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EX-32 - CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 18 U.S.C. PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANE - MABVAX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.ex32.htm
EX-31.2 - CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A)/15D-14(A) CERTIFICATIONS SECTION 302 OF - MABVAX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.ex31-2.htm
EX-31 - CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A)/15D-14(A) CERTIFICATIONS SECTION 302 OF - MABVAX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.ex31-1.htm
EX-10.1 - ASSET PURCHASE AND LICENSE AGREEMENT - MABVAX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.ex10-1.htm
 

UNITED STATES
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
 
OR
 
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ____ TO ____.
 
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 001-37861
 
 
MABVAX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
DELAWARE
 
93-0987903
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)
 
(I.R.S. EMPLOYER
IDENTIFICATION NO.)
 
11535 Sorrento Valley Road, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92121
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES INCLUDING ZIP CODE)
 
(858) 259-9405
(REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes      No  
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes      No  
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
  
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company 
     
 
 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes     No 
 
The number of shares of registrant’s common stock outstanding as of November 13, 2018 was 9,254,582.
 

 
 
 
Table of Contents
 
 
 
Page
 
 
 
ii
 
 

 
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
 
1
 
2
 
3
 
4
 
5
 
 
 
23
 
 
 
37
 
 
 
37
 
 
 
38
 
 
 
38
 
 
 
40
 
 
 
41
 
 
 
41
 
 
 
41
 
 
 
41
 
 
 
41
 
 
42
 
 
 
- i -
 
 
NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This quarterly report on Form 10-Q (“Quarterly Report”) contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this Quarterly Report are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “continue,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “potential,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” and similar expressions or phrases, or the negative of those expressions or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Although we believe we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this Quarterly Report, we caution you that these statements are based on our projections of the future that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, to differ. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, among other things:
 
Our ability to raise additional funds to finance our operations and remain a going concern;
 
Whether the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Action (as defined in Item 1 of Part II of this Quarterly Report) could be concluded in a manner adverse to the Company and members of its leadership team;
 
Our past inability to have certain of our previously filed registration statements declared effective and whether any future registration statements we may in the future file will be reviewed or declared effective, generally or during the pendency of the SEC Action;
 
Our limited number of employees to manage and operate our business and the necessity for these employees to devote substantial time to matters relating to the SEC Action, which could materially harm our business;
 
Our ability to calculate beneficial ownership of our common stock held by our investors;
 
Our ability to conduct clinical trials or to meet any regulatory conditions placed on our clinical trials;
 
Our ability to obtain desirable results from clinical trials of our product candidates; and
 
Our ability to obtain regulatory approval for the commercialization of any of our product candidates.
 
This list is not an exhaustive list of the factors that may affect any of our forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.
 
You should also carefully read the risk factors described under Item 1A of Part II of this Quarterly Report and under Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 as originally filed with the SEC on April 2, 2018 and amended on Form 10-K/A as filed with the SEC on October 15, 2018. You are advised to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, press releases and our website. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. The forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report are made as of the date of this Quarterly Report, and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
 
Our current product candidates are undergoing clinical development and have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or any comparable foreign regulatory authority. These product candidates have not been, nor may they ever be, approved by any regulatory agency nor marketed anywhere in the world.
 
 
- ii -
 
 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.                        Financial Statements.
 
MABVAX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 
September 30,
2018
 
 
December 31,
2017
 
Assets
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
Note 1
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 $951,751 
 $885,710 
Prepaid expenses
  341,511 
  150,462 
Other current assets
  141,872 
  171,346 
Total current assets
  1,435,134 
  1,207,518 
Property and equipment, net
  457,526 
  578,206 
Goodwill
  6,826,003 
  6,826,003 
Other assets
  178,597 
  178,597 
Total assets
 $8,897,260 
 $8,790,324 
 
    
    
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
    
    
Current liabilities:
    
    
Accounts payable
 $2,447,175 
 $1,090,904 
Accrued compensation
  311,162 
  311,675 
Accrued clinical operations and site costs
  2,106,295 
  1,669,201 
Accrued lease termination fee
  590,504 
  590,504 
Other accrued expenses
  442,210
  404,923 
Interest payable
  31,027 
  39,373 
Current portion of notes payable
  1,822,062 
  1,681,876 
Current portion of capital lease payable
  18,943 
  17,810 
Total current liabilities
  7,769,378 
  5,806,266 
Non-current liabilities:
    
    
Non-current portion of notes payable, net
  813,039 
  1,621,483 
Non-current portion of capital lease payable
  31,504 
  45,857 
Other non-current liabilities
  240,781 
  186,278 
Total non-current liabilities
  1,085,324 
  1,853,618 
Total liabilities
  8,854,702 
  7,659,884 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
    
    
Stockholders’ equity:
    
    
Series D convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, 44,104 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, with a liquidation preference of $441
  441 
  441 
Series E convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000 shares authorized, 33,333 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, with a liquidation preference of $333
  333 
  333 
Series I convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 1,968,664 shares authorized, 645,640 and 798,460 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, with a liquidation preference of $6,456 and $7,984 as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
  6,456 
  7,984 
Series J convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 3,400 shares authorized, 772.73 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, with a liquidation preference of $531,252
  8 
  8 
Series K convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 65,000 shares authorized, 63,150 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, with a liquidation preference of $632
  632 
  632 
 
Series L convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 58,000 shares authorized, 45,500 and 58,000 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, respectively, with a liquidation preference of $4,550,000 and $5,800,000 as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
  455 
  580 
Series M convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000 shares authorized, 5,000 and no shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, with a liquidation preference of $1,500,000 and $0 as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
  50 
  0 
Series N convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 20,000 shares authorized, 5,363.64 and no shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, with a liquidation preference of $53.64 and $0 as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
  54 
  0 
Series O convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 20,000 shares authorized, 10,605.56 and no shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, with a liquidation preference of $106.06 and $0 as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
  106 
  0 
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized, 9,254,582 and 6,862,928 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
  92,546 
  68,629 
Additional paid-in capital
  118,291,361 
  112,105,470 
Accumulated deficit
  (118,349,884)
  (111,053,637)
Total stockholders’ equity
  42,558 
  1,130,440 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 $8,897,260 
 $8,790,324 
 
See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 
 
 
- 1 -
 
 
MABVAX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
 
September 30,
 
 
September 30,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017 
 
 
 2018
 
 
2017 
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     License agreements
 $4,000,000 
 $ 
 $4,700,000 
 $ 
Total revenues
  4,000,000 
   
  4,700,000 
   
 
    
    
    
    
Cost of revenues
  785,000 
   
  785,000 
   
Gross Profit
  3,215,000 
   
  3,915,000 
   
 
    
    
    
    
Operating costs and expenses:
    
    
    
    
     Research and development
  199,367 
  1,017,061 
  2,915,709 
  6,168,125 
     General and administrative
  2,520,950 
  1,831,629 
  6,409,491 
  7,513,621 
Total operating costs and expenses
  2,720,317 
  2,848,690 
  9,325,200 
  13,581,746 
Income/(loss) from operations
  494,683 
  (2,848,690)
  (5,410,200)
  (13,681,746)
Interest and other expense
  (154,002)
  (231,471)
  (497,868)
  (743,137)
Net income (loss)
  340,681 
  (3,080,161)
  (5,908,068)
  (14,424,883)
Deemed dividend on inducement shares
   
   
  (1,388,179)
  (5,220,000)
Deemed dividend on incentive shares
   
  (3,120,000)
   
  (3,120,000)
Deemed dividend on warrant reprice
   
   
   
  (19,413)
Net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders
 $340,681 
 $(6,200,161)
 $(7,296,247)
 $(22,784,296)
Basic net income (loss) per share
 $0.04 
 $(1.62)
 $(0.81)
 $(8.04)
Diluted net income (loss) per share
 $0.02
 
 $(1.62)
 $(0.81)
 $(8.04)
 
   
 
    
    
    
Shares used in calculation of net income (loss) per share
    
    
    
    
Basic   
  9,253,880
 
  3,830,280
 
  8,983,980
 
  2,834,692
 
Diluted   
  17,123,742
 
  3,830,280
 
  8,983,980
 
  2,834,692
 
 
 
See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
- 2 -
 
 
 MABVAX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Series D through O Convertible
Preferred Stock
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
 
 
Additional
Paid-in
 
 
 
Accumulated
 
 
 
Total Stockholders'
 
 
 
Shares
 
 
Amount
 
 
Shares
 
 
Amount
 
 
Capital
 
 
Deficit
 
 
Equity
 
Balance at December 31, 2017
  997,820 
 $9,978 
  6,862,928 
 $68,629 
 $112,105,470 
 $(111,053,637)
 $1,130,440 
Issuance of common stock, Series M Convertible Preferred Stock and warrants in connection with February 2018 financing
  5,000 
  50 
  555,557 
  5,556 
  2,694,394 
   
  2,700,000 
Issuance of common stock, Series N Convertible Preferred Stock in connection with May 2018 financing
  5,364 
  54 
  218,182 
  2,182 
  827,764 
   
  830,000 
Issuance of inducement shares of Series O Convertible Preferred Stock in connection with May 2018 financing
  10,606 
  106 
   
   
  (106)
   
   
Deemed dividends on inducement shares, May 2018
   
   
   
   
  1,388,179 
  (1,388,179)
   
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
Conversion of Series I Preferred Stock to common stock
  (152,820)
  (1,528)
  50,940 
  509 
  1,019 
   
   
Conversion of Series L Preferred Stock to common stock
  (12,500)
  (125)
  694,445 
  6,944 
  (6,819)
   
   
Issuance of whole in lieu of fractional shares resulting from reverse split in February 2018
   
   
  50,991 
  510 
  (510)
    
   
Common stock issued upon vesting of restricted stock units in January 2018, net of payroll taxes
   
   
  797,977 
  7,980 
  (7,980)
   
