Attached files

file filename
EX-32.2 - HELIX BIOMEDIX INCex32-2.htm
EX-31.1 - HELIX BIOMEDIX INCex31-1.htm
EX-23.1 - HELIX BIOMEDIX INCex23-1.htm
EX-31.2 - HELIX BIOMEDIX INCex31-2.htm
EX-32.1 - HELIX BIOMEDIX INCex32-1.htm
EX-10.21 - HELIX BIOMEDIX INCex10-21.htm
EX-10.1(D) - HELIX BIOMEDIX INCex10-1d.htm
EX-10.1(B) - HELIX BIOMEDIX INCex10-1b.htm
EX-10.3(D) - HELIX BIOMEDIX INCex10-3d.htm
EX-10.1(C) - HELIX BIOMEDIX INCex10-1c.htm
EX-10.11(A) - HELIX BIOMEDIX INCex10-11a.htm
EX-10.17(A) - HELIX BIOMEDIX INCex10-17a.htm
EX-10.14(C) - HELIX BIOMEDIX INCex10-14c.htm


UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
 
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010
 
 
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from                  to                 
 
Commission File No. 33-20897-D

HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
91-2099117
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
22118-20th Avenue Southeast, Suite 204, Bothell, Washington 98021
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
 
(425) 402-8400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
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 if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ¨        No  x
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes  ¨        No  x
 
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 whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes  ¨    No  ¨
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s 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.    x
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer    ¨
Accelerated filer                      ¨
Non-accelerated filer      ¨
Smaller reporting company    x
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨        No  x
 
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share, held by non-affiliates on June 30, 2010 was $4,381,116, based on the closing sales price of $0.25 on that date. For purposes of this disclosure, all officers and directors of the registrant are deemed to be affiliates of the registrant, as well as stockholders holding more than 10% of the registrant’s outstanding common stock as of such date.
 
As of March 17, 2011, 49,720,255 shares of the registrant’s common stock were issued and outstanding.
 
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to the registrant’s 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed within 120 days of the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.



 
 

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
FORM 10-K
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
PART I
Item 1.
Business
1
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
9
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
14
Item 2.
Properties
14
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
14
Item 4.
(Removed and Reserved)
14
   
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 15
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
15
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
16
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 24
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
25
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
47
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
47
Item 9B.
Other Information
47
   
PART III
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance                                                                                                                                       
 48
Item 11.
Executive Compensation                                                                                                                                       
48
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
48
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence                                                                                                                                       
48
Item 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services                                                                                                                                       
48
   
PART IV
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules                                                                                                                                       
49
Signatures
52
Exhibits
   
 
 
 

 
 
PART I
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
Our disclosure and analysis in this Annual Report and in the documents incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements, which provide our current expectations, forecasts and assumptions regarding future events. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation:
 
 
statements concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, trends in financial results and business plans, including those relating to earnings growth and revenue growth;
 
 
statements about our product development schedule;
 
 
statements about our future capital requirements and the sufficiency of our cash, cash equivalents, investments, and any other sources to meet these requirements;
 
 
statements about our plans, objectives, expectations, and intentions; and
 
 
other statements that are not historical facts.
 
Words such as “may,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “could,” “future,” “target,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the factors described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report. Other factors besides those described in this Annual Report could also affect actual results. You should carefully consider the factors described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in evaluating our forward-looking statements.
 
You should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report. We undertake no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events after the date of this Annual Report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should, however, review the factors and risks we describe in the reports we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, after the date of this Annual Report.
 
ITEM 1.
BUSINESS
 
Overview
 
Helix BioMedix, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with an extensive proprietary library of structurally diverse bioactive peptides and patents covering hundreds of thousands of peptide sequences. Our mission is to enrich clinical practice and the patient/consumer experience by developing and commercializing topically applied products which offer the benefits of our advanced bioactive small molecule peptide technology. Our vision is to be recognized as the world leader in the identification, qualification and commercialization of natural and synthetic peptides.
 
Our business strategy is to develop our peptide and small molecule portfolio to derive revenue from a broad base of opportunities including licensing to third parties rights to use select proprietary peptides in specific fields of application and commercializing our own branded products. Over the longer term, we intend to pursue applications for products using our technology in medical devices and pharmaceutical preparations. We have developed numerous peptides with unique sequences for use in the following two areas of application:
 
 
Consumer skin care products — we have developed a range of peptides and small molecule technologies capable of improving different aspects of the skin’s appearance, texture, tone and barrier function and are marketing these peptides as innovative ingredients for cosmetic use; and
 
 
Prescription (Rx) products — certain of our peptides have demonstrated promising results in the areas of infection control, wound healing and immune modulation and are being developed for Rx applications.
 
Our Rx focus is on prescription-only topical preparations that would be subject to a shorter regulatory approval process under Section 510(k) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (510(k) devices). We continue to explore possible sources of funding to support further in-house development work on our pharmaceutical programs, which we believe will enhance potential partnership opportunities with pharmaceutical companies.
 
Our business was incorporated in 1988, and until early 2007 we operated primarily as a technology development company, generating a portfolio of intellectual property focused on identifying and developing synthetic bioactive peptides and, to a lesser extent, commercializing the extensive library of patented bioactive peptides we had developed. During 2007, we began generating consistent revenue through license agreements with skin care product manufacturers and through collaborative development agreements. In the third quarter of 2007, we moved from the development stage to the commercialization stage.
 
Consumer Skin Care Products
 
 
1

 
 
Since 2004, we have entered into license agreements with skin care contract manufacturers and materials suppliers for inclusion of certain of our proprietary cosmeceutical peptides in acne treatment, anti-aging skin care, color cosmetics, and specialty body care products. We rely on these industry supplier licensees to create both awareness and demand for our technology among their skin care customers.
 
In late 2008, we began selling our proprietary skin care product line through distributors and directly to consumers. We believe our peptide technology further holds potential as active ingredients for skin care industry leaders. We collaborate directly with leading skin care companies to identify opportunities for strengthening their brand position with differentiated products featuring our peptide technology.
 
Our consumer skin care product development efforts are currently focused on the following:
 
Anti-Acne
 
Acne is the most common skin disorder in the United States, affecting 40 to 50 million Americans. Nearly 85 percent of all people have acne at some point in their lives. By the mid-teens, more than 40 percent of adolescents have acne or acne scarring which requires treatment by a dermatologist. It is estimated that the total market for acne treatments will reach $3.0 billion in 2013.
 
We believe our oligopeptide-10 technology promises significant advantages for skin care companies in the over-the-counter acne treatment market. This proprietary peptide may be formulated into products with certain over-the-counter anti-acne ingredients for improvement in blemish-clearing benefits. The skin care benefits of this peptide derive from its ability to bind to a pro-inflammatory substance on the cell wall of the acne-causing bacteria. This pro-inflammatory substance is known to cause much of the redness associated with acne breakouts but, when bound to our peptide, is rendered inactive. Laboratory and clinical testing confirm the additional treatment benefits and higher level of consumer satisfaction associated with formulations that contain our peptide.
 
A number of companies have formulated and launched anti-acne products incorporating this peptide under license from us or through sublicense from our licensed distributors. We believe the use of this peptide is advantageous for globally marketed anti-acne products, not only because it supports more favorable outcomes with salicylic acid based treatment products, but also because it offers a favorable alternative to benzoyl peroxide, an ingredient that is limited in application due to regulatory restrictions in certain markets as well as its potential harshness on sensitive skin. We anticipate additional anti-acne product introductions in 2011.
 
Anti-Aging
 
We have identified and qualified a number of peptides that target changes in the appearance of skin associated with the aging process. Because there are anti-aging skin benefits that derive from the skin’s natural healing process, much of the anti-aging aspect of our peptide library has evolved from the screening processes associated with our pharmaceutical wound healing programs.
 
Peptides that target improvement in the appearance of aging skin may affect one or more of the age-related skin characteristics such as lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity, firmness and definition, the appearance of darkened areas or general unevenness of skin tone, rough texture, and thinning of the skin.
 
One of our lead anti-aging peptides targets several aspects of support for the skin’s structural matrix. This peptide has been demonstrated to accelerate the migration of cells from the skin’s uppermost layer to strengthen areas prone to lines and wrinkles and to impart a smoother, firmer appearance. It has also been clinically demonstrated to provide benefits equivalent to those of the leading prescription anti-aging products, but without the risk of irritation associated with aggressive retinoids. This peptide has been formulated into various cosmeceutical skin care products that are currently in the marketplace, and we anticipate further anti-aging product introductions in 2011.
 
In August 2007, we entered into a license agreement with Goldschmidt GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Evonik GmbH, a leading supplier of cosmetic ingredients. The agreement provides exclusive rights to certain of our peptides targeted towards skin care and personal care applications. Evonik launched its first Helix BioMedix technology-based peptides in January 2009 and continues to promote the product under the Tego® Pep 4-17 name.  Evonik launched a second Helix BioMedix peptide in October 2010 under the name Tego® Pep 4Even.
 
Opportunities for our anti-aging portfolio include a group of synthetic peptides that we have branded as Modukines™. These peptides work to interrupt processes that accelerate the undesirable changes in skin associated with aging, including the accelerated breakdown of collagen and elastin, the skin’s key structural components. We believe several of these Modukines™ hold commercial promise beyond the area of anti-aging skin care as they support the skin’s resiliency.
 
We are also working to identify opportunities for peptides to interrupt the pathways that lead to undesirable discoloring and mottled skin tone. We have identified numerous opportunities for the addition of peptides into therapeutic moisturizers and shampoos in support of the healthy appearance and comfort of skin and scalp. Potential benefits of adding certain peptides to cosmetically therapeutic moisturizers and hair care products include resistance to secondary infection associated with compromised skin, restoration of healthy appearance to cracked, flaky feet that do not respond to ordinary moisturizers, reduced flaking, and improved comfort associated with conditions of the scalp.
 
 
2

 
 
Helix Branded Products
 
We launched our first proprietary skin care products under the Striking® brand in the fourth quarter of 2008. The product line, formulated to address perimenopausal and menopausal challenged skin, introduced the exclusive Helix BioMedix SmartPeptide™ Heptapeptide-7 technology that helps nourish keratinocytes to support skin renewal.
 
Targeted at the health and beauty consumer market, the Striking® Skin Care line features a core ritual of daily essentials including Multi-Vitamin Creme Cleanser, Multi-Peptide Serum, Rejuvenating Eye Creme and Restorative Moisture Creme. The serum, moisturizer and eye cream, formulated with Helix BioMedix’s patented SmartPeptide™ technology, aim to address specific, targeted skin care concerns.
 
The products are distributed through our dedicated ecommerce website at www.strikingskincare.com, as well as through spas and select catalogue and internet retailers.
 
In April 2010, we launched our international skin care line, Cerakine™ Anti-Aging Skin Care, which includes a multi-vitamin cleanser, eye cream, moisturizer and serum that form a core daily cleansing and moisturizing ritual.
 
Helix Private Label Products
 
We supply private label products to strategic partners with expertise in certain market segments. For example, in July 2010, we entered into a supply agreement with NuGlow Cosmaceuticals, LLC (NuGlow), an affiliated company, for supply of private label products for NuGlow’s direct-to-consumer marketing program. We commenced product shipments to NuGlow in the fourth quarter of 2010. We anticipate providing private label products to additional select customers in 2011.
 
Rx Programs
 
We are developing a novel, broad-spectrum, topical anti-infective for the treatment of skin and wound infections and the prevention of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infections including those caused by Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These programs are based upon a family of molecules known as lipohexapeptides (or small molecule peptides) that we developed to specifically combine the attributes of small molecule natural products with the advantages of antimicrobial peptides. This class of anti-infective peptides has demonstrated significant improvement in activity, both in vitro and in vivo, over traditional antimicrobial peptides.
 
As with traditional antimicrobial peptides, our lead lipohexapeptides are rapidly cidal, fail to engender resistance in vitro, are readily synthesized and do not exhibit cross-resistance with other antibiotics. However, these molecules also have the advantage of being more stable, safer and more cost-effective to manufacture than traditional antimicrobial peptides. In addition, primarily due to acylation (addition of a lipid), these molecules are significantly more active in complex biological environments such as human serum or wound fluid. As a result, lipohexapeptides exhibit potent activity in animal infection models.
 
In pre-clinical testing, our lead molecules exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against significant bacterial pathogens such as S. aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and also pathogenic fungi such as Candida and Trichophyton species. This activity was maintained against antibiotic-resistant organisms such as MRSA and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci. Our lead molecules have demonstrated significant activity in both bacterial and fungal animal infection models. In a S. aureus abraded skin infection model, our lead lipohexapeptides significantly reduced the number of bacteria following three days of once-daily dosing, and in many cases, our peptide eradicated the pathogen. In a guinea pig dermatophytosis model, our lead peptide candidates significantly reduced pathogen count and delivered clinical benefits comparable to Terbinafine, a drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for onchomycosis. In both animal models, toxicity was not significantly different from that without peptides.
 
Our topical Rx product development efforts are currently focused on acne anti-infectives, MRSA, and fungal infections.
 
Competition
 
The cosmetic, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries are characterized by rapidly advancing technologies, intense competition, and a strong emphasis on proprietary products. Many participants in these industries, as well as academic institutions and other research organizations, are actively engaged in the discovery, research and development of products that could compete with our products under development. They may also compete with us in recruiting and retaining skilled scientific and management talent.
 
We believe that we face two broad classes of competitors:
 
 
other companies developing therapies and skin care products based upon peptide technology; and
 
 
companies using other technologies to address the disease conditions and skin care concerns that we are targeting.
 
We are currently aware of several companies that are utilizing peptide-based technologies for antimicrobial applications including: Agennix, Inc., AM Pharma Holdings BV, Inimex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Migenix, Inc. In addition, in the skin care and personal care markets, several companies, including Sederma SAS, Pentapharm and Senetek PLC, sell patented specialty ingredients for cosmetic use.
 
 
3

 
 
Suppliers
 
We believe that there are several readily available sources of amino acids used for our peptides. We do not plan to manufacture peptides ourselves on a commercial scale; instead, we have sought collaborations with several established manufacturers specializing in the production of peptides. With their assistance, we have developed production and cost plans that should support the inclusion of our peptides in a wide range of both consumer and clinical products. We believe several of these contract manufacturers are capable of scaling peptide synthesis to support all of our projected volume and configuration requirements.
 
License Agreements
 
We entered into a License Agreement with the University of British Columbia (UBC) commencing October 1, 2001, whereby UBC granted us an exclusive, worldwide license to use and sublicense certain defined “Technology” and any improvements within a specified field of use and including the right to manufacture, distribute and sell products utilizing the Technology. The agreement terminates on October 1, 2021 or upon the expiration of the last patent applied for and obtained pursuant to certain provisions of the agreement, unless terminated earlier as provided in the agreement. According to its terms, the agreement terminates automatically if a bankruptcy proceeding is brought by or against us, and terminates at UBC’s option upon certain events, including our insolvency or cessation of business, a delinquency of more than 60 days in payments due from us under the agreement, and our breach of certain provisions relating to insurance requirements, use by us of UBC trademarks, and marketing obligations. In addition, either party may terminate the agreement on notice after the opportunity to cure if the other party defaults under the agreement. The Technology licensed under the agreement consists primarily of three United States patents for antimicrobial peptides (as set forth in the table under “Intellectual Property Rights” below) and related methods of use. The license may be sublicensed to Helix BioMedix affiliates. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we issued to UBC or its assigns 97,500 shares of our common stock and options to purchase up to 152,500 shares of our common stock at $1.50 per share. The options have a term of ten years and were fully vested upon grant. Additionally, we agreed to pay UBC a royalty of 3.5% of revenue generated from the Technology and any improvements related thereto. We are also required to pay UBC minimum annual royalties and to reimburse UBC for all further costs incurred with respect to the licensed patents, including maintenance fees.
 
On August 16, 2007, we entered into a License Agreement with Goldschmidt GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Evonik GmbH. Pursuant to the agreement, we granted to Goldschmidt an exclusive license under certain of our patent applications and related rights and technology to, among other things, make and sell formulations for use as ingredients in final products in the cosmetic and non-prescription-drug fields of use. The term of the agreement extends until the expiration of the last-to-expire patent issued under the licensed patent rights, subject to certain termination rights of each party. Either party may terminate the agreement if the other party materially breaches a material provision of the agreement, and fails to cure the breach within the specified notice period. In addition, either party may terminate the agreement if, for any consecutive three-year period after 2010, earned running royalties fall short of certain agreed minimum amounts. In consideration for the license, Goldschmidt agreed to make specified upfront payments (subject to certain conditions) and to pay royalties on its sales of formulations under the agreement. In 2008, we recognized $130,000 in revenue related to upfront payments under the agreement, and we began earning royalty revenue under the agreement in 2009.
 
On September 12, 2007, we entered into a First Amended and Restated License Agreement with Grant Industries, Inc., which amended and restated the Non-Exclusive License Agreement between the parties dated December 12, 2006, and which has subsequently been amended effective as of December 10, 2008 and May 6, 2010. As amended to date, the initial term of the license agreement expires on December 31, 2011, after which the agreement automatically renews for successive one-year periods, subject to certain termination rights of each party. Either party may terminate the agreement if the other party ceases its business or upon certain events relating to bankruptcy, or if the other materially breaches a provision of the agreement and fails to cure the breach within the specified notice period. We may terminate the license or remove a peptide from the scope of the license if Grant Industries fails to meet certain minimum royalty obligations. The license permits Grant Industries to formulate certain of our proprietary peptides into premix products, and to market and sell those premix products for use in final products in the cosmetic and over-the-counter personal care market, subject to payment of royalties on its sales of premix, and certain minimum royalty obligations. The license grants exclusive rights with respect to six of our peptides.
 
On August 27, 2008, we entered into a License Agreement with Rodan & Fields, LLC which was subsequently amended as of February 25, 2009. Pursuant to the agreement, we granted to Rodan & Fields a non-exclusive worldwide license to use our protease inhibition technology with our peptides incorporated into products developed and marketed by Rodan & Fields. In exchange for the license, Rodan & Fields agreed to initiate a study validating the benefits of our protease inhibition technology and to pay a royalty fee from sales of products containing our technology. The initial term of the agreement is three years and it automatically renews for successive one-year terms thereafter, subject to certain termination rights of each party, and subject to payment by Rodan & Fields of certain minimum royalties. Either party may terminate the agreement if the other party materially breaches a material provision of the agreement, and fails to cure the breach within the specified notice period. We began earning royalties under the agreement in the fourth quarter of 2009.
 
Intellectual Property Rights
 
We have developed a proprietary library containing a broad and diverse array of synthetic bioactive peptides and small molecule compounds. Our peptide library includes not only multiple proprietary peptides, but also various compositions of and methods of using those peptides. We believe that our patents and patent applications provide broad and early patent coverage that offers important competitive advantages.
 
 
4

 
 
We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret laws to protect our proprietary technologies and products. We aggressively seek U.S. and international patent protection applicable to our peptide and small molecule technologies. We also rely on trade secret protection for our confidential and proprietary information and in-license technologies we view as necessary to our business plan.
 
We currently own or exclusively license nine issued U.S. patents, five pending U.S. patent applications, six foreign issued patents and forty foreign pending patent applications. These patents and patent applications describe not only a vast diversity of sequences, but also structures, including alpha-helical, looped, linear, beta-sheet, lipidated, hinged and unstructured short synthetic sequences. The control of a patent-protected library comprising a broad diversity of structures and sequences distinguishes us from our competitors, many of whom are attempting to develop and protect only single peptide sequences for multiple applications. We believe that the breadth of our library offers us an exceptionally wide range of options in matching optimal peptides with individual product or therapeutic requirements.
 
