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FORM 1O-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington D.C., 20549
FORM 1O-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the Fiscal Year Ended April 30, 2002
Commission File No. 2-31909
SYNTHETIC BLOOD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact name
of registrant as specified in its charter)
| New Jersey |
|
22-3067701 |
| (State of Incorporation) |
|
(IRS Employer I.D. Number) |
3189 Airway Avenue, Building C, Costa Mesa, California 92626
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrants Telephone Number and area code: (714) 427-6363
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: NONE
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE
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 x NO ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filings pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be continued, to the best of registrants knowledge in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
YES x NO ¨
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrants classes of common stock, as of the latest
practicable date, July 15, 2002: 88,577,245 shares of $.01 par value common stock. The aggregate market value of the shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant (assuming officers, directors and 10% shareholders are affiliates) was approximately
$15,341,424 based on the closing bid price of the Registrants Common Stock on July 15, 2002 of $0.18 per share.
List hereunder the following documents if incorporated by reference and the Part of the Form 10-K into which the document is incorporated: (1) Any annual report to security holders; (2) Any proxy or information statement; and (3) Any
prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424 (b) or (c) under the Securities Act of 1933. None of the above-listed documents are incorporated by reference.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and elsewhere. These statements relate to
future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as may, will, should, expects, plans,
anticipates, believes, estimates, predicts, potential or continue or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risks outlined under Risk Factors, that may cause our or our industrys actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, levels of activities, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover,
neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of such statements. We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this Form 10-K or to conform such statements to
actual results.
2
PART I
ITEM 1BUSINESS
Synthetic Blood International, Inc. (SBI or the
Company) is a development-stage company which is developing OXYCYTE, a proprietary synthetic blood substitute and FLUOROVENT, a liquid for assisting oxygen exchange in damaged or diseased lungs based upon perfluorocarbon
(PFC) technology. In addition the Company has developed an implantable continuous reading glucose biosensor for diabetics. The Company is now in the preclinical stage and is completing activities necessary for the preparation of an
Investigative New Drug Application (IND) with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin clinical testing of Oxycyte. After IND submissions to the FDA, the Companys products will require extensive clinical
testing before FDA approval may be granted. No assurance may be given that FDA approval will be granted.
The
Companys technology is based on research done by Dr. Leland C. Clark, Jr., a widely recognized, pioneering inventor and scientist. Dr. Clark, who is credited with developing the first blood oxygenator for open heart surgery as well as
biomedical applications for perfluorocarbons and biosensors, was the Companys Vice President of R&D until 1998.
The Company began conducting business in its current form in September 1990, shortly thereafter changed its name to Synthetic Blood International, Inc., and revised its business purpose to developing a line of blood substitutes.
MARKET
The Companys lead productsOxycyteTM, FluoroventTM, and an implantable glucose biosensorwill compete in what the Company believes are four multibillion-dollar
markets: blood substitutes, oxygen therapeutics, acute respiratory distress, and diabetes.
Blood Substitutes
The search for blood replacement fluids began centuries ago. In modern times, this search has been given a
new impetus by the threat of disease transmission, most notably HIV and hepatitis C. The risks are low but unacceptable because of the high death rate from these diseases. In underdeveloped countries, the risk of serious disease transmission is much
greater.
An increasingly short supply of blood is also driving this research. In the US, the number of blood
donors continues to fall while the number of elderly, the group that needs blood the most, is growing. By 2030, experts project an annual shortfall of 4 million units in the US. In other countries where cultural and logistical issues constrain blood
collection even more, the shortfall is believed to be much greater.
The third major force behind this search is
the militarys desire for a blood substitute that can be stockpiled and used immediately when needed in battlefield conditions without special storage and matching of human donor blood. Current
techniques for blood transfusions do not meet these requirements. Approximately 100 million units of human donor blood are collected annually worldwide. About 15 million units are collected in the US each year. The global
market for blood substitutes has been estimated at $2-5 billion.