   
Common stock issued upon vesting of restricted stock units in April 2018, net of shares withheld for payroll taxes
   
   
  22,061 
  221 
  (17,197)
   
  (16,976)
Common stock issued upon vesting of restricted stock units in August 2018
   
   
  1,501 
  15 
  (15)
   
   
Stock-based compensation
   
   
   
   
  1,307,162 
   
  1,307,162 
Net loss
   
   
    
   
   
  (5,908,068)
  (5,908,068)
Balance at September 30, 2018
  853,470 
 $8,535 
  9,254,582 
 $92,546 
 $118,291,361 
 $(118,349,884)
 $42,558 
 
See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
- 3 -
 
 
 MABVAX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Nine Months
Ended September 30,
 
 
 
 2018
 
 
 2017
 
Operating activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 $(5,908,068)
 $(14,424,883)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
    
    
Depreciation and amortization
  120,680 
  122,315 
Stock-based compensation
  1,307,162 
  4,516,372 
Issuance of restricted stock for services
   
  236,666 
Amortization and accretion related to notes payable
  190,729 
  309,213 
Increase (decrease) in cash from changes in operating assets and liabilities:
    
    
Other receivables
  29,474 
  (7,061)
Prepaid expenses and other
  (189,916)
  (62,672)
Accounts payable
  1,356,273 
  403,210 
Accrued clinical operations and site costs
  437,094 
  283,864 
Accrued compensation
  (513)
  (28,307)
Other accrued expenses
  36,648 
  (51,649)
Net cash used in operating activities
  (2,620,437)
  (8,702,932)
 
    
    
Investing activities
    
    
Purchases of property and equipment
   
  (21,072)
Net cash used in investing activities
   
  (21,072)
 
    
    
Financing activities
    
    
February 2018 private placement, net of issuance costs
  2,700,000 
   
May 2018 and 2017 private placements, net of issuance costs
  830,000 
  820,571 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and Series G Preferred Stock, Net of costs, May 2017
   
 3,647,391
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of costs, August 2017
   
  125,000 
Proceeds from issuance of Series J Preferred Stock, net of costs, August 2017
   
  1,189,417 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of costs, September 2017
   
 1,852,361
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of costs, September 2017
   
 1,215,000
Principal payments on notes payable to Oxford Finance
  (833,333)
  (972,223)
Principal payments on financed insurance policies
  21,140 
  (69,240)
Principal payments on capital lease
  (14,353)
  (10,785)
Purchase of vested employee stock in connection with tax withholding obligation
  (16,976)
   
Net cash provided by financing activities
  2,686,478 
 7,797,492
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
  (66,041)
  (926,512)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
  885,710 
  3,979,290 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 $951,751 
 $3,052,778
 
    
    
Supplemental disclosures:
    
    
  Cash paid during the period for income taxes
 $1,900 
 $1,600 
  Cash paid during the period for interest on notes payable and the capital lease
 $317,391 
 $302,256 
 
    
    
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing information:
    
    
Deemed dividend on issuance of inducement shares
 $1,388,179 
 $5,220,000 
Deemed dividend on issuance of incentive shares
 $ 
 $3,120,000 
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock – Series D
 $ 
 $3,981 
 
    
    
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock – Series I
 $509 
 $3,067 
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock – Series J
 $ 
 $5,227 
 
    
    
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock – Series L
 $6,944 
 $ 
Fair value of repricing warrants issued in previous financing
 $ 
 $19,413 
Common stock issued upon vesting of RSUs
 $8,201 
 $ 
 
  See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
- 4 -
 
 
MABVAX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 
1.            Nature of Business and Basis of Presentation.
 
We are a Delaware corporation, originally incorporated in 1988 under the name “Terrapin Diagnostics, Inc.” in the State of Delaware. In 1998, we changed our corporate name to “Telik, Inc.” and changed our name again to “MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.” in 2014. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “our,” “us,” “MabVax” or the “Company” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 (this “Quarterly Report”) mean MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. on a condensed consolidated financial statement basis with our wholly-owned subsidiary, MabVax Therapeutics, Inc.
 
Nature of Business – About Us
 
MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a fully human antibody discovery platform focused on the rapid translation into clinical development of products to address unmet medical needs in the treatment of cancer and pancreatitis. We discovered a pipeline of human monoclonal antibody product candidates based on the protective immune responses generated by patients who have been vaccinated against targeted cancers. Our therapeutic vaccine product candidates under development were discovered at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (“MSK”) and are exclusively licensed to us as well as exclusive rights to blood samples from patients who were vaccinated with the same licensed vaccines. We operate in only one business segment.
 
Our lead development product, MVT-5873, is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that targets sialyl Lewis A (sLea), an epitope on CA19-9.  MVT-5873 is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials as a therapeutic agent for patients with pancreatic cancer and other CA19-9 positive tumors. CA19-9 is expressed in over 90% of pancreatic cancers and in other diseases including pancreatitis. CA19-9 plays an important role in tumor adhesion and metastasis and is a marker of an aggressive cancer phenotype. CA19-9 also has an important role in the biological pathways that can result in pancreatitis. CA19-9 serum levels are considered a valuable adjunct in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment monitoring of pancreatic cancer and now pancreatitis. With our collaborators including MSK, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Honor Health and Imaging Endpoints, we have treated more than 56 patients with either our therapeutic antibody designated as MVT-5873 or our PET imaging diagnostic product designated as MVT-2163 in Phase 1 clinical studies, and demonstrated early safety, specificity for the target and a potential efficacy signal. The Company also has a radioimmunotherapy product, designated as MVT-1075, that is also in Phase 1 clinical development.  For additional information, please visit the Company's website, www.mabvax.com. Information on the Company’s website is not incorporated herein.
 
Studies conducted by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories have demonstrated that antibodies capable of binding to CA19-9 and blocking the downstream biological pathways of pancreatitis have a positive effect on ameliorating the disease. Combining the preclinical science supporting the use of the CA19-9 blocking antibodies in the treatment of pancreatitis with the clinically validated data and supplies of MVT-5873 already available gives MabVax the opportunity, assuming adequate funding, to move quickly into the clinic in a mid-stage proof of concept clinical trial in the near-term.
 
The Company completed a preclinical asset sale and license agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (“Boehringer Ingelheim”) in July 2018, and a license agreement for a cancer vaccine to Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc. in June 2018.  The Company received nearly $5 million in upfront payments from these two transactions to begin the third quarter, with an additional $7.6 million in downstream milestones the Company may receive based either on reaching an anniversary date of entering the agreement, provided the agreement is not canceled before a milestone has been earned or due, or upon reaching a milestone. 
 
We have incurred net losses since inception and expect to incur substantial losses for the foreseeable future as we continue our research, development and clinical activities. To date, we have funded operations primarily through revenues earned from asset sale and license agreements, proceeds from the sale of common and preferred stock, government grants, the issuance of debt, the issuance of common stock in lieu of cash for services, payments from collaborators, and interest income. The process of developing products will require significant additional research and development, preclinical testing and clinical trials, as well as regulatory approvals. We expect these activities, together with general and administrative expenses, to result in substantial operating losses for the foreseeable future. We will not receive substantial revenue unless we or our collaborative partners complete clinical trials, obtain regulatory approvals and successfully commercialize one or more product candidates; or we license our technology after achieving one or more milestones of interest to a potential partner.
 
 
- 5 -
 
 
Reverse Stock Splits
 
On August 16, 2016, we filed a certificate of amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effectuate a reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding common stock on a 1-for-7.4 basis, effective on August 16, 2016 (the “2016 Reverse Stock Split”). On February 14, 2018, we filed a certificate of amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effectuate another reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding common stock on a 1-for-3 basis, effective on February 16, 2018 (the “2018 Reverse Stock Split”; collectively with the 2016 Reverse Stock Split, the “Reverse Stock Splits”). All share and per share amounts, and number of shares of common stock into which each share of preferred stock will convert, in the financial statements and notes thereto have been retroactively adjusted for all periods presented to give effect to the Reverse Stock Splits, including rounding for fractional shares and reclassifying any amount equal to the reduction in par value of common stock to additional paid-in capital.
 
Delaware Order Granting Petition for Relief
 
On September 20, 2018, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court”) entered an order validating (i) issuances of common stock upon conversions of the Company’s preferred stock occurring between June 30, 2014 and February 12, 2018, and (ii) stockholder approval of corporate actions presented to the Company’s stockholders from June 30, 2014 to February 12, 2018. In so doing, the Court granted the Company’s Verified Petition for Relief Under 8 Del. C. § 205 (the “Delaware Petition”) captioned In re: MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc., filed on July 27, 2018, in order to rectify the uncertainty regarding whether shares of our common stock were validly issued upon conversion of our preferred stock from June 30, 2014 to February 12, 2018. The Delaware Petition and the Court’s order granting the Delaware Petition are discussed further in the Section below titled, “Court Validation of Previously Issued Shares of Common Stock upon Conversion of Preferred Stock.”
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The balance sheet data at December 31, 2017, was derived from audited financial statements at that date. It does not include, however, all the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements.
 
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared using GAAP for interim financial information and the instructions to Regulation S-X. While these statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim period, they do not include all information or notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements of MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2017, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 2, 2018 and amended on Form 10-K/A as filed with the SEC on October 15, 2018. These quarterly results are not necessarily indicative of future results.
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Management believes that these estimates are reasonable; however, actual results may differ from these estimates.
 
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
The Company had no assets or liabilities that were measured using quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities or significant unobservable inputs (Level 2 and Level 3 assets and liabilities, respectively) as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. The carrying value of cash held in money market funds of $864,110 and $1,196 as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, is included in cash and cash equivalents and approximates market values based on quoted market prices (Level 1 inputs).
 
Concentration of Credit Risk
 
Credit risk represents the risk that the Company would incur a loss if counterparties failed to perform pursuant to the terms of their agreements. Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of money market funds with major financial institutions in the United States. These funds may be redeemed upon demand and, therefore, bear minimal risk. The Company does not anticipate any losses on such balances.
 