Patents expire, on a country by country basis, at various times depending on various factors, including the filing date of the corresponding patent application(s), the availability of patent term extension and supplemental protection certificates and terminal disclaimers. The following table sets forth the patents owned or exclusively licensed by us, and their current years of expiration:

Patent No.
Description
Country
Expiration Year
5,962,410
INHIBITION OF EUCARYOTIC PATHOGEN WITH LYTEC PEPTIDES
United States
2016
6,288,212
ANTI-ENDOTOXIC ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES AND METHODS THEREFOR (licensed from University of British Columbia)
United States
2018
6,172,185
ANTIMICROBIAL CATIONIC PEPTIDE DERIVATIVES OF BACTENECIN (licensed from University of British Columbia)
United States
2018
6,337,317
ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF (licensed from University of British Columbia)
United States
2020
7,354,903
COSMETIC COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING SHORT BIOACTIVE PEPTIDES
United States
2021
6,875,744
SHORT BIOACTIVE PEPTIDES
United States
2022
7,381,704
METHODS FOR USE OF SHORT BIOACTIVE PEPTIDES
United States
2022
7,407,940
ANTIMICROBIAL HEXAPEPTIDES
United States
2026
7,696,174
SHORT BIO-ACTIVE PEPTIDES FOR CELLULAR AND IMMUNOLOGICAL MODULATION
United States
2027
1,327,311
THERAPEUTIC ANTIMICROBIAL POLY-PEPTIDES, THEIR USE AND METHODS FOR PREPARATIONS
Canada
2011
1,340,716
INHIBITION OF EUCARYOTIC PATHOGENS AND NEOPLASMS AND STIMULATION OF FIBROBLASTS AND LYMPHOCYTES WITH LYTIC PEPTIDES
Canada
2016
4310107
SHORT BIOACTIVE PEPTIDES AND METHODS FOR THEIR USE
Japan
2022
4484941
SHORT BIOACTIVE PEPTIDES AND METHODS FOR THEIR USE
Japan
2022
10-0891157
SHORT BIOACTIVE PEPTIDES AND METHODS FOR THEIR USE
South Korea
2022
57890/99
ANTI-ENDOTOXIC ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES AND METHODS THEREFOR (licensed from University of British Columbia)
Australia
2019
 
As described above under the heading “Consumer Skin Care Products,” we have entered into license agreements with skin-care contract manufacturers and materials suppliers for inclusion of certain of our patented peptides in anti-acne and anti-aging skin care products. In addition, in 2008 we launched our first Helix-branded products, under the Striking® brand. These proprietary products incorporate three of our proprietary peptides, which together are protected by claims under U.S. patents expiring between 2021 and 2027. Two of these peptides are protected by claims under our three issued foreign patents expiring in 2022.
 
With respect to proprietary know-how that is not patentable, we have chosen to rely on trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect our interests. We have taken security measures to protect our proprietary know-how, technologies, and confidential data, and continue to explore further methods of protection. We require all employees, consultants, and collaborators to enter into confidentiality agreements, and employees and consultants enter into invention assignment agreements with us. We cannot assure you, however, that these agreements will provide meaningful protection or adequate remedies for any breach or that our proprietary information will not otherwise become known or be independently discovered by our competitors.
 
 
5

 
 
In the case of a strategic partnership or other collaborative arrangement which requires the sharing of data, our policy is to disclose to our partner, under controlled circumstances, only data that is relevant to the partnership or arrangement during the contractual term of the strategic partnership or collaborative arrangement, subject to a duty of confidentiality on the part of our partner or collaborator. Disputes may arise as to the ownership and corresponding rights to know-how and inventions resulting from research by us, and our corporate partners, licensors, scientific collaborators, and consultants. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our proprietary position or that third parties will not circumvent any proprietary protection we have. Our failure to maintain exclusive or other rights to these technologies could harm our competitive position.
 
To continue developing and commercializing our current and future products, we may license intellectual property from commercial or academic entities to obtain the rights to technology that is required for our discovery, research, development, and commercialization activities.
 
Regulation
 
Federal, state and local governmental authorities in the United States and other countries regulate, among other things, the testing, production, distribution and sale of prescription and over-the-counter drugs and cosmetics. In the United States, the FDA, acting under the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and other Federal statutes and FDA regulations, regulates products primarily on the basis of their intended use, as determined by the labeling claims made for the product.
 
Although under our licensing strategy our collaborators will bear the majority of the regulatory compliance burden, our ability to successfully out-license and collaborate with others on our product candidates requires that we understand the regulations and restrictions on commercialization of cosmetic and drug products.
 
 
FDA Regulation of Cosmetics
 
The FDCA defines cosmetics as products and their components intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body or any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance. Cosmetic products are not subject to FDA pre-market approval authority, although the FDA can take enforcement action for marketed cosmetic products that are adulterated or misbranded, including violations of product safety requirements, use and quantity of ingredients, labeling and promotion and methods of manufacture. Additionally, the FDA monitors compliance of cosmetic products through random inspections of cosmetic manufacturers and distributors. The labeling of cosmetic products is subject to the requirements of the FDCA, the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act and other FDA regulations.
 
Our licensing strategy with cosmetics manufacturers requires that we operate within the confines of cosmetic intended uses when developing and partnering for the commercialization of relevant products.
 
FDA Regulation of Drug Products
 
The FDCA defines drugs as products intended to cure, mitigate, treat or prevent a disease, or affect the structure or any function of the human body. In comparison to cosmetics, drug products are subject to more comprehensive safety and effectiveness requirements of the FDCA and its implementing regulations. The FDA and its counterparts in other countries extensively regulate the pre-clinical and clinical testing, approval, manufacturing, labeling, storage, record-keeping, reporting, advertising, promotion, import, export, marketing, and distribution, among other things, of drug products. If we or our collaborators do not comply with applicable requirements, we may be fined, our products may be recalled or seized, our clinical trials may be suspended or terminated, our production may be partially or totally suspended, the government may refuse to approve related marketing applications, and we may be subject to an injunction, and/or criminally prosecuted.
 
The steps required before a new drug may be marketed in the United States include (i) pre-clinical laboratory and animal testing, (ii) submission to the FDA of an Investigational New Drug, or IND, application which must become effective before clinical trials may commence, (iii) adequate and well-controlled clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of the drug, (iv) submission to the FDA of a New Drug Application, or NDA, and (v) FDA approval of the NDA prior to any commercial sale or shipment of the drug. Pre-clinical testing is generally conducted on laboratory animals to evaluate the potential safety and the efficacy of a drug. The results of these studies are submitted to the FDA as a part of an IND, which must be approved before clinical trials in humans can begin. Typically, clinical evaluation involves a time consuming and costly three-phase process. In Phase I, clinical trials are conducted with a small number of subjects to determine the early safety profile, the pattern of drug distribution and metabolism. In Phase II, clinical trials are conducted with groups of patients afflicted with a specific disease to determine preliminary efficacy, optimal dosages and expanded evidence of safety. In Phase III, large-scale, multi-center, comparative trials are conducted with patients afflicted with a target disease to provide sufficient data to demonstrate the efficacy and safety required by the FDA. The FDA closely monitors the progress of each of the three phases of clinical trials and may, at its discretion, re-evaluate, alter, suspend or terminate the testing based upon the data that have been accumulated to that point and its assessment of the risk/benefit ratio to the patient.
 
 
6

 
 
This testing, the preparation of necessary applications, the processing of those applications by the FDA, and potential review of the applications by an FDA advisory panel of outside experts are expensive and typically take many years to complete. The FDA may not act quickly or favorably in reviewing these applications, or may deny approval altogether, and we or our collaborators may encounter significant difficulties or costs in our efforts to obtain FDA approval.
 
We believe that certain of our lipohexapeptide product candidates for treatment of topical skin infections may require complete NDA preparation by ourselves and/or our collaborators, as may certain of our Over-the-Counter (OTC) drug product candidates. To date, we have not conducted human clinical trials of our lipohexapeptides.
 
The OTC Monograph System
 
While FDA approval is generally required before a new drug product may be marketed in the U.S., many OTC drugs are exempt from the FDA’s pre-marketing approval requirements. In 1972, the FDA instituted the ongoing OTC Drug Review to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of OTC drug ingredients in the market. Through this process, the FDA issues monographs for therapeutic product categories that set forth the specific active ingredients, dosages, strengths, indications for use, warnings and labeling statements for OTC drug ingredients that the FDA will consider generally recognized as safe and effective for OTC use and therefore not subject to pre-market approval.
 
For most categories of OTC drugs not yet subject to a final monograph, the FDA usually permits such drugs to continue to be marketed until a final monograph becomes effective, unless the drug will pose a potential health hazard to consumers.
 
Drugs subject to final monographs, as well as drugs that are subject only to proposed monographs, are subject to various FDA regulations concerning, for example, manufacturing in accordance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), general and specific labeling requirements and prohibitions against promotion for conditions other than those stated in the labeling. Drug manufacturing facilities are subject to FDA inspection, and failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements may lead to administrative or judicially imposed penalties.
 
Certain products containing our peptides may be regulated under the OTC monograph system by the FDA.
 
We are also subject to regulation by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and to various laws, and regulations relating to safe working conditions, laboratory, and manufacturing practices, and the use, and disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances, including radioactive compounds used in connection with our research, and development activities, and we may in the future be subject to other federal, state or local laws or regulations. OSHA, EPA or other regulatory agencies may promulgate regulations that affect our research and development programs. We are also subject to regulation by the Department of Transportation, and to various laws and regulations relating to the shipping of cells, and other similar items. We are unable to predict whether any agency will adopt any regulation that could limit or impede our operations.
 
Depending on the circumstances, failure to meet these other applicable regulatory requirements can result in criminal prosecution, fines or other penalties, injunctions, recall or seizure of products, partial or total suspension of production, denial or withdrawal of pre-marketing product approval or refusal to allow us to enter into supply contracts, including government contracts.
 
To date, we have not incurred any substantial costs to comply with environmental laws or regulations.
 
Sales of cosmetics and drug products outside the United States are subject to foreign regulatory requirements that vary widely from country to country. Whether or not we or our collaborators have obtained FDA approval, we must obtain approval of a product by comparable regulatory authorities of foreign countries prior to the commencement of marketing the product in those countries. The time required to obtain these approvals may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA approval. The foreign regulatory approval process includes all the risks associated with FDA regulation set forth above, as well as country-specific regulations, including in some countries price controls.
 
Research and Development Expenses
 
During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, our research and development expenses were approximately $748,700 and $722,500, respectively.
 
Employees
 
As of December 31, 2010, we employed eight personnel, all on a full-time basis, including two employees in research and development, three employees in marketing and business development, and three employees in finance and administration. None of our employees is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We have never experienced employment-related work stoppages and consider our employee relations to be positive.
 
Available Information
 
We make available on our website, free of charge, copies of our Annual Reports on Forms 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing or furnishing the information to the SEC. The internet address for this information is www.helixbiomedix.com. The information posted on our website is not incorporated into this Annual Report. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains these reports at www.sec.gov.
 
 
7

 
 
Executive Officers
 
Our executive officers as of March 1, 2011 are as follows:
 
Name
 
Age
 
Position
R. Stephen Beatty
 
61
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
Robin L. Carmichael
 
54
 
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
 
R. Stephen Beatty has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our board of directors since May 1999. Prior to joining us, Mr. Beatty established and operated Beatty Finance, Inc., a private financial services company. Mr. Beatty holds a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of South Alabama and an M.B.A. from the University of New Orleans.
 
Robin L. Carmichael has served as our Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since January 2011, and served as our Vice President, Marketing and Business Development from October 2007 until January 2011. From April 2007 to October 2007, Ms. Carmichael was the Chief Operating Officer of DERMAdoctor, Inc., a company specializing in developing and selling over-the-counter drugs and cosmeceuticals. Prior to joining DERMAdoctor, Inc., from 1998 to September 2006, Ms. Carmichael served as Vice President of Marketing, first with ProCyte Corporation, a biotechnology company specializing in metallic peptide, and then with Photomedex, Inc. following its acquisition of ProCyte in 2005 and as a consultant to the same company from January to June 2007. From 1993 to 1998, she held various marketing and clinical research positions of increasing responsibility with ProCyte. Ms. Carmichael holds a B.S. in Nursing from Seattle University and attended the UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Executive Management.
 
 
8

 
 
ITEM 1A.                      RISK FACTORS
 
You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all other information included in this Annual Report, in evaluating our company. If any of the following risks actually occur, our financial condition or operating results could be harmed. In such case, investors may lose part or all of their investment.
 
We will need to raise additional capital to fund our operations, and our failure to obtain funding when needed may force us to delay, reduce or eliminate our product development programs or collaboration efforts, adversely affect our ability to satisfy our obligations when they become due, or require us to discontinue our operations.
 
Developing products and conducting pre-clinical and clinical testing of antimicrobial peptide technologies requires substantial amounts of capital. To date, we have not generated sufficient revenue to meet our capital requirements and we do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, we have raised capital primarily through private equity and convertible debt financings. If we are unable to timely obtain additional funding, we may never achieve the results necessary to satisfy our existing obligations or be profitable. We will need to raise additional capital to, among other things:
 
 
commercialize our peptide compounds and intermediates;
 
 
commercialize skin care products containing our peptides;
 
 
fund our pre-clinical studies;
 
 
fund clinical trials;
 
 
continue our research and development activities;
 
 
finance our operating expenses; and
 
 
prepare, file, prosecute, maintain, enforce, and defend patent and other proprietary rights.
 
We continue to explore potential sources of funding to support clinical development of certain of our Rx programs. Conducting clinical trials requires significant capital, and significantly more than we have historically raised to support our consumer programs. If we are unable to raise sufficient capital to fund clinical development, we may be required to rely on collaborations with pharmaceutical companies to advance these programs. However, there can be no assurance that any such collaboration would be available on favorable terms to us, if at all, or that if entered into, it would be successful.
 
Our net cash used in operations has exceeded our cash generated from operations for each year since our inception. For example, we used approximately $2,797,000 and $3,072,000 in operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Based upon our recent financing activities, the current status of our operations, consumer product commercialization development and collaboration plans, we believe that our cash and cash equivalents should be adequate to fund our operations, continue with work towards our prescription (Rx) product development and support the continued expansion of our consumer program through the next twelve months. However, our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including, among other things:
 
 
our ability to enter into revenue-producing agreements and the success of our existing agreements;
 
 
the progress, expansion, and cost of our pre-clinical and research and development activities;
 
 
any future decisions we may make about the scope and prioritization of the programs we pursue, including whether we pursue clinical development of our pharmaceutical programs;
 
 
the development of new product candidates or uses for our antimicrobial peptide technologies;
 
 
changes in regulatory policies or laws that affect our operations; and
 
 
competing technological and market developments.
 
If we are unable to obtain the necessary additional funding, we may not be able to satisfy our existing obligations or we may have to license to other companies our products or technologies that we would prefer to develop and commercialize ourselves, liquidate some or all of our assets, delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate some portion or all of our development programs, or severely reduce the scope of our operations, which would significantly impede our ability to proceed with current operational plans and could lead to the discontinuation of our business.
 
If we raise additional funds by issuing convertible debt securities, new investors may have rights superior to holders of our currently issued and outstanding common stock. In addition, debt financing, if available, may include covenants, which could restrict our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends or make other restricted payments on investments, consummate asset sales or similar transactions, create liens, or merge or consolidate with any other person or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. Any failure to comply with any such covenants could cause us to be in default under such indebtedness.
 
 
9

 
 
We expect to continue to incur substantial losses and we may never achieve profitability.
 
We have incurred significant operating losses since we began operations in November 1988, including a net loss of approximately $7,711,000 for the year ended December 31, 2010, and we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $43,568,000 as of such date. These losses have resulted principally from costs incurred in our research and development programs and from our general and administrative expenses. If the necessary capital is available to us, we intend to make substantial expenditures to further develop and commercialize our product candidates and expect that our rate of spending may accelerate as the result of the increased costs and expenses associated with expanded in-house research and development of our lead product candidates, out-licensing initiatives, clinical trials, regulatory approvals and commercialization of our antimicrobial peptide technologies. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with our product development efforts, we are unable to predict when we may become profitable, and we may never become profitable. If we are unable to achieve and then maintain profitability, the market value of our common stock will likely decline.
 
Weak economic conditions could adversely affect our sales, financial condition and growth prospects.
 
Weak economic conditions, low consumer spending and decreased consumption may have a negative impact on our operating results. The final consumer products incorporating our peptides may be considered discretionary items for consumers. Factors affecting the level of consumer spending for discretionary items include general economic conditions, the availability of consumer credit and consumer confidence in future economic conditions. Consumer purchases of discretionary items tend to decline during recessionary periods when disposable income is lower. This was evident in 2009 when the economic downturn adversely affected our revenue and results of operations. If the economic recovery is slow or if the economy experiences a prolonged period of decelerating growth, our customers or potential customers may delay or reduce sales of the final products incorporating our peptides, which would harm our business. In addition, adverse economic conditions may lead to price increases by our suppliers, which could adversely affect our operating results.
 
Because of the specialized nature of our business, the termination of relationships with key management and scientific personnel or the inability to recruit and retain additional personnel could prevent us from developing our technologies and obtaining financing.
 
The competition for qualified personnel in the biotechnology field is intense, and we rely heavily on our ability to attract and retain qualified scientific, technical, and managerial personnel. We are highly dependent upon R. Stephen Beatty, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Robin L. Carmichael, our Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Further, in order to commercialize our products successfully, we will be required to expand our workforce, particularly in the areas of research and development, sales and marketing. These activities will require the addition of new personnel, including management, and the development of additional expertise by existing management personnel. If we are unable to successfully manage this growth or if we lose key personnel, our business will be adversely affected.
 
We face substantial competition in our product development efforts from personal care, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as universities and other not-for-profit institutions.
 
We face significant competition in our attempts to develop applications of our peptide technology from entities that have substantially greater research and product development capabilities, financial, scientific, marketing, human resources, and name and brand recognition. These entities include cosmetic, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as universities and other not-for-profit institutions. We expect that competition in the development of products analogous to our peptide technology will intensify. Our competitors may succeed in developing products, entering into successful collaborations or obtaining approvals from the FDA or other regulatory agencies for such products before we do, or in developing products that are less expensive, safer or more effective than those we develop or propose to develop. The success of any one competitor in these or other respects will have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
 
We rely on collaborators for a substantial portion of the research and development and product commercialization activities relating to our technologies and will need to enter into further collaborations to develop, test and produce commercially viable products. If our collaborators do not perform as expected, or we are unable to enter into further collaborations, our ability to commercialize our products and product candidates would be adversely affected.
 
Part of our strategy to date has been to enhance our development programs and fund our capital requirements in part by entering into collaborative agreements with cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and other biotechnology companies, and we will likely pursue further collaborations in the future. The development of commercially viable products from our technology will likely continue to require the technical collaboration and financial assistance of other, significantly larger third parties to bear some or most of the costs of pre-clinical and clinical testing, regulatory approval, manufacturing and marketing prior to commercial sale. This is especially true of our pharmaceutical programs, as to which we expect clinical testing and the regulatory approval process, among other things, to require substantial financial and other resources, and for which we may seek collaborative assistance.
 
There can be no assurance that we will succeed in attracting collaborative partners who can assist in the further development and commercialization of our technology, and we may lack the capital and other resources necessary to develop our product candidates in the absence of these collaborations. In addition, any collaboration that we enter into may be unsuccessful in the development and commercialization of our product candidates. When we partner with a third party for development and commercialization of a product candidate, we have in the past and can expect in the future to relinquish some or all of the control over the future success of that product candidate to the collaborator. Existing and potential future collaborators may not devote sufficient resources to the research, development and commercialization of our product candidates, or they may breach or terminate our agreements with them. In addition, the current general economic downturn may adversely impact the ability or willingness of our collaborators to devote such resources to the success of our product candidates. If existing or future collaborations are unsuccessful, our business, operating results and financial condition would be impaired.
 
 
10

 
 
We face risks of product liability and other claims against us and may not be able to obtain adequate insurance to protect against losses.
 
The current use of any of our products, including in pre-clinical trials, and the sale of any of our products expose us to liability claims. These claims might be made directly by consumers or our corporate collaborators or others selling such products. We may experience financial losses in the future due to product liability or other claims. Our insurance includes coverage for the sale of commercial products. However, we may be unable to maintain insurance coverage at a reasonable cost or in sufficient amounts to protect against losses. If a successful product liability or other claim or a series of claims is brought against us for uninsured liabilities or in excess of insured liabilities, our assets may be insufficient to cover such claims and our business operations could be impaired.
 
If we are unable to protect our proprietary rights, we may not be able to compete effectively.
 
Our success depends in part on obtaining, maintaining, and enforcing our patents and other proprietary rights. We believe we own, or have rights under licenses to, issued patents and pending patent applications that are necessary to commercialize our antimicrobial peptides. However, the patents on which we rely may be challenged and invalidated, and our patent applications may not result in issued patents. Moreover, our patents and patent applications may not be sufficiently broad to prevent others from practicing our technologies or developing competing products. We also face the risk that others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or may design around our proprietary and patented technologies.
 
The patent positions of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies can be highly uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions for which important legal principles remain unresolved. No consistent policy regarding the breadth of claims allowed in biotechnology patents has emerged to date in the United States. Furthermore, the application, and enforcement of patent laws and regulations in foreign countries is even more uncertain. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will be able to effectively protect or defend our proprietary rights in the United States or in foreign jurisdictions on a consistent basis.
 
