDA可能會對批准施加條件,包括要求風險評估和緩解戰略或REMS,以確保藥物的安全使用。如果FDA得出結論認爲需要REMS,則NDA或BLA的贊助商必須提交建議的REMS;如果需要,FDA將不會在沒有批准的REMS的情況下批准NDA或BLA。REMS可以包括藥物指南、醫生溝通計劃或確保安全使用的要素,如受限分配方法、患者登記和其他風險最小化工具。批准或營銷方面的任何這些限制都可能限制產品的商業推廣、分銷、處方或分發。如果不符合監管標準或出現問題,產品審批可能會被撤回。
孤兒藥資格
根據《孤兒藥法》,FDA可以授予用於治療罕見疾病或病症的藥物孤兒藥稱號,這種疾病或病症通常是在美國影響不到20萬人的疾病或病症。在提交NDA或BLA之前,必須請求孤兒產品指定。FDA授予孤兒藥稱號後,治療劑的身份及其潛在的孤兒用途將由FDA公開披露。孤兒產品指定並不意味着監管審查和批准流程的任何優勢或縮短監管審查和批准流程的持續時間。除了潛在的排他性期限外,孤兒指定還使公司有資格獲得四年內每年高達40萬美元的贈款,以支付臨牀試驗費用、臨牀研究費用的稅收抵免以及FDA申請用戶費的潛在豁免。
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如果一種具有孤兒指定的產品隨後獲得了FDA對其具有這種指定的疾病或病症的第一次批准,該產品有權獲得孤兒藥物獨佔,這意味着FDA在七年內不得批准任何其他在同一適應症下銷售同一藥物的申請,除非在有限的情況下,例如:(I)該藥物的孤兒指定被撤銷;(Ii)其上市批准被撤回;(Iii)孤兒獨家持有人同意批准另一申請人的產品;(Iv)孤兒獨家持有人不能保證有足夠數量的藥物可用;或(V)通過競爭對手的產品顯示出相對於具有孤兒排他性的產品的臨牀優勢。如果被指定爲孤兒產品的藥物獲得了上市批准,其適應症範圍比指定的更廣,它可能沒有資格獲得孤兒藥物排他性。我們不能保證我們的候選產品會被指定爲孤兒藥物。
FDA植物性藥物行業開發指南
目前批准的大多數局部皮膚病產品只由FDA的皮膚病和牙科產品辦公室進行審查,並遵循標準的批准途徑。然而,由於我們的主要候選產品XYNGARI™是從天然來源提取的,它將由FDA皮膚科和牙科產品辦公室與FDA植物審查部共同審查。在此期間,海綿它不是植物學的,FDA允許我們參考植物學關於原材料質量控制和批次一致性的指導意見,通過開發並進入商業化。我們相信,我們能夠參考植物學指南並從植物審查部獲得關於XYNGARI™的信息,這爲我們提供了XYNGARI™監管途徑的關鍵優勢,如果獲得批准的話。這些優勢包括能夠在FDA確認收到我們的IND信函後進入人類臨牀研究,並且我們的後續研究可以繼續進行,而不必首先完成通常要求對許多皮膚病產品進行的典型非臨牀研究,從而節省了我們獲得人類臨牀數據的大量財政資源。此外,雖然我們認爲我們的來源海綿材料包含多種活性化合物,但根據我們對FDA反饋的監管分析和植物指南,我們認爲我們只需要提供可識別和可量化的活性成分,以顯示質量控制和批次之間的一致性。我們認爲,這將使潛在競爭對手更難複製XYNGARI™並生產類似的產品,因爲他們無法了解我們候選產品的每個組件。因此,我們認爲,擁有類似產品或候選產品的競爭對手必須執行我們必須完成的所有制造、開發和監管步驟才能獲得批准。然而,不能保證我們成功地完成了XYNGARI™的開發,或者XYNGARI™將獲得美國食品和藥物管理局的批准。
特殊監管程序
快速通道指定-FDA被要求促進用於治療嚴重或危及生命的疾病或狀況的藥物和生物製品的開發和加快審查,這些藥物和生物製品顯示出解決未得到滿足的醫療需求的潛力。根據快速通道計劃,新藥或生物候選藥物的贊助商可以在候選藥物的IND提交的同時或之後,要求FDA將特定適應症的產品指定爲快速通道產品。獲得快速通道指定的藥物有資格獲得以下部分或全部資格:(I)與FDA更頻繁地舉行會議,討論藥物的開發計劃,並確保收集支持藥物批准所需的適當數據;(Ii)FDA就擬議臨牀試驗的設計和生物標記物的使用等問題進行更頻繁的書面溝通;(Iii)如果滿足相關標準,有資格獲得加速批准和優先審查;和(Iv)「滾動審查」,這意味着製藥公司可以提交其BLA或NDA的完整部分供FDA審查,而不是等到NDA或BLA的每一部分完成後才能審查整個申請。如果申請者提供了提交剩餘信息的時間表,並且申請者支付了適用的使用費,則可以進行滾動審查。然而,FDA審查快速通道申請的時間段目標直到NDA或BLA的最後一部分提交後才開始。此外,如果FDA認爲快速通道的指定不再得到臨牀試驗過程中出現的數據的支持,它可能會撤回該指定。
優先審查- 根據FDA政策,候選藥物可能有資格接受優先審查。優先審查計劃提供快速審查或NDA或BLA,通常在從完整申請被接受提交之日起的六到八個月的時間範圍內。FDA藥物評估與研究中心(CDER)監管的產品如果在疾病的治療、診斷或預防方面與已上市的產品相比有顯着改進,則有資格接受優先審查。受FDA生物製品評估與研究中心(CBER)監管的產品如果在嚴重或危及生命的疾病的治療、診斷或預防的安全性或有效性方面有顯着改善,則有資格接受優先審查。如果在提交BLA或NDA時得到臨牀數據的支持,快速通道指定候選藥物可能有資格獲得優先審查。
加速批准- 根據該法律和FDA的加速批准規定,FDA可以批准用於嚴重或危及生命的疾病的藥物或生物製品,該藥物或生物製品比現有治療方法爲患者提供有意義的治療益處,該替代終點合理有可能預測臨牀益處。替代終點通常比臨牀終點更容易或更快地測量。在此基礎上批准的候選藥物需要遵守嚴格的上市後合規要求,包括完成4期或批准後臨牀試驗,以確認對臨牀終點的影響。未能進行所需的批准後研究,或在上市後研究期間確認臨牀益處,將使FDA能夠迅速從市場上撤回該藥物。根據加速法規批准的候選藥物的所有宣傳材料均須接受FDA的事先審查。
突破性治療指定- FDA還需要加快開發和審查旨在治療嚴重或危及生命的疾病或病症的藥物的批准申請,如果初步臨牀證據表明候選藥物可能在一個或多個具有臨牀意義的終點上表現出比現有療法有實質性改善。根據突破性治療計劃,新藥候選人可以在候選藥物的IND提交同時或之後要求FDA將特定適應症的候選藥物指定爲突破性治療。
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兒科信息
根據2003年《兒科研究公平法案》,NDA、BLA或NDA或BLA的補充必須包含足以評估藥物或生物製品在所有相關兒科亞群中聲稱的適應症的安全性和有效性的數據,並支持該產品安全有效的每個兒科亞群的劑量和給藥。FDA可以主動或應申請人的要求,批准推遲提交部分或所有兒科數據,直至產品批准用於成人後,或者完全或部分豁免兒科數據要求。根據美國食品和藥物管理局安全與創新法案(FDASIA),FDA擁有額外的權力對不遵守兒科研究要求的製造商採取行動。除非法規另有要求,否則兒科數據要求不適用於具有孤兒藥名稱的產品。
美國專利期限恢復
根據FDA批准使用我們當前和潛在的候選產品的時間、期限和細節,我們的一些美國專利可能有資格根據1984年的《藥品價格競爭和專利期限恢復法》(「Hatch-Waxman修正案」)獲得有限的專利期延長。哈奇-瓦克斯曼修正案允許專利恢復期限最長爲五年,作爲對產品開發和FDA監管審查過程中失去的專利期的補償。然而,專利期限恢復不能延長專利的剩餘期限,從產品批准之日起總共不能超過14年。專利期恢復期一般爲IND的生效日期和NDA或BLA提交日期之間的時間的一半,加上NDA或BLA提交日期和該申請獲得批准之間的時間。只有一項適用於批准的生物製品的專利有資格延期,而且延期申請必須在專利到期之前提交。美國專利商標局與FDA協商,審查和批准任何專利期限延長或恢復的申請。
歐洲的藥物開發
在歐盟,我們未來的產品也可能受到廣泛的監管要求。與美國類似,藥品的營銷須經監管機構授予營銷授權。此外,與美國一樣,歐盟臨牀前和臨牀研究的各個階段都受到嚴格的監管控制。
歐盟的審查和批准
在歐盟,新藥品的批准可以通過三個過程之一獲得:相互承認程序、集中程序和分散程序。我們打算確定未來將遵循哪個流程(如果有的話)。
相互承認程序:申請人在一個歐盟成員國(稱爲參考成員國)提交申請。一旦參考成員國授予營銷授權,申請人可以選擇在其他相關成員國提交申請,要求他們相互承認已經授予的營銷授權。根據這一相互承認程序,其他相關成員國的當局有55天的時間提出反對,然後必須在相互承認程序開始後90天內通過相關成員國、參考成員國和申請人討論解決。如果仍存在任何分歧,相關成員國當局將暫停所有考慮,並通過仲裁程序解決分歧。相互承認程序導致參考成員國獲得單獨的國家營銷授權。
集中程序:目前,對於通過生物技術工藝開發的產品,該程序是強制性的,對於新活性物質和其他「具有新穎特徵的創新藥品」,該程序是可選的。根據該程序,向歐洲醫療產品評估局提交申請。任命兩個歐盟成員國對每份申請進行初步評估。這些國家各自準備一份評估報告,然後將其用作專有醫療產品委員會科學意見的基礎。如果該意見是有利的,則將其發送給歐盟委員會,由歐盟委員會起草決定。在與成員國協商後,歐盟委員會通過決定並授予營銷授權,該授權在整個歐盟有效,並賦予每個成員國與該成員國授予的營銷授權相同的權利和義務。
分散程序:分散程序是歐盟新醫藥工藝獲得批准的三個流程中最新引入的,與上述相互承認程序類似,但參考成員國向相關成員國提供關鍵文件的時間、程序的總體時間以及可能性等方面存在差異手術過程中「時鐘停止」。
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上市後要求
在新產品獲得批准後,製藥公司和批准的產品將受到FDA和其他聯邦和州監管機構的持續監管,其中包括監測和記錄保存活動,向適用的監管機構報告產品的不良反應,向監管機構提供最新的安全和療效信息,產品抽樣和分銷要求,以及遵守促銷和廣告要求,其中包括,除其他外,直接面向消費者的廣告標準,限制爲藥品批准的標籤中未描述的用途或患者群體推廣藥物(稱爲「標籤外使用」),以及對行業贊助的科學和教育活動的限制。儘管醫生可能會開出合法的藥品用於標籤外用途,但製造商可能不會銷售或推廣這種標籤外用途。對產品的修改或增強,或標籤或生產地點的更改,通常需要得到FDA和其他監管機構的批准,這可能會收到,也可能不會收到,或者可能會導致漫長的審查過程。FDA的規定要求產品必須在特定的批准設施中生產,並符合當前良好的製造實踐,NDA和BLA持有者必須列出其產品並向FDA登記其製造機構。這些條例還對製造和質量保證活動規定了某些組織、程序和文件要求。參與生產和分銷批准藥品的藥品製造商和其他實體將接受FDA和某些州機構的定期突擊檢查,以了解其是否遵守當前良好的生產實踐和其他法律。使用合同製造商、實驗室或包裝商的NDA和BLA持有者負責選擇和監督合格的公司。這些公司隨時接受FDA的檢查,發現違規條件可能會導致執法行動中斷任何此類設施的運營或分銷由其製造、加工或測試的產品的能力。
其他監管事項
產品批准後的製造、銷售、促銷和其他活動還受到FDA以外衆多監管機構的監管,包括在美國的醫療保險和醫療補助服務中心(CMS)、衛生與公衆服務部的其他部門、緝毒局、消費品安全委員會、聯邦貿易委員會、職業安全與健康管理局、環境保護局以及州和地方政府。這些法規包括:
| · | 聯邦醫療保健方案反回扣法,除其他事項外,禁止個人直接或間接索要、接受或提供報酬,以引薦個人購買或訂購物品或服務,或購買或訂購商品或服務,這些報酬可根據聯邦醫療保健方案,如聯邦醫療保險和醫療補助計劃進行支付; |
| · | 聯邦虛假報銷法禁止個人或實體在知情的情況下提出或導致提交虛假或欺詐性的聯邦醫療保險、醫療補助或其他政府報銷計劃的付款索賠。政府可以斷言,根據聯邦虛假索賠法律的目的,包括違反聯邦醫療保健計劃反回扣法或與標籤外促銷有關的項目或服務的索賠構成虛假或欺詐性索賠; |
| · | ACA範圍內的《聯邦醫生支付陽光法案》及其實施條例要求,根據Medicare、Medicaid或兒童健康保險計劃(某些例外情況)可以支付的藥品、器械、生物和醫療用品的某些製造商報告與向醫生和教學醫院、或應醫生和教學醫院的請求或代表醫生和教學醫院指定的實體或個人進行或分配的某些付款或其他價值轉移有關的信息,並每年報告醫生及其直系親屬持有的某些所有權和投資權益; |
| · | 經《健康信息技術促進經濟和臨牀健康法》(HITECH)及其實施條例修訂的《健康保險可攜帶性和責任法》(HIPAA)對個人可識別健康信息的隱私、安全和傳輸提出了某些要求。除其他事項外,HITECH使HIPAA的隱私和安全標準直接適用於「商業夥伴」--代表覆蓋實體接收或獲取受保護健康信息並代表其提供服務的獨立承包商或代理。HITECH還創建了四個新的民事罰款等級,修改了HIPAA,使民事和刑事處罰直接適用於商業夥伴和可能的其他人,並賦予州總檢察長新的權力,可以向聯邦法院提起民事訴訟,要求損害賠償或禁制令,以執行聯邦HIPAA法律,並尋求與提起聯邦民事訴訟相關的律師費和費用; |
| · | 美國《防止毒物包裝法》中適用的兒童保護包裝要求; |
| · | 《拉納姆法案》和聯邦反壟斷法;以及 |
| · | 州法律相當於上述每一項聯邦法律,例如反回扣和虛假索賠法律,它們可能適用於任何第三方付款人(包括商業保險公司)報銷的物品或服務,以及在某些情況下管理健康信息隱私和安全的州法律,其中許多法律在很大程度上彼此不同,通常不會被聯邦法律優先考慮,從而使合規工作複雜化。 |
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藥品的分銷須遵守額外要求和法規,包括旨在防止未經授權銷售藥品的廣泛記錄保存、許可、可追溯性以及儲存和安全要求。任何受控物質的處理必須遵守美國《受控物質法》和《受控物質進出口法》。
第三方付款人承保範圍和報銷
對於我們最終可能獲得監管批准的任何候選藥物的覆蓋範圍和報銷狀態,存在很大的不確定性。在美國和國外市場,我們能否成功地將我們的候選產品商業化,併爲我們的候選產品吸引商業化合作夥伴,在很大程度上取決於第三方支付者是否有足夠的資金覆蓋範圍和報銷,包括在美國的聯邦醫療保險和醫療補助計劃、管理型醫療保健組織和私人健康保險公司等政府支付者。Medicare是一項由聯邦政府資助的計劃,由CMS通過地方財政中介機構和承運人管理,負責管理向老年人和殘疾人提供的某些醫療項目和服務的覆蓋範圍和報銷。醫療補助是一項針對某些類別的患者的保險計劃,這些患者的收入和資產低於州規定的水平,而且在其他方面沒有保險,由聯邦和州政府資助並由每個州管理。聯邦政府爲醫療補助制定了一般指導方針,每個州都制定了管理其個別計劃的具體規定。每個付款人都有自己的流程和標準,用於確定是否承保和補償程序或特定產品。私人支付者往往依靠政府支付者的帶頭提供保險和補償決定。因此,實現良好的CMS覆蓋和報銷通常是成功推出新產品的一個重要門檻問題。我們一些產品的競爭地位將在一定程度上取決於此類產品的覆蓋範圍和足夠的補償,以及使用此類產品的程序。我們或我們的客戶爲我們的候選產品尋求補償的價格可能會受到政府和其他付款人的質疑、降低或拒絕。
美國國會和州立法機構可能會不時提出並採取旨在控制成本的舉措,這可能會影響我們銷售候選產品的能力。例如,根據《降低通貨膨脹法》,CMS有權就醫療保險爲某些藥物支付的價格進行談判。 第一輪談判於2024年結束,CMS發佈了將於2025年談判價格的藥品清單。
藥品成本繼續引起政府和第三方付款人的大量興趣。我們預計,由於管理式醫療保健的趨勢、管理式醫療組織的影響力不斷增加以及額外的立法提案,製藥行業將面臨定價壓力。我們的運營業績可能會受到當前和未來的醫療改革的不利影響。
美國專利期限恢復和營銷獨家經營權
根據FDA批准我們未來候選產品的時間、期限和細節,我們的一些美國專利可能有資格根據1984年的《藥品價格競爭和專利期限恢復法》(通常稱爲Hatch-Waxman修正案)獲得有限的專利期延長。Hatch-Waxman修正案允許恢復最長五年的專利期,作爲對FDA監管審查過程中丟失的專利期的補償。然而,專利期限恢復不能將專利的剩餘期限延長到自產品批准之日起總共14年,只有那些涉及該批准的藥物產品、其使用方法或製造方法的權利要求可以延長。專利期恢復期一般爲IND的生效日期和NDA的提交日期之間的時間的一半加上NDA的提交日期和該申請獲得批准之間的時間,但在申請人沒有進行盡職調查的任何時間內,審查期限將被縮短。只有一項適用於經批准的藥物的專利有資格延期,延期申請必須在專利到期之前提交。美國專利商標局與FDA協商,審查和批准任何專利期延長或恢復的申請。未來,我們可能會根據臨牀試驗的預期長度和提交相關保密協議所涉及的其他因素,爲我們目前擁有或許可的專利申請恢復專利期,以延長其當前到期日之後的專利壽命。
FD&C法案下的營銷排他性條款也可能推遲某些申請的提交或批准。FD&C法案規定,第一個獲得新化學實體保密協議批准的申請者,在美國境內有五年的非專利營銷排他期。如果FDA以前沒有批准過任何其他含有相同活性部分的新藥,藥物是一種新的化學實體,活性部分是負責藥物物質作用的分子或離子。在排他期內,FDA可能不接受另一家公司爲該藥物的另一版本提交的簡化新藥申請或ANDA或505(B)(2)NDA,如果申請人不擁有或擁有合法參考批准所需的所有數據的權利。然而,如果申請包含專利無效或不侵權的證明,則可以在四年後提交。FD&C法案還規定,如果FDA認爲申請人進行或贊助的新的臨牀研究(生物利用度研究除外)對批准申請至關重要,例如現有藥物的新適應症、劑量或強度,則NDA、505(B)(2)NDA或現有NDA的補充產品的市場排他性爲三年。這項爲期三年的排他性只包括與新的臨牀研究相關的使用條件,並不禁止FDA批准含有原始活性物質的藥物的ANDA。五年和三年的排他性不會推遲提交或批准完整的保密協議。然而,提交完整的保密協議的申請人將被要求進行或獲得參考所有必要的臨牀前研究和充分和良好控制的臨牀試驗的權利,以證明安全和有效。
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一些第三方付款人還要求在向使用此類療法的醫療保健提供者報銷之前預先批准新的或創新的設備或藥物療法的承保範圍。雖然我們無法預測未來是否會採用或以其他方式實施任何擬議的成本控制措施,但這些提議的宣佈或採用可能會對我們爲候選產品獲得足夠價格並盈利運營的能力產生重大不利影響。
此外,在一些外國國家,藥品的擬議定價必須獲得批准,才能合法上市。各國對藥品定價的要求差別很大。例如,歐洲聯盟爲其成員國提供了各種選擇,以限制其國家健康保險制度爲其提供補償的醫療產品的範圍,並控制供人使用的醫療產品的價格。成員國可以批准醫藥產品的具體價格,也可以對將醫藥產品投放市場的公司的盈利能力採取直接或間接控制的制度。不能保證任何對藥品實行價格控制或報銷限制的國家會允許對我們的任何產品做出有利的報銷和定價安排。從歷史上看,在歐盟推出的產品並不遵循美國的價格結構,通常傾向於大幅降低。
公司和其他信息
我們於2014年12月成立,是一家特拉華州有限責任公司(「LLC」),名稱爲Dermata Therapeutics,LLC。2021年3月24日,我們從LLC轉變爲特拉華州C公司,並更名爲Dermata Therapeutics,Inc.。
人力資本資源
As of the date of this report, we have eight full-time employees, with three employees working in the general and administrative department, two engaged in non-clinical and clinical development, two working in the chemistry, manufacturing, and controls department, and one employee working in the regulatory affairs and quality control department.
我們相信,我們未來的成功將在一定程度上取決於我們吸引、僱用和留住合格人才的持續能力。特別是,我們依賴於高級管理人員和研究人員的技能、經驗和績效。我們與其他醫療製藥和醫療保健公司以及大學和非營利研究機構競爭合格人才。
我們提供有競爭力的薪酬和福利計劃,以幫助滿足員工的需求。除了工資外,這些計劃(因國家/地區和就業分類而異)還包括激勵補償計劃、醫療保健和保險福利、退休投資、帶薪休假和家事假等。我們還使用帶有歸屬條件的有針對性的基於股權的贈款,以促進留住人員,特別是對於我們的關鍵員工。
我們業務的成功從根本上與我們員工的福祉有關。因此,我們致力於員工的健康和安全。
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項目1A.危險因素
投資我們的證券涉及高度風險。在決定是否投資我們的證券之前,您應仔細考慮下文描述的風險和不確定性,以及本報告中的所有其他信息,包括合併財務報表、其註釋以及本報告其他地方包含的題爲「管理層對財務狀況和經營業績的討論和分析」的部分。下文描述的風險和不確定性並不是我們面臨的唯一風險和不確定性。我們不知道或認爲不重要的其他風險和不確定性也可能成爲對我們業務產生不利影響的重要因素。如果實際發生以下任何風險,我們的業務、財務狀況、經營業績和未來前景可能會受到重大不利影響。在這種情況下,我們普通股和/或憑證的市場價格可能會下跌,您可能會損失部分或全部投資。
與我們業務相關的風險總結
我們的業務和對我們公司的投資面臨許多風險和不確定性,包括本摘要後面題爲「風險因素」的部分中強調的風險和不確定性。其中一些風險包括:
| · | 我們是一家歷史短暫、營業規模有限的預收公司; |
| · | 我們可能不能成功地開發或商業化我們的候選產品,或者在及時或具有成本效益的基礎上這樣做; |
| · | 我們的業務可能會受到突發公共衛生事件、流行病和流行病的負面影響; |
| · | 我們依賴於有限數量的產品候選者,如果我們的關鍵產品候選者表現不如預期或沒有獲得監管批准,我們的業務可能會受到實質性的不利影響; |
| · | 我們的候選產品,包括XYNGARI™和DMT410,市場可能沒有我們預期的那麼大; |
| · | 我們的競爭對手和其他第三方可能會指控我們侵犯他們的知識產權,迫使我們在結果訴訟中耗費大量資源,而這種訴訟的不利結果可能會對我們業務產生重大不利影響; |
| · | 我們可能會經歷臨牀試驗的失敗或延遲,這可能會危及或延遲我們獲得監管批准並開始產品銷售的能力; |
| · | 我們面臨來自品牌和仿製藥公司的激烈競爭,這可能會限制我們的增長,並對我們的財務業績產生不利影響; |
| · | 我們受到廣泛的政府監管,我們面臨着與我們努力遵守適用法規相關的重大不確定性和潛在的重大成本; |
| · | 我們可能無法開發或保持銷售能力,或無法有效地營銷或銷售任何我們可能成功商業化的產品; |
| · | 製造或質量控制問題可能損害我們的聲譽,需要代價高昂的補救活動,或以其他方式對我們的業務產生負面影響; |
| · | 我們的盈利能力將取決於第三方付款人的承保和報銷,而醫療改革和其他未來立法可能會導致承保或報銷水平的減少; |
| · | 我們目前,未來可能需要從第三方獲得某些知識產權的許可,而此類許可可能無法獲得或可能無法以商業合理的條款獲得; |
| · | 我們可能不識別相關的第三方專利,或可能錯誤地解釋第三方專利的相關性、範圍或失效,這可能會對我們開發、製造和營銷我們的產品和候選產品的能力產生不利影響; |
| · | 我們候選產品的原材料XYNGARI™和DMT410是從天然成分中提取的,這些成分只在有限的地區生長,需要每年收穫。由於不可預見的環境條件或情況,我們的供應商可能無法獲得我們所需的原料,或者根本不能,這可能會對我們進行臨牀前研究、臨牀試驗並最終將我們的候選產品商業化的能力產生負面影響; |
| · | 我們目前依賴第三方提供XYNGARI™和DMT410所需的原材料,如果我們在以可接受的條件獲得或採購替代來源方面遇到任何困難,或者根本沒有,我們的業務可能會受到影響; |
| · | 我們目前許可的涵蓋XYNGARI™的專利在2022年至2023年之間到期,這比我們預期的任何市場推出日期都要早。雖然我們已經在某些司法管轄區獲得了涉及XYNGARI™和DMT410的專利,但我們目前正在申請的其他涉及XYNGARI™和DMT410的專利尚未發佈,也不能保證它們會被發佈。我們可能無法獲得額外的專利覆蓋範圍,這可能會由於來自其他產品的競爭而限制我們的市場機會; |
| · | 如果我們未能履行我們在任何第三方協議下的義務,我們可能會失去開發我們的候選產品所必需的許可權; |
| · | 我們的董事、高管和某些股東(其中一位是我們首席執行官的關聯公司)擁有我們相當大比例的普通股,如果他們選擇共同行動,將能夠對有待股東批准的事項施加重大控制;以及 |
| · | 我們將需要增加人員,這將增加我們組織的規模和複雜性,我們可能會在執行增長和公司戰略方面遇到困難。 |
41 |
目錄 |
與我們的財務狀況和資本需求相關的風險
我們是一家臨牀階段製藥公司,經營歷史有限。
我們是一家臨牀階段的生物製藥公司,運營歷史有限,您可以據此評估我們的業務和前景。我們必須完成臨牀研究並獲得監管機構批准,然後才能開始產品的商業銷售。我們業務計劃成功的可能性必須根據發展和擴大早期業務以及我們運營的監管和競爭環境中經常遇到的問題、巨額費用、困難、複雜性和延誤來考慮。藥品開發是一項高度投機的事業,涉及很大程度的風險,是一項資本密集型業務。
因此,您應該根據處於開發早期階段的公司經常遇到的成本、不確定性、延遲和困難來考慮我們的前景,特別是像我們這樣的早期臨牀製藥公司。潛在投資者應仔細考慮運營歷史有限的公司將面臨的風險和不確定性。特別是,潛在投資者應該考慮到,我們無法向您保證我們將能夠(除其他外):
| · | 成功實施或執行我們當前的業務計劃,並且我們不能向您保證我們的業務計劃是健全的; |
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| · | 成功完成臨牀試驗、非臨牀試驗和其他必要的要求,以獲得監管機構對我們候選藥物的上市批准,包括XYNGARI™和DMT410; |
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| · | 成功生產我們的臨牀產品,建立商業藥品供應; |
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| · | 保護、維護並在必要時捍衛我們的知識產權; |
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| · | 確保我們的候選藥物獲得市場排他性和/或足夠的知識產權保護; |
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| · | 吸引和留住一支經驗豐富的管理和諮詢團隊; |
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| · | 確保我們的候選藥物在醫學界以及第三方付款人和消費者中得到接受; |
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| · | 啓動我們候選藥物的商業銷售,無論是單獨銷售還是與他人合作; |
| · | 遵守上市後監管要求; |
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| · | 在資本市場或其他方面籌集足夠的資金,以實現我們的業務計劃;以及 |
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| · | 利用我們現有的和未來可能籌集的資金,有效地執行我們的業務戰略。 |
42 |
目錄 |
如果我們無法成功執行上述任何一項,我們的業務可能會失敗,您的投資將受到不利影響。
自成立以來,我們已經出現了虧損,並預計在可預見的未來我們將繼續出現虧損。 我們目前尚未盈利,而且我們可能永遠無法實現或維持盈利能力。
我們從未從運營中產生收入,幾年內不太可能產生收入,目前運營處於虧損狀態,預計我們的運營成本將大幅增加,因爲我們產生了與臨牀前開發、候選藥物的臨牀試驗以及上市公司運營相關的成本。 我們預計,除非我們能夠獲得監管部門的批准併成功地將我們的任何候選藥物商業化,否則我們將在沒有相應收入的情況下產生大量費用。我們可能永遠無法在美國或國際上以任何適應症獲得監管部門對我們候選藥物的營銷批准。即使我們能夠將我們的候選藥物商業化,也不能保證我們將產生可觀的收入或實現盈利。 自2014年12月開始運營以來,我們每年都出現虧損。在截至2024年12月31日和2023年12月31日的年度內,我們分別發生了約1,230美元萬和約7,80美元萬的淨虧損。截至2024年12月31日,我們的累計赤字約爲6,570美元萬。我們未來淨虧損的規模將在一定程度上取決於我們未來的支出以及我們創造收入的能力(如果有的話)。我們當前和潛在未來合作的收入是不確定的,因爲我們協議下的里程碑或其他或有付款可能無法實現或收到。
截至2024年12月31日,我們擁有由現金及現金等值物組成的資本資源爲320萬美元。在可預見的未來,我們將繼續投入大量現金資源,用於候選產品的臨牀開發以及我們可能選擇追求的任何其他適應症和候選產品的開發。這些支出將包括與研究和開發、進行臨牀前研究和臨牀試驗、製造和供應以及營銷和銷售任何批准銷售的產品相關的成本。特別是,我們針對候選產品的第三期臨牀研究將需要大量資金才能完成。由於任何臨牀試驗的進行和結果都是高度不確定的,因此我們無法合理估計成功完成當前和未來候選產品的開發和商業化所需的實際金額。
我們不確定何時或是否能夠實現或維持盈利能力。如果我們未來實現盈利,我們可能無法在後續時期維持盈利能力。未能實現並保持盈利將損害我們維持運營的能力,並對我們的證券價格和籌集資本的能力產生不利影響。
我們將需要額外的資本來資助我們的運營,如果我們無法獲得必要的融資,我們可能無法完成候選產品的開發和商業化。
我們相信,我們的現有現金及其利息將足以爲我們的運營提供資金直至2025年第三季度。然而,我們的這些估計是基於可能被證明是錯誤的假設,我們可能會比目前預期更快地使用可用資本資源,或者需要比目前預期更多的資本來資助我們的運營。我們目前開發候選產品XYNGARI™和DMZ 410的預期支出超過了我們現有的現金。我們需要籌集額外資金來資助我們的運營,並繼續支持我們計劃中的開發和商業化活動。
我們未來資金需求的金額和時間將取決於許多因素,包括:
| · | 我們開發、授權或收購的當前和未來候選產品的任何臨牀前和臨牀試驗及其他產品開發活動的時間、進度和成本; |
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| · | 我們的候選產品在美國和任何其他國家的臨牀試驗結果; |
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| · | FDA批准和任何外國監管機構批准我們的候選產品的時間和所涉及的成本(如果有的話); |
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| · | 我們開發或收購的任何其他未來候選產品的數量和特點; |
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| · | 我們建立和維持戰略合作、許可、共同推廣或其他安排的能力,以及此類安排的條款和時間; |
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| · | 如果我們當前或未來的候選產品被批准銷售,則商業化活動的成本,包括製造、營銷、銷售和分銷成本; |
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| · | 任何經批准的產品的市場接受度和接受率; |
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| · | 我們目前和未來的候選產品以及我們商業化的任何產品的第三方製造和供應安排下的成本; |
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| · | 我們可能建立的任何額外外包商業製造或供應安排的成本和完成時間; |
43 |
目錄 |
| · | 準備、提交、起訴、維護、辯護和執行與我們的候選產品相關的任何專利主張和其他知識產權的費用; |
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| · | 與起訴或辯護我們正在或可能參與的任何訴訟相關的費用,以及我們因此類訴訟而應支付的任何損害賠償; |
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| · | 與可能發生的任何產品召回相關的成本; |
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| · | 上市公司運營的成本; |
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| · | 替代和競爭產品或治療方法的出現、批准、可用性、感知的優勢、相對成本、相對安全性和相對有效性; |
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| · | 與產品和候選產品、技術或業務的任何收購或許可相關的成本;以及 |
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| · | 人員、設施和設備要求。 |
我們無法確定是否會以可接受的條件或根本無法確定額外資金。此外,我們參與的未來債務融資可能會對我們施加限制我們運營的契約,包括對我們產生優先權或額外債務、支付股息、贖回股票、進行某些投資以及從事某些合併、合併或資產出售交易的能力的限制。
如果我們無法在需要時或以可接受的條款籌集額外資本,我們可能會被要求大幅推遲、縮減或停止一個或多個候選產品的開發或商業化,限制我們的運營或通過以不具吸引力的條款簽訂協議來獲取資金,這可能會對我們的業務產生重大不利影響。股價以及我們與有業務關係的第三方的關係,至少在獲得額外資金之前是這樣。如果我們沒有足夠的資金繼續運營,我們可能會被要求尋求破產保護或其他替代方案,這可能會導致我們的股東失去對我們的部分或全部投資。此外,我們實現盈利或應對競爭壓力的能力也將受到顯着限制。
我們將需要籌集額外的資本,這可能會導致我們的股東稀釋、限制我們的運營或要求我們放棄對技術或候選產品的權利,並且可能無法以優惠的條件獲得額外的資本,或者根本無法獲得額外的資本,這可能迫使我們推遲、縮小範圍或取消我們的研究和開發計劃,減少我們的商業化努力或限制我們的運營。
爲了開發我們的候選產品並將其推向市場,我們必須投入大量資源用於昂貴且耗時的研究、臨牀前研究以及臨牀試驗和營銷活動。在此之前(如果有的話),由於我們可以產生可觀的產品收入,我們預計將尋求額外的資金來滿足我們的運營需求和資本要求。雖然我們相信我們現有的現金、現金等值物和有價證券將使我們能夠爲2025年第三季度的運營費用和資本支出需求提供資金,但我們的估計是基於可能被證明是錯誤的假設,我們可能會比預期更早耗盡可用的資本資源。包括我們的業務或運營是否以比我們預期更快的方式消耗可用資源。我們對額外資本的要求將取決於許多因素,包括:
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目錄 |
| · | 我們的研發計劃方向的變化 |
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| · | 我們候選產品的臨牀前研究和臨牀試驗的時間和費用 |
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| · | 爲我們的候選產品獲得監管機構批准所涉及的時間和成本 |
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| · | 成本增加和宏觀經濟因素的其他潛在影響,包括通脹加劇和利率上升、銀行和其他金融機構的流動性擔憂和倒閉、匯率波動、關稅、貿易戰、供應鏈中斷和大宗商品、能源和燃料價格上漲、與保護知識產權相關的成本 |
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| · | 我們的候選產品成功商業化 |
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| · | 競爭和技術進步 |
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| · | 專利開發或監管變化 |
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| · | 營銷和銷售能力的發展 |
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| · | 根據當前和未來的合作協議收到的付款(如果有)和 |
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| · | 我們產品的市場接受度。 |
我們在當前現金資源耗盡後繼續運營的能力取決於我們獲得額外融資或實現盈利運營的能力,對此無法給出保證。由於我們的研究和開發計劃方向的變化、競爭和技術進步、專利開發、監管變化或其他發展,現金需求可能與現在的計劃存在重大差異。如果無法以有利的條件或根本無法獲得額外的融資來源,包括由於央行採取行動對抗通脹、資本市場波動、銀行和其他金融機構的流動性擔憂和倒閉以及相關的市場不確定性,或者如果我們未能就進一步開發我們的管道達成合作夥伴協議,管理層可能需要減少我們的開發工作和計劃運營以節省現金。
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目錄 |
我們預計將通過股權發行、債務融資、政府或私人團體贈款、合作、戰略聯盟和許可安排等多種方式爲我們的運營提供資金。我們目前向美國證券交易委員會提交了一份S-3表格的擱置登記聲明,允許我們根據一項或多項產品,按銷售時確定的價格和條款,不時發售我們已登記的普通股、優先股、債務證券和/或認股權證。於2024年6月7日,吾等與H.C.Wainwright&Co.,LLC(「Wainwright」)訂立市場協議(「自動櫃員機協議」),根據該協議,吾等可不時根據一項或多項「在市場」發售,發售根據貨架登記聲明登記的普通股股份。截至2024年12月31日,根據這項自動取款機協議,我們已經出售了170萬美元的普通股總收益,其中不包括向溫賴特、核數師、律師和其他管理費支付的30萬補償。雖然截至2024年12月31日,我們沒有剩餘的能力根據自動櫃員機協議出售普通股,但只要我們未來有任何能力,根據與Wainwright的自動櫃員機協議,我們未來出售普通股可能會受到業務、經濟或競爭方面的不確定性和意外事件的影響,其中許多可能不是我們所能控制的,這可能會導致出售普通股的實際結果與預期大不相同。
如果通過出售和發行股份或其他可轉換爲股份的證券籌集額外資本,我們股東的所有權權益將被稀釋。我們的普通股或其他股權證券的未來發行,或認爲可能發生此類出售,可能會對我們普通股的交易價格產生不利影響,並損害我們通過未來發行股票或股權證券籌集資本的能力。無法預測普通股的未來銷售或未來銷售的普通股的可用性將對我們普通股的交易價格產生影響(如果有的話)。
我們目前沒有任何其他承諾的外部資金來源。只要我們通過出售股權或可轉換債務證券籌集額外資本,我們股東的所有權權益將或可能被稀釋,這些證券的條款可能包括清算或其他優惠,對我們作爲普通股股東的權利產生不利影響。此外,如果我們獲得債務融資,我們的運營現金流中的很大一部分可能專門用於支付此類債務的本金和利息,從而限制了我們業務活動的可用資金。債務融資和優先股融資可能涉及的協議包括限制或限制我們採取具體行動的能力的契約,如招致額外債務、進行資本支出或宣佈股息。如果我們通過與第三方的合作、戰略聯盟或營銷、分銷或許可安排籌集更多資金,我們可能需要放棄對我們的技術、未來收入流或候選產品的寶貴權利,以可能對我們不利的條款授予許可證,或承諾未來的支付流。
我們的獨立註冊會計師事務所截至2024年和2023年12月31日的財年報告包含一個解釋性段落,內容涉及對我們繼續作爲持續經營的能力存在重大懷疑。
由於我們滿足當前運營和資本費用的能力的不確定性,我們的獨立審計公司在截至2024年12月31日和2023年12月31日止年度的經審計年度財務報表報告中包含了一個解釋性段落,內容涉及對我們持續經營能力的擔憂。對我們繼續持續經營的能力存在重大懷疑,可能會對我們普通股和認購證的每股價格產生重大不利影響,並且我們可能會更難獲得融資。此外,由於擔心我們履行合同義務的能力,認爲我們可能無法繼續經營可能會阻礙我們籌集額外資金或運營業務的能力。
稅法的變化可能會對我們的業務財務狀況、經營業績和現金流產生重大不利影響。
我們受我們開展業務的司法管轄區的稅收法律、法規和政策的約束,這些司法管轄區可能包括美國聯邦、州和地方政府以及外國司法管轄區的稅務當局。稅法的變化,以及其他因素,可能會導致我們的納稅義務出現波動,並以其他方式對我們的納稅狀況和/或我們的納稅義務產生不利影響。我們所在司法管轄區的所得稅規則不斷受到稅務機關和其他政府機構的審查。稅法的變化(這些變化可能具有追溯力)可能會對我們或我們的股東產生不利影響。我們無法預測未來可能會提出或頒佈什麼稅收建議,或這些變化將對我們的業務產生什麼影響,但這些變化,如果它們被納入稅務立法、法規、政策或實踐,可能會影響我們未來在我們開展業務的司法管轄區的財務狀況和整體有效稅率,並增加稅務合規的複雜性、負擔和成本。
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目錄 |
我們面臨與外幣匯率相關的風險。
我們的一些成本和費用以外幣計價。我們的大部分海外費用與我們爲XYNGARI™和DMT410候選產品供應原材料有關。當美元兌歐元疲軟時,外幣計價費用的美元價值就會增加,當美元兌歐元走強時,外幣計價費用的美元價值就會減少。因此,匯率變化,尤其是美元貶值,可能會對我們的經營業績產生不利影響。
全球經濟和供應鏈的中斷可能會對我們的業務、財務狀況和運營業績產生重大不利影響。
全球經濟的中斷可能會阻礙全球供應鏈,導致交貨時間更長,並增加關鍵零部件成本和運費。我們已經採取並可能必須採取措施,通過與我們的供應商和我們開展業務所依賴的其他第三方密切合作,最大限度地減少這些中斷對交貨時間和成本增加的影響。儘管我們已經採取或可能必須採取的行動來儘量減少對全球經濟的影響,但無法保證全球供應鏈中不可預見的未來事件不會對我們的業務、財務狀況和運營業績產生重大不利影響。
此外,通貨膨脹可能會增加臨牀試驗、候選產品的研發成本以及管理和其他開展業務的成本,從而對我們產生不利影響。我們可能會經歷勞動力價格和其他營商成本的上漲。在通貨膨脹的環境下,成本增長可能會超出我們的預期,導致我們使用現金和其他流動資產的速度快於預期。如果發生這種情況,我們可能需要籌集額外的資本來資助我們的運營,但這些資金可能無法獲得足夠的金額或合理的條款(如果有的話),也可能比預期更早。
不利的全球條件,包括經濟不確定性,可能會對我們的財務業績產生負面影響。
全球狀況、金融市場的混亂、因稅收改革或現有貿易協定或稅收慣例的變化而影響美國的任何負面財務影響,都可能對我們的業務產生不利影響。
此外,全球宏觀經濟環境可能受到公共衛生緊急情況、流行病或流行病、全球經濟市場不穩定、美國貿易關稅增加和與其他國家的貿易爭端以及由此產生的貿易戰、全球信貸市場不穩定、供應鏈薄弱等因素的負面影響,英國退出歐盟、俄羅斯入侵烏克蘭、中東持續衝突和其他政治緊張局勢導致地緣政治環境不穩定,以及外國政府債務擔憂。此類挑戰已經並可能繼續造成當地經濟和全球金融市場的不確定性和不穩定性。
與開發、監管批准和商業化相關的風險
我們的業務尤其依賴於候選產品的成功開發、監管批准和商業化 XYNGARI™和DMT410。
我們的候選產品組合包括一種晚期候選產品XYNGARI™,這是一種每週一次的局部天然衍生候選產品,用於治療痤瘡和銀屑病,以及一種早期候選產品DMT410,這是一種聯合治療方案,有助於局部遞送肉毒桿菌毒素,以治療多汗症和美容皮膚病。我們業務的成功,包括我們爲公司融資和未來產生任何收入的能力,將主要取決於我們候選產品的成功開發、監管批准和商業化或合作。未來,我們還可能只依賴於我們的一種候選產品或我們可能獲得許可、收購或開發的任何未來候選產品。我們候選產品的臨牀和商業成功將取決於多種因素,包括以下因素:
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目錄 |
| · | 以可接受的條件籌集額外資本的能力,或者根本不能; |
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| · | 及時完成我們的臨牀試驗,這可能比我們目前預期的要慢得多或成本更高,並將在很大程度上取決於第三方承包商的表現; |
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| · | 無論美國食品和藥物管理局、FDA或類似的外國監管機構是否要求我們進行額外的臨牀試驗,以支持我們的候選產品或任何未來候選產品的批准和商業化; |
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| · | FDA和類似的外國監管機構接受我們的建議適應症和與我們候選產品的建議適應症相關的主要終點評估; |
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| · | 我們有能力讓FDA和類似的外國監管機構滿意地證明我們的候選產品或任何未來候選產品的安全性和有效性; |
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| · | 我們開發合適的藥物產品釋放分析的能力; |
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| · | 我們識別藥物產品中可在藥代動力學研究中檢測到的活性化合物的能力; |
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| · | 與我們的候選產品或未來批准的產品(如果有)相關的潛在副作用的流行率、持續時間和嚴重程度; |
| · | 及時收到FDA和類似外國監管機構的必要上市批准; |
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| · | 實現並維護,並在適用情況下確保我們的第三方承包商實現並維護遵守我們的合同義務以及適用於我們的候選產品或任何未來候選產品或經批准的產品(如果有)的所有法規要求; |
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| · | 與我們簽訂合同的第三方生產我們的候選產品或任何未來候選產品的臨牀試驗和商業供應的能力,保持與監管機構的良好關係,並開發、驗證和維護符合當前良好製造實踐或cGMP或良好農業和採集業實踐或GACP的商業上可行的製造工藝; |
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| · | 在臨牀開發期間以及在我們的候選產品或任何未來候選產品獲得批准後,繼續保持可接受的安全性; |
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| · | 我們有能力在美國和國際上成功地將我們的候選產品或任何未來的候選產品商業化,無論是單獨還是與其他公司合作,如果獲准在這些國家和地區進行營銷、銷售和分銷; |
| · | 醫生、患者和付款人接受我們的候選產品或任何未來候選產品(如果獲得批准)的好處、安全性和有效性,包括相對於替代和競爭治療的好處、安全性和有效性; |
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| · | 我們遵守衆多批准後監管要求的能力; |
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| · | 我們和我們的合作伙伴在我們的候選產品或任何未來的候選產品中建立和執行知識產權的能力; |
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| · | 我們和我們的合作伙伴避免第三方專利干擾或知識產權侵權索賠的能力;以及 |