Consideration of Impairment of Goodwill
 
The Company maintains a goodwill balance of $6,826,003 on its balance sheet as of September 30, 3018 and December 31, 2017, and tests for impairment at least annually and whenever there has been a material change in the Company by applying GAAP principles related to ASC 350 Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (ASC 350). Based on a qualitative analysis of the Company’s products in the pipeline as of September 30, 2018, the $4.0 million in revenue earned during the quarter, and a potential new indication for the Company’s lead antibody program, MVT-5873, for the treatment of pancreatitis, the Company concluded there was no goodwill impairment as of September 30, 2018. The goodwill was established in connection with the merger of MabVax Therapeutics, Inc. a Delaware corporation, with a subsidiary of the Company on July 8, 2014, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated May 12, 2014, by and among the Company, a subsidiary of the Company and MabVax Therapeutics, Inc. as amended June 30, 2014 and July 7, 2014 (the “Merger”), whereby MabVax Therapeutics, Inc. is the surviving company in the Merger, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
 
 
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Revenue Recognition
 
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), using the full retrospective transition method. Under this method, the Company would have been required to revise its financial statements, if applicable, for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, and applicable interim periods within those years, as if Topic 606 had been effective for those periods. However, Topic 606 did not have any impact on the Company’s revenue recognition upon adoption. This standard applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards, such as leases, insurance, collaboration arrangements and financial instruments. Under Topic 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods and services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of Topic 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with the customer(s); (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods and services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract that falls under the scope of Topic 606, determines those that are performance obligations and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.
 
License and Other Revenues
 
The Company enters into licensing agreements which are within the scope of Topic 606, under which it licenses certain of its product candidates’ rights to third parties. The terms of these arrangements typically include payment of one or more of the following: non-refundable, up-front license fees; development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments; and royalties on Gross Profit of the licensed product, which will be classified as royalty revenues, if and when earned.
 
In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as it fulfills its obligation under each of its agreements, the Company performs the five steps described above. As part of the accounting for these arrangements, the Company must develop assumptions that require judgment to determine the stand-alone selling price, which may include forecasted revenues, development timelines, reimbursement of personnel costs, discount rates and probabilities of technical and regulatory success.
 
Licensing of Intellectual Property If the license to the Company’s intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement, the Company recognizes revenue from non-refundable, up-front fees allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the licensee and the licensee is able to use and benefit from the license. For licenses that are bundled with other performance obligations, the Company utilizes judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue from non-refundable, up-front fees. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period, and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.
 
Milestone Payments At the inception of each arrangement that includes development milestone payments, the Company evaluates whether the milestones are considered probable of being reached and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within the control of the Company or the licensee, such as regulatory approvals, are not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. The transaction price is then allocated to each performance obligation on a relative stand-alone selling price basis, for which the Company recognizes revenue as or when the performance obligations under the contract are satisfied. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, the Company re-evaluates the probability of achievement of such development milestones and any related constraint and, if necessary, adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect license, collaboration and other revenues and earnings in their period of adjustment. To date, the Company has not recognized any milestone payments, because the milestones are not within the control of the Company and the technology is at an early stage of development, or the licensee has the ability to terminate the agreement before the milestone payment is due.
 
Royalties – For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of sales, and for which the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which royalties relate, the Company recognizes revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied). To date, the Company has not recognized any royalty revenue from its license agreements.
 
 
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Accrued Liabilities
 
The Company is required to estimate accrued liabilities as part of the process of preparing its financial statements. The estimation of accrued liabilities involves identifying services that have been performed on the Company’s behalf, and then estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for such services as of each balance sheet date. Accrued liabilities include professional service fees, such as for lawyers and accountants, contract service fees, such as those under contracts with clinical monitors, data management organizations and investigators in conjunction with clinical trials, and fees to contract manufacturers in conjunction with the production of clinical materials. Pursuant to the Company’s assessment of the services that have been performed, the Company recognizes these expenses as the services are provided. Such assessments include: (i) an evaluation by the project manager of the work that has been completed during the period; (ii) measurement of progress prepared internally and/or provided by the third-party service provider; (iii) analyses of data that justify the progress; and (iv) the Company’s judgment.
 
Research and Development Costs
 
Except for payments made in advance of services, research and development costs are expensed as incurred. For payments made in advance, the Company recognizes research and development expense as the services are rendered. Research and development costs primarily consist of salaries and related expenses for personnel, laboratory supplies and raw materials, and sponsored research, Other research and development expenses include fees paid to consultants and outside service providers including clinical research organizations and clinical manufacturing organizations.
 
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
 
Adopted Accounting Standards
 
In May 2014, the FASB issued Topic 606 which amends the guidance for accounting for revenue from contracts with customers. This ASU supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and creates a new Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company did not have any revenue generating contracts in 2017, therefore, the adoption of this standard had no effect on the financial statement line items that could have been affected by the transition. For further discussion on the adoption of this standard, see “Revenue Recognition” above and Note 10, “Contracts and Agreements.”
 
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805), Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The guidance changes the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business. The new guidance requires an entity to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets; if so, the set of transferred assets and activities is not a business. The Company adopted this ASU as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU had no impact on the Company’s financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.
 
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Scope of Modification Accounting, which clarifies when a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award must be accounted for as a modification. The new guidance requires modification accounting if the fair value, vesting conditions or classification of the award is not the same immediately before and after a change to the terms and conditions of the award.  The Company adopted this ASU on a prospective basis as of January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU had no impact on the Company’s financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018.
 
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15 (“ASU 2016-15”), “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.” The standard provides guidance on eight (8) cash flow issues: (1) debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs; (2) settlement of zero-coupon bonds; (3) contingent consideration payments after a business combination; (4) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; (5) proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies; (6) distributions received from equity method investees; (7) beneficial interests in securitization transactions; and (8) separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. ASU 2016-15 addresses how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2018. The adoption of this new standard did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
 
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Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
 
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes existing guidance on accounting for leases in Leases (Topic 840) and generally requires all leases, including operating leases, to be recognized in the statement of financial position as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities by lessees. The provisions of ASU 2016-02 are to be applied using a modified retrospective approach and are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018; early adoption is permitted. The Company plans to elect the transition option provided under ASU 2018-11, which will not require adjustments to comparative periods nor require modified disclosures in those comparative periods. Upon adoption, the Company expects to elect the transition package of practical expedients permitted within the new standard, which among other things, allows the carryforward of the historical lease classification. Based on its anticipated election of practical expedients, the Company anticipates the recognition of right of use assets and related lease liabilities on its balance sheets related to its leases.  The Company intends on engaging a professional services firm to assist in the implementation of ASC 842, and to analyze the impact of adopting ASC 842 on the Company’s statements of income and balance sheets.
 
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-based Payment Accounting, to simplify the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees by aligning it with the accounting for share-based payments to employees, with certain exceptions. The provisions of ASU 2018-07 are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year; early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than a company’s adoption date of Topic 606. Upon transition, the Company will be required to measure these nonemployee awards at fair value as of the adoption date.  The Company had not early adopted this ASU as of September 30, 2018, but plans on adopting this ASU for its reporting period beginning January 1, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that this ASU will have on its financial statements.
  
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” This ASU requires instruments measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. Entities are also required to record allowances for available-for-sale debt securities rather than reduce the carrying amount. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We expect the adoption of this new standard will not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.” This ASU eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Instead, an entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. This ASU is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. We expect the adoption of this new standard will not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements. 
 
With the exception of the new standards discussed above, there have been no new accounting pronouncements that have significance, or potential significance, to the Company’s financial statements.
 
2.            Liquidity and Going Concern.
 
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis, which assumes that the Company will continue to operate as a going concern and which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. As reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company had a net loss of $5,908,068, net cash used in operating activities of $2,620,437, net cash used in investing activities of $0, and net cash provided by financing activities of $2,686,478 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had $951,751 in cash and cash equivalents, a working capital deficit of $6,334,244, an accumulated deficit of $118,349,884, and stockholders’ equity of $42,558.  The Company also has significant debt payments due within the next twelve months.
 
 
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Overview of 2018 Private Placements
 
Between February 2 and February 10, 2018, the Company entered into separate purchase agreements with investors pursuant to which the Company sold (i) shares of its common stock, (ii) shares of its convertible preferred stock, and (iii) warrants to purchase shares of common (the “February 2018 Private Placements”). From April 30 to May 2, 2018, the Company entered into separate purchase agreements with investors pursuant to which we agreed to sell shares of its common stock and convertible preferred stock (the “May 2018 Private Placements”). No financial advisor was used in connection with the February 2018 Private Placements nor the May 2018 Private Placements.
 
The securities issued in connection with the February 2018 Private Placements and the May 2018 Private Placements were offered and sold solely to accredited investors in reliance on the exemption from registration afforded by Rule 506 of Regulation D and Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The Company entered into separate registration rights agreements with each of the investors in the February 2018 Private Placements and the May 2018 Private Placements, pursuant to which the Company agreed to undertake to file a registration statement to register the resale of the shares of common stock and the shares of common stock underlying the warrants and preferred stock. The Company also agreed to use reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective and to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement until all of such shares of common stock have been sold or are otherwise able to be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, without any restrictions.
 
February 2018 Private Placements
 
In connection with the February 2018 Private Placements, the Company sold (i) an aggregate of 555,557 shares of its common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $1,250,000, or $2.25 per share, (ii) 5,000 shares of our newly designated 0% Series M Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series M Preferred Stock”) for an aggregate purchase price of $1,500,000, or $300.00 per share, and (iii) warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 855,561 shares of common stock each with an exercise price of $2.70 per share. The net proceeds of the February 2018 Private Placements were $2,700,000 after transaction costs of $50,000.
 