Oxygen Therapeutics
The availability of parenteral oxygen-carrying products for animal and clinical research has lead to the identification of
potential new uses for products traditionally defined as blood substitutes. These uses, for example in ischemic conditions, specifically depend on the ability to deliver oxygen, not on a patients need for blood or blood components. These new
uses include stroke, myocardial infarction, angioplasty, and malignant
3
disease. In ischemic conditions, cell damage is caused by a lack of oxygen. In cancer, enhanced oxygen delivery is thought to make solid tumors, and possibly diffuse cancer cells, more
susceptible to radiation and chemotherapy. Combined, these conditions affect 3-4 million people in the U.S. The company estimates these new uses for oxygen-carrying blood substitutes to constitute a multibillion-dollar market.
Acute Respiratory Distress
Thousands of premature infants are born each year with underdeveloped lungs and a condition of impaired pulmonary function known as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This syndrome has
multiple causes and also occurs in children and adults. Although many of these patients are treated with mechanical ventilation, this treatment can add further injury to the lungs and the mortality rate is still high. This has prompted research for
a safer, more effective treatment. While more research is needed, current studies with partial liquid ventilation in animals and patients, both infants and adults, suggest that liquid ventilation may be a safe and effective treatment of ARDS.
The incident of ARDS in the US is about 250,000 cases annually. While ARDS is the primary disease target for
liquid ventilation at this time, SBI believes that it may also be beneficial in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition that occurs in 10 million people in the US. However, no research with liquid ventilaion in COPD has been done,
and there are no assurances that any benefits can be shown. The company believes that the ultimate market for liquid ventilation is in the multibillion-dollar range.
Diabetes
Diabetes and its
associated complications are among the most prevalent, costly diseases in the world. Its incidence is increasing at a significant rate. Diabetes affects men and women equally but occurs most frequently in the elderly. Direct costs are estimated at
about $50 billion, almost 6% of the total personal healthcare expenditures in the US.
A ten year study, the
Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) sponsored by the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, showed that tight diabetes control, keeping blood sugar levels close to normal by frequent blood sugar
testing, several daily insulin shots, and lifestyle changes, was associated with a major reduction in diabetic complications. These findings led the American Diabetes Association to recommend tight control as an important way to delay the onset and
dramatically slow the progression of complications from diabetes.
People with diabetes measure their blood
glucose levels by sticking a finger with a needle to obtain a blood drop that is placed on a test strip and analyzed by a portable instrument. Repeating this procedure several times a day becomes painful, leading many patients, especially the
elderly, to perform the procedure infrequently. Furthermore, the accuracy of some blood glucose analyzers is poor. Newer finger stick devices are less painful, but monitoring compliance continues to be a major problem. A less invasive system for
accurately measuring blood glucose on demand would increase glucose monitoring compliance and provide a better basis for tight diabetes control.
More than 16 million people, approximately half undiagnosed, are estimated to suffer from diabetes in the US. Between 600,000 and 700,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. About 800,000 diabetics are
insulin-dependent. Mortality from diabetes and its associated complications is high; it is the seventh leading cause of death in the US. Globally, the incidence of diabetes is estimated at 120 million people. This number is projected by some experts
to increase to over 500 million by 2025. While insulin-dependant diabetics are thought to have the greatest need for tight diabetic control, evidence is increasing that better control of blood glucose in type 2 diabetics also leads to a reduction in
diabetic complications. The company estimates the global market for a less invasive glucose monitoring system to be a multibillion-dollar market.
4
TECHNOLOGY
The Companys principal technologiesbiomedical uses for perfluorocarbons and substrate analysis with biosensorswere conceptualized and advanced by Dr.
Leland C. Clark, Jr. While his pioneering discoveries in these two areas spawned decades of research worldwide, Dr. Clark has been one of the most prolific contributors and has remained at the forefront of scientific advances in these areas, leading
to the Companys patented perfluorocarbon and biosensor technology platforms.