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| · | 我們有能力授權或收購我們相信可以成功開發和商業化的額外候選產品或商業化階段產品。 |
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目錄 |
如果我們無法及時或根本實現上述一個或多個因素(其中許多因素超出了我們的控制範圍),我們可能會遇到重大延誤和成本增加,或者無法獲得監管機構批准或將我們的候選產品商業化。即使獲得監管機構批准,我們也可能永遠無法成功商業化我們的任何候選產品。因此,我們無法向您保證我們將能夠通過銷售我們的候選產品或任何未來候選產品來繼續運營來產生足夠的收入。
我們候選產品的臨牀藥物開發非常昂貴、耗時且不確定。我們的臨牀試驗可能無法充分證明我們候選產品的安全性和有效性,這可能會阻止或推遲監管部門的批准和商業化。
我們候選產品的臨牀藥物開發非常昂貴、耗時、難以設計和實施,而且其結果本質上是不確定的。在獲得候選產品商業銷售的監管批准之前,我們必須通過臨牀試驗證明候選產品用於目標適應症既安全又有效,這是無法預測的。大多數開始臨牀試驗的候選產品從未獲得監管機構的商業化批准。我們的候選產品正處於不同的開發階段,在測試的任何階段或試驗過程中的任何時間都可能發生一項臨牀試驗失敗。我們預計這些候選產品的臨牀試驗將持續數年,但完成時間可能比預期要長得多。
我們尚未完成所有臨牀試驗以批准我們的任何候選產品。在之前與FDA的溝通中,他們要求我們證明過氧化氫不是我們XYNGARI™產品中的活性成分。雖然FDA沒有要求我們在當前的XYNGARI™ 3期臨牀項目中將過氧化氫作爲第三組進行測試,但他們可能會要求額外的證據來支持我們的信念,即過氧化氫不是XYNGARI™產品中的活性成分。如果我們未能讓FDA相信過氧化氫不是一種活性成分,而只是一種液化劑,那麼我們可能不得不根據FDA的反饋改變我們的臨牀計劃或重新配製我們的產品。如果我們選擇重新制定我們的主要候選產品XYNGARI™,那麼我們可能會決定重新進行第二階段和第三階段研究,這將耗時且昂貴,並且不確定是否成功。
我們可能會在候選產品的正在進行和未來的臨牀試驗中遇到延誤,並且不知道未來的臨牀試驗(如果有的話)是否會按時開始、需要重新設計、按時招募足夠數量的患者或按時完成(如果有的話)。此外,我們、我們目前或未來可能與之合作的任何合作伙伴、FDA、機構倫理委員會或其他監管機構,包括州和地方機構以及外國的對口機構,可以隨時暫停、推遲、要求修改或終止我們的臨牀試驗,原因包括:
| · | 發現研究參與者經歷的安全或耐受性問題,如嚴重或意想不到的毒性或副作用或暴露在其他不可接受的健康風險中或其他安全問題; |
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| · | 任何候選產品在臨牀試驗期間缺乏有效性或我們的候選產品未能達到指定的終點; |
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| · | 受試者招募和登記的速度慢於預期,或由於許多因素而無法招募足夠數量的患者參加臨牀試驗,包括其他公司針對同一適應症的候選產品進行的臨牀試驗,或患者不經常尋求治療的適應症的臨牀試驗; |
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| · | 由於公共衛生突發事件、流行病和/或流行病導致的隔離或其他限制導致我們的臨牀試驗延遲或困難; |
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| · | 難以留住已經開始臨牀試驗但由於治療的副作用、療效不足、對臨牀試驗過程感到疲倦或任何其他原因而隨時退出的受試者; |
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| · | 在每個臨牀試驗地點進行的研究難以獲得IRB的批准; |
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| · | 延遲製造或獲得臨牀試驗所需的足夠數量的材料,或無法制造或獲得足夠數量的材料; |
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| · | 難以或無法找到合作伙伴,以便我們爲我們的DMT410計劃測試他們的產品; |
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| · | 我們的製造工藝或產品配方或交付方法的不足或更改; |
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| · | 適用的法律、法規和監管政策的變化; |
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| · | 延遲或未能與預期的CRO、臨牀試驗地點和其他第三方承包商就臨牀試驗合同或方案中可接受的條款達成協議; |
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| · | 無法增加足夠數量的臨牀試驗站點; |
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| · | 關於適當配方和劑量的不確定性; |
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| · | 我們、我們的員工、我們的CRO或他們的員工或其他第三方承包商未能遵守合同和適用的法規要求,或未能以及時或可接受的方式履行其服務; |
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| · | 我們、我們的員工、我們的CRO或他們的員工或我們可能與之合作的任何合作伙伴或他們的員工未能遵守適用的FDA或其他有關進行臨牀試驗或藥物和生物製品的處理、儲存、安全和記錄保存的法規要求; |
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| · | 與參與的臨牀醫生和臨牀機構的日程安排發生衝突; |
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| · | 未能設計適當的臨牀試驗方案; |
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| · | 數據不足,無法支持監管部門的批准; |
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| · | 醫學研究人員不能或不願意遵循我們的臨牀方案;或 |
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| · | 在治療期間或治療後難以與受試者保持聯繫,這可能導致數據不完整。 |
就我們的局部候選產品而言,我們正在尋求通過皮膚屏障將足夠濃度的活性藥物成分(API)輸送到目標真皮組織,以實現預期的治療效果。因此,安全性和有效性可能很難確定。局部給藥途徑可能涉及新的製劑和劑量型,這些製劑和劑量型可能難以開發和製造,並且可能會引發新的監管問題並導致開發或審查延遲。例如,XYNGARI™的API是研磨海綿粉末,我們不知道FDA之前批准海綿作爲處方藥。
即使在早期試驗中獲得了有希望的結果,我們或任何可能與我們合作的合作伙伴也可能會在臨牀試驗中遭受重大挫折,類似於製藥和生物技術行業許多其他公司的經歷。如果我們或我們的潛在合作伙伴放棄或推遲與我們候選產品相關的臨牀開發工作,我們可能無法有效執行我們的業務計劃,我們的業務、財務狀況、經營成果和前景將受到損害。
此外,我們候選產品的開發可能會因我們無法控制的其他事件而延遲。例如,特朗普政府限制聯邦機構預算或人員的行動可能會導致FDA的預算、員工和運營減少,這可能會導致響應時間減慢和審查期延長,從而可能影響我們推進候選產品開發或獲得監管機構批准的能力。候選產品。
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目錄 |
我們的行業承擔着廣泛的監管義務和政策,這些義務和政策可能會發生變化,包括由於司法挑戰。
美國製藥行業受到嚴格的監管,經常會發生重大變化,包括新的司法或政府行動的結果。與製藥行業相關的立法和監管議程目前尚不確定。監管審批流程的變化,或監督該流程的人員的大幅減少,可能會影響我們爲我們的候選產品獲得監管批准的能力,或者我們獲得批准的時間表。我們和/或我們當前和未來的第三方合作者可能依賴政府項目或機構,如美國國立衛生研究院(NIH),作爲與我們的候選產品相關的科學研究的撥款來源。來自國家衛生研究院等政府機構的資金可能會波動,並受政治過程的影響,這通常是不可預測的。NIH減少對我們或我們的第三方合作者的撥款可能會對我們開發現有候選產品的能力和我們確定新候選產品的能力產生不利影響。此外,2024年6月28日,美國最高法院發表了一項意見,認爲根據《行政程序法》審查機關行爲的法院「必須行使其獨立判決」,「不得僅僅因爲法規含糊不清而聽從機關對法律的解釋」。這一裁決可能會對下級法院如何評估對機構法律解釋的質疑產生重大影響,包括FDA和其他對製藥業有重大監督的機構提出的質疑。新的框架可能會取消政府以前在此類案件中佔上風的一種方式,從而增加此類挑戰的頻率及其成功的幾率。因此,重要的監管政策可能會受到更多的訴訟和司法審查。我們無法預測未來與醫療改革或製藥業相關的其他聯邦或州立法或行政改革,或監督製藥業的監管機構將如何影響我們的業務。
我們面臨與突發公共衛生事件、流行病和其他傳染病爆發相關的風險,這可能會嚴重擾亂我們的運營,包括我們的臨牀試驗和臨牀前研究,並對我們的業務和運營結果產生不利影響。
公共衛生危機可能會對我們的業務產生不利影響。爲應對疫情(包括COVID-19死灰復燃)而實施的隔離、旅行限制以及其他公共衛生和安全措施可能會對我們的運營產生不利影響,而最終影響高度不確定,無法有信心預測。大流行的影響,包括COVID-19的死灰復燃,可能會推遲或以其他方式對我們正在進行的和計劃的臨牀前活動、我們計劃的臨牀試驗以及我們的總體業務產生不利影響,包括:
| · | 與CRO和合同製造商的中斷或供應鏈中斷有關的延誤; |
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| · | 延遲獲得監管部門的批准,以啓動我們計劃的臨牀試驗; |
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| · | 臨牀現場啓動的延遲或困難,包括招聘臨牀現場調查員和臨牀現場工作人員的困難,他們作爲醫療保健提供者可能有更高的曝光率; |
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| · | 延遲或難以招募和留住參加臨牀試驗的患者; |
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| · | 臨牀地點延遲收到進行我們計劃的臨牀試驗所需的用品和材料; |
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| · | 解釋臨牀試驗數據的困難; |
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| · | 將醫療保健資源從進行臨牀試驗中分流出來; |
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| · | 由於聯邦或州政府、僱主和其他人強加或建議的旅行限制,中斷了關鍵的臨牀試驗活動,如臨牀試驗場地監測; |
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| · | FDA或其他監管機構的運作中斷或延遲,這可能會影響審批時間;以及由於我們的許多員工遠程工作,導致我們現有的運營和公司文化出現中斷、困難或延誤。 |
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目錄 |
任何這些影響以及大流行的其他影響,包括COVID-19的死灰復燃,都可能對我們的業務、財務狀況、經營業績和前景產生重大不利影響。此外,圍繞這些和相關問題的不確定性可能會導致對美國、加拿大和其他經濟體的經濟產生不利影響,這可能會影響我們籌集開發和商業化所需的必要資本的能力和候選產品。
候選產品製造或配方方法的變化可能會導致額外成本或延誤。
隨着候選產品從臨牀前研究到後期臨牀試驗,以獲得潛在的批准和商業化,開發計劃的各個方面(例如製造方法和配方)通常會在過程中發生變化,以優化流程和結果。此類變化存在無法實現這些預期目標的風險。任何這些變更都可能導致我們的候選產品表現不同,並影響計劃的臨牀試驗或使用變更後的材料進行的其他未來臨牀試驗的結果。此類變更還可能需要額外的測試、FDA通知或FDA批准。這可能會推遲臨牀試驗的完成,需要進行過渡臨牀試驗或重複一項或多項臨牀試驗。
由於我們無法滿足FDA的化學、製造和控制要求,批准可能會被推遲或拒絕。
藥物的配方和製造是開發的另一個重要步驟。我們的申請必須包括有關產品化學和物理特徵的信息,並且我們必須證明我們擁有根據FDA當前的藥品生產質量管理規範(「GMP」)要求進行商業批量生產產品的可靠工藝。製造過程必須始終如一地生產高質量的產品批次,並且,除其他外,製造商必須開發測試最終產品的身份、強度、質量和純度的方法。此外,必須選擇和測試適當的包裝,並進行穩定性研究,以證明包裝的有效性以及化合物在保質期內不會發生不可接受的變質。如果我們無法成功完成這些複雜步驟中的任何一個,我們候選產品的批准可能會被推遲或拒絕。
我們可能無法獲得監管機構的批准 XYNGARI™或適用監管要求下的其他早期候選產品。FDA和外國監管機構在批准過程中擁有很大的自由裁量權,包括推遲、限制或拒絕候選產品的批准。任何監管批准的延遲、限制或拒絕都將對商業化、我們的創收潛力、我們的業務和運營業績產生不利影響。
我們目前沒有獲准銷售的產品,我們可能永遠不會獲得監管部門的批准,將我們當前或未來的任何候選產品商業化。與我們的藥品相關的研究、測試、生產、安全監督、療效、質量控制、記錄保存、標籤、包裝、儲存、批准、銷售、營銷、分銷、進出口以及安全和其他上市後信息的報告都受到美國和外國FDA和其他監管機構的廣泛監管,這些監管因國家而異。在我們獲得新藥申請或NDA的批准或FDA提交的其他適用監管文件之前,我們不被允許在美國銷售我們目前的任何候選產品。在我們或我們的合作伙伴獲得外國相關監管機構的必要批准之前,我們也不被允許在任何外國銷售我們目前的任何候選產品。
52 |
目錄 |
要獲得批准上市XYNGARI™或DMT410等新藥,FDA和/或外國監管機構必須收到臨牀前和臨牀數據,充分證明藥品的安全性、純度、效力、療效和合規生產符合保密協議或其他適用監管文件中申請的預期適應症。從天然來源提取的產品和新藥產品的開發和批准涉及一個漫長、昂貴和不確定的過程,在任何階段都可能發生延誤或失敗。製藥和生物製藥行業的一些公司在非臨牀開發、臨牀試驗(包括第三階段臨牀開發)方面遭遇了重大挫折,即使在早期的臨牀前研究或臨牀試驗中取得了良好的結果。除其他外,這些挫折是由臨牀試驗期間的發現以及在臨牀試驗中進行的安全性或有效性觀察造成的,包括以前未報告的不良事件。臨牀試驗的成功並不能保證以後的臨牀試驗會成功,或者非臨牀研究也會成功。其他方的臨牀試驗結果可能不代表我們或我們的合作伙伴可能進行的試驗的結果。例如,對於XYNGARI™,我們的2a期和20期億臨牀試驗的結果可能無法準確預測正在進行的患者數量較多的3期臨牀試驗的結果。從我們的2a期和20期億臨牀試驗中收集的人體安全性數據也不能預測我們的藥代動力學計劃的結果。
FDA和外國監管機構在藥物批准過程中擁有很大的自由裁量權,包括出於多種原因推遲、限制或拒絕候選產品的批准。FDA或適用的外國監管機構可以:
| · | 不同意一項或多項臨牀試驗的設計或實施; |
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| · | 不認爲候選產品對其擬議適應症是安全有效的,或者可能認爲候選產品的安全性或其他感知風險超過其臨牀或其他受益; |
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| · | 未發現臨牀前研究和臨牀試驗的數據足以支持批准,或者臨牀試驗的結果可能不符合FDA或適用的外國監管機構批准要求的統計學或臨牀意義水平; |
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| · | 不同意我們對我們或第三方進行的臨牀前研究或臨牀試驗數據的解釋,或不同意我們可能與之合作的任何合作伙伴的解釋; |
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| · | 確定從臨牀試驗中收集的數據可能不足以支持提交NDA或其他適用的監管備案; |
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| · | 需要額外的臨牀前研究或臨牀試驗; |
| · | 識別當前或未來候選產品在配方、質量控制、標籤或規格方面的缺陷; |
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| · | 要求在兒科患者中進行臨牀試驗,以確定對藥物更敏感的人群的藥代動力學或安全性; |
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| · | 批准取決於昂貴的額外批准後臨牀試驗的表現; |
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| · | 批准我們當前或任何未來的候選產品,使其具有比我們最初要求的更有限的適應症或更窄的患者群體,或帶有可能影響市場適銷性的強烈警告; |
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| · | 不批准我們認爲對我們的候選產品成功商業化來說是必要或可取的標籤; |
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| · | 不認可與我們簽約的第三方製造商或測試實驗室的製造工藝、控制或設施; |
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| · | 認爲我們的產品是一種設備,而不是一種需要不同審批程序和生產需求的藥物; |
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| · | 考慮我們的產品之一是組合產品,而不是需要額外的臨牀試驗或每項研究增加患者數量的單一藥物,或者 |
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| · | 改變其批准政策或採用新的法規,使我們的臨牀數據或監管文件不足以獲得批准。 |
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目錄 |
在植物學指導下,只有三種產品獲得了FDA的批准。這些產品的有效成分都來自一種植物的提取物(S)。此外,沒有一種產品被批准用於痤瘡的適應症。而淡水海綿,如海綿,從技術上講,是動物,FDA允許我們參考與藥品生產有關的原材料質量控制的植物學指南。我們不知道其他監管機構會如何對待XYNGARI™的審批過程。此外,FDA或其他監管機構可能會改變他們的政策、發佈額外的法規或修改現有法規或採取其他行動,這可能會及時阻止或推遲我們未來正在開發的產品的批准。此類政策或法規變化可能會對我們施加額外要求,可能會推遲我們獲得批准的能力、增加合規成本或限制我們維持可能已獲得的任何營銷授權的能力。
對我們任何候選產品的任何適用監管批准的任何延遲、限制或拒絕都將延遲或對我們候選產品的商業化產生不利影響,並將損害我們的業務、財務狀況、經營業績和前景。
我們已經完成了第一個3期臨牀試驗的入組, XYNGARI™,但這並不能保證成功完成。 我們可能無法成功完成它或任何未來的臨牀試驗。
3期臨牀項目的實施是一個複雜的過程。儘管我們的管理團隊成員過去曾在其他公司工作時進行過第三期臨牀試驗,但我們作爲一家公司以前從未進行過第三期臨牀試驗,因此可能需要更多的時間和成本比我們預期的更高。未能在我們的3期臨牀試驗中納入正確的治療方案、完成或推遲,可能會阻止或推遲我們開始未來的XYNGARI™臨牀試驗、獲得監管機構批准並將我們的候選產品商業化,這將對我們的財務業績產生不利影響。此外,我們的一些競爭對手目前正在對治療與XYNGARI™相同適應症的候選產品進行臨牀試驗,而有資格參加我們臨牀試驗的患者可能會參加我們競爭對手候選產品的臨牀試驗。
患者入組受到其他因素的影響,包括:
| · | 正在調查的疾病的嚴重程度; |
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| · | 有關研究的資格標準; |
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| · | 被研究的產品候選產品的感知風險和收益; |
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| · | 努力促進及時入組臨牀試驗; |
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| · | 醫生的患者轉診實踐; |
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| · | 在治療期間和治療後充分監測患者的能力; |
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| · | 臨牀試驗地點的接近性和可用性可供潛在患者使用;以及 |
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| · | 我們可能無法控制的因素,例如可能限制受試者、主要研究者或工作人員或臨牀中心可用性的潛在流行病(例如,COVID-19捲土重來)。 |
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目錄 |
即使我們當前的候選產品或任何未來的候選產品獲得監管機構批准,它們也可能無法實現商業成功所需的醫生和患者的廣泛採用和使用。
我們當前或未來的任何候選產品如果獲得批准,其商業成功將在很大程度上取決於醫生、患者和付款人對所得產品的廣泛採用和使用,並且可能不會在商業上取得成功。如果獲得批准,我們當前或未來候選產品的採用程度和率將取決於多種因素,包括:
| · | 該產品獲得批准的臨牀適應症以及患者對治療這些適應症的批准產品的需求; |
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| · | 與其他可用的療法相比,我們產品的有效性; |
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| · | 對於我們可能獲得批准的任何候選產品,管理保健計劃和其他醫療保健付款人提供保險和足夠的補償; |
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| · | 與替代療法有關的我們候選產品的治療成本,以及患者願意爲產品付費(如果獲得批准); |
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| · | 醫生、診所主要經營者和患者接受該產品爲安全有效的治療方法; |
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| · | 醫生和患者願意採用一種新的療法,包括海綿產品XYNGARI™,而不是其他可用的療法來治療批准的適應症; |
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| · | 患者認爲從淡水海綿中提取的產品可以提供醫療服務; |
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| · | 克服醫生或患者可能對經批准的適應症治療的特定療法的任何偏見; |
| · | 由醫生和醫務人員對產品候選人進行適當的培訓和管理; |
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| · | 患者對我們候選產品的結果和管理以及整體治療體驗的滿意度; |
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| · | 相對於其他非必需品,患者願意爲我們的某些候選產品買單,特別是在經濟困難時期; |
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| · | 與替代療法相比,我們的候選產品可能爲醫生提供的收入和盈利能力; |
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| · | 我們的候選產品的任何副作用的流行率和嚴重性; |
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| · | FDA批准的候選產品標籤中包含的限制或警告; |
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| · | FDA要求實施風險評估和緩解戰略或REMS的任何要求; |
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| · | 我們的銷售、營銷和分銷努力的有效性; |
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| · | 我們有能力維持足夠的供應量以應付需求; |
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| · | 對我們的候選產品的負面宣傳或對競爭產品的正面宣傳;以及 |
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| · | 潛在的產品責任索賠。 |
55 |
目錄 |
如果我們當前或未來的任何候選產品獲得批准使用,但未能實現商業成功所需的醫生和患者的廣泛採用,我們的經營業績和財務狀況將受到不利影響,這可能會延遲、阻止或限制我們產生收入和繼續開展業務的能力。
我們打算爲以下項目尋求CY獨家經營權 XYNGARI™ 以及未來的候選產品,而我們可能無法成功獲得此類獨家經營權。
作爲我們業務戰略的一部分,我們打算爲XYNGARI™或未來的候選產品尋求新的化學實體或NCE的獨家經營權。在美國,製藥商可以在NDA批准NCE後獲得五年的非專利專有權,NCE是一種含有FDA在任何其他NDA中未批准的活性部分的藥物。「活性部分」被定義爲負責藥物物質的生理或藥理作用的分子或離子。在五年的排他期內,FDA不能接受任何尋求批准該藥物的仿製藥版本的ANDA或任何505(B)(2)NDA的申請,這取決於FDA對該藥物的調查結果,但如果後續申請者進行了第四段認證,FDA可以接受四年後的申請。如果滿足某些要求以使產品符合兒科獨家專利的要求,包括收到FDA要求我們進行某些兒科研究的書面請求,在收到書面請求後向FDA提交此類研究的研究報告,以及滿足書面請求中指定的條件,則可以將這一排他期再延長六個月。我們認爲,XYNGARI™構成了NCE,應該有資格獲得NCE獨家經營權。然而,我們可能無法成功獲得這種獨家授權,如果我們的任何競爭對手在我們之前獲得FDA對類似藥物產品的NDA批准,他們可能有資格獲得NCE獨家授權,而不是我們。如果我們沒有獲得XYNGARI™的NCE獨家經營權,或者如果競爭對手在我們提交併獲得XYNGARI™的保密協議批准之前獲得了類似產品的NCE獨家經營權,我們開始銷售和創造收入的能力將受到不利影響。
我們的候選產品如果獲得批准,將面臨重大競爭,而我們未能有效競爭可能會阻止我們實現顯着的市場滲透。
製藥業的特點是技術迅速進步,競爭激烈,並高度重視開發專利療法。許多製藥公司、仿製藥公司、生物技術公司、化妝品公司以及學術和研究機構都在從事與我們正在開發的產品競爭的保健產品的開發、專利、製造和營銷,包括但不限於利奧製藥、Journey Medical、Vyne Treateutics、Galderma、Sun PharmPharmticals Ltd.、Sol-Gel、Arcutis BioTreatetics、Arena PharmPharmticals、Amgen、AbbVie、Bristol Meyers Squib、Pfizer等。我們的許多競爭對手擁有比我們更多的財務資源、營銷能力、銷售力量、製造能力、研發能力、臨牀試驗專業知識、知識產權組合、獲得專利和產品候選的監管批准方面的經驗以及其他資源。一些提供競爭產品的公司還擁有廣泛的其他產品、龐大的直銷隊伍以及與我們的目標醫生的長期客戶關係,這可能會阻礙我們的市場滲透努力。此外,如果我們的某些候選產品獲得批准,可能會與其他皮膚科產品競爭,包括非處方藥治療,爭奪一些患者的可自由支配預算份額,並在臨牀實踐中吸引醫生的注意。
我們預計,如果我們的候選產品獲得監管部門的批准,我們將面臨來自其他批准的療法的激烈競爭。如果獲得批准,我們的候選產品還可能與不受監管、未經批准、標籤外和非處方藥競爭。我們的某些候選產品如果獲得批准,將爲批准的適應症提供新的治療方法,並將不得不與現有療法競爭,其中一些療法已被醫生和患者廣泛了解和接受。爲了在這個市場上成功競爭,我們必須證明我們批准的產品的相對成本、安全性和有效性(如果有的話)提供了現有和其他新療法的有吸引力的替代方案。這種競爭可能會導致我們候選產品的市場份額減少,並對我們候選產品的定價造成下行壓力,這可能會損害我們的業務、財務狀況、經營業績和前景。有關我們面臨的競爭的更多信息,請參閱「商業競爭」。
由於某些外國國家的監管要求不那麼嚴格,這些國際市場上可使用的皮膚科產品和手術比美國批准使用的要多得多。在某些國際市場,我們的競爭對手對其產品有效性及其營銷方式的主張也受到較少的限制。因此,我們預計這些市場將面臨比美國更多的競爭。
我們預計候選產品將面臨通用或類似類型的產品競爭,這可能會對我們的業務、財務狀況、經營業績和前景產生不利影響。
當我們任何已批准的候選產品的任何專利保護到期或失去時,或者當我們任何已批准的候選產品的仿製藥競爭對手「處於危險中」推出時,儘管針對仿製藥或其同等產品的專利侵權訴訟懸而未決,該仿製藥競爭對手的仿製藥版本可能以遠低於我們批准的候選產品的價格銷售,我們可能會在短時間內損失該產品的很大一部分銷售額,這將對我們的業務、財務狀況、經營業績和前景產生不利影響。
56 |
目錄 |
目前尚不清楚FDA或任何監管機構將如何看待XYNGARI™的嘗試仿製版本,因爲它源自參考植物學指南原則的天然材料。目前市場上沒有批准的天然產品仿製藥版本,也沒有FDA關於天然產品仿製藥版本批准流程的指南。因此,目前尚不清楚天然產品的仿製藥在美國獲得商業銷售的難度有多大。目前尚不清楚FDA是否會考慮 湖海綿 或從與XYNGARI™原材料不同的地點收穫的類似海綿物種與XYNGARI ™原材料相同,因此可以遵循通用途徑獲得批准。
我們商業化的任何候選產品,或與我們合作商業化的任何合作伙伴,都將接受持續且持續的監管審查。
即使我們或我們的合作伙伴獲得美國監管機構對候選產品的批准(如果有的話),我們或我們的合作伙伴仍將受到持續的監管審查和合規義務的約束。例如,對於我們的候選產品,FDA可能會對產品可能上市的批准的指示用途或批准條件施加重大限制。候選產品的批准可能包含對可能代價高昂的批准後研究和監測的要求,包括第四階段臨牀試驗或REMS,以監測該產品的安全性和有效性。我們還將接受FDA的持續義務和持續的監管審查,涉及我們候選產品的製造、加工、標籤、包裝、分銷、不良事件報告、儲存、廣告、促銷和記錄等。這些要求包括提交安全和其他上市後信息和報告、註冊以及繼續遵守cGMP要求、FDA的良好臨牀實踐(GCP)、良好的農業和採集規範(GACP)、要求和良好實驗室規範(GLP),這些要求是FDA在臨牀和臨牀前開發以及我們進行的任何臨牀試驗中對所有候選產品執行的法規和指南。如果某一候選產品獲准在其他國家/地區銷售,我們可能會受到這些國家/地區的法律和政府監管機構施加的類似限制和要求。
如果我們、我們的合作伙伴、我們的候選產品或我們候選產品的製造設施未能遵守適用的監管要求,監管機構可能會:
| · | 對產品的營銷或製造施加限制、暫停或撤回產品批准或撤銷必要的許可證; |
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| · | 強制修改宣傳材料或要求我們向醫療保健從業者提供糾正信息; |
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| · | 要求我們或我們的合作伙伴簽訂同意令,其中可能包括徵收各種罰款、報銷檢查費用、具體行動所需的到期日期以及對不合規行爲的處罰; |
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| · | 發出警告信、說明原因通知或描述涉嫌違法行爲的無標題信件,這些信件可能公開; |
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| · | 開始刑事調查和起訴; |
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| · | 對必要的批准或其他許可實施禁令、暫停或沒收; |
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| · | 實施其他民事或刑事處罰; |
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| · | 暫停任何正在進行的臨牀試驗; |
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| · | 延遲或拒絕批准我們或我們的潛在合作伙伴提交的待決申請或已批准申請的補充; |
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| · | 拒絕允許向美國進口或出口毒品或前體化學品; |
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| · | 暫停或對運營施加限制,包括昂貴的新制造要求;或 |
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| · | 扣押或扣留產品或要求我們或我們的合作伙伴啓動產品召回。 |
57 |
目錄 |
FDA和其他適用政府機構的法規、政策或指南可能會發生變化,並且可能會頒佈新的或額外的法規或政府法規,這可能會阻止或推遲對我們候選產品的監管批准,或者進一步限制或監管批准後的活動。我們無法預測未來美國或國外的立法或行政行動可能產生的不利政府監管的可能性、性質或程度。如果我們無法實現和維持監管合規性,我們可能不被允許營銷我們的候選產品,這將對我們產生收入以及實現或維持盈利能力的能力產生不利影響。
我們未來可能會在美國境外對我們的候選產品進行臨牀試驗,FDA和適用的外國監管機構可能不會接受此類試驗的數據。
我們目前和未來可能會選擇在美國以外的地方進行一項或多項臨牀試驗,包括在加拿大、歐洲和南美。儘管FDA或適用的外國監管機構可以接受來自在美國或適用司法管轄區以外進行的臨牀試驗的數據,但FDA或適用的外國監管機構接受此類研究數據可能受某些條件的限制。如果外國臨牀試驗的數據打算用作美國上市批准的基礎,FDA將不會僅根據外國數據批准申請,除非這些數據適用於美國人口和美國醫療實踐;研究由公認能力的臨牀研究人員進行;並且數據被認爲是有效的,不需要FDA進行現場檢查,或者如果FDA認爲有必要進行這種檢查,FDA能夠通過現場檢查或其他適當的方式驗證數據。許多外國監管機構也有類似的要求。此外,這類外國研究將受進行研究的外國司法管轄區適用的當地法律所規限。不能保證FDA或適用的外國監管機構會接受在美國或適用司法管轄區以外進行的試驗數據。如果FDA或適用的外國監管機構不接受這些數據,很可能會導致需要額外的試驗,這將是昂貴和耗時的,並推遲我們業務計劃的各個方面。
我們的候選產品可能會導致不良副作用或具有其他意想不到的特性,可能會延遲或阻止其監管批准、限制已批准標籤的商業形象或導致批准後監管行動。
我們的任何候選產品都可能在臨牀開發期間或(如果獲得批准)在批准的產品上市後出現不可預見的副作用。候選產品引起的不良副作用可能會導致我們、我們可能合作的任何合作伙伴或監管機構中斷、修改、推遲或停止臨牀試驗,並可能導致更嚴格的標籤或FDA或類似外國機構延遲或拒絕監管批准。臨牀試驗的結果可能會揭示出嚴重的和不可接受的副作用。在這種情況下,試驗可能被暫停或終止,FDA或類似的外國監管機構可以命令我們或我們的潛在合作伙伴停止任何或所有目標適應症的候選產品的進一步開發或拒絕批准。與藥物相關的副作用可能會影響患者招募或納入患者完成試驗的能力,或導致產品責任索賠。這些情況中的任何一種都可能損害我們的業務、財務狀況、經營業績和前景。
此外,如果我們或其他人在獲得美國或外國監管機構批准後發現我們的候選產品或含有相同或相關活性成分的其他產品引起的不良副作用或其他以前未知的問題,則可能會導致許多潛在的負面後果,包括:
| · | 監管機構可以撤回對該產品的批准; |
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| · | 監管機構可能要求召回產品,或者我們或我們的潛在合作伙伴可能會自願召回產品; |
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| · | 監管部門可以要求在產品標籤中增加警告或禁忌症,縮小產品標籤中的適應症範圍,或向醫生和藥店發出現場警報; |
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| · | 我們可能被要求創建一份藥物指南,概述此類副作用的風險,以便分發給患者或建立REMS; |
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| · | 我們在如何推廣產品方面可能會受到限制; |
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| · | 我們可能被要求改變產品的給藥方式或以其他方式修改產品;FDA或適用的外國監管機構可能要求進行額外的臨牀試驗或昂貴的上市後測試和監測,以監測產品的安全性或有效性; |
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| · | FDA或適用的外國監管機構可能要求進行額外的臨牀試驗或昂貴的上市後測試和監測,以監測產品的安全性或有效性 |
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| · | 產品銷量可能大幅下降; |
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| · | 我們可能會被起訴,並對給患者造成的傷害承擔責任;以及 |
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| · | 我們的品牌和聲譽可能會受到影響。 |
58 |
目錄 |
由不良副作用或其他先前未知的問題引起的上述任何事件都可能會阻止我們或我們的潛在合作伙伴實現或維持受影響候選產品的市場接受度,並可能大幅增加我們候選產品商業化的成本。
我們可能面臨產品責任風險,如果我們成功提出索賠,如果我們對這些索賠的保險範圍不充分,我們可能會承擔重大責任。
由於對候選產品進行臨牀測試,我們面臨着固有的產品責任風險,如果我們將任何產品商業化,我們將面臨更大的風險。即使產品獲得FDA批准商業銷售並在FDA或適用的外國監管機構許可和監管的工廠中生產,這種風險仍然存在。我們的產品和候選產品旨在影響重要的身體功能和過程。與我們的候選產品相關的任何副作用、製造缺陷、誤用或濫用都可能導致患者受傷甚至死亡。我們無法保證未來不會面臨產品責任訴訟,也無法向您保證我們的保險範圍足以承擔我們在任何此類情況下的責任。
此外,即使我們的候選產品似乎只是造成了傷害,也可能會對我們提出責任索賠。消費者、醫療保健提供者、製藥公司或銷售或以其他方式接觸我們候選產品的其他人可能會對我們提出產品責任索賠。如果我們無法成功保護自己免受產品責任索賠的侵害,我們將承擔重大責任和聲譽損害。此外,無論優點或最終結果如何,產品責任索賠都可能導致:
| · | 臨牀試驗參與者退出; |
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| · | 終止臨牀試驗地點或整個試驗項目; |
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| · | 無法獲得對我們候選產品的監管批准; |
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| · | 無法將我們的候選產品商業化; |
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| · | 對我們候選產品的需求減少; |
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| · | 損害我們的商業聲譽; |
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| · | 產品召回或退出市場或標籤、營銷或促銷限制; |
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| · | 任何相關訴訟或類似糾紛的巨額費用; |
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| · | 分散管理層的注意力和其他資源對我們主要業務的注意力; |
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| · | 向患者或其他針對我們的索賠人提供可能不受保險覆蓋的巨額金錢賠償;或 |
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| · | 收入損失。 |
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我們目前維持產品責任保險,這可能不足以覆蓋我們所有與產品責任相關的費用或損失,也可能不包括我們可能遭受的任何費用或損失。此外,保險範圍正變得越來越昂貴,在未來,我們可能無法以合理的成本、足夠的金額或足夠的條款維持保險範圍,以保護我們免受產品責任造成的損失。如果我們的任何候選產品獲得監管部門的批准,我們將需要增加我們的產品責任保險,這將是代價高昂的,而我們可能無法以商業合理的條款獲得增加的產品責任保險,或者根本無法獲得。一項成功的產品責任索賠或一系列針對我們的索賠可能會導致我們的股價下跌,如果判斷超出了我們的保險範圍,可能會減少我們的現金,並可能損害我們的業務、財務狀況、經營業績和前景。
如果我們的任何候選產品獲准上市,並且我們被發現不當地宣傳標籤外使用,或者如果醫生濫用我們的產品或標籤外使用我們的產品,我們可能會受到銷售或營銷我們的產品的禁令、產品責任索賠和巨額罰款、處罰和制裁,我們的品牌和聲譽可能會受到損害。
The FDA and other regulatory agencies strictly regulate the marketing and promotional claims that are made about drug and biologic products. In particular, a product may not be promoted for uses or indications that are not approved by the FDA or such other regulatory agencies as reflected in the product’s approved labeling and comparative safety or efficacy claims cannot be made without direct comparative clinical data. If we are found to have promoted off-label uses of any of our product candidates, we may receive warning or untitled letters and become subject to significant liability, which would materially harm our business. Both federal and state governments have levied large civil and criminal fines against companies for alleged improper promotion and have enjoined several companies from engaging in off-label promotion. If we become the target of such an investigation or prosecution based on our marketing and promotional practices, we could face similar sanctions, which would materially harm our business. In addition, management’s attention could be diverted from our business operations, significant legal expenses could be incurred and our brand and reputation could be damaged. The FDA has also requested that companies enter into consent decrees or permanent injunctions under which specified promotional conduct is changed or curtailed. If we are deemed by the FDA to have engaged in the promotion of our products for off-label use, we could be subject to FDA regulatory or enforcement actions, including the issuance of an untitled letter, a warning letter, injunction, seizure, civil fine or criminal penalties. It is also possible that other federal, state or foreign enforcement authorities might take action if they consider our business activities constitute promotion of an off-label use, which could result in significant penalties, including criminal, civil or administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations.