May 2018 Private Placements
 
In connection with the May 2018 Private Placements, the Company agreed to sell (i) 218,182 shares of common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $240,000, or $1.10 per share, and (ii) 5,363.64 shares of newly designated 0% Series N Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series N Preferred Stock”) at an aggregate purchase price of $590,000, or $110.00 per share. The following investors in the May 2018 Private Placements also invested in the February 2018 Private Placements (the “Prior Investors”): GRQ Consultants Inc., Roth 401K FBO Renee Honig; GRQ Consultants Inc., Roth 401K FBO Barry Honig; Melechdavid, Inc.; Grander Holdings Inc. 401K; Robert S. Colman Trust UDT 3/13/85; Ben Brauser; Joshua A. Brauser; Daniel A. Brauser; Gregory Aaron Brauser; Erick E. Richardson; and Ronald B. Low.
 
Under the terms of the May 2018 Private Placements, we were required to offer an aggregate of 12,777.77 shares (the “May 2018 Inducement Shares”) of newly designated 0% Series O Preferred Stock (the “Series O Preferred Stock”) to investors who previously purchased securities in the February 2018 Private Placements and who also purchased securities in the May 2018 Private Placements with an aggregate purchase price of at least 40% of their investment amounts in the February 2018 Private Placements. Based on the closing of the offering, and participation of the Prior Investors who invested an aggregate of $830,000 (the “May 2018 Inducement Investors”), the Company issued an aggregate of 10,605.56 May 2018 Inducement Shares in the form of Series O Preferred Stock convertible into an aggregate of 1,060,556 shares of common stock. The May 2018 Private Placements closed on May 15, 2018, with the Company receiving gross proceeds totaling $830,000.
 
 
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Plans for Continuing to Fund the Company’s Losses from Operations
 
We plan to continue to fund the Company’s losses from operations and capital funding needs through equity financings in the form of common stock and preferred stock, licensing agreements, asset sales, strategic collaborations, government grants, issuance of common stock in lieu of cash for services, debt financings or other arrangements. Further, to extend availability of existing cash available for our programs for achieving milestones or a strategic transaction, in mid-2017 we began reducing personnel from twenty-five (25) full time employees to six (6) as of November 13, 2018, and reduced other operating expenses following the completion of two (2) Phase 1a clinical trials of our lead antibody product candidate, HuMab 5B1, which has enabled us to reduce our expenditures on clinical trials. We plan to continue funding Phase 1 clinical trials of our product candidate MVT-5873 in cancer patients, MVT-2163 as a diagnostic agent in pancreatic cancer patients, and MVT-1075 as a radioimmunotherapy agent for the treatment of various cancers, preclinical testing of follow-on antibody candidates, investor and public relations, SEC compliance efforts, and the general and administrative expenses associated with each of these activities, and prepare for a mid-stage proof-of-concept clinical trial of MVT-5873 as a treatment for pancreatitis. We will also support research efforts and continued Phase 1 clinical development by MSK of our Positron-emission tomography (“PET”) imaging agent MVT-2163 under an R01 Research Grant provided by the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) to MSK in April 2018, with the bulk of the costs of the research and clinical development being borne by the NIH. Although we achieved two strategic transactions in late June 2018 and early July 2018, there can be no assurance that we will be able to achieve additional license and or sales agreements and earn revenues large enough to offset our operating expenses in the future, as discussed further in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Quarterly Report. We cannot be sure that asset sales or licensing agreements can be signed in a timely manner, if any, or that capital funding will be available on reasonable terms, or at all. If we are unable to secure significant asset sales or licensing agreements and adequate additional funding, we may be forced to make additional reductions in spending, incur further cutbacks in personnel, extend payment terms with suppliers, liquidate assets where possible, suspend or curtail planned programs and/or cease our operations entirely. In addition, if the Company does not meet its payment obligations to third parties as they come due, it may be subject to litigation claims. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.
 
We anticipate the Company will continue to incur net losses into the foreseeable future as we: (i) continue our clinical trial of MVT-5873 in cancer patients, (ii) continue our clinical trial for the development of MVT-1075 as a radioimmunotherapy, (iii) prepare for a mid-stage proof-of-concept clinical trial of MVT-5873 as a treatment for pancreatitis, to be initiated in early 2019, and (iv) continue operations as a public company. Based on receipt of $2.7 million net of transaction costs in February 2018, an additional $830,000 from a financing in May 2018, and receipt of $700,000 from an upfront payment under a sublicense agreement with Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc. (“Y-mAbs”) during the first nine months of 2018; and receipt of $4.0 million in gross proceeds from an asset purchase and license agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (“Boehringer Ingelheim”) in July 2018, and without any other additional funding or receipt of payments from potential asset sales or licensing agreements, we expect we will have sufficient funds to meet our obligations until December 2018. These conditions give rise to substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Any of these actions could materially harm the Company’s business, results of operations, and prospects. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
 
If the Company raises additional funds by issuing equity securities, substantial dilution to existing stockholders could result. If the Company raises additional funds by incurring debt financing, the terms of the debt may involve significant cash payment obligations as well as covenants and specific financial ratios that may restrict the Company’s ability to operate its business.
 
3.            Cash and Cash Equivalents.
 
We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company limits its exposure to credit loss by holding cash in U.S. dollars or, from time to time, placing cash and investments in U.S. government, agency and government-sponsored enterprise obligations.
 
4.            Fair Value of Financial Instruments.
 
Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents and accounts payable, all of which are generally considered to be representative of their respective fair values because of the short-term nature of those instruments.
 
5.            Convertible Preferred Stock, Common Stock and Warrants.
 
Dividends on Preferred Stock
 
We immediately recognize the changes in the redemption value on preferred stock as they occur and the carrying value of the security is adjusted to equal what the redemption amount would be as if redemption were to occur at the end of the reporting date based on the conditions that exist as of that date.
 
No dividends have ever been declared by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) since our inception on any series of convertible preferred stock.
 
 
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Overview of Preferred Stock & Beneficial Ownership Blockers
 
All issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s preferred stock have a par value of $0.01 per share and rank prior to any class or series of the Company’s common stock as to the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or as to the payment of dividends. The Company must obtain the consent of a majority of the holders of each series of preferred stock before taking any action that materially and adversely affects the rights, preferences, or privileges of the applicable series of preferred stock. Also, the holders of each series of preferred stock are entitled to vote on any matter on which the holders of common stock are entitled to vote. Additionally, the Company must obtain the consent of the holders of the Series E Preferred Stock, Series J Preferred Stock, Series L Preferred Stock, and Series N Preferred Stock (as each of those terms are defined below) prior to increasing or decreasing (other than by conversion) the authorized number of the applicable series of preferred stock or issuing any additional shares of the applicable series of preferred stock.
 
Generally, the same investors participated in each of the Company’s preferred stock offerings such that the same investors own most of the shares of each series of the Company’s issued and outstanding preferred stock. Pursuant to terms negotiated in connection with the Company’s sales of preferred stock, the certificates of designation for the Company’s preferred stock each include a 4.99% and/or 9.99% beneficial ownership conversion blocker. These conversion blockers may be decreased or increased, at the option of each holder, to a percentage not to exceed 9.99% upon written notice to the Company, as further specified in the applicable certificate of designation. The certificate of designation for our Series N Preferred Stock includes a 19.99% blocker provision applicable until stockholders approve issuances of common stock in excess of such amount. The stated values, as applicable, and conversion prices of our preferred stock are subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, combination of shares and similar recapitalization transactions. The Company’s ability to administer the blockers according to their terms depends on group determinations and accurate reporting by outside investors with respect to their own beneficial ownership.
 
Series D Preferred Stock
 
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were 44,104 shares of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series D Preferred Stock”) issued and outstanding, and convertible into an aggregate of 198,667 shares of common stock. As of September 30, 2018, each one share of Series D Preferred Stock is convertible into 4.5045 shares of Common Stock.
 
Series E Preferred Stock
 
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were 33,333 shares of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series E Preferred Stock”) issued and outstanding, and convertible into 173,249 shares of common stock.
 
The shares of Series E Preferred Stock are convertible into shares of common stock based on a conversion calculation equal to the stated value of such preferred share ($75 per share), plus all accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, on such share of Series E Preferred Stock, as of such date of determination, divided by the conversion price $14.43 per share.
 
Series I Preferred Stock
 
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were 645,640 and 798,460 shares of our Series I Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, and convertible into 215,214 and 266,154 shares of our common stock, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, 152,820 shares of Series I Preferred Stock were converted by Grander Holdings, Inc. 401K into 50,940 shares of common stock.
 
The Series I Preferred Stock has a stated value of $0.01 per share. Each one share of Series I Preferred Stock is convertible into one-third share of common stock.
 
 
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Series J Preferred Stock
 
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were 772.73 shares of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series J Preferred Stock”) issued and outstanding and convertible into 386,365 shares of our common stock.
 
The shares of Series J Preferred Stock are convertible into shares of common stock based on a conversion calculation equal to the stated value of the Series J Preferred Stock ($550), plus all accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, on such Series J Preferred Stock, as of such date of determination, divided by the conversion price ($1.10). If we issue or sell common stock, or common equivalent shares, for consideration per share that is less than the conversion price in effect immediately prior to the issuance, then the conversion price in effect immediately prior to such issuance will be adjusted to the lower issuance price, but not be less than $0.10.
 
Series K Preferred Stock
 
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were 63,150 shares of our Series K convertible preferred stock (“Series K Preferred Stock”) issued and outstanding, and convertible into 2,105,000 of our common stock.
 
The shares of Series K Preferred Stock are convertible into shares of common stock based on a conversion calculation equal to the stated value of the Series K Preferred Stock ($0.01) divided by the conversion price ($0.0003).
 
Series L Preferred Stock
 
As of September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, there were 45,500 and 58,000 shares of our Series L Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, and convertible into 2,527,778 and 3,222,223 shares of our common stock, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, 12,500 shares of Series L Preferred Stock were converted into 694,445 shares of common stock by GRQ Consultants, Inc. Roth 401K FBO Renee Honig Trustee, and HS Contrarian Investments, LLC.
 