Perfluorocarbons in
Biomedicine
Following an experiment showing that a mouse could live and breathe submerged in oxygen-saturated
silicone oil, Dr. Clark showed in 1965 that animals could be kept alive submerged for several hours in oxygen-saturated perfluorocarbon liquids. These experiments suggested that perfluorocarbons might be useful in medicine, principally in liquid
breathing and in blood substitutes, and in 1975, Dr. Clark was issued the first patent for an oxygen-carrying, perfluorocarbon-based blood substitute. Although the technology described in this patent was used by the Green Cross Corporation in Japan
to develop and obtain FDA approval for Fluosol DA, Dr. Clark recognized that further research would be necessary before safe, effective perfluorocarbons could be identified. Since that time, a principal focus of his and SBIs subsequent
research has been the identification of optimal properties for biomedical perfluorocarbons, and the screening of numerous compounds.
Biosensor Substrate Analysis
In the mid-1950s, Dr. Clark developed the
first oxygen electrode. Ten years later, he applied for a patent describing enzyme-based biosensors that could accurately measure glucose, lactate, and other substrates. By 1974, Yellow Springs Instrument Company had developed and marketed the Clark
glucose analyzer based on this technology. In the early 1980s, Dr. Clark published studies with implanted glucose biosensors, and in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was issued several seminal patents on implanted glucose
biosensors. Since then, research and development efforts at SBI have focused on optimizing performance and design characteristics of the implanted glucose biosensor.
PRODUCTS
FluoroventTM
FluoroventTM, a unique oxygen-carrying perfluorocarbon,
has been selected for the treatment of ARDS after screening numerous available perfluorocarbons for optimal properties. When given as a liquid directly into the lungs, it acts as a surfactant and a highly effective medium for gas exchange, thus
increasing pulmonary function and the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide in respiratory distress.
Based on
laboratory and animal studies thus far, the company believes that FluoroventTM has significant
competitive advantages as a liquid ventilation treatment. Its boiling point and vapor pressure result in longer pulmonary retention without the need for continuous replacement of evaporated fluid, offering the potential for less costly, less
time-intensive procedures. It does not contain bromine or chlorine and thus presents no environmental hazard. In animals, it does not produce a hyperinflated, noncollapsible lung condition seen with other perfluorocarbon liquids being tested. There
can be no assurance any such advantages will be demonstrated in further animal studies, or in clinical trials, or that it will ever be marketed, sold or generate revenue for the Company.
OxycyteTM
SBI is developing OxycyteTM, an oxygen-carrying intravenous emulsion made from the same base perfluorocarbon in FluoroventTM. Blood gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide are highly soluble in perfluorocarbons, making OxycyteTM an effective means of transporting oxygen to tissues and carbon dioxide to
5
the lungs. In comparison to hemoglobin, the component of blood that binds with and transports oxygen, OxycyteTM can carry at least five times more oxygen. Additionally, perfluorocarbons are much more effective than hemoglobin at unloading oxygen at the tissue level. OxycyteTM is directed at the blood substitute and oxygen therapeutics markets. There can be no assurance any such advantages
will be demonstrated if Oxycyte enters clinical trials, or that it will ever be marketed, sold or generate revenue for the Company.
Implanted Glucose Biosensor
SBI has developed an implanted glucose biosensor to
monitor blood glucose without the need for finger sticks. Termed a biosensor because it utilizes an enzyme specific for glucose, SBI believes it will provide glucose measurement significantly more accurate than possible from current portable
measuring devices. Once implanted in subcutaneous tissue during a simple outpatient procedure, the biosensor provides continuous, accurate monitoring of glucose levels. A radio frequency signal from the implanted biosensor is transmitted to an
external receiving device the size of a pager that displays glucose levels as a digital readout, has high and low glucose alarms, and stores data for downloading at the physicians office. The external device can also be programmed to monitor
glucose according to a preset schedule, eliminating the monitoring compliance problem and providing the data necessary for tight glucose control. Ultimately, it is intended the biosensor will be linked to an insulin pump, creating a closed-loop
mechanical pancreas. It is anticipated the implant life of the biosensor will exceed one year. There can be no assurance any such advantages will be demonstrated if the biosensor enters clinical trials, or that it will ever be marketed, sold or
generate revenue for the Company.