We cannot, however, prevent a physician from using our product candidates outside of those indications for use when in the physician’s independent professional medical judgment he or she deems appropriate. Physicians may also misuse our product candidates or use improper techniques, potentially leading to adverse results, side effects or injury, which may lead to product liability claims. If our product candidates are misused or used with improper technique, we may become subject to costly litigation by physicians or their patients. Furthermore, the use of our product candidates for indications other than those cleared by the FDA may not effectively treat such conditions, which could harm our reputation among physicians and patients.
We may choose not to continue developing or commercializing any of our product candidates at any time during development or after approval, which would reduce or eliminate our potential return on investment for those product candidates.
At any time, we may decide to discontinue the development of any of our product candidates or not to continue commercializing one or more of our approved product candidates for a variety of reasons, including the appearance of new technologies that make our product obsolete, competition from a competing product or changes in or failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements. If we terminate a program in which we have invested significant resources, we will not receive any return on our investment and we will have missed the opportunity to have allocated those resources to potentially more productive uses.
For example, on December 5, 2022, we announced topline results from our Phase 2 trial of once-weekly topical application of XYNGARI™ for the treatment of moderate-to-severe rosacea. While the data was supportive of XYNGARI™ as a treatment for inflammatory skin diseases, the rosacea study did not meet its primary endpoints. Based on the foregoing, we decided not to devote any further financial resources to development of this indication for XYNGARI™, and we determined not to pursue further development efforts regarding this indication for XYNGARI™.
We or our current and prospective partners may be subject to product recalls in the future that could harm our brand and reputation and could negatively affect our business.
We or our current and prospective partners may be subject to product recalls, withdrawals or seizures if any of our product candidates, if approved for marketing, fail to meet specifications or are believed to cause injury or illness or if we are alleged to have violated governmental regulations including those related to the manufacture, labeling, promotion, sale or distribution. Any recall, withdrawal or seizure in the future could materially and adversely affect consumer confidence in our brands and lead to decreased demand for our approved products. In addition, a recall, withdrawal or seizure of any of our approved products would require significant management attention, would likely result in substantial and unexpected expenditures and would harm our business, financial condition and operating results.
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If we or any partners with which we may collaborate are unable to achieve and maintain coverage and adequate levels of reimbursement for any of our product candidates for which we receive regulatory approval, or any future products we may seek to commercialize, their commercial success may be severely hindered.
For any of our product candidates that become available only by prescription, successful sales by us or by any partners with which we may collaborate depend on the availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors. Patients who are prescribed medicine for the treatment of their conditions generally rely on third-party payors to reimburse all or part of the costs associated with their prescription drugs. The availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement from governmental healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and private third-party payors is critical to new product acceptance. Coverage decisions may depend upon clinical and economic standards that disfavor new drug products when more established or lower cost therapeutic alternatives are already available or subsequently become available. If any of our product candidates do not demonstrate attractive efficacy profiles, they may not qualify for coverage and reimbursement. Even if we obtain coverage for a given product, the resulting reimbursement payment rates might not be adequate or may require co-payments that patients find unacceptably high. Patients are unlikely to use our products unless coverage is provided and reimbursement is adequate to cover a significant portion of the cost of our products.
In addition, the market for our product candidates will depend significantly on access to third-party payors’ drug formularies, or lists of medications for which third-party payors provide coverage and reimbursement. The industry competition to be included in such formularies often leads to downward pricing pressures on pharmaceutical companies. Also, third-party payors may refuse to include a particular branded drug in their formularies or otherwise restrict patient access to a branded drug when a less costly generic equivalent or other alternative is available.
Further, third-party payors, whether foreign or domestic, or governmental or commercial, are developing increasingly sophisticated methods of controlling healthcare costs. In addition, in the United States, although private third-party payors tend to follow Medicare, no uniform policy of coverage and reimbursement for drug products exists among third-party payors. Therefore, coverage and reimbursement for drug products can differ significantly from payor to payor. As a result, the coverage determination process is often a time-consuming and costly process that will require us to provide scientific and clinical support for the use of our product candidates to each payor separately, with no assurance that coverage and adequate reimbursement will be obtained.
Further, we believe that future coverage and reimbursement will likely be subject to increased restrictions both in the United States and in international markets. Third-party coverage and reimbursement for any of our product candidates for which we may receive regulatory approval may not be available or adequate in either the United States or international markets, which could harm our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.
Healthcare legislative or regulatory reform measures, including government restrictions on pricing and reimbursement, may have a negative impact on our business and results of operations.
In the United States and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been, and continue to be, several legislative and regulatory changes and proposed changes regarding the healthcare system that could prevent or delay marketing approval of product candidates, restrict or regulate post approval activities, and affect our ability to profitably sell any product candidates for which we obtain marketing approval.
Among policy makers and payors in the United States and elsewhere, there is significant interest in promoting changes in healthcare systems with the stated goals of containing healthcare costs, improving quality and/or expanding access. In the United States, the pharmaceutical industry has been a particular focus of these efforts and has been significantly affected by major legislative initiatives. For example, in the United States, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, or the ACA, substantially changed the way health care is financed by both governmental and private insurers and significantly affects the pharmaceutical industry. Many provisions of the ACA impact the biopharmaceutical industry, including that in order for a biopharmaceutical product to receive federal reimbursement under the Medicare Part B and Medicaid programs or to be sold directly to U.S. government agencies, the manufacturer must extend discounts to entities eligible to participate in the drug pricing program under the Public Health Services Act, or PHS. Since its enactment, there have been judicial and Congressional challenges and amendments to certain aspects of the ACA. There is continued uncertainty about the implementation of the ACA, including the potential for further amendments to the ACA and legal challenges to or efforts to repeal the ACA.
Additionally, there has been heightened governmental scrutiny in the United States of pharmaceutical pricing practices in light of the rising cost of prescription drugs and biologics. On September 9, 2021, the Biden Administration published a wide-ranging list of policy proposals, most of which would need to be carried out by Congress, to reduce drug prices and drug payment. The United States Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) plan includes, among other reform measures, proposals to lower prescription drug prices, including by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices and disincentivizing price increases, and to support market changes that strengthen supply chains, promote biosimilars and generic drugs, and increase price transparency. These initiatives recently culminated in the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act (the “IRA”) in August 2022, which, among other things, allows the HHS to negotiate the selling price of certain drugs and biologics that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) reimburses under Medicare Part B and Part D, although only high-expenditure single-source drugs that have been approved for at least 7 years (11 years for biologics) can be selected by CMS for negotiation, with the negotiated price taking effect two years after the selection year. The negotiated prices, which will first become effective in 2026, will be capped at a statutory ceiling price beginning in October 2023, penalize drug manufacturers that increase prices of Medicare Part B and Part D drugs at a rate greater than the rate of inflation. The IRA permits the Secretary of HHS to implement many of these provisions through guidance, as opposed to regulation, for the initial years. Manufacturers that fail to comply with the IRA may be subject to various penalties, including civil monetary penalties. The IRA also extends enhanced subsidies for individuals purchasing health insurance coverage in ACA marketplaces through plan year 2025. These provisions took effect progressively starting in 2023, and so far have withstood although they may be subject to legal challenges.
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Other examples of proposed changes include, but are not limited to, expanding post-approval requirements, changing the Orphan Drug Act, and restricting sales and promotional activities for pharmaceutical products.
We cannot be sure whether additional legislative changes will be enacted, or whether government regulations, guidance or interpretations will be changed, or what the impact of such changes would be on the marketing approvals, sales, pricing, or reimbursement of our drug candidates or products, if any, may be. We expect that these and other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future, may result in more rigorous coverage criteria and in additional downward pressure on the price that we receive for any approved drug. Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability, or commercialize our drugs.
In addition, FDA regulations and guidance may be revised or reinterpreted by the FDA in ways that may significantly affect our business and our products. Any new regulations or guidance, or revisions or reinterpretations of existing regulations or guidance, may impose additional costs or lengthen FDA review times for XYNGARI™ or any future product candidates. We cannot determine how changes in regulations, statutes, policies, or interpretations when and if issued, enacted or adopted, may affect our business in the future. Such changes could, among other things, require:
| · | additional clinical trials to be conducted prior to obtaining approval; |
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| · | changes to manufacturing methods; |
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| · | recalls, replacements, or discontinuance of one or more of our products; and |
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| · | additional recordkeeping. |
Such changes would likely require substantial time and impose significant costs, or could reduce the potential commercial value of XYNGARI™ or other product candidates. In addition, delays in receipt of or failure to receive regulatory clearances or approvals for any other products would harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We may also be subject to healthcare laws, regulation and enforcement and our failure to comply with those laws could adversely affect our business, operations and financial condition.
Certain federal and state healthcare laws and regulations pertaining to fraud and abuse and patients’ rights are and will be applicable to our business. We are subject to regulation by both the federal government and the states in which we or our partners conduct our business. The laws and regulations that may affect our ability to operate include:
| · | the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, any person or entity from knowingly and willfully offering, soliciting, receiving or providing any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe or rebate), directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, to induce either the referral of an individual or in return for the purchase, lease, or order of any good, facility item or service, for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under federal healthcare programs such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs; |
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| · | federal civil and criminal false claims laws and civil monetary penalty laws, including, for example, the federal civil False Claims Act, which impose criminal and civil penalties, including civil whistleblower or qui tam actions, against individuals or entities for, among other things, knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, to the federal government, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs, claims for payment that are false or fraudulent or making a false statement to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the federal government; |
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| · | the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which created new federal criminal statutes that prohibit knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises, any of the money or property owned by, or under the custody or control of, any healthcare benefit program, regardless of the payor (e.g., public or private), knowingly and willfully embezzling or stealing from a health care benefit program, willfully obstructing a criminal investigation of a health care offense and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up by any trick or device a material fact or making any materially false statements in connection with the delivery of, or payment for, healthcare benefits, items or services relating to healthcare matters; |
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| · | HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, and their implementing regulations, which impose obligations on covered entities, including healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, as well as their respective business associates that create, receive, maintain or transmit individually identifiable health information for or on behalf of a covered entity, with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information; |
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| · | the Physician Payments Sunshine Act requirements under the Affordable Care Act, which require manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies to report annually to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services information related to payments and other transfers of value provided to physicians and teaching hospitals, and ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members; and |
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| · | state law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws, which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers; state laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the applicable compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government, or otherwise restrict payments that may be provided to healthcare providers and other potential referral sources; state laws that require drug manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value to healthcare providers or marketing expenditures; and state laws governing the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts. |
Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and safe harbors available, it is possible that some of our business activities could be subject to challenge under one or more of such laws. In addition, recent health care reform legislation has strengthened these laws. For example, the recently enacted Affordable Care Act, among other things, amended the intent requirement of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and certain criminal healthcare fraud statutes. A person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it. In addition, the Affordable Care Act provided that the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the federal civil False Claims Act.
Achieving and sustaining compliance with these laws may prove costly. In addition, any action against us for violation of these laws, even if we successfully defend against it, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and divert our management’s attention from the operation of our business. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the laws described above or any other governmental laws or regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including administrative, civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, the exclusion from participation in federal and state healthcare programs, individual imprisonment or the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our financial results.
Our employees, independent contractors, principal investigators, consultants, vendors, CROs and any partners with which we may collaborate may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with regulatory standards and requirements.
We are exposed to the risk that our employees, independent contractors, principal investigators, consultants, vendors, CROs and any partners with which we may collaborate may engage in fraudulent or other illegal activity. Misconduct by these persons could include intentional, reckless or negligent conduct or unauthorized activity that violates: laws or regulations, including those laws requiring the reporting of true, complete and accurate information to the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities; manufacturing standards; federal, state and foreign healthcare fraud and abuse laws and data privacy; or laws that require the true, complete and accurate reporting of financial information or data. In particular, sales, marketing and other business arrangements in the healthcare industry are subject to extensive laws intended to prevent fraud, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws may restrict or prohibit a wide range of business activities, including research, manufacturing, distribution, pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, customer incentive programs and other business arrangements. Activities subject to these laws also involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of clinical trials, or illegal misappropriation of drug product, which could result in regulatory sanctions or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations, and serious harm to our reputation. In addition, federal procurement laws impose substantial penalties for misconduct in connection with government contracts and require certain contractors to maintain a code of business ethics and conduct. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, monetary fines, possible exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings, and curtailment of our operations, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our operating results.
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Our future growth depends, in part, on our ability to penetrate foreign markets, where we would be subject to additional regulatory burdens and other risks and uncertainties.
Our future profitability will depend, in part, on our ability to commercialize our product candidates in foreign markets for which we intend to rely on collaborations with third parties. If we commercialize XYNGARI™ or our other product candidates in foreign markets, we would be subject to additional risks and uncertainties, including:
| · | our customers’ ability to obtain market access and appropriate reimbursement for our product candidates in foreign markets; |
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| · | our inability to directly control commercial activities because we are relying on third parties; |
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| · | the burden of complying with complex and changing foreign regulatory, tax, accounting and legal requirements; |
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| · | different medical practices and customs in foreign countries affecting acceptance in the marketplace |
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| · | import or export licensing requirements; |
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| · | longer accounts receivable collection times; |
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| · | longer lead times for shipping; |
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| · | language barriers for technical training; |
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| · | reduced protection of intellectual property rights in some foreign countries; |
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| · | foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; and |
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| · | the interpretation of contractual provisions governed by foreign laws in the event of a contract dispute. |
Foreign sales of our product candidates could also be adversely affected by the imposition of governmental controls, political and economic instability, trade restrictions and changes in tariffs, any of which may adversely affect our results of operations.
Development of test methodology for XYNGARI™ presents unique challenges due to the complex mixture of constituents in the product. Determination of appropriate assay(s) for release and quality control evaluations could require significant development time and cost to successfully complete and uncertain.
XYNGARI™ is comprised of both inorganic and organic constituents, and unlike most pharmaceutical products, there is no single active component to characterize for purposes of assay development. In order to release the drug product and test for stability we plan to develop a cell-based bioassay to assess inhibitory effects of XYNGARI™ on pro-inflammatory cytokines known to play a role in the pathogenesis of various skin diseases. While this approach may show activity, it may not be suitable as a quality control release potency assay for XYNGARI™. Furthermore, this technique may not have sufficient sensitivity to be considered stability-indicating and detect small changes or degradation to the product. If we are not able to develop a suitable potency assay utilizing this approach, we may have to identify and develop an alternative bioassay platform or secondary approaches that may require additional orthogonal methodologies to meet our testing requirements. This could be expensive, time consuming and its success uncertain, leading to delays in filing of the NDA.
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Risks Related to Our Dependence on Third Parties
We are dependent on one supplier for the raw material used to produce XYNGARI™ and DMT410. The termination of this contract would result in a disruption to product development and our business will be harmed.
We currently only have one qualified source of supply for the raw material used in XYNGARI™ and DMT410. While we have an exclusive supply agreement with our supplier, our supplier may not comply with the terms of our agreement and may supply to third parties. XYNGARI™ and DMT410 contain a wild growing freshwater sponge that grows in an area of the Volga River delta in Russia that is partially protected by a Russian government entity. The Russian government entity allocates a quantity of freshwater sponge that may be harvested each harvest season and may determine in any year that no sponge or a smaller quantity of sponge than harvested in previous years may be harvested in a particular year, which could impact our ability to obtain raw material to manufacture and supply XYNGARI™ and DMT410. If we have not adequately stockpiled raw materials, or even if we do stockpile raw material, we could not have enough raw material to meet the quantity demands to conduct our non-clinical and clinical studies or to supply product for the market if approved.
The freshwater sponge contained in XYNGARI™ and DMT410 can only be harvested once per year based on the presence of certain environmental conditions. If these environmental conditions are not present during the harvest season, then our supplier may not be able to harvest the raw material required, which could impact our ability to manufacture and supply XYNGARI™ and DMT410. The ability of our supplier to harvest the sponge may also be impacted by severe weather and limit the length of time they can harvest, which could limit the amount of raw material that can be harvested, which may impact our ability to manufacture and supply XYNGARI™ and DMT410. The portion of the Volga River delta where the sponge grows could also become contaminated from pollutants, which could contaminate the sponge to be harvested by our supplier, making it unusable in humans, impacting our ability to manufacture and supply XYNGARI™ and DMT410.
Even if we are able to obtain supply, we and our supplier are exposed to a number of environmental and geopolitical risks, including:
| · | risk of contamination being introduced in the Volga River, thereby polluting the Spongilla lacustris population through environmental factors that we cannot control, which could result in new impurities or reduced supply of raw materials; |
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| · | loss of Spongilla lacustris habitat and other similar environmental risks to the sponge population whether due to climate change, over-development, or otherwise; |
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| · | risk of disease in the Spongilla lacustris geographic area where harvested; |
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| · | risk of trade issues between the U.S. and Russia; |
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| · | restrictions on trade of certain items between the U.S. and Russia; |
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| · | restriction on means of payment with Russian entities; and |
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| · | other unforeseen geopolitical factors that limit our ability access our supply of raw material. |
Restrictions could be imposed on the harvesting of the raw material. Such events could have a significant impact on our cost and ability to produce XYNGARI™ and DMT410 and anticipated line extensions. The country from which we obtain the raw material could change its laws and regulations regarding the export of the natural products or impose or increase taxes or duties payable by exporters of such products. In addition, any business, global or economic challenges our existing supplier faces, whether in the ordinary course of business or not, could impair its ability to supply our needs for raw materials. Accordingly, there is a risk that supplies of our raw materials may be significantly delayed by or may become unavailable as a result of any issues affecting our supply and production of naturally sourced products. In addition, if we need a new or additional suppliers, it may take a substantial amount of time and financial resources to identify any additional supplier(s) who can supply our required raw materials in the quality and quantity required for our pre-clinical and we may not be able to negotiate new agreements with an alternate or new supplier on terms that we deem commercially reasonable or at all, and the failure by us to enter into such agreements could harm our financial condition, business, clinical trials and prospects.
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Our business may be affected by new sanctions, import restrictions, and export controls targeting Russia and other responses to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union governments, among others, have developed coordinated sanctions, import restrictions, and export-control measure packages against Russian individuals and entities. We are currently a party to an exclusive supply agreement for the supply of the Spongilla raw material used in XYNGARI™ and DMT410. The counterparty to this supply agreement is a Russian entity. To date, none of these sanctions, import restrictions, or export-controls have impacted our ability to perform under our supply agreement. However, the imposition of enhanced import restrictions, export controls, or economic sanctions on transactions with Russia or Russian entities by the United States, the United Kingdom, and/or the European Union could make it challenging to process financial transactions in accordance with legal requirements and could prevent us from performing under this existing contract or any future contract we may enter or remitting payment for raw material purchased from our supplier. If there is any limitation or restriction on our ability to make timely and compliant payments to our supplier, our supplier may refuse or delay the delivery of Spongilla raw material which could result in production interruptions, delays in the progress of clinical trials, increased costs to source alternative suppliers, and a material adverse impact on our operations, financial condition, and results of operations. We’ve received multiple shipments of Spongilla raw material from our supplier during fiscal years 2023 and 2024 containing additional quantities of Spongilla raw material which we believe will provide us with sufficient quantities of Spongilla to complete the XYNGARI™ Phase 3 clinical program in moderate-to-severe acne and support filing an NDA for XYNGARI™ in acne in the event of the successful completion of the XYNGARI™ Phase 3 clinical program. Depending on the extent and breadth of new sanctions, import restrictions, or export controls that may be imposed against Russia, otherwise or as a result of the impact of the war in the Ukraine, it is possible that our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
We have in the past relied and expect to continue to rely on third-party CROs and other third parties to conduct and oversee our clinical trials and other aspects of product development. If these third parties do not meet our requirements or otherwise conduct the trials as required, we may not be able to satisfy our contractual obligations or obtain regulatory approval for, or commercialize, our product candidates when expected or at all.
We have in the past relied and expect to continue to rely on third-party CROs to conduct and oversee our clinical trials and other aspects of product development. We also rely upon various medical institutions, clinical investigators and contract laboratories to conduct our trials in accordance with our clinical protocols and all applicable regulatory requirements, including the FDA’s regulations and GCPs, which are an international standard meant to protect the rights and health of patients and to define the roles of clinical trial sponsors, administrators and monitors, and state regulations governing the handling, storage, security and recordkeeping for drug and biologic products. These CROs and other third parties play a significant role in the conduct of these trials and the subsequent collection and analysis of data from the clinical trials. We rely heavily on these parties for the execution of our clinical trials and preclinical studies, and control only certain aspects of their activities. We and our CROs and other third-party contractors are required to comply with GCP, GLP, and GACP requirements, which are regulations and guidelines enforced by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities for products in clinical development. Regulatory authorities enforce these GCP, GLP and GACP requirements through periodic inspections of trial sponsors, principal investigators and trial sites. If we or any of these third parties fail to comply with applicable GCP, GLP and GACP requirements, the clinical data generated in our clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the FDA or other regulatory authority may require us to perform additional clinical trials before approving our or our partners’ marketing applications. We cannot assure you that upon inspection by a given regulatory authority, such regulatory authority will determine that any of our clinical or preclinical trials complies with applicable GCP and GLP requirements. In addition, our clinical trials must generally be conducted with product produced under cGMP regulations. Our failure to comply with these regulations and policies may require us to repeat clinical trials, which would delay the regulatory approval process.
Our CROs are not our employees, and we do not control whether or not they devote sufficient time and resources to our clinical trials. Our CROs may also have relationships with other commercial entities, including our competitors, for whom they may also be conducting clinical trials, or other drug development activities, which could harm our competitive position. We face the risk of potential unauthorized disclosure or misappropriation of our intellectual property by CROs, which may reduce our trade secret protection and allow our potential competitors to access and exploit our proprietary technology. If our CROs do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations, fail to meet expected deadlines, or if the quality or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols or regulatory requirements or for any other reason, our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for, or successfully commercialize any product candidate that we develop. As a result, our financial results and the commercial prospects for any product candidate that we develop would be harmed, our costs could increase, and our ability to generate revenue could be delayed.
If any of our CROs or clinical trial sites terminate their involvement in one of our clinical trials for any reason, we may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative CROs or clinical trial sites, or do so on commercially reasonable terms. In addition, if our relationship with clinical trial sites is terminated, we may experience the loss of follow-up information on patients enrolled in our ongoing clinical trials unless we are able to transfer the care of those patients to another qualified clinical trial site. In addition, principal investigators for our clinical trials may serve as scientific advisors or consultants to us from time to time and could receive cash or equity compensation in connection with such services. If these relationships and any related compensation result in perceived or actual conflicts of interest, the integrity of the data generated at the applicable clinical trial site may be questioned by the FDA
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我們完全依賴第三方承包商爲我們的候選產品供應、製造和分銷臨牀藥品供應,包括某些獨家供應商和製造商,如果我們的任何候選產品獲得監管機構批准,我們打算依靠第三方進行商業供應、製造和分銷,並且我們預計將依靠第三方供應、製造和分銷臨牀前藥物,任何未來候選產品的臨牀和商業供應。
我們目前沒有、也不計劃收購供應、製造或分銷臨牀前、臨牀或商業數量的原料藥或產品的基礎設施或能力。我們開發候選產品的能力取決於我們商業化供應產品的能力將部分取決於我們從第三方成功獲得原材料和原料藥以及候選產品中使用的其他物質和材料的能力,以及由第三方根據監管要求生產成品的能力,並以足夠的數量進行臨牀前和臨牀測試和商業化。如果我們未能與這些第三方建立和維護供應關係,我們可能無法繼續開發或商業化我們的候選產品。
我們依賴並將繼續依賴某個第三方作爲其供應材料或製造成品的唯一來源。我們現有和未來的任何供應商或製造商都可以:
| · | 由於設施或設備或其他意外損壞或破壞,未能及時或按要求數量向我們提供產品; |
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| · | 未能及時或以具有成本效益的方式增加生產能力並以更大數量和更高的產量生產藥品和成分,或根本無法充分滿足我們的臨牀或商業需求; |
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| · | 由於依賴獨家供應商和製造商相關的問題,無法滿足我們的生產需求; |
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| · | 向我們提供不符合監管要求的產品; |
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| · | 因業務中斷或財務破產而無法使用; |
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| · | 失去作爲批准來源的監管地位; |
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| · | 噹噹前供應協議及時、以可接受的條款或根本到期時,無法或不願意續簽此類協議;或 |
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| · | 停止必要的原料藥或產品的生產或製造。 |
在發生上述任何情況時,如果我們沒有替代供應商或製造商,我們將需要花費大量管理時間和費用來識別、鑑定流程並將其轉移給替代供應商或製造商。將技術轉移到其他地點可能需要額外的過程、技術和驗證研究,這些過程、技術和驗證研究成本高昂,可能需要相當長的時間,可能不會成功,而且在大多數情況下,需要FDA的審查和批准。任何尋找和鑑定新供應商或製造商的需求都可能大大推遲我們候選產品的生產,對我們營銷候選產品的能力產生不利影響,並對我們的業務產生不利影響。我們可能無法及時、按可接受的條款或根本無法獲得更換。此外,我們和我們的製造商目前沒有大量的藥物物質和其他材料的庫存。藥物或其他材料的供應或我們候選產品的製造的任何中斷都可能對我們的業務、財務狀況、經營業績和前景產生重大不利影響。
我們無法直接控制我們的合同供應商和製造商是否有能力保持足夠的能力來滿足我們的需求,包括質量控制、質量保證和合格的人員。雖然我們最終負責確保遵守cGMP和GACP等法規要求,但我們依賴我們的合同供應商和製造商在生產原材料、原料藥和成品時每天遵守cGMP或GACP。我們的合同供應商和製造商用於生產用於商業銷售的原料藥和其他物質和材料或成品的設施必須通過檢查,並得到FDA和其他相關監管機構的批准。我們的合同供應商和製造商必須遵守FDA通過其設施檢查計劃和對提交的技術信息進行審查而執行的cGMP和GACP要求。如果任何產品或候選產品或組件的安全因未能遵守適用法律或其他原因而受到損害,我們可能無法成功地將受影響的產品或候選產品商業化或獲得監管部門的批准,並且我們可能要對由此造成的傷害承擔責任。這些因素中的任何一個都可能導致我們候選產品的臨牀前研究、臨牀試驗或監管提交或批准的延遲或終止,並可能導致更高的成本或導致我們無法及時有效地將我們批准的產品商業化,或者根本不能。
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此外,這些合同製造商可能會與其他公司合作,爲此類公司供應和製造材料或產品,這可能會使我們的供應商和製造商面臨生產此類材料和產品的監管風險。因此,未能滿足這些材料和產品生產的監管要求也可能影響合同供應商或製造商設施的監管許可。如果FDA或類似的外國監管機構不批准這些設施供應或製造我們的候選產品,或者如果它在未來撤回批准,我們可能需要尋找替代供應或製造設施,這將對我們開發、獲得監管部門批准或營銷我們的候選產品(如果獲得批准)的能力產生負面影響。
我們對合同製造商和供應商的依賴進一步使我們面臨着這樣的可能性:他們或可以訪問其設施的第三方將訪問並可能盜用我們的商業祕密或其他專有信息。
此外,我們的某些供應商的製造設施,包括我們的供應商 湖海綿, 位於美國境外。由於監管機構批准要求或進口檢查、進口文件不完整或不準確或包裝有缺陷等原因,這可能會導致將我們的產品或候選產品或其零部件進口到美國或其他國家/地區時遇到困難。
如果我們無法建立和維持合作,我們可能不得不改變我們的開發和商業化計劃。
我們候選產品的開發和潛在商業化將需要大量額外的現金來支付費用。爲了進一步開發我們的候選產品,我們可能會與製藥和生物技術公司合作,開發這些候選產品並進行潛在的商業化。我們在尋找合適的合作伙伴方面面臨着激烈的競爭。我們是否就合作達成最終協議將取決於我們對合作夥伴的資源和經驗的評估、擬議合作的條款和條件以及擬議合作伙伴對許多因素的評估。這些因素可能包括臨牀試驗的設計或結果;FDA或其他監管機構批准的可能性;候選研究產品的潛在市場;製造和向患者交付此類候選產品的成本和複雜性;競爭產品的潛力;與我們知識產權所有權有關的任何不確定性;以及一般的行業和市場狀況。合作伙伴還可以考慮替代候選產品或技術,以獲得可能可供協作的類似指示,以及此類協作是否會比與我們合作的協作對我們的候選產品更具吸引力。根據未來的許可協議,我們還可能受到限制,不能與潛在合作伙伴以某些條款簽訂協議。協作的談判和記錄既複雜又耗時。此外,最近大型製藥公司之間的業務合併數量很大,導致未來潛在合作伙伴的數量減少。
Future collaborations we may enter into may involve the following risks:
| · | 合作者在確定他們將應用於這些合作的努力和資源方面可能擁有很大的自由裁量權; |
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| · | 合作者可能未按預期履行其義務; |
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| · | 合作者戰略重點或可用資金的變化,或收購等外部因素的變化可能會轉移資源或產生相互競爭的優先事項; |
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| · | 合作者可能會推遲發現和臨牀前開發,爲我們選擇的目標的產品開發提供足夠的資金,停止或放棄候選產品的發現和臨牀前開發,重複或進行候選產品的新發現和臨牀前開發; |
| · | 合作者可以獨立開發或與第三方開發直接或間接與我們的產品或候選產品競爭的產品,前提是合作者認爲有競爭力的產品比我們的更有可能成功開發; |
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| · | 與我們合作發現的候選產品可能會被我們的合作者視爲與他們自己的候選產品或產品競爭,這可能會導致合作者停止投入資源開發我們的候選產品; |
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| · | 與合作者的分歧,包括在專利權、合同解釋或首選開發過程上的分歧,可能會導致候選產品的發現、臨牀前開發或商業化的延遲或終止,可能會導致我們對候選產品承擔額外的責任,或者可能導致訴訟或仲裁,其中任何一項都將是耗時和昂貴的; |
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| · | 合作者可能無法正確維護或捍衛我們的知識產權或授權給我們的知識產權,或可能以某種方式使用我們的專有信息,從而招致訴訟,從而危及我們的知識產權或專有信息或使我們面臨潛在的訴訟; |
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| · | 合作者可能侵犯第三方的知識產權,這可能使我們面臨訴訟和潛在的責任;以及 |
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| · | 爲了合作者的方便,我們可能會終止合作,如果終止,我們可能需要籌集額外的資金,以進一步開發或商業化適用的候選產品。 |
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合作通常會給各方施加詳細的義務。如果我們違反義務,我們可能會面臨重大後果,包括可能終止合作,並且我們對合作夥伴候選產品的權利(我們投入了大量時間和金錢)將失去。
我們可能無法及時、以可接受的條款或根本無法就合作進行談判。如果我們無法這樣做,我們可能不得不減少候選產品的開發、減少或推遲其開發計劃或我們的一個或多個其他開發計劃、推遲其潛在的商業化或增加我們的支出並自費進行開發或商業化活動。如果我們選擇增加支出來資助自己的開發或商業化活動,我們可能需要獲得額外的資本,而我們可能無法以可接受的條件或根本無法獲得這些資本。如果我們沒有足夠的資金,我們可能無法進一步開發我們的候選產品或將它們推向市場併產生產品收入。
與管理我們的增長、員工和運營相關的風險
未來我們需要進一步擴大組織的規模和複雜性,並且我們在執行增長戰略和管理任何增長時可能會遇到困難。
我們目前的管理、人員、系統和設施不足以支持我們的業務計劃和近期的未來增長。我們需要進一步擴大我們的化學和製造團隊、臨牀團隊、管理、運營、財務和其他資源,以支持我們計劃的研究、開發和商業化活動。
要有效管理我們的運營、增長和各種項目,我們需要:
| · | 繼續改進我們的運營、財務、管理和監管合規控制以及報告系統和程序; |
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| · | 吸引和留住足夠數量的有才華的員工; |
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| · | 發展營銷、銷售和分銷能力; |
| · | 以具有成本效益的方式有效地管理我們候選產品的商業化活動; |
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| · | 建立並維護與開發和商業化合作夥伴的關係; |
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| · | 有效管理我們的臨牀前和臨牀試驗; |
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| · | 以具有成本效益的方式有效管理我們的第三方供應和製造運營,同時將我們當前候選產品的生產能力提高到商業水平;以及 |
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| · | 有效管理我們的開發工作,同時履行我們對合作夥伴和其他第三方的合同義務。 |
此外,從歷史上看,我們一直並將繼續利用兼職外部顧問的服務爲我們執行許多任務,包括與臨牀前和臨牀試驗相關的任務。我們的增長戰略還可能需要擴大我們對顧問的使用,以執行這些任務和未來的其他任務。我們業務的某些職能依賴顧問,需要對這些顧問進行有效管理,以確保他們成功履行合同義務,並在預期期限內完成任務。我們不能保證,我們將能夠管理現有的顧問或找到其他稱職的外部顧問,如有需要,以經濟合理的條件,或根本沒有。如果我們不能通過招聘新員工和擴大使用顧問來有效地管理我們的增長和擴大我們的組織,我們可能無法成功地執行有效執行我們計劃的研究、開發和商業化活動所需的任務,因此可能無法實現我們的研究、開發和商業化目標。
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如果我們未能吸引和留住管理層和其他關鍵人員,我們可能無法繼續成功開發或商業化我們的候選產品或以其他方式實施我們的業務計劃。
我們在競爭激烈的製藥業中競爭的能力取決於我們吸引和留住高素質的管理、科學、醫療、銷售和營銷以及其他人員的能力。我們高度依賴我們的管理和科研人員,包括:首席執行官Gerald T.Proehl、董事會主席總裁、財務長Kyri K.Van Hoose、財務長高級副總裁、首席開發官Christopher J.Nardo萬萬.P.H.博士、MBA博士Maria Bedoya Toro Munera、監管事務和質量保證部門高級副總裁。失去這些個人的服務可能會阻礙、延遲或阻止我們產品線的成功開發、我們計劃的臨牀試驗的完成、我們候選產品的商業化或許可或收購新資產,並可能對我們成功實施業務計劃的能力產生負面影響。如果我們失去其中任何一個人的服務,我們可能無法及時找到合適的替代者,甚至根本無法找到合適的替代者,我們的業務可能會因此受到損害。我們不爲這些個人或我們任何其他員工的生命維持「關鍵人物」保險單。爲了留住我們公司有價值的員工,除了工資和現金獎勵外,我們還提供隨着時間的推移授予的股票期權。隨着時間的推移,股票期權對員工的價值將受到我們股價波動的重大影響,這些波動超出了我們的控制範圍,在任何時候都可能不足以抵消其他公司的報價。
由於生物技術、製藥和其他業務之間對合格人才的激烈競爭,特別是在我們總部所在的聖地亞哥地區,我們未來可能無法吸引或留住合格的管理人員和其他關鍵人員。我們可能很難吸引經驗豐富的人員到我們的公司,並且可能需要在員工招聘和留住工作中花費大量財務資源。與我們競爭合格人才的許多其他製藥公司比我們擁有更多的財務和其他資源、不同的風險狀況以及更長的行業歷史。它們還可能提供更多樣化的機會和更好的職業發展機會。如果我們無法吸引和留住必要的人員來實現我們的業務目標,我們可能會遇到限制,這將損害我們實施業務戰略和實現業務目標的能力。
此外,我們還有科學和臨牀顧問,幫助我們制定開發和臨牀策略。這些顧問不是我們的員工,可能與其他實體有承諾或與其他實體簽訂諮詢或諮詢合同,這可能會限制他們對我們的可用性。此外,我們的顧問可能會與其他公司達成安排,以協助這些公司開發可能與我們競爭的產品或技術。
我們目前的營銷能力有限,也沒有外部銷售組織。如果我們無法自己或通過第三方建立銷售和營銷能力,我們將無法成功將我們的候選產品商業化(如果獲得批准)或產生產品收入。
We currently have limited marketing capabilities and no sales organization. To commercialize our product candidates, if approved, in the United States, Canada, the European Union and other jurisdictions we seek to enter, we must build our marketing, sales, distribution, managerial and other non-technical capabilities or make arrangements with third parties to perform these services, and we may not be successful in doing so. Although our management team has experience in the marketing, sale and distribution of pharmaceutical products from prior employment at other companies, we as a company have no prior experience in the marketing, sale and distribution of pharmaceutical products and there are significant risks involved in building and managing a sales organization, including our ability to hire, retain and incentivize qualified individuals, generate sufficient sales leads, provide adequate training to sales and marketing personnel and effectively manage a geographically dispersed sales and marketing team. Any failure or delay in the development of our internal sales, marketing and distribution capabilities would adversely impact the commercialization of these products. We may choose to collaborate with additional third parties that have direct sales forces and established distribution systems, either to augment our own sales force and distribution systems or in lieu of our own sales force and distribution systems. If we are unable to enter into such arrangements on acceptable terms or at all, we may not be able to successfully commercialize our product candidates. If we are unable to successfully commercialize our product candidates, either on our own or through collaborations with one or more third parties, our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects would suffer.
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我們未能成功許可、收購、開發和營銷額外的候選產品或批准的產品將損害我們發展業務的能力。
我們打算對額外的產品和候選產品進行許可、收購、開發和營銷,並且我們可能會對商業階段的產品進行許可或收購或從事其他戰略交易。由於我們的內部研發能力有限,我們可能依賴製藥公司、學術科學家和其他研究人員向我們出售或許可產品或技術。該戰略的成功部分取決於我們識別和選擇有前途的候選藥品和產品、與其當前所有者談判許可或收購協議以及爲這些安排提供資金的能力。
提出、談判和實施候選產品或已批准產品的許可或收購的過程漫長而複雜。其他公司,包括一些擁有大量財務、營銷、銷售和其他資源的公司,可能會與我們競爭候選產品和批准產品的許可或收購。我們的資源有限,無法識別和執行第三方產品、業務和技術的收購或內授權,並將其集成到我們當前的基礎設施中。此外,我們可能會將資源投入到從未完成的潛在收購或許可機會上,或者我們可能無法實現此類努力的預期好處。我們可能無法以我們認爲可以接受的條款或根本無法獲得其他候選產品的權利。
此外,我們收購的任何候選產品在商業銷售之前可能需要額外的開發工作,包括臨牀前或臨牀測試以及FDA和適用外國監管機構的批准。所有候選產品都容易面臨藥品產品開發典型的失敗風險,包括候選產品沒有被證明足夠安全和有效以獲得監管機構批准的可能性。此外,我們無法保證我們收購的任何批准的產品將能夠盈利地製造或銷售或獲得市場接受。
我們可能考慮的其他潛在交易包括各種不同的業務安排,包括分拆、戰略合作伙伴關係、合資企業、重組、資產剝離、業務合併和投資。任何此類交易可能需要我們承擔非經常性或其他費用,可能會增加我們的近期和長期支出,並可能構成重大的整合挑戰或擾亂我們的管理或業務,這可能會對我們的運營和財務業績產生不利影響。例如,這些交易涉及許多潛在的運營和財務風險,包括:
| · | 未知負債風險; |
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| · | 擾亂我們的業務並轉移我們管理層的時間和注意力來開發收購的產品、候選產品或技術; |
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| · | 發生巨額債務或稀釋性發行股本證券以支付收購費用; |
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| · | 巨額收購和整合成本; |
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| · | 資產減記或減損費用; |
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| · | 攤銷費用增加; |
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| · | 將任何被收購企業的運營和人員與我們的運營和人員結合起來的困難和成本; |
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| · | 由於管理層和所有權的變化,與任何被收購企業的主要供應商、合作伙伴或客戶的關係受到損害;以及 |
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| · | 無法留住我們或任何收購企業的關鍵員工。 |
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因此,無法保證我們將進行或成功完成上述性質的任何交易,並且我們完成的任何交易都可能損害我們的業務、財務狀況、經營業績和前景。
我們候選產品中使用的原料藥以及其他物質和材料的製造和供應是一項複雜且具有技術挑戰性的任務,製造、測試、質量保證和分銷供應鏈的許多環節都有可能出現故障,並且在產品製造和分銷後也有可能出現潛在缺陷。
原料藥、其他物質和材料以及成品的生產和供應在技術上具有挑戰性。超出我們直接控制範圍的變化可能會影響我們候選產品的質量、數量、價格和成功交付,並可能阻礙、延遲、限制或阻止我們候選產品的成功開發和商業化。錯誤和處理不當並不罕見,可能會影響生產和供應的成功。其中一些風險包括:
| · | 我們的製造商在生產或準備交通過程中沒有遵守cGMP或GACP要求或對產品處理不當; |
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| · | 我們的合同供應商和製造商無法有效和經濟有效地增加和保持高產量和批次質量、一致性和穩定性; |
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| · | 我們無法開發FDA批准的生物檢測方法來發佈任何未來的產品; |
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| · | 難以確定最佳的藥物輸送物質和技術、生產和儲存方法以及包裝和交通程序; |
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| · | 交通和進出口風險,特別是考慮到我們供應鏈的全球性; |
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| · | 分析結果延遲或分析技術失敗,這是我們未來產品的質量控制和發佈所依賴的; |
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| · | 自然災害、流行病、勞資糾紛、財務困難、缺乏原材料供應、設施和設備問題或其他形式對我們的合同製造商和供應商的業務運作的干擾;以及 |
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| · | 潛在的缺陷,在產品發佈後可能變得明顯,並可能導致產品召回和銷燬。 |
Any of these factors could result in delays or higher costs in connection with our clinical trials, regulatory submissions, required approvals or commercialization of our product candidates, which could harm our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects.
Our operating results may fluctuate significantly, which makes our future operating results difficult to predict and could cause our operating results to fall below expectations.
Our operations to date have been primarily limited to researching and developing our product candidates and undertaking preclinical studies and clinical trials of our product candidates. We have not yet obtained regulatory approvals for any of our product candidates. Consequently, any predictions you make about our future success or viability may not be as accurate as they could be if we had a longer operating history or approved products on the market. Furthermore, our operating results may fluctuate due to a variety of other factors, many of which are outside of our control and may be difficult to predict, including the following:
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| · | delays in the commencement, enrollment and the timing of clinical testing for our product candidates; |
| · | the timing and success or failure of clinical trials for our product candidates or competing product candidates, or any other change in the competitive landscape of our industry, including consolidation among our competitors or partners; |
| · | any delays in regulatory review and approval of product candidates in clinical development; |
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| · | the timing and cost of, and level of investment in, research and development activities relating to our product candidates, which may change from time to time; |
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| · | the cost of manufacturing our product candidates, which may vary depending on FDA guidelines and requirements, and the quantity of production; |
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| · | our ability to obtain additional funding to develop our product candidates; |
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| · | expenditures that we will or may incur to acquire or develop additional product candidates and technologies; |
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| · | the level of demand for our product candidates, should they receive approval, which may vary significantly; |
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| · | potential side effects of our product candidates that could delay or prevent commercialization or cause an approved drug to be taken off the market; |
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| · | the ability of patients or healthcare providers to obtain coverage of or sufficient reimbursement for our product candidates, if approved; |
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| · | our dependency on third-party manufacturers to supply or manufacture our product candidates; |
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| · | our ability to establish an effective sales, marketing and distribution infrastructure in a timely manner; |
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| · | market acceptance of our product candidates, if approved, and our ability to forecast demand for those product candidates; |
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| · | our ability to receive approval and commercialize our product candidates outside of the United States; |
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| · | our ability to establish and maintain collaborations, licensing or other arrangements; |
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| · | our ability and third parties’ abilities to protect intellectual property rights; |
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| · | costs related to and outcomes of potential litigation or other disputes; |
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| · | our ability to adequately support future growth; |
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| · | our ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage our business effectively; |
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| · | potential liabilities associated with hazardous materials; |
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| · | our ability to maintain adequate insurance policies; and |
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| · | future accounting pronouncements or changes in our accounting policies. |
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Our operating results and liquidity needs could be negatively affected by market fluctuations and economic downturn.
Our operating results and liquidity could be negatively affected by economic conditions generally, both in the United States and elsewhere around the world. The market for discretionary medical products and procedures may be particularly vulnerable to unfavorable economic conditions. Some patients may consider certain of our product candidates to be discretionary, and if full reimbursement for such products is not available, demand for these products may be tied to the discretionary spending levels of our targeted patient populations. Domestic and international equity and debt markets have experienced and may continue to experience heightened volatility and turmoil based on domestic and international economic conditions and concerns. In the event these economic conditions and concerns continue or worsen and the markets continue to remain volatile, our operating results and liquidity could be adversely affected by those factors in many ways, including weakening demand for certain of our products and making it more difficult for us to raise funds if necessary, and our stock price may decline. Additionally, although we plan to market our products primarily in the United States, our partners have extensive global operations, indirectly exposing us to risk.
Our business and operations would suffer in the event of failures in our internal computer systems.
Despite the implementation of security measures, our internal computer systems, and those of our current and any future partners, contractors and consultants are vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. While we have not experienced any such material system failure, accident, or security breach to date, if such an event were to occur and cause interruptions in our operations, it could result in a material disruption of our manufacturing activities, development programs and our business operations. For example, the loss of manufacturing records or clinical trial data from completed or future clinical trials could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. To the extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data or applications, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability and the further commercialization and development of our products and product candidates could be delayed.
We are increasingly dependent on information technology, and our systems and infrastructure face certain risks, including cybersecurity and data leakage risks.
我們的信息技術系統受到嚴重破壞或信息安全遭到破壞,可能會對我們的業務造成不利影響。在正常業務過程中,我們可能會收集、存儲和傳輸機密信息和數據,我們必須以安全的方式這樣做,以維護此類機密信息的機密性和完整性,這一點至關重要。我們的信息技術系統以及與我們簽訂合同的第三方供應商的系統的規模和複雜性,使這些系統可能容易受到服務中斷和安全漏洞的影響,原因可能是我們的員工、合作伙伴或供應商的疏忽或故意行爲,惡意第三方的攻擊,或者我們或第三方維護的系統基礎設施的故意或意外物理損壞。對這些機密、專有或商業祕密信息保密對我們的競爭業務地位非常重要。雖然我們已採取措施保護此類信息並投資於信息技術,但不能保證我們的努力將防止我們系統中的服務中斷或安全漏洞,或可能對我們的業務運營產生不利影響或導致關鍵或敏感信息丟失、傳播或誤用的未經授權或無意的錯誤使用或披露機密信息。違反我們的安全措施或意外丟失、無意中披露、未經批准的傳播、挪用或濫用商業祕密、專有信息或其他機密信息,無論是由於盜竊、黑客攻擊、欺詐、欺騙或其他形式的欺騙或任何其他原因,都可能使其他公司生產競爭產品、使用我們的專有技術或信息,或對我們的業務或財務狀況產生不利影響。此外,任何此類中斷、安全漏洞、機密信息的丟失或披露都可能對我們造成財務、法律、業務和聲譽損害,並可能對我們的業務、財務狀況、運營結果或現金流產生重大不利影響。
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與我們的知識產權相關的風險
我們可能無法獲得或執行涵蓋我們的候選產品和技術的專利權或其他知識產權,這些技術的廣度足以防止第三方與我們競爭。
我們在候選產品和技術方面的成功將部分取決於我們在美國和其他國家獲得和維持專利保護、保護我們的商業祕密並防止第三方侵犯我們的專有權的能力。我們保護我們的任何候選產品免受第三方未經授權或侵權使用的能力在很大程度上取決於我們獲得和維護有效且可執行的專利或執行保密合同的能力。
我們的專利包括在美國和外國司法管轄區的許可專利和專利申請,我們認爲我們的產品存在市場機會。覆蓋的技術和覆蓋範圍因國家而異。對於那些我們沒有授予專利的國家/地區,我們可能沒有任何能力防止未經授權使用我們的技術。我們可能獲得的任何專利範圍可能很窄,因此很容易被競爭對手規避。此外,在我們尚未授予專利的國家/地區,第三方可能能夠製造、使用或銷售與我們的候選產品相同或基本相似的產品。
專利申請程序,也稱爲專利起訴,既昂貴又耗時,我們和我們目前或未來的許可人和被許可人可能無法以合理的成本或及時地準備、提交和起訴所有必要或可取的專利申請。我們或我們目前的許可人,或任何未來的許可人或被許可人,也有可能在獲得專利保護之前,無法識別在開發和商業化活動過程中作出的發明的可申請專利的方面。因此,不得以符合我們業務最佳利益的方式起訴和強制執行這些以及我們的任何專利和申請。我們的專利或專利申請的準備或提交過程中可能存在形式上的缺陷,或在未來可能會出現這些缺陷,例如在適當的優先權要求、發明權、權利要求範圍或專利期限調整方面。如果我們當前的許可人或任何未來的許可人或被許可人在起訴、維護或執行任何專利權方面與我們不完全合作或不同意,此類專利權可能會受到損害,我們可能無法阻止第三方製造、使用和銷售競爭產品。如果我們的專利或專利申請的形式或準備過程中存在重大缺陷,該等專利或申請可能無效且無法強制執行。此外,我們的競爭對手可以自主開發同等的知識、方法和訣竅。這些結果中的任何一個都可能削弱我們阻止來自第三方的競爭的能力,這可能會對我們的業務、財務狀況和經營業績產生不利影響。
由於涉及藥物發明的專利的可專利性、有效性、可執行性和權利要求範圍的法律標準,我們獲得、維護和執行專利的能力是不確定的,涉及複雜的法律和事實問題。因此,任何現有專利或我們可能獲得或許可的任何專利下的權利可能不涵蓋我們的候選產品,或者可能不能爲我們的候選產品提供足夠的保護,使我們能夠在競爭產品或工藝(包括品牌和仿製藥公司的競爭產品或工藝)的競爭中獲得商業優勢。此外,我們不能保證我們擁有或授權給我們的任何未決或未來的專利申請將頒發任何專利。即使專利已經或將會發佈,我們也不能保證這些專利的主張是或將被法院認定爲有效或可強制執行的,或將爲我們提供針對競爭產品的任何重大保護,或對我們具有商業價值。
皮膚病治療領域的競爭對手已經創造了大量的現有技術,包括科學出版物、專利和專利申請。我們是否有能力獲得並保持有效和可強制執行的專利,取決於我們的技術與現有技術之間的差異是否允許我們的技術比現有技術獲得專利。儘管我們相信我們的技術包括某些獨一無二的發明,並且不能複製任何現有技術,但我們並沒有涵蓋我們技術的所有最新發展的未完成的已頒發專利,我們也不確定我們將成功獲得的專利保護(如果有的話)。即使專利確實成功發佈,第三方也可能繞過或質疑此類已發佈專利或我們擁有或許可的任何其他已發佈專利的有效性、可執行性或範圍,這可能會導致此類專利被縮小、無效或無法執行。如果我們持有或追求的專利對我們的候選產品提供的保護的廣度或強度受到挑戰,可能會阻止公司與我們合作開發我們的候選產品,或者威脅到我們將候選產品商業化的能力。
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一些外國司法管轄區的法律規定的知識產權程度不如美國,許多公司在外國司法管轄區保護和捍衛此類權利時遇到了重大困難。如果我們在外國司法管轄區在保護知識產權方面遇到此類困難或無法有效保護我們的知識產權,我們的業務前景可能會受到嚴重損害。製藥和生物技術公司的專利地位可能高度不確定,涉及複雜的法律和事實問題,而重要的法律原則仍未解決。美國和其他國家專利法或專利法解釋的變化可能會降低我們知識產權的價值。因此,我們無法預測我們的專利或第三方專利中可能允許或執行的主張的廣度。
未來對我們所有權的保護程度尚不確定。在某些情況下,專利保護可能無法獲得或受到嚴重限制,並且可能無法充分保護我們的權利或允許我們獲得或保持競爭優勢。例如:
| · | 我們可能不是第一個發明的人,也不是第一個提交我們每項待審專利申請和已頒發專利所涵蓋的發明的人; |
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| · | 其他人可以獨立開發類似或替代技術或複製我們的任何技術; |
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| · | 他人的專利可能會對我們的業務產生不利影響; |
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| · | 我們獲得的任何專利或我們的許可人頒發的專利可能不涵蓋商業上可行的產品,可能不會爲我們提供任何競爭優勢或可能受到第三方的挑戰; |
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| · | 我們在正在授權的已發佈專利上獲得的任何專利可能無效或不可執行;以及 |
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| · | 我們可能不會開發額外的可申請專利的專有技術。 |
專利的壽命有限。在美國,專利的自然到期通常爲自其最早的非臨時優先權申請提交日起20年。可以提供各種擴展;但是,專利的有效期及其提供的保護是有限的。如果我們的候選產品沒有專利保護,我們可能會面臨來自候選產品仿製版本的競爭。此外,候選產品的專利申請和監管機構批准之間的漫長時間限制了我們在專利保護下營銷候選產品的時間,這可能特別影響我們早期候選產品的盈利能力。與XYNGARI™相關的已授權美國專利已於2022年和2023年到期,或者我們已放棄,並且如果在專利到期後獲得批准,將沒有資格獲得專利期限延長。
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專有的商業祕密和非專利的專有技術對我們的業務也非常重要。儘管我們已採取措施,通過與第三方簽訂保密協議,以及與某些員工、顧問和顧問簽訂知識產權保護協議,來保護我們的商業祕密和非專利專有技術,但第三方仍可能獲得這些信息,或者我們可能無法保護我們的權利。我們對我們的供應商、製造商和其他第三方使用的商業祕密的保護也有有限的控制。我們不能保證不會違反有約束力的協議,不能保證我們對任何違規行爲有足夠的補救措施,也不能保證我們的商業祕密和非專利技術不會被我們的競爭對手知道或獨立發現。如果商業祕密被獨立發現,我們將無法阻止它們的使用。強制要求第三方非法獲取並使用我們的商業祕密或非專利專有技術是昂貴和耗時的,結果是不可預測的。此外,美國以外的法院可能不太願意保護商業祕密信息。
最近的專利改革立法可能會增加我們專利申請起訴以及未來專利的執行或辯護的不確定性和成本。
我們獲得專利的能力高度不確定,因爲迄今爲止,一些法律原則仍未得到解決,對於美國專利所允許的權利要求的廣度或解釋沒有一致的政策,並且支持和解釋專利權利要求所需的專利和專利申請的具體內容高度不確定,由於相關法律、科學、和事實問題。美國和其他國家專利法或專利法解釋的變化可能會降低我們知識產權的價值或縮小我們專利保護的範圍。
例如,2011年9月16日,《萊希-史密斯美國發明法》或《萊希-史密斯法案》簽署成爲法律。《萊希-史密斯法案》對美國專利法進行了多項重大修改。這些條款包括影響專利申請起訴方式的條款,也可能影響專利訴訟。美國專利商標局(USPTO)制定了新的、未經檢驗的法規和程序,以規範《萊希-史密斯法案》的全面實施,與《萊希-史密斯法案》相關的專利法的許多實質性修改,尤其是第一個提交條款的修改,直到2013年3月才生效。Leahy-Smith法案還引入了一些程序,使第三方更容易挑戰已頒發的專利,以及干預專利申請的起訴。最後,《萊希-史密斯法案》包含新的法定條款,要求美國專利商標局爲其實施發佈新的法規,法院可能需要數年時間來解釋新法規的條款。現在判斷Leahy-Smith法案將對我們的業務運營以及我們的知識產權的保護和執行產生什麼影響還爲時過早。然而,Leahy-Smith法案及其實施可能會增加圍繞我們專利申請的起訴以及我們未來專利的執行或保護的不確定性和成本。此外,美國最高法院近年來對幾起專利案件做出了裁決,要麼縮小了某些情況下可用的專利保護範圍,要麼在某些情況下削弱了專利所有者的權利。除了關於我們未來獲得專利的能力的不確定性增加之外,這種事件的結合也造成了關於一旦獲得專利的價值的不確定性。根據美國國會、聯邦法院和美國專利商標局的行動,管理專利的法律和法規可能會以不可預測的方式發生變化,從而削弱我們獲得新專利或實施我們擁有或許可或未來可能獲得的專利的能力。無法獲得、執行和保護涵蓋我們專有技術的專利將對我們的業務前景和財務狀況產生實質性的不利影響。
同樣,其他國家或司法管轄區專利法律和法規的變化,或執行它們的政府機構的變化,或相關政府當局執行專利法律或法規的方式的變化,可能會削弱我們獲得新專利或執行我們未來可能獲得的專利的能力。此外,一些外國的法律對專有權的保護程度或方式與美國的法律不同。因此,我們可能會在保護和捍衛我們的知識產權方面遇到重大問題,無論是在美國還是國外。例如,如果在特定國家向我們頒發了涵蓋一項發明的專利,而不是在其他國家頒發了涵蓋同一發明的專利,或者如果對在一個國家頒發的專利的有效性、可執行性或範圍、或在一個國家頒發的專利的書面描述或授權的任何司法解釋與對另一個國家頒發的相應專利的解釋不同,我們在這些國家保護我們知識產權的能力可能會受到限制。美國和其他國家專利法或專利法解釋的變化可能會極大地降低我們知識產權的價值或縮小我們專利保護的範圍。
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我們可能無法在世界各地保護我們的知識產權。
在世界所有國家對我們候選產品的專利進行歸檔、起訴和捍衛,成本將高得令人望而卻步。某些國家,尤其是發展中國家,對可專利性的要求可能有所不同。此外,一些國外的法律對知識產權的保護程度不如美國法律。因此,我們可能無法阻止第三方在美國以外的所有國家/地區實踐我們的發明。競爭對手可能會在我們尚未獲得專利保護的司法管轄區使用我們的技術來開發自己的產品,並且可能會向我們享有專利保護的地區出口侵權產品,但對侵權活動的執法力度不夠。這些產品可能會與我們的產品競爭,我們的專利或其他知識產權可能不有效或不足以阻止它們競爭。
許多公司在外國司法管轄區保護和捍衛知識產權方面遇到了重大問題。某些國家的法律制度,特別是某些發展中國家的法律制度,不贊成強制執行專利和其他知識產權保護,特別是與藥品有關的專利保護,這可能使我們難以阻止侵犯我們的專利或以侵犯我們的專有權的方式銷售競爭產品。在外國司法管轄區強制執行我們的專利權的訴訟程序可能會導致巨額成本,並將我們的努力和注意力從我們業務的其他方面轉移出去,可能會使我們的專利面臨被無效或狹義解釋的風險,可能會使我們的專利申請面臨無法發佈的風險,並可能引發第三方對我們提出索賠。我們可能不會在我們發起的任何訴訟中獲勝,而且所判給的損害賠償或其他補救措施(如果有的話)可能沒有商業意義。此外,歐洲某些國家和某些發展中國家有強制許可法,根據這些法律,專利權人可能被強制向第三方授予許可。在這些國家,如果我們的專利被侵犯,或者如果我們被迫將我們的專利授權給第三方,我們可能會獲得有限的補救措施,這可能會大幅降低這些專利的價值。這可能會限制我們潛在的收入機會。因此,我們在世界各地執行我們的知識產權的努力可能不足以從我們擁有或許可的知識產權中獲得顯著的商業優勢。最後,我們保護和執行知識產權的能力可能會受到外國知識產權法意外變化的不利影響。
獲得和維持我們的專利保護取決於遵守政府專利機構施加的各種程序、文件提交、費用支付和其他要求,如果不遵守這些要求,我們的專利保護可能會減少或取消。
任何已頒發專利的定期維護費和年金費應在專利有效期內分幾個階段支付給美國專利商標局和外國專利代理機構。美國專利商標局和各種外國政府專利機構要求在專利申請過程中遵守一些程序、文件、費用支付和其他類似規定。雖然在許多情況下,可以根據適用規則通過支付滯納金或通過其他方式糾正疏忽失效,但在某些情況下,不遵守規定可能導致專利或專利申請被放棄或失效,從而導致相關法域的專利權部分或全部喪失。可能導致專利或專利申請被放棄或失效的不遵守規定的事件包括未能在規定的時限內對官方行動做出回應、未支付費用以及未能適當地使其合法化並提交正式文件。如果我們或我們的許可方未能維護涵蓋我們候選產品的專利和專利申請,我們的競爭對手可能能夠進入市場,這將對我們的業務產生不利影響。
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近年來,歐洲法律的複雜性和不確定性有所增加。
在歐洲,新的單一專利制度於2023年6月1日啓動,這對歐洲專利產生了顯着影響,包括引入該制度之前授予的專利。在統一專利制度下,歐洲申請現在可以在授予專利後選擇成爲統一專利,並受統一專利法院(UPC)管轄。由於UPC是一個新的法院系統,法院沒有先例,增加了訴訟的不確定性。在UPC實施之前授予的專利可以選擇退出UPC的管轄並繼續作爲UPC國家的國家專利。仍在UPC管轄下的專利可能會受到基於UPC的單一撤銷挑戰的影響,如果成功,該挑戰可能會在所有UPC簽署國無效。我們無法確定地預測任何潛在變化的長期影響。
如果我們未能遵守知識產權許可協議項下的義務,我們可能會失去對我們的業務重要的許可權。
我們是某些許可協議的一方,這些協議對我們施加了各種盡職調查、里程碑、版稅、保險和其他義務。如果我們未能遵守這些義務,相應的許可方可能有權終止許可,在這種情況下我們可能無法開發或營銷受影響的候選產品。失去該等權利可能會對我們的業務、財務狀況、經營業績和前景產生重大不利影響。有關這些許可安排的更多信息,請參閱「業務材料協議」。
如果我們因侵犯第三方知識產權而被起訴,成本高昂且耗時,訴訟結果不利可能會對我們的業務產生重大不利影響。
我們的商業成功取決於我們開發、製造、營銷和銷售我們的候選產品以及使用我們的專有技術而不侵犯第三方專有權利的能力。我們不能保證營銷和銷售此類候選產品和使用此類技術不會侵犯現有或未來的專利。在與我們的候選產品相關的領域中,存在着大量的美國和外國頒發的專利以及由第三方擁有的未決專利申請。隨着生物技術和製藥行業的擴張和專利的頒發,其他公司可能會聲稱我們的候選產品、技術或交付或使用方法侵犯了他們的專利權,這一風險增加了。此外,包括我們在內的行業參與者並不總是清楚哪些專利涵蓋各種藥物、生物製品、藥物輸送系統或它們的使用方法,以及這些專利中的哪些可能是有效和可強制執行的。因此,由於在我們的領域中頒發的專利和提交的專利申請數量衆多,第三方可能會聲稱他們擁有包含我們候選產品、技術或方法的專利權。
此外,我們的候選產品或專有技術可能會向被侵權或被指控侵權的第三方頒發專利。由於在美國的一些專利申請可能在專利頒發之前被保密,因爲美國和許多外國司法管轄區的專利申請通常在提交後18個月才公佈,而且科學文獻中的出版物往往落後於實際發現,所以我們不能確定其他人沒有就我們自己的和授權內已頒發的專利或我們正在審理的申請所涵蓋的技術提交專利申請。我們的競爭對手可能已經提交了專利申請,並可能在未來提交,涵蓋我們的候選產品或類似於我們的技術。任何此類專利申請可能優先於我們自己的和授權內的專利申請或專利,這可能進一步要求我們獲得涵蓋此類技術的已頒發專利的權利。如果另一方已就與我們擁有或授權給我們的發明類似的發明提交了美國專利申請,則我們或在許可技術的情況下,許可人可能必須在美國參與干擾程序,以確定發明的優先權。
我們可能會面臨或受到擁有專利或其他知識產權的第三方未來訴訟的威脅,指控我們的候選產品或專有技術侵犯了此類第三方的知識產權,包括根據《哈奇-韋克斯曼法案》第四條提起訴訟而引發的訴訟。這些訴訟可能聲稱此類藥物存在現有專利權,並且此類訴訟可能成本高昂,可能會對我們的經營業績產生不利影響,並轉移管理和技術人員的注意力,即使我們沒有侵犯此類專利或針對我們的專利最終被確定爲無效。法院可能會裁定我們侵犯第三方的專利並命令我們停止專利涵蓋的活動。此外,法院還存在因侵犯對方專利而命令我們向對方支付損害賠償的風險。
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由於專利侵權索賠,或爲了避免潛在的索賠,我們可能會選擇或被要求向第三方尋求許可。這些許可證可能無法以商業上可接受的條款提供,或者根本無法提供。即使我們能夠獲得許可,該許可也可能要求我們支付許可費或特許權使用費或兩者兼而有之,並且授予我們的權利可能是非排他性的,這可能會導致我們的競爭對手獲得相同的知識產權,或者此類權利可能具有限制性並限制我們現在和未來的活動。最終,如果由於實際或威脅的專利侵權索賠,我們無法以可接受的條款獲得許可,我們或被許可人可能會被阻止將產品商業化或被迫停止我們業務運營的某些方面。
除了針對我們的可能侵權索賠外,我們還可能成爲其他專利訴訟和其他程序的一方,包括USPTO宣佈或授予的干擾、衍生、重新審查或其他授權後程序,以及外國的類似程序,涉及我們當前或其他產品的知識產權。
生物技術和製藥行業普遍存在大量涉及專利和其他知識產權的訴訟。迄今爲止,尚未對我們提起任何聲稱侵權索賠的訴訟。如果第三方聲稱我們侵犯了其知識產權,我們可能會面臨許多問題,包括:
| · | 侵權和其他知識產權索賠,無論案情如何,提起訴訟可能既昂貴又耗時,並可能轉移我們管理層對核心業務的注意力; |
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| · | 侵權的實質性損害賠償,如果法院裁定爭議產品或技術侵犯或侵犯第三方的權利,我們可能不得不支付,如果法院發現侵權是故意的,我們可能被勒令支付三倍的損害賠償金和專利權人的律師費; |
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| · | 法院禁止我們銷售或許可產品或使用技術,除非第三方將其知識產權許可給我們,而第三方並不需要這樣做; |
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| · | 如果可從第三方獲得許可,我們可能需要爲我們的產品或技術支付大量使用費或預付費用,或授予知識產權交叉許可;以及 |
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| · | 重新設計我們的產品或流程,使其不會侵權,這可能是不可能的,或者可能需要大量的金錢支出和時間。 |
我們的一些競爭對手可能比我們更有效地承擔複雜專利訴訟的成本,因爲他們擁有更多的資源。此外,任何訴訟的發起和持續產生的任何不確定性都可能損害我們籌集額外資金的能力,或對我們的業務、財務狀況、經營業績和前景產生不利影響。
由於我們依賴某些第三方許可方和合作夥伴,並且未來將繼續這樣做,如果我們的一位許可方或合作伙伴因侵犯第三方知識產權而被起訴,我們的業務、財務狀況、經營業績和前景可能會受到同樣的影響,就像我們被直接起訴一樣。除了面臨訴訟風險外,我們還同意就我們的專有技術引起的侵權索賠向某些第三方許可人和合作夥伴進行賠償,我們已經或可能會進入成本-與我們的一些許可方和合作夥伴共享協議,可能要求我們支付針對這些第三方提起的專利訴訟的部分費用,無論涉嫌的侵權是否由我們的專有權引起技術.在某些情況下,這些成本分擔協議還可能要求我們承擔比僅根據我們的技術承擔更大的侵權損害賠償責任。
上述任何情況的發生可能會對我們的業務、財務狀況或經營業績產生不利影響。
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我們可能會捲入訴訟以保護或執行我們的專利或其他知識產權或我們許可人的專利,這可能會昂貴且耗時。
競爭對手可能會侵犯我們的知識產權,包括我們的專利或我們許可方的專利。因此,我們可能會被要求提出侵權索賠,以阻止第三方侵權或未經授權的使用。這可能既昂貴又耗時,特別是對我們這樣規模的公司來說。此外,在侵權訴訟中,法院可以裁定我們的專利無效或不可強制執行,或者可以以我們的專利主張不包括其技術或未滿足對侵權者授予禁令所需的因素爲理由,拒絕阻止另一方使用所涉技術。對任何訴訟或其他程序的不利裁決可能會使我們的一項或多項專利面臨被無效、狹義解釋或修改的風險,使其不涵蓋我們的候選產品。此外,這種不利的裁決可能會使我們的專利申請面臨不發佈的風險,或者發佈的範圍有限且可能不足以涵蓋我們的候選產品或阻止其他公司銷售類似產品。
爲了確定與我們或我們的許可人或潛在合作伙伴的專利申請相關的發明的優先權或可專利性,可能需要向USPTO提起干擾、衍生或其他訴訟。我們提起的訴訟或USPTO程序可能會失敗或可能被第三方援引針對我們。即使我們成功,國內或國外訴訟或USPTO或外國專利局訴訟也可能會給我們的管理帶來巨額成本和干擾。我們可能無法單獨或與我們的許可人或潛在合作伙伴一起防止挪用我們的專有權,特別是在法律可能不像美國那樣充分保護此類權利的國家/地區。
此外,由於與知識產權訴訟或其他程序相關需要大量發現,因此我們的一些機密信息存在在此類訴訟或其他程序期間可能因披露而受到損害的風險。此外,在此類訴訟或訴訟過程中,可能會公開宣佈聽證會、動議或其他臨時訴訟或事態發展的結果或公衆獲取相關文件。如果投資者認爲這些結果爲負面,我們普通股或股票的市場價格可能會受到嚴重損害。
我們對第三方的依賴要求我們分享我們的商業祕密,這增加了我們的商業祕密被挪用或披露的可能性,而且與員工和第三方的保密協議可能無法充分防止商業祕密的泄露並保護其他專有信息。
我們認爲專有商業祕密或機密專有技術和非專利專有技術對我們的業務很重要。我們可能會依賴商業祕密或機密知識來保護我們的技術,特別是當我們認爲專利保護價值有限時。
爲了保護此類信息不被競爭對手披露或竊取,我們的政策是要求我們的員工、顧問、合作者、承包商和顧問在開始研究或披露專有信息之前與我們簽訂保密協議以及材料轉讓協議、諮詢協議或其他類似協議(如果適用)。這些協議通常限制第三方使用或披露我們的機密信息的權利,包括我們的商業祕密。然而,現任或前任員工、顧問、合作者、承包商和顧問可能無意或故意向競爭對手披露我們的機密信息,保密協議可能無法在未經授權披露機密信息的情況下提供足夠的補救措施。分享商業祕密和其他機密信息的需要增加了此類商業祕密被我們的競爭對手知曉、被無意中納入其他人的技術中、或被披露或違反這些協議使用的風險。鑑於我們的專有地位在一定程度上基於我們的專有技術和商業祕密,競爭對手發現我們的商業祕密或其他未經授權的使用或披露將損害我們的競爭地位,並可能對我們的業務和運營結果產生不利影響。強制要求第三方非法獲得並使用商業祕密或機密技術是昂貴、耗時和不可預測的。保密協議的可執行性因管轄區不同而不同。
此外,這些協議通常限制我們的員工、顧問、合作者、承包商和顧問發佈可能與我們商業祕密相關的數據的能力,儘管我們的協議可能包含某些有限的發佈權。儘管我們努力保護我們的商業祕密,但我們的競爭對手可能會通過違反我們與第三方的協議、獨立開發或任何第三方合作者發佈信息來發現我們的商業祕密。競爭對手發現我們的商業祕密將損害我們的競爭地位並對我們的業務產生不利影響。
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我們可能會被指控我們的員工、顧問或獨立承包商錯誤地使用或向我們披露其前僱主或其前或當前客戶的所謂商業祕密。
就像在生物技術和製藥行業中常見的那樣,我們的某些員工以前受僱於其他生物技術或製藥公司,包括我們的競爭對手或潛在競爭對手。此外,我們聘請顧問幫助我們開發我們的產品和候選產品,他們中的許多人以前受僱於或可能曾經或正在爲其他生物技術或製藥公司提供諮詢服務,包括我們的競爭對手或潛在競爭對手。我們可能會受到指控,稱這些員工和顧問或我們無意或以其他方式使用或泄露了他們的前僱主或他們的前或現在客戶的商業祕密或其他專有信息。雖然到目前爲止,我們並不知道有任何這類索償個案,但如果出現這類索償個案,可能需要進行訴訟以抗辯任何這類索償個案。即使我們成功地對抗了任何此類索賠,任何此類訴訟都可能曠日持久、代價高昂,分散我們管理團隊的注意力,不被投資者和其他第三方看好,並可能導致不利的結果。
如果我們的專利期限在我們的產品獲得批准之前或之後不久到期,或者仿製藥或生物仿製藥的製造商成功挑戰我們的專利,我們的業務可能會受到重大損害。
專利的有效期是有限的。在美國,如果及時支付所有維護費,專利的自然到期通常爲自其最早的美國非臨時申請日起20年。可能有各種擴展,但專利的有效期及其提供的保護是有限的。即使獲得了涵蓋我們的候選產品、其製造或使用的專利,一旦專利有效期到期,我們也可能會接受競爭藥物(包括仿製藥或生物仿製藥)的競爭。
根據FDA批准我們的候選產品上市的時間、期限和條件,我們的一項或多項美國專利可能有資格根據1984年的《藥品價格競爭和專利期限恢復法》(簡稱Hatch-Waxman Act)和歐盟的類似立法獲得有限的專利期延長。《哈奇-瓦克斯曼法案》允許涵蓋經批准產品的專利最多延長五年,作爲對產品開發和FDA監管審查過程中失去的有效專利期的補償。專利期延長不得超過自產品批准之日起14年的剩餘專利期,且只能延長一項適用於經批准的藥物的專利。然而,如果我們未能在適用的最後期限內提出申請、未能在相關專利到期前提出申請或未能滿足適用的要求,我們可能不會獲得延期。此外,延期的長度可能比我們要求的要短。如果我們無法獲得專利期限的延長,或者任何此類延長的期限比我們要求的要短,我們可以對該產品行使專利權的期限將會縮短,我們的競爭對手可能會比我們預期的更早獲得上市競爭產品的批准。此外,我們在任何專利期延展期內排除的權利的範圍可能是有限的,也可能不包括競爭對手的產品或產品使用。因此,我們來自適用產品的收入可能會減少,可能會大幅減少。
鑑於新藥的開發、測試和監管審查所需的時間,保護此類候選藥物的專利可能會在此類候選藥物商業化之前或之後不久到期。因此,我們的專利和專利申請可能無法爲我們提供足夠的權利來排除其他人將與我們類似或相同的產品商業化。上述任何情況都可能對我們的競爭地位、業務、財務狀況、運營業績和前景產生重大不利影響。
仿製藥或生物類似藥的製造商可能會在法庭或專利局對我們專利的範圍、有效性或可執行性提出質疑,我們可能無法成功執行或捍衛這些知識產權,因此可能無法獨家開發或營銷相關產品,這將對該產品的任何潛在銷售產生重大不利影響。當我們已頒發的專利或可能因我們待決的專利申請而頒發的專利到期時,我們將無法針對潛在競爭對手主張此類專利權,我們的業務和經營業績可能會受到不利影響。
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如果我們的商標和商品名稱沒有得到充分保護,那麼我們可能無法在我們感興趣的市場中建立知名度,我們的業務可能會受到不利影響。
我們的未註冊商標或商號可能會受到挑戰、侵犯、規避、或宣佈爲通用商標,或被認定爲侵犯了其他商標。我們可能無法保護我們對這些商標和商品名稱的權利,我們需要這些權利來在我們感興趣的市場中的潛在合作者或客戶中建立知名度。有時,競爭對手可能會採用與我們類似的商品名稱或商標,從而阻礙我們建立品牌標識的能力,並可能導致市場混亂。此外,其他註冊商標或商標的所有者可能會提起商號或商標侵權索賠,這些商標或商標包含我們的未註冊商標或商號的變體。從長遠來看,如果我們不能成功註冊我們的商標和商號,並根據我們的商標和商號建立名稱認可,那麼我們可能無法有效競爭,我們的業務可能會受到不利影響。我們執行或保護與商標、商業祕密、域名、版權或其他知識產權相關的專有權的努力可能無效,並可能導致大量成本和資源轉移,並可能對我們的財務狀況或運營結果產生不利影響。
我們的專有信息可能會丟失,或者我們可能會遭受安全漏洞。
在我們的正常業務過程中,我們在我們的數據中心和網絡中收集和存儲敏感數據,包括知識產權、臨牀試驗數據、專有業務信息、個人數據以及臨牀試驗受試者和員工的個人身份信息。這些信息的安全處理、維護和傳輸對我們的行動至關重要。儘管我們採取了安全措施,但我們的信息技術和基礎設施可能容易受到黑客的攻擊,或者由於員工錯誤、瀆職或其他中斷而被攻破。儘管據我們所知,到目前爲止,我們還沒有經歷過任何這樣的重大安全漏洞,但任何此類漏洞都可能危及我們的網絡,那裏存儲的信息可能被訪問、公開披露、丟失或被竊取。任何此類信息的訪問、披露或其他丟失可能導致法律索賠或訴訟、保護個人信息隱私的法律責任、重大監管處罰、擾亂我們的運營、損害我們的聲譽並導致人們對我們和我們進行臨牀試驗的能力失去信心,這可能會對我們的聲譽造成不利影響,並推遲我們候選產品的臨牀開發。
與證券市場以及普通股和憑證所有權相關的風險
我們的普通股和憑證的市場價格一直波動,並且可能大幅波動,這可能會導致我們證券持有人遭受重大損失。
我們的普通股和股票的市場價格一直高度波動。我們的普通股和股票的市場價格可能波動,並因以下因素而大幅波動:
| · | 季度或年度經營業績的實際或預期波動; |
| · | 我們的企業成就步伐或相對於競爭對手的增長率的實際或預期變化; |
| · | 未能達到或超過投資界或我們向公衆提供的財務估計和預測; |
| · | 證券分析師發佈新的或更新的研究或報告; |
| · | 由於我們的普通股或憑證交易量水平不一致而導致的股價和成交量波動; |
| · | 關鍵管理人員或其他人員的增減; |
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| · | 與專有權相關的糾紛或其他發展,包括專利、訴訟事項以及我們爲我們的技術獲得專利保護的能力; |
| · | 宣佈或預期額外債務或股權融資; |
| · | 我們、我們的內部人士或我們的其他股東出售我們的普通股或股票;以及 |
| · | 美國或其他地方的一般經濟、市場或政治狀況。 |
特別是,像我們這樣的臨牀階段公司的市場價格由於以下因素而高度波動,包括但不限於:
| · | 我們候選產品的臨牀試驗出現任何延遲或失敗,或獲得FDA和其他監管機構的批准; |
| · | 有關我們候選產品知識產權的發展或爭議; |
| · | 我們或我們競爭對手的技術創新; |
| · | 投資者認爲與我們相當的公司的估值波動; |
| · | 我們或我們的競爭對手宣佈重大合同、收購、戰略合作伙伴關係、合資企業、資本承諾、新技術或專利; |
| · | 未能完成重大交易或與供應商合作製造我們的產品;以及 |
| · | 對醫療價格進行限制的立法提案。 |
這些以及其他市場和行業因素可能會導致我們普通股和認股權證的市場價格和需求大幅波動,無論我們的實際經營業績如何,這可能會限制或阻止投資者出售其普通股或認股權證的股份,否則可能會對我們普通股和認股權證的流動性產生負面影響。此外,整個股市,尤其是納斯達克資本市場和新興成長型公司,都經歷了極端的價格和成交量波動,這些波動往往與這些公司的經營業績無關或不成比例。過去,當一種證券的市場價格波動時,該證券的持有者會對發行該證券的公司提起證券集體訴訟。如果我們的任何股東對我們提起訴訟,我們可能會產生巨額訴訟辯護費用。這樣的訴訟也可能轉移我們管理層的時間和注意力。
我們的許可證可能沒有任何價值。
無法保證我們普通股的市場價格將等於或超過我們未發行股票的行使價。如果我們的普通股價格在可行使期間不超過該等證的行使價,則該等證可能不具有任何價值。
在持有人對我們的普通股份額行使令狀之前,令狀並不賦予持有人作爲普通股持有人的任何權利。
在您在行使您的許可證時購買我們的普通股股份之前,您的許可證不會爲您提供作爲普通股股東的任何權利。行使您的授權令後,您將有權僅就記錄日期在行使日期之後的事項行使普通股股東的權利。
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我們是一家「新興成長型公司」,將能夠利用適用於「新興成長型公司」的披露要求降低的優勢,這可能會降低我們的普通股和股票對投資者的吸引力。
我們是JOBS法案中定義的「新興成長型公司」,只要我們繼續是一家「新興成長型公司」,我們就打算利用適用於其他上市公司但不適用於「新興成長型公司」的各種報告要求的某些豁免,包括但不限於,不需要遵守薩班斯-奧克斯利法案第404條的核數師認證要求,減少我們定期報告和委託書中關於高管薪酬的披露義務,以及免除就高管薪酬進行非約束性諮詢投票的要求,以及免除股東批准之前未獲批准的任何黃金降落傘付款的要求。我們可以是一家「新興成長型公司」長達五年,或直至(I)我們的年度總收入超過12.35億的第一個財年的最後一天,(Ii)我們成爲交易法下第120億.2規則所定義的「大型加速申報公司」之日,如果截至我們最近完成的第二財季的最後一個營業日,非關聯公司持有的我們普通股的市值超過70000美元萬,將發生這種情況。或(Iii)我們在之前三年期間發行了超過10美元億的不可轉換債券的日期。
我們打算利用上述這些報告豁免,直到我們不再是一家「新興增長公司」。根據《JOBS法案》,「新興成長型公司」還可以推遲採用新的或修訂後的會計準則,直到這些準則適用於私營公司。我們不可挽回地選擇不利用新的或修訂後的會計準則豁免,因此,我們將與其他非「新興成長型公司」的上市公司一樣遵守相同的新的或修訂後的會計準則。
如果我們選擇依賴這些豁免,我們無法預測投資者是否會發現我們的普通股或股票的吸引力減弱。如果一些投資者發現我們的普通股或股票因任何減少未來披露的選擇而失去吸引力,我們的普通股和股票的交易市場可能會不太活躍,我們的普通股和股票的價格可能會更加波動。
我們的內部控制的有效性可能會受到限制,我們的控制系統未能防止錯誤或欺詐可能會對我們的公司造成重大損害。如果我們未能糾正重大弱點,或者如果我們在未來遇到重大弱點或在未來未能維持有效的內部控制系統,我們可能無法準確或及時報告我們的財務狀況或運營結果,這可能會對投資者對我們的信心產生不利影響,從而影響我們普通股和股票的價值。
在2021年8月完成首次公開募股之前,我們是一傢俬營公司,會計人員有限,無法充分執行會計流程,無法解決財務報告內部控制問題的監督資源也有限。作爲一家上市公司,我們根據SEC的規則和法規設計了上市公司要求的控制環境。
適當的財務會計內部控制系統以及披露控制和程序對於上市公司的運營至關重要。我們可能無法有效地建立此類系統,特別是考慮到我們希望作爲一家公開報告公司運營。這將使我們無法可靠地吸收和編制有關我們公司的財務信息,並嚴重損害我們預防錯誤和檢測欺詐的能力,所有這些都將從許多角度對我們公司產生負面影響。
此外,我們預計對財務報告的披露控制或內部控制即使建立,也不會防止所有錯誤和所有欺詐。無論設計和操作得多麼好,控制系統只能提供合理而非絕對的保證來滿足控制系統的目標。此外,控制系統的設計必須反映這樣一個事實:存在資源限制,並且必須相對於控制的成本考慮控制的好處。由於所有控制系統固有的侷限性,對控制的評估無法絕對保證所有控制問題和欺詐實例(如果有的話)都已被檢測到。我們的控制系統未能防止錯誤或欺詐可能會對我們產生重大不利影響。
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目錄 |
如果證券或行業分析師不發佈研究或發佈有關我們業務的不準確或不利的研究,我們的股價和交易量可能會下降。
我們的普通股和憑證的交易市場部分取決於證券或行業分析師發佈的有關我們或我們業務的研究和報告。我們目前沒有也可能永遠不會獲得證券和行業分析師的研究報道。如果沒有證券或行業分析師開始報道我們公司,我們證券的交易價格將受到負面影響。如果我們獲得證券或行業分析師的報道,並且如果報道我們的一名或多名分析師下調我們的證券評級或發佈有關我們業務的不準確或不利的研究,我們的股價和令狀價格可能會下跌。如果一名或多名分析師停止報道我們或未能定期發佈有關我們的報告,對我們證券的需求可能會減少,這可能會導致我們證券的價格和交易量下降。
未來出售我們的普通股、可轉換爲我們普通股的可轉換證券可能會壓低我們的股價。
我們的大量普通股股份、可轉換爲我們普通股的可轉換爲我們的普通股的股票隨時可能在公開市場上出售。這些出售,或者市場上認爲大量股票的持有者打算出售股票的看法,可能會降低我們普通股和股票的市場價格。如果我們的大量普通股、認購證或可轉換爲我們普通股的證券在符合出售資格後在公開市場上出售,則出售可能會降低我們普通股和認購證的交易價格,並阻礙我們籌集未來資本的能力。
我們未能遵守納斯達克的持續上市要求可能導致我們的普通股退市
我們的普通股目前在納斯達克資本市場上市。證券須符合各項持續上市標準,方可在納斯達克資本市場繼續上市。過去,我們曾收到納斯達克上市資格部的通知,指出我們沒有遵守納斯達克資本市場的某些持續上市標準。雖然我們已經恢復了對每個實例的合規,但不能保證我們將繼續保持對納斯達克上市要求的合規。退市可能會大幅減少我們普通股的交易,由於失去與納斯達克相關的市場效率和失去聯邦政府對州證券法的優先購買權,對我們普通股的市場流動性造成不利影響,對我們以可接受的條件獲得融資的能力產生不利影響,如果有的話,並可能導致投資者、供應商和員工潛在失去信心,並導致業務發展機會減少。此外,我們普通股的市場價格可能會進一步下跌,股東可能會損失部分或全部投資。
如果被退市,我們預計我們將採取行動恢復對納斯達克資本市場或其他國家交易所上市要求的遵守,但我們無法保證我們採取的任何此類行動將允許我們的普通股繼續在納斯達克資本市場上市,穩定我們的市場價格,提高我們普通股的流動性,防止我們的普通股跌破納斯達克資本市場的最低出價要求,或防止未來不遵守納斯達克資本市場或其他國家交易所的上市要求。
我們的公司註冊證書和章程中包含的反收購條款以及特拉華州法律的條款可能會損害收購嘗試。
我們修訂和重述的公司註冊證書、章程和特拉華州公司法包含的條款可能會使董事會認爲不可取的收購變得更加困難、推遲或阻止。我們的公司治理文件包括以下條款:
| · | 將我們的董事會分爲三個類別; |
| · | 授權「空白支票」優先股,該優先股可以由我們的董事會在未經股東批准的情況下發行,並且可能包含投票、清算、股息和優於我們普通股的其他權利; |
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| · | 限制我們的董事和高級管理人員的責任並向他們提供賠償; |
| · | 限制我們的股東在特別會議之前召集並提出業務的能力; |
| · | 要求提前通知股東關於在股東會議上進行業務以及提名董事會選舉候選人的提案; |
| · | 控制董事會和股東會議的舉行和安排程序;以及 |
| · | 爲我們的董事會提供推遲先前安排的年度會議並取消先前安排的特別會議的明確權力。 |
這些條款單獨或共同可能會推遲或阻止敵意收購以及控制權變更或我們管理層變更。
作爲特拉華州公司,我們還受到特拉華州法律條款的約束,包括特拉華州總公司法第203條,該條款禁止持有我們已發行普通股15%以上的一些股東在未經我們幾乎所有已發行普通股持有人批准的情況下進行某些業務合併。
我們修訂和重述的公司註冊證書、章程或特拉華州法律中任何具有推遲或阻止控制權變更效果的條款都可能會限制我們的股東從我們普通股或股票中獲得溢價的機會,並且還可能影響一些投資者願意爲我們的普通股和股票支付的價格。
我們使用淨營業虧損結轉的能力可能受到限制。
截至2024年12月31日,我們的淨營業虧損結轉(NOL)在聯邦所得稅方面約爲2,030美元萬,州所得稅方面約爲5,000美元萬。這些NOL的使用取決於許多因素,包括我們未來的收入,這是不能保證的。這些NOL可能到期時未使用,也無法用來抵消我們未來的所得稅債務。此外,根據修訂後的1986年《國內稅法》第382條或該法規以及州法律的相應條款,如果一家公司經歷了一次按價值計算其股權在三年內由5%的股東的股權發生了超過50%的變化,那麼該公司使用其變動前的NOL和其他變動前的稅收屬性來抵消變動後的收入的能力可能是有限的。我們未來可能會因爲股票所有權的變化而經歷所有權的變化,其中一些可能不是我們所能控制的。實質性限制我們使用歷史NOL的所有權變化可能會有效地增加我們未來的美國聯邦所得稅和美國州所得稅義務,從而損害我們未來的經營業績。我們尚未完成第382條的分析,因此,不能保證之前經歷的任何所有權變更不會對我們對受影響的NOL的使用造成實質性限制。此外,由於2017年的減稅和就業法案,並經2020年冠狀病毒援助、救濟和經濟安全法案或CARE法案修訂,2018年和未來幾年發生的聯邦NOL可能會無限期結轉,然而,如果在2020年12月31日之後開始的納稅年度使用,在這些年份產生的聯邦NOL的扣除額將限制在應稅收入的80%以內。從2018年1月1日之前開始的幾年中發生的聯邦淨營業虧損,可以結轉20年,但不限於應稅收入的80%。
我們從未對股本支付股息,並且我們預計在可預見的未來不會支付任何現金股息。
我們從未宣佈或支付股本現金股息。我們目前打算保留任何未來收益,爲我們業務的運營和擴張提供資金,並且我們預計在可預見的未來不會宣佈或支付任何股息。因此,股東必須依靠價格上漲後出售普通股和股票,而價格上漲可能永遠不會發生,這是實現投資未來收益的唯一途徑。
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目錄 |
我們修訂和重述的公司註冊證書指定特拉華州大法官法院爲我們股東可能發起的某些類型訴訟和訴訟的唯一和獨家論壇,這可能會限制我們的股東獲得有利的司法論壇的能力,以解決與我們或我們的董事、高級官員或其他員工的糾紛。
我們修訂和重述的公司註冊證書要求,除非我們書面同意選擇替代法庭,否則特拉華州高等法院將在法律允許的最大範圍內成爲以下各項的唯一和獨家法庭:
| · | 代表我們提起的任何衍生訴訟或訴訟; |
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| · | 任何聲稱我們的任何董事、高級管理人員或其他員工違反對公司或我們的股東所承擔的任何受託責任的訴訟; |
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| · | 任何針對吾等或吾等的任何董事或吾等的高級職員而提出的訴訟,或針對吾等或吾等的任何董事或高級職員就本公司、吾等的公司註冊證書或附例的任何條文的解釋或適用而提出的申索;或 |
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| · | 主張受內政原則管轄的索賠的任何訴訟; |
前提是,當且僅當特拉華州大法官法院因缺乏主題管轄權而駁回任何上述訴訟時,任何此類訴訟或訴訟都可以在特拉華州的另一個州法院提起。
排他性法院條款僅限於法律允許的範圍內,不適用於根據修訂後的1934年證券交易法或交易法或任何其他規定排他性聯邦管轄權的聯邦證券法產生的索賠。
此外,《證券法》第22條規定,聯邦法院和州法院對所有此類《證券法》訴訟擁有同時管轄權。因此,州法院和聯邦法院都有管轄權受理此類索賠。爲了避免不得不在多個司法管轄區提起訴訟,以及不同法院做出不一致或相反裁決的威脅,以及其他考慮因素,我們修訂和重述的公司註冊證書規定,美利堅合衆國聯邦地區法院將成爲解決根據證券法提出的任何訴因的獨家論壇。雖然特拉華州法院已確定此類選擇的法院條款在事實上是有效的,但股東仍可尋求在美國聯邦地區法院以外的地點根據證券法對我們、我們的董事、高級管理人員或其他員工提出此類索賠。在這種情況下,我們預計將大力主張我們修訂和重述的公司註冊證書的獨家論壇條款的有效性和可執行性。
儘管我們認爲,該條款在其適用的訴訟類型中提高了特拉華州法律的適用一致性,從而使我們受益,但該條款可能會限制或阻止股東在其認爲有利於與我們或我們的董事、高級職員或其他員工發生糾紛的司法論壇上提出索賠的能力,這可能會阻止針對我們和我們的董事的此類訴訟。官員和其他員工,並可能導致投資者提出索賠的成本增加。或者,如果法院發現我們修訂和重述的公司註冊證書中包含的法院條款選擇在訴訟中不適用或不可執行,我們可能會產生與解決其他司法管轄區此類訴訟相關的額外費用,這可能會對我們的業務和財務狀況產生不利影響。
我們注意到,法院是否會執行該條款存在不確定性,投資者不能放棄遵守聯邦證券法及其規則和法規。儘管我們認爲,該條款提高了特拉華州法律在其適用的訴訟類型中的適用一致性,從而使我們受益,但該條款可能會起到阻止針對我們董事和高管提起訴訟的效果。
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目錄 |
項目10億。未解決的工作人員評論
沒有。
項目1C。網絡安全
網絡安全風險管理和策略
我們有評估、識別和管理網絡安全風險的特定流程,這些流程內置於我們的整體信息技術功能中,旨在幫助保護我們的信息資產和運營免受內部和外部網絡威脅,保護員工、協作者和患者信息免受未經授權的訪問或攻擊,以及保護我們的網絡和系統安全。這些過程包括物理、程序和技術保障、響應計劃、對我們系統的測試、審查我們的政策和程序以識別風險並改進我們的做法。我們聘請某些外部機構,包括IT顧問和計算機安全公司,以加強我們的網絡安全監督,包括通過獲得對不斷髮展的網絡安全格局的有價值的見解。在與第三方服務提供商接觸之前,我們會考慮他們的內部風險監督計劃,以幫助保護我們免受任何相關漏洞的影響。
治理;董事會監督
在我們的最終指導下
項目2.性能
我們的郵寄地址是3525 Del Mar Heights Rd.,#322,聖地亞哥,加利福尼亞州92130。我們所有的員工都遠程工作。我們相信我們的虛擬工作結構足以滿足我們當前的需求,儘管我們可能會尋求談判新的租賃或評估額外或替代運營空間。我們相信,適當的替代空間將以商業上合理的條款隨時可用。
項目3.法律訴訟
我們可能會不時參與正常業務過程中出現的索賠。儘管訴訟和索賠的結果無法確定地預測,但我們目前沒有任何我們認爲重大的未決訴訟,我們是當事人或我們的財產所涉及的訴訟。無論結果如何,訴訟都可能成本高昂且耗時,並且可能會轉移管理層對重要業務事務和計劃的注意力,從而對我們的整體運營產生負面影響。
項目4.礦山安全披露
此項目不適用。
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第二部分
項目5.註冊人普通股票市場、相關股東事項和發行人購買股票證券
市場信息
自2021年8月12日起,我們的普通股和股票在納斯達克資本市場分別以「DRMA」和「DRMAW」進行交易。
持有者
截至2025年3月1日,我們普通股記錄中約有69名股東。該數字不包括以街道名稱持有股份的受益所有者。我們普通股持有人的實際數量大於記錄持有人的數量,其中包括作爲受益所有者的股東,但其股份由經紀人以街頭名稱持有或由其他代名人持有。
分紅
我們從未對普通股宣佈或支付現金股息。我們不打算在可預見的未來對普通股宣佈或支付現金股息,但目前打算保留任何未來收益來資助我們業務的發展和增長。向普通股支付現金股息(如果有的話)將完全由董事會自行決定,並取決於(除其他外)我們的盈利、資本要求、財務狀況和其他相關因素。
項目6. [保留]
項目7.管理層對財務狀況和運營結果的討論和分析
您應該閱讀以下對我們財務狀況和運營業績的討論和分析,以及本10-K表格年度報告其他地方包含的財務報表和相關注釋。本討論和分析中包含或本報告其他地方闡述的一些信息,包括有關我們業務計劃和戰略的信息,包括涉及風險和不確定性的前瞻性陳述。由於許多因素,包括本報告「風險因素」部分中列出的因素,我們的實際結果可能與以下討論和分析中包含的前瞻性陳述中描述或暗示的結果存在重大差異。以下討論中提到的「我們」、「我們的」、「我們」、「Dermata」或「公司」是指Dermata Therapeutics,Inc.
概述
我們是一家晚期醫療皮膚科公司,專注於識別、開發和商業化用於治療醫療皮膚病和美容應用的創新藥物候選產品,我們認爲這代表着巨大的市場機遇。
皮膚病,如痤瘡、尋常型牛皮癬(或牛皮癬)、多汗症和各種美容指徵,每年影響全球數百萬人,可能會對他們的生活質量和情感健康產生負面影響。雖然目前市場上有多種針對這些適應症的治療選擇,但我們認爲大多數都存在重大缺陷,包括療效平平、應用方案繁瑣以及各種負面副作用,我們認爲所有這些都會導致患者依從性下降。這些適應症中的大多數首先通過局部治療進行治療;然而,由於患者的不滿,許多患者經常更換治療或完全停止治療。這主要是由於緩慢和適度的應答率、較早出現的負面副作用、每天的應用計劃和較長的療程。鑑於目前外用療法的侷限性,我們認爲有一個重要的機會來滿足沮喪患者的需求,他們正在尋找滿足皮膚病和生活方式需求的外用產品。
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我們的兩款候選產品XYNGARI™和DMT410都融合了我們專有的、多方面的、海綿用於局部治療各種皮膚病的技術。我們的海綿這項技術是從一種自然生長的淡水海綿中提取的。湖面海綿或海綿,它被加工成粉末,在塗抹之前立即與流態化試劑混合,形成易於使用的糊狀物。海綿。是一種獨特的淡水海綿,只在世界上特定的地區和特定的環境條件下以商業數量種植,所有這些都賦予了它獨特的抗微生物、消炎和機械性能。這些環境條件、與我們的獨家供應商開發的專有收穫協議以及我們的收穫後加工程序相結合,產生了一種候選製藥產品,它優化了海綿的機械成分和化學成分,創造了一種具有多種作用機制的候選產品,用於治療炎症皮膚狀況和美容應用。
我們相信我們的 海綿 技術平台將使我們能夠開發和配製單一和組合產品,能夠針對各種皮膚病學適應症將化學化合物局部輸送到真皮中。我們相信 Spongilla的 機械和化學成分(我們相信已經證明, 體外、抗微生物和抗炎性能),增加了我們的多功能性 海綿 技術平台作爲單一產品在治療痤瘡和銀屑病等多種醫學皮膚病方面的有效性。我們還相信我們的機械性能 海綿。該技術允許通過局部應用將各種大分子(如肉毒桿菌毒素、單克隆抗體或真皮填充劑)皮內輸送到目標治療部位,而無需針頭。
我們的主要候選產品XYNGARI™旨在利用我們的海綿我們提供每週一次的治療各種皮膚病的技術,我們最初的重點是痤瘡的治療,在美國市場規模約有3,000名尋求治療的萬患者。2024年11月,我們完成了XYNGARI™治療中重度痤瘡的兩個3期臨牀試驗中的第一個。我們預計將於2025年3月收到第一階段3試驗的主要結果。這兩項3期研究都將是雙盲、隨機、安慰劑對照,在美國和拉丁美洲的各個地點招募約550名年齡在9歲或以上的患者。主要終點包括炎症性和非炎性損害的絕對減少和研究人員對痤瘡的全面評估(IGA)的改善。患者將接受爲期12周的每週一次的XYNGARI™或安慰劑治療,並將每月進行評估。根據FDA的要求,第二階段3研究之後將進行擴展研究,以跟蹤患者12個月的總治療期。此前,XYNGARI™已經在20期™研究中展示了其治療多種原因痤瘡的能力,在這項研究中,我們最初看到,在四種治療方法後,炎症性皮損減少了45%,XYNGARI億在整個研究期間的所有三個主要終點的所有時間點都取得了統計上的顯著改善(炎性皮損減少、非炎症性皮損減少,免疫球蛋白改善)。此外,基於XYNGARI™痤瘡試驗的多種作用機制和抗炎效果,我們完成了10期億概念驗證(POC)牛皮癬試驗,我們看到了令人鼓舞的結果,值得在收到足夠資金後進行進一步研究。
XYNGARI™由兩克從自然生長的淡水海綿中加工而成的粉末組成,湖面海綿。患者在塗抹之前立即將粉末與流化劑(3%過氧化氫)混合,形成易於塗抹的糊劑。這種糊狀物像泥漿面膜一樣塗在皮膚上大約10到15分鐘,然後用水洗掉。由於XYNGARI™的S機械成分和化學成分的獨特組合,以及基於我們的第二階段痤瘡數據,我們相信患者將只需要每週使用一次XYNGARI™就能產生預期的治療效果。的機械部件海綿粉末由許多微小的硅質針狀針組成,當按摩到皮膚中時,這些針狀物會穿透角質層(皮膚最外層的保護層),並創建微通道進入真皮,促炎細胞因數和細菌駐留在真皮中。我們認爲,刺突的穿透也導致微通道的打開,這使得氧氣可以進入毛皮脂腺,幫助殺死C.粉刺,它們在厭氧(無氧)環境中生長痤瘡假單胞菌是導致痤瘡患者炎性病變的細菌)。針刺還可以使死皮的表層恢復活力,從而增加膠原蛋白的生成。此外,我們相信,新創建的微通道爲XYNGARI™的S提供了一條管道,將自然產生的化合物輸送到真皮和毛皮脂腺,幫助殺死C. 痤瘡和抗炎。除了這些抗微生物化合物外,XYNGARI™似乎還含有抗炎化合物,如體外實驗,通過減少炎症來抑制炎症C.acnes刺激IL-8的產生,抑制IL-17A和IL-17F的表達。此外,在體外在XYNGARI™的S有機化合物的研究中,我們觀察到了對皮脂細胞脂肪生成的抑制,這可能轉化爲減少患者皮脂(人體皮脂腺產生的一種油性和蠟質物質)的產生和患者皮膚的油性,這是許多臨牀研究人員在我們的2期痤瘡研究中觀察到的。我們認爲,這些生物和機械效應的結合可能是治療多發性炎症性皮膚病的重要因素,正如我們的臨牀試驗所看到的那樣。
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我們的第二個候選產品利用我們的技術海綿其技術爲DMT410。DMT410包括一次治療我們專有的海綿粉,然後一次局部應用肉毒桿菌毒素進入真皮。目前,肉毒桿菌毒素只被批准通過皮內注射傳遞到真皮,這對患者來說可能是痛苦的,對醫生來說也是耗時的。然而,我們相信DMT410DMT410的S將肉毒桿菌毒素局部輸送到真皮的能力可能與現有的輸送技術具有相似的療效水平,但耐受性問題更少,應用時間更快,可能會取代皮內注射。我們首先在腋窩多汗症患者的第一階段POC試驗中測試了DMT410,在單次治療四周後,80%的患者體重汗量減少超過50%。目前,近40%的多汗症患者正在接受肉毒桿菌毒素皮內注射治療,我們相信DMT410將有很大的機會打入這一市場,取代肉毒桿菌毒素皮內注射。基於DMT410的S在腋窩多汗症一期試驗中觀察到的有效將肉毒桿菌毒素輸送到真皮的能力,我們還進行了DMT410的一期POC試驗,用於治療多種美容皮膚狀況,包括縮小毛孔、皮脂生成和細紋等。2021年11月,我們宣佈了這項試驗的主要結果,我們看到了有希望的數據,我們認爲這些數據值得對DMT410進行進一步調查。2025年1月,我們與Revance簽署了臨牀試驗協議,根據協議,我們打算與Revance合作進行一項多中心第二階段臨牀試驗,以評估XYNGARI™與Revance的A型肉毒毒素DAXXIFY®(DaxibotulinumoxinA-LAMM)聯合治療腋下多汗症的局部應用。
我們的運營歷史有限。自成立以來,我們的運營一直專注於開發XYNGARI™和DMT 410、組織和配備我們的公司、籌集資本、建立我們的供應鏈和製造流程,進一步體現我們的多種作用機制 海綿 技術、構建知識產權組合以及進行非臨牀和臨牀試驗。我們沒有任何獲准營銷的候選產品,也沒有從產品銷售中產生任何收入。我們主要通過出售股權證券和債務證券爲我們的運營提供資金。自成立以來,我們已通過出售債務和股權證券(包括首次公開募股中出售的證券)籌集了總計約6880萬美元的總收益。
迄今爲止,我們尚未產生任何收入,並出現了重大運營損失。截至2024年12月31日和2023年12月31日止年度,我們的淨虧損分別爲1230萬美元和780萬美元,截至2024年12月31日,我們的累計虧損爲6570萬美元。我們預計在可預見的未來將繼續產生巨額費用和運營損失。我們預計我們的費用將因我們正在進行的活動而大幅增加,因爲我們:
| · | 完成用於治療痤瘡的XYNGARI™的開發,包括非臨牀研究和3期臨牀試驗 |
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| · | 在3期臨牀項目NPS的陽性結果後,準備XYNGARI™用於治療中重度痤瘡並提交監管機構批准 |
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| · | 繼續開發用於治療銀屑病的XYNGARI™,包括II期臨牀試驗和III期臨牀試驗,等待額外資金或戰略合作伙伴的批准 |
| · | 與Abbott 410肉毒桿菌毒素合作伙伴簽署合作協議,用於治療美容和醫學皮膚病 |
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| · | 如果獲得批准,爲XYNGARI™的商業化做好準備,包括僱用銷售和營銷人員 |
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| · | 爲第2階段和第3階段試驗以及商業銷售生產我們的候選產品 |
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| · | 僱用額外的研發和銷售、一般和行政人員 |
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| · | 維護、擴大和保護我們的知識產權組合和 |
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| · | 產生與上市公司運營相關的額外成本。 |
我們將需要額外的資金來支持我們的運營。我們可能會尋求通過公共或私募股權或債務融資或其他來源爲我們的運營提供資金。我們可能無法以可接受的條款或根本無法獲得足夠的額外融資。我們未能在需要時或以有利的條件籌集資金,將對我們的財務狀況和我們實施業務戰略的能力產生負面影響。我們需要創造可觀的收入才能實現盈利,但我們可能永遠不會這樣做。
運營結果的組成部分
收入
自成立以來,我們尚未產生任何收入,並且預計在不久的將來不會從產品銷售中產生任何收入,直到我們獲得監管機構對候選產品的批准並商業化。
運營費用
研發費用
研究和開發活動是我們商業模式的核心。臨牀開發後期的候選產品通常比臨牀開發早期階段的候選產品的開發成本更高,這主要是由於後期臨牀試驗規模和持續時間的增加。隨着我們的候選產品管道進一步進入臨牀試驗,我們預計在可預見的未來,研發成本將大幅增加。然而,我們認爲目前不可能根據多種因素準確預測與計劃相關的總費用以實現商業化。此外,還有許多與我們候選產品的商業化相關的未知費用,包括持續的監管要求,其中許多費用目前無法準確確定。
研究和開發費用包括與開發候選產品相關的費用。我們按發生的開發成本支付費用。這些費用包括:
| · | 根據與CROs以及進行臨牀試驗和臨牀前研究的研究中心和顧問的協議產生的費用 |
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| · | 生產和供應規模擴大費用以及採購和生產臨牀前和臨牀試驗供應和商業供應的成本,包括生產驗證批次和 |
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| · | 外包實驗室服務,包括用於支持我們研發活動的材料和用品,包括許可費和里程碑付款。 |
我們候選產品的成功開發存在高度不確定性。目前,我們無法合理估計或了解完成剩餘開發或何時(如果有的話)可能從我們的候選產品開始重大淨現金流入所需的努力的性質、時間和成本。這種不確定性是由於與臨牀試驗的持續時間和成本相關的衆多風險和不確定性造成的,由於多種因素,這些風險和不確定性在項目生命週期內會發生顯着變化,包括:
| · | 臨牀試驗中包含的臨牀中心數量 |
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| · | 入組合適患者所需的時間長度 |
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| · | 參與臨牀試驗的患者人群規模 |
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| · | 患者接受NPS的劑量 |
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| · | 患者隨訪的持續時間 |
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| · | 候選產品的開發狀態和 |
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| · | 候選產品的功效和安全性。 |
我們的支出受到其他不確定性的影響,包括監管批准的條款和時間,以及提交、起訴、辯護和執行任何專利主張或其他知識產權的費用。我們可能永遠不會成功地讓我們的候選產品獲得監管部門的批准。我們的臨牀試驗可能會得到意想不到的結果。我們可以選擇停止、推遲或修改我們的候選產品的臨牀試驗。對於候選產品的開發,這些變量中的任何一個的結果的變化可能意味着與該候選產品的開發相關的成本和時間的重大變化。例如,如果FDA或其他監管機構要求我們進行超出我們目前預期的臨牀試驗,或者如果我們在任何臨牀試驗的登記方面遇到重大延誤,我們可能需要花費大量額外的財政資源和時間來完成臨牀開發。產品商業化將需要幾年時間和數百萬美元的開發成本。
一般和行政費用
一般及行政費用主要包括執行及行政職能人員的工資及相關費用、差旅費用及招聘費用。其他一般和行政費用包括股票補償費用、法律、會計和稅務相關服務的專業費用、保險費用以及向顧問支付的款項。我們承擔所有發生的一般和行政費用。
我們預計,由於工資增加、基礎設施擴大以及與維持證券交易所上市和美國證券交易委員會要求合規性相關的諮詢、法律和稅務相關服務、會計和投資者關係成本以及與上市公司相關的董事和高級官員保險費,我們的一般和行政費用將增加。
利息收入
利息收入包括從附息活期賬戶的現金等值項目賺取的利息收入。
關鍵會計政策以及重大判斷和估計
我們的管理層對財務狀況和經營結果的討論和分析基於我們的財務報表,這些報表是根據美國普遍接受的會計原則編制的。編制這些財務報表要求我們做出影響財務報表日期資產和負債的報告金額、或有資產和負債的披露以及報告期內報告的費用的估計。我們持續評估我們的估計和判斷,包括與應計研發費用和授權書相關的估計和判斷。我們的估計基於歷史經驗和我們認爲在當時情況下合適的各種其他因素。在不同的假設或條件下,實際結果可能與這些估計不同。
雖然我們的重要會計政策在本10-K表格年度報告其他地方出現的經審計財務報表的註釋2中得到了更全面的描述,但我們相信以下會計政策對於在編制財務報表時做出重大判斷和估計的過程至關重要。
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目錄 |
應計研究與開發費用
作爲編制財務報表過程的一部分,我們需要記錄實際研發費用,並估計應計研發費用、流動資產和其他流動負債。這一過程包括審查未結合同和承諾,與我們的人員溝通以確定已爲我們提供的服務,並在我們尚未收到發票或以其他方式通知實際成本時,估計所執行的服務水平和服務產生的相關成本。我們的大多數服務提供商每月都會爲我們提供的服務或在達到合同里程碑時向我們開出欠款發票。我們根據當時已知的事實和情況,在我們的財務報表中對截至每個資產負債表日期的應計研發費用、流動資產和其他流動負債進行估計。預計應計研發費用、預付資產和其他流動負債的例子包括向合同製造商支付的與生產臨牀試驗材料有關的費用,以及向合同研究機構支付的與代表我們進行臨牀試驗有關的費用。
我們根據與代表我們提供這些服務的實體簽訂的合同對所提供服務的估計來計算與臨牀製造和臨牀試驗相關的費用。這些協議的財務條款有待談判,不同的合同各不相同,並可能導致付款不均衡。根據這類合同支付的款項在很大程度上取決於成功完成藥品生產和臨牀試驗所涉及的許多單獨任務。在臨牀試驗的情況下,估計成本的一部分通常與在試驗中治療患者的預計成本有關,這一成本是根據參加試驗的患者數量來確認的。其他間接費用一般是在研究估計期間以直線方式確認的。隨着實際成本爲我們所知,我們調整了應計項目。到目前爲止,我們的估計與實際發生的成本沒有太大差異。然而,隨後估計的變化可能會導致我們的應計項目發生重大變化,這也可能對我們的資產負債表和運營結果產生重大影響。
我們根據與臨牀研究組織(「CROs」)和臨牀試驗中心達成的協議,根據對個人臨牀試驗生命週期內完成的工作比例和患者入組率的估計,對第三方開展的臨牀試驗活動進行累積和費用。我們通過審查合同、供應商協議和採購訂單,並通過與內部臨牀人員和外部服務提供商討論試驗或服務的完成進度或階段以及爲此類服務支付的商定費用來確定估計。然而,臨牀試驗的實際成本和時間高度不確定,存在風險,並且可能會根據多種因素而變化,包括我們的臨牀開發計劃。
我們根據當時已知的事實和情況在財務報表中估計截至每個資產負債表日的應計費用。如果服務執行的實際時間或工作水平與估計不同,我們將相應調整應計。商品和服務的不可退還預付款,包括將用於未來研究和開發活動的臨牀用品的流程開發或製造和分銷費用,在消費相關商品或提供服務期間被推遲並確認爲費用。
認股權證
我們根據財務會計準則委員會(「FASB」)會計準則法典(「ASC」)提供的權威指導,在發行時對憑證進行評估,以根據憑證的具體條款確定其在財務報表中的正確分類, 區分負債與股權(「ASC 480」),和ASC 815-40, 衍生品和對沖-實體自有權益合同(「ASC 815-40」).評估考慮了根據ASC 480,該認購證是否是獨立金融工具,以及認購證是否符合ASC 815下股權分類的所有要求,包括認購證是否與我們自己的普通股掛鉤,以及認購證持有人是否可能需要現金結算認購證。
對於滿足所有股權分類標準的已發行或修改的認購權,該認購權必須記錄爲額外繳入資本的組成部分。對於不符合所有股權分類標準的已發行或修改的認購權,該認購權必須進行負債分類,並按發行日的初始公允價值記錄,並在此後的每個資產負債表日按公允價值重新計量。我們已對所有已發行和修改的期權進行了評估,並確定我們的期權屬於股權分類。
95 |
目錄 |
截至2024年12月31日和2023年12月31日的年份比較
下表分別總結了截至2024年和2023年12月31日止年度的經營業績:
|
| 截至12月31日的一年, |
| |||||||||
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
|
| 差異化 |
| |||
運營費用: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
研發 |
| $ | 8,203,691 |
|
| $ | 4,069,766 |
|
| $ | 4,133,925 |
|
一般和行政 |
|
| 4,309,551 |
|
|
| 3,972,140 |
|
|
| 337,411 |
|
總運營支出 |
|
| 12,513,242 |
|
|
| 8,041,906 |
|
|
| 4,471,336 |
|
運營損失 |
|
| (12,513,242 | ) |
|
| (8,041,906 | ) |
|
| (4,471,336 | ) |
其他收入和支出: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
利息收入 |
|
| 225,781 |
|
|
| 247,216 |
|
|
| (21,435 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
淨虧損 |
| $ | (12,287,461 | ) |
| $ | (7,794,690 | ) |
| $ | (4,492,771 | ) |
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses increased by approximately $4.1 million from $4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, to $8.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in research and development expense was the result of $4.9 million of increased clinical trial expenses, offset by approximately $0.2 million of decreased non-clinical expenses and approximately $0.6 million in decreased chemistry, manufacturing, and controls, or CMC, expenses. These increases were the result of our efforts dedicated to running the XYNGARI™ Phase 3 STAR-1 clinical trial.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased by approximately $0.3 million from $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, to $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily attributable to $0.3 million of increased audit related fees as a result of changing auditors in late 2023.
Interest income
We earn interest income via overnight deposits on our cash and cash equivalents. Interest income was approximately $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows from operating and financing activities:
|
| Year Ended December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
| ||
Statements of cash flows data: |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total cash used in operating activities |
| $ | (11,162,948 | ) |
| $ | (6,408,931 | ) |
Total cash provided by financing activities |
| $ | 6,886,383 |
|
| $ | 7,605,772 |
|
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
| $ | (4,276,565 | ) |
| $ | 1,196,841 |
|
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Table of Contents |
Operating activities
Cash used in operations of approximately $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, was the result of the net loss of $12.3 million and a decrease in accounts payable of $0.1 million, offset by non-cash stock-based compensation of $0.7 million, an increase in accrued and other current liabilities of $0.4 million, as well as a decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $0.2 million.
截至2023年12月31日止年度,運營中使用的現金爲640萬美元,是由於淨虧損780萬美元,但被非現金股票補償50萬美元、應付賬款增加40萬美元以及應計和其他流動負債增加30萬美元以及預付費用和其他流動資產減少20萬美元所抵消。
融資活動
截至2024年12月31日止年度,融資活動提供的現金約爲690萬美元,是2024年9月PIPE融資的310萬美元淨收益、通過ATM協議出售普通股的140萬美元淨收益以及2024年5月我們的認購證誘導融資的230萬美元淨收益。
截至2023年12月31日止年度,融資活動提供的現金爲760萬美元,是2023年3月發行的普通股和配股中發行的普通股和配股中收到的4.200萬美元淨收益、2023年5月發行的普通股和配股中發行的150萬美元淨收益,以及2023年11月進行的一次配股誘導發行的2億美元淨收益。
流動資金及資本資源
自成立以來,我們沒有產生任何收入或將任何產品商業化。截至2024年12月31日,我們的現金及現金等值物總計320萬美元,累計赤字爲6570萬美元。截至2024年12月31日和2023年12月31日止年度,我們在運營中使用的現金分別約爲1110萬美元和640萬美元。
從歷史上看,我們的主要現金來源包括髮行股票和債務的收益。我們的現金主要用途包括運營中使用的現金(包括候選產品的臨牀開發以及一般和管理費用)以及許可權付款。我們預計未來現金的主要用途將是持續運營、研發資金以及一般運營資金需求。我們預計,隨着我們第三階段開發計劃的研發費用持續增長,我們將需要籌集額外資金來維持運營並資助研發活動,包括我們正在進行的第三階段STAR-1臨牀研究。
ATM協議
2024年6月,我們與HC簽訂了市場發售協議(「ATM協議」)溫賴特公司,LLC(「Wainwright」),作爲銷售代理,據此,我們可以不時通過Wainwright提供和銷售我們的普通股股份,總收益高達1,662,761美元(根據ATM協議中規定的條款並受ATM協議中規定的條件和限制)。截至2024年12月31日的十二個月內,我們根據ATM協議出售了550,024股普通股,扣除了對溫賴特、核數師、律師的30萬美元賠償和其他管理費用後,淨收益爲140萬美元。
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目錄 |
未來資本需求
我們計劃在短期內重點關注用於治療痤瘡和銀屑病的XYNGARI™的開發、監管批准和潛在商業化。隨着我們完成用於治療痤瘡和銀屑病的XYNGARI™的臨牀開發,並繼續研究和開發用於治療美容和醫學皮膚病的DMZ 410,我們預計未來幾年我們將繼續遭受淨虧損。此外,我們計劃尋找機會來識別、收購或獲得許可和開發其他候選藥物,可能建立商業能力並擴大我們的企業基礎設施。如果(除其他外)我們的臨牀試驗不成功,或者FDA沒有在我們預期的情況下批准我們當前臨牀試驗中產生的候選藥物,或者根本沒有批准我們可能無法完成這些項目的開發並啓動這些項目的商業化。
我們資本的主要用途是,我們預計將繼續是,薪酬和相關費用、臨牀成本、外部研發服務、法律和其他監管費用以及行政和管理費用。我們未來的資金需求將在很大程度上取決於支持候選藥物開發所需的資源。
我們相信,我們現有的現金和現金等值物將足以滿足我們到2025年第三季度的運營費用和資本支出需求。我們對現金跑道的估計是基於可能被證明是錯誤的假設,我們可以比預期更快地利用可用的資本資源。我們將需要額外的資金來進行XYNGARI™治療痤瘡的第三期研究,並尋求其他候選藥物的許可或收購。
額外資金可能無法及時、以優惠的條件或根本無法獲得,並且此類資金如果籌集,可能不足以使我們繼續實施我們的長期業務戰略。如果我們無法籌集足夠的額外資本,我們可能需要大幅削減計劃運營和增長戰略的追求。
我們可能會通過出售股權或可轉換債務證券籌集額外資本。在這種情況下,這些證券的條款可能包括清算或對我們普通股持有人的權利產生不利影響的其他優惠。
Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with research, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical drugs, we are unable to estimate the exact amount of our working capital requirements. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including:
| · | the number and characteristics of the drug candidates we pursue; |
|
|
|
| · | the scope, progress, results, and costs of researching and developing our drug candidates, and conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials; |
|
|
|
| · | the timing of, and the costs involved in, obtaining regulatory approvals for our drug candidates; |
|
|
|
| · | the cost of manufacturing our drug candidates and any drugs we successfully commercialize; |
|
|
|
| · | our ability to establish and maintain strategic collaborations, licensing or other arrangements and the financial terms of such agreements; |
|
|
|
| · | the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending, and enforcing patent claims, including litigation costs and the outcome of such litigation; and |
|
|
|
| · | the timing, receipt and amount of sales of, or milestone payments related to or royalties on, our current or future drug candidates, if any. |
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To continue to grow our business over the longer term, we plan to commit substantial resources to research and development, clinical trials of our product candidates, and other operations and potential product acquisitions and in licensing. We have evaluated and expect to continue to evaluate a wide array of strategic transactions as part of our plan to acquire or in license and develop additional products and product candidates to augment our internal development pipeline. Strategic transaction opportunities that we may pursue could materially affect our liquidity and capital resources and may require us to incur additional indebtedness, seek equity capital or both. In addition, we may pursue development, acquisition or in licensing of approved or development products in new or existing therapeutic areas or continue the expansion of our existing operations. Accordingly, we expect to continue to opportunistically seek access to additional capital to license or acquire additional products, product candidates or companies to expand our operations, or for general corporate purposes. Strategic transactions may require us to raise additional capital through one or more public or private debt or equity financings or could be structured as a collaboration or partnering arrangement. We have no arrangements, agreements, or understandings in place at the present time to enter into any acquisition, in licensing or similar strategic business transaction.
If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholder will experience dilution. Debt financing, if available, would result in increased fixed payment obligations and may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. Any debt financing or additional equity that we raise may contain terms, such as liquidation and other preferences that are not favorable to us or our stockholder. If we raise additional funds through collaboration and licensing arrangements with third parties, it may be necessary to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams or product candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us.
We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, future debt financing into which we enter may impose upon us covenants that restrict our operations, including limitations on our ability to incur liens or additional debt, pay dividends, redeem our stock, make certain investments and engage in certain merger, consolidation or asset sale transactions.
如果我們無法在需要時或以可接受的條款籌集額外資本,我們可能會被要求大幅推遲、縮減或停止一個或多個候選產品的開發或商業化,限制我們的運營或通過以不具吸引力的條款簽訂協議來獲取資金,這可能會對我們的業務產生重大不利影響。股價以及我們與有業務關係的第三方的關係,至少在獲得額外資金之前是這樣。如果我們沒有足夠的資金繼續運營,我們可能會被要求尋求破產保護或其他替代方案,這可能會導致我們的股東失去對我們的部分或全部投資。此外,我們實現盈利或應對競爭壓力的能力也將受到顯着限制。
持續經營
自成立以來,我們一直從事組織活動,包括籌集資金和研發活動。我們尚未產生收入,尚未實現盈利運營,也從未從運營中產生正現金流。不能保證,如果實現了盈利的運營,就可以持續下去。我們面臨着與任何臨牀晚期製藥公司相關的風險,這些公司在研發方面投入了大量資金。不能保證我們的研究和開發項目會成功,不能保證所開發的產品會獲得必要的監管批准,也不能保證任何批准的產品在商業上是可行的。此外,我們在技術快速變化的環境中運營,在很大程度上依賴於員工和顧問的服務。此外,我們未來的運營取決於公司籌集額外資本的努力是否成功。這些不確定性使人對我們在財務報表發佈日期後作爲一家持續經營的企業繼續經營12個月的能力產生了極大的懷疑。所附財務報表是在持續經營的基礎上編制的。財務報表並不包括任何調整,以反映因公司可能無法繼續經營而對資產的可收回性及分類或負債的金額及分類可能造成的未來影響,而持續經營的目的是在正常業務過程中繼續經營、變現資產及清償負債。我們在截至2024年12月31日的年度發生淨虧損1,230美元萬,截至2024年12月31日的累計赤字爲6,570美元萬。我們預計會出現更多虧損,直到我們能夠從目前正在開發的候選產品中獲得可觀的收入。我們的主要資金來源一直是發行債務和股票證券。
最近頒佈的會計準則
有關最近會計公告的討論,請參閱本年度報告其他地方包含的財務報表註釋中的重要會計政策摘要。
《就業法案》
2012年4月5日,2012年《快速啓動我們的商業初創法案》(JOBS Act)簽署成爲法律。《就業法案》包含的條款包括減少「新興成長型公司」的某些報告要求。作爲一家「新興成長型公司」,我們選擇利用《JOBS法案》規定的延長過渡期來實施新的或修訂的會計準則,因此,我們將在非新興成長型公司需要採用此類準則的相關日期遵守新的或修訂的會計準則。《就業法案》第107條規定,我們不利用延長的過渡期的決定是不可撤銷的。
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在符合JOBS法案規定的某些條件的情況下,作爲一家「新興成長型公司」,除其他事項外,我們不需要(I)根據第404條就我們的財務報告內部控制系統提供核數師證明報告,(Ii)提供根據多德-弗蘭克華爾街改革和消費者保護法案對非新興成長型上市公司可能要求的所有薪酬披露,(Iii)遵守上市公司會計監督委員會可能採納的有關強制性審計公司輪換的任何要求,或補充提供有關審計和財務報表的額外資料的核數師報告(核數師討論和分析),及(Iv)披露某些與高管薪酬有關的項目,例如高管薪酬與業績之間的相關性,以及行政總裁薪酬與員工薪酬中位數的比較。這些豁免將一直適用到我們的首次公開募股完成五週年,也就是2026年8月,或者直到我們不再滿足作爲一家「新興成長型公司」的要求,以較早發生的爲準。
項目7A。關於市場風險的定量和證明性披露
不適用因
項目8.財務報表和補充數據
本項所需的信息出現在本年度報告的單獨部分中,表格10-K從F-1頁開始,並通過引用併入本文。
項目9.會計和財務披露方面的變更和與會計師的分歧
沒有。
項目9A.控制和程序
披露控制和程序的評估
我們的管理層在首席執行官和財務長的參與下,評估了截至2024年12月31日我們的披露控制和程序的有效性。交易法第13a-15(E)和15d-15(E)條中定義的「披露控制和程序」一詞是指公司的控制和其他程序,旨在確保公司在根據交易法提交或提交的報告中要求披露的信息在美國證券交易委員會規則和表格指定的時間段內得到記錄、處理、彙總和報告。披露控制和程序包括但不限於旨在確保公司根據交易所法案提交或提交的報告中要求披露的信息被累積並傳達給公司管理層(包括其主要高管和主要財務官)的控制和程序,以便及時做出關於要求披露的決定。管理層認識到,任何控制和程序,無論設計和操作得多麼好,都只能爲實現其目標提供合理的保證,管理部門在評估可能的控制和程序的成本-效益關係時必須運用其判斷。根據對我們截至2024年12月31日的披露控制和程序的評估,我們的首席執行官和財務長得出結論,截至該日期,我們的披露控制和程序在合理的保證水平下是有效的。
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and effected by our Board, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and includes those policies and procedures that:
● | Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of assets; |
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● | provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with the authorizations of management and our Board; and |
● | provide reasonable assurance regarding the prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements. |
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework provided in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2024.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting identified in management’s evaluation pursuant to Rules 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act that occurred during the quarter and year ended December 31, 2024, that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
Our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, believes that our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and are effective at the reasonable assurance level. However, our management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent 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 system 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 all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls 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; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
| (a) | None |
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| (b) | During the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2024, no director or “officer” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act) of the Company adopted or terminated any “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K. |
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
None.
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PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The following table sets forth certain information regarding our current executive officers and directors, as of March 1, 2025:
Name |
| Age |
| Position(s) |
| Serving in Position Since |
|
Gerald T. Proehl |
| 66 |
| President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman |
| 2014 |
|
Kyri K. Van Hoose |
| 46 |
| Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer |
| 2021 |
|
Christopher J. Nardo, Ph.D. |
| 60 |
| Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer |
| 2015 |
|
Maria Bedoya Toro Munera, Ph.D. |
| 73 |
| Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs & Quality Assurance |
| 2016 |
|
Brittany Bradrick |
| 55 |
| Director |
| 2022 |
|
Mary Fisher |
| 63 |
| Director |
| 2021 |
|
David Hale |
| 76 |
| Lead Director |
| 2014 |
|
Steven J. Mento, Ph.D. |
| 73 |
| Director |
| 2021 |
|
Andrew Sandler, M.D. |
| 60 |
| Director |
| 2021 |
|
Kathleen Scott |
| 56 |
| Director |
| 2021 |
|
Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D. |
| 77 |
| Director |
| 2016 |
|
Executive Officers
Gerald T. Proehl, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman
Mr. Proehl became a director and our President and Chief Executive Officer in December 2014 and became our Chairman in April 2021. Mr. Proehl has more than 30 years of experience within the pharmaceutical industry and 21 years of experience as a chief executive officer. From January 2002 until January 2014, Mr. Proehl was President and CEO of Santarus, Inc., where he led the sale of Santarus, Inc. to Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for $2.6 billion. Prior to Santarus, Inc., Mr. Proehl worked for Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc. for 14 years, where he served in various capacities, including VP of Global Marketing. While at Hoechst, he was responsible for marketing products in multiple therapeutic areas, including cardiology, allergy/respiratory, immunology, and neurology. Mr. Proehl holds a B.S. in Education from State University of New York at Cortland, an M.A. in Exercise Physiology from Wake Forest University, and an M.B.A. from Rockhurst University. Mr. Proehl currently serves as chairman of the board of one public company, Tenax Therapeutics, Inc. (NYSE: TENX). Mr. Proehl was selected as an officer and director due to his leadership experience at other companies and his history of founding and operating specialty pharmaceutical companies.
Kyri K. Van Hoose, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Van Hoose became our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in September 2021. Ms. Van Hoose is a seasoned and collaborative professional with over 20 years of experience in the life science industry. Prior to joining Dermata, from September 2020 to April 2021, Ms. Van Hoose served as Chief Financial Officer of TEGA Therapeutics, Inc., a private biotechnology company. Prior to TEGA, from November 2019 to April 2020, Ms. Van Hoose served as the head of finance for Curzion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a private, rare disease company, until its acquisition by Horizon Therapeutics plc in April 2020. Ms. Van Hoose also served as head of finance at Avelas Biosciences, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company from December 2017 to July 2019. From September 2005 to February 2016, Ms. Van Hoose held leadership positions of increasing responsibilities at Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Inc., including Senior Director of Finance and Corporate Controller. Ms. Van Hoose began her career at Deloitte and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (California inactive). Ms. Van Hoose earned her B.S. in Accounting at the University of Southern California and M.B.A. at the University of California, Irvine.
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Christopher J. Nardo, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer
Dr. Nardo became our Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer in July 2022, and previously was our Senior Vice President of Development beginning in June 2015. Dr. Nardo has more than 25 years’ experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and has successfully filed more than a dozen marketing applications in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and Japan. His experience spans pre-clinical work through Phase 4 drug development of both small molecules and biologics for a broad range of therapeutic areas including: dermatology, ophthalmology, oncology, antiviral, urology, auto-immune and cardiology. From 2010 to 2015, Dr. Nardo was Senior Director of Clinical Development at Allergan where he had responsibility for the conduct, submission, and approval of several global drug development programs, involving multiple dermatology assets, which included several new indications for BOTOX®. From 2005 to 2010, Dr. Nardo served as Vice President of Clinical Operations at Spectrum Pharmaceuticals where he worked on developing new therapeutic opportunities in oncology and urology, including Fusilev® and Zevalin®. Prior to joining Spectrum, Dr. Nardo held several clinical development positions with increasing responsibility at CancerVax Corporation, The Immune Response Corporation, and Procter and Gamble. Dr. Nardo earned a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.P.H. from San Diego State University, and a B.S. (Biology) from Loyola Marymount University.
Maria Bedoya Toro Munera, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs & Quality Assurance
Dr. Bedoya Toro Munera became our Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance in January 2016. Dr. Bedoya Toro Munera has more than 30 years of experience in regulatory compliance, quality control and quality assurance within the pharmaceutical industry. From 2014 until its sale to Celgene in 2015, Dr. Bedoya Toro Munera served as Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance at Receptos Inc. Prior to Receptos, Inc., Dr. Bedoya Toro Munera served as Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance at Santarus, Inc. from June 2007 to January 2014. She previously served as Senior Director Regulatory Affairs at Eisai Medical Research Inc., from November 2006 to May 2007, moving to Eisai from Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. when Ligand divested their oncology products to Eisai in November 2006. Dr. Bedoya Toro Munera worked as Senior Director Global Regulatory Affairs and Compliance at Ligand from 2003 to 2006. From 2000 to 2003, she served as Director Global Regulatory Affairs at Baxter Hyland Immuno. From 1998 to 2000, Dr. Bedoya Toro Munera worked at BASF Bioresearch Corporation as Director, Regulatory Affairs/Quality, and from 1996 to 1998, she worked as Director, Quality Assurance and Regulatory Compliance at Amylin Pharmaceuticals. From 1988 to 1996, Dr. Bedoya Toro Munera worked at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer in a number of increasingly responsible positions in regulatory compliance, quality assurance, quality control and compliance. Dr. Bedoya Toro Munera holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. in bio-analytical chemistry from Ohio University. In addition, she has a M.A. in bio-analytical chemistry and a B.S. in chemistry from Western Michigan University.
Non-Employee Directors
Brittany Bradrick, Director
Ms. Bradrick became a director in January 2022. Ms. Bradrick has served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Neurelis, Inc. since September 2022 and the Chief Financial Officer since October 2021. Prior to joining Neurelis, Ms. Bradrick was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at ViaCyte Inc. from June 2020 to September 2021. Prior to Viacyte, Ms. Bradrick served in strategy and corporate development positions at Insulet Corporation as Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development from 2016 to 2020 and as Director, Business Development & Alliance Management at Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT). Ms. Bradrick was appointed as a director to Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPPI) on May 4, 2022 and was appointed as the chairperson to the audit committee on May 25, 2022. Prior to these positions, Ms. Bradrick was an investment banker for the life science industry at Piper Jaffray, Credit Suisse, and Chase Securities from 1997 to 2007. Ms. Bradrick began her career as a Federal Reserve Bank Examiner. Ms. Bradrick holds an M.B.A. from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Missouri. Ms. Bradrick was selected as a director due to her extensive industry and financial experience.
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Mary Fisher, Director
Ms. Fisher became a director upon the effectiveness of our initial public offering in August 2021. Ms. Fisher currently serves as Chief Executive Officer, Chair, and a Director at Colorescience Inc., a science-based skincare company and former division of SkinMedica, Inc. While at SkinMedica, Ms. Fisher served as Chief Executive Officer from April 2008 to December 2012, where she led the successful sale of the company to Allergan, Inc. for $350 million. Prior to joining SkinMedica, from June 2000 to July 2007, Ms. Fisher served as the Chief Operating Officer of Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOR). She previously held management and leadership positions at Cephalon, Inc. from March 1994 to March 1999, Immunex Corp. from November 1990 to March 1994, and Boehringer Ingelheim from 1981 to 1990. She previously served on the Board of Directors at ZELTIQ Aesthetics, Inc. from September 2012 to April 2017, and Ovascience from June 2013 to August 2018. Ms. Fisher currently sits on the Board of AVAVA, a position she has held since December 2024. Ms. Fisher was selected as a director due to her extensive business and professional experience.
David Hale, Lead Director
Mr. Hale is our co-founder and has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2014, and as Lead Director since April 2021. Mr. Hale is Chairman and CEO of Hale BioPharma Ventures, LLC a private company focused on the formation and development of biotechnology, specialty pharma, diagnostic and medical device companies. Mr. Hale is a serial entrepreneur who has been involved in the formation and development of a number of successful biomedical companies. He served as the Chairman of Santarus, Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical company, since 2004 and a member of Santarus’ board since 2000, prior to its acquisition by Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. in 2014, and as Chairman of SkinMedica, Inc., prior to its sale to Allergan in 2012, Micromet, Inc., prior to its sale to Amgen Inc. in 2012, Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., prior to its sale to Pernix Therapeutics Holdings Inc. in 2013, Crisi Medical Systems, Inc., prior to its sale to Becton Dickinson & Company in 2015, and Agility Clinical, Inc. prior to its sale to Precision Medicine Inc. in 2017. Mr. Hale is a co-founder and currently serves as Chairman of Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCT), since 2013. Mr. Hale is also a co-founder and currently serves as a director of Neurelis, Inc., a private company, and is a co-founder of Zerigo Health, Inc., Cadence, Inc., Evoke Pharma, Inc., Elevation Pharma, Inc., and Zogenix, Inc. Mr. Hale is a co-founder and serves on the Board of Directors of BIOCOM and CONNECT and is a former member of the Board of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), and the Biotechnology Institute. He has served on the Board of Rady Children’s Hospital since 1986, including Chairman of the Board from 2011 to 2015, and is founder and Chairman of the Rady Children’s Institute of Genomic Medicine. He is a member of the UCSD Rady School of Management Dean’s Advisory Council, a member of the board of the University of San Diego, and is a former Director of the San Diego Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Hale was selected as a director due to his industry and executive business experience.
Steven J. Mento, Ph.D., Director
Dr. Mento became a director upon the effectiveness of our initial public offering in August 2021. Dr. Mento served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Histogen Inc. from March 2023 until September 2023. He assumed these positions in March of 2023. From November 2021 to October 2023, Dr. Mento served as Executive Chairman and Interim President and CEO of Histogen Inc. (Nasdaq: HSTO). Since July 2005, Dr. Mento has served as a director on the board of directors of Conatus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and from July 2005 to December 2012, Dr. Mento served as chairman of Conatus’ board of directors. Dr. Mento was a co-founder of Conatus and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from July 2005 until its merger with Histogen Inc. in May 2020. Dr. Mento has over 35 years of combined experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. From 1997 to 2005, Dr. Mento was President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Idun Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Mento guided Idun during its transition from a discovery focused organization to a drug development company with multiple products in or near human clinical testing. In April 2005, Idun was sold to Pfizer Inc. Previously, Dr. Mento served as President of Chiron Viagene, Inc. (subsequently Chiron Technologies, Center for Gene Therapy) from 1995 to 1997, and Vice President of Chiron Corporation from 1995 to 1997. Dr. Mento was Vice President of research and development at Viagene from 1992 to 1995. Prior to Viagene, Dr. Mento held various positions at American Cyanamid Company from 1982 to 1992, including as Director of Viral Vaccine Research and Development at Lederle-Praxis Biologicals, a business unit of American Cyanamid. Dr. Mento currently serves on the board of directors of Histogen, BIOCOM California and various academic and charitable organizations. He previously served on the boards of Biotechnology Innovation Organization, BIO Emerging Companies Section Governing Board, BIO Health Section Governing Board, and Sangamo Biosciences, Inc. Dr. Mento holds a Ph.D. and M.S., both in Microbiology, from Rutgers University, and a B.A. in Microbiology from Rutgers College. Dr. Mento was selected as a director due to his experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, including executive leadership experience at several pharmaceutical companies.
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Andrew Sandler, M.D., Director
Dr. Sandler became a director upon the effectiveness of our initial public offering in August 2021. Dr. Sandler served as Chief Medical Officer of Alpine Immune Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALPN) from August 2022 until June 2024. From September 2017 until June 2022, Dr. Sandler served as Chief Medical Officer at Kiadis Pharma N.V. Prior to Kiadis, Dr. Sandler was Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs at Medivation (acquired by Pfizer) from January 2016 to June 2017. Dr. Sandler held various additional roles including Chief Medical Officer and Seattle Site Head at Dendreon Pharmaceuticals from October 2010 to April 2015. Prior to Dendreon, Dr. Sandler was Chief Medical Officer at Spectrum Pharmaceuticals from September 2008 to April 2010, and Vice President, Head of Global Medical Affairs, Oncology for Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals from February 2008 to February 2010. Dr. Sandler also held various positions at Berlex Oncology/Schering AG from October 2003 to August 2008, and Seagen, Inc. from October 1999 to June 2003. Dr. Sandler was a Fellow in Hematology/Medical Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) from July 1994 to June 1996. He did his Internship, Residency, and Chief Residency at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, NY from July 1990 to June 1994. Dr. Sandler attended and received his MD degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai) from July 1986 to June 1990. In addition, he graduated from the University of Rochester with a B.S. degree in Neuroscience in 1986. Dr. Sandler was selected as a director due to his experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries as well as his leadership experience.
Kathleen Scott, Director
Ms. Scott became a director upon the effectiveness of our initial public offering in August 2021. Ms. Scott is currently the Chief Financial Officer of ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly traded biotech company (Nasdaq: SPRY). Prior to ARS Pharmaceuticals, Ms. Scott was the Chief Financial Officer of Neurana Pharmaceuticals from January 2017 to March 2022, Recros Medica from August 2014 to April 2021, Adigica Health from February 2016 to March 2021, Clarify Medical from August 2014 to December 2016, Oncternal Therapeutics from March 2016 to May 2016, MDRejuvena from August 2014 to August 2016, and BioSurplus from March 2010 to November 2014. Prior to BioSurplus, Ms. Scott was a Partner at RA Capital Advisors, a San Diego private investment bank providing financial advisory services. Ms. Scott spent over 15 years with RA Capital Advisors, from December 1994 to July 2010, completing billions of dollars of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and restructurings for a broad range of corporate clients. Ms. Scott started her career as an auditor in Arthur Andersen’s San Diego office, focusing on both public and private clients. Ms. Scott was the past board chair and is a current director of the YMCA of San Diego County. In September of 2023 Ms. Scott became a director of NKGen Biotech, Inc. (OTCQX: NKGN) and is currently the chair of its audit and compensation committees. Ms. Scott is a CPA and CFA charter holder and graduated magna cum laude from UCLA with a B.S. in economics/business. Ms. Scott was selected as a director due to her extensive industry and financial experience.
Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D., Director
Dr. Wierenga became a director in September 2016. From June 2011 to January 2014, Dr. Wierenga served as Executive Vice President, Research and Development at Santarus, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company that was acquired by Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in January 2014. From July 2004 to May 2011, Dr. Wierenga served as Executive Vice President, Research and Development at Ambit Biosciences Corporation and Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: NBIX). Prior to Neurocrine, from August 1999 to June 2004 he served as the Chief Executive Officer for Syrrx, Inc. where he built an early-stage biotech company which was acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited in 2005. From 1990 to 2000, Dr. He also was Sr. VP of Research at Parke Davis/Warner Lambert, when it was acquired by Pfizer Inc. and prior to that held various positions in research at Upjohn Pharmaceuticals from 1974-1990. Dr. Wierenga earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from Stanford University and his B.A. from Hope College in Holland, Michigan. Dr. Wierenga is currently the chair of the Board of Directors of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRNX) and is also a member of the Board of Directors of Cytokinetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CYTK). He was most recently was on the Board of Directors for Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc. and XenoPort, Inc. prior to their sales to Pfizer Inc. and Arbor Pharmaceuticals, LLC, respectively. Dr. Wierenga was selected as a director due to his industry and executive business experience.
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Classified Board of Directors
In accordance with the terms of our Certificate of Incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, as amended, (“Bylaws”) our Board is divided into three classes, Class I, Class II, and Class III, with each class serving staggered three-year terms. Upon the expiration of the term of a class of directors, directors in that class will be eligible to be elected for a new three-year term at the annual meeting of stockholders in the year in which their term expires. Our directors are divided among the three classes as follows:
| · | The Class I directors are Andrew Sandler, M.D., and Mary Fisher; their terms will expire at the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders. |
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| · | The Class II directors are David Hale, Brittany Bradrick, and Steven J. Mento, Ph.D.; their terms will expire at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders. |
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| · | The Class III directors are Gerald T. Proehl, Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D., and Kathleen Scott; their terms expire at the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders. |
We expect that any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors. The division of our Board into three classes with staggered three-year terms may delay or prevent a change of our management or a change in control.
Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of our Board. Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws also provide that our directors may be removed only for cause, and that any vacancy on our Board, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our Board, may be filled only by vote of a majority of our directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our employees, officers and directors. A current copy of the code is posted on the Corporate Governance section of our website, which is located at www.dermatarx.com. We intend to disclose future amendments to certain provisions of our code of business conduct and ethics, or waivers of such provisions applicable to any principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, and our directors, on our website identified above or in filings with the SEC. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is a “code of ethics,” as defined in Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K. We will make any legally required disclosures regarding amendments to, or waivers of, provisions of our code of ethics on our website. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference and is not part of this Form 10-K.
Insider trading arrangements and policies.
We have adopted an insider trading policy that governs the purchase, sale, and/or other transactions of our securities by our directors, officers and employees. A copy of our insider trading policy is filed as Exhibit 19.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. In addition, with regard to the Company’s trading in its own securities, it is the Company’s policy to comply with the federal securities laws and the applicable exchange listing requirements in all respects.
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Board Committees
Our Board has established an audit committee (“Audit Committee”), a compensation committee (“Compensation Committee”), and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (“Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee”) Our Board may establish other committees to facilitate the management of our business. The composition and functions of each committee named above are described below. Members serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined by our Board. Each of these committees operate under a charter that has been approved by our Board, which are available on our website.
Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee consists of Kathleen Scott, Mary Fisher, and Brittany Bradrick, with Ms. Scott serving as the Chairwoman of the Audit Committee. Our Board has determined that the three directors currently serving on our Audit Committee are independent within the meaning of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. In addition, our Board has determined that Kathleen Scott qualifies as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of SEC regulations and the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. Each of the members of the Audit Committee meets the requirements for financial literacy under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq.
The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include:
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| appointing, approving the compensation of, and assessing the qualifications, performance and independence of our independent registered public accounting firm, and in particular the provision of additional services to each entity covered by the Audit Committee; |
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| · | pre-approving audit and permissible non-audit services, and the terms of such services, to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm; |
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|
| · | reviewing and discussing with management and the independent registered public accounting firm our annual and quarterly financial statements and related disclosures as well as critical accounting policies and practices used by us; |
|
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|
| · | monitoring the audit of our financial statements; |
|
|
|
| · | setting policies for our hiring of employees or former employees of our independent registered public accounting firm; |
|
|
|
| · | reviewing our significant risks or exposures and assessing the steps that management has taken or should take to monitor and minimize such risks or exposures; |
|
|
|
| · | reviewing the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, including information system controls and security; |
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|
|
| · | monitoring the effectiveness of our systems of internal control, internal audit and risk management for each entity covered by the Audit Committee; |
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|
|
| · | establishing policies and procedures for the receipt and retention of accounting-related complaints and concerns; |
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· | recommending, based upon the audit committee’s review and discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, whether our audited financial statements shall be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K; | |
| ||
· | monitoring our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they relate to our financial statements and accounting matters; | |
| ||
· | preparing the Audit Committee report required by the rules of the SEC to be included in our annual proxy statement; | |
| ||
· | reviewing all related party transactions for potential conflict of interest situations and approving all such transactions; and | |
| ||
· | reviewing and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm our earnings releases and scripts. |
Our Audit Committee operates pursuant to a charter that is available on our website at https://ir.dermatarx.com/ under the Governance section.
Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee consists of Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D., David Hale, and Andrew Sandler, M.D., with Dr. Wierenga serving as the Chairman of the Compensation Committee. Our Board has determined that the three directors currently serving on our Compensation Committee are independent under the listing standards, are “non-employee directors” as defined in rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and are “outside directors” as that term is defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
The Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include:
| · | reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our chief executive officer, the officers who report directly to the chief executive officer and all officers who are “insiders” subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act; |
|
|
|
| · | evaluating the performance of our chief executive officer and such other officers in light of such corporate goals and objectives and determining and approving, or recommending to our Board for approval, the compensation of our chief executive officer and such other officers; |
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|
|
| · | appointing, compensating, and overseeing the work of any compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor retained by the compensation committee; |
|
|
|
| · | conducting the independence assessment outlined in the listing standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market with respect to any compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor retained by the compensation committee; |
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|
| · | annually reviewing and reassessing the adequacy of the committee charter; |
|
|
|
| · | reviewing and establishing our overall management compensation and our compensation philosophy and policy; |
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| · | overseeing and administering our equity compensation and other compensatory plans; |
|
|
|
| · | reviewing and approving our equity and incentive policies and procedures for the grant of equity-based awards and approving the grant of such equity-based awards; |
|
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| · | reviewing and making recommendations to our Board with respect to non-employee director compensation; and |
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| · | producing a report, if required, on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement or Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
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Our Compensation Committee operates pursuant to a charter that is available on our website at https://ir.dermatarx.com/ under the Governance section.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of David Hale, Steven Mento, Ph.D., and Andrew Sandler, M.D., with Mr. Hale serving as the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. All members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are independent directors as defined under the Nasdaq listing standards.
The nominating and corporate governance committee’s responsibilities include:
| · | establishing procedures for identifying and evaluating board of director candidates, including nominees recommended by stockholder; |
|
|
|
| · | identifying individuals qualified to become members of our Board; |
|
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|
| · | recommending to our Board the persons to be nominated for election as directors and to each of our Board’s committees; |
|
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|
| · | developing and recommending to our Board a set of corporate governance principles; |
|
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|
| · | articulating to each director what is expected, including reference to the corporate governance principles and directors’ duties and responsibilities; |
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| · | reviewing and recommending to our Board practices and policies with respect to directors; |
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|
| · | reviewing and recommending to our Board the functions, duties and compositions of the committees of our Board; |
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| · | reviewing and assessing the adequacy of the committee charter and submitting any changes to our Board for approval; |
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| · | considering and reporting to our Board any questions of possible conflicts of interest of Board members; |
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| · | providing for new director orientation and continuing education for existing directors on a periodic basis; |
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| · | performing an evaluation of the performance of the committee; and |
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| · | overseeing the evaluation of our Board. |
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates pursuant to a charter that is available on our website at https://ir.dermatarx.com/ under the Governance section.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table presents information regarding the total compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer and the most highly-compensated executive officer (other than the chief executive officer and chief financial officer) who were serving as executive officers as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 for services rendered in all capacities to us for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. These individuals are our “Named Executive Officers” for 2024. We had no other named executive officers in 2024 and 2023.
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Name and Principal Position |
| Year |
| Salary |
|
| Bonus |
|
| Stock Option Awards (3) |
|
| Total |
| ||||
Gerald T. Proehl |
| 2024 |
| $ | 280,000 |
|
| $ | 117,600 | (1) |
| $ | 64,373 |
|
| $ | 461,973 |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer |
| 2023 |
|
| 280,000 |
|
|
| 112,000 | (2) |
|
| - |
|
|
| 392,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kyri K. Van Hoose |
| 2024 |
|
| 328,500 |
|
|
| 110,376 | (1) |
|
| 25,740 |
|
|
| 464,616 |
|
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer |
| 2023 |
|
| 315,000 |
|
|
| 100,800 | (2) |
|
| 26,450 | (4) |
|
| 442,250 | (5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher J. Nardo, Ph.D. |
| 2024 |
|
| 349,500 |
|
|
| 117,432 | (1) |
|
| 25,748 |
|
|
| 492,680 |
|
Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer |
| 2023 |
|
| 336,000 |
|
|
| 107,520 | (2) |
|
| 26,450 | (4) |
|
| 469,970 | (5) |
(1) | Bonuses earned for 2024 will be paid in 2025. |
|
|
(2) | Bonuses earned for 2023 were paid in January 2024. |
|
|
(3) | In accordance with SEC rules, this column reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of the stock option awards granted during 2024 and 2023. These amounts have been computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of this amount are described in Note 7 to our financial statements. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value that will be realized by the executives upon the vesting of the stock options, the exercise of the stock options, or the sale of the common stock underlying such stock options.
|
(4) | These option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2023, were cancelled for no consideration in February 2024. The Company did not award any replacement stock options.
|
(5) | Includes the option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2023, that were cancelled for no consideration in February 2024. |
Employment Agreements with Our Named Executive Officers
We are party to employment agreements with each of our Named Executive Officers listed below. Each of these Named Executive Officers are currently party to customary confidentiality and intellectual property assignment agreements with us.
Gerald T. Proehl
On December 6, 2021, we entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Proehl (the “Proehl Agreement”). Under the terms of the Proehl Agreement, Mr. Proehl holds the position of President and Chief Executive Officer and is due a base salary of $350,000 annually. However, starting in July 2022, in an effort to preserve the Company’s cash, Mr. Proehl voluntarily agreed to a base salary of $280,000, which the Compensation Committee approved and has not been increased since 2022. In addition, Mr. Proehl is eligible to receive an annual bonus, with a target amount equal to 50% of Mr. Proehl’s base salary. The actual amount of each annual bonus will be based upon the level of achievement of certain of our corporate objectives and Mr. Proehl’s individual objectives, in each case, as established by the Company and Mr. Proehl for the calendar year with respect to which the annual bonus relates. The determination of the level of achievement of the corporate objectives and Mr. Proehl’s individual performance objectives for a year shall be made by us in our reasonable discretion. In addition, Mr. Proehl is eligible to receive, from time to time, equity awards under our existing equity incentive plan, or any other equity incentive plan we may adopt in the future, and the terms and conditions of such awards, if any, will be determined by our board of directors or the Compensation Committee, in their discretion. Mr. Proehl will also be eligible to participate in any executive benefit plan or program we adopt.
We may terminate Mr. Proehl’s employment at any time without Cause (as that term is defined in the Proehl Agreement) upon four weeks prior written notice to Mr. Proehl. Mr. Proehl may terminate his employment for Good Reason (as that term is defined in the Proehl Agreement) upon 60 days written notice.
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If Mr. Proehl’s employment is terminated without Cause or for Good Reason, Mr. Proehl will be entitled to receive (i) his earned but unpaid base salary through the final day of his employment, (ii) expenses reimbursable under the Proehl Agreement incurred on or prior to the last day of his employment, (iii) any amounts or benefits that are vested amounts or benefits that Mr. Proehl is entitled to receive under any of our equity compensation plans (clauses (i) through (iii) collectively, the Accrued Obligations), (iv) severance payments equal to 12 months of Mr. Proehl’s base salary (to be paid in a lump sum on the next regular payroll date within 60 days of Mr. Proehl’s termination), (v) a pro-rated payment equal to the annual bonus the Board determines is due, and (vi) if elected, we will reimburse Mr. Proehl for certain COBRA health benefits for 12 months.
Notwithstanding the above, if Mr. Proehl’s employment is terminated without Cause or he resigns for Good Reason either within three months immediately preceding or within one year after a Change of Control (as defined in the 2021 Plan), Mr. Proehl will receive (i) the Accrued Obligations, (ii) severance payments equal to 18 months of Mr. Proehl’s base salary (to be paid in a lump sum on the next regular payroll date within 60 days of Mr. Proehl’s termination), (iii) the targeted annual bonus amount the Board determines is due to Mr. Proehl, (iv) if elected, we will reimburse Mr. Proehl for certain COBRA health benefits for 18 months, and (v) Mr. Proehl will be deemed to be fully vested in all of his outstanding equity awards as of the date of his termination.
If Mr. Proehl’s employment is terminated with Cause or without Good Reason, he will be entitled to receive (i) his earned but unpaid base salary through the final day of his employment, (ii) expenses reimbursable under the employment agreement incurred on or prior to the last day of his employment, and (iii) any amounts or benefits that are vested amounts or benefits that Mr. Proehl is entitled to receive under any of our equity compensation plans.
We may terminate Mr. Proehl’s employment at any time for Cause upon written notice to Mr. Proehl. Mr. Proehl may voluntarily terminate his employment at any time without Good Reason upon four weeks prior written notice.
Kyri K. Van Hoose
On November 19, 2021, we entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Van Hoose, which was subsequently amended on January 1, 2022 (as amended, the “Van Hoose Agreement”). Under the terms of the Van Hoose Agreement, she holds the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and receives a base salary of $328,500 annually. In addition, Ms. Van Hoose is eligible to receive an annual bonus, with a target amount equal to forty percent (40%) of Ms. Van Hoose’s base salary. The actual amount of each annual bonus will be based upon the level of achievement of our corporate objectives and Ms. Van Hoose’s individual objectives, in each case, as established by us and Ms. Van Hoose for the calendar year with respect to which the annual bonus relates. The determination of the level of achievement of the corporate objectives and Ms. Van Hoose’s individual performance objectives for a year shall be made by us in our reasonable discretion. In addition, pursuant to the terms of her employment agreement, Ms. Van Hoose is eligible to receive, from time to time, equity awards under our existing equity incentive plan, or any other equity incentive plan we may adopt in the future, and the terms and conditions of such awards, if any, will be determined by our board of directors or Compensation Committee, in their discretion. Ms. Van Hoose is also eligible to participate in any executive benefit plan or program we adopt.
We may terminate Ms. Van Hoose’s employment at any time without Cause (as that term is defined in the Van Hoose Agreement) upon two weeks prior written notice to Ms. Van Hoose. Ms. Van Hoose may terminate her employment for Good Reason (as that term is defined in the Van Hoose Agreement) upon 60 days written notice to us, upon which notice we have 30 days to cure the conditions that Ms. Van Hoose considers to be Good Reason, subject to certain conditions set forth in her employment agreement.
If Ms. Van Hoose’s employment is terminated without Cause or for Good Reason, Ms. Van Hoose will be entitled to receive (i) the Accrued Obligations, (ii) severance payments equal to nine months of Ms. Van Hoose’s base salary (to be paid in a lump sum on the next regular payroll date within 60 days of Ms. Van Hoose’s termination), (iii) the targeted annual bonus amount the Board determines is due to Ms. Van Hoose, and (iv) if elected, the Company will reimburse Ms. Van Hoose for certain COBRA health benefits for nine months.
Notwithstanding the above, if Ms. Van Hoose’s employment is terminated without Cause or she resigns for Good Reason either within three months immediately preceding or within one year after a Change of Control (as defined in the 2021 Plan), Ms. Van Hoose will receive (i) the Accrued Obligations, (ii) severance payments equal to 12 months of Ms. Van Hoose’s base salary (to be paid in a lump sum on the next regular payroll date within 60 days of Ms. Van Hoose’s termination), (iii) the targeted annual bonus amount the Board determines is due to Ms. Van Hoose, (iv) if elected, the Company will reimburse Ms. Van Hoose for certain COBRA health benefits for 12 months, and (v) Ms. Van Hoose will be deemed to be fully vested in all of her outstanding equity awards as of the date of her termination.
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If Ms. Van Hoose’s employment is terminated with Cause or without Good Reason, she is entitled to receive (i) her earned but unpaid base salary through the final day of her employment, (ii) expenses reimbursable under the employment agreement incurred on or prior to the last day of her employment, and (iii) any amounts or benefits that are vested amounts or benefits that Ms. Van Hoose is entitled to receive under any of our equity compensation plans.
We may terminate Ms. Van Hoose’s employment at any time for Cause upon written notice to Ms. Van Hoose. Ms. Van Hoose may voluntarily terminate her employment at any time without Good Reason upon two weeks prior written notice to us.
Christopher J. Nardo, Ph.D.
On August 17, 2021, we entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Nardo, which was subsequently amended on December 6, 2021, January 1, 2022, and July 1, 2022 (as amended, the “Nardo Agreement”). Dr. Nardo holds the position of Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer and receives a base salary of $349,500 annually. In addition, Dr. Nardo is eligible to receive an annual bonus, with a target amount equal to forty percent (40%) of Dr. Nardo’s base salary. The actual amount of each annual bonus will be based upon the level of achievement of our corporate objectives and Dr. Nardo’s individual objectives, in each case, as established by us and Dr. Nardo for the calendar year with respect to which the annual bonus relates. The determination of the level of achievement of the corporate objectives and Dr. Nardo’s individual performance objectives for a year shall be made by us in our reasonable discretion. In addition, pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, Dr. Nardo is eligible to receive, from time to time, equity awards under our existing equity incentive plan, or any other equity incentive plan we may adopt in the future, and the terms and conditions of such awards, if any, will be determined by our board of directors or Compensation Committee, in their discretion. Dr. Nardo is also eligible to participate in any executive benefit plan or program we adopt.
We may terminate Dr. Nardo’s employment at any time without Cause (as that term is defined in the Nardo Agreement) upon two weeks prior written notice to Dr. Nardo. Dr. Nardo may terminate his employment for Good Reason (as that term is defined in the Nardo Agreement) upon 60 days written notice to us, upon which notice we have 30 days to cure the conditions that Dr. Nardo considers to be Good Reason, subject to certain conditions set forth in his employment agreement.
If Dr. Nardo’s employment is terminated without Cause or for Good Reason, Dr. Nardo will be entitled to receive (i) the Accrued Obligations, (ii) severance payments equal to nine months of Dr. Nardo’s base salary (to be paid in a lump sum on the next regular payroll date within 60 days of Dr. Nardo’s termination), (iii) the targeted annual bonus amount the Board determines is due to Dr. Nardo, and (iv) if elected, the Company will reimburse Dr. Nardo for certain COBRA health benefits for nine months.
Notwithstanding the above, if Dr. Nardo’s employment is terminated without Cause or he resigns for Good Reason either within three months immediately preceding or within one year after a Change of Control (as defined in the 2021 Plan), Dr. Nardo will receive (i) the Accrued Obligations, (ii) severance payments equal to 12 months of Dr. Nardo’s base salary (to be paid in a lump sum on the next regular payroll date within 60 days of Dr. Nardo’s termination), (iii) the targeted annual bonus amount the Board determines is due to Dr. Nardo, (iv) if elected, the Company will reimburse Dr. Nardo for certain COBRA health benefits for 12 months, and (v) Dr. Nardo will be deemed to be fully vested in all of his outstanding equity awards as of the date of his termination.
If Dr. Nardo’s employment is terminated with Cause or without Good Reason, he is entitled to receive (i) his earned but unpaid base salary through the final day of his employment, (ii) expenses reimbursable under the employment agreement incurred on or prior to the last day of his employment, and (iii) any amounts or benefits that are vested amounts or benefits that Dr. Nardo is entitled to receive under any of our equity compensation plans.
We may terminate Dr. Nardo’s employment at any time for Cause upon written notice to Dr. Nardo. Dr. Nardo may voluntarily terminate his employment at any time without Good Reason upon two weeks prior written notice to us.
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
The following table summarizes, for each of the named executive officers, the number of shares of common stock underlying outstanding stock options held as of December 31, 2024.
|
| Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options |
|
| Option Exercise |
|
| Option Expiration |
| Vesting |
| |||||||
Name |
| Exercisable |
|
| Unexercisable |
|
| Price |
|
| Date |
| Schedule |
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Gerry T. Proehl |
|
| - |
|
|
| 8,333 |
|
| $ | 9.1485 |
|
| 1/3/2034 |
|
| (1 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kyri K. Van Hoose |
|
| - |
|
|
| 3,332 |
|
| $ | 9.1485 |
|
| 1/3/2034 |
|
| (1 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher J. Nardo, Ph.D. |
|
| - |
|
|
| 3,333 |
|
| $ | 9.1485 |
|
| 1/3/2034 |
|
| (1 | ) |
________________________
(1) This stock option award was granted January 4, 2024. The shares underlying the option will vest as to 25% upon the 12-month anniversary of the grant date and will vest as to 75% in 36 equal monthly installments commencing on the 12-month anniversary of the grant date. |
The outstanding options awards held by our Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2023, were cancelled for no consideration in February 2024. None of our Named Executive Officers have been granted any replacement options. We otherwise did not engage in any repricings or other modifications or cancellations to any of our named executive officers’ outstanding option awards during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Director Compensation Table – 2024
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation paid to our non-employee directors during 2024.
Name |
| Fees Earned Paid in Cash (1) |
|
| Stock Awards (2) |
|
| Stock Option Awards (3)(4) |
|
| Total |
| ||||
David Hale |
| $ | 73,000 |
|
| $ | - |
|
| $ | 4,986 |
|
| $ | 77,986 |
|
Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D. |
|
| 50,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 4,986 |
|
|
| 54,986 |
|
Kathleen Scott |
|
| 55,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 4,986 |
|
|
| 59,986 |
|
Steven J. Mento, Ph.D. |
|
| 44,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 4,986 |
|
|
| 48,986 |
|
Mary Fisher |
|
| 47,500 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 4,986 |
|
|
| 52,486 |
|
Andrew Sandler, M.D. |
|
| 49,000 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 4,986 |
|
|
| 53,986 |
|
Brittany Bradrick |
|
| 47,500 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| 4,986 |
|
|
| 52,486 |
|
________________________
(1) | Board of Director fees earned or paid in cash were for calendar year 2024, representing fees earned by our non-employee directors. |
|
|
(2) | The Board of Directors did not receive stock awards in 2024. All compensation was paid in cash. |
|
|
(3) | In accordance with SEC rules, this column reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of the stock option awards granted during 2024. These amounts have been computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of this amount are described in Note 7 to our financial statements. This amount does not reflect the actual economic value that will be realized by the directors upon the vesting of the stock options, the exercise of the stock options, or the sale of the common stock underlying such stock options. |
|
|
(4) | In February 2024, the following options held by directors were cancelled for no consideration: (i) options exercisable for 625 shares of common stock held by David Hale; (ii) options exercisable for 1,378 shares of common stock held by Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D.; (iii) options exercisable for 937 shares of common stock held by Kathleen Scott; (iv) options exercisable for 937 shares of common stock held by Steven J. Mento, Ph.D.; (v) options exercisable for 937 shares of common stock held by Mary Fisher; (vi) options exercisable for 937 shares of common stock held by Andrew Sandler, M.D.; and (vii) options exercisable for 625 shares of common stock held by Brittany Bradrick. None of our directors have been granted any replacement options. |
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Director Compensation Policy
We have adopted a compensation policy pursuant to which our non-employee board members receive $40,000 per year ($60,000 for Lead Director), each member of the Audit Committee receives $7,500 per year ($15,000 for the Chair), each member of the Compensation Committee receives $5,000 per year ($10,000 for the Chair), and each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee receives $4,000 per year ($8,000 for the Chair). Any compensation to be paid under this policy may be made in cash or restricted stock units at the election of each board member which must be made in the prior calendar year. As part of this director compensation policy, our directors may elect to receive their annual compensation (i) 100% in restricted stock units, (ii) 50% in cash and 50% in restricted stock units, or (iii) 100% in cash. To the extent any of our directors elect to receive any of their compensation in restricted stock units, such restricted stock units will not be subject to any vesting term.
We have also adopted an equity compensation policy pursuant to which board members shall be granted stock options to purchase shares of our Common Stock upon joining the board of directors (“New Director Grants”), and at the beginning of each year, each then serving non-employee director shall be automatically granted stock options to purchase shares of our common stock (“Continuing Director Grants”). New Director Grants vest upon the third anniversary of the date of grant, and the Continuing Director Grants vest in twelve equal monthly installments commencing on the date of grant. These stock options shall have a term of ten years and shall have an exercise price equal to 100% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant. All options to be granted under this policy will be granted pursuant to our 2021 Plan.
The Company’s Policies and Practices Related to the Grant of Certain Equity Awards Close in Time to the Release of Material Nonpublic Information
We do not have any formal policy that requires us to grant, or avoid granting, equity-based compensation to our executive officers at certain times. Consistent with our annual compensation cycle, the Compensation, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has for several years granted annual equity awards to its executive officers and directors at the start of the new fiscal year. The timing of any equity grants to executive officers in connection with new hires, promotions, or other non-routine grants is tied to the event giving rise to the award (such as an executive officer’s commencement of employment or promotion effective date). As a result, in all cases, the timing of grants of equity awards, including stock options, occurs independent of the release of any material nonpublic information, and we do not time the disclosure of material nonpublic information for the purpose of affecting the value of equity-based compensation.
No stock options were issued to executive officers in fiscal year 2024 during any period beginning four business days before the filing of a periodic report or current report disclosing material non-public information and ending one business day after the filing or furnishing of such report with the SEC.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
On March 24, 2021, our Board and stockholders adopted the 2021 Plan which provides for the grant of incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options to purchase shares of our common stock and other types of awards. On June 29, 2021, our Board and stockholders approved an amendment to the 2021 Plan to increase the aggregate number of shares of common stock available for issuance in connection with options and other awards granted under the 2021 Plan. On June 22, 2023, our Board and stockholders approved an additional amendment to the 2021 plan to increase the aggregate number of shares of common stock available for issuance in connection with options and other awards under the 2021 Plan.
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The general purpose of the 2021 Plan is to provide a means whereby eligible employees, officers, non-employee directors and other individual service providers develop a sense of proprietorship and personal involvement in our development and financial success, and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to our business, thereby advancing our interests and the interests of our stockholders. By means of the 2021 Plan, we seek to retain the services of such eligible persons and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for our success and the success of our subsidiaries.
The following table provides information with respect to our compensation plans under which equity compensation was authorized as of December 31, 2024.
|
| Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
|
| Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
|
| Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) |
| |||
Plan category |
| (a) |
|
| (b) |
|
|
| (2) | |||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(1) |
|
| 52,341 |
|
| $ | 6.03 |
|
|
| 26,675 |
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
Total |
|
| 52,341 |
|
|
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| 26,675 |
|
(1) | The amounts shown in this row include securities under the 2021 Plan. |
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(2) | In accordance with the “evergreen” provision in the 2021 Plan, an additional 125,888 shares were automatically made available for issuance on the first day of 2025, which represents 5% of the number of shares outstanding on December 31, 2024; these shares are excluded from this calculation. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of March 1, 2025 by:
| · | each of our stockholders who is known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of our Common Stock; |
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| · | each of our named executive officers; |
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| · | each of our directors; and |
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| · | all of our directors and current officers as a group. |
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Beneficial ownership is determined based on the rules and regulations of the SEC. A person has beneficial ownership of shares if such individual has the power to vote and/or dispose of shares. This power may be sole or shared and direct or indirect. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of our common stock that are subject to options or warrants held by that person and exercisable as of, or within 60 days of March 1, 2025 are counted as outstanding. These shares, however, are not counted as outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person(s). Except as otherwise noted in the footnotes to the table, we believe that each person or entity named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by that person or entity (or shares such power with his or her spouse). Unless indicated below, the address of each individual listed below is c/o Dermata Therapeutics, Inc., 3525 Del Mar Heights Rd., #322, San Diego, CA 92130.
The percentage of the Common Stock beneficially owned by each person or entity named in the following table is based on 5,430,648 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of March 1, 2025 plus any shares issuable upon exercise of options or warrants that are exercisable on or within 60 days after March 1, 2025 held by such person or entity.
Beneficial ownership representing less than 1% is denoted with an asterisk (*).
|
| Number of Shares |
|
| Percentage of Shares |
| ||
Name of Beneficial Owner (1) |
| Beneficially Owned (2) |
|
| Beneficially Owned |
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5% or Greater Stockholders |
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Proehl Investment Ventures LLC |
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| 799,624 | (3)(4) |
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| 14.7 | % |
Armistice Capital, LLC |
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| 276,422 | (5) |
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| 9.99 | % |
Intracoastal Capital LLC |
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| 262,468 | (6) |
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| 6.7 | % |
Named Executive Officers and Directors other than 5% or Greater Stockholders |
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Gerald T. Proehl |
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| 803,925 | (3)(4)(7) |
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| 14.8 | % |
Christopher J. Nardo, Ph.D. |
|
| 1,154 | (8) |
| * |
| |
Kyri K. Van Hoose |
|
| 79,796 | (9) |
| * |
| |
David Hale |
|
| 83,545 | (10)(11)(12) |
| * |
| |
Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D. |
|
| 2,175 | (13) |
| * |
| |
Kathleen Scott |
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| 2,038 | (14) |
| * |
| |
Steven J. Mento, Ph.D. |
|
| 1,916 | (15) |
| * |
| |
Mary Fisher |
|
| 198,862 | (16) |
|
| 3.7 | % |
Andrew Sandler, M.D. |
|
| 2,015 | (17) |
| * |
| |
Brittany Bradrick |
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| 2,011 | (18) |
| * |
| |
All Directors and Officers as a Group (11 persons) |
|
| 1,117,437 |
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|
| 21.5 | % |
*Less than 1%. |
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(1) | Unless noted otherwise, the address of all listed stockholders is 3525 Del Mar Heights Rd., #322 San Diego, CA 92130. Each of the stockholder listed has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the stockholder unless noted otherwise, subject to community property laws where applicable. |
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(2) | We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which is generally determined by voting power and/or dispositive power with respect to securities. Unless otherwise noted, the shares of Common Stock listed above are owned as of March 1, 2025, and are owned of record by each individual named as beneficial owner and such individual has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares of common stock owned by each of them. |
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(3) | Gerald T. Proehl, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Proehl Investment Ventures LLC. Due to Mr. Proehl’s ownership of Proehl Investment Ventures LLC, he may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive control over the shares of our Common Stock held by Proehl Investment Ventures LLC. As a result, Mr. Proehl may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of our Common Stock held by Proehl Investment Ventures LLC. |
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(4) | Includes (i) 799,508 shares of Common Stock held by Proehl Investment Ventures LLC, and (ii) 116 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of warrants held by Proehl Investment Ventures LLC that are exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. Excludes 787,402 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants that are not exercisable until the transaction in which they were issued is approved by the Company’s stockholders. |
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|
(5) | Includes, based on the Schedule 13G/A filed on February 14, 2025, by Armistice Capital, LLC, (i) 276,422 shares of Common Stock held by Armistice Capital, LLC. Armistice Capital, LLC (“Armistice Capital”) is the investment manager of Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd. (the "Master Fund"), the direct holder of the shares, and pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement, Armistice Capital exercises voting and investment power over the securities of the Issuer held by the Master Fund and thus may be deemed to beneficially own the securities of the Issuer held by the Master Fund. Mr. Boyd, as the managing member of Armistice Capital, may be deemed to beneficially own the securities of the Issuer held by the Master Fund. The Master Fund specifically disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities of the Issuer directly held by it by virtue of its inability to vote or dispose of such securities as a result of its Investment Management Agreement with Armistice Capital. Armistice Capital, LLC’s address is 510 Madison Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10022. |
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(6) | Includes, based on the Schedule 13G filed on January 28, 2025 by Intracoastal Capital LLC (“Intracoastal”), (i) 262,478 shares of Common Stock held by Intracoastal. Mitchell P. Kopin and Daniel B. Asher, each of whom are managers of Intracoastal Capital LLC, have shared voting control and investment discretion over the securities reported herein that are held by Intracoastal. As a result, each of Mr. Kopin and Mr. Asher may be deemed to have beneficial ownership (as determined under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the securities reported herein that are held by Intracoastal. |
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(7) | Includes (i) 247 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Proehl, (ii) 2,640 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Mr. Proehl exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025, (iii) 37 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Proehl as Trustee of the Megan Proehl Wilder 2020 Irrevocable Trust, (iv) 74 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Proehl as Trustee of the Allison Taylor Proehl 2020 Irrevocable Trust, (v) 149 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Proehl as Trustee of the Sean Michael Proehl Irrevocable Trust Dated December 18, 2020, and (vi) 595 shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase up to 595 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Proehl as Trustee of the Proehl Family Trust. Does not include 50,729 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Mr. Proehl that are not exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. |
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(8) | Includes (i) 103 shares of Common Stock held by Dr. Nardo, (ii) 1,041 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Dr. Nardo exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025, and (iii) 10 shares of Common Stock held by Dr. Nardo as Co-Trustee of the Nardo Family Trust Dated October 3, 2001. Does not include 22,292 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Dr. Nardo that are not exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. |
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(9) | Includes (i) 78,741 shares of Common Stock held by Ms. Van Hoose, and (ii) 1,055 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Ms. Van Hoose exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. Does not include 22,277 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Ms. Van Hoose that are not exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. Excludes 78,741 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants that are not exercisable until the transaction in which they were issued is approved by the Company’s stockholders. |
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(10) | David Hale, our Lead Director, is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC. Due to Mr. Hale’s control of Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC, he may be deemed to have sole voting and dispositive control over the shares of our Common Stock held by Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC. As a result, Mr. Hale may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of our Common Stock held by Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC. |
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(11) | Includes (i) 80,957 shares of Common Stock held by Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC, and (ii) 12 shares of Common Stock held by Hale BioPharma Ventures LLC issuable upon exercise of warrants exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. Excludes 78,741 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants that are not exercisable until the transaction in which they were issued is approved by the Company’s stockholders. |
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(12) | Includes (i) 314 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Hale, (ii) 1,916 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Mr. Hale exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date, (iii) 50 shares of Common Stock held by a limited partnership of which Mr. Hale serves as the General Partner and as such, has voting and dispositive control over the shares of Common Stock, and (iv) 148 shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase up to 148 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Hale as Trustee of the Hale Family Trust. Does not include 3,750 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Mr. Hale that are not exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. |
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(13) | Includes (i) 259 shares of Common Stock held by Dr. Wierenga, and (ii) 1,916 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Dr. Wierenga exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. Does not include 3,750 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Dr. Wierenga that are not exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. |
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(14) | Includes (i) 10 shares of Common Stock held by Ms. Scott as Trustee of the Scott 2008 Trust dated 3/28/08, (ii) 112 shares of Common Stock held by Ms. Scott, and (iii) 1,916 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Ms. Scott exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. Does not include 3,750 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Ms. Scott that are not exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. |
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(15) | Includes 1,916 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Dr. Mento exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. Does not include 3,750 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Dr. Mento that are not exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. |
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(16) | Includes (i) 196,946 shares of Common Stock held by Ms. Fisher, and (ii) 1,916 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Ms. Fisher exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. Does not include 3,750 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Ms. Fisher that are not exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. Excludes 196,851 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants that are not exercisable until the transaction in which they were issued is approved by the Company’s stockholders. |
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(17) | Includes (i) 99 shares of Common Stock held by Dr. Sandler, and (ii) 1,916 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Dr. Sandler exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. Does not include 3,750 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Dr. Sandler that are not exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. |
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(18) | Includes (i) 95 shares of Common Stock held by Ms. Bradrick, and (ii) 1,916 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Ms. Bradrick exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. Does not include 3,750 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options held by Ms. Bradrick that are not exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2025. |
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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Transactions with Related Persons
The following is a description of transactions since January 1, 2023 to which we have been a participant in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000, and in which any of our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our voting securities, or any members of their immediate family, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than compensation arrangements with our Named Executive Officers which are described under “Executive Compensation.”
Employment Agreement with Child of Chief Executive Officer
Sean Proehl, the son of Gerald T. Proehl, our Chief Executive Officer, is currently employed as our Associate General Counsel. Mr. Sean Proehl receives a salary of $200,000 a year. In addition, Mr. Sean Proehl is eligible to receive, from time to time, equity awards under our existing equity incentive plan, or any other equity incentive plan we may adopt in the future, and the terms and conditions of such awards, if any, will be determined by our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee, in its discretion.
Indemnification of Officers and Directors
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and executive officers. These agreements require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. We also intend to enter into indemnification agreements with our future directors and executive officers.
January 2025 Private Placement
On January 21, 2025, we entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain institutional and accredited investors for the issuance and sale in a private placement (the “Private Placement”) of (i) 1,935,412 shares (the “Shares”) of our common stock, (ii) pre-funded warrants (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase up to 72,468 shares of our common stock, at an exercise price of $0.001 per share, and (iii) warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase up to 2,007,880 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $1.27 per share. The purchase price per Share and accompanying Warrant was $1.27 and the purchase price per Pre-Funded Warrant and accompanying Warrant was $1.269. The Pre-Funded Warrants are exercisable immediately, and may be exercised at any time until all of the Pre-Funded Warrants are exercised in full. The Warrants will be exercisable beginning on the effective date of stockholder approval of the issuance of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Warrants will expire five years from the effective date of stockholder approval. The Private Placement closed on January 23, 2025.