The shares of Series L Preferred Stock are convertible into shares of common stock based on a conversion calculation equal to the stated value of the Series L Preferred Stock ($100), plus all accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, on such Series L Preferred Stock, as of such date of determination, divided by the conversion price ($1.80).
 
Series M Preferred Stock
 
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were 5,000 and no shares of our Series M Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, and convertible into 666,667 and no shares of our common stock, respectively.
 
The shares of Series M Preferred Stock are convertible into shares of common stock based on a conversion calculation equal to the stated value of the Series M Preferred Stock ($300), plus all accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, on such Series M Preferred Stock, as of such date of determination, divided by the conversion price ($2.25).
 
Series N Preferred Stock
 
As of September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, there were 5,363.64 and no shares of our Series N Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, and convertible into 536,364 and no shares of our common stock, respectively.
 
The shares of Series N Preferred Stock are convertible into shares of common stock based on a conversion calculation equal to the stated value of the Series N Preferred Stock ($110), plus all accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, on such Series N Preferred Stock, as of such date of determination, divided by the conversion price ($1.10). If we issue or sell common stock, or common equivalent shares, for consideration per share that is less than the conversion price in effect immediately prior to the issuance, then the conversion price in effect immediately prior to such issuance will be adjusted to the lower issuance price, but not be less than $0.10.
 
Series O Preferred Stock
 
As of September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, there were 10,605.56 and no shares of our Series O Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, and convertible into 1,060,556 and no shares of our common stock, respectively.
 
The shares of Series O Preferred Stock are convertible into shares of common stock based on a conversion calculation equal to the stated value of the Series O Preferred Stock ($0.01), plus all accrued and unpaid dividends, if any, on such Series O Preferred Stock, as of such date of determination, divided by the conversion price ($0.0001). We are not permitted to issue any shares of common stock upon conversion of the Series O Preferred Stock until our stockholders approve, in accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, the conversion of Series N Preferred Stock authorized on April 26, 2018, or the conversion of Series O Preferred Stock.
 
 
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Warrants Issued in Connection with February 2018 Private Placements
 
 The warrants issued in the February 2018 Private Placements (the “February 2018 Warrants”) are exercisable, at any time on or after the sixth month anniversary of the closing date, at a price of $2.70 per share, subject to adjustment, and expire three years from the initial exercise date. The holders of the February 2018 Warrants may, subject to certain limitations, exercise the February 2018 Warrants on a cashless basis if the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the February 2018 Warrants are not registered for resale under the Securities Act within four (4) months of issuance, or between June 2 and June 10, 2018. The Company is prohibited from effecting an exercise of any February 2018 Warrants to the extent that, as a result of any such exercise, the holder would beneficially own more than 9.99% of the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of such February 2018 Warrants. The February 2018 Warrants are not listed or quoted on any securities exchange or other trading market.
 
Warrants Issued in Connection with October 2015 Public Offering
 
As of September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, warrants to purchase 56,306 shares of common stock previously issued in connection with our public offering closing on October 5, 2015 (the “October 2015 Warrants”) were outstanding. The October 2015 Warrants, which had an exercise price of $29.31 per share, expired on September 30, 2018.
 
Consultant Grants 
 
On February 10, 2017, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with MDM Worldwide, pursuant to which MDM Worldwide agreed to provide investor relations services to the Company in consideration for an immediate grant of 6,667 shares of the Company’s common stock and a monthly cash retainer of $10,000 a month for ongoing services for a period of one year. The shares granted were fully vested upon grant and the Company recognized the grant date fair value of the shares of $56,600 as investor relations expense upon grant during the first quarter of 2017. The services with MDM Worldwide, which the Company was required to purchase by some investors in connection with prior financings of the Company, were terminated effective June 1, 2018.
 
On March 7, 2017, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with Jenene Thomas Communications, pursuant to which Jenene Thomas Communications agreed to provide investor relations services to the Company. In consideration for these services, which began on April 1, 2017, we paid a monthly cash retainer of $12,500. Additionally, we issued 6,667 restricted shares of common stock on April 1, 2017, to be vested at 1,667 per quarter over the four quarters of services under the agreement beginning April 1, 2017. The shares granted were vested over a one-year period over which the services were performed and, as such, were amortized over the same period beginning in April 1, 2017. The services with Jenene Thomas Communications terminated effective June 1, 2018.
 
6.            Notes Payable.
 
Loan and Security Agreement with Oxford Finance, LLC
 
On January 15, 2016, we entered into a loan and security agreement with Oxford Finance, LLC (“Oxford Finance”) pursuant to which we had the option to borrow $10,000,000 in two equal tranches of $5,000,000 each (the “Loan Agreement”). The first tranche of $5,000,000 was funded at close on January 15, 2016 (the “Term A Loans”). The option to fund the second tranche of $5,000,000 (the “Term B Loans”) was exercisable upon the Company achieving positive interim data on the Phase 1 HuMab-5B1 antibody trial in pancreatic cancer and successfully uplisting to either the Nasdaq Stock Market or NYSE MKT on or before September 30, 2016. The option for the Term B Loans expired unexercised on September 30, 2016. The interest rate for the Term A Loans is set on a monthly basis at the index rate plus 11.29%, where the index rate is the greater of the 30-day LIBOR rate or 0.21%. Interest is due on the first day of each month, in arrears, calculated based on a 360-day year. The Term A Loans were interest only for the first year after funding, and the principal amount of the loan is amortized in equal principal payments, plus period interest, over the next 36 months. A facility fee of 1.0% or $100,000 was due at closing of the transaction and was earned and paid by the Company on January 15, 2016. The Company is obligated to pay a $150,000 final payment upon completion of the term of the Term A Loans, and this amount is being accreted using the effective interest rate method over the term of the loans. The Term A Loans can be prepaid subject to a graduated prepayment fee, depending on the timing of the prepayment.
 
Concurrent with the execution of the Loan Agreement, the Company issued warrants to purchase up to 75,075 shares of common stock to Oxford Finance with an exercise price of $16.65 per share. The warrants were immediately exercisable, may be exercised on a cashless basis and expire on January 15, 2021. The Company recorded $607,338 for the fair value of the warrants as a debt discount within notes payable and an increase to additional paid-in capital on the Company’s balance sheet. We used the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation method to calculate the value of the warrants. The debt discount is being amortized as interest expense over the term of the loan using the effective interest method.
 
We granted Oxford Finance a perfected first priority lien on all of the Company’s assets with a negative pledge on IP. The Company paid Oxford Finance a good faith deposit of $50,000, which was applied towards the facility fee at closing. The Company agreed to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred by Oxford Finance in the initiation and administration of the facilities including the cost of loan documentation.
 
 
- 14 -
 
 
At the initial funding on January 15, 2016, the Company received net proceeds from the Term A Loans of approximately $4,610,000 after fees and expenses. These fees and expenses are being accounted for as a debt discount and classified within notes payable on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Company's transaction costs of approximately $390,000 are presented in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the notes payable, consistent with debt discounts. Debt discounts, issuance costs and the final payment are being amortized or accreted as interest expense over the term of the loan using the effective interest method.
 
The Loan Agreement also contains customary indemnification obligations and customary events of default, including, among other things, our failure to fulfill certain of the Company's obligations under the Loan Agreement, the occurrence of a material adverse change, which is defined as a material adverse change in the Company's business, operations, or condition (financial or otherwise), a material impairment of the prospect of repayment of any portion of the loan, or a material impairment in the perfection or priority of Oxford Finance’s lien in the collateral or in the value of such collateral. In the event of default by the Company under the Loan Agreement, Oxford Finance would be entitled to exercise their remedies thereunder, including the right to accelerate payment of the debt, upon which we may be required to repay all amounts then outstanding under the Loan Agreement, which could harm the Company's financial condition.
 
First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement
 
On March 31, 2017, we and Oxford Finance signed the First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement providing that the payment of principal on the Term A Loans that otherwise would have been due on the March 1, 2017 will be due and payable on May 1, 2017 along with any other payment of principal due on May 1, 2017. We were obligated to pay a fully earned and non-refundable amendment fee of $15,000 to the Collateral Agent (as defined in the Loan Agreement). On May 1, 2017, we paid the principal due on May 1, 2017, along with the $15,000 amendment fee.
 
Second Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement
 
On July 3, 2018, we and Oxford Finance signed the Second Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement whereby Oxford Finance has (i) consented to the Company’s license and sale to Boehringer Ingelheim of certain preclinical assets (the “Acquired Assets”) and release of any encumbrances under the Loan Agreement that relate to the Acquired Assets, (ii) payments of advisory fees to Greenhill & Company of $385,000 over the course of six months in equal monthly payments, and (iii) deferred principal payments under the Loan Agreement for six months starting with the July 2018 payment, in exchange for the Company granting such additional collateral that was not pledged previously or in which security interest was not granted prior to the Second Amendment. We are obligated to pay a fully earned and non-refundable amendment fee of $5,000 to Oxford Finance, which shall become due and payable upon the earlier of: (i) the maturity date of the term loans, (ii) the acceleration of any term loan, or (iii) the prepayment of the term loans pursuant to the Loan Agreement.
 