OTHER PRODUCTS
Biosensors
SBI has identified
potential new applications for its biosensor technology in the following areas:
| |
|
|
Clinical analysis of other biochemical substrates |
| |
|
|
In-process analysis in bulk biotechnology and chemical synthetic processes |
There is, however, no assurance that any products for these markets will ever be marketed or generate revenue for the Company.
MARKETING/BUSINESS STRATEGY
Three important elements to the Companys strategy are:
Minimize Fixed Expenses
The Companys strategy is to minimize fixed expenses by staffing only as necessary to meet the Companys goals, minimize fixed expenses, and utilize contract
services where possible to assist the Company in its goal to move quickly and maximize the return and progress from invested funds.
Partnering
SBI intends to partner as early as possible with global and/or
national pharmaceutical and medical device companies to attain additional funding, commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities, and maximum global market penetration for the Companys products. While major partnerships many times are not
consummated until clinical trials are under way, SBI has begun to systematically identify and meet with interested and appropriate candidate companies. The Company has not entered into any partnership arrangements and there can be no assurance it
will enter into such arrangements in the future.
6
Market Entry
A final important element of the Companys strategy deals with the timing of market entry. The Companys current product marketsliquid ventilation, blood
substitutes, oxygen therapeutics, and implantable biosensorsare new and will require considerable effort and money to develop. If SBI is not the first company to market these products, the Company believes it should benefit from the investment
made by the competition, and its future strategy will be to enter established markets and capture market share with superior products that have significant competitive advantages. Additionally, SBI intends to be selective in picking the most
appropriate corporate marketing partner for each product.
COMPETITION
FluoroventTM
SBI is aware of only one other company developing a liquid ventilation
product. Alliance Pharmaceuticals, who is also developing PFC based products, completed a Phase III study with their liquid ventilation product (which contains a different PFC than Fluorovent) in adults with ARDS last year. The study failed to meet
the primary efficacy endpoints of mortality and days on the ventilator, and Alliance has suspended further liquid ventilation studies.
OxycyteTM
Nine other companies in addition to SBI are believed to be developing oxygen-carrying blood substitutes. FiveApex Bioscience,
Biopure, Enzon, Hemosol, and Northfield Laboratoriesare developing hemoglobin-based products and threeAlliance Pharmaceutical, Sonus and Sanquineare developing a perfluorocarbon-based product. Sonus has announced it will divest
its PFC technology. Alliance, Hemosol, Biopure, and Northfield are in Phase III clinical trials. Baxter recently terminated clinical trials with HemAssist, their bovine hemoglobin product.
Implanted Glucose Sensor
Historically, the critical issues that have confronted the development and commercialization of effective, less-invasive glucose monitoring systems include stable sensor life, accuracy through a wide glucose range, inappropriate
biological ratios of oxygen and glucose to optimally drive enzyme biosensors, and biocompatibility. Many research groups and companies have attempted to resolve these problems with varying success.
SBI is aware of over 20 other companies that have or are developing less invasive glucose monitoring systems. Two, Mini-Med and Cygnus,
are marketing wearable devices in the U.S. that withdraw and test interstitutial fluid. Mini-Med has recently been acquired by Medtronic for $3.7 billion dollars. Biocontrol Technology is marketing a similar product in Europe with no apparent plans
to enter the U.S. market. Two companies are developing devices for hospital or office use. Eight companies are testing interstitutial fluid-directed devices in clinical trials, and two companies are testing completely implanted systems in human
studies.
MANUFACTURING AND SOURCES OF SUPPLY
The Company believes it has suitable sources of supply for key ingredients and components, e.g. perfluorocarbons and biosensor materials, for all three products under
development. It also believes it has or will be able to reach suitable agreements with appropriate contract manufacturers to implement its strategy for not manufacturing these products internally at commercial scale. The Company is using its best
efforts to secure these relationships on a long tern basis. However, there cannot be complete assurance that these relationships can be secured or maintained to the benefit of the Company.
7
PATENTS/INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Perfluorocarbon products:
SBI has four issued U.S. (5,674,913;
5,824,703; 5,840,767; 56,167,887) and two Australian (690,277; 720,712) perfluorocarbon patents that protect the use of perfluorocarbons of interest to the Company as gas transport agents in blood substitutes and liquid ventilation. Additionally,
through an exclusive supply agreement with the Companys perfluorocarbon supplier, SBI benefits from eight perfluorocarbon manufacturing process patents that further protect the perfluorocarbons with which the Company is working.
Biosensor:
The Company has three issued U.S. biosensor patents (5,914,026; 5,964,993 6,343,225) and two Australian biosensor patents (720,712; 734,003) that protect what the Company believes are important design features of the
Companys implanted glucose biosensor and other biosensor applications, both medical and industrial. SBI has also exclusively licensed three fundamental biosensor patents issued to Dr. Clark that have been assigned to Childrens Hospital
in Cincinnati.
For all U.S. patents and applications, the Company also submits applications and pursues patents
in Europe, Canada, Japan and Australia. There can be no assurance that any issued patents would survive a challenge and be valid and enforceable. Also, there can be no assurance any pending applications will result in issued U.S. or foreign patents.
SBI therefore has a number of foreign perfluorocarbon and biosensor patent applications submitted and pending.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
Regulation by governmental authorities in the United States and other countries is a significant factor in
the manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and in the Companys ongoing research and development activities. All of the Companys products will require regulatory approval by governmental agencies prior to commercialization. In
particular, human therapeutic products are subject to rigorous preclinical testing and clinical trials and other pre-marketing approval requirements by the FDA and regulatory authorities in other countries. In the United States, various federal, and
in some cases state statutes and regulations also govern the Companys impact upon the manufacturing, safety, labeling, storage, record-keeping and marketing of such products. The lengthy process of seeking required approvals and the continuing
need for compliance with applicable statutes and regulations, require the expenditure of substantial resources. Regulatory approval, when and if obtained, may be limited in scope, which may significantly limit the indicated uses for which a product
may be marketed. Further, approved drugs, as well as their manufacturers, are subject to ongoing review, and discovery of previously unknown problems with such products may result in restrictions on their manufacture, sale or use or in their
withdrawal from the market.
To obtain FDA approval, the FDA requires clinical trials to demonstrate the safety,
efficacy, and potency of the product candidates. Clinical trials are the means by which experimental drugs or treatments are tested in humans. New therapies typically advance from laboratory, research, testing through animal, preclinical testing and
finally through several phases of clinical, human testing. Upon successful completion of clinical trials, approval to market the therapy for a particular patient population may be requested from the FDA in the United States and/or its counterparts
in other countries.
Clinical trials are normally done in three phases. In Phase I, trials are conducted with a
small number of patients or healthy volunteers to determine the safety profile, the pattern of drug distribution and metabolism. In Phase II, trials are conducted with a larger group of patients afflicted with a target disease in order to determine
preliminary efficacy and optimal dosages. Phase III trials are large, pivotal safety and efficacy trials.
Obtaining FDA approval is a costly and time-consuming process. Generally, in order to gain FDA pre-market approval, preclinical studies must be conducted in the laboratory and in animal model systems to gain
8
preliminary information on an agents efficacy and to identify any major safety concerns. The results of these studies are submitted as a part of an application for an Investigational New
Drug, IND, which the FDA must review and allow before human clinical trials can start. The IND includes a detailed description of the clinical investigations.
A company must sponsor and file an IND for each proposed product and must conduct clinical studies to demonstrate the safety, efficacy and potency that are necessary to obtain FDA approval. The FDA
receives reports on the progress of each phase of clinical testing, and it may require the modification, suspension, or termination of clinical trials if an unwarranted risk is presented to patients.
After completion of clinical trials of a new product, FDA marketing approval must be obtained. If the product is classified as a new drug,
a New Drug Application (NDA), is required. The NDA must include results of product development activities, preclinical studies and clinical trials in addition to detailed manufacturing information.