Third parties may successfully challenge the validity of our patents. We will only be able to protect our technology from unauthorized use by third parties to the extent that valid and enforceable patents or other proprietary rights cover them. Because the issuance of a patent is not conclusive of its validity or enforceability, we cannot assure you how much protection, if any, will be given to our patents if we attempt to enforce them or if others challenge their validity in court. It is possible that a competitor may successfully challenge our patents or that a challenge will result in limiting the coverage of our patents. If the outcome of litigation is adverse to us, third parties may be able to use our technology without payment to us.
 
In addition, it is possible that competitors may infringe upon our patents or successfully avoid them through design innovation. We may initiate litigation to police unauthorized use of our proprietary rights. However, the cost of litigation to uphold the validity of our patents and to prevent infringement could be substantial, and the litigation will consume time and other resources. Some of our competitors may be better able to sustain the costs of complex patent litigation because they have substantially greater resources. Moreover, if a court decides that our patents are not valid, we will not have the right to stop others from using our technology. There is also the risk that, even if the validity of our patents were upheld, a court may refuse to stop others on the ground that their activities do not infringe upon our patents. Because protecting our intellectual property is difficult and expensive, we may be unable to prevent misappropriation of our proprietary rights.
 
We also rely on certain proprietary trade secrets and know-how, especially where we believe patent protection is not appropriate or obtainable. Trade secrets and know-how, however, are difficult to protect. We have taken measures to protect our unpatented trade secrets and know-how, including the use of confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees, consultants and contractors. It is possible, however, that these persons may unintentionally or willingly breach the agreements or that our competitors may independently develop or otherwise discover our trade secrets and know-how.
 
If the use of our technology conflicts with the rights of others, we could be subject to costly litigation or other proceedings, and an adverse outcome could have a significant adverse effect on our business.
 
Our competitors or others may have or acquire patent rights that they could enforce against us. If they do so, we may be required to alter our peptide technology, pay licensing fees or cease operations. If our peptide technology conflicts with patent rights of others, third parties could bring legal action against us or our licensees, suppliers, customers or potential collaborators, claiming damages and seeking to enjoin manufacturing and marketing of the affected products. If these legal actions are successful, in addition to any potential liability for damages, we might have to alter our affected products or underlying technology such that they do not infringe upon others’ patent rights, or obtain a license in order to continue to manufacture or market the affected products. However, modifying our products or technology may not be possible or could require substantial funds or time, and a required license under the related patent may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all.
 
We may be unaware that the use of our technology conflicts with pending or issued patents. Because patent applications can take many years to issue, there may be currently pending applications, unknown to us, that may later result in issued patents upon which our peptide technology may infringe. There could also be existing patents of which we are unaware upon which our peptide technology may infringe. In addition, if third parties file patent applications or obtain patents claiming technology also claimed by us in pending applications, we may have to participate in interference proceedings in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to determine priority of invention. If third parties file oppositions in foreign countries, we may also have to participate in opposition proceedings in foreign tribunals to defend the patentability of the filed foreign patent applications. We may have to participate in interference proceedings involving our issued patents or our pending applications.
 
 
11

 
 
Our rights to use peptides and technologies licensed to us by third parties are not within our control, and we may not be able to implement our peptide technology without these peptides and technologies.
 
We have licensed patents and other rights which are necessary to our peptide technology. Our business will significantly suffer if these licenses terminate, if the licensors fail to abide by the terms of the licenses or fail to prevent infringement by third parties or if the licensed patents or other rights are found to be invalid. We have in-licensed several peptide patents and patent applications from the University of British Columbia. These licenses terminate upon the expiration of the last licensed patent and may also be terminated in the event of a material breach.
 
If we violate the terms of our licenses or otherwise lose our rights to these peptides, patents or patent applications, we may be unable to continue development of our peptide technology. Our licensors or others may dispute the scope of our rights under any of these licenses. Additionally, the licensors under these licenses might breach the terms of their respective agreements or fail to prevent infringement of the licensed patents by third parties. Loss of any of these licenses for any reason could materially harm our financial condition and operating results.
 
Our business may be harmed if we do not adequately forecast customer demand.
 
We may not be able to maintain proper inventory levels for our skin care products. The timing and amount of customer demand for these products are difficult to predict since we have limited sales history and the manufacturing process of these products begins well in advance of the date the products are expected to be sold.  If we overestimate our customer demands,we may be unable to sell the products we have ordered in advance from manufacturers or that we have in our inventory. Inventory levels in excess of customer demand may result in inventory write-downs or the sale of excess inventory at prices below our standard levels. These events could significantly harm our operating results and impair the image of our brands. Conversely, if we underestimate demand for our products or if our manufacturers fail to supply quality products in a timely manner, we may experience inventory shortages, which might result in unfilled orders, negatively impact customer relationships, diminish brand loyalty and lost revenues, any of which could harm our financial condition or operating results.
 
If we fail to build and maintain the value of our brands, our business could be harmed.
 
Our success depends in part on our ability to effectively define, message and promote our brands. We may be able to develop brand recognition of our products through various means including customer outreach, prospecting, advertising, internet and affiliate marketing, and direct mail. While we believe that our planned marketing programs will help build brand awareness and attract new customers, we cannot provide assurance that our marketing efforts will result in increased sales or that we will have sufficient funds to further develop our brands. If we fail to build and maintain the value of our brands, sales are likely to decline and our business could be harmed.
 
To the extent our cash deposits are maintained in accounts that are not insured, such assets could be at risk.
 
As of December 31, 2010, we maintained approximately $3,680,000 at a major financial institution in a money market account insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) up to $500,000 per account. The protection afforded by the SIPC is narrower than that afforded by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation with respect to bank deposits and does not cover all losses. If the financial institutions holding our cash deposits experience financial difficulty or failure, the assets in these accounts would be at risk, and their loss would have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
 
Our business is subject to numerous governmental regulations.
 
Our products and our licensees’ products and product candidates are subject to extensive regulation by numerous governmental authorities in the United States, including the FDA, and by regulatory authorities outside the United States which govern the manufacturing practices, labeling, packaging, storage, distribution, advertising, promotion, recordkeeping and reporting of safety, and quality assurance. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative action, either in the U.S. or abroad. Under our licensing strategy, our collaborators will bear the majority of the regulatory compliance burden. However, if we, our licensees or our collaborators fail to maintain regulatory compliance, such failure could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
 
Interruptions to our website operations could damage our reputation and harm our business.
 
 We derive a portion of our revenue from business generated through our ecommerce website. The satisfactory performance and reliability of our website operations are critical to our reputation and our ability to attract and retain customers in our online business. We could experience temporary interruptions in our website or transaction processing systems for a variety of reasons, including human error, software errors, power loss, telecommunications failures, extreme weather and other events beyond our control. The failure of our systems could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
 
 
12

 
 
Worldwide economic and political conditions may adversely affect demand for our products.
 
As part of our business strategy, we seek to expand the sales of our products and technology in international markets. In 2009, we began to derive revenue from our European licensee. We expect to begin to sell our proprietary consumer products into Asian and European markets in the near future. Our international business expansion will depend on overall worldwide economic conditions and economic, political and business conditions within our customers’ industries and countries or other geographic regions. A continued or worsened slowdown in the global economy could adversely impact demand for our products in international markets, which would harm our financial condition and results of operations.
 
We incur significant costs and demands upon management as a result of complying with laws affecting public companies, which could affect our operating results.
 
We have incurred and will incur significant costs, and have and could experience internal resource constraints, associated with the evaluation of and compliance with evolving corporate governance, reporting and other requirements, including requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act enacted in July 2010 and rules implemented by the SEC. Compliance with these laws and regulations is costly and personnel-intensive, and any changes in these laws and regulations may materially increase our compliance costs. Our financial condition and operating results may be materially negatively impacted by the financial costs and resource demands of our compliance efforts.
 
If we fail to maintain proper and effective internal controls, our ability to produce accurate financial statements could be impaired, which would adversely affect our business.
 
If we are not able to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures, we may not be able to produce reliable financial reporting. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system's objectives will be met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. As a result, we cannot assure investors that significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting will not be identified in the future. Matters affecting our internal controls may cause us to be unable to report our financial information accurately and/or on a timely basis and thereby subject us to adverse regulatory consequences, including sanctions or investigations by the SEC, and may cause investors to lose confidence in us and the reliability of our financial statements. Confidence in the reliability of our financial statements is also likely to suffer if we report a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. These factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, cause a decline in our share price and impair our ability to raise capital.
 
Our gross profit deferral depends on the accuracy of reports we receive from an affiliated company.
 
The deferred gross profit we report from a related party in our financial statements depends to a large extent on the accuracy of the inventory reports provided by the affiliated company, and any material error in those reports would affect our gross profit deferral. However, we believe that the controls implemented by the affiliated company, including periodic physical inventory verifications and analytical reviews, should reduce the likelihood of any material errors in such reports.
 
Our principal stockholders, executive officers and directors may have the ability to control our management and operations and could act in their own best interests and not necessarily in the best interests of other stockholders.
 
Our executive officers, directors, principal stockholders and entities affiliated with them beneficially owned in the aggregate approximately 54.9% of our outstanding common stock and common stock equivalents as of March 10, 2011. This significant concentration of share ownership may adversely affect the trading price for our common stock because investors often perceive disadvantages in owning stock in companies with controlling stockholders. These stockholders have the ability to exert substantial influence over all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election and removal of directors and any proposed merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, and this concentration of ownership could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control or impeding a merger or consolidation, takeover or other business combination that could be favorable to you.
 
Future sales of our common stock could negatively affect our stock price and may cause dilution to existing stockholders.
 
Our common stock has generally been thinly traded, meaning that the numbers of persons interested in purchasing our common stock at or near ask prices at any given time may be relatively small or nonexistent. As a consequence, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our shares is minimal or nonexistent, as compared to an issuer with a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without a considerable adverse effect on share price. If our common stockholders sell substantial amounts of common stock in the public market, or the market perceives that such sales may occur, the market price of our common stock could decline significantly. In addition, we will need to raise substantial additional capital in the future to fund our operations, and if we raise additional funds by issuing equity or convertible debt securities, our stock price may decline and our existing stockholders may experience significant dilution.
 
 
13

 
 
Our common stock may experience extreme price and volume fluctuations, which could lead to costly litigation for us and make an investment in us less appealing.
 
The market price of our common stock has and may continue to fluctuate significantly due to a variety of factors, including:
 
 
announcements about our collaborators or licensees;
 
 
announcements about technological innovations or new products or services by us or our competitors;
 
 
announcements concerning our competitors or the biotechnology industry in general;
 
 
new regulatory pronouncements and changes in regulatory guidelines;
 
 
general and industry-specific economic conditions;
 
 
additions or departures of our key personnel;
 
 
changes in financial estimates or recommendations by securities analysts;
 
 
variations in our quarterly results; and
 
 
changes in accounting principles.
 
The market prices of the securities of many biotechnology companies have been highly volatile and may remain highly volatile in the future. This volatility has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. In the past, companies that experience volatility in the market price of their securities have often faced class action securities litigation. Moreover, market prices for stocks of biotechnology and other technology companies frequently reach levels that bear no relationship to the operating performance of these companies. These market prices generally are not sustainable and are highly volatile. Whether or not meritorious, litigation brought against us could result in substantial costs, divert our management’s attention, and harm our financial condition and results of operations.
 
 
Our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, and stockholder rights agreement may delay or prevent a change in our management.
 
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, bylaws, and stockholder rights agreement contain provisions that could delay or prevent a change in our board of directors and management teams. Some of these provisions:
 
 
authorize the issuance of preferred stock that can be created and issued by the board of directors without prior stockholder approval, commonly referred to as “blank check” preferred stock, with rights senior to those of our common stock;
 
 
authorize our board of directors to issue dilutive shares of common stock upon certain events; and
 
 
provide for a classified board of directors.
 
These provisions could make it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors. Because our board of directors is responsible for appointing the members of our management team, these provisions could in turn affect any attempt to replace the current management team.
 
ITEM 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 2.
PROPERTIES
 
We occupy approximately 5,300 square feet of leased space in Bothell, Washington for our corporate office and laboratory. In July 2009, we renewed our lease to extend until June 30, 2015. The terms of the renewed lease include seven months of free rent at a monthly base rent equal to $6,210 and scheduled rent increases over the lease term. We account for free rent periods and scheduled rent increases on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. We believe that our leased space is adequate to meet our current and planned needs and that suitable additional space will be available, as needed, in the future on commercially reasonable terms.
 
ITEM 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
As of March 24, 2011, there were no legal proceedings the disclosure of which is required by this item.
 
ITEM 4.
(REMOVED AND RESERVED)
 
 
14

 

PART II
 
ITEM 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
Our common stock has been quoted on the OTCQB electronic platform under the symbol “HXMB” since February 25, 2011. From 1999 until February 24, 2011, our stock was quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “HXBM.OB”. Prior to 1999, our common stock did not trade publicly. The following table summarizes our common stock’s high and low daily closing sales prices for the periods indicated as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board. These quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail markups, markdowns or commissions, and may not represent actual transactions.
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
High
   
Low
   
High
   
Low
 
First Quarter
  $ 0.40     $ 0.19     $ 0.49     $ 0.26  
Second Quarter
  $ 0.43     $ 0.22     $ 0.59     $ 0.29  
Third Quarter
  $ 0.49     $ 0.20     $ 0.51     $ 0.26  
Fourth Quarter
  $ 0.59     $ 0.23     $ 0.35     $ 0.16  
 
As of March 10, 2011, there were approximately 799 record holders of our common stock. Because in some instances our common stock is held by brokers and clearing agencies on behalf of stockholders, we are unable to determine the total number of stockholders represented by these record holders.
 
Dividends
 
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We intend to retain any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business, and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination relating to our dividend policy will be made by our board of directors.
 
In addition, in connection with the conversion of certain outstanding convertible promissory notes and the exercise of certain outstanding warrants in the fourth quarter of 2010, we agreed, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to use our best efforts to cause the shares of common stock issued as a result thereof to qualify as “qualified small business stock” under Section 1202 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), including without limitation, in accordance with the rules governing “significant redemptions” under Code Sections 1202(c)(3)(B) and 1202(c)(3)(C), for a period of one year following the date thereof, not purchasing shares of our common stock (or engaging in stock redemptions under Code Section 304(a)) in one or more transactions with an aggregate value (as of the time of any such purchases) exceeding five percent of the aggregate value of all of our common stock outstanding as of the date that was one year prior thereto, excluding any purchases that are disregarded for such purposes under applicable Treasury Regulations.
 
ITEM 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
The following selected financial data have been derived from our financial statements. These data should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto and with Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
Operations:
                             
Revenue
  $ 851,683     $ 391,268     $ 562,877     $ 463,941     $ 70,940  
Net loss
    (7,710,802     (3,775,035     (4,515,512     (3,434,004     (3,828,326
Net loss per share, basic and diluted
    (0.28 )     (0.15 )     (0.18 )     (0.14 )     (0.17 )
Financial position:
                                       
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
    4,044,309       1,344,719       984,844       1,161,290       2,256,901  
Working capital
    4,355,893       1,495,026       1,014,268       1,105,405       2,087,776  
Total assets
    5,228,482       2,012,920       2,703,707       2,022,071       3,060,544  
Stockholders’ equity (deficit)
    4,874,444       (5,168,725     (1,714,522     1,670,713       2,798,077  
 
 
15

 
 
ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
For a discussion of forward-looking statements and important factors that could cause results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this Annual Report, see Part I, “Forward-Looking Statements,” and Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”
 
Business Overview
 
We are a biopharmaceutical company with an extensive proprietary library of structurally diverse bioactive peptides and patents covering hundreds of thousands of peptide sequences. Our mission is to enrich clinical practice and the patient/consumer experience by developing and commercializing topically applied products which offer the benefits of our advanced bioactive small molecule and peptide technologies. Our vision is to be recognized as the world leader in the identification, qualification and commercialization of natural and synthetic peptides.
 
Our business strategy is to develop our peptide and small molecule portfolio to derive revenue from a broad base of opportunities including licensing to third parties rights to use select proprietary peptides in specific fields of application and commercializing our own branded products. Over the longer term, we intend to pursue applications for products using our technology in medical devices and pharmaceutical preparations. We have developed numerous peptides with unique sequences for use in the following two areas of application:
 
 
Consumer skin care products — we have developed a range of peptides and small molecule technologies capable of improving different aspects of the skin’s appearance, texture, tone and barrier function and are marketing these peptides as innovative ingredients for cosmetic use; and
 
 
Prescription (Rx) products — certain of our peptides have demonstrated promising results in the areas of infection control, wound healing and immune modulation and are being developed for Rx applications.
 
Our Rx focus is on prescription-only topical preparations that would be subject to a shorter regulatory approval process under Section 510(k) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (510(k) devices). We continue to explore possible sources of funding to support further in-house development work on our pharmaceutical programs, which we believe will enhance potential partnership opportunities with pharmaceutical companies.
 
Our business was incorporated in 1988, and until early 2007 we operated primarily as a technology development company, generating a portfolio of intellectual property focused on identifying and developing synthetic bioactive peptides and, to a lesser extent, commercializing the extensive library of patented bioactive peptides we had developed. During 2007, we began generating consistent revenue through license agreements with skin care product manufacturers and through collaborative development agreements. In the third quarter of 2007, we moved from the development stage to the commercialization stage.
 
During 2010, we made substantial progress in executing our strategic objectives. As detailed below, we increased our revenue and improved our financing arrangements.
 
2010 Highlights
 
 
·
we generated total revenue of approximately $852,000, an increase of 117.7% over 2009 revenue;
 
 
·
we invested $350,000 in exchange for a 30% membership interest in NuGlow Cosmaceuticals, LLC (NuGlow), a California limited liability company specializing in specialty skin care products;
 
 
·
we completed a $3.2 million convertible note and warrant financing in May 2010;
 
 
·
in December 2010, we amended and converted into shares of our common stock, or repaid, all of our outstanding convertible notes issued in 2008, 2009 and 2010 along with all related accrued interest; and
 
 
·
in December 2010, we received an aggregate of $2,266,000 from warrant exercises and raised approximately $600,000 from the sale and issuance of additional shares of our common stock.
 
2011 Outlook
 
Based on the momentum of our 2010 performance, our confidence in our ability to expand the revenue base and our anticipation for a continued, modest economic recovery, we expect 2011 results to improve compared to 2010. We believe that our expanded revenue opportunities as well as our debt-free position will enable us to further strengthen our operating results.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the dates of the balance sheets and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. We consider the following accounting policies to be those that require us to make the most subjective or complex judgments in order to fairly present our financial position and results of operations. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
 
 
16

 
 
Revenue Recognition. We derive our revenue from technology licenses, joint development agreements, sales of peptides and consumer products, and, until September 2009, administrative services provided to a related party. Revenue under technology licenses may include up-front payments and royalties from third-party product manufacturing and sales. Revenue associated with joint development agreements primarily consists of payments for completion of development milestones. We account for revenue recognition of our agreements with multiple elements by determining whether each element can be separated into a unit of accounting based on the following criteria: (1) the delivered items have value to the customer on a stand-alone basis; (2) there is objective and reliable evidence of fair value of the undelivered items; and (3) the arrangement includes a right of return relative to the delivered item(s) or delivery or performance of the undelivered item(s) that is probable and within our control. If there is objective and reliable evidence of fair value for all units of accounting in an arrangement, we allocate revenue among the separate units of accounting based on their estimated fair values. If the criteria are not met, elements included in an arrangement are accounted for as a single unit of accounting and revenue is deferred until the period in which the final deliverable is provided. When the period of deferral cannot be specifically identified from the agreement, we estimate the period based upon other factors contained within the agreement. Our management continually reviews these estimates, which could result in a change in the deferral period and the timing and the amount of revenue recognized.
 
 
·
Licensing Fees. We recognize up-front payments when persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been performed, the price is fixed and determinable and collection is reasonably assured. We recognize royalty revenue in the period the royalty is earned based on actual reports or estimates received from licensees.
 
 
·
Development Fees. We record revenue associated with performance milestones as earned when we have completed the specific milestones as defined in the joint development agreements and collection is reasonably assured.
 
 
·
Peptide and Consumer Product Sales. We recognize revenue from sales of our peptides and skin care products when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed or determinable and collection is reasonably assured.
 
 
·
Administrative Services Revenue, Related Party. Our administrative services revenue consisted of fees received from DermaVentures, LLC (DermaVentures), a related party, for costs incurred related to the DermaVentures’ product line. Administrative services revenue was invoiced to DermaVentures at or near cost and was recorded as earned on a gross basis when services were rendered, no obligations remained outstanding and collection was reasonably assured.
 
In September 2009, we entered into an amendment to the DermaVentures, LLC Operating Agreement, Management Agreement and License Agreement with DermaVentures and RMS Group, LLC pursuant to which the parties effectively terminated the Management Services Agreement dated effective as of April 18, 2007. As a result, we had no further management or administrative responsibilities related to DermaVentures from which our administrative services revenue was derived (see Note 13 of our Notes to Financial Statements).
 
Revenues are recorded net of related sales taxes. Sales tax amounts collected from customers are included in accrued expenses.
 
Inventory. Inventory consists of peptides and consumer product finished goods and work in process. Work in process includes inventory at our manufacturer. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. We regularly monitor inventory quantities on hand and record write-downs for potential excess, obsolescence and shrinkage based primarily on our sales forecast and production requirements. If actual demand were to be substantially lower than estimated, additional write-downs or write-offs for excess or obsolete inventories may be required.
 
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Intangible Assets. We periodically review our long-lived assets including property and equipment and intangible assets for possible impairment whenever significant events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. An impairment is indicated when the sum of the expected future undiscounted net cash flows identifiable to that asset or asset group is less than its carrying value. We determine impairment losses from actual or estimated fair values, which are based on market values, net realizable values or projections of discounted cash flows, as appropriate.
 
Valuation of Stock Options Granted to Employees, Officers and Non-Employee Directors for Board Service. We measure stock-based compensation expense for employee awards based on the estimated fair value of the award at the grant date and recognize such expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. The determination of the fair value of stock options and warrants using the Black-Scholes option pricing model is affected by our stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables, which include management’s estimated stock price volatility over the term of the awards, estimated option or warrant exercise behaviors, the risk-free interest rate and expected dividends. Compensation expense is recognized only for the portion of awards expected to vest. For performance-based awards, we record stock-based compensation expense only when the performance-based milestone is deemed probable of achievement. We utilize both quantitative and qualitative criteria to judge whether milestones are probable of achievement.
 
Valuation of Call Option Related to Convertible Note Payable, Related Party, Issued in 2008. The convertible note payable issued to a related party on February 14, 2008 and amended on June 27, 2008 included a call option which gave the holder the right to demand repayment in the case of default. We were required to separately account for the fair value of the embedded call option. We determined that the call option related to this convertible note payable had no value at either the issuance date or any of the subsequent reporting dates based on an analysis of the right and the likelihood of its exercise.
 
Valuation of Prepayment Right Related to Convertible Note Payable, Related Party, Issued in 2008. The convertible note payable issued to a related party on February 14, 2008 and amended on June 27, 2008 allowed us to prepay the unpaid balance of the convertible note and accrued interest at any time and without penalty. We were required to separately account for the fair value of the prepayment right. We determined that this prepayment right had no value at either the issuance date or any of the subsequent reporting dates based on an analysis of the right and the likelihood of its exercise.
 
 
17

 
 
Valuation of Option To Purchase Remaining Interest in Affiliated Company. In connection with our investment in NuGlow, we have the right to purchase the remaining interest in NuGlow between July 1, 2012 and July 1, 2015 (see Note 5 of our Notes to Financial Statements.) We are required to separately account for this option at fair value on the balance sheet with changes in value recognized in the statement of operations.
 
Valuation of Common Stock Used in Calculation of Conversion Inducement Expense.  To induce our note holders to convert the outstanding notes payable into our common stock in the fourth quarter of 2010, we amended the conversion terms such that the per share conversion price was reduced to $0.60 from $1.00 for the 2008 Amended Note and 2009 Notes, and from $0.80 for the 2010 Notes. We estimated the fair value of our common stock issued in connection with the note conversions based on implied stock value using the estimated fair value of our convertible notes immediately prior to the amendment of the conversion terms.  We estimated the fair value of our convertible notes immediately prior to the amendment of the conversion terms based on prevailing interest rates, our stock price as recently quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables.
 
Results of Operations
 
For the year ended December 31, 2010, we generated revenue of $851,683, representing an increase of 117.7% from the previous year. The favorable revenue variance was primarily attributable to increases in royalties as well as sales of peptides and consumer products.
 
Our net loss for 2010 was approximately $7.7 million, or $0.28 per share, compared to a net loss of approximately $3.8 million, or $0.15 per share, for 2009, and a net loss of approximately $4.5 million, or $0.18 per share, for 2008. The increase in net loss in 2010 from 2009 was principally attributable to a $3.8 million non-cash debt conversion inducement expense recorded in connection with the amendment and conversion into shares of our common stock of certain of our convertible notes payable issued in 2008, 2009 and 2010 (see Note 2 of our Notes of Financial Statements.) In addition, the 2010 net loss included increases in operating expenses as well as interest expense and accretion of discount, partially offset by an increase in gross profit. Our net loss per share for 2010 was partially offset by an increase in the weighted average number of shares of our common stock outstanding resulting from the amendment, conversion and exercise of our convertible notes payable and warrants in December 2010. The decrease of approximately $740,500 in net loss in 2009 from 2008 was primarily due to reduced operating expenses and net non-operating expenses, partially offset by a decrease in gross profit.
 
As of December 31, 2010, our accumulated deficit was approximately $43.6 million. We may continue to incur substantial operating losses over the next several years based on the estimated costs associated with our current level of operations, continued commercialization of our technology, and initiation of our pharmaceutical programs being greater than our anticipated revenue.
 
Our ability to achieve a consistent level of revenue depends largely on our ability to successfully commercialize our proprietary technology through royalty-bearing licenses, as well as developing and selling products via collaborations with strategic partners. Even if we are successful in the aforementioned activities, our operations may not be profitable. In addition, any payments under licensing arrangements are subject to significant fluctuations in both timing and amount. Therefore, our operating results for any period may fluctuate significantly and may not be comparable to the operating results for any other period.
 
Revenue
 
Revenue for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 consisted of license and development fees, sales of peptides and consumer products, and administrative services revenue as summarized in the table below. Consumer product sales to a related party consisted of only products that had been resold to third parties. Consumer product sales to a related party that were unsold at the end of the reporting period, along with corresponding costs, were included in deferred gross profit.
 
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2010
   
% Change
2010 to 2009
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2009
   
% Change
2009 to 2008
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2008
 
License and development fees
  $ 479,317       221.3 %   $ 149,196       (53.3 )%   $ 319,152  
Percentage of total revenue
    56.3 %             38.1 %             56.7 %
Peptide and consumer product sales
    309,379       39.4 %     221,876       10.1 %     201,450  
Percentage of total revenue
    36.3 %             56.7 %             35.8 %
Consumer product sales, related party
    62,987    
NM
                   
Percentage of total revenue
    7.4 %                            
Administrative services revenue, related party
          (100.0 )%     20,196       (52.2 )%     42,275  
Percentage of total revenue
                  5.2 %             7.5 %
                                         
Total revenue
  $ 851,683       117.7 %   $ 391,268       (30.5 )%   $ 562,877  
 

NM -
Percentage not meaningful
 
Total revenue increased by approximately $460,400, or 117.7%, in 2010 from 2009 and decreased by approximately $171,600 in 2009, or 30.5%, from 2008.
 
License and development fees increased by approximately $330,100, or 221.3%, in 2010 from 2009 and decreased by approximately $170,000 in 2009, or 53.3%, from 2008. The increase in 2010 compared to 2009 was attributable to increased royalty revenue primarily from sales of products launched by our licensees in 2010. The decrease in 2009 compared to 2008 was primarily due to decreases of approximately $30,000 in royalty revenue and $140,000 in development fees. The fluctuation in royalty revenue is attributable to the level of product manufacturing and sales from our licensees, whereas the fluctuation in development fees is derived from new collaborative agreements we have entered into during the reporting periods and the timing of the achievement of certain milestones under applicable development agreements.
 
 
18

 
 
Peptide and consumer product sales, including sales to related party,  increased by approximately $150,500, or 67.8%, in 2010 from 2009 and by approximately $20,400, or 10.1%, in 2009 from 2008. The increase in 2010 compared to 2009 was attributable to increases in sales of peptide and consumer products sold under our proprietary brands and private labels. The increase in 2009 compared to 2008 was primarily attributable to increased sales of consumer products. Fluctuations in peptide sales from period to period were primarily attributable to the product manufacturing cycles of our customers, while the growth in consumer product sales reflected a larger customer base.
 
Administrative services revenue from a related party was typically invoiced at or near cost and therefore had no material net effect on our gross profit or net loss. We had no administrative services revenue, related party in 2010. Administrative services revenue from DermaVentures in 2009 decreased by approximately $22,100, or 52.2%, in 2009 from 2008, principally due to the termination of our Management Services Agreement in September 2009.
 
Cost of Revenue and Gross Margin
 
Cost of revenue consists of (1) cost of licensing and development fees, which includes cost of materials associated with development activities as well as professional fees incurred related to development agreements, (2) cost of peptides and materials associated with consumer products, and (3) cost of administrative services revenue from DermaVentures, a related party, which includes primarily marketing campaign costs associated with DermaVentures’ product line and out-of-pocket expenses. Gross profit is the difference between revenue and cost of revenue, and gross margin is gross profit expressed as a percentage of total revenue. Revenue mix affects our gross margin because our margins from license and development fees are higher than our margins from consumer product sales, peptide sales and administrative services revenue.
 
Cost of revenue and gross margin for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 are summarized in the table below.
 
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2010
   
% Change
2010 to 2009
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2009
   
% Change
2009 to 2008
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2008
 
Cost of licensing and development fees
  $           $       (100.0 )%   $ 38,664  
Percentage of total revenue
                                6.9 %
Percentage of related revenue
                                12.1 %
Cost of peptide and consumer product sales
  $ 219,504       24.2 %   $ 176,720       1.2 %   $ 174,607  
Percentage of total revenue
    25.8 %             45.2 %             31.0 %
Percentage of related revenue
    70.9 %             79.6 %             86.7 %
Cost of peptide and consumer product sales, related party
  $ 40,990    
NM
    $           $  
Percentage of total revenue
    4.8 %                            
Percentage of related revenue
    65.1 %                            
Cost of administrative services revenue, related party
  $       (100.0 )%   $ 19,800       (53.0 )%   $ 42,105  
Percentage of total revenue
                  5.0 %             7.5 %
Percentage of related revenue
                  98.0 %             99.6 %
                                         
Total cost of revenue
  $ 260,494       32.6 %   $ 196,520       (23.0 )%   $ 255,376  
Percentage of total revenue
    30.6 %             50.2 %             45.4 %
Gross profit
  $ 591,189       203.6 %   $ 194,748       (36.7 )%   $ 307,501  
Gross margin
    69.4 %             49.8 %             54.6 %
 

NM -
Percentage not meaningful
 
Cost of licensing and development fees for each of the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $0 compared to $38,664 in 2008, which consisted primarily of professional fees for services performed in connection with a joint development agreement.
 
Cost of peptide and consumer product sales, including sales to a related party, increased by approximately $83,800, or 47.4%, in 2010 from 2009, and $2,100, or 1.2%, in 2009 from 2008. For 2010, peptides and consumer products sold resulted in a gross margin of 30.0% compared to 20.4% in 2009 and 13.3% in 2008. The higher gross margin related to peptide and consumer product sales in 2010 compared to 2009 and 2008 was due primarily to the customer and product mixes associated with such sales. Sales of our consumer products generally deliver a higher gross margin compared to sales of peptides; thus, as sales of consumer products grow at a faster rate compared to peptide sales, the blended gross margin will improve.
 
Cost of administrative services revenue for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 consisted primarily of marketing service expenses and corresponded with administrative services revenue in respective periods. We did not incur any cost of administrative services in 2010 as we terminated our Management Services Agreement with DermaVentures in the third quarter of 2009.
 
 
19

 
 
Research and Development
 
Research and development (R&D) expenses consist primarily of compensation and benefit expenses, stock-based compensation expense, cost of external studies and trials, and contract and other outside service fees related to our R&D efforts. R&D expenses for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 are summarized in the table below.
 
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2010
   
% Change
2010 to 2009
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2009
   
% Change
2009 to 2008
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2008
 
Research and development
  $ 748,663       3.6 %   $ 722,523       (12.7 )%   $ 827,361  
Percentage of total revenue
    87.9 %             184.7 %             147.0 %
 
R&D expenses increased by approximately $26,100, or 3.6%, in 2010 from 2009, and decreased by approximately $104,800, or 12.7%, in 2009 from 2008. The increase in R&D expenses in 2010 compared to 2009 was primarily due to increases in expenses related to stock-based compensation and general R&D activities, as well as spending on external studies of our product candidates. The decrease in R&D expenses in 2009 compared to 2008 was primarily due to decreases in compensation and benefit expenses resulting from a personnel reduction and stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by increased spending on testing and external studies of our product candidates.
 
For 2011, we anticipate R&D expenses to decrease in absolute dollars due to the departure of our Chief Scientific Officer in February 2011. We expect the saving in compensation and benefit expense will be partially offset by increases in external testing and study expenses related to the development of new consumer products as well as our Rx programs.
 
Marketing and Business Development
 
Marketing and business development (M&BD) expenses consist primarily of compensation and benefit expenses, stock-based compensation expense, consulting fees and various marketing costs. M&BD expenses for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 are summarized in the table below.
 
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2010
   
% Change
2010 to 2009
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2009
   
% Change
2009 to 2008
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2008
 
Marketing and business development
  $ 622,846       22.9 %   $ 506,742       26.4 %   $ 401,019  
Percentage of total revenue
    73.1 %             129.5 %             71.2 %
 
M&BD expenses increased by approximately $116,100, or 22.9%, in 2010 from 2009 and by approximately $105,700, or 26.4%, in 2009 from 2008. The increases in M&BD expenses in 2010 and 2009 compared to the respective prior year were due primarily to increases in spending on marketing activities, compensation and benefit expenses resulting from additional personnel and stock-based compensation.
 
We anticipate M&BD expenses to increase in absolute dollars for the foreseeable future as we expect to incur increased expenses on advertising, market testing and promotions for our current products as well as new skin care products we plan to introduce in 2011.
 
General and Administrative
 
General and administrative (G&A) expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefit expenses, stock-based compensation expense, consulting fees and general corporate expenditures. G&A expenses for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 are summarized in the table below.
 
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2010
   
% Change
2010 to 2009
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2009
   
% Change
2009 to 2008
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2008
 
General and administrative
  $ 1,530,333       3.9 %   $ 1,473,352       (23.2 )%   $ 1,918,826  
Percentage of total revenue
    179.7 %             376.6 %             340.9 %
 
G&A expenses increased by approximately $57,000, or 3.9%, in 2010 from 2009 and decreased by approximately $445,500, or 23.2%, in 2009 from 2008. The increase in G&A expenses in 2010 compared to 2009 was due primarily to an increase in stock-based compensation expense. The decrease in G&A expenses in 2009 compared to 2008 was primarily attributable to decreases in compensation and benefit expenses resulting from a reduction in headcount, stock-based compensation and general corporate expenses.
 
We anticipate G&A expenses for the foreseeable future to be consistent with the level experienced in 2010.
 
Accounting, Legal and Professional Fees
 
Accounting, legal and professional fees expenses for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 are summarized in the table below.
 
 
20

 
 
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2010
   
% Change
2010 to 2009
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2009
   
% Change
2009 to 2008
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2008
 
Accounting, legal and professional fees
  $ 531,726       (8.2 )%   $ 579,443       1.5 %   $ 570,719  
Percentage of total revenue
    62.4 %             148.1 %             101.4 %
 
Accounting, legal and professional fees expenses decreased by approximately $47,700, or 8.2%, in 2010 from 2009 and increased by approximately $8,700, or 1.5%, in 2009 from 2008. The decrease in accounting, legal and professional fees in 2010 compared to 2009 was primarily due to a decrease in legal fees associated with the protection of our intellectual property. The increase in accounting, legal and professional fees in 2009 compared to 2008 was primarily attributable to an increase in legal expenses associated with the protection of our intellectual property, partially offset by decreases in accounting fees and legal expenses associated with general corporate matters.
 
We anticipate accounting, legal and professional fees expenses for the foreseeable future to increase in absolute dollars as we expect to incur higher legal expenses related to distribution and licensing agreements and intellectual property protection.
 
Depreciation and Amortization
 
Depreciation and amortization expenses for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 are summarized in the table below.
 
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2010
   
% Change
2010 to 2009
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2009
   
% Change
2009 to 2008
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2008
 
Depreciation and amortization
  $ 113,777       (12.9 )%   $ 130,596       (2.4 )%   $ 133,754  
Percentage of total revenue
    13.4 %             33.4 %             23.8 %
 
Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased by approximately $16,800, or 12.9%, in 2010 from 2009 and by approximately $3,200, or 2.4%, in 2009 from 2008. The decreases in depreciation and amortization expenses in 2010 and 2009 compared to the respective prior year were primarily due to incremental depreciation expenses from assets purchased in 2010 and 2009 being offset by reduced depreciation from other assets becoming fully depreciated.
 
We do not currently anticipate investing significantly in capital assets for the foreseeable future and therefore expect our depreciation and amortization expenses to decrease slightly year over year.
 
Other Income (Expense), Net
 
Other income (expense), net consists of interest income, interest expense related to the convertible notes payable issued in 2010, 2009 and 2008, accretion of discount on such notes, change in valuation of derivative instruments, unrealized loss related to our auction rate securities (ARS) deemed to be other than temporary, and equity in loss of NuGlow.
 
Other income (expense), net for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 is summarized in the table below.
 
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2010
   
% Change
2010 to 2009
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2009
   
% Change
2009 to 2008
   
Year Ended
December 31,
2008
 
Interest income
  $ 3,074       (68.1 )%   $ 9,649       (84.1 )%   $ 60,836  
Interest expense on convertible notes payable
    (138,979 )     43.4 %     (96,897 )  
NM
       
Interest expense on convertible notes payable, related party
    (534,465 )     37.5 %     (388,625 )     82.8 %     (212,547 )
Accretion of discount on convertible notes payable
    (73,468 )     128.9 %     (32,094 )  
NM
       
Accretion of discount on convertible notes payable, related party
    (141,440 )     187.7 %     (49,160 )     (94.1 )%     (831,426 )
Debt conversion inducement expense
    (3,806,966 )  
NM
                   
Equity in loss of affiliated company
    (65,601 )                        
Change in value of derivative instruments, including related party
    3,199    
NM
            (100.0 )%     11,803  
Unrealized loss on marketable securities
                      (100.0 )%     (30,000 )
Realized gain on redemption of marketable securities
                      (100.0 )%     30,000  
                                         
Other income (expense), net
  $ (4,754,646     753.4   $ (557,127     (42.6 )%    (971,334
 

NM - Percentage not meaningful
 
Interest Income. Interest income decreased by approximately $6,600, or 68.1%, in 2010 from 2009, and by approximately $51,200, or 84.1%, in 2009 from 2008. The decreases in interest income in 2010 and 2009 compared to the respective prior year were principally due to lower interest rates available for our cash and cash equivalents. In light of the prolonged uncertainty in the financial market, we continued to maintain the majority of our cash and cash equivalent assets in very short-term and liquid investments during the year ended December 31, 2010 and expect to do so for the foreseeable future. As a result, we anticipate that the yield on our cash and cash equivalent balances will remain at a low level for the near future.
 
 
21

 
 
Interest Expense on Convertible Notes Payable, Including Related Party. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, interest expense was derived from the convertible notes payable issued in 2010, 2009 and 2008. As these convertible notes payable and accrued interest were converted to shares of common stock or repaid during the fourth quarter of 2010 (see Note 2 of our Notes to Financial Statements), we do not anticipate to incur any more interest expense barring any future debt financing.
 
Accretion of Discount on Convertible Notes Payable, Including Related Party. For the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, the accretion of discount on the convertible notes payable represented the increase in carrying value of the convertible notes issued in 2010 and 2009 through the dates of conversion in the fourth quarter of 2010. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the accretion of discount on convertible notes payable of approximately $831,400 represented the increase in carrying value of the convertible note from the issuance date of February 14, 2008 through June 27, 2008. At June 27, 2008, this convertible note payable was effectively extinguished and replaced by an amended note payable (see Note 2 of our Notes to Financial Statements). As a result, we had no further accretion of discount on this convertible note payable.
 
Debt Conversion Inducement Expense. For the year ended December 31, 2010, we recorded a non-cash debt conversion inducement expense of approximately $3.8 million, which represented the fair value of the stock issued in the fourth quarter of 2010 in connection with the note conversion in excess of the stock issuable under the original conversion terms.
 