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded interest expense related to the Loan Agreement of $94,755 and $308,271, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recorded $138,642 and $445,934 in interest expense related to the term loan, respectively. The annual effective interest rate on the note payable, including the amortization of the debt discounts and accretion of the final payment, but excluding the warrant amortization, was approximately 11.82% and 12.30% as of September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
 
The future principal payments under notes payable for the Loan Agreement and financed insurance as of September 30, 2018 are as follows:
 
Years ending December 31:
 
 
 
2018 (remaining)
 $36,348 
2019
  2,380,952 
2020
  396,826 
Notes payable, balance as of September 30, 2018
  2,814,126 
Unamortized discount on notes payable
  (179,025)
Notes payable, net, balance as of September 30, 2018
  2,635,101 
Current portion of notes payable, net
  (1,822,062)
Non-current portion of notes payable, net
 $813,039 
 
Notice of Events of Default under Loan and Security Agreement
 
The Company believes it was in compliance with all applicable covenants set forth in the Loan Agreement as of September 30, 2018. However, on August 14, 2018, the Company received a letter from Oxford Finance (the “Notice”) asserting certain events of default under the Loan Agreement had occurred as a result of certain events the Company reported as having occurred, including, without limitation, (i) the resignation of the Company’s external auditor, CohnReznick LLP (“CohnReznick”), effective August 3, 2018, and its withdrawal of its audit reports for the years 2014 through 2017, (ii) the resignation of four (4) members of the Board of Directors, effective as of July 31, 2018, and (iii) the delisting of the Company’s common stock from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC on July 11, 2018 (collectively, the “Alleged Default Events”). The Company informed Oxford Finance that it disputes the Alleged Default Events, individually or collectively, constitute a “Material Adverse Change” or other event of default under the Loan Agreement. In addition, the Company already engaged a new auditor, Haskell & White LLP, effective August 22, 2018, and on September 20, 2018, the Court ratified the Delaware Petition. Also, on October 16, 2018, the Company applied for listing on the OTCQB Venture Marketplace (the “OTCQB Marketplace”) and believes it now meets the requisite eligibility requirements; however, there can be no assurance of being listed while the SEC Action is underway. As of November 13, 2018, Company management has been meeting at least weekly since September 30, 2018, to keep Oxford Finance informed on potential fund-raising activities.
 
 
- 15 -
 
 
7.            Related Party Transactions
 
On April 1, 2016, the Company entered into a two-year consulting agreement with Jeffrey Ravetch, M.D., Ph.D., a member of the Board of Directors at that time, for work beginning January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017, at a rate of $100,000 a year, in support of scientific and technical advice on the discovery and development of technology and products for the Company primarily related to monoclonal antibodies, corporate development, and corporate partnering efforts. In April 2016, the Company paid Dr. Ravetch $100,000 for services to be performed in 2016, and made quarterly payments thereafter beginning January 1, 2017. On February 16, 2018, the Company extended Dr. Ravetch’s consulting agreement until February 16, 2019, with services to be provided, as may be needed by the Company. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, Dr. Ravetch provided no consulting services related to this agreement and no payments were made. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recorded $25,000 and $50,000, respectively, in consulting expenses as part of general and administration expenses related to this agreement.
 
On November 3, 2016, the Company granted 5,833 stock options to Jeffrey Ravetch, M.D., Ph.D., for his ongoing consulting services to the Company. The option award vests over a three-year period. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recognized $0 and $6,584, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense, as part of general and administration expenses, related to this option grant. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized $3,826 and $7,652, respectively, of stock-based compensation expense, as part of general and administration expenses, related to this option grant.
 
On May 19, 2017, the Company granted each director, other than J. David Hansen, Jeffrey Ravetch (a member of the Board of Directors at the time) and Philip Livingston, 16,667 options at a market price of $5.40, with immediate vesting for their continuing service to the Company, in exchange for giving up their director fees for the remainder of the year. J. David Hansen and Jeffrey Ravetch were each granted 166,667 options and Philip Livingston was granted 16,667 options each at an exercise price of $6.00 per share with immediate vesting and no performance obligations. Options granted to J. David Hansen and Philip Livingston were granted as a condition of the May 2017 financing transaction. The 166,667 options granted to Dr. Ravetch in addition to the 16,667 options granted to other non-employee members of the Company’s Board of Directors were in recognition of the additional value provided by Dr. Ravetch as a scientific expert. Because of the immediate vesting and all of the expenses recorded in 2017, no expenses are being recorded for these grants in 2018. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recorded $0 and $1,480,089, respectively, in stock-based compensation expenses in general and administration expenses, related to these grants.
 
8.            Stock-based Activity
 
Stock-based Compensation
 
We measure stock-based compensation expense for equity-classified awards, principally related to stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”), based on the estimated fair value of the award on the date of grant. We recognize the value of the portion of the award that we ultimately expect to vest as stock-based compensation expense over the requisite service period in our condensed consolidated statements of operations.
 
We use the Black-Scholes model to estimate the fair value of stock options granted. The expected term of stock options granted represents the period of time that we expect them to be outstanding. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the following valuation assumptions were used:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Risk-free interest rate
  - 
  - 
  2.4%
  
1.5 to 2.0
Dividend yield
  - 
  - 
  0%
  0%
Expected volatility
  - 
  - 
  87%
  
73 to 85
Expected life of options, in years
  - 
  - 
  5.5 yrs.
 
 
1.4 to 6.0 yrs.
 
Weighted-average grant date fair value
  - 
  - 
 $1.42 
 $1.53 
 
 Total estimated stock-based compensation expense, related to all the Company’s stock-based payment awards recognized under ASC 718, “Compensation—Stock Compensation” was comprised of the following:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
 
September 30,
 
 
September 30,
 
 
September 30,
 
 
September 30,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Research and development
 $96,157 
 $292,523 
 $340,979 
 $989,884 
General and administrative
  172,458 
  721,213 
  966,183 
  3,526,488 
Total stock-based compensation expense
 $268,615 
 $1,013,736 
 $1,307,162 
 $4,516,372 
  
 
- 16 -
 
 
Stock-based Award Activity
 
The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2018:
 
 
 
Options
Outstanding
 
 
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2017
  953,937 
 $13.97 
Granted
  1,186,000 
  1.99 
Exercised
   
   
Forfeited/cancelled/expired
  (319,348)
  6.71 
Outstanding and expected to vest at September 30, 2018
  1,820,589 
 $7.44 
Vested and exercisable at September 30, 2018
  1,060,093 
 $10.24 
 
The total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock option grants as of September 30, 2018, was $1,549,114 and the weighted average period over which these grants are expected to vest is 1.3 years. The weighted average remaining contractual life of stock options outstanding at September 30, 2018 and 2017 is 9.2 and 9.1 years, respectively.
 
During the first nine months of 2018, the Company granted 1,186,000 options to officers and employees with a weighted average exercise price of $1.99 and vesting over a three-year period with a vesting starting at the one-year anniversary date of the grant date. During the first nine months of 2017, the Company granted 682,230 options to officers and employees with a weighted average exercise price of $7.11 and vesting over a three-year period with vesting starting at the one-year anniversary of the grant date.
 
Stock options granted to employees generally vest over a three-year period with one third of the grants vesting at each one-year anniversary of the grant date.
 
Because the Company had a net operating loss carryforward as of September 30, 2018, no tax benefits for the tax deductions related to stock-based compensation expense were recognized in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. Additionally, no stock options were exercised in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.
 
A summary of activity related to restricted stock grants under the Fifth Amended and Restated MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. 2014 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is presented below:
 
 
 
Shares
 
 
Weighted Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
 
Non-vested at December 31, 2017
  832,226 
 $3.88 
Granted
   
   
Vested
  (832,226)
  50.26 
Forfeited
   
   
Non-vested at September 30, 2018
   
 $ 
 
As of September 30, 2018, there were no non-vested RSUs remaining outstanding.
 
 
- 17 -
 
 
Management Bonus Plan
 
On February 21, 2018, the compensation committee of the Board of Directors reviewed 2017 results and concluded that the year’s performance, relative to the objectives set at the beginning of the year, did not merit any bonus payment. The compensation committee also determined that management base salaries would currently remain unchanged from 2017 levels.
 
Common stock reserved for future issuance
 
Common stock reserved for future issuance consists of the following at September 30, 2018:
 
Common stock reserved for conversion of preferred stock
  7,869,862 
Warrants to purchase common stock
  1,221,935 
Common stock options outstanding
  1,820,589 
Authorized for future grant or issuance under the Stock Plan
  646,059 
      Total
  11,558,445 
 
9.            Net Income (Loss) per Share
 
The Company calculates basic and diluted net income (loss) per share using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period.
 
When the Company is in a net loss position, it excludes from the calculation of diluted net loss per share all potentially dilutive stock options, preferred stock and warrants, and the diluted net loss per share is the same as the basic net loss per share for such periods. If the Company was to be in a net income position, the weighted average number of shares used to calculate the diluted net income per share would include the potential dilutive effect of in-the-money securities, as determined using the treasury stock method.
 
Basic and diluted net loss per share is computed as follows:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders
 $340,681 
 $(6,200,161)
 $(7,296,247)
 $(22,784,296)
Basic net income (loss) per common share
 $0.04 
 $(1.62)
 $(0.81)
 $(8.04)
Diluted net income (loss) per share
 $0.02 
 $(1.62)
 $(0.81)
 $(8.04)
Weighted average common shares outstanding
  9,253,880 
  3,830,280 
  8,983,980 
  2,834,692 
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
  17,123,742 
  3,830,280 
  8,983,980 
  2,834,692 
 
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the three months ended September 30, 2018, includes only the common stock reserved for conversion of preferred stock, as the exercise price for the warrants to purchase common stock and the exercise price for common stock options outstanding are substantially above the weighted average price per share during the period. The table below presents the potentially dilutive securities that would have been included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share for the three months ended September 30, 2017, and for the Nine Months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, if they were not antidilutive for those periods presented.
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
 
 2018
 
 
 2017
 
Common stock reserved for conversion of preferred stock
  7,869,862 
  3,877,796 
Warrants to purchase common stock
  1,221,935 
  691,139 
Common stock options outstanding
  1,820,589 
  938,413 
Unvested restricted stock
   
  317,902 
Total
  10,912,386 
  5,825,250 
 
 
- 18 -
 
 
10.            Contracts and Agreements
 
Asset Purchase and License Agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim
 
On July 4, 2018, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement and License Agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH (hereafter, “BII” and the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) centered on MabVax's program targeting a glycan commonly overexpressed on multiple solid tumor cancers. BII has acquired all rights in and to the program. MabVax received a non-refundable $4 million payment upon signing the agreement and expects to receive an additional $7 million in connection with BII reaching certain near-term milestones and downstream regulatory milestones plus further earn-out payments.
 