Applications submitted to the FDA are subject to an unpredictable and potentially prolonged approval process. The FDA may ultimately
decide that the application does not satisfy its criteria for approval or require additional preclinical or clinical studies. Before marketing clearance is secured, the manufacturing facility will be inspected for current Good Manufacturing
Practices (GMP) compliance by FDA inspectors. The manufacturing facility must satisfy current GMP requirements prior to marketing clearance. In addition, after marketing clearance is secured, the manufacturing facility will be inspected periodically
for GMP compliance by FDA inspectors, and, if the facility is located in California, by inspectors from the Food and Drug Branch of the California Department of Health Services The Company is also subject to various federal, state and local laws,
regulations and recommendations relating to safe working conditions, laboratory and manufacturing practices, the experimental use of animals and the use and disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances used in connection with our
research. The extent of government regulation which might result from any future legislation or administrative action cannot be accurately predicted.
EMPLOYEES
On April 30, 2002, the Company employed 7 individuals, three of whom are
scientific personnel, two are executives, one office manager/bookkeeper and one administrative assistant. None of its employees are currently represented by a union or any other form of collective bargaining unit.
ITEM 2PROPERTIES
The Company owns no real property and currently leases its principal administrative and laboratory facilities at 3189 Airway Avenue, Building C, Costa Mesa, California 92626. In addition the company leases office and laboratory space
at Kettering Research Center in Kettering, Ohio. The current monthly rent is approximately $10,700 per month.
ITEM 3LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
None
ITEM 4SUBMISSION OF MATTER TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
During the fiscal
year ended April 30, 2002 the Company solicited the written consent of its shareholders. The Company mailed a Consent Solicitation Statement for Shareholder Action by Written Consent on or about
9
March 8, 2002 soliciting the written consent of the shareholders on one proposal. There were issued and outstanding on February 15, 2002, the record date, approximately 87,767,245 shares of
common stock.
The Proposal solicited the vote of the shareholders to approve an amendment to the Companys
Certificate of Incorporation (Certificate) to increase the authorized common stock to 200,000,000 shares. The Proposal received the following consents
| For |
|
72,329,182 |
| Against |
|
1,089,557 |
| Abstain |
|
126,780 |
The Proposal was adopted and ratified based on the above consents.
10
PART II
ITEM 5MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANTS COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The Common Stock of the Company is traded on the OTC Electronic Bulletin Board. The over-the-counter quotations set forth below reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commissions and may not necessarily
represent actual transactions. For the past two fiscal years, the minimum bid and highest ask prices as determined by Company records were as follows:
| |
|
2002
|
|
2001
|
| Quarter
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
High
|
| 1st |
|
$ |
0.215 |
|
$ |
0.54 |
|
$ |
0.46 |
|
$ |
1.01 |
| 2nd |
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
$ |
0.30 |
|
$ |
0.28 |
|
$ |
0.68 |
| 3rd |
|
$ |
0.13 |
|
$ |
0.51 |
|
$ |
0.20 |
|
$ |
0.53 |
| 4th |
|
$ |
0.23 |
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
$ |
0.21 |
|
$ |
0.45 |
During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2002, the Company issued
245,000 shares of common stock for $0.385 per share. The net proceeds received in connection with these shares, $94,227, were received during fiscal year 2000. These proceeds were presented as deposits on common stock in the accompanying balance
sheet as of April 30, 2001.
Also during the fiscal year ended April 30, 2002, the Company issued 2,857,698 shares
of common stock resulting from the exercise of previously issued stock warrants. The shares were issued at a weighted-average price of $0.137 per share. The proceeds received in connection with the exercise of these warrants were $404,278.
During fiscal 2002, the Company issued 1,000,000 shares of common stock for cash proceeds of $133,000.
The sale and issuance of each of the transactions referenced above were deemed to be exempt transactions under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering. In each of the referenced transactions appropriate legends were placed on the certificates issued to the purchasers.
During the year ended April 30, 2002 the Company issued warrants for the purchase of 12,500,000 shares of the Companys common stock
to two financial consultants at exercise prices ranging from $.013 to $0.60 per share. The warrants were issued for stock placement services provided to the Company. The warrants have terms of one and three years from the date of vesting. The
warrants became fully vested on April 10, 2002, when the stockholders approved an increase to the authorized number of common stock shares to 200 million. In connection with the issuance of these warrants, the Company recorded compensation
expense of $1,524,915, which is included in general and administrative expenses in the statement of operations for the year ended April 30, 2002.
In addition, the Company issued warrants for the purchase of 46,786 shares of the Companys common stock to consultants at exercise prices ranging from $0.01 to $0.19 per share. These warrants
were issued for general management services to the Company and have a term of five years and are fully vested. The company recorded compensation expense of $10,385 in fiscal 2002 related to the issuance of these warrants.
As of April 30, 2002 the approximate number of registered holders of the Common stock of the Company was 1,180. To the best knowledge of
management, the Company has never paid dividends since the date of its incorporation. The Company does not expect to declare or pay dividends in the foreseeable future.
11
ITEM 6SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
| |
|
April 30, 2002
|
|
|
April 30, 2001
|
|
|
April 30, 2000
|
|
|
April 30, 1999
|
|
|
April 30, 1998
|
|
| Statement of Operations data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Other Income |
|
$ |
130,288 |
|
|
$ |
331,019 |
|
|
$ |
16,141 |
|
|
$ |
23,994 |
|
|
$ |
3,069 |
|
| Total expenses |
|
$ |
3,618,101 |
|
|
$ |
2,003,261 |
|
|
$ |
927,480 |
|
|
$ |
857,829 |
|
|
$ |
1,284,101 |
|
| Net loss |
|
$ |
(3,487,813 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,672,242 |
) |
|
$ |
(911,339 |
) |
|
$ |
(833,835 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,281,032 |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
|
|
87,198,320 |
|
|
|
86,401,830 |
|
|
|
65,365,438 |
|
|
|
51,388,471 |
|
|
|
46,000,749 |
|
| Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(0.04 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.02 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.02 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.03 |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Balance Sheet data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cash |
|
$ |
2,442,015 |
|
|
$ |
4,250,898 |
|
|
$ |
5,466,391 |
|
|
$ |
193,013 |
|
|
$ |
740,215 |
|
| Working capital |
|
$ |
2,352,474 |
|
|
$ |
4,020,203 |
|
|
$ |
5,592,016 |
|
|
$ |
(348,339 |
) |
|
$ |
(228,400 |
) |
| Total assets |
|
$ |
3,275,820 |
|
|
$ |
4,842,296 |
|
|
$ |
6,199,651 |
|
|
$ |
530,906 |
|
|
$ |
985,914 |
|
| Total liabilities |
|
$ |
179,078 |
|
|
$ |
344,068 |
|
|
$ |
345,440 |
|
|
$ |
602,226 |
|
|
$ |
531,340 |
|
| Long-term debt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
47,327 |
|
|
$ |
103,021 |
|
| Stockholders equity |
|
$ |
3,096,742 |
|
|
$ |
4,498,228 |
|
|
$ |
5,854,211 |
|
|
$ |
(118,647 |
) |
|
$ |
351,553 |
|
ITEM 7MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSIONS AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Critical Accounting Policies
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon the Companys 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 liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to stock-based compensation and contingencies. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions
that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from
these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
We believe the following critical accounting policy
affects our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements:
Stock-Based CompensationThe Company accounts for stock-based employee compensation as prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and has adopted the
disclosure provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 123, Accounting for Stock-based Compensation (SFAS 123). SFAS 123 requires proforma disclosures of net loss and net loss per share as if the fair value
based method of accounting for stock-based awards had been applied. Under the fair value based method, compensation cost is recorded based on the value of the award at the grant date and is recognized over the service period.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FISCAL 2002 COMPARED TO FISCAL 2001
The Company is a development-stage company that is
developing products in the medical field and therefore has no revenue from operations. Currently all operations relate to the research and development of the Companys products discussed previously.