Certain related persons, including Gerald T. Proehl, our Chief Executive Officer and Mary Fisher, member of our Board of Directors, participated in the Private Placement. Mr. Gerlad T. Proehl, through Proehl Investment Ventures LLC of which he is Managing Member, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, purchased 787,402 Shares and accompanying Warrants for a purchase price of $1,000,000.54. Ms. Mary Fisher purchased 196,851 Shares and accompanying Warrants for a purchase price of $250,000.77. Other related persons, including Kyri K. Van Hoose, our Chief Financial Officer, David F. Hale, member of our Board of Directors and Sean Proehl, son of Mr. Gerald T. Proehl and our Associate General Counsel, participated in the Private Placement as well, each of which purchased a number of Shares and accompanying Warrants for a purchase price less than $120,000.The purchase price per Share and accompanying Warrant for our insiders was the same as paid by other investors in the Private Placement. The gross proceeds from the Private Placement were approximately $2.55 million. In February 2025, the holder of the 72,468 Pre-Funded Warrants exercised their shares, resulting in a 72,468 share increase to Common Stock outstanding prior to the filing of this document. Further information regarding the Private Placement is set forth in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 23, 2025
Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions:
Our Board has adopted a written related person transaction policy setting forth the policies and procedures for the review and approval or ratification of related person transactions. This policy covers, with certain exceptions set forth in Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, any transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, in which we were or are to be a participant, where the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of the average of our total assets as of December 31, 2024, and 2023, and a related person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest, including without limitation, purchases of goods or services by or from the related person or entities in which the related person has a material interest, indebtedness, guarantees of indebtedness and employment by us of a related person. In reviewing and approving any such transactions, our audit committee is tasked to consider all relevant facts and circumstances, including, but not limited to: (i) whether the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in an arm’s length transaction with an unrelated party; (ii) the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction; (iii) the benefits to the Company; (iv) the impact on a director’s independence in the event the related person is a director, an immediately family member of a director or an entity in which a director is a partner, stockholder or executive officer; (v) the availability of other sources for comparable products or services; (vi) the terms of the transaction; and (vii) the terms available to unrelated third parties. All related-party transactions may only be consummated if our Audit Committee has approved or ratified such transaction in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the policy. Any member of the Audit Committee who is a related person with respect to a transaction under review will not be permitted to participate in the deliberations or vote respecting approval or ratification of the transaction. However, such director may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Audit Committee that considers the transaction.
Director Independence
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC requires a majority of a listed company’s board of directors to be comprised of independent directors. In addition, the rules require that each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees be independent under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Audit committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and compensation committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10C-1 under the Exchange Act. Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a director will only qualify as an “independent director” if, among other things, in the opinion of the listed company’s board of directors, that person does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.
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In order to be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act, a member of an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, the board of directors, or any other board committee, accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries. In order to be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10C-1, the board must consider, for each member of a compensation committee of a listed company, all factors specifically relevant to determining whether a director has a relationship to such company which is material to that director’s ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a compensation committee member, including, but not limited to: (1) the source of compensation of the director, including any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee paid by such company to the director; and (2) whether the director is affiliated with the company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.
Our Board undertook a review of its composition, the composition of its committees and the independence of each director. Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, including family relationships, our Board has determined that David Hale, Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D., Andrew Sandler, M.D., Mary Fisher, Steven J. Mento, Ph.D., Brittany Bradrick, and Kathleen Scott do not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each of these directors is “independent” as that term is defined under the Rules of Nasdaq and the SEC.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The following table presents the aggregate fees billed or anticipated to be billed for professional services rendered to us by Moss Adams for our fiscal years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023:
Fee Category |
| December 31, 2024 |
|
| December 31, 2023 |
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Audit Fees (1) |
| $ | 505,409 |
|
| $ | 387,188 |
|
Audit-Related Fees |
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| - |
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|
| - |
|
Tax Fees |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
All Other Fees |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
Total Fees |
| $ | 505,409 |
|
| $ | 387,188 |
|
(1) | Audit fees consist of fees incurred for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, review of the quarterly financial statements, assistance with registration statements filed with the SEC, fees to cover technology and other expenses, and services that are normally provided by our independent registered public accounting firm in connection with regulatory filings or engagements. |
Audit Fees
Represents fees, including out of pocket expenses, for professional services provided in connection with the audit of our annual audited financial statements, the review of our quarterly financial statements and for consents and comfort letters provided in connection with the offerings of our Common Stock.
Tax Fees
Tax fees are principally for services related to tax preparation and filing, as well as tax consulting services associated with tax preparation and filings. No such fees were incurred related to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee has procedures in place for the pre-approval of audit and non-audit services rendered by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee generally pre-approves specified services in the defined categories of audit services, audit-related services, and tax services. Pre-approval may also be given as part of the Audit Committee’s approval of the scope of the engagement of the independent auditor or on an individual, explicit, case-by-case basis before the independent auditor is engaged to provide each service. The pre-approval of services may be delegated to one or more of the Audit Committee’s members, but the decision must be reported to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
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PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1) | Financial Statements |
The financial statements and related notes, together with the report of Moss Adams LLP, appear at pages F-1 through F-22 following the Exhibit List as required by “Part II—Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the Form 10-K.
(a)(2) | Financial Statement Schedules |
All schedules have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(a)(3) | Exhibits |
The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Amendment.
Exhibit No. | Description of Document | |
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4.17 |
| Description of Securities.* |
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| Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).* | |
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| Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).* | |
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101.INS* |
| XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document |
101.SCH* |
| Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
101.CAL* |
| Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
101.DEF* |
| Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |
101.LAB* |
| Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document |
104 |
| Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibits 101) |
# | Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) are omitted in accordance with the rules of the SEC. |
* | Filed herewith. |
** | Furnished, not filed. |
† | Indicates a management contract or compensation plan, contract or arrangement. |
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
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DERMATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As of December 31, 2024, and 2023, and the
Years Ended December 31, 2024, and 2023
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID |
| F-2 |
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Financial Statements: |
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F-1 |
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Dermata Therapeutics, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively, referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern Uncertainty
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has a net capital deficiency that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/
March 17, 2025
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2023.
F-2 |
Table of Contents |
DERMATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Balance Sheets
|
| December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
| ||
Assets: |
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|
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| ||
Cash and cash equivalents |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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| ||
Total assets |
| $ |
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| $ |
| ||
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Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity: |
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Liabilities: |
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Accounts payable |
| $ |
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| $ |
| ||
Accrued and other current liabilities |
|
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| ||
Total liabilities |
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| ||
Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 7) |
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Stockholders’ Equity: |
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Common Stock, par value $ |
|
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| ||
Additional paid-in capital |
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| ||
Accumulated deficit |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
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|
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| ||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-3 |
Table of Contents |
DERMATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Statements of Operations
|
| For the year ended December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
| ||
Operating expenses: |
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| ||
Research and development |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
General and administrative |
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| ||
Total operating expenses |
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| ||
Loss from operations |
|
| ( | ) |
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| ( | ) |
Other income and expenses: |
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Interest income |
|
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| ||
Net loss |
| $ | ( | ) |
| $ | ( | ) |
Net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted |
| $ | ( | ) |
| $ | ( | ) |
Weighted-average basic and diluted common shares |
|
|
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|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-4 |
Table of Contents |
DERMATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Statements of Stockholder’s Equity
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| Additional |
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| Total |
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| Common Stock |
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| Paid-in |
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| Accumulated |
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| Stockholders’ |
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| Shares |
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| Par Value |
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| Capital |
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| Deficit |
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| Equity |
| |||||
Balance at December 31, 2022 |
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| $ |
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| $ |
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| $ | ( | ) |
| $ |
| ||||
Issuance of Common Stock and warrants, net of issuance costs |
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Issuance of Common Stock upon exercise of pre-funded warrants |
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Issuance of Common Stock upon exercise of warrants, net of issuance costs |
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| |||||
Settlement of fractional shares paid in cash |
|
| ( | ) |
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| ( | ) |
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| ( | ) | |
Stock-based compensation |
|
| - |
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| ||||
Net loss |
|
| - |
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|
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| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) | ||
Balance at December 31, 2023 |
|
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| $ |
|
| $ |
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| $ | ( | ) |
| $ |
| ||||
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Issuance of abeyance shares |
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| ( | ) |
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| ||||
Issuance of Common Stock and warrants from May 2024 Warrant Inducement |
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| |||||
Settlement of fractional shares paid in cash |
|
| ( | ) |
|
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|
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
|
| ( | ) | ||
Issuance of pre-funded warrants and warrants from September 2024 PIPE |
|
| - |
|
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| ||||
Issuance of Common Stock upon exercise of pre-funded warrants |
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| |||||
Issuance of Common Stock from ATM sales, net of issuance costs |
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| |||||
Issuance of abeyance shares from warrant inducement |
|
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|
|
|
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| ( | ) |
|
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|
| ||||
Stock-based compensation |
|
| - |
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| ||||
Net loss |
|
| - |
|
|
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|
|
|
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) | ||
Balance at December 31, 2024 |
|
|
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
| $ | ( | ) |
| $ |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5 |
Table of Contents |
DERMATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Statements of Cash Flows
|
| For the year ended December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
| ||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net loss |
| $ | ( | ) |
| $ | ( | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
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|
|
|
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Increase (decrease) in cash resulting from changes in: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Accounts payable |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
| |
Accrued and other current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operations |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock, pre-funded warrants, and warrants, net of issuance costs |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Proceeds from exercise of pre-funded warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Payment for fractional shares in reverse stock split |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
| |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosure: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for taxes |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Non-cash financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incremental fair value of March 2023 warrant modification |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Incremental fair value of November 2023 warrant inducement |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Issuance of abeyance shares |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Incremental fair value of May 2024 warrant inducement |
| $ | 1,526,232 |
|
| $ | - |
|
Issuance costs in accounts payable |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6 |
Table of Contents |
DERMATA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Organization and Basis of Presentation
Dermata Therapeutics, Inc., (the “Company”), was formed in December 2014 as a Delaware limited liability company (“LLC”) under the name Dermata Therapeutics, LLC. On March 24, 2021, the Company converted from an LLC to a Delaware C-corporation and changed its name to Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. On August 17, 2021, the Company completed its initial public offering. The Company’s shares of Common Stock and warrants are listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) under the symbols “DRMA,” and “DRMAW,” respectively. The Company is a late-stage biotechnology company focused on the treatment of medical and aesthetic skin conditions and diseases.
Reverse Stock Splits
On March 13, 2023, the Company effected a reverse stock split of shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-16 pursuant to an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation approved by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), and stockholders. The par value and authorized shares were not adjusted as a result of the reverse split. All issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock and per share amounts contained in the financial statements have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this reverse stock split for all periods presented.
On May 7, 2024, the Company held its annual meeting of stockholders at which time the stockholders approved the adoption of an amendment to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to effect a reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, at a specific ratio, ranging from one-for-five to one-for-thirty, with the exact ratio determined by the Company’s board of directors without further approval or authorization of its stockholders.
On May 16, 2024, the Company effected the reverse split of its shares of Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-15, as approved by the Company’s board of directors. The par value was not adjusted as a result of the May 2024 reverse stock split. All issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock and per share amounts contained in the financial statements have been retroactively adjusted to reflect this reverse stock split for all periods presented.
Liquidity and Going Concern Uncertainty
Since its inception, the Company has devoted substantially all of its resources to research and development activities and has not generated any revenue or commercialized any product candidates. As of December 31, 2024, cash and cash equivalents totaled $
Historically, the Company’s principal sources of cash have included proceeds from the issuance of equity securities and debt. The Company’s principal uses of cash have included cash used in operations and payments for license rights. The Company expects that the principal uses of cash in the future will be for continuing operations, funding of research and development, conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, and general working capital requirements. The Company expects that as research and development expenses continue to grow, it will need to raise additional capital to sustain operations and research and development.
F-7 |
Table of Contents |
Management’s Plan to Continue as a Going Concern
To continue as a going concern, the Company will need, among other things, to raise additional capital resources. Until the Company can generate significant cash from operations, management’s plans to obtain such resources for the Company include proceeds from offerings of the Company’s equity securities or debt, or transactions involving product development, technology licensing or collaboration. Management can provide no assurance that any sources of a sufficient amount of financing or collaboration agreements will be available to the Company on favorable terms, if at all. The Company’s ability to raise additional capital may be adversely impacted by potential worsening of global economic conditions, potential future global pandemics or health crises, and the recent disruptions to, and volatility in, the credit and financial markets in the United States. Because of historical and expected operating losses and net operating cash flow deficits, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for the one-year period following the date that these financial statements are issued, which is not alleviated by management’s plans. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the possible inability of the Company to continue as a going concern.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates
The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates and judgments, including those related to accrued research and development expenses, and the Company’s bonus accrual. The Company bases its estimates on various assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Segment Information
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company and the Company’s chief operating decision maker view the Company’s operations and manage its business in one operating segment, which is the business of developing and commercializing pharmaceuticals.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company deposits its cash and cash equivalents with accredited financial institutions that are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), which are held in checking and cash sweep accounts. At times, deposits held may exceed the amount of insurance provided by the FDIC. The Company maintains an insured cash sweep account in which cash from its main operating checking account is invested overnight in highly liquid, short-term investments. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity date of 90 days or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of a default by the financial institutions holding the Company’s cash and cash equivalents to the extent of the amounts held in excess of FDIC limits. The Company limits its credit risk by placing its cash and cash equivalents with financial institutions it believes are of high quality. To date, the Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash and cash equivalents.
F-8 |
Table of Contents |
Fair Value Measurement
The Company uses a three-tier fair value hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in the Company’s fair value measurements. These tiers include Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions. The Company believes the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their estimated fair values due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities.
Interest Income
Interest income consists of interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents from interest bearing demand accounts.
Patent Costs
Patent costs related to obtaining and maintaining patent protection in both the United States and other countries are expensed as incurred. Patents costs are classified as general and administrative expenses.
Research and Development
Research and development costs consist of expenses incurred in connection with the development of the Company’s product candidates. Such expenses include expenses incurred under agreements with contract research organizations, manufacturing and supply scale-up expenses, the cost of acquiring and manufacturing preclinical and clinical trial supply, outsourced laboratory services including materials and supplies used to support the Company’s research and development activities, and payments made for license fees and milestones that have not been demonstrated to have commercial value. Such costs are expensed in the periods in which they are incurred. Upfront payments and milestone payments for licensed technology are expensed as research and development as incurred or when the milestone is achieved or is determined to be probable of being achieved. Advanced payments for goods or services to be received in the future for research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses and expensed as the related goods are received or services are performed.
Income Taxes
The Company is a C-Corporation and accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
The Company recognizes net deferred tax assets to the extent that the Company believes these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, management considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. If management determines that the Company would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, management would make an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.
The Company records uncertain tax positions on the basis of a two-step process whereby (1) management determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, management recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within income tax expense. Any accrued interest and penalties are included within the related tax liability.
F-9 |
Table of Contents |
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based awards made to employees, directors, and non-employees, based on estimated fair values recognized using the straight-line method over the requisite service period. The fair value of options to purchase Common Stock granted to employees is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The calculation of stock-based compensation expense requires that the Company make certain assumptions and judgments about variables used in the Black-Scholes model, including the expected term of the stock-based award, expected volatility of the underlying Common Stock, dividend yield, and the risk-free interest rate. Forfeitures are accounted for in the period they occur.
Warrants
The Company performs an assessment of warrants upon issuance to determine their proper classification in the financial statements based upon the warrant’s specific terms, in accordance with the authoritative guidance provided in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”), and ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (“ASC 815-40”). The assessment considers whether the warrants are freestanding financial instruments pursuant to ASC 480 and whether the warrants meet all of the requirements for equity classification under ASC 815, including whether the warrants are indexed in the Company’s own Common Stock and whether the warrant holders could potentially require cash settlement of the warrants.
For issued or modified warrants that meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be recorded as a component of additional paid-in capital. For issued or modified warrants that do not meet all the criteria for equity classification, the warrants are required to be liability-classified and recorded at their initial fair value on the date of issuance and remeasured at fair value at each balance sheet date thereafter. The Company has performed an assessment of all warrants issued and modified and determined that the Company’s warrants are equity-classified.
Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss includes net loss and other comprehensive income (loss) for the periods presented. The Company did not have other comprehensive income (loss) items such as unrealized gains and losses and so for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, comprehensive loss was equal to the net loss.
Net Loss Per Share of Common Stock
Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period. The weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding includes (i) pre-funded warrants because their exercise requires only nominal consideration for the delivery of shares, and (ii) shares held in abeyance because there is no consideration required for delivery of the shares, (collectively, “basic shares”), without consideration of common stock equivalents. Diluted net loss per share is calculated by adjusting basic shares outstanding for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents outstanding for the period. For purposes of the diluted net loss per share calculation, stock options and warrants are considered to be common stock equivalents but are excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per common stock if their effect would be anti-dilutive.
F-10 |
Table of Contents |
The common share equivalents that are not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share of Common Stock but could potentially dilute basic earnings per share. The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted net loss per share:
|
| Year Ended December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net loss |
| $ | ( | ) |
| $ | ( | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net loss per common share |
| $ | ( | ) |
| $ | ( | ) |
Weighted-average basic and diluted common shares |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The common share equivalents that are not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per common share but could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future are as follows:
|
| As of December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Common Stock Options |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Common Stock Warrants |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total potentially dilutive securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company has reviewed recent accounting standards and identified the following as relevant to the Company.
In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (“ASU 2023-07”), which requires public entities to disclose information about their reportable segments’ significant expenses and other segment items on an interim and annual basis. Public entities with a single reportable segment are required to apply the disclosure requirements in ASU 2023-07, as well as all existing segment disclosures and reconciliation requirements in ASC 280 on an interim and annual basis. ASU 2023-07 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and for interim reporting periods beginning January 1, 2025, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 for the year ended December 31, 2024, which adoption only impacted the Company’s segment reporting disclosures. See Note 9 – Segment Reporting for disclosures related to the adoption of ASU 2023-07.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”). ASU 2023-09 requires disaggregated information about a reporting entity’s effective tax rate reconciliation as well as information on income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 is effective for public entities with annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements and income tax footnote.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (“ASU 2024-03”). ASU 2024-03 requires additional disclosures and disaggregation of certain costs and expenses presented on the face of the income statement. ASU 2024-03 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its financial statements.
F-11 |
Table of Contents |
3. Balance Sheet Details
The following provides certain balance sheet details:
|
| As of December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
| ||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Prepaid insurance |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Prepaid research and development costs |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Prepaid other |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued and other current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued research and development costs |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Accrued compensation and benefits |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Accrued other |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total accrued and other current liabilities |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
4. Equity Securities
A summary of the Company’s equity securities as of December 31, 2024, is as follows:
Description |
| Authorized |
|
| Issued |
|
| Pre-funded Warrants |
|
| Reserved |
|
| Outstanding |
| |||||
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| - |
|
|
|
| ||||
Preferred Stock |
|
|
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
| |
Warrants (excluding pre-funded warrants) |
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
|
| ||
2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Total equity securities |
|
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Common Stock
On September 17, 2024, the Company closed a private placement (the “September 2024 PIPE”) priced at the market under Nasdaq rules, in which it sold
In June 2024, the Company entered into an At The Market Offering Agreement (the “ATM Agreement”) with a sales agent (the “Sales Agent”), providing for the sale of up to $
F-12 |
Table of Contents |
On May 21, 2024, the Company closed on inducement agreements (the “May 2024 Inducement”) with certain holders (the “Holders”) of certain of the Company’s existing warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of
Related to the May 2024 Inducement, during July 2024, the balance of
On November 20, 2023, the Company closed on an inducement agreement (the “November 2023 Inducement”) with a holder (the “Holder”) of certain of its existing warrants to purchase up to
Related to the November 2023 Inducement, as of December 31, 2023, the Holder left
On May 26, 2023, the Company closed a private placement (the “May 2023 PIPE”) priced at the market under Nasdaq rules, in which it sold
F-13 |
Table of Contents |
On March 20, 2023, the Company closed a public offering (the “March 2023 Offering”) priced at the market under Nasdaq rules, in which it sold an aggregate of (i)
Preferred Stock
While the Company has
Abeyance Shares
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had
Warrants
Summary of Warrants Outstanding
The table below lists outstanding warrants for the dates presented, excluding
The warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2024, are exercisable into
|
| Quantity of Warrants Outstanding as of |
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| ||||||||
Description |
| December 31, 2024 |
|
| December 31, 2023 |
|
| Exercise Price |
|
| Expiration Date | ||||
Pre-IPO Series 1a Warrants |
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| $ |
|
| |||||
Pre-IPO Class B Common Warrants |
|
| - |
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| ||||
IPO Warrants |
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IPO Underwriter Warrants |
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March 2023 Offering Placement Agent Warrants |
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| |||||
May 2023 PIPE Common Warrants |
|
| - |
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| ||||
May 2023 PIPE Placement Agent Warrants |
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| |||||
November 2023 Series A Common Warrants |
|
| - |
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| ||||
November 2023 Series B Common Warrants |
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| - |
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November 2023 Placement Agent Warrants |
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May 2024 Series A Common Warrants |
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| - |
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| ||||
May 2024 Series B Common Warrants |
|
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| - |
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| ||||
May 2024 Placement Agent Warrants |
|
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| - |
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| ||||
September 2024 PIPE Series A Common Warrants |
|
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| - |
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| ||||
September 2024 PIPE Series B Common Warrants |
|
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| - |
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September 2024 PIPE Placement Agent Warrants |
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| - |
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Total warrants outstanding |
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F-14 |
Table of Contents |
Warrant Inducements
In May 2024, the Company completed the May 2024 Inducement with the Holders who agreed to exercise
In November 2023, the Company completed the November 2023 Inducement, in which a Holder agreed to exercise 231,472 common warrants to purchase Common Stock at a reduced exercise price of $
Warrant Modification
In connection with the March 2023 Offering, the Company agreed to amend the terms of the April 2022 PIPE Common Warrants, which were held by the purchaser in the March 2023 Offering. The exercise price of the April 2022 PIPE Common Warrants was reduced
5. Equity Incentive Plan
Under the Company’s 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan as amended (“2021 Plan”), the Company may grant options to purchase shares of Common Stock, restricted stock awards, performance stock awards, incentive bonus awards, other cash-based awards or directly issue shares of Common Stock to employees, directors, and consultants of the Company. At the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 7, 2024, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s 2021 Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance thereunder from 41,937 shares to 79,930 shares. Further at the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s 2021 Plan, to increase the evergreen provision from one percent to five percent of the total number of the Company’s Common Stock outstanding starting on January 1, 2025. The one percent evergreen provision resulted in an additional
F-15 |
Table of Contents |
Stock awards may be granted at an exercise price per share of not less than 100% of the fair market value at the date of grant. Stock awards granted are exercisable over a maximum term of
As of December 31, 2024, there remain
Fair Value Measurement
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which requires the use of highly subjective assumptions, to determine the fair value of stock-based awards. The fair value of each employee stock option is estimated on the grant date under the fair value method using the Black-Scholes model. The estimated fair value of each stock option is then expensed over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. The assumptions and estimates that the Company uses in the Black-Scholes model are as follows:
| · | Fair Value of Common Stock. The fair value of Common Stock is measured as the Company’s closing price of Common Stock on the date of grant. |
|
|
|
| · | Risk-Free Interest Rate. The Company bases the risk-free interest rate used in the Black-Scholes valuation model on the implied yield available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a term equivalent to that of the expected term of the options. |
|
|
|
| · | Expected Term. The expected term represents the period that the Company’s stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding, which is calculated using the simplified method for stock-based awards granted to employees, as the Company has insufficient historical information to provide a basis for an estimate. The simplified method calculates the expected term as the average of the vesting term plus the contractual life of the options. As permitted under ASC 718, the Company has elected to use the contractual term as the expected term for certain non-employee awards, on an award-by-award basis. |
| · | Volatility. The Company determines the price volatility based on the historical volatilities of industry peers as it has limited trading history for its Common Stock price. Industry peers consist of several public companies in the biotechnology industry with comparable characteristics, including clinical trials progress and therapeutic indications. |
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|
|
| · | Dividend Yield. The expected dividend assumption is based on the Company’s current expectations about its anticipated dividend policy. To date, the Company has not declared any dividends to common shareholders and, therefore, the Company has used an expected dividend yield of zero. |
The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions used for stock options granted during the following periods:
|
| Year Ended December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
| ||
Grant date fair value |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Risk-free interest rate |
|
| % |
|
| % | ||
Dividend yield |
|
| % |
|
| % | ||
Expected life in years |
|
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| ||
Expected volatility |
|
| % |
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| % |
F-16 |
Table of Contents |
Stock-based Compensation Expense
In general, stock-based compensation is allocated to research and development expense or general and administrative expense according to the classification of cash compensation paid to the employee, director, or consultant to whom the stock award was granted.
The following table summarizes the total stock-based compensation expense related to stock options included in the Company’s statements of operations:
|
| Year Ended December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
| ||
Research and development |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
General and administrative |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
|
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
Stock Option Award Activity
A summary of the Company’s 2021 Plan stock option activity is as follows:
|
| Number of Options Outstanding |
|
| Weighted- Average Exercise Price |
|
| Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (in Years) |
| |||
Balance at December 31, 2023 |
|
|
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| $ |
|
|
|
| |||
Options granted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| - |
| ||
Options exercised |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
Options cancelled |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
|
|
| - |
| |
Balance at December 31, 2024 |
|
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| $ |
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| |||
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Options exercisable at December 31, 2024 |
|
|
|
| $ |
|
|
|
|
In January 2024, the Board unanimously approved to provide employees and directors of the Company the opportunity to cancel outstanding, out-of-the-money, stock options without consideration,
The total fair value of stock options vested as of December 31, 2024, was $
The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2024, is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying options and the closing market price of the Company’s Common Stock on December 31, 2024, which was $
As of December 31, 2024, total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options was approximately $
F-17 |
Table of Contents |
6. 401(k) Employee Benefit Plan
The Company sponsors a 401(k) savings plan for all eligible employees. The Company may make discretionary matching contributions to the plan to be allocated to employee accounts based upon employee deferrals and compensation. To date, the Company has not made any matching contributions to the savings plan.
7. Commitments and Contingencies
Clinical Trials
During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company initiated a Phase 3 clinical trial, STAR-1, which is expected to report data in late March 2025. The total contract amount with the clinical research organization is approximately $
Supplier Agreement
As a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union governments, among others, have developed coordinated sanctions and export-control measure packages against Russian individuals and entities. The Company is currently a party to an exclusive supply agreement for the supply of the Spongilla raw material used in XYNGARI™ and DMT410. The counterparty to this supply agreement is a Russian entity. The imposition of enhanced export controls and economic sanctions on transactions with Russia and Russian entities by the United States, the United Kingdom, and/or the European Union could prevent the Company from performing under this existing contract or any future contract it may enter or may prevent the Company from remitting payment for raw material purchased from the Company’s supplier. The Company has received multiple shipments of raw material from its supplier subsequent to the implementation of export controls and sanctions, containing additional quantities of Spongilla raw material, which will provide the Company with sufficient quantities of Spongilla to initiate and complete two Phase 3 studies in moderate-to-severe acne and support filing a new drug application for XYNGARI™ in acne upon the successful completion of two Phase 3 studies. Depending on the extent and breadth of new sanctions or export controls that may be imposed against Russia, otherwise or as a result of the impact of the war in Ukraine, it is possible that the Company’s ability to obtain additional supply of the Spongilla raw material used in XYNGARI™ and DMT410 could be negatively impacted, which could adversely affect its business, results of operations, and financial condition.
License Agreements
On March 31, 2017, the Company entered into a license agreement, as amended (the “License Agreement”) with Villani, Inc. whereby Villani has granted the Company an exclusive, sub-licensable, royalty-bearing license (the “License”) under the Licensed Patents (as defined in the License Agreement), to formulate, develop, seek regulatory approval for, make or sell products that contain Spongilla lacustris (alone or in combination with other active or inactive ingredients) for the treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the skin, including but not limited to acne, rosacea, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, actinic keratosis and eczema that were developed using certain licensed know-how (“Licensed Products”). The Company is responsible for the development (including manufacturing, packaging, non-clinical studies, clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval and commercialization (including marketing, promotion, distribution, etc.)) for all Licensed Products. The original License Agreement was amended in 2019, and pursuant to the amended License Agreement, the Company was required to make future milestone payments to Villani in an aggregate amount of up to $
F-18 |
Table of Contents |
Legal Proceedings
In the normal course of business, the Company may be involved in legal proceedings or threatened legal proceedings. The Company is not a party to any legal proceedings or aware of any threatened legal proceedings which are expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Registration Rights Agreement
In connection with the September 2024 Private Placement (see Note 4), the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the purchasers, dated as of September 16, 2024, (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). The Registration Rights Agreement provides that the Company shall file a registration statement covering the resale of all of the registrable securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) with the SEC. The registration statement on Form S-3 required under the Registration Rights Agreement was filed with the SEC on September 19, 2024, and became effective on September 24, 2024.
Upon the occurrence of any Event (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), which, among others, prohibits the purchasers from reselling the securities for more than ten consecutive calendar days or more than an aggregate of fifteen calendar days during any 12-month period, and should the registration statement cease to remain continuously effective, the Company would be obligated to pay to each purchaser, on each monthly anniversary of each such Event, an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to the product of 2.0% multiplied by the aggregate subscription amount paid by such purchaser in the Private Placement, up to a maximum of 12% of the aggregate subscription amount. As of December 31, 2024, the Company determined that the likelihood of the Company incurring liquidated damages pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement is remote, and as such, no accrual of these payments is required as of December 31, 2024.
8. Income Taxes
Dermata operates as a corporation, and accordingly, the Company is taxable at the entity level for U.S. federal and state tax purposes. A reconciliation between the provision for income taxes and income taxes computed using the U.S. federal statutory corporate tax rate is as follows:
|
| Years Ended December 31, |
| |||||
(in thousands) |
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
| ||
U.S. Federal statutory income tax rate |
| $ | ( | ) |
| $ | ( | ) |
Permanent and other differences |
|
| ( | ) |
|
|
| |
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Research and development credits |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
Valuation allowance |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total tax provision |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
Significant components of the Company’s net deferred tax assets are as follows:
|
| As of December 31, |
| |||||
(in thousands) |
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
| ||
Net operating loss carryforwards |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Research and development carryforwards |
|
|
|
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|
| ||
Capitalized research and development |
|
|
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| ||
Stock-based compensation expense |
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| ||
Intangible assets |
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| ||
Other, net |
|
|
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| ||
Gross deferred tax assets |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Less: valuation allowance |
|
| ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
Total deferred tax assets |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
F-19 |
Table of Contents |
The Company has established a full valuation allowance for its deferred tax assets due to uncertainties that preclude it from determining that it is more likely than not that the Company will be able to generate sufficient taxable income to realize such assets. Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to utilize the existing deferred tax assets. A significant piece of objective negative evidence evaluated was the cumulative loss incurred since inception.
Such objective evidence limits the ability to consider other subjective evidence such as the Company’s projections for future growth. Based on this evaluation, as of December 31, 2024, and 2023, a valuation allowance of $
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards, or NOLs, available of $
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had federal and state research and development tax credit carryforwards available of $
Utilization of the Company’s NOL and research and development credit carryforwards may be subject to substantial annual limitations in the event a cumulative ownership change has occurred, or that occur in the future, as required by Section 382 of the Code. In general, an ownership change, as defined by the Code, results from a transaction, or series of transactions over a three-year period, resulting in an ownership change of more than 50% of the outstanding common stock of a company by certain stockholders or public groups. Such an ownership change may limit the amount of NOL and research and development credit carryforwards that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income and tax, respectively. The Company has not completed such an ownership change analysis pursuant to Section 382 of the Code and therefore has established a full valuation allowance as the realization of such deferred tax assets has not met the more likely than not threshold requirement. If ownership changes have occurred or occurs in the future, the amount of remaining tax attribute carryforwards available to offset taxable income and income tax expense in future years may be restricted or eliminated. If eliminated, the related asset would be removed from deferred tax assets with a corresponding reduction in the valuation allowance. Due to the existence of the valuation allowance, limitations created by future ownership changes, if any, will not impact the Company’s effective tax rate.
The Company recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. The Company does not expect that there will be a significant change in the unrecognized tax benefits over the next twelve months. Further, due to the existence of the valuation allowance, future changes in the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits will not impact the effective tax rate.
F-20 |
Table of Contents |
The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits at the beginning and end of the periods presented:
|
| Years Ended December 31, |
| |||||
(in thousands) |
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
| ||
Beginning balance of unrecognized tax benefits |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Additions for tax positions of prior years |
|
|
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|
| ||
Reductions for tax positions in prior years |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Ending balance of unrecognized tax benefits |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
The unrecognized tax benefit amounts are reflected in the determination of the Company’s deferred tax assets. If recognized, none of these amounts would affect the Company’s effective tax rate, since it would be offset by an equal corresponding adjustment in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance. The Company does not foresee material changes to its liability for uncertain tax benefits within the next twelve months.
The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company had no accrual for interest or penalties on the Company’s balance sheets as of December 31, 2024, or 2023 and has not recognized interest and/or penalties in the statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023.
The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and various states. The Company is subject to examination by tax authorities in those jurisdictions from inception. The Company is not currently under examination by any jurisdiction.
9. Segment Information
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company and the Company’s chief operating decision maker view the Company’s operations and manage its business in one operating segment, which is the business of identifying, developing, and commercializing pharmaceutical products for the treatment of medical and aesthetic skin conditions and diseases.
The CODM, who is the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), President, and Chairman of the Board, manages and allocates resources to the operations of the Company on an entity-wide basis. The Company’s measure of segment profit or loss is net loss. Managing and allocating resources on an entity-wide basis enables the CEO to assess the overall level of resources available and how to best deploy these resources across functions and research and development projects that are in line with the Company’s long-term company-wide strategic goals. Consistent with this decision-making process, the CEO uses financial information for purposes of evaluating performance, forecasting future period financial results, allocating resources, and setting incentive targets. Operating expenses are used to monitor budget versus actual results. The CODM does not review assets in evaluating the results of the Company, and therefore, such information is not presented.
The following table summarizes the segment's financial information including the Company’s significant segment expenses:
|
| Years Ended December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2023 |
| ||
Research and development |
| $ |
|
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| ||
Clinical |
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| ||
Nonclinical |
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| ||
Personnel related |
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| ||
Total research and development |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| ||
General and administrative |
|
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| ||
Interest income |
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|
| ||
Net loss |
| $ | ( | ) |
|
| ( | ) |
F-21 |
Table of Contents |
10. Subsequent Events
As of January 1, 2025, the Company’s 2021 Plan increased by
On January 17, 2025, the Company entered into a Clinical Trial Collaboration Agreement (the “Clinical Trial Agreement”) with Revance Therapeutics, Inc. (“Revance”), pursuant to which the Company and Revance intend to conduct a multi-center clinical trial (the “Trial”) to evaluate the topical application of XYNGARITM, the Company’s topical Spongilla powder (formerly referred to as DMT310), with Daxxify (daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm), Revance’s botulinum toxin type A. Pursuant to the terms of the Clinical Trial Agreement, Revance has granted the Company a non-exclusive, worldwide, non-transferable, royalty-free license, with a right to sublicense (subject to limitations), to use certain Revance intellectual property, solely as necessary or useful for the Company to conduct the trial under the Clinical Trial Agreement. The Company has granted Revance a similar license to use XYNGARITM and other compound(s) under the Clinical Trial Agreement. The Clinical Trial Agreement will terminate upon completion of the Trial, the delivery of the data resulting from the Trial and the completion of any statistical analyses of the data resulting from the Trial. Either party may terminate the Clinical Trial Agreement upon a material breach by the other party that remains uncured following 30 days after the date of written notice of such breach. In addition, either party may terminate the Clinical Trial Agreement immediately upon written notice if such party reasonably deems it necessary in order to protect the safety, health or welfare of subjects enrolled in the Trial. The Company has agreed to sponsor, conduct, and fund the Phase 2a clinical trial, but no financial obligations or consideration is contemplated in the Clinical Trial Agreement.
On January 21, 2025, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain institutional and accredited investors for the issuance and sale in a private placement (the “Private Placement”) of
In January 2025, the Holder of the September 2024 PIPE pre-funded warrants exercised their remaining
F-22 |
Table of Contents |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| DERMATA THERAPEUTICS, INC. |
|
| (Registrant) |
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|
|
Date: March 17, 2025 | /s/ Gerald T. Proehl |
|
| Gerald T. Proehl |
|
| Chief Executive Officer |
|
| (Principal Executive Officer) |
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|
|
Date: March 17, 2025 | /s/ Kyri K. Van Hoose |
|
| Kyri K. Van Hoose |
|
| Chief Financial Officer |
|
| (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Gerald T. Proehl | President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman (Principal Executive Officer) | March 17, 2025 | ||
Gerald T. Proehl |
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/s/ Kyri K. Van Hoose | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | March 17, 2025 | ||
Kyri K. Van Hoose |
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/s/ David Hale | Lead Director | March 17, 2025 | ||
David Hale |
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/s/ Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D. | Director | March 17, 2025 | ||
Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D. |
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/s/ Mary Fisher |
| Director |
| March 17, 2025 |
Mary Fisher |
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/s/ Andrew Sandler, M.D. |
| Director |
| March 17, 2025 |
Andrew Sandler, M.D. |
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/s/ Steven J. Mento, Ph.D. |
| Director |
| March 17, 2025 |
Steven J. Mento, Ph.D. |
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/s/ Kathleen Scott |
| Director |
| March 17, 2025 |
Kathleen Scott |
|
| ||
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/s/ Brittany Bradrick |
| Director |
| March 17, 2025 |
Brittany Bradrick |
|
|
127 |