Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v3.20.2
Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Nature of Business

Nature of Business - Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company", "Actinium", or "We") is a clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company applying its proprietary platform technology and deep understanding of radioimmunobiology to the development of novel targeted therapies known as ARCs or Antibody Radiation-Conjugates. Radiation is an effective therapeutic modality that is used in the treatment of over fifty percent of all cancer patients and often combined with chemotherapy and immunotherapy for greater therapeutic effect. Radiation is typically administered from outside the body, which constrains the amount that can be administered to patients due to dose-limiting toxicities. In addition, due to the diffuse nature of the external radiation beam, its usage is limited to solid tumors and cannot be used in blood cancers, which are diffuse. ARCs combine the cell-killing ability of a radioisotope payload with a targeting agent, such as a monoclonal antibody, or mAb, to deliver radiation inside the body to specific cells, to potentially generate greater efficacy and less toxicity. ARCs usage is broader than external delivered radiation as they can be used for both solid tumors and blood cancers. Blood or hematologic cancers are highly sensitive to radiation and our clinical pipeline is focused on ARCs targeting the antigens CD45 and CD33, both of which are expressed in multiple hematologic cancers. Our clinical programs are focused on two primary areas: targeted conditioning prior to a cell or gene therapy procedure and therapeutics, either in combination with other agents or as a monotherapy. Our product development strategy is actively informed by clinical data with our ARCs in over 500 patients, including the ongoing SIERRA trial. Our clinical pipeline has emanated from our AWE, or Antibody Warhead Enabling technology platform, which is protected by over 110 issued and pending patents, trade secrets and know-how and is being utilized in a collaborative research partnership with Astellas Pharma, Inc.

Basis of Presentation - Unaudited Interim Financial Information

Basis of Presentation - Unaudited Interim Financial Information - The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information, and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") with respect to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements furnished reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the Company's accounts and those of the Company's wholly owned subsidiary.

Use of Estimates in Financial Statement Presentation

Use of Estimates in Financial Statement Presentation - The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Financial Statements

Impact of COVID–19 Pandemic on Financial Statements

 

In December 2019, a novel strain of COVID-19 was reported in China. Since then, COVID-19 has spread globally. The spread of COVID-19 from China to other countries has resulted in the World Health Organization ("WHO") declaring the outbreak of COVID-19 as a "pandemic," or a worldwide spread of a new disease, on March 11, 2020. Many countries around the world have imposed quarantines and restrictions on travel and mass gatherings to slow the spread of the virus and have closed non-essential businesses, and many local jurisdictions continue to have such restrictions in place.

 

As local jurisdictions continue to put restrictions in place, the Company's ability to continue to operate its business may also be limited. Such events may result in a period of business, supply and drug product manufacturing disruption, and in reduced operations, any of which could materially affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. In response to COVID-19, the Company implemented remote working and thus far, has not experienced a significant disruption or delay in its operations as it relates to the clinical development or drug production of our drug candidates.

 

The spread of COVID-19, which has caused a broad impact globally, may materially affect the Company economically. While the ultimate economic impact brought by, and the duration of, the COVID-19 pandemic may be difficult to assess or predict, the pandemic has resulted significant disruptions in the general commercial activity and the global economy and caused financial market volatility and uncertainty in significant and unforeseen ways in the recent months. A continuation or worsening of the levels of market disruption and volatility seen in the recent past could have an adverse effect on the Company's ability to access capital, which could in the future negatively affect the Company's liquidity. In addition, a recession or market correction resulting from the spread of COVID-19 could materially affect the Company's business and the value of the Company's common stock.

 

Additionally, COVID-19 may also result in delays in receiving approvals from local and foreign regulatory authorities, delays in necessary interactions with IRB's or Institutional Review Boards, local and foreign regulators, ethics committees and other important agencies and contractors due to limitations in employee resources or forced furlough of government employees.

 

To date, COVID-19 has not had a financial impact on the Company. However, COVID-19 has caused severe disruptions in transportation and limited access to the Company's facility, resulting in limited support from its staff and professional advisors. The small size of the Company's accounting staff and the additional responsibilities emanating from COVID-19 have presented difficulties to the Company's ability to complete this Report on Form 10-Q in a timely manner, resulting in its delay.