12
For the fiscal year ended April 30, 2002, Other Income decreased to $130,288 from
$331,019 in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2001. Other Income consists principally of interest income on excess cash balances and this decrease is attributed to a reduction of the cash available for investment from fiscal 2001 to 2002.
General and Administrative expenses of $2,291,123 for fiscal year 2002 increased $1,071,271 or 88% over fiscal
year 2001 expenses of $1,219,852. This increase is mainly the result of $1,549,000 of expense recognized from the issuance of stock warrants resulting from the sale of common stock in previous years. General office and operating expenses have
remained fairly constant form fiscal 2001 to 2002.
Research and Development expenses increased 68% from $782,339
for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2001, to $1,313,382 for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2002. The Company has substantially increased its research and development activities as the result of cash made available from capital investment in
previous years. The increased expenditures were made principally in research wages and consulting services.
Interest expense increased to $13,596 in fiscal year ended April 30, 2002 from $1,070 for fiscal year ended April 30, 2001. This increase resulted from the Companys financing of purchased research equipment through short-term
notes payable.
FISCAL 2001 COMPARED TO FISCAL 2000
The Company is a development-stage company that is developing products in the medical field and therefore has no revenue from operations. For the fiscal year ended April
30, 2001 Other Income increased to $331,019 from $16,141 in the fiscal year ended April 30, 2000. This increase was due to increased interest income on cash balances available for investment.
The General and Administrative expenses of $1,219,852 for fiscal year 2001 increased $532,277 or 77% over fiscal year 2000. The increase was the result of higher
general office expenses in 2001 of $97,000, along with increases in consulting services of $119,000, market research expenses of $63,000 and investor expenses of $83,000 over the prior fiscal year. In addition, travel related expenses increased
during 2001 by $25,000 over fiscal year 2000.
The Research and Development expenses increased 249% from $224,023
for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2000, to $782,339 for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2001. During fiscal year 2001, laboratory wages and salaries increased $387,000, laboratory rent increased $87,000 and laboratory supplies increased $83,000
from fiscal year 2000. The Company was able to substantially increase its research and development activities because of cash that was made available from capital investment.
The interest expense decreased from $15,882 for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2000, to $1,070 for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2001. This decrease was due to a
reduction of outstanding notes payable during fiscal year 2001.
QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table presents the Companys operating results for each of the eight fiscal quarters in the period ended April 30,
2002. The information for each of these quarters is unaudited and has been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements included in this Form 10K. In the opinion of management, all necessary adjustments, which consist only of
normal and recurring accruals, have been included to fairly present the unaudited quarterly results. This data should be read together with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in this Form 10K.
13
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA
| |
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
| |
|
July 31, 2000
|
|
|
October 31, 2000
|
|
|
January 31, 2001
|
|
|
April 30, 2001
|
|
|
July 31, 2001
|
|
|
October 31, 2001
|
|
|
January 31, 2002
|
|
|
April 30, 2002
|
|
| Research and development expenses |
|
$ |
109,841 |
|
|
$ |
175,197 |
|
|
$ |
234,760 |
|
|
$ |
262,541 |
|
|
$ |
316,881 |
|
|
$ |
350,444 |
|
|
$ |
328,719 |
|
|
$ |
317,338 |
|
| General and administrative expenses |
|
|
233,969 |
|
|
|
424,324 |
|
|
|
257,194 |
|
|
|
304,365 |
|
|
|
245,991 |
|
|
|
206,290 |
|
|
|
172,398 |
|
|
|
1,666,444 |
|
| Interest expense |
|
|
808 |
|
|
|
262 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,917 |
|
|
|
3,150 |
|
|
|
4,060 |
|
|
|
3,469 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total expenses |
|
|
344,618 |
|
|
|
599,783 |
|
|
|
491,954 |
|
|
|
566,906 |
|
|
|
565,789 |
|
|
|
559,884 |
|
|
|
505,177 |
|
|
|
1,987,251 |
|
| Other (Income) Expense |
|
|
(90,333 |
) |
|
|
(91,333 |
) |
|
|
(85,004 |
) |
|
|
(63,747 |
) |
|
|
(48,419 |
) |
|
|