Equity in Loss of Affiliated Company. For the year ended December 31, 2010, the equity in loss of affiliated company of approximately $65,600 represented our share in NuGlow’s net loss from July 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
 
Change in Value of Derivative Instruments. For the year ended December 31, 2010, we recorded a gain of approximately $3,200 on derivative instruments, which reflected the change in fair value of the option to purchase the remainder of an affiliated company (see Note 7 of our Notes to Financial Statements). We did not incur any change in value of derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2009. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the change in fair value of derivative instruments resulted in a net gain of approximately $11,800, consisted of a decrease of approximately $473,700 in the fair value of outstanding warrants and non-employee stock options, offset by a decrease of $186,500 in the fair value of the put option and an increase of approximately $275,400 in the fair value of the warrant related to the original convertible note payable. At the amendment of the convertible note payable on June 27, 2008, we recorded an extinguishment of the original convertible note payable and reclassified the fair value of the then outstanding derivative instruments to equity. During the remainder of 2008 and 2009, there was no change in fair value of the derivative instruments related to the outstanding convertible note payable at any of the reporting dates.
 
Unrealized Loss and Realized Gain on Marketable Securities. As we did not hold marketable securities during any part of 2010 or 2009, we did not experience any losses or gains related to marketable securities. During the first quarter of 2008, we recognized an unrealized loss of $30,000 on our investment in ARS due to the lack of liquidity associated with these investments at that time. During the second half of 2008, we were able to sell or redeem all of our ARS at par and therefore recorded a realized gain on investments of $30,000.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Since inception, we have financed our operations primarily through the private sale of debt and equity securities. Our current principal sources of liquidity are cash and cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2010, our cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $4,044,000, an increase of approximately $2,700,000 from the balance of approximately $1,345,000 at December 31, 2009. The increase in cash and cash equivalents from December 31, 2009, was primarily attributable to net proceeds from financing activities in 2010 totaling approximately $5,852,000, partially offset by cash used in operations of approximately $2,797,000, cash used in investment in an affiliated company of $350,000 and the purchase of capital assets of approximately $5,000.
 
The following table summarizes our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Net cash used in operating activities
  $ (2,796,869 )   $ (3,071,568 )   $ (3,141,666 )
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    (355,305 )     927,443       (299,520 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
    5,851,764       2,504,000       3,964,740  
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
 
Net cash used in operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was approximately $2,797,000, $3,072,000 and $3,142,000, respectively, derived primarily from the net loss for the periods plus the effect of non-cash expenses. We continue to experience negative cash flows from operating activities due to the cash requirements to support our current level of operations and efforts to expand our revenue base. The primary working capital uses of cash in 2010 were increases in accounts receivable and inventory, partially offset by increases in accounts payable, accrued expenses and deferred gross profit. Working capital uses of cash in 2009 were increases in inventory and accounts receivable as well as decreases in accrued compensation and benefits and accounts payable, partially offset by decreases in prepaid expenses and other current assets.
 
Accounts receivable increased by approximately $232,000 in 2010 and $5,000 in 2009, primarily due to a larger amount of royalty receivable recorded at the end of 2010 and 2009 compared to the respective prior year. Inventory increased by approximately $76,000 in 2010 and $91,000 in 2009, primarily driven by our broader product offering and our need to maintain inventory at certain levels to meet customer required lead times. Deferred gross profit increased by approximately $50,000 in 2010, reflecting our sales of consumer products to NuGlow that had not yet been resold to third-party customers, net of costs of such products.
 
 
22

 
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
 
Cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2010 was approximately $355,000, which included the equity investment in NuGlow of $350,000 and capital asset purchases of approximately $5,000. Net cash provided by investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $927,000, comprising $970,000 of debt financing subscription deposits reclassified from restricted cash, offset by purchases of capital assets and payments for website development costs totaling approximately $43,000.
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
 
We have financed our operations primarily with proceeds from the private placement of debt and equity securities.
 
For the year ended December 31, 2010, net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $5,852,000, which included proceeds of $3,200,000 from the issuance of convertible notes payable and detachable warrants in the first half of 2010 and net proceeds of approximately $2,156,000 from warrant exercises and approximately $595,000 from the sale and issuance of common stock, less debt repayment of $100,000.
 
For the year ended December 31, 2009, cash provided by financing activities was $2,504,000, which reflected the aggregate proceeds of $3,474,000 from the issuance of convertible promissory notes and detachable warrants (see Note 2 of our Notes to Financial Statements) less $970,000 of cash deposits already received as of December 31, 2008.
 
For the year ended December 31, 2008, cash provided by financing activities was approximately $3,965,000, consisting of net proceeds from the issuance of a convertible promissory note of approximately $2,995,000 to a related party and subscription deposits of $970,000 for the convertible promissory notes issued in 2009 (see Note 2 of our Notes to Financial Statements).
 
Based on the current status of our operating and product commercialization development plans, we estimate that our existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our operations, continue with work towards our Rx product development and support the continued expansion of our consumer program through the next twelve months. We will need substantial additional capital in order to maintain the current level of operations beyond the next twelve months, continue commercialization of our technology and advance our pharmaceutical programs. Accordingly, we will need to raise additional funding, which may include debt and/or equity financing. However, there is no assurance that additional funding will be available on favorable terms, if at all. If we are unable to obtain the necessary additional funding, we would be required to severely reduce the scope of our operations, which would significantly impede our ability to proceed with current operational plans and could lead to the discontinuation of our business.
 
The amount of capital we will need in the future will depend on many factors, including capital expenditures and hiring plans to accommodate future growth, research and development plans, future demand for our products and technology, and general economic conditions.
 
Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments
 
We occupy approximately 5,300 square feet of leased space in Bothell, Washington for our corporate office and laboratory. In July 2009, we renewed our lease, which now has a term of five years and seven months beginning on December 1, 2009, provides for seven months of free rent at a monthly base rent equal to $6,210 and includes scheduled rent increases over the lease term. We account for free rent periods and scheduled rent increases on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
 
Rental expense including operating costs for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $101,395, $108,729 and $106,892, respectively. The following table summarizes our minimum rental expenses and estimated commercial commitments as of December 31, 2010 and the effect such obligations are expected to have on liquidity in future periods:
 
   
Payments Due by Periods
 
Contractual Obligations
 
2011
   
2012 to 2013
   
2014 to 2015
   
Total
 
Operating lease
  $ 76,947     $ 160,890     $ 127,278     $ 365,115  
Purchase order commitments (1) 
    148,935       33,000             181,935  
                                 
    $ 225,882     $ 193,890     $ 127,278     $ 547,050  
 

(1)
Purchase order commitments represent open orders for inventory.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2009-13, Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements (ASU 2009-13), to establish requirements that an entity must meet in order to recognize revenue from the sale of a delivered item that is part of a multiple-element arrangement when other items have not yet been delivered. ASU 2009-13 eliminates the requirement that all undelivered elements must have vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE) or third-party evidence (TPE) before an entity can recognize the portion of an overall arrangement fee that is attributable to items that already have been delivered. Under the provisions of ASU 2009-13, in the absence of VSOE or TPE, entities are required to estimate the selling prices for one or more delivered and undelivered elements in a multiple-element arrangement and allocate the arrangement fee to the elements based on their relative selling prices. ASU 2009-13 is effective prospectively for multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, although early adoption is permitted. We adopted ASU 2009-13 effective January 1, 2011, and the impact of adopting this ASU, if any, will depend on the nature and terms of our future revenue arrangements.
 
 
23

 
 
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06 (ASU 2010-06), Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures - Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements, which requires new disclosures regarding transfers in and out of the Level 1 and 2 and activity within Level 3 fair value measurements and clarifies existing disclosures of inputs and valuation techniques for Level 2 and 3 fair value measurements. The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures were effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosure of activity within Level 3 fair value measurements, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those years. Since the objective of ASU 2010-06 is to improve disclosures related to fair value measurements and, thus, increase the transparency in financial reporting, we do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have an impact on our financial statements.
 
Subsequent Events
 
On February 15, 2011, we announced that our Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Timothy J. Falla, Ph.D., stepped down from his role with the company effective February 28, 2011.  Pursuant to a separation and consulting agreement, Dr. Falla agreed to provide consulting services to us with respect to certain transition activities, the maintenance, defense and prosecution of our issued patents and pending patent applications, and the preparation and prosecution of patent applications with respect to intellectual property currently in development, and we agreed to accelerate the vesting and extend for periods of one to three years the exercise periods of Dr. Falla’s outstanding options under our 2000 Stock Option Plan.
 
ITEM 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Not applicable.
 
 
24

 
 
ITEM 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 
     
Index to Financial Statements
 
Page
Report of KPMG LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
26
Balance Sheets
 
27
Statements of Operations
 
28
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
 
29
Statements of Cash Flows
 
30
Notes to Financial Statements
 
31
 
 
25

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 

 The Board of Directors
Helix BioMedix, Inc.
 
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Helix BioMedix, Inc. as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Helix BioMedix, Inc. as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
  
/s/ KPMG LLP
 
Seattle, Washington
March 24, 2011
 
 
26

 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
BALANCE SHEETS
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 4,044,309     $ 1,344,719  
Accounts receivable, net
    235,149       55,685  
Accounts receivable, related party, net
    52,795       -  
Inventory
    278,392       202,815  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    63,471       34,461  
Total current assets
    4,674,116       1,637,680  
Property and equipment, net
    44,178       84,880  
Intangible assets, net
    214,068       281,838  
Other long term assets
    29,179       8,522  
Investment in affiliated company
    266,941        
                 
Total assets
  $ 5,228,482     $ 2,012,920  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 130,489     $ 66,455  
Accrued compensation and benefits
    30,285       29,697  
Accrued expenses
    102,123       46,502  
Deferred gross profit, related party
    50,479        
Deferred rent, current
    4,847        
                 
Total current liabilities
    318,223       142,654  
                 
Deferred rent, non-current
    35,815       6,008  
Convertible notes payable
          1,319,532  
Convertible notes payable, related party
          5,016,860  
Accrued interest on convertible notes payable
          96,897  
Accrued interest on convertible notes payable, related party
          599,694  
                 
Total liabilities
    354,038       7,181,645  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
Stockholders’ deficit:
               
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding
           
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 49,720,255 and 25,653,512 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively
    49,721       25,654  
Additional paid-in capital
    48,392,985       30,663,081  
Accumulated deficit
    (43,568,262 )     (35,857,460 )
                 
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)
    4,874,444       (5,168,725 )
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)
  $ 5,228,482     $ 2,012,920  
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 
27

 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Revenue:
                 
Licensing and development fees
  $ 479,317     $ 149,196     $ 319,152  
Peptide and consumer product sales
    309,379       221,876       201,450  
Consumer product sales, related party
    62,987              
Administrative services revenue, related party
          20,196       42,275  
                         
Total revenue
    851,683       391,268       562,877  
                         
Cost of revenue:
                       
Cost of licensing and development fees
                38,664  
Cost of peptide and consumer product sales
    219,504       176,720       174,607  
Cost of consumer product sales, related party
    40,990              
Cost of administrative services revenue, related party
          19,800       42,105  
                         
Total cost of revenue
    260,494       196,520       255,376  
                         
Gross profit
    591,189       194,748       307,501  
                         
Operating expenses:
                       
Research and development
    748,663       722,523       827,361  
Marketing and business development
    622,846       506,742       401,019  
General and administrative
    1,530,333       1,473,352       1,918,826  
Accounting, legal and professional fees
    531,726       579,443       570,719  
Depreciation and amortization
    113,777       130,596       133,754  
                         
Total operating expenses
    3,547,345       3,412,656       3,851,679  
                         
Loss from operations
    (2,956,156 )     (3,217,908 )     (3,544,178 )
                         
Other income (expense):
                       
Interest income
    3,074       9,649       60,836  
Interest expense on convertible notes payable
    (138,979 )     (96,897 )      
Interest expense on convertible note payable, related party
    (534,465 )     (388,625 )     (212,547 )
Accretion of discount on convertible notes payable
    (73,468 )     (32,094 )      
Accretion of discount on convertible notes payable, related party
    (141,440 )     (49,160 )     (831,426 )
Debt conversion inducement expense
    (3,806,966 )            
Equity in loss of affiliated company
    (65,601 )            
Change in value of derivative instruments, including related party
    3,199             11,803  
Unrealized loss on marketable securities
                (30,000 )
Realized gain on sales and redemptions of marketable securities
                30,000  
                         
Other income (expense), net
    (4,754,646 )     (557,127 )     (971,334 )
                         
Net loss and comprehensive loss
  $ (7,710,802 )   $ (3,775,035 )   $ (4,515,512 )
                         
Basic and diluted net loss per share
  $ (0.28 )   $ (0.15 )   $ (0.18 )
                         
Weighted average shares outstanding
    27,124,159       25,653,512       25,653,512  

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
 
28

 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
 
   
Common Stock
   
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
   
Accumulated
Deficit
   
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
   
Stockholders’
Equity
(Deficit)
 
   
Number
of Shares
   
Amount
 
Balance at December 31, 2007
    25,653,512     $ 25,654     $ 29,211,972     $
(27,566,913
)   $     $ 1,670,713  
Stock-based compensation
                314,928                   314,928  
Reclassification of warrants and options from equity to derivative liabilities
               
(1,255,317
)                
(1,255,317
)
Extinguishment of convertible note payable, related party
                733,317                   733,317  
Reclassification of warrants and options from derivative liabilities to equity
                1,337,349                   1,337,349  
Unrealized gain on marketable securities
                            30,000       30,000  
Reclassification of realized gain to income due to redemption of marketable securities
                            (30,000 )     (30,000 )
                                                 
Net loss for the year
                     
(4,515,512
)          
(4,515,512
)
                                                 
Balance at December 31, 2008
    25,653,512       25,654       30,342,249      
(32,082,425
)          
(1,714,522
)
Stock-based compensation
                101,970                   101,970  
Relative fair value of detachable warrants issued with convertible notes payable
                218,862                   218,862  
                                                 
Net loss for the year
                     
(3,775,035
)          
(3,775,035
)
                                                 
Balance at December 31, 2009
    25,653,512     $ 25,654     $ 30,663,081     $
(35,857,460
)   $     $
(5,168,725
)
Stock-based compensation
                188,920                   188,920  
Relative fair value of detachable warrants issued with convertible notes payable
                77,300                   77,300  
                                                 
Proceeds from warrant exercises, net
    4,852,000       4,852       2,151,415                   2,156,267  
                                                 
Issuance of stock from conversion of notes payable
    18,215,012       18,215       10,910,806                   10,929,021  
                                                 
Proceeds from private placement, net
    999,731       1,000       594,497                   595,497  
                                                 
Debt conversion inducement expense
                3,806,966                   3,806,966  
                                                 
Net loss for the year
                     
(7,710,802
)          
(7,710,802
)
                                                 
Balance at December 31, 2010
    49,720,255     $ 49,721     $ 48,392,985     $
(43,568,262
)   $     $ 4,874,444  
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 
29

 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
                 
Net loss
  $
(7,710,802
)   $
(3,775,035
)   $
(4,515,512
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
                       
Depreciation
    46,007       58,831       54,875  
Amortization
    67,770       71,765       78,879  
Stock-based compensation expense
    188,920       101,970       314,928  
Interest expense on convertible notes payable
    123,965       96,897        
Interest expense on convertible notes payable, related party
    534,465       388,625       212,547  
Accretion of discount on convertible notes payable
    73,468       32,094        
Accretion of discount on convertible notes payable, related party
    141,440       49,160       831,426  
Debt conversion inducement expense
    3,806,966              
Equity in loss of affiliated company
    65,601              
Change in valuation of derivative instruments, including related party
    (3,199 )           (11,803 )
Unrealized loss on marketable securities
                30,000  
Realized gain on sales and redemption of marketable securities
                (30,000 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                       
Accounts receivable, net
    (232,259 )     (5,218 )     33,448  
Inventory
    (75,577 )     (91,404 )     (46,132 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (29,010 )     70,245       38,876  
Accounts payable
    64,034       (5,369 )     (23,247 )
Accrued compensation and benefits
    588       (72,037 )     37,921  
Other accrued liabilities
    90,275       7,908       (17,872 )
Deferred revenue
                (130,000 )
Deferred gross profit, related party
    50,479              
                         
Net cash used in operating activities
    (2,796,869 )    
(3,071,568
)    
(3,141,666
)
                         
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
                       
Proceeds from sales and redemptions of marketable securities
                700,000  
Restricted cash from convertible debt subscriptions
          970,000       (970,000 )
Purchase of property and equipment
    (5,305 )     (17,037 )     (12,520 )
Website development
          (25,520 )     (17,000 )
Investment in affiliated company
    (350,000 )            
                         
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    (355,305 )     927,443       (299,520 )
                         
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
                       
Cash deposits for convertible debt subscription
                970,000  
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes payable
    550,000       404,000        
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes payable, related party
    2,650,000       2,100,000       3,000,000  
Proceeds from warrant exercises, including related party, net
    2,156,267              
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net
    595,497              
Repayment of convertible note payable
    (100,000 )            
Financing costs related to issuance of convertible note payable, related party
                (5,260 )
                         
Net cash provided by financing activities
    5,851,764       2,504,000       3,964,740  
                         
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    2,699,590       359,875       523,554  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    1,344,719       984,844       461,290  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 4,044,309     $ 1,344,719     $ 984,844  
                         
Supplemental cash flow information:
                       
Cash paid for income taxes
  $     $     $  
                         
Cash paid for interest
  $ 15,014     $     $  
                         
Non-cash investing and financing activities
                       
Reclassification of warrants and options from equity to derivative liabilities
  $     $     $ 1,255,317  
                         
Extinguishment of convertible note payable, related party
  $     $     $ 733,317  
                         
Reclassification of warrants and options from derivative liabilities to equity
  $     $     $ 1,337,349  
                         
Relative fair value of detachable warrants issued with convertible notes payable
  $     $ 218,862     $  
                         
Website development costs recorded in accrued expenses
  $     $     $ 19,000  
                         
Issuance of stock from notes payable conversion
  $ 4,228,873     $     $  
                         
Issuance of stock from notes payable conversion, related party
  $ 6,700,148     $     $  
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
 
30

 

HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
Note 1.    Description of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
The Business
 
Helix BioMedix, Inc. (the Company), a Delaware corporation, is a biopharmaceutical company with an extensive proprietary library of structurally diverse bioactive peptides and patents covering hundreds of thousands of peptide sequences. The Company has developed short, small-chain peptides with anti-infective and anti-inflammatory properties such as the stimulation of cell proliferation and migration. These peptides are targeted for use as ingredients in cosmeceutical products and as new topical therapeutics. Possible applications include anti-aging skin care, acne treatment, wound healing, and the treatment of fungal dermatoses.
 
Although the Company has made progress in licensing its peptide technology and implementing its intellectual property into revenue-generating products for a wide range of dermal applications, the Company’s cost to conduct its business development efforts and other operating activities has exceeded its revenues each year since inception. Additionally, the Company’s net cash used in operations has exceeded its cash generated from operations for each year since its inception. The Company has financed its operations largely through the private sale of equity and debt securities.
 
Based on recent financing activities and the current status of the Company’s operating plans and product commercialization development, the Company estimates that its existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its operations, continue with work towards its prescription (Rx) product development and support the continued expansion of its consumer program through the next twelve months. The Company will need substantial additional capital in order to maintain the current level of operations beyond the next twelve months, continue commercialization of its technology and advance its pharmaceutical programs. Accordingly, the Company will need to raise additional funding through available means, which may include debt and/or equity financing. However, there is no assurance that additional funding will be available on favorable terms, if at all. If the Company is unable to obtain the necessary additional funding, the Company may not be able to satisfy its existing obligations or be required to severely reduce the scope of its operations, which would significantly impede its ability to proceed with current operational plans and could lead to the discontinuation of its business.
 
Basis of Presentation and Preparation
 
The preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (U.S. GAAP) requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the dates of the balance sheets and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods indicated. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, the carrying amount of investments, property, plant and equipment, intangibles; valuation allowances for receivables, inventories, deferred income tax assets; and valuation of share-based compensation, notes payable and obligations related to derivative instruments. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with an original maturity of 90 days or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consisted of demand deposits and money market funds and are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. The Company deposits its cash and cash equivalents with a high credit quality financial institution. The Company regularly maintains cash balances in excess of federally insured limits. To date, the Company has not experienced any losses on its cash and cash equivalents.
 
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
 
Accounts receivable are shown at their net realizable value which approximates their fair value. The Company does not currently maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts based on the Company’s management’s consideration of historical collection experience and the characteristics of existing accounts. The Company has not had any accounts receivable allowances or write-offs for any period presented.
 
