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Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021

 

OR

 

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

For the transition period from                  to                 

 

Commission File Number: 001-36304

 

Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware 45-3215903
(State of incorporation)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

257 Simarano Drive, Suite 101, Marlborough, MA 01752

(Address of principal executive office) (Zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number: (508) 767-3861

 

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

 

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value, $0.0001 per share PHIO The Nasdaq Capital Market

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter time that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer   ☐   Accelerated filer   ☐
Non-accelerated Filer   ☒   Smaller reporting company   ☒
        Emerging growth company   ☐

 

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

 

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

 

As of August 6, 2021, Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. had 13,534,389 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value, outstanding.

 

 

     

 

 

PHIO PHARMACEUTICALS CORP.

FORM 10-Q — QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2021

 

INDEX

 

Part No.   Item No.   Description   Page
No.
             
I       FINANCIAL INFORMATION   3
             
    1   Financial Statements (Unaudited)   3
        Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020   3
        Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020   4
        Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020   5
        Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020   6
        Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements   7
    2   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   16
    3   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk   23
    4   Controls and Procedures   23
             
II       OTHER INFORMATION   24
             
    1   Legal Proceedings   24
    1A   Risk Factors   24
    2   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds   24
    3   Defaults Upon Senior Securities   24
    4   Mine Safety Disclosures   24
    5   Other Information   24
    6   Exhibits   24
             
Signatures       25

 

 

 

  2  

 

 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

PHIO PHARMACEUTICALS CORP.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

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

(Unaudited)

 

                 
    June 30,
2021 		    December 31,
2020 		 
ASSETS                
Current assets:                
Cash   $ 29,425     $ 14,244  
Restricted cash     50       50  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     1,680       870  
Total current assets     31,155       15,164  
Right of use asset, net     342       400  
Property and equipment, net     142       157  
Other assets     18       18  
Total assets   $ 31,657     $ 15,739  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable   $ 348     $ 728  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     2,110       1,352  
Lease liability     120       116  
Total current liabilities     2,578       2,196  
Lease liability, net of current portion     234       295  
Long-term debt     –       231  
Total liabilities     2,812       2,722  
Commitments and contingencies     –       –  
Stockholders’ equity:                
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized     –       –  
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 13,534,389 and 5,780,973 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively     1       1  
Additional paid-in capital     138,551       116,629  
Accumulated deficit     (109,707 )     (103,613 )
Total stockholders’ equity     28,845       13,017  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 31,657     $ 15,739  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

  3  

 

 

PHIO PHARMACEUTICALS CORP.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

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

(Unaudited)

 

                                 
    Three Months Ended
June 30, 		    Six Months Ended
June 30, 		 
    2021     2020     2021     2020  
Operating expenses:                                
Research and development   $ 1,663     $ 779     $ 4,284     $ 1,997  
General and administrative     1,021       890       2,038       2,028  
Total operating expenses     2,684       1,669       6,322       4,025  
Operating loss     (2,684 )     (1,669 )     (6,322 )     (4,025 )
Operating income (expense):                                
Gain on extinguishment of debt     –       –       233       –  
Interest (expense) income, net     (3 )     (3 )     (5 )     2  
Total other (expense) income     (3 )     (3 )     228       2  
Net loss   $ (2,687 )   $ (1,672 )   $ (6,094 )   $ (4,023 )
Net loss per share:                                
Basic and diluted   $ (0.20 )   $ (0.34 )   $ (0.50 )   $ (1.19 )
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding                                
Basic and diluted     13,534,389       4,966,047       12,115,276       3,378,233  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

  4  

 

 

PHIO PHARMACEUTICALS CORP.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(Amounts in thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021  

 

                                         
    Common Stock     Additional Paid-in     Accumulated        
    Shares     Amount     Capital     Deficit     Total  
Balance at December 31, 2020     5,780,973     $ 1     $ 116,629     $ (103,613 )   $ 13,017  
Issuance of common stock, pre-funded warrants and warrants in connection with private placement, net of offering costs     4,420,863       –       12,669       –       12,669  
Issuance of common stock in registered direct offering, net of offering costs     2,246,784       –       6,908       –       6,908  
Issuance of common stock upon the exercise of warrants     1,083,321       –       2,146       –       2,146  
Issuance of common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units     2,448       –       –       –       –  
Stock-based compensation expense     –       –       67       –       67  
Net loss     –       –       –       (3,407 )     (3,407 )
Balance at March 31, 2021     13,534,389       1       138,419       (107,020 )     31,400  
Stock-based compensation expense     –       –       132       –       132  
Net loss     –       –       –       (2,687 )     (2,687 )
Balance at June 30, 2021     13,534,389     $ 1     $ 138,551     $ (109,707 )   $ 28,845  

 

 

For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2020

 

    Common Stock     Additional Paid-in     Accumulated        
    Shares     Amount     Capital     Deficit     Total  
Balance at December 31, 2019     669,433     $ 1     $ 100,566     $ (94,819 )   $ 5,748  
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan     153       –       1       –       1  
Cash in lieu of fractional shares for 1:55 reverse stock split     (1,364 )     –       (15 )     –       (15 )
Issuance of common stock and warrants in connection with registered direct and private placement offerings, net of offering costs     197,056       –       1,467       –       1,467  
Issuance of common stock, pre-funded warrants and warrants in connection with underwritten public offering, net of offering costs     993,633       –       7,093       –       7,093  
Issuance of common stock upon the exercise of warrants     1,006,367       –       1       –       1  
Issuance of common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units     2,573       –       (2 )     –       (2 )
Stock-based compensation expense     –       –       43       –       43  
Net loss     –       –       –       (2,351 )     (2,351 )
Balance at March 31, 2020     2,867,851       1       109,154       (97,170 )     11,985  
Issuance of common stock and warrants in connection with registered direct and private placement offerings, net of offering costs     1,713,064       –       3,527       –       3,527  
Issuance of common stock upon the exercise of warrants     1,199,296       –       3,863       –       3,863  
Issuance of common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units     15       –       –       –       –  
Stock-based compensation expense     –       –       30       –       30  
Net loss     –       –       –       (1,672 )     (1,672 )
Balance at June 30, 2020     5,780,226     $ 1     $ 116,574     $ (98,842 )   $ 17,733  

 

  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

  5  

 

 

PHIO PHARMACEUTICALS CORP.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)

 

                 
   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

 
    2021     2020  
Cash flows from operating activities:                
Net loss   $ (6,094 )   $ (4,023 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:                
Depreciation and amortization     36       37  
Non-cash lease expense     58       55  
Non-cash stock-based compensation     199       73  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
Prepaid expenses and other assets     (810 )     (324 )
Accounts payable     (380 )     (328 )
Accrued expenses and other liabilities     760       355  
Lease liability     (57 )     (53 )
Net cash used in operating activities     (6,288 )     (4,208 )
Cash flows from investing activities:                
Cash paid for purchase of property and equipment     (21 )     (10 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (21 )     (10 )
Cash flows from financing activities:                
Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock and warrants     19,577       12,088  
Net proceeds from the exercise of warrants     2,146       3,864  
Proceeds from debt     –       231  
Forgiveness of debt     (233 )     –  
Cash paid in lieu of fractional shares for 1:55 reverse stock split     –       (15 )
Payments of taxes for net share settled restricted stock unit issuances     –       (2 )
Payments of capital lease obligations less than one year     –       (18 )
Net cash provided by financing activities     21,490       16,148  
Net increase in cash and restricted cash     15,181       11,930  
Cash and restricted cash at the beginning of period     14,294       6,984  
Cash and restricted cash at the end of period   $ 29,475     $ 18,914  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

 

  6  

 

 

PHIO PHARMACEUTICALS CORP.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1. Nature of Operations

 

Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. (“Phio,” “we,” “our” or the “Company”) is a biotechnology company developing the next generation of immuno-oncology therapeutics based on its self-delivering RNAi (“INTASYL™”) therapeutic platform. The Company’s efforts are focused on silencing tumor-induced suppression of the immune system through its proprietary INTASYL platform with utility in immune cells and the tumor micro-environment. The Company’s goal is to develop powerful INTASYL therapeutic compounds that can weaponize immune effector cells to overcome tumor immune escape, thereby potentially providing patients with a powerful new treatment option that goes beyond current treatment modalities.

 

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19 was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China and has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (the “WHO”) declared the outbreak a pandemic. Our operations are being conducted in accordance with federal, state, WHO and the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines, including the implementation of safety measures such as working remotely and flexible scheduling.

 

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, certain of our third-party suppliers and service providers on which we rely have seen impacts to their operations. The Company has undertaken efforts to mitigate potential future impacts by identifying and engaging alternative third-party service providers and suppliers, and because of that, the Company had been able to limit the impact of delays from our third-party service providers to its program’s anticipated timelines. However, the continued impacts to our third-party service providers, including, for example, limited availability in certain services and supplies, have now started to significantly affect our operations in the second quarter of 2021 resulting in delays to certain of our clinical program timelines. If measures to contain the pandemic are insufficient, it could further reduce or delay the availability of supplies and services that we purchase and rely on, which may in turn further slow or delay our preclinical and clinical activities.

 

We believe that the coronavirus pandemic has not had a significant impact on our financial condition to date; however a variety of factors such as those described above, may further impact our operations and slow or diminish our research and development activities, which in turn may impact our financial condition in the future. The extent to which the coronavirus pandemic impacts our results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Certain information and footnote disclosures included in the Company’s annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted. The year-end condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of management, all adjustments (including normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial statements have been included. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Phio and its wholly-owned subsidiary, MirImmune, LLC. All material intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

 

 

  7  

 

 

Uses of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The areas subject to significant estimates and judgement include, among others, those related to the fair value of equity awards, accruals for research and development expenses, useful lives of property and equipment, income taxes, and our valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets. On an ongoing basis we evaluate our estimates and base our estimates on historical experience and other relevant assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, including as a result of new information that may emerge concerning the coronavirus pandemic. We have made estimates of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic within our financial statements and there may be changes to those estimates in future periods. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.

 

Restricted Cash

 

Restricted cash consists of certificates of deposit held by financial institutions as collateral for the Company’s corporate credit cards.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for restricted cash, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature.

 

Leases

 

At the inception of a contract, the Company determines whether the contract is or contains a lease based on all relevant facts and circumstances. For contracts that contain a lease, the Company identifies the lease and non-lease components, determines the consideration in the contract and recognizes the classification of the lease as operating or financing. For leases with a term greater than one year, the Company recognizes a liability to make lease payments and an asset representing the right to use the underlying asset during the lease term at the commencement date of the lease.

 

Lease liabilities and the corresponding right of use assets are recorded based on the present value of lease payments to be made over the lease term. The discount rate used to calculate the present value is the rate implicit in the lease, or if not readily determinable, the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. The Company’s incremental borrowing rate is the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. Certain adjustments to the right of use asset may be required for items such as initial direct costs or incentives received. Lease payments on operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected term of the lease. Lease payments on financing leases are recognized using the effective interest method.

 

Debt

 

On March 27, 2020, the United States enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The CARES Act is an emergency economic stimulus package passed in response to the coronavirus outbreak that includes, but is not limited to, provisions providing aid to small businesses in the form of loans and grants and numerous tax provisions including, certain payroll tax benefits, changes to the net operating loss rules and changes to the business interest expense deduction rules. On May 11, 2020, the Company received loan proceeds pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”) offered under the CARES Act, and the loan was subsequently forgiven in February 2021. Outside of the PPP, the Company has not utilized the other loan programs and tax provisions, such as certain payroll tax benefits.

 

The Company followed the guidance under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 470, “Debt” (“ASC 470”) in assessing the accounting for the PPP loan proceeds. Per ASC 470, the Company recorded a liability on the balance sheet for the full amount of PPP loan proceeds received and accrued interest over the term of the loan. Upon loan forgiveness, the Company recognized the extinguishment of the liability in the condensed consolidated statement of operations as a gain on extinguishment of debt.

 

 

 

  8  

 

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

Financial instruments that meet the definition of a derivative are classified as an asset or liability and measured at fair value on the issuance date and are revalued on each subsequent balance sheet date. The changes in fair value are recognized as current period income or loss. Financial instruments that do not meet the definition of a derivative are classified as equity and measured at fair value and recorded as additional paid-in capital in stockholders’ equity at the date of issuance. No further adjustments to their valuation are made.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses relate to compensation and benefits for research and development personnel, facility-related expenses, supplies, external services, costs to acquire technology licenses, expenses associated with preclinical and clinical development activities and other operating costs. Research and development expenses are charged to expense as incurred. Payments made by the Company in advance for research and development services not yet provided and/or for materials not yet received are recorded as prepaid expenses and expensed when the service has been performed or when the goods have been received.

 

Accrued liabilities are recorded related to those expenses for which vendors have not yet billed the Company with respect to services provided and/or materials that it has received. Accrued liabilities for the services provided by contract research organizations (“CROs”) are recorded during the period incurred based on such estimates and assumptions as expected cost, passage of time, the achievement of milestones and other information available to us and are assessed on a quarterly basis. Actual results may differ from these estimates and could have a material impact on the Company’s reported results. The Company’s historical accrual estimates have not been materially different from its actual costs.

 

Stock-based Compensation

 

The Company follows the provisions of the FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”), which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock-based payment awards. The fair value of restricted stock units is based upon the Company’s closing stock price at the grant date. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock options at the grant date. The Black-Scholes valuation model requires the input of valuation assumptions to calculate the value of stock options, including expected volatility, expected term, risk-free interest rate and expected dividends. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized over the requisite service period, which generally represents the vesting period, and commences at the date of grant based on the fair value of the award.

 

Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the financial statements is based on awards that are ultimately expected to vest. Accordingly, we are also required to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and to revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from estimates. We use historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and record stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest. Our forfeiture rate estimates are based on an analysis of our actual forfeiture experience, employee turnover behavior, and other factors. The impact of any adjustments to our forfeiture rates is recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period of adjustment. To the extent that actual forfeitures differ from our estimates, the difference is recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period the estimates are revised.

 

Comprehensive Loss

 

The Company’s comprehensive loss is equal to its net loss for all periods presented.

 

Net Loss per Share

 

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the Company’s net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and the impact of all dilutive potential common shares outstanding, except where such dilutive potential common shares would be anti-dilutive. Dilutive potential common shares primarily consist of warrants, restricted stock units and stock options.

 

 

 

  9  

 

 

3. Liquidity and Going Concern

 

The Company has reported recurring losses from operations since its inception and expects to continue to have negative cash flows from operations for the foreseeable future. Historically, the Company’s primary source of funding has been from the sales of its securities. The Company’s ability to continue to fund its operations is dependent on obtaining funding from third parties, such as proceeds from the issuance of debt, sale of equity, or strategic opportunities, in order to maintain its operations. This is dependent on a number of factors, including the market demand or liquidity of the Company’s common stock. There is no guarantee that debt, additional equity or other funding will be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we fail to obtain additional funding when needed, we would be forced to scale back or terminate our operations or seek to merge with or to be acquired by another company.

 

While we believe that the coronavirus pandemic has not had a significant impact on our financial condition and results of operations at this time, the potential economic impact brought by, and the duration of, the coronavirus pandemic is difficult to assess or predict. There may be developments outside of our control that require us to adjust our operating plans and given the nature of the situation, we cannot reasonably estimate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows in the future.

 

The Company believes that its existing cash should be sufficient to fund operations for at least the next 12 months from the date of the release of these financial statements.

 

4. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes” (“ASU 2019-12”). The amendments in the update simplify the accounting for income taxes by eliminating the exceptions related to the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the recognition of a deferred tax liability for equity method investments, not recognizing a deferred tax liability for a foreign subsidiary and the general methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period. The amendments also clarify and simplify other aspects of the accounting for income taxes. The amendments in ASU 2019-12 are effective for public entities for fiscal years, and the interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 20, 2020. The Company adopted ASU 2019-12 on January 1, 2021. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, “Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815 – 40)” (“ASU 2020-06”), which simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts in an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 is part of the FASB’s simplification initiative, which aims to reduce unnecessary complexity in U.S. GAAP. For convertible instruments, the accounting models for instruments issued with beneficial conversion features or cash conversion features are removed. For contracts in an entity’s own equity, ASU 2020-06 simplifies the settlement assessment by removing the requirements to (1) consider whether the contract would be settled in registered shares, (2) consider whether collateral is required to be posted, and (3) assess shareholder rights. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company early adopted ASU 2020-06 on January 1, 2021. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, “Earnings per Share (Topic 260), Debt – Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40)” (“ASU 2021-04”). The amendments in the updates are intended to clarify and reduce diversity in an issuer’s accounting for modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options that remain equity classified after modification or exchange. The amendments in ASU 2021-04 are effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years. An entity should apply the amendments prospectively to modifications or exchanges occurring on or after the effective date of the amendments. Early adoption is permitted for all entities, including within an interim period. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

 

 

  10  

 

 

5. Leases

 

In January 2019, the Company amended the lease for its corporate headquarters and primary research facility in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The lease is for a total of 7,581 square feet of office and laboratory space and will expire on March 31, 2024. The lease contains an option to terminate after two or three years by providing advance written notice of termination pursuant to the terms of the agreement. The exercise of this option is not determined to be reasonably certain and thus is not included in the lease liability on the Company’s balance sheet. Additionally, the lease agreement did not contain information to determine the borrowing rate implicit in the lease. As such, the Company calculated its incremental borrowing rate based on what the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over the lease term for an amount equal to the remaining lease payments, taking into consideration such assumptions as, but not limited to, the U.S. treasury yield rate and borrowing rates from a creditworthy financial institution using the above lease factors.

 

The lease for our corporate headquarters represents substantially all of our significant lease obligations. The amounts reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheets for operating leases in which the Company is the lessee and other supplemental balance sheet information is set forth as follows, in thousands, except the lease term (number of years) and discount rate: 

               
    June 30, 2021     December 31, 2020  
Assets                
Right of use asset   $ 342     $ 400  
Liabilities                
Lease liability, current   $ 120     $ 116  
Lease liability, non-current     234       295  
Total lease liability   $ 354     $ 411  
Lease Term and Discount Rate                
Weighted average remaining lease term     2.75       3.71  
Weighted average discount rate     4.70 %     4.70 %

 

Operating lease costs included in operating expense were $33,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020. Operating lease costs included in operating expense were $66,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020. Short-term lease costs were not material for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.

  

Cash paid for the amounts included in the measurement of the operating lease liability on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets and included within changes in the lease liability in the operating activities of our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows was $33,100 and $32,200 for the three months June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Cash paid for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 was $65,300 and $63,400, respectively.

 

Future lease payments for our non-cancellable operating leases and a reconciliation to the carrying amount of the operating lease liability presented in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2021 is as follows, in thousands:

       
2021 (remaining)   $ 66  
2022     135  
2023     140  
2024     35  
Total lease payments     376  
Less: Imputed interest     (22 )
Total operating lease liabilities (includes current portion)   $ 354  

 

6. Debt

 

On May 11, 2020, the Company received loan proceeds in the amount of $231,252 from Bank of America, N.A., as lender, pursuant to the PPP under the CARES Act. The PPP loan had a maturity date of May 11, 2022, interest at a rate of 1% per year and monthly principal and interest payments that were deferred to the date that the Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) remitted the borrower’s loan forgiveness amount to the lender. When applying for the PPP loan, the Company carefully assessed the requirements for application under the program and believed that the loan was necessary to support its operations. The loans under the PPP may be forgiven if used for eligible purposes, including payroll, benefits, rent and utilities.

 

 

 

  11  

 

 

The Company followed the guidance under ASC 470 in assessing the accounting for the PPP loan proceeds. Per ASC 470, the Company recorded a liability on the balance sheet for the full amount of PPP loan proceeds received and accrued interest over the term of the loan. The Company believed it used the loan proceeds for eligible purposes and applied for full loan forgiveness. On February 18, 2021, the SBA approved the Company’s application for full loan forgiveness, and the full amount of the PPP loan was remitted to the lender for forgiveness. Upon loan forgiveness, the Company recognized a gain on the extinguishment of debt of $233,000 for the loan proceeds received and interest accrued in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

 

7. Stockholders’ Equity 

 

January 2021 Private Placement — On January 25, 2021, the Company completed a private placement of 4,420,863 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price per share of $3.07, pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 140,065 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “January 2021 Pre-Funded Warrants”) at a purchase price per pre-funded warrant share of $3.069 and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 3,420,696 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $3.00 per warrant share (the “January 2021 Warrants”) (the “Private Placement”). In connection with the Private Placement, the Company issued warrants to the placement agent, H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (“HCW”), to purchase a total of 342,070 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $3.8375 (the “January 2021 Placement Agent Warrants”). Net proceeds to the Company from the Private Placement were $12,669,000 after deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses.

 

February 2021 Registered Direct Offering — On February 17, 2021, the Company completed a registered direct offering of 2,246,784 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $3.42 per share (the “Offering”). In connection with the Offering, the Company issued warrants to the placement agent, HCW, to purchase a total of 168,509 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $4.275 (the “February 2021 Placement Agent Warrants”). Net proceeds to the Company from the Offering were $6,908,000 after deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses.

 

February 2020 Registered Direct Offering and Private Placement — On February 6, 2020, the Company completed a registered direct offering (the “February 2020 Registered Offering”) of 197,056 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $8.705 per share and in a concurrent private placement, sold warrants to purchase an aggregate of 197,056 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $0.125 per underlying warrant share and with an exercise price of $8.71 per share (the “February 2020 Registered Direct Warrants”). In connection with the February 2020 Registered Offering, the Company also issued warrants to purchase a total of 14,779 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $11.0375 per share (the “February 2020 Placement Agent Warrants”) to the placement agent, HCW. Net proceeds to the Company from the February 2020 Registered Offering were $1,467,000 after deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses paid by the Company.

 

February 2020 Underwritten Public Offering — On February 13, 2020, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 993,633 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price per share of $4.00, pre-funded warrants (the “2020 Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase an aggregate of 1,006,367 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price per pre-funded warrant share of $3.999 and warrants (the “February 2020 Warrants”) to purchase an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $4.00 per warrant shares (the “February 2020 Underwritten Offering”). The 2020 Pre-Funded Warrants were immediately exercisable at an exercise price per share of $0.001 and each share of Company common stock or 2020 Pre-Funded Warrant, as applicable, was sold with a February 2020 Warrant. In connection with the February 2020 Underwritten Offering, the Company issued warrants to purchase up to 150,000 shares of Company common stock, immediately exercisable at an exercise price of $5.00 per share (the “February 2020 Underwriter Warrants”) to HCW, as underwriter.

 

In connection with the February 2020 Underwritten Offering, the Company also granted to the underwriter, HCW, a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $3.999 per such share and/or warrants to purchase up to 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $0.001 per such warrant. Such warrants have the same terms as the February 2020 Warrants. On February 12, 2020, HCW exercised its option to purchase warrants to purchase an aggregate of 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. 

 

Net proceeds from the February 2020 Underwritten Offering were $7,093,000 after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses paid by the Company.

 

 

 

  12  

 

 

April 2020 Registered Direct Offering and Private Placement — On April 2, 2020, the Company completed a registered direct offering (the “April 2020 Offering”) of 1,713,064 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $2.21 per share and in a concurrent private placement, sold warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,713,064 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $0.125 per underlying warrant share and with an exercise price of $2.21 per share (the “April 2020 Warrants”). In connection with the April 2020 Offering, the Company also issued warrants to purchase a total of 128,480 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $2.9188 per share (the “April 2020 Placement Agent Warrants”) to the placement agent, HCW. Net proceeds to the Company from the April 2020 Offering were $3,527,000 after deducting placement agent fees and offering expenses paid by the Company.

 

Warrants

 

The Company first assesses the warrants it issues under the FASB ASC Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”) to determine whether they are within the scope of ASC 480. As there were no instances outside of the Company’s control that could require cash settlement of the warrants issued in the Private Placement and Offering, as well as warrants issued in the Company’s prior financing transactions, the warrants are outside the scope of ASC 480.

 

The Company then applies and follows the applicable accounting guidance in ASC 815. Financial instruments are accounted for as either derivative liabilities or as equity instruments depending on the specific terms of the agreement. The warrants issued in the Private Placement and the Offering do not meet the definition of a derivative instrument as they are indexed to the Company’s common stock and classified within stockholders’ equity, as are the warrants issued in the Company’s prior financing transactions. Based on this determination, the Company’s warrants are classified within stockholders’ equity.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s outstanding equity-classified warrants at June 30, 2021: 

                                                   
    Exercise     Expiration   Balance
December 31, 		    Warrants     Warrants     Warrants     Balance
June 30, 		 
Description   Price     Date   2020     Issued     Exercised     Expired     2021  
December 2016 Warrants   $ 495.00     12/21/2021     23,233       –       –       –       23,233  
April 2018 Warrants   $ 173.25     5/31/2023     20,599       –       –       –       20,599  
April 2018 Placement Agent Warrants   $ 223.00     4/9/2023     1,373       –       –       –       1,373  
October 2018 Warrants   $ 10.45     10/3/2025     389,610       –       –       –       389,610  
October 2018 Underwriter Warrants   $ 13.06     10/1/2023     29,220       –       –       –       29,220  
November 2019 Placement Agent Warrants   $ 6.875     11/18/2024     13,636       –       –       –       13,636  
February 2020 Registered Direct Warrants   $ 8.71     8/6/2025     197,056       –       –       –       197,056  
February 2020 Placement Agent Warrants   $ 11.0375     2/4/2025     14,779       –       –       –       14,779  
February 2020 Underwritten Offering Warrants   $ 4.00     2/13/2025     1,326,500       –       –       –       1,326,500  
February 2020 Underwriter Warrants   $ 5.00     2/11/2025     150,000       –       –       –       150,000  
April 2020 Warrants   $ 2.21     10/2/2025     1,284,798       –       (856,532 )     –       428,266  
April 2020 Placement Agent Warrants   $ 2.9188     3/31/2025     128,480       –       (86,724 )      –       41,756  
January 2021 Pre-Funded Warrants   $ 0.001     No expiration     –       140,065       (140,065 )     –       –  
January 2021 Warrants   $ 3.00     7/27/2026     –       3,420,696       –       –       3,420,696  
January 2021 Placement Agent Warrants   $ 3.8375     7/27/2026     –       342,070       –       –       342,070  
February 2021 Placement Agent Warrants   $ 4.275     2/12/2026     –       168,509       –       –       168,509  
                  3,579,284       4,071,340       (1,083,321 )     –       6,567,303  

 

No warrants were exercised during the three months ended June 30, 2021. During the three months ended June 30, 2020, the Company received net proceeds of $3,863,000 from the exercise of warrants. The Company received net proceeds of $2,146,000 and $3,864,000 from the exercise of warrants during the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

Of the warrants exercised during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, 428,266 of the Company’s April 2020 Warrants were exercised via a cashless exercise transaction and as a result a total of 225,796 shares of common stock were issued. There were no cashless exercises of warrants for the same periods in the current year.

 

 


  13  

 

 

8. Net Loss per Share

 

The following table sets forth the potential common shares excluded from the calculation of net loss per share because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive: 

               
    June 30,  
    2021     2020  
Options to purchase common stock     2,499       2,637  
Nonvested restricted stock units     335,379       11,155  
Warrants to purchase common stock     6,567,303       3,579,284  
Total     6,905,181       3,593,076  

 

9. Stock-based Compensation

 

Restricted Stock Units

 

Restricted stock units (“RSUs”) are issued under the Company’s 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”) or as inducement grants issued outside of the plan to new employees. RSUs are generally subject to graded vesting and the satisfaction of service requirements. Upon vesting, each outstanding RSU will be exchanged for one share of the Company’s common stock. Employee RSU recipients may elect to net share settle upon vesting, in which case the Company pays the employee’s income taxes due upon vesting and withholds a number of shares of equal value. The fair value of the RSUs awarded are based upon the Company’s closing stock price at the grant date and are expensed over the requisite service period.

 

The following table summarizes the activity of the Company’s RSUs for the six months ended June 30, 2021: 

               
    Number
of Shares 		    Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value 		 
Unvested units at December 31, 2020     9,699     $ 19.97  
Granted     328,250       3.07  
Vested     (2,570 )     15.08  
Forfeited     –       –  
Unvested units at June 30, 2021     335,379     $ 3.47  

  

Stock-based compensation expense related to RSUs was $124,000 and $19,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense related to RSUs was $181,000 and $48,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

Stock Options

 

Stock options are issued under the 2020 Plan or as inducement grants issued outside of the plan to new employees. Stock options are generally subject to graded vesting and the satisfaction of service requirements. Upon the exercise of a stock option, the Company issues new shares and delivers them to the recipient. The Company does not expect to repurchase shares to satisfy stock option exercises. 

 

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of all its option grants. The risk-free interest rate used for each grant was based upon the yield on zero-coupon U.S. Treasury securities with a term similar to the expected life of the related option. The Company’s expected stock price volatility assumption is based upon the Company’s own implied volatility. As the Company has limited stock option exercise information, the expected life assumption used for option grants is based upon the simplified method provided for under ASC 718. The dividend yield assumption is based upon the fact that the Company has never paid cash dividends and presently has no intention of paying cash dividends.

 

 

 

  14  

 

 

The Company did not grant stock options during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020.

 

The following table summarizes the activity of the Company’s stock options for the six months ended June 30, 2021: 

                       
    Number
of Shares 		    Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
Per Share 		    Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value 		 
Balance at December 31, 2020     2,570     $ 3,334.06          
Granted     –       –          
Exercised     –       –          
Cancelled     (71 )     946.27          
Balance at June 30, 2021     2,499     $ 3,401.90     $ –  
Exercisable at June 30, 2021     1,807     $ 4,666.97     $ –  

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 was $8,000 and $11,000, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 was $18,000 and $25,000, respectively.

 

Compensation Expense Related to Equity Awards

 

The following table sets forth total stock-based compensation expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, in thousands: 

                               
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2021     2020     2021     2020  
Research and development   $ 31     $ 5     $ 44     $ 11  
General and administrative     101       25       155       62  
Total stock-based compensation   $ 132     $ 30     $ 199     $ 73  

  

 

 

 

 

  15  

 

 

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

 

In this document, “we,” “our,” “ours,” “us,” “Phio” and the “Company” refers to Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. and our subsidiary, MirImmune, LLC and the ongoing business operations of Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. and MirImmune, LLC, whether conducted through Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. or MirImmune, LLC.

 

This management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition as of June 30, 2021 and results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 25, 2021.

 

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “intends,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “indicates,” “plans,” “expects,” “suggests,” “may,” “would,” “should,” “potential,” “designed to,” “will,” “ongoing,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “target,” “predict,” “could” and similar references, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. These statements are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Risks that could cause actual results to vary from expected results expressed in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the impact to our business and operations by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the development of our product candidates, our ability to execute on business strategies, our ability to develop our product candidates with collaboration partners, and the success of any such collaborations, the timeline and duration for advancing our product candidates into clinical development, results from our preclinical and clinical activities, the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, the commercialization of our product candidates if approved, our ability to manufacture and supply our product candidates for clinical activities and for commercial use if approved, the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our technology platform, and our ability to obtain future financing. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors, including those identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 under the heading “Risk Factors” and in other filings the Company periodically makes with the SEC. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q speak as of the date hereof and the Company does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this report.

 

Overview

 

Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. is a biotechnology company developing the next generation of immuno-oncology therapeutics based on our self-delivering RNAi (“INTASYL™”) therapeutic platform. Our efforts are focused on silencing tumor-induced suppression of the immune system through our proprietary INTASYL platform with utility in immune cells and the tumor micro-environment. Our goal is to develop powerful INTASYL therapeutic compounds that can weaponize immune effector cells to overcome tumor immune escape, thereby potentially providing patients a powerful new treatment option that goes beyond current treatment modalities.

 

Our development efforts are based on our broadly patented INTASYL technology platform. Our INTASYL compounds do not require a delivery vehicle to penetrate into tissues and cells and are designed to “silence” or down-regulate, the expression of a specific gene which is over-expressed in cancer. We believe that our INTASYL platform uniquely positions the Company in the field of immuno-oncology for the following reasons:

 

  · Efficient uptake of INTASYL by target cells obviating the need for facilitated delivery (mechanical or formulation);
     
  · Does not require permanent genetic modification;

 

  · Can target multiple genes (i.e. multiple immunosuppression pathways) in a single therapeutic entity;

 

  · Gene silencing by INTASYL has been shown to have a sustained, or long-term, effect in vivo;

 

  · Favorable clinical safety profile of INTASYL with local administration; and

 

  · Can be readily manufactured under current good manufacturing practices.

 

 

 

  16  

 

  

In contrast to other RNA technologies and platforms, the self-delivering nature of our INTASYL platform makes it ideally suited for use with adoptive cell therapy (“ACT”) treatments as well as for direct therapeutic use. ACT consists of the infusion of immune cells with antitumor properties, after growing them in a lab to large numbers. These cells can be derived from unmodified (i.e. naturally occurring) immune cells, immune cells isolated from resected tumors or genetically engineered immune cells that recognize tumor cells. Regardless of the source of immune cells (ACT or naturally occurring immune cells), in patients with solid tumors, these cells have several shortcomings that inhibit their full therapeutic potential. By using INTASYL technology during the manufacturing of such ACT cell products we can improve the phenotype and function of these cells, potentially leading to better therapeutic outcomes. Multiple inhibitory mechanisms restrain immune cells from effectively eradicating tumors, including immune checkpoints, reduced cell fitness and cell persistence. Furthermore, the immunosuppressive tumor micro-environment (the “TME”) can pose a formidable barrier to immune cell infiltration and function. By using INTASYL based drugs administered directly, we can also reprogram cells in the TME to help overcome these immunosuppressive mechanisms.

 

We have developed a product platform based on our INTASYL technology that allows easy, precise, rapid and selective non-genetically modified programming of ACT cells (ex vivo, during manufacturing) and of the TME (in vivo, by local application), resulting in reduced immune inhibition and in improved immunotherapy.

 

INTASYL Use To Improve Adoptive Cell Therapy Products

  

ACT is a form of immune therapy based on the use of immune cells, isolated from patients, donors or retrieved from allogeneic immune cell banks. They are grown in a lab to large numbers and subsequently administered to patients to fight cancer. Sometimes, immune cells that naturally recognize a tumor are used, while other times immune cells are modified or “genetically engineered” to make them recognize and kill the cancer cells. There are several types of ACT, including: a.) non-engineered cell therapy in which immune cells are grown from the patient’s tumor or blood, such as tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (“TILs”), or from donor blood or tissue such as natural killer (“NK”) cells, dendritic cells (“DC”) and macrophages, and b.) genetically engineered immune cells that are genetically modified to recognize specific tumor proteins and to remain in an activated state (such as T cell receptor technology (“TCRs”), chimeric antigen receptor (“CAR”) T cells, or CAR-NK cells).

 

Multiple inhibitory mechanisms restrain immune cells used in ACT from effectively eradicating tumors, including immune checkpoints, reduced cell fitness and cell persistence, and other barriers to immune cell infiltration and function mainly in solid tumors. We believe our INTASYL compounds are ideally suited to be used in ACT products. With INTASYL compounds, we can unlock the full potential of ACT, by improving the immune cell function, differentiation and metabolism, in order to make these immune cells more effective without the need for additional complicated manufacturing steps and/or genetic engineering.

 

Our approach builds on well-established methodologies of ACT and involves the treatment of immune cells with our INTASYL compounds ex vivo while they are grown in the lab and before administering them to the patient. Because our INTASYL compounds do not require a delivery vehicle to penetrate into the cells, in contrast to other RNA technologies, we are able to enhance the function of these cells by merely adding our INTASYL compounds during the expansion process and without the need for genetic engineering, complex delivery vehicles or formulations, and additional complex manufacturing steps. By adding INTASYL to the cell culture media used during the cell expansion, we can reduce or eliminate the expression of genes that make the immune cells less effective. For example, with our INTASYL compounds, we can reduce the expression of immunosuppressive proteins by the therapeutic immune cells, potentially enabling them to overcome tumor resistance mechanisms and thus improving their ability to destroy the tumor cells. In various types of immune cells tested to date, INTASYL treatment results in potent silencing with close to 100% transfection efficiency and while maintaining cell viability and cell growth rate. After expanding these cells and enhancing them with INTASYL ex vivo, they are returned to the patient for treatment.

 

Our lead product candidate, and our most advanced program being developed in ACT, is PH-762, an INTASYL compound that targets the checkpoint protein PD-1. Checkpoint proteins, such as PD-1, normally act as a type of “off switch” that prevent T cells from attacking certain cells, such as cancer cells, in the body. T cells are immune cells that protect the body from cancer cells and infections.

 

Data developed by Phio and with collaborators has shown that PH-762 silences PD-1 checkpoint expression, thereby removing the “off switch” and resulting in enhanced T cell activation and tumor cytotoxicity. Experimental data shows that PH-762 can silence the expression of PD-1 in target human T cells in a potent and durable manner, and can increase the function of patient derived TILs for use in ACT, and of CAR-T cells used in ACT, showing that PH-762 is applicable for use in both ACT and as a standalone direct therapeutic.

 

 

 

  17  

 

 

In March 2021, the Company announced that it entered into a clinical development collaboration with AgonOx, Inc. (“AgonOx”), a private company developing a pipeline of novel immunotherapy drugs targeting key regulators of the immune response to cancer. Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate on the development of novel T cell-based therapies using PH-762 and AgonOx’s “double positive” (DP) TIL technology. AgonOx has demonstrated that their DP CD8+ T cells isolated from human solid tumors (DP TILs) have increased tumor killing activity when compared to TILs that were not enriched prior to expansion. Preclinical data from AgonOx in collaboration with Phio has shown that treating DP TILs with PH-762 increases the tumor killing activity of the DP TILs even further (a two-fold increase). As a result, the use of PH-762 treated DP TILs is expected to enhance therapeutic responses in cancer data. Based on this data showing that the combination of our technologies can result in TIL therapeutics, our collaboration will focus on conducting a clinical study for PH-762 treated DP TILs. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, AgonOx will receive financial support for the clinical trial from Phio, and Phio will be entitled to certain future development milestones and sales-related royalty payments from AgonOx’s DP TIL technology. In collaboration with AgonOx, we are planning a clinical trial in ACT with PH-762 and AgonOx’s DP TIL technology. As a result of impacts from the coronavirus pandemic, the availability of certain materials for the clinical trial are delayed. Based upon current information, the Company expects to start the clinical trial evaluating the use PH-762 and DP TILs in adoptive cell therapy in the second quarter of 2022.

 

Our second product candidate in ACT is PH-894, an INTASYL compound that targets BRD4 which is a regulator of gene expression impacting cell differentiation. In previous studies, PH-894 has been shown to improve T cell function and persistence by differentiating T cells into a more active state (stem-cell like memory phenotype). Data, completed in partnership with the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, demonstrated that the application of PH-894, was shown to silence BRD4 in human T cells during expansion for ACT, which has the potential to confer superior anti-tumor activity, for example by improving T cell persistence. With this data, we expanded our collaboration with the Karolinska Institutet to build upon these findings and develop INTASYL compounds for additional targets and cell types toward clinical application in areas of the Karolinska Institutet’s ongoing clinical research.

 

We are also developing our INTASYL compound PH-804 for use in ACT. PH-804 targets the suppressive immune receptor TIGIT, which is a checkpoint protein present on T cells and NK cells. We have shown that PH-804 can silence the expression of TIGIT in NK cells and T cells, overcoming their “off switch” and the cells becoming “weaponized” to kill cancer cells.

 

Direct Therapeutic Use of INTASYL Towards the Tumor Micro-Environment

 

The TME is the environment that surrounds and feeds a tumor, including normal cells, blood vessels, immune cells and the extracellular matrix. The TME is an immunosuppressive environment that inhibits the immune system’s natural ability to recognize and destroy tumor cells by negatively impacting how immunosuppressive cells are being attracted and activated. Reprogramming different components of the TME may overcome resistance to immunotherapy. Such reprogramming of the TME by INTASYL compounds through direct local administration into the tumor could potentially become an important form of therapy. The Company has previously shown in a clinical setting that our INTASYL compounds are safe and well-tolerated following local administration; therefore, we believe that our INTASYL technology, in addition to being used in combination with ACT, can also be used as an independent therapeutic platform.

 

We are developing our PH-762, PH-894 and PH-804 INTASYL compounds also for use as direct therapeutics to reprogram the TME, for example by in situ transfection and activation of immune cells in the TME.

 

Animal studies conducted by the Company showed that local administration of PH-894 or the mouse version of PH-762 through intra-tumoral injection resulted in potent anti-tumoral effects. The treated animals showed a complete and statistically significant inhibition of tumor growth, whereas placebo treated animals displayed exponential tumor growth. In vivo studies performed by the Company with PH-804 showed that intra-tumoral injection of a mouse version of PH-804 reduced the tumor growth in colorectal carcinoma tumor bearing mice, which was shown to inhibit tumor growth and was correlated with the silencing of TIGIT mRNA expression and in increase in cytotoxic effector T cells in the TME.

 

The combined PH-804, PH-762, and PH-894 data further shows that INTASYL compounds can trigger associated changes in the TME such as an increase of TILs, including CD8+ T cells responsible for tumor cell killing, and an increase of activation markers on these cells. These preclinical findings demonstrate that direct injection of INTASYL compounds can successfully infiltrate solid tumors and impact the TME by activating the immune response in animal models of solid tumors resulting in reduced tumor growth. A key challenge for many other immunotherapy platforms is to be able to achieve an adequate therapeutic effect in solid tumors with an acceptable safety profile. Many of the available systemic immuno-therapeutics come with dose limiting immune-related adverse events, which we believe can be mitigated with local INTASYL treatment.

 

 

 

  18  

 

 

Based on our positive preclinical data, the Company is preparing for a clinical study with PH-762 using intra-tumoral administration for patients with advanced melanoma. The required preclinical studies and regulatory submission needed to initiate the clinical trial with PH-762 as a direct therapeutic are being finalized. However, these timelines are impacted by limited availability in certain services and supplies as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. The clinical trial will be conducted at the Gustave Roussy Institute, which is one of the largest cancer centers in Europe, with Dr. Caroline Robert as our lead principal investigator. The Company currently expects to start the clinical trial evaluating the use of PH-762 as a direct therapeutic in the first quarter of 2022.

 

We are also investigating other relevant compounds for TME targets, such as PH-790, an INTASYL compound targeting PD-L1. PD-L1 is a protein formed by cancer cells that activates the PD-1 “off switch” on immune cells. Our approach with PH-790 is to block the formation of the PD-L1 protein, which may prevent cancer cells from inactivating T cells and attack the cancer.  Data has demonstrated that the antitumoral efficacy of our individual pipeline products, PH-762, PH-790 and PH-804, can be further improved by combining them in a single drug treatment. We have shown that we can efficiently and potently target multiple proteins in a single drug treatment. Animal data showed that the combination of our INTASYL compounds in a single formulation (at suboptimal doses of the individual agents) inhibited tumor growth without having a negative impact on the tolerability of the treatment.

 

Impact of COVID-19 on our Business

 

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19 was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China and has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (the “WHO”) declared the outbreak a pandemic.

 

Health and Safety

 

From the first signs of the outbreak, we have taken proactive measures intended to protect the health and safety of our employees. We have implemented safety measures following the guidance provided by the WHO, the Centers for Disease Control (the “CDC”) and governmental authorities, such as working remotely and flexible scheduling. We expect to continue following these safety measures and may take further actions as we require, as government authorities require or recommend, or as we determine to be in the best interests of our employees.

  

Operations

 

Our operations are being conducted in accordance with federal and state government, WHO and CDC guidelines. While measures to contain and prevent the spread of coronavirus may be modified or extended, we expect that our activities, including our internal research and development functions, will continue to remain largely operational, though we have started to and may continue to experience delays in our clinical activities. Current and future pandemic-related restrictions may further impact our operations and may slow or diminish our research and development activities.

 

Supply and Services

 

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, certain of our third-party suppliers and service providers on which we rely have seen impacts to their operations. The Company has undertaken efforts to mitigate potential future impacts by identifying and engaging alternative third-party service providers and suppliers, and because of that, the Company had been able to limit the impact of delays from our third-party service providers to our program’s anticipated timelines. However, the continued impacts to our third-party service providers, including, for example, limited availability in certain services and supplies, have now started to significantly affect our operations in the second quarter of 2021 resulting in delays to certain of our clinical program timelines. Further, while the steps required for us to initiate our clinical trials with PH-762 are continuing and ongoing, the commencement of new clinical trials and the enrollment and participation of patients in clinical trials were impacted as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and the Company does not yet know the full extent of similar potential delays or impacts related to its planned clinical activities. If measures to contain the pandemic are insufficient, the availability of supplies and services that we purchase and rely on could be further reduced or delayed, which may in turn further slow or delay our preclinical and clinical activities.

 

 

 

  19  

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

While we believe that the coronavirus pandemic has not had a significant impact on our financial condition to date, the extent to which the coronavirus pandemic impacts our results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the actions to contain the coronavirus or treat its impact, among others.

 

Due to our uncertainty about our ability to access the capital markets to provide the necessary working capital to fund our long-term operations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Company applied for and received a loan of $231,252 in May 2020 under the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (the “CARES Act”). The Company carefully assessed the requirements for application under the program and believed that the loan was necessary to support our operations. The Company believed it used the loan proceeds for eligible purposes and applied for full loan forgiveness. In February 2021, the Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) approved the Company’s application for full loan forgiveness, and the full amount of the PPP loan was remitted to the lender for forgiveness. In connection with and addition to the PPP, the Company took other proactive steps to control costs in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which included the reduction of senior management salaries by 10% from May to December 2020. We believe these savings helped to mitigate the financial impact to us of the coronavirus pandemic on our financial condition.

 

We do not yet know the full extent of potential delays or impacts on our business, financial condition or our preclinical and clinical trial activities, and there may be developments outside of our control that require us to adjust our operating plans and, therefore, given the nature of the situation, we cannot reasonably estimate the impact of the coronavirus on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows in the future.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and base our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions and could have a material impact on our reported results.

 

There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates as compared to those disclosed in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

   

Results of Operations

 

The following data summarizes the results of our operations for the periods indicated, in thousands:

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,           Six Months Ended June 30,        
Description   2021     2020    

Dollar

Change

    2021     2020     Dollar
Change 		 
Operating expenses   $ 2,684     $ 1,669     $ 1,015     $ 6,322     $ 4,025     $ 2,297  
Operating loss     (2,684 )     (1,669 )     (1,015 )     (6,322 )     (4,025 )     (2,297 )
Net loss     (2,687 )     (1,672 )     (1,015 )     (6,094 )     (4,023 )     (2,071 )

 

 

  20  

 

 

Comparison of the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2020

 

Operating Expenses

 

The following table summarizes our total operating expenses, for the periods indicated, in thousands:

 

    Three Months Ended June 30,           Six Months Ended June 30,        
Description   2021     2020    

Dollar

Change

    2021     2020    

Dollar

Change

 
Research and development   $ 1,663     $ 779     $ 884     $ 4,284     $ 1,997     $ 2,287  
General and administrative     1,021       890       131       2,038       2,028       10  
Total operating expenses   $ 2,684     $ 1,669     $ 1,015     $ 6,322     $ 4,025     $ 2,297  

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Research and development expenses relate to compensation and benefits for research and development personnel, facility-related expenses, supplies, external services, costs to acquire technology licenses, research activities under our research collaborations, expenses associated with preclinical and clinical development activities and other operating costs. Our research and development programs are focused on the development of immuno-oncology therapeutics based on our INTASYL therapeutic platform.

 

Research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2021 increased 113% as compared with the three months ended June 30, 2020. Research and development expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased 115% as compared with the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in research and development expenses for both periods was primarily due to manufacturing costs and fees for the required preclinical studies in support of the Company’s planned clinical trials for PH-762 as compared to the same period in the prior year. The Company expects its research and development expenses to continue to increase in support of, and as the Company commences its clinical trial activities with PH-762.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses relate to compensation and benefits for general and administrative personnel, facility-related expenses, professional fees for legal, audit, tax and consulting services, as well as other general corporate expenses. 

 

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2021 increased 15% as compared with the three months ended June 30, 2020, primarily due to an increase in stock-based compensation expense as no equity awards were granted in the same period in the prior year.

 

General and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased less than 1% as compared with the six months ended June 30, 2020 primarily due an increase in stock-based compensation, as noted above, offset by a decrease in legal fees.

  

Other Income

 

Other income consists primarily of interest income and expense and various income or expense items of a non-recurring nature.

 

Other income for the six months ended June 30, 2021 increased by $226,000 as compared with the six months ended June 30, 2020, primarily due to the full forgiveness of the Company’s PPP loan by the SBA in the first quarter of 2021.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Historically, the Company’s primary source of funding has been through the sale of its securities. In the future, we will be dependent on obtaining funding from third parties, such as proceeds from the issuance of debt, sale of equity or strategic opportunities, in order to maintain our operations. We have reported recurring losses from operations since inception and expect that we will continue to have negative cash flows from our operations for the foreseeable future. At June 30, 2021, we had cash of $29,425,000 as compared with cash of $14,244,000 at December 31, 2020.

 

 

 

 

  21  

 

 

In August 2019, the Company entered into a purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Lincoln Park Capital, LLC (“LPC”), pursuant to which the Company has the right to sell to LPC up to $10,000,000 in shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to certain limitations and conditions set forth in the agreement. The Company is initially limited to the issuance of 19.99% of the Company’s shares outstanding on the date of the Purchase Agreement unless stockholder approval is obtained to issue more than such amount or the average price of all sales under the Purchase Agreement exceeds certain amounts set forth in the agreement. The Purchase Agreement expires in May 2022. To date, no shares of common stock have been sold to LPC under the Purchase Agreement.

 

We believe that our existing cash at June 30, 2021 should be sufficient to fund operations for at least the next 12 months from the date of the release of the associated financial statements.

 

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated, in thousands:

 

    Six Months Ended
June 30, 		 
    2021     2020  
Net cash used in operating activities   $ (6,288 )   $ (4,208 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (21 )     (10 )
Net cash provided by financing activities     21,490       16,148  
Net increase in cash and restricted cash   $ 15,181     $ 11,930  

 

Net Cash Flow from Operating Activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $6,288,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 as compared with $4,208,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in cash used in operating activities was primarily due to increases in net loss and changes in operating assets and liabilities as a result of increased spending primarily related to the Company’s preclinical studies in support of and for the planned clinical trials for PH-762.

 

Net Cash Flow from Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $21,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 as compared with $10,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in cash used in investing activities was primarily related to laboratory and computer equipment purchases.

 

Net Cash Flow from Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $21,490,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2021, as compared with $16,148,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in cash provided by financing activities was primarily due to the net proceeds received by the Company from capital raising activities and warrant exercises.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

In connection with certain license agreements, we are required to indemnify the licensor for certain damages arising in connection with the intellectual property rights licensed under the agreement. In addition, we are a party to a number of agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business that contain typical provisions that obligate us to indemnify the other parties to such agreements upon the occurrence of certain events. These indemnification obligations are considered off-balance sheet arrangements in accordance with ASC Topic 460, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.” To date, we have not encountered material costs as a result of such obligations and have not accrued any liabilities related to such obligations in our financial statements. See Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which was filed with the SEC on March 25, 2021, for further discussion of these indemnification agreements.

 

 

 

  22  

 

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide this information.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (who is also acting as our principal financial officer) and our Principal Accounting Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report to ensure that information that we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms.

 

Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives. We believe that a control system, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the control system are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report, management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (who is also acting as our principal financial officer) and our Principal Accounting Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of such date.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second quarter of the year ended December 31, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  23  

 

 

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

From time to time, the Company may become a party to various legal proceedings and complaints arising in the ordinary course of business. We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

Please carefully consider the information set forth in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on March 25, 2021. There have been no material changes from these risk factors. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including these risks. Additional risks not currently known or currently material to us may also harm our business.

 

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

 

No sales or issuances of unregistered securities occurred that have not previously been disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

      Incorporated by Reference Herein

Exhibit
Number

  Description Form Date
       
31.1   Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 302 Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer. *    
       
32.1   Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 906 Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer. **    
         
101.INS   Inline XBRL Instance Document.*    
101.SCH   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.*    
101.CAL   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.*    
101.DEF   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.*    
101.LAB   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.*    
101.PRE   Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.*    
104   The cover page for this report, formatted in Inline XBRL (included in Exhibit 101).*    

 

  * Filed herewith.
  ** Furnished herewith and not deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liability of that Section or incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

 

 

  24  

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

       
  Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp.
     
  By:   /s/ Gerrit Dispersyn                                  
      Gerrit Dispersyn, Dr. Med. Sc.
      President and Chief Executive Officer
      (as Principal Executive and Financial Officer)
     
      Date: August 12, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

  25  

 

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