NYSE American Notification Potential Reverse Stock Split

NYSE American Notification and Potential Reverse Stock Split

 

On April 29, 2020, the Company received a deficiency letter from the NYSE American LLC, or NYSE American, indicating that the Company is not in compliance with the NYSE American continued listing standard set forth in Section 1003(f)(v) of the NYSE American Company Guide because its shares of common stock have been selling for a substantial period of time at a low price per share. Pursuant to Section 1003(f)(v) of the NYSE American Company Guide, the NYSE American staff determined that the Company’s continued listing is predicated on the Company effecting a reverse stock split of its common stock or otherwise demonstrating sustained price improvement within a reasonable period of time, which the staff determined to be no later than October 29, 2020.

 

If the Company does not effectuate a reverse stock split to maintain compliance with NYSE American listing requirements, it could be delisted from the exchange. On October 18, 2019, the Company’s board of directors, or the Board, unanimously approved, subject to stockholder approval, an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of its outstanding common stock by combining outstanding shares of common stock into a lesser number of outstanding shares of common stock by a ratio of not more than 1-for-75 prior to December 18, 2020, with the exact ratio to be set within this range by the Board at its sole discretion. At its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on December 18, 2019, the Company’s stockholders approved such amendment to its certificate of incorporation. Upon the effectiveness of the amendment to its certificate of incorporation effecting the reverse stock split, the outstanding shares of its common stock will be reclassified and combined into a lesser number of shares such that one share of common stock will be issued for a specified number of shares.

 

The Board has the sole discretion to effect the amendment and reverse stock split, and to fix the specific ratio for the reverse stock split, provided that the ratio would be not be more than 1-for-75. The reverse stock split would become effective upon the filing of an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at the later time set forth in the amendment. The exact timing of the amendment will be determined by the Board based on its evaluation as to when such action will be the most advantageous to the Company and its stockholders.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash - The Company considers all highly liquid accounts with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Balances held by the Company are typically in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured limits.

 

The following is a summary of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

 

(in thousands)   March 31,
2020
    December 31,
2019
 
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 5,942     $ 9,254  
Restricted cash – current     48       48  
Restricted cash – long-term     391       391  
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash   $ 6,381     $ 9,693  

  

Current restricted cash relates to credit card accounts, while long-term restricted cash relates to a certificate of deposit held as collateral for a letter of credit issued in connection with the Company’s lease for corporate office space.

Leases

Leases – The Company has operating and finance leases for corporate office space, office equipment and furniture located at the corporate office space. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet; lease expense for these leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants. A fair value hierarchy has been established for valuation inputs that gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs.

Research and Development Costs

Research and Development Costs - Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. These costs include the costs of manufacturing drug product, the costs of clinical trials, costs of employees and associated overhead, and depreciation and amortization costs related to facilities and equipment. Research and development reimbursements are recorded by the Company as a reduction of research and development costs.

Share-Based Payments

Share-Based Payments - The Company estimates the fair value of each stock option award at the grant date by using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value determined represents the cost for the award and is recognized over the vesting period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. The Company accounts for forfeitures of stock options as they occur.

Net Loss Per Common Share

Net Loss Per Common Share - Basic loss per common share is computed by dividing the net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. For periods of net income, and when the effects are not anti-dilutive, diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding plus the impact of all potential dilutive common shares, consisting primarily of common shares underlying common stock options and warrants using the treasury stock method. For periods of net loss, diluted loss per share is calculated similarly to basic loss per share because the impact of all potential dilutive common shares is anti-dilutive. For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company's potentially dilutive shares, which include outstanding common stock options and warrants have not been included in the computation of diluted net loss per share as the result would have been anti-dilutive.

 

(in thousands)   March 31,
2020
    March 31,
2019
 
Options     11,061       7,784  
Warrants     86,141       43,473  
Total     97,202       51,257  
Accounting Standards Recently Adopted

Accounting Standards Recently Adopted

 

In August 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement - Disclosure Framework (Topic 820). The updated guidance improves the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements, primarily associated with Level 3 fair value measurements and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted upon issuance of the standard for disclosures modified or removed with a delay of adoption of the additional disclosures until their effective date. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2020 and the standard did not have a significant impact to the Company's financial statements.

 

In November 2018, FASB issued ASU 2018-18, Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808): Clarifying the Interaction Between Topic 808 and Topic 606, which, among other things, provides guidance on how to assess whether certain collaborative arrangement transactions should be accounted for under Topic 606. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2020 and the standard did not have a significant impact to the Company's financial statements.