Inventory
 
Inventory consists of peptides and consumer product finished goods and work in process. Work in process includes inventory at the Company’s manufacturer. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. The Company regularly monitors inventory quantities on hand and records write-downs or write-offs for any excess, obsolescence and shrinkage based primarily on its sales forecast and production requirements.

 
31

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
Property and Equipment
 
Property and equipment, which includes laboratory equipment, furniture and leasehold improvements, are stated at cost. Depreciation of equipment is provided using the straight-line basis over three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the economic useful lives of the improvements or the term of the related lease. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.
 
Website Development
 
The Company maintains a corporate website along with product websites focusing on sales of the Company’s proprietary branded skin care products. The Company capitalizes eligible costs associated with website development and amortizes these costs on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the websites, ranging from two to three years.  Costs associated with minor enhancements and maintenance for the Company’s websites are expensed as incurred.
 
Intangible Assets
 
Acquired patents and certain costs for issued patents, consisting primarily of legal fees, are capitalized. Patents are amortized on the straight line basis over the useful life of the patents, generally thirteen years.
 
Licensing agreements and antimicrobial technology, which was purchased in conjunction with certain patents, has been capitalized at the basis of the debt issued for it. Licensing agreements and antimicrobial technology are amortized ratably over seventeen years. The Company’s antimicrobial technology has been fully amortized.
 
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
 
The Company reviews long-lived assets including property and equipment and intangible assets for possible impairment whenever significant events or changes in circumstances, including changes in the Company’s business strategy and plans, indicate that impairment may have occurred. An impairment is indicated when the sum of the expected future undiscounted net cash flows identifiable to that asset or asset group is less than its carrying value. Impairment losses are determined from actual or estimated fair values, which are based on market values or projections of discounted net cash flows, as appropriate. No impairment of long-lived assets has been recognized in the accompanying financial statements.
 
Investment in Affiliated Company
 
The Company uses the equity method to account for its investment in an affiliated company in which it owns a 30% interest and has significant influence. The excess of the investment’s carrying value over the Company’s share of the fair value of the investee’s net assets was attributable to goodwill. This equity-method goodwill is not amortized, but rather, the investment is analyzed for impairment. The Company adjusts the carrying value of this investment at each reporting period to recognize its share of the affiliated company’s net earnings or losses and distributions, if any.
 
Deferred Revenue and Deferred Gross Profit, Related Party
 
 Deferred revenue arises when customers are invoiced for products but delivery has not occurred or other revenue recognition criteria have not been met. Deferred gross profit, related party, relates to sales of products to an affiliated company which have not yet been resold to third parties, net of costs of such products.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
The Company derives its revenue from technology licenses, joint development agreements, sales of peptides and consumer products, and, until September 2009, administrative services provided to a related party. Revenue from technology licenses may include up-front payments and royalties from third-party product manufacturing and sales. Revenue associated with joint development agreements primarily consists of payments for completion of development milestones. The Company accounts for revenue recognition of its arrangements with multiple elements by determining whether each element can be separated into a unit of accounting based on the following criteria: (1) the delivered items have value to the customer on a stand-alone basis; (2) there is objective and reliable evidence of fair value of the undelivered items; and (3) the arrangement includes a right of return relative to the delivered item(s) or delivery or performance of the undelivered item(s) that is probable and within the Company’s control. If there is objective and reliable evidence of fair value for all units of accounting in an arrangement, the Company allocates revenue among the separate units of accounting based on their estimated fair values. If the criteria are not met, elements included in an arrangement are accounted for as a single unit of accounting and revenue is deferred until the period in which the final deliverable is provided. When the period of deferral cannot be specifically identified from the agreement, the Company estimates the period based upon other factors contained within the agreement. The Company’s management continually reviews these estimates, which could result in a change in the deferral period and the timing and the amount of revenue recognized.
 
 
32

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
·  
Licensing FeesThe Company recognizes up-front payments when persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been performed, the price is fixed and determinable and collection is reasonably assured. The Company recognizes royalty revenue in the period the royalty is earned based on actual reports or estimates received from licensees.
 
·  
Development Fees. The Company records revenue associated with performance milestones as earned when it has completed the specific milestones as defined in the joint development agreements and collection is reasonably assured. Payments received for which the earnings process is not complete are recorded as deferred revenue.
 
·  
Peptide and Consumer Product Sales. The Company recognizes revenue from sales of its peptides and skin care products when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the price is fixed or determinable and collection is reasonably assured.
 
·  
Administrative Services Revenue, Related Party. The Company’s administrative services revenue consisted of fees received from DermaVentures, LLC (DermaVentures), a related party, for costs incurred related to the DermaVentures’ product line. Administrative services revenue was invoiced to DermaVentures at or near cost and was recorded as earned on a gross basis when services had been rendered, no obligations remained outstanding and collection was reasonably assured.
 
In September 2009, the Company entered into an amendment to the DermaVentures, LLC Operating Agreement, Management Agreement and License Agreement with DermaVentures and RMS Group, LLC pursuant to which the parties effectively agreed to terminate the Management Services Agreement dated effective as of April 18, 2007. As a result, the Company had no further management or administrative responsibilities related to DermaVentures from which the Company’s administrative services revenue was derived (see Note 13).
 
Revenues are recorded net of related sales taxes. Sales tax amounts collected from customers are included in accrued expenses.
 
Shipping and Handling Costs
 
The Company records shipping and handling costs billed to customers as revenue. Freight costs associated with shipping goods to customers are recorded as a cost of revenue. Shipping and handling costs for all periods presented were immaterial.
 
Advertising Expense
 
The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expenses for the year ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were approximately $43,900, $32,500 and $15,100, respectively.
 
Research and Development
 
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses include, but are not limited to, payroll and personnel expenses, lab supplies and expenses, and external trials and studies. In instances where the Company enters into agreements with third parties for research and development activities, which may include personnel costs, supplies and other costs associated with such collaborative agreements, the Company expenses these items as incurred.
 
Income Taxes
 
The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future income tax consequences of transactions that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. The Company measures deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the differences between the financial reporting and the tax bases of the assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which those differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The Company records an allowance against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that such tax benefits will not be realized. Due to the uncertainty regarding the Company’s profitability, the future tax benefits of its losses have been fully reserved for and no net benefit has been recorded in the financial statements.
 
The Company applies a “more-likely-than-not” threshold for the recognition and derecognition of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The evaluation of uncertain tax positions is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in tax laws, effectively sustained issues under audit and changes in facts or circumstances surrounding a tax position.
 
Loss per Share
 
Loss per share has been computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted per share amounts reflect potential dilution from the exercise or conversion of securities into common stock or from other contracts to issue common stock. The Company’s capital structure includes common stock options and common stock warrants, all of which have been excluded from net loss per share calculations as they are antidilutive, as follows:
 
 
33

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
 
Year Ended
December 31,
 
2010
 
2009
Weighted average outstanding options
3,647,638
 
3,325,726
Weighted average outstanding warrants
4,667,445
 
4,197,816
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
The reported amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other current liabilities, approximate fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. At December 31, 2009, the fair value of the then outstanding convertible notes payable was estimated at approximately $5.3 million, based on many judgments, including but not limited to term of maturity, interest rate, the Company’s financial condition and credit risk, and prevailing market economic conditions for similar debt instruments. There were no outstanding convertible notes payable at December 31, 2010.
 
Derivative Instruments
 
Derivative instruments are required to be classified as permanent equity, temporary equity or as assets or liabilities. In general, the Company’s derivative instruments that either require net-cash settlement or are presumed to require net-cash settlement are recorded as assets and liabilities at fair value and the Company’s derivative instruments that require settlement in shares are recorded as equity instruments.
 
Valuation of Call Option Related to Convertible Note Payable, Related Party, Issued in 2008
 
The convertible note payable issued to a related party on February 14, 2008 and subsequently amended on June 27, 2008 included a call option which gave the holder the right to demand repayment in the case of default. The Company was required to separately account for the fair value of the call option. The Company determined that the call option related to the amended note payable had no value at either the issuance date or any of the subsequent reporting dates based on an analysis of the right and the likelihood of its exercise.
 
Valuation of Prepayment Right Related to Convertible Note Payable, Related Party, Issued in 2008
 
The convertible note payable issued to a related party on February 14, 2008 and subsequently amended on June 27, 2008 allowed the Company to prepay the unpaid balance of the convertible notes and accrued interest at any time and without penalty. The Company was required to separately account for the fair value of the prepayment right. The Company determined that this right had no value at either the issuance dates or any of the subsequent reporting dates based on an analysis of the right and the likelihood of its exercise.
 
Valuation of Warrants Related to Convertible Notes Payable Issued in 2009 and 2010, Including Related Party
 
In connection with the convertible notes payable issued in 2009 and 2010, the Company issued warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 868,500 shares and 800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, respectively, at an exercise price of $1.00 and $0.80 per share, respectively. In each case, the warrants were legally detachable and were separately exercisable from the debt and its related embedded options. As a result, these warrants were considered to be freestanding financial instruments and were accounted for as equity instruments. The Company allocated the value of the warrants based on a relative-fair-value basis between the convertible notes payable issued and the warrants.
 
Valuation of Conversion Rights Related to Convertible Notes Payable, Including Related Party
 
In connection with the issuance of the convertible note payable to a related party in February 2008, the Company was required to separately account for the fair value of the Company’s right to automatically convert the note payable to equity at the price of equity securities issued in any sale of shares of its equity securities that raised an aggregate amount of at least $5,000,000 on or before June 29, 2008.
 
On June 27, 2008, the Company entered into an amendment to the convertible note payable which effectively extinguished the original convertible note payable, including its embedded derivative instruments. The June 27, 2008 fair value of the separately-accounted-for embedded derivative instruments was credited to additional paid-in capital as part of recording the capital transaction resulting from the extinguishment of the original convertible note payable.
 
The conversion rights of the amended convertible note payable issued in June 2008 and the convertible notes payable issued in 2009 and 2010 were not required to be accounted for separately.
 
Valuation of Option To Purchase Remaining Interest in Affiliated Company
 
 
34

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
In connection with the Company’s investment in an affiliated company, the Company has the right to purchase the remaining interest in the investee between July 1, 2012 and July 1, 2015 (see Note 5). The Company is required to separately account for this option at fair value on the balance sheet with changes in value recognized in the statement of operations.
 
Stock-Based Compensation
 
The Company measures stock-based compensation expense for employee awards at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and recognizes such expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. Compensation expense is recognized only for those options expected to vest. The Company recognizes the fair value of stock options and warrants issued to non-employees over the applicable performance period.
 
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options. The determination of the fair value of stock-based awards on the date of grant using an option pricing model is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables include management’s estimated stock price volatility over the expected term of the awards, estimated employee stock option exercise behaviors, the risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2009-13, Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements (ASU 2009-13), to establish requirements that an entity must meet in order to recognize revenue from the sale of a delivered item that is part of a multiple-element arrangement when other items have not yet been delivered. ASU 2009-13 eliminates the requirement that all undelivered elements must have vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE) or third-party evidence (TPE) before an entity can recognize the portion of an overall arrangement fee that is attributable to items that already have been delivered. Under the provisions of ASU 2009-13, in the absence of VSOE or TPE, entities are required to estimate the selling prices for one or more delivered and undelivered elements in a multiple-element arrangement and allocate the arrangement fee to the elements based on their relative selling prices. ASU 2009-13 is effective prospectively for multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, although early adoption is permitted. The impact, if any, of adopting ASU 2009-13 will depend on the nature and terms of the Company’s future revenue arrangements.
 
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06 (ASU 2010-06), Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures - Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements, which requires new disclosures regarding transfers in and out of the Level 1 and 2 and activity within Level 3 fair value measurements and clarifies existing disclosures of inputs and valuation techniques for Level 2 and 3 fair value measurements. The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosure of activity within Level 3 fair value measurements, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those years. Since the objective of ASU 2010-06 is to improve disclosures related to fair value measurements and, thus, increase the transparency in financial reporting, the Company does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have an impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
Note 2.    Financing Events
 
2008 Debt Financing – Convertible Note Payable, Related Party, Issued on February 14, 2008 and Amended on June 27, 2008
 
On February 14, 2008, the Company issued to RBFSC Inc. (RBFSC), a related party, a convertible promissory note (the 2008 Note) in the principal amount of $3,000,000 with an interest rate of 8% per annum, which was subsequently amended on June 27, 2008 (the 2008 Amended Note). In connection with the issuance of the 2008 Amended Note, the Company issued a five-year warrant to purchase 750,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share (2008 Warrant). The 2008 Amended Note, which was due and payable on July 1, 2011, included a call option which gave the holder the right to demand repayment in the case of default and a put option which allowed the Company to prepay the unpaid balance of the 2008 Amended Note and related accrued interest at any time and without penalty. The Company was required to separately account for the fair values of these embedded features on the balance sheet with changes in value recognized in the statement of operations as the features were not clearly and closely related to the convertible note debt instrument due to the substantial debt discount recorded in connection with the 2008 Note. At the amendment date and each subsequent reporting date, the Company determined that these call and put options had no significant value based on an analysis of the rights and the likelihood of these features being exercised.
 
Interest expense related to the 2008 Amended Note (based on the stated rate of 8%) for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $214,356, $240,000 and $212,547, respectively.
 
2009 Debt Financing – Convertible Notes Payable Issued on February 10 and March 5, 2009
 
In 2009, the Company issued to accredited investors convertible promissory notes in an aggregate principal amount of $3,474,000 (the 2009 Notes) and five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 868,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share (the 2009 Warrants). The 2009 Notes bore interest at the rate of 8% per annum and were due and payable on July 1, 2011.
 
 
35

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
The Company determined the relative fair value of the 2009 Warrants to be $218,862 and recorded this amount as a discount to the 2009 Notes, to be amortized over the life of the 2009 Notes. Financing costs associated with the issuance of the 2009 Notes and related warrants were not material and therefore were expensed as incurred.
 
Interest expense resulting from the stated rate related to the 2009 Notes for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was $272,656 and $245,522, respectively. The effective interest rate related to the 2009 Notes including accretion of discount was 11.4%.
 
The 2009 Notes also included a call option, which gave the holders the right to demand repayment in the case of default, and a put option, which allowed the Company to prepay the unpaid balance of the 2009 Notes and accrued interest at any time and without penalty. The Company determined that these embedded features were clearly and closely related to the debt instruments and therefore were not required to be accounted for separately from the 2009 Notes.
 
Holders of the 2009 Notes included three related parties: 1) two members of the Company’s Board of Directors who each purchased a convertible note in the principal amount of $100,000 and received a warrant to purchase 25,000 shares of the Company’s common stock and 2) Cardinal Court LLC which purchased a convertible note in the principal amount of $2,000,000 and received a warrant to purchase 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Vice President and Treasurer of Cardinal Court LLC is Frank T. Nickell, who is also the President and a director of RBFSC and owns an interest that allows him to exercise significant influence.
 
2010 Debt Financing – Convertible Notes Payable Issued on March 5 and May 10, 2010
 
On March 5, 2010, the Company issued to accredited investors convertible promissory notes in an aggregate principal amount of $2,900,000 and five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 725,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.80 per share. On May 10, 2010, the Company issued to accredited investors additional convertible promissory notes in an aggregate principal amount of $300,000 and additional five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 75,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.80 per share. The convertible promissory notes issued in March and May 2010 (collectively, the 2010 Notes) bore interest at the rate of 8% per annum and were due and payable on July 1, 2013.
 
The Company determined the relative fair value of the warrants issued in March and May 2010 (collectively, the 2010 Warrants) to be $63,800 and $13,500, respectively, and recorded these amounts as a discount to the 2010 Notes, to be amortized over the life of the 2010 Notes. Financing costs associated with the issuance of the 2010 Notes and 2010 Warrants were not material and therefore were expensed as incurred.
 
Interest expense resulting from the stated interest rate related to the 2010 Notes was $186,432 for the year ended December 31, 2010. The effective interest rate related to the 2010 Notes for including accretion of discount was 11.3%.
 
The 2010 Notes also included a call option, which gave the holders the right to demand repayment in the case of default (which included a default under the 2008 Amended Note or the 2009 Notes), and a put option, which allowed the Company to prepay the unpaid balance of the 2010 Notes and accrued interest at any time and without penalty. The Company determined that these embedded features were clearly and closely related to the debt instruments and therefore were not required to be accounted for separately from the 2010 Notes.
 
The holders of the 2010 Notes included three related parties: 1) two members of the Company’s Board of Directors who purchased convertible notes in an aggregate principal amount of $450,000 and received warrants to purchase an aggregate of 112,500 shares of the Company’s common stock and 2) RBFSC which purchased a convertible note in the principal amount of $2,200,000 and received a warrant to purchase 550,000 shares of the Company’s common stock.
 
2010 Debt Conversion, Warrant Exercises and Equity Financing
 
Debt Conversion and Warrant Exercise Transactions with RBFSC
 
On November 22, 2010, the Company entered into a Convertible Promissory Note Conversion and Warrant Exercise Agreement with RBFSC pursuant to which RBFSC:
 
(i)  
amended and converted $3,665,425 of aggregate principal amount and accrued interest due on the 2008 Amended Note into 6,109,041 shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $0.60 per share;
 
(ii)  
amended and converted $2,326,334 of aggregate principal amount and accrued interest due on its 2010 Note into 3,877,223 shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $0.60 per share;
 
(iii)  
amended and exercised the 2008 Warrant to purchase 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.50 per share for a total of $750,000; and
 
 
36

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
(iv)  
amended and exercised its 2010 Warrant to purchase 1,100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.40 per share for a total of $440,000.
 
In addition, on December 27, 2010, the Company entered into a Warrant Amendment and Exercise Agreement with RBFSC, pursuant to which:
 
(i)  
RBFSC amended and exercised its warrant issued on March 3, 2006 for 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.50 per share for a total of $150,000; and
 
(ii)  
the Company agreed to comply with the requirements for “qualified small business stock” under Section 1202 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
Debt Conversion and Warrant Exercise Transactions with Other Note Holders
 
On November 24, 2010, the Company filed with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO pursuant to which, on December 27, 2010:
 
(i)  
$3,877,164 of aggregate principal amount and accrued interest of the 2009 Notes was converted into 6,461,921 shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $0.60 per share;
 
(ii)  
$115,014 of aggregate principal amount and accrued interest of the 2009 Notes was repaid;
 
(iii)  
$1,060,099 of aggregate principal amount and accrued interest of the 2010 Notes was converted into 1,766,827 shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $0.60 per share;
 
(iv)  
certain of the 2009 Warrants were exercised for an aggregate of 1,452,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.50 per share for a total of $726,000; and
 
(V)  
the 2010 Warrants were exercised for an aggregate of 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.40 per share for a total of $200,000.
 
The per share fair value of the Company’s common stock immediately prior to the RBFSC’s note conversion on November 22, 2010 and the note conversions on December 27, 2010 pursuant to the Tender Offer was estimated at $0.61 and $0.57, respectively. In aggregate, the value of the common stock issued in connection with the conversion of the convertible notes payable in the fourth quarter of 2010 in excess of the carrying amount of the principal and accrued interest on the convertible notes payable was $3,806,966. This amount was charged to debt conversion inducement expense in the accompanying statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
Equity Financing
 
On December 31, 2010, the Company issued to seven accredited investors an aggregate of 999,731 shares of the Company’s common stock at a purchase price of $0.60 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $599,839. Participants in the December 2010 equity financing included RBFSC which acquired 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for a total of $300,000.
 
Note 3.    Property and Equipment
 
Property and equipment consisted of the following:
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Machinery and equipment
  $ 569,809     $ 564,504  
Website development costs
    42,520       42,520  
Furniture and fixtures
    55,614       55,614  
Leasehold improvements
    43,993       43,993  
                 
      711,936       706,631  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (667,758 )     (621,751 )
                 
Property and equipment, net
  $ 44,178     $ 84,880  
 
Aggregate depreciation expense for property and equipment was $46,007, $58,831 and $54,875 for the year ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 
37

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
Note 4.    Identifiable Intangible Assets
 
Identifiable intangible assets, subject to amortization, were as follows:
 
         
December 31, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
 
Weighted
average
amortization
period
(in years) 
   
Gross
carrying
amount
   
Accumulated
amortization
   
Intangible
assets, net
   
Gross
carrying
amount
   
Accumulated
amortization
   
Intangible
assets, net
 
Antimicrobial technology
    17     $ 222,187     $ (222,187 )   $     $ 222,187     $ (222,187 )   $  
Licensing agreements
    17       61,391       (32,355 )     29,036       61,391       (28,760 )     32,631  
Patents pending and approved
    13       834,301       (649,269 )     185,032       834,301       (585,094 )     249,207  
                                                         
Total
          $ 1,117,879     $ (903,811 )   $ 214,068     $ 1,117,879     $ (836,041 )   $ 281,838  
 
Amortization expense related to identifiable intangible assets was $67,770, $71,765 and $78,879 for the year ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Scheduled amortization charges from identifiable intangible assets as of December 31, 2010 were as follows:
 
Year
 
Licensing
Agreements
   
Patents pending
and approved
   
Total
 
2011
  $ 3,595     $ 64,175     $ 67,770  
2012
    3,595       64,175       67,770  
2013
    3,595       37,814       41,409  
2014
    3,595       5,054       8,649  
2015
    3,595       5,054       8,649  
Thereafter
  $ 11,061     $ 8,760     $ 19,821  
 
Note 5.  Agreements with Affiliated Company
 
Membership Interest Agreement
 
On July 1, 2010, the Company entered into a Membership Interest Agreement (NuGlow Membership Agreement) by and among the Company, Camden Street Partners, LLC, a California limited liability company (Camden), NuGlow Cosmaceuticals, LLC, a California limited liability company (NuGlow), and Steven Sheiner pursuant to which the Company received a 30% membership interest in NuGlow in exchange for a capital contribution in NuGlow of $350,000.  NuGlow specializes in the marketing and selling of specialty skin care products.
 
Amended and Restated Operating Agreement
 
In connection with the NuGlow Membership Agreement, the Company, Camden and NuGlow entered into an Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of NuGlow Cosmaceuticals, LLC, a California limited liability company (NuGlow Operating Agreement), dated as of July 1, 2010, pursuant to which the parties agreed that:
 
(i)  
Camden shall manage NuGlow;
 
(ii)  
70% of any profit distributions by NuGlow shall be paid to the Company first until the Company has received repayment of its capital contribution, after which time such distributions shall be made ratably to all NuGlow members;
 
(iii)  
upon a dissolution or liquidation, all of NuGlow’s cash or other distributions shall be paid to the Company first until the Company has received repayment of its capital contribution; after which time such distributions shall be made ratably to all NuGlow members;
 
(iv)  
NuGlow may not take certain actions or engage in certain transactions without the Company’s prior written consent, including, without limitation, the incurrence of indebtedness, the admission of additional members, the merger or sale of NuGlow or its assets, or the dissolution of NuGlow;
 
(v)  
NuGlow shall establish a product oversight committee consisting of two designees of the Company and one designee of Camden to oversee certain matters related to NuGlow product management;
 
(vi)  
transfers of NuGlow membership interests shall be subject to certain restrictions, including, without limitation, a right of first refusal by NuGlow and its members;
 
 
38

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
(vii)  
upon certain circumstances, the Company has the right to purchase all of Camden’s membership interest in NuGlow (Purchase Option); and
 
(viii)  
if the Company does not exercise the Purchase Option, or at any time before the Company exercises its Purchase Option upon a change of control of the Company or a sale of substantially all of its assets or upon the Company’s insolvency or bankruptcy, Camden has the right to purchase all of the Company’s membership interest in NuGlow.
 
As the Company owns a 30% membership interest in NuGlow and does not have control over NuGlow, the Company accounted for its membership interest in NuGlow as an equity investment. The Company has not provided financial support to NuGlow other than the initial capital contribution and the Company is not contractually obligated to provide further financial support to NuGlow. The Company’s exposure to loss as a result of its investment in NuGlow is limited to the cost of the initial capital contribution it provided. The membership interest in NuGlow was recorded at $332,542 at the date of investment and is adjusted each reporting period to recognize the Company’s share of NuGlow’s net earnings or losses and distributions, if any. The Company separately accounted for the Purchase Option as a derivative asset and included it in the balance sheet as other assets, with changes in value to be recognized in the statement of operations over the life of the option.
 
The excess of cost over the Company’s share of NuGlow’s net assets at July 1, 2010 was $321,368. This equity-method goodwill is not amortized and the investment is analyzed for impairment.
 
The Company includes its share of NuGlow’s net earnings or loss in “Investment in affiliated company” in its balance sheet and “Equity in loss of affiliated company” in its statements of operations. The carrying amount of the investment in NuGlow was $266,941 at December 31, 2010. The decrease of $65,601 in the carrying amount of this investment from July 1, 2010 reflected the Company’s share of NuGlow’s net operating loss for the six months ended December 31, 2010. The fair value of the Purchase Option was estimated to be $17,458 at July 1, 2010 and $20,657 at December 31, 2010.
 
NuGlow’s condensed balance sheet at December 31, 2010 and statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2010 are summarized below:
 
   
December 31,
2010
(Unaudited)
 
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
     
Assets
     
Cash
  $ 75,147  
Accounts receivable, net
    2,574  
Inventory
    140,443  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    11,455  
         
Total assets
  $ 229,619  
         
         
Liabilities and members’ equity
       
Accounts payable and current liabilities
  $ 61,041  
Members’ equity
    374,661  
Net loss
    (206,083 )
         
Total liabilities and members’ equity
  $ 229,619  
 
   
Year Ended
December 31, 2010
(Unaudited)
 
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
     
Revenue
  $ 103,797  
Cost of goods sold
    88,336  
Operating expenses
    221,544  
         
Net loss
  $ (206,083 )
 
Supply Agreement
 
The Company and NuGlow entered into a Supply Agreement dated as of July 1, 2010 pursuant to which NuGlow agreed to purchase from the Company for resale certain of the Company’s proprietary skincare products for beauty and cosmetic and over-the-counter uses. The term of the Supply Agreement continues until June 30, 2013 and automatically renews for successive one-year terms thereafter unless earlier terminated as provided therein.
 
 
39

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
Note 6.  Other Assets
 
Other assets consisted of the following as of December 31, 2010 and 2009:

   
December 31,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
Deposits
  $ 8,522     $ 8,522  
Option to purchase interest in affiliated company (see Note 5)
    20,657        
                 
Other assets
  $ 29,179     $ 8,522  
 
Note 7.    Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
The inputs used to measure fair value are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
 
 
Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;
 
 
Level 2 — Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices in active markets for similar securities); and
 
 
Level 3 — Significant unobservable inputs (including the Company’s own assumptions in determining fair value of investments).
 
The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value as of December 31, 2010 and 2009. As required by Accounting Standard Codification (ASC) 820-10, assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
 
   
December 31,
2010
   
Quoted Prices in Active Market for Identical Assets (Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 
Money market funds
  $ 3,680,348     $ 3,680,348     $     $  
Option to purchase interest in affiliated company
    20,657                   20,657  
 

   
December 31,
2009
   
Quoted Prices in Active Market for Identical Assets (Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 
Money market funds
  $ 1,243,525     $ 1,243,525     $     $  
Option to call the 2008 Amended Note
                       
Option to prepay the 2008 Amended Note
                       
 
Option to purchase interest in affiliated company. The Company estimated the fair value of this asset to be $17,458 at the date of acquisition and $20,657 at December 31, 2010, using the multiple of earnings method based on a number of factors and assumptions regarding the affiliated company’s potential future revenue and projected earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). The increase in fair value of $3,199 was recorded in the statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
Financial Instruments. The carrying amount of the Company’s cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued compensation and benefits, and accrued expenses approximated their estimated fair values at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 because of the short-term nature of these instruments. As there was no established market for the Company’s convertible notes, at December 31, 2009, the Company estimated the fair value of its convertible notes payable, including related party, using market-based parameters for the various components of the convertible notes. The fair value of the accrued interest on convertible notes payable, including related party, was estimated as the present value of expected future payments, discounted by an interest rate commensurate with the risk-free interest rate for an equivalent maturity term. At December 31, 2010, all of the Company’s convertible notes payable and related accrued interest, including related party, had been converted into the Company’s common stock or repaid.

 
40

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
The table below summarizes the carrying values and estimated fair values for certain of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2010 and 2009.
 
   
December 31, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
   
Carrying
Value
   
Estimated
Fair Value
   
Carrying
Value
   
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Liabilities:
                       
Convertible notes payable
  $     $     $ 1 ,319,532     $ 1,116,240  
Convertible notes payable, related party
                5,016,860       4,143,250  
Accrued interest on convertible notes payable
                96,897       95,746  
Accrued interest on convertible notes payable
                599,694       592,569  
                                 
Total
  $     $     $ 7,032,983     $ 5,947,805  
 
Note 8.    Stockholders’ Equity
 
Preferred Stock
 
The Company’s board of directors (the Board) may authorize the issuance of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series and each series shall have such voting, redemption, liquidation and dividend rights as the Board may deem advisable. As of December 31, 2010, no preferred series shares had been designated by the Board.
 
Stockholder Rights Agreement
 
On August 15, 2003, the Board approved the adoption of a Stockholder Rights Agreement pursuant to which all of the Company’s stockholders as of September 15, 2003 (the Record Date) received rights to purchase shares of a new series of preferred stock. The rights will be distributed as a non-taxable dividend and will expire ten years from the Record Date. The rights will be exercisable only if a person or group acquires 15 percent or more of the Company’s common stock or announces a tender offer for 15 percent or more of the common stock. If a person acquires 15 percent or more of common stock, all rights holders, except the buyer, will be entitled to acquire the Company’s common stock at a discount. The effect will be to discourage acquisitions of more than 15 percent of the Company’s common stock without negotiations with the Board.
 
Common Stock Purchase Warrants
 
Information concerning outstanding common stock purchase warrants is set forth below:
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
Number
   
Price range
   
Weighted
Average
   
Number
   
Price range
   
Weighted
Average
 
Warrants issued to employees and non-employees for services
    1,707,419     $ 0.25 – $6.00     $ 1.56       1,707,419     $ 0.25 – $6.00     $ 1.56  
Warrants issued in connection with 2001 convertible debt financing
    308,000     $ 1.00     $ 1.00       308,000     $ 1.00     $ 1.00  
Warrants issued in connection with 2002 and 2003 equity financings
    258,600     $ 1.00     $ 1.00       258,600     $ 1.00     $ 1.00  
Warrants issued in connection with 2005 equity financing
        $     $       125,000     $ 1.50     $ 1.50  
Warrants issued in connection with 2006 equity financing
    109,800     $ 1.00     $ 1.00       259,800     $ 1.00     $ 1.00  
Warrants issued in connection with 2008 debt financing
        $     $       750,000     $ 1.00     $ 1.00  
Warrants issued in connection with 2009 debt financing
    142,500     $ 1.00     $ 1.00       868,500     $ 1.00     $ 1.00  
                                                 
Total outstanding warrants
    2,526,319     $ 0.25 – $6.00     $ 1.38       4,277,319     $ 0.25 – $6.00     $ 1.24  
 
During the year ended December 31, 2010, warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2,426,000 shares of the Company’s common stock were amended and exercised (see Note 2) and warrants to purchase 125,000 shares of common stock expired and were therefore cancelled.
 
 
41

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
Note 9.    Stock-Based Compensation
 
The Helix BioMedix 2000 Stock Option Plan (the 2000 Plan), approved by the Company’s stockholders in 2000, was administered by non-employee directors who were authorized to grant stock options to the Company’s employees, consultants, and directors. Stock options were granted at exercise prices equal to the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. Stock options granted to employees were typically incentive stock options, as defined and governed by Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, and generally vested over a three-year period with 1/3 of the shares vesting after a year from the date of grant and 1/36 of the shares vesting monthly thereafter. Options granted to non-employee directors were nonqualified stock options with a vesting period ranging from immediately upon grant to quarterly over one year. All options granted to employees and non-employee directors expire 10 years from the grant date.
 
The Company granted 785,000, 240,500 and 510,000 stock options during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The per share weighted-average fair value of stock options granted during 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $0.28, $0.32 and $0.45, respectively, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:
 
   
Year ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Risk-free interest rate
    1.41 – 2.77%       1.89 – 2.78%       1.55 – 2.89%  
Expected dividend yield
    0       0       0  
Expected term in years
    5.0 – 6.0       5.5 – 6.0       5.0 – 6.0  
Expected volatility
    98 – 106%       101 – 105%       100 – 102%  
 
The risk free rate is based on the implied yield available on U.S. Treasury zero–coupon issues with an equivalent remaining term. The Company does not anticipate declaring dividends in the foreseeable future. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company calculated expected volatility based on the annualized daily historical volatility of the Company’s stock price commensurate with the expected term of the option and other factors, including peer company data. The Company estimates the expected term as the average of the vesting period and the contractual term. The Company will continue to use this method of estimation until it has sufficient historical data to provide reasonable estimates of expected lives of stock options. The Company’s stock price volatility and option term involves management’s best estimates at that time, both of which impact the fair value of the option calculated under the Black-Scholes pricing model and, ultimately, the expense that will be recognized over the life of the option. The Company recognizes compensation expense for only the portion of options that is expected to vest. Therefore, the Company applies an estimated forfeiture rate that is derived from historical employee termination behavior. Forfeiture rates are revised in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.
 
The amount of stock-based compensation expense recognized for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 related to stock options was approximately $188,900, $102,000 and $314,900, respectively. In June 2008, in connection with the departure of the Company’s Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Company modified the terms of his options to extend the period during which he may exercise his vested options from 90 days to three years, resulting in a stock-based compensation expense of approximately $60,100 for 2008. Stock-based compensation for 2008 also included approximately $121,800 related to options granted to two officers and $20,800 related to an option grant to a consultant. As of December 31, 2010, the total unrecognized stock-based compensation related to non-vested stock options was approximately $88,700, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.9 years. A summary of the Company’s stock-based compensation expense for 2010, 2009 and 2008 is summarized as follows:
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Research and development
  $ 9,887     $ 1,533     $ 50,297  
Marketing and business development
    33,264       22,011       20,352  
General and administrative
    145,769       78,426       244,279  
                         
Total stock-based compensation
  $ 188,920     $ 101,970     $ 314,928  
 
 
42

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
A summary of the Company’s stock option activity for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 is presented in the following table:
 
   
Shares
Subject to
Options
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price per
Share
   
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
   
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding, December 31, 2007
    2,978,528     $ 1.22              
Granted
    510,000     $ 0.62              
Exercised
                       
Forfeited
    (100,000 )   $ 0.50              
Expired
    (83,334 )   $ 0.75              
                             
Outstanding, December 31, 2008
    3,305,194     $ 1.17              
Granted
    240,500     $ 0.40              
Exercised
        $              
Forfeited
        $              
Expired
    (434,444 )   $ 1.61              
                             
Outstanding, December 31, 2009
    3,111,250     $ 1.04              
Granted
    785,000     $ 0.35              
Exercised
        $              
Forfeited
        $              
Expired
    (27,300 )   $ 0.70              
                             
Outstanding, December 31, 2010
    3,868,950     $ 0.91    
4.45
    $
4,500
                             
Exercisable, December 31, 2010
    3,426,448     $ 0.98    
3.85
    $
3,278
 
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above is based on the Company’s closing stock price of $0.29 per share on December 31, 2010 which would have been the closing price of shares received by the optionees had all of the options with exercise prices less than $0.29 per share been exercised on that date.
 
As of December 31, 2010, there were 5,355,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2000 Plan, of which 1,486,050 shares remained available for grants. Additional information regarding options outstanding as of December 31, 2010 is as follows:
 
     
Options Outstanding
   
Options Exercisable
 
Range of Exercise
Prices
   
Shares
   
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Years)
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
   
Shares
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
 
$ 0.19 - $0.49       1,025,500       7.63     $ 0.36       585,776     $ 0.38  
$ 0.50 - $0.85       998,200       6.12     $ 0.65       995,422     $ 0.65  
$ 1.00 - $1.50       1,462,750       1.71     $ 1.22       1,462,750     $ 1.22  
$ 1.75 - $1.94       382,500       2.04     $ 1.81       382,500     $ 1.81  
$ 0.19 - $1.94       3,868,950       4.45     $ 0.91       3,426,448     $ 0.98  
 
The term of the 2000 Plan was ten years.  The Board of Directors of the Company has recently approved the 2011 Stock Option Plan and reserved an aggregate of 12,000,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock for issuance thereunder, subject to approval of the Company’s stockholders.
 
Note 10.    Employee Savings Plan
 
The Company offers a 401(k) plan to all of its employees. Company matching contributions are determined in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s contribution plan. During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, employer-matching cash contributions totaled $34,236, $32,194 and $36,402, respectively.
 
 
43

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
Note 11.    Concentration of Risks
 
The Company maintains its cash balances in one financial institution, which at times may exceed federally insured limits. As of December 31, 2010, the Company maintained approximately $3,680,000 at a major financial institution in a money market account insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation up to $500,000 per account. The Company has not experienced any losses in such account.
 
A significant portion of the Company’s revenue is concentrated with a limited number of customers. The following individual customers accounted for 10% or more of revenue for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008:
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
 
Customer A
    49 %     71 %     44 %
Customer B
          10       16  
Customer C
    34             23  
 
Note 12.    Income Taxes
 
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of (1) temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, and (2) operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. The tax effects of significant components comprising the Company’s deferred taxes as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:
 
   
As of December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Gross deferred tax assets (liabilities):
           
Net operating loss carryforwards
  $ 10,879,800     $ 9,537,100  
Stock compensation
    561,400       518,700  
Accrued expenses
    17,900       4,000  
Fixed and intangible assets
    45,900       40,600  
Debt discount
          61,200  
Deferred gross profit, related party
    17,200        
                 
Gross deferred tax assets
    11,522,200       10,161,600  
Less valuation allowance
    (11,522,200 )     (10,161,600 )
                 
Net deferred tax assets
           
Deferred tax liabilities
           
                 
Net deferred tax assets/liabilities
  $     $  
 
ASC 740 requires that the tax benefit of net operating losses, temporary differences and credit carryforwards be recorded as an asset to the extent that management assesses that realization is “more likely than not.” Realization of the future tax benefits is dependent on the Company’s ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carryforward period. Because of the Company’s history of operating losses, management believes that recognition of the deferred tax assets arising from the above-mentioned future tax benefits is currently not likely to be realized and, accordingly, has provided a full valuation allowance at December 31, 2010 and 2009 for financial reporting purposes. The Company’s valuation allowance for deferred tax assets increased by $1,360,600, $1,029,400 and $1,385,100 during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The increases in the deferred tax assets in 2010, 2009 and 2008 were primarily the result of increasing net operating loss carryforwards during those years.
 
The Company unrecognized research and development tax credits totaling approximately $77,600 and $82,000 as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, as these deferred tax assets did not meet the “more likely than not” recognition threshold. The change in unrecognized tax benefits during 2010 and 2009 was due to unrecognized research and development tax credits expiring unutilized. During 2010, 2009 and 2008, there was no interest or penalty recognized.
 
At December 31, 2010, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $32,000,000 for income tax reporting purposes, which expire from 2011 to 2030. The Company’s ability to utilize the carryforwards may be limited in the event of an ownership change as defined in current income tax regulations. The difference between the expected benefit computed using the statutory tax rate and the recorded benefit of nil in 2010 and 2009 is primarily due to the change in the valuation allowance and the debt conversion inducement expense not currently expected to be deductible at a more-likely-than-not level.
 
 
44

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
The Company files a Federal income tax return in the U.S. All of the Company’s tax returns for years with unexpired net operating loss carryforwards may be subject to examination in the event that the Company utilizes the net operating losses from those years in its future tax returns.
 
Note 13.    Other Related Party Transactions
 
In April 2007, the Company entered into a License Agreement (the License Agreement) with DermaVentures, LLC in which the Company owned a 25% membership interest pursuant to the Operating Agreement of DermaVentures, LLC dated as of January 31, 2007 (the Operating Agreement). Pursuant to the License Agreement, the Company granted to DermaVentures a non-exclusive license to formulate certain of the Company’s proprietary peptides into cosmetics and over-the-counter products to be sold in North and Central America and DermaVentures agreed to pay the Company royalties on its sales of peptide-containing products.
 
At the same time, the Company entered into a Management Services Agreement (the Services Agreement) with DermaVentures and RMS, a member and the sole manager of DermaVentures. Pursuant to the Services Agreement, the Company agreed to provide certain management services to DermaVentures in exchange for a fee of $400,000 payable as a cash distribution to the Company after $1.2 million in cash had been distributed to RMS.
 
The Company’s membership interest in DermaVentures was accounted for using the equity method because the Company was not the primary beneficiary. The Company contributed no capital to DermaVentures. There were no earnings recognized by the Company in 2009 and 2008 related to its membership interest in DermaVentures because DermaVentures incurred a net loss and the Company was not required to fund DermaVentures’ losses. The carrying value of the Company’s membership interest in DermaVentures was zero at inception and at September 18, 2009 and December 31, 2008. The Company’s exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with DermaVentures was limited to the cost of the services the Company was required to provide under the Services Agreement.
 
On September 18, 2009, the Company entered into an amendment to the Operating Agreement, License Agreement and Services Agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to, among other things, mutually terminate the Services Agreement effective as of September 21, 2009, after which the Company had no further management responsibilities or obligations related to DermaVentures or its business.
 
For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company received approximately $20,200 and $42,300, respectively, of administrative services revenue from DermaVentures for marketing services associated with DermaVentures’ product line and other out-of-pocket expenses the Company incurred on DermaVentures’ behalf. Administrative services revenue was invoiced to DermaVentures at or near cost and therefore has no material effect on the Company’s net loss.
 
Note 14.    Commitments and Contingencies
 
Leases
 
In July 2009, the Company renewed the operating lease for its office and laboratory space in Bothell, Washington. The renewed lease, which has a term of five years and seven months beginning on December 1, 2009, provides for seven months of free rent at a monthly base rent equal to $6,210 and includes scheduled rent increases over the lease term. The Company accounts for free rent periods and scheduled rent increases on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Rent expense including operating costs for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $101,395, $108,729 and $106,892, respectively. The future minimum payment under the existing lease from January 2011 through June 2015 is approximately $365,000.
 
Note 15.    License Agreements
 
The Company entered into a License Agreement with the University of British Columbia (UBC) commencing October 1, 2001, whereby UBC granted the Company an exclusive, worldwide license to use and sublicense certain defined “Technology” and any improvements within a specified field of use and including the right to manufacture, distribute and sell products utilizing the Technology. The agreement terminates on October 1, 2021 or upon the expiration of the last patent applied for and obtained pursuant to certain provisions of the agreement, unless terminated earlier as provided in the agreement. According to its terms, the agreement terminates automatically if a bankruptcy proceeding is brought by or against the Company, and terminates at UBC’s option upon certain events, including the Company’s insolvency or cessation of business, a delinquency of more than 60 days in payments due from the Company under the agreement, and the Company breach of certain provisions relating to insurance requirements, use by the Company of UBC trademarks, and marketing obligations. In addition, either party may terminate the agreement on notice after the opportunity to cure if the other party defaults under the agreement. The Technology licensed under the agreement consists primarily of three United States patents for antimicrobial peptides and related methods of use. The license may be sublicensed to the Company’s affiliates. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the Company issued to UBC or its assigns 97,500 shares of the Company’s common stock and options to purchase up to 152,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at $1.50 per share. The options have a term of ten years and were fully vested upon grant. Additionally, the Company agreed to pay UBC a royalty of 3.5% of revenue generated from the Technology and any improvements related thereto. The Company is also required to pay UBC minimum annual royalties and to reimburse UBC for all further costs incurred with respect to the licensed patents, including maintenance fees. The Company paid UBC $47,870, $44,574 and $48,310 in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, for minimum royalties and reimbursements for patent-related expenses.
 
 
45

 
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
 
On August 16, 2007, the Company entered into a License Agreement with Goldschmidt GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Evonik GmbH. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company granted to Goldschmidt an exclusive license under certain of the Company’s patent applications and related rights and technology to, among other things, make and sell formulations for use as ingredients in final products in the cosmetic and non-prescription-drug fields of use. The term of the agreement extends until the expiration of the last-to-expire patent issued under the licensed patent rights, subject to certain termination rights of each party. Either party may terminate the agreement if the other party materially breaches a material provision of the agreement, and fails to cure the breach within the specified notice period. In addition, either party may terminate the agreement if, for any consecutive three-year period after 2010, earned running royalties fall short of certain agreed minimum amounts. In consideration for the license, Goldschmidt agreed to make specified upfront payments (subject to certain conditions) and to pay royalties on its sales of formulations under the agreement.
 
On September 12, 2007, the Company entered into a First Amended and Restated License Agreement with Grant Industries, Inc., which amended and restated the Non-Exclusive License Agreement between the parties dated December 12, 2006, and which has subsequently been amended effective as of December 10, 2008 and May 6, 2010. As amended to date, the initial term of the license agreement expires on December 31, 2011, after which the agreement automatically renews for successive one-year periods, subject to certain termination rights of each party. Either party may terminate the agreement if the other party ceases its business or upon certain events relating to bankruptcy, or if the other materially breaches a provision of the agreement and fails to cure the breach within the specified notice period. The Company may terminate the license or remove a peptide from the scope of the license if Grant Industries fails to meet certain minimum royalty obligations. The license permits Grant Industries to formulate certain of the Company’s proprietary peptides into premix products, and to market and sell those premix products for use in final products in the cosmetic and over-the-counter personal care market, subject to payment of royalties on its sales of premix, and certain minimum royalty obligations. The license grants exclusive rights with respect to six of the Company’s peptides.
 
On August 27, 2008, the Company entered into a License Agreement with Rodan & Fields, LLC which was subsequently amended as of February 25, 2009. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company granted to Rodan & Fields a non-exclusive worldwide license to use its protease inhibition technology with its peptides incorporated into products developed and marketed by Rodan & Fields. In exchange for the license, Rodan & Fields agreed to initiate a study validating the benefits of the Company’s protease inhibition technology and to pay a royalty fee from sales of products containing our technology. The initial term of the agreement is three years and it automatically renews for successive one-year terms thereafter, subject to certain termination rights of each party, and subject to payment by Rodan & Fields of certain minimum royalties. Either party may terminate the agreement if the other party materially breaches a material provision of the agreement, and fails to cure the breach within the specified notice period. The company began earning royalties under the agreement in the fourth quarter of 2009.
 
Note 16.    Condensed Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
2010
   
June 30,
2010
   
September 30,
2010
   
December 31,
2010
   
March 31,
2009
   
June 30,
2009
   
September 30,
2009
   
December 31,
2009
 
Net revenue
  $ 69,718     $ 330,398     $ 93,680     $ 357,887     $ 87,251     $ 138,487     $ 97,846     $ 67,684  
Gross profit
    45,229       205,653       64,643       275,664       38,919       45,438       45,095       65,296  
Operating expenses
    804,344       930,518       956,674       855,809       856,452       919,876       825,137       811,191  
Loss from operations
    (759,115 )    
(724,865
)     (892,031 )     (580,145 )     (817,533 )    
(874,438
)     (780,042 )     (745,895 )
Other expense, net
    (167,934 )    
(217,622
)     (227,158 )    
(4,141,932
)     (102,210 )    
(148,958
)     (152,803 )     (153,156 )
                                                                 
Net loss
  $
(927,049
)   $
(942,487
)   $
(1,119,189
)   $
(4,722,077
)   $
(919,743
)   $
(1,023,396
)   $
(932,845
)   $
(899,051
)
                                                                 
Basic and diluted net loss per share
  $ (0.04 )   $ (0.04 )   $ (0.04 )   $ (0.15 )   $ (0.04 )   $ (0.04 )   $ (0.04 )   $ (0.04 )
                                                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding
    25,653,512       25,653,512       25,653,512       31,488,144       25,653,512       25,653,512       25,653,512       25,653,512  
 
Note 17.    Subsequent Events
 
On February 15, 2011, the Company announced that its Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Timothy J. Falla, Ph.D., stepped down from his role with the Company effective February 28, 2011.  Pursuant to a separation and consulting agreement, Dr. Falla agreed to provide consulting services to the Company with respect to certain transition activities, the maintenance, defense and prosecution of the Company’s issued patents and pending patent applications, and the preparation and prosecution of patent applications with respect to intellectual property currently in development, and the Company agreed to accelerate the vesting and extend for periods of one to three years the exercise periods of Dr. Falla’s outstanding options under the Company’s 2000 Stock Option Plan.
 
 
46

 
 
ITEM 9.                      CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
 None.
 
ITEM 9A.                    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our senior management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our 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. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information required to be included in our periodic SEC filings.
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has established and maintained policies and procedures designed to maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, and include those policies and procedures that:
 
1) Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;
 
2) Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and
 
3) Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Management has evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 based on the control criteria established in a report entitled Internal Control — Integrated Framework, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on our assessment and those criteria, our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as of December 31, 2010.
 
This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Such a report is not required for smaller reporting companies such as us pursuant to The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that Congress enacted in July 2010, which permanently exempts companies with less than $75 million in market capitalization from Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requiring an outside auditor to attest annually to a company’s internal-control evaluations.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all errors or misstatements and all fraud. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the policies and procedures are met. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
ITEM 9B.                      OTHER INFORMATION
 
 None.
 
 
47

 

PART III
 
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
 
Certain information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the section captioned “Proposal No. 1 — Election of Directors” of the Proxy Statement for our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
 
The remaining information required by this item is set forth in Part I of this report under Item 1, “Business — Executive Officers.”
 
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the sections captioned “Compensation of Executive Officers” and “Proposal No. 1 — Election of Directors” of the Proxy Statement for our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
 
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
 
Certain information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the sections captioned “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Proposal No. 2 — Approval of 2011 Stock Option Plan” of the Proxy Statement for our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
 
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the information contained in the sections captioned “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Proposal No. 1 — Election of Directors” of the Proxy Statement for our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
 
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
 
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the section captioned “Proposal No. 3 — Ratify Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” of the Proxy Statement for our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
 
 
48

 
 
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
 
(a).
Financial Statements and Schedules. The financial statements are set forth under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as indexed thereunder. Financial statement schedules have been omitted since they are not required, not applicable, or the information is otherwise included.
 
 
(b).
Exhibits.

     
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit Number
Exhibit Description
Filed Herewith
Form
Period Ending
Exhibit
Filing Date
  2.1
Proposal for Approval of Reincorporation of Helix BioMedix, Inc., a Colorado corporation, from Colorado to Delaware
 
10-KSB
12/31/00
2
4/16/01
  3.1
Certificate of Ownership and Merger of Helix BioMedix, Inc. a Delaware corporation and Helix BioMedix, Inc., a Louisiana corporation
 
10-KSB/A
12/31/02
3.1
4/30/03
  3.2
Certificate of Incorporation of Helix BioMedix, Inc.
 
10-KSB/A
12/31/00
3-A
5/18/01
  3.3
Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Helix BioMedix, Inc.
 
10-KSB/A
12/31/02
3.3
4/30/03
  3.4
Bylaws of Helix BioMedix, Inc.
 
10-KSB/A
12/31/00
3-B
5/18/01
  4.1
Rights Agreement dated August 21, 2003
 
10-KSB
12/31/03
10.27
3/26/04
  4.2
Acceptance and Acknowledgement of Appointment dated January 4, 2004
 
10-KSB
12/31/03
10.28
3/26/04
10.1†
Helix BioMedix, Inc. Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option Plan
 
10-KSB/A
12/31/02
10.5
4/30/03
10.1(a)†
Form of Helix BioMedix, Inc. Stock Option Agreement for Purchase of Stock (2000 Stock Option Plan)
 
10-KSB/A
12/31/02
Annex A to 10.5
4/30/03
10.1(b)†
Helix BioMedix, Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan
X
       
10.1(c)†
Form of Helix BioMedix, Inc. Incentive Stock Option Agreement (2011 Stock Option Plan)
X
       
10.1(d)†
Form of Helix BioMedix, Inc. Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (2011 Stock Option Plan)
X
       
10.2†
Employment Agreement dated September 24, 2003, effective July 1, 2003, between the Company and R. Stephen Beatty
 
10-KSB
12/31/03
10.9
3/26/04
10.2(a)†
Amendment to Employment Agreement dated December 10, 2003 between the Company and R. Stephen Beatty
 
10-KSB
12/31/03
10.13
3/26/04
10.2(b)†
Second Amendment to Employment Agreement dated effective as of June 30, 2006 between the Company and R. Stephen Beatty
 
10-QSB
9/30/06
10.9(a)
11/9/06
10.2(c)†
Third Amendment to Employment Agreement dated effective as of June 15, 2007 between the Company and R. Stephen Beatty
 
10-QSB
9/30/07
10.9(b)
11/8/07
10.3†
Employment Agreement dated September 24, 2003, effective July 1, 2003, between the Company and Timothy Falla
 
10-KSB
12/31/03
10.8
3/26/04
10.3(a)†
Amendment to Employment Agreement dated December 10, 2003 between the Company and Timothy Falla
 
10-KSB
12/31/03
10.12
3/26/04
10.3(b)†
Second Amendment to Employment Agreement dated effective as of June 30, 2006 between the Company and Timothy Falla
 
10-QSB
9/30/06
10.8(a)
11/9/06
10.3(c)†
Third Amendment to Employment Agreement dated effective as of June 15, 2007 between the Company and Timothy Falla
 
10-QSB
9/30/07
10.8(b)
11/8/07
10.3(d)†
Separation and Consulting Agreement dated effective February 28, 2011 between the Company and Timothy Falla
X
       
10.4†
Employment Letter Agreement dated October 8, 2007 between the Company and Robin L. Carmichael
 
10-QSB
9/30/07
10.28
11/8/07
10.4(a)†
First Amendment to Employment Letter Agreement dated effective as of November 15, 2007 between the Company and Robin L. Carmichael
 
10-K
12/31/07
10.5(a)
3/21/08
10.4(b)†
Second Amendment to Employment Letter Agreement dated effective as of June 30, 2008 between the Company and Robin L. Carmichael
 
10-Q
6/30/08
10.5(b)
7/30/08
 
 
49

 
 
      Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit Number
Exhibit Description
Filed Herewith
Form
Period Ending
Exhibit
Filing Date
10.5
Lease between the Company and Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America, Inc. dated August 14, 2001
 
10-KSB
12/31/01
10.11
4/1/02
10.5(a)
First Amendment to Lease between the Company and Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, Inc. dated December 6, 2005
 
10-KSB
12/31/05
10.17(a)
3/27/06
10.5(b)
Second Amendment to Lease between the Company and Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, Inc. dated October 4, 2006
 
10-KSB
12/31/06
10.17(b)
3/26/07
10.5(c)
Third Amendment to Lease entered into on July 29, 2009 between the Company and Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, Inc.
 
10-Q
9/30/09
10.10(c)
11/5/09
10.6
University of British Columbia License Agreement dated October 1, 2001
 
10-KSB
12/31/01
10.5
4/1/02
10.7*
First Amended and Restated License Agreement dated September 12, 2007 between the Company and Grant Industries, Inc.
 
10-QSB
9/30/07
10.24(a)
11/8/07
10.7(a)*
First Amendment to First Amended and Restated License Agreement dated effective as of December 10, 2008 between the Company and Grant Industries, Inc.
 
10-K
12/31/08
10.12(b)
3/26/09
10.7(b)*
Second Amendment to First Amended and Restated License Agreement dated effective as of May 6, 2010 between the Company and Grant Industries, Inc.
 
10-Q
6/30/10
10.7(b)
8/5/10
10.8*
License Agreement dated effective as of April 18, 2007 between the Company and DermaVentures, LLC
 
10-QSB
3/31/07
10.25
5/10/07
10.9
Management Services Agreement dated effective as of April 18, 2007 between the Company, DermaVentures, LLC and RMS Group, LLC
 
10-QSB
3/31/07
10.26
5/10/07
10.10
Amendment to DermaVentures, LLC Operating Agreement, Management Agreement and License Agreement dated September 18, 2009 among the Company, DermaVentures, LLC and RMS Group, LLC
 
10-Q
9/30/09
10.20
11/5/09
10.11*
License Agreement dated August 16, 2007 between the Company and Goldschmidt GmbH
 
10-QSB
9/30/07
10.27
11/8/07
10.11(a)
First Amendment to License Agreement dated as of December 10, 2010 between the Company and Goldschmidt GmbH
X
       
10.12*
License Agreement dated August 27, 2008 between the Company and Rodan & Fields, LLC
 
10-Q
9/30/08
10.18
11/5/08
10.12(a)
First Amendment to License Agreement dated February 25, 2009 between the Company and Rodan & Fields, LLC
 
10-Q
3/31/09
10.18(a)
5/7/09
10.13*
Manufacturing and Supply Agreement dated as of January 9, 2008 between the Company and Peptisyntha, Inc.
 
10-Q
3/31/08
10.16
5/15/08
10.14
Convertible Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of February 14, 2008 between the Company and RBFSC Inc.
 
10-Q
3/31/08
10.17(a)
5/15/08
10.14(a)
Convertible Promissory Note dated as of February 14, 2008 between the Company and RBFSC Inc.
 
10-Q
3/31/08
10.17(b)
5/15/08
10.14(b)
First Amendment to Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement and Convertible Promissory Note dated as of June 27, 2008 between the Company and RBFSC Inc.
 
10-Q
6/30/08
10.17(c)
7/30/08
10.14(c)
Convertible Promissory Note Conversion and Warrant Exercise Agreement dated as of November 22, 2010 between the Company and RBFSC Inc.
X
       
10.15
Form of Convertible Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement between the Company and the other parties thereto
 
10-Q
3/31/09
10.19
5/7/09
10.16
Form of Convertible Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement between the Company and the other parties thereto
 
10-Q
3/31/10
10.16
5/6/10
10.17*
International Distribution Agreement dated as of March 3, 2010 between the Company and RubyDerm Bio Inc.
 
10-Q
3/31/10
10.17
5/6/10
 
 
50

 
 
       
Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit Number
Exhibit Description
Filed Herewith
Form
Period Ending
Exhibit
Filing Date
10.17(a)*
International Distribution Agreement dated as of December 16, 2010 between the Company and Dermopia Inc.
X
       
10.18
Membership Interest Agreement dated as of July 1, 2010 among the Company, Camden Street Partners, LLC, NuGlow Cosmaceuticals, LLC and Steven Sheiner
 
10-Q
6/30/10
10.18
8/5/10
10.19*
Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of NuGlow Cosmaceuticals, LLC dated as of July 1, 2010 among the Company, Camden Street Partners, LLC and NuGlow Cosmaceuticals, LLC
 
10-Q
6/30/10
10.19
8/5/10
10.20*
Supply Agreement dated as of July 1, 2010 between the Company and NuGlow Cosmaceuticals, LLC
 
10-Q
6/30/10
10.20
8/5/10
10.21
Warrant Amendment and Exercise Agreement dated as of December 27, 2010 between the Company and RBFSC Inc.
X
       
23.1
Consent of KPMG LLP
X
       
31.1
Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
X
       
31.2
Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
X
       
32.1
Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
X
       
32.2
Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
X
       
 

Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
 
*
Pursuant to a request for confidential treatment, portions of this Exhibit have been redacted from the publicly-filed document and have been furnished separately to the Securities and Exchange Commission as required by Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
 
51

 

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
HELIX BIOMEDIX, INC.
   
(Registrant)    
       
By: 
/s/ R. Stephen Beatty
   
 
R. Stephen Beatty
 
 
 
President, Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer (principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)
 
 
 
Date: March 24, 2011
    
POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints R. Stephen Beatty his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power to act, and with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to execute in his or her name and on his or her behalf, individually and in each capacity stated below, any and all amendments and supplements to this Annual Report, and any and all other instruments necessary or incidental in connection herewith, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
Signature
 
Title
 
Date
         
/s/    R. STEPHEN BEATTY
 
President, Chief Executive Officer,
 
March 24, 2011
R. Stephen Beatty
 
Acting Chief Financial Officer and Director
   
         
/s/    RANDALL L-W. CAUDILL, PH.D.
 
Director
 
March 24, 2011
Randall L-W. Caudill, Ph.D.
       
         
/s/    JOHN F. CLIFFORD
 
Director
 
March 24, 2011
John F. Clifford
       
         
/s/    RICHARD M. COHEN
 
Director
 
March 24, 2011
Richard M. Cohen
       
         
/s/    JOHN C. FIDDES, PH.D.
 
Director
 
March 24, 2011
John C. Fiddes, Ph.D.
       
         
/s/    LAWRENCE BLAKE JONES
 
Director
 
March 24, 2011
Lawrence Blake Jones
       
         
/s/    JEFFREY A. MILLER, PH.D.
 
Director
 
March 24, 2011
Jeffrey A. Miller, Ph.D.
       
         
/s/    DAVID O’CONNOR
 
Director
 
March 24, 2011
David O’Connor
       
         
/s/    BARRY L. SEIDMAN
 
Director
 
March 24, 2011
Barry L. Seidman
       
         
/s/    DANIEL O. WILDS
 
Director
 
March 24, 2011
Daniel O. Wilds
       
 
Supplemental Information to be Furnished With Reports Filed Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act by Registrants Which Have Not Registered Securities Pursuant to Section 12 of the Act
 
No annual report, proxy statement, form of proxy or other proxy soliciting material covering the registrant’s last fiscal year has been sent to security holders of the registrant. The registrant’s annual report and proxy soliciting material will be furnished to security holders in connection with the registrant’s 2011 annual meeting of stockholders, and such material will be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission when it is sent to security holders.
 
 
52