The Company recognized the initial $4 million non-refundable upfront payment as revenue, as BII obtained the exclusive rights to use the intellectual property and there were no continuing obligations other than to deliver materials and documents of an administrative nature that were completed within 15 days of entering into the agreement. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had not recognized as revenue any of the future milestones given the high risk and uncertainty of continuing development by BII given such risks.
 
In connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company incurred cost of sales totaling $785,000, including 10% of the $4 million payment or $400,000 to MSK to obtain MSK’s consent to enter into the Asset Purchase Agreement, and $385,000 in a fixed fee to investment banker Greenhill & Co. MabVax agreed to share with MSK 20% or $1.4 million of the $7.0 million in near-term milestones if achieved by BII.
 
The asset acquisition is separate and distinct from other programs under development at MabVax, enabling MabVax to retain all rights to its lead HuMab-5B1 antibody program which is in Phase 1 clinical trials as a therapeutic product candidate and as a diagnostic product candidate, as well as other antibody discovery programs from the Company's antibody discovery portfolio targeting other cancer antigens.
 
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory License Agreement
 
On September 8, 2018, the Company entered into an agreement with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (“CSHL”), a nonprofit New York State education corporation, whereby the Company licensed the exclusive worldwide rights to certain discoveries and technology including exclusive interest in certain patent applications filed by the Company on behalf of CSHL for use of MVT-5873 as a treatment for pancreatitis. The Company paid $20,000 as an upfront license fee and will pay to CSHL a nonrefundable annual license maintenance fee of the same amount beginning on January 1, 2020 and continuing each year thereafter during the term of the agreement and will increase to $50,000 a year upon issuance of the first patent in connection with the technology. The annual license fee will be reduced for any patent prosecution and maintenance costs and will be fully creditable against any royalties or milestone payments earned during the year. Future milestone payments are in the aggregate less than $2.5 million, with royalties that range from 0.25% if no valid claim to patents, to 2.5% if there is a valid claim of the patent in the territory of sales.
 
Sublicense Grant to Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc.
 
On June 27, 2018, we granted an exclusive sublicense to Y-mAbs, a privately held clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, for a bi-valent ganglioside-based vaccine intended to treat neuroblastoma, a rare pediatric cancer (the “Y-mAbs Sublicense”). Total value of the transaction to MabVax is $1.3 million plus a share of a Priority Review Voucher (as defined in the sublicense agreement) if granted by the FDA to Y-mAbs on approval of the vaccine and the Priority Review Voucher is subsequently sold. Additionally, Y-mAbs will be responsible for all further development of the product as well as any downstream payment obligations related to this specific vaccine to MSK that were specified in the original MabVax-MSK license agreement dated April 30, 2008. If Y-mAbs successfully develops and receives FDA approval for the neuroblastoma vaccine, it is obligated to file with the FDA for a Priority Review Voucher. If the voucher is granted to Y-mAbs and subsequently sold, then MabVax will receive a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the voucher by Y-mAbs. Upon entering the Y-mAbs Sublicense, the Company received a non-refundable upfront payment of $700,000 and will receive an additional $600,000 upon the one-year anniversary of entering into the agreement, provided Y-mAbs has not terminated the agreement prior to the one-year anniversary. The Sublicense Agreement contains termination provisions allowing for the termination of the agreement (i) upon material breach if the breaching party fails to cure the breach within 60 days of notice by the non-breaching party, (ii) by Y-mAbs at any time upon 90 days’ advance notice to MabVax, or (iii) the expiration or termination of the underlying license from MSK to MabVax, provided that MSK will assume the agreement if Y-mAbs is in material compliance with the agreement upon the termination of the MSK-MabVax license. There were no continuing obligations on the part of the Company in connection with the agreement other than one-time administrative matters that were completed within thirty (30) days of signing the agreement. Therefore, the Company recognized $700,000 as revenue upon signing the agreement and receiving the funds. Because Y-mAbs has the right to terminate the Y-mAbs Sublicense before the one-year anniversary and the uncertainty of continuing clinical development by Y-mAbs, the Company will not recognize additional revenue until it is likely the termination provisions are no longer applicable. 
 
 
- 19 -
 
 
Letter Agreement with MSK
 
On June 27, 2018, we entered into a letter agreement with MSK (the “MSK Letter”) in connection with obtaining the consent from MSK for the Company to enter into the Y-mAbs Sublicense and allow Y-mAbs to “step into the shoes” of the obligations that the Company would have had to pay MSK if the Company had continued development of the neuroblastoma vaccine, including future payment obligations of the Company regarding future milestones. As part of the agreement, the Company and MSK agreed that MabVax would receive 100% of both the $700,000 upfront payment and $600,000 upon the one-year anniversary of the Y-mAbs Sublicense. All of the obligations to MSK in the MSK Letter were fully expensed as of June 30, 2018.
 
May 2017 Letter Agreement
 
On May 15, 2017, as a condition to the participation of HS Contrarian Investments, LLC (“HS Contrarian”) in the public offering of the Company’s common stock and Series G Preferred Stock in May 2017 (the “May 2017 Public Offering”), the Company entered into a Letter Agreement with HS Contrarian (the “May 2017 Letter Agreement”) where the Company agreed to offer incentive shares (the “May 2017 Inducement Shares”) to investors who (i) participated in both the Company’s August 2016 public offering and the Company’s April 2015 private offering, (ii) purchased securities in the May 2017 Public Offering equal to at least 50% of their original investment in the August 2016 public offering or 25% of their original investment in the April 2015 private offering, and (iii) still hold 100% of their common stock or preferred stock purchased in those investments.
 
Further, the Company agreed to the following in the May 2017 Letter Agreement:
 
Board Nomination:
 
To nominate one (1) candidate to the Board of Directors acceptable to the holder of a majority of the Series G Preferred Stock by December 31, 2017, and that (2) two current Board members would resign.
 
Executive Hire:
 
To hire a new C-level executive in a leadership role by July 15, 2017.
 
Board Compensation:
 
To issue an aggregate of 350,000 options to certain employees and members of the Board of Directors, at a price not less than $6.00 per share, and 16,667 options to each other member of the Board of Directors at the current market price in connection with this offering. The options were issued pursuant to the Company’s option plan, subject to the requisite approvals and availability under the plan. The company was responsible for obtaining the approval of the Board of Directors and stockholders of the Company to the extent the company needed their approval to increase the number of shares available under the plan. All Board of Director fees were waived for 2017.
 
Funds Held in Escrow:
 
$500,000 of the funds from the May 2017 Public Offering were to be held in escrow and released to one or more investor relations services acceptable to the Company following the closing of this offering.
 
Additionally, we granted HS Contrarian consent rights: the right to approve future (i) issuances of our securities, (ii) equity or debt financings and (iii) sales of any development product assets currently held by us, subject to certain exceptions, if such securities are sold at a price below $7.50 per share and for as long as HS Contrarian in the offering holds 50% or more of the shares of Series G Preferred Stock purchased by HS Contrarian in the May 2017 Public Offering (the “Consent Rights”). All other prior consent rights of HS Contrarian were superseded by these consent rights. As of September 30, 2018, none of the shares of Series G Preferred Stock is outstanding. Thus, HS Contrarian no longer holds the Consent Rights.
 
For the period from the May 2017 Public Offering to December 31, 2017, the Company exceeded the minimum $500,000 in expenses related to outside investor relations services fulfilling the Company’s obligation for spending on investor relations. HS Contrarian elected not to hold the funds in escrow. Further, the Company issued the May 2017 Inducement Shares and adjusted the Board of Directors compensation per the May 2017 Letter Agreement. Also, two members of the Board of Directors resigned during 2017, achieving one of the conditions of HS Contrarian. The Company did not nominate a new member to the Board of Directors, nor did it hire a new C-level executive in light of limited amount of cash available to the Company.
 
Letter Agreement Regarding Future Financing Transactions
 
On August 9, 2017, in connection with an offering in the aggregate amount of $1,312,500 in which the Company sold shares of its Series J Preferred Stock (the “August 2017 Offering”), we entered into a Letter Agreement with HS Contrarian (the “August 2017 Letter Agreement”), whereby HS Contrarian consented to and agreed that, the Company may sell securities to the investors set forth below, of an aggregate amount of up to $2,350,000, and the Company would issue incentive shares in the form of newly designated shares of Series K Preferred Stock convertible into an aggregate of 2,166,667 shares of common stock to be distributed to the following individuals or entities, as directed by HS Contrarian, as an incentive (the “Inducement Shares”) for HS Contrarian and these entities and individuals to invest in the August 2017 Offering.
 
HS Contrarian Investments, LLC
GRQ Consultants, Inc. Roth 401K FBO Barry Honig Trustee
GRQ Consultants, Inc. Roth 401K FBO Renee Honig Trustee
Grander Holdings, Inc. 401K
Robert B. Prag
David Moss
Paradox Capital Partners, LLC
Melechdavid, Inc.
Melechdavid, Inc. Retirement Plan
Robert S. Colman Trust UDT 3/13/85
Sargeant Capital Ventures, LLC
Edward W. Easton TTEE The Easton Group ORP PSP U/A DTD 02/09/2000
Donald E. Garlikov
Airy Properties
Ryan O'Rourke
Corey Patrick O'Rourke
 
 
 
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In addition, the Company agreed to the following in the August 2017 Letter Agreement:
 
To file a proxy statement for a special meeting of stockholders within 10 days of closing the August 2017 Offering. Proposals were to include (i) an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding common stock by a ratio of not less than one-for-two and not more than one-for-twenty at any time prior to one year from the date of the special meeting, with the exact ratio to be set at a whole number within this range as determined by the Board of Directors, (ii) the issuance of securities in one or more non-public offerings where the maximum discount at which securities will be offered will be equivalent to a discount of 30% below the market price of the common stock, as required by and in accordance with Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5635(d), (iii) the issuance of securities in one or more non-public offerings where the maximum discount at which securities will be offered will be equivalent to a discount of 20% below the market price of the Common Stock, as required by and in accordance with Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5635(d), (iv) the issuance of common stock upon the conversion of Series J Preferred Stock and (v) the issuance of incentive shares in the form of shares of Series K Preferred Stock convertible into an aggregate of 2,166,667 shares of common stock.
 
Subject to agreement on terms and conditions of the investment, HS Contrarian committed to a $1,000,000 lead order in an offering amount of $8,000,000 (the “$8,000,000 Financing”). The $8,000,000 Financing was subject to the Company obtaining approval of a reverse stock split, issuance of the Series J Preferred Stock, and filing a proxy statement for stockholder approval of the Inducement Shares as identified in the August 2017 Letter Agreement.
 
That the employment terms of all management be reduced to two years from three years and that management defer portions of their salary for the remainder of the year, which would be paid upon the earlier of completion of the $8,000,000 Financing or a business transaction that represents, or transactions in the aggregate that represent, in excess of $10,000,000.
 
In connection with HS Contrarian’s and the Company’s obligations under the August 2017 Letter Agreement, neither the $8,000,000 Financing nor the change in employment terms from three years to two years were completed as of November 13, 2018.
 
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
 
Since 2008, the Company has engaged in various research agreements and collaborations with MSK including licensed rights to cancer vaccines and the blood samples from patients who have been vaccinated with MSK’s cancer vaccines. Total sponsored research contracts outstanding in 2016 amounting to approximately $800,000 in 2016 were 100% complete as of the year ended December 31, 2016. Such sponsored research agreements provide support for preclinical work on the Company’s product development programs. The work includes preparing radioimmunoconjugates of the Company’s antibodies and performing in vitro and in vivo pharmacology studies for our therapeutic antibody product candidate, imaging agent product candidate, and radioimmunotherapy product candidate programs. For the three months ended September 30, 2018, there were no expenses incurred related to these contracts.
 
Patheon Biologics LLC Agreement
 
On April 14, 2014, the Company entered into a development and manufacturing services agreement with Patheon Biologics LLC (f.k.a. Gallus Biopharmaceuticals) to provide a full range of manufacturing and bioprocessing services, including cell line development, process development, protein production, cell culture, protein purification, bio-analytical chemistry and QC testing. Total amount of the contract is estimated at approximately $3.0 million. For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company recorded no expenses associated with the agreement, as no manufacturing was completed during either period.
 
11.            Commitments and Contingencies
 
Capital Leases
 
On March 21, 2016, the Company entered into a lease agreement with ThermoFisher Scientific (“Lessor”). Under the terms of the agreement, the Company agreed to lease two pieces of equipment from the Lessor, a liquid chromatography system and an incubator, totaling in cost of $95,656. The term of the lease is five years (60 months), and the monthly lease payment is $1,942. In addition, there is a $1.00 buyout option at the end of the lease term.
 
Minimum future annual capital lease obligations are as follows as of September 30, 2018:
 
2018 (remaining)
 $5,601 
2019
  22,402 
2020
  22,402 
2021
  7,468 
Less interest
  (7,426)
Principal
  50,447 
Less current portion
  (18,943)
Noncurrent portion
 $31,504 
 
Operating Leases
 
In 2015, the Company recorded a $590,504 contingent lease termination fee of the master lease and sublease of 3165 Porter Drive in Palo Alto, California, which was payable to ARE-San Francisco No. 24 (“ARE”), if the Company received $15 million or more in additional financing in the aggregate. The additional financing was achieved in 2015 and the termination fee is reflected on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as an accrued lease contingency fee.
 
On September 2, 2015, the Company entered a lease (the “Lease”) with AGP Sorrento Business Complex, L.P., for certain premises of office and laboratory space in buildings located at 11535 Sorrento Valley Rd., San Diego, California, to serve as the Company’s corporate offices and laboratories (the “New Premises”). Because certain tenant improvements needed to be made to the New Premises before the Company could take occupancy, the term of the Lease did not commence until the New Premises were ready for occupancy, which was on February 4, 2016. The Lease terminates on February 28, 2022, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the Lease. Pursuant to the terms of the Lease, the monthly base rent is $35,631, subject to annual increases as set forth in the Lease.
 
 
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The Company has an option to extend the Lease term for a single, five-year period. If the Lease term is extended for the optional five-year period, the monthly base rent will be adjusted based on fair market rental value. In addition to rent, the Company agreed to pay a portion of the taxes and utility, maintenance and other operating costs paid or accrued in connection with the ownership and operation of the property.
 
The Company recognized rent expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
 
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded rent expense of $115,238 and $345,714, respectively.
 
Minimum future annual operating lease obligations are as follows as of September 30, 2018:
 
2018 (remaining)
 $151,204 
2019
  466,085 
2020
  480,068 
2021
  494,470 
2022
  41,306 
Total
 $1,633,133 
 
Legal Proceedings
 
See Item 1 of Part II “Other Information” and Note 12 “Subsequent Events” for a discussion of legal proceedings.
 
12.            Subsequent Events
 
Legal Proceedings
 
 Jackson v. Hansen et al., Case No. 18-cv-2302-BEN-BGS. On October 4, 2018, a shareholder derivative complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.  The complaint arises from similar allegations as In re MabVax Therapeutics Securities Litigation and Liesman v. Hansen et al., filed on September 26, 2018 (See Part II. Item 1. “Legal Proceedings”) but, in addition to a breach of fiduciary duty claim, also includes causes of action for unjust enrichment, abuse of control, gross mismanagement and waste of corporate assets.  Plaintiff seeks, on behalf of the Company, damages, fees, costs, and equitable relief.
 
 
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
About Us
 
MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a fully human antibody discovery platform focused on the rapid translation into clinical development of products to address unmet medical needs in the treatment of cancer and pancreatitis. We discovered a pipeline of human monoclonal antibody product candidates based on the protective immune responses generated by patients who have been vaccinated against targeted cancers. Our therapeutic vaccine product candidates under development were discovered at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (“MSK”) and are exclusively licensed to us as well as exclusive rights to blood samples from patients who were vaccinated with the same licensed vaccines. We operate in only one business segment.
 
Our lead development product, MVT-5873, is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that targets sialyl Lewis A (sLea), an epitope on CA19-9.  MVT-5873 is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials as a therapeutic agent for patients with pancreatic cancer and other CA19-9 positive tumors. CA19-9 is expressed in over 90% of pancreatic cancers and in other diseases including pancreatitis. CA19-9 plays an important role in tumor adhesion and metastasis and is a marker of an aggressive cancer phenotype. CA19-9 also has an important role in the biological pathways that can result in pancreatitis. CA19-9 serum levels are considered a valuable adjunct in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment monitoring of pancreatic cancer and now pancreatitis. With our collaborators including MSK, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Honor Health and Imaging Endpoints, we have treated more than 56 patients with either our therapeutic antibody designated as MVT-5873 or our PET imaging diagnostic product designated as MVT-2163 in Phase 1 clinical studies, and demonstrated early safety, specificity for the target and a potential efficacy signal. The Company also has a radioimmunotherapy product, designated as MVT-1075, that is also in Phase 1 clinical development.  For additional information, please visit the Company's website, www.mabvax.com. Information on the Company’s website is not incorporated into this Quarterly Report.
 
Studies conducted by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories have demonstrated that antibodies capable of binding to CA19-9 and blocking the downstream biological pathways of pancreatitis have a positive effect on ameliorating the disease. Combining the preclinical science supporting the use of the CA19-9 blocking antibodies in the treatment of pancreatitis with the clinically validated data and supplies of MVT-5873 already available gives MabVax the opportunity, assuming adequate funding, to move quickly into the clinic in a mid-stage proof of concept clinical trial in the near-term.
 
The Company completed a preclinical asset sale and license agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim in July 2018, and a license agreement for a cancer vaccine to Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc. in June 2018.  The Company received nearly $5 million in upfront payments from these two transactions to begin the third quarter, with an additional $7.6 million in downstream milestones the Company may receive based either on reaching an anniversary date of entering the agreement, provided the agreement is not canceled prior to reaching the milestone or due date, or upon reaching a milestone. 
 
We have incurred substantial losses since inception, and we expect to incur additional substantial losses for the foreseeable future as we continue our research and development activities. To date, we have funded our operations primarily through equity financings in the form of common stock and preferred stock, licensing agreements, asset sales, strategic collaborations, issuance of common stock in lieu of cash for services, government grants, debt financings or other arrangements. The process of developing our product candidates will require significant additional research and development, preclinical testing and clinical trials, as well as regulatory approval. We expect these activities, together with general and administrative expenses, to result in substantial operating losses for the foreseeable future. We will not receive product revenue unless we, or our collaborative partners, complete clinical trials, obtain regulatory approval and successfully commercialize one or more of our product candidates. We cannot provide assurance that we will ever generate revenues or achieve and sustain profitability in the future or obtain the necessary working capital for our operations.
 
 
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During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recognized revenue of $700,000 from a license agreement with Y-mAbs and $4,000,000 from an asset sale to Boehringer Ingelheim, resulting in gross profit of $3,915,000. Our loss from operations during this nine-month period was $5,410,200 and our net loss was $5,908,068. Net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $2,620,437, cash and cash equivalents and working capital deficit of as of September 30, 2018 were $951,751 and $6,334,244 respectively. As of September 30, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of $118,349,884 and a stockholders’ equity of $42,558.
 
We are subject to risks common to biopharmaceutical companies, including the need for capital, risks inherent in our research, development and commercialization efforts, preclinical testing, clinical trials, uncertainty of regulatory and marketing approvals, enforcement of patent and proprietary rights, potential competition and retention of key employees. For a product candidate to be commercialized, it is necessary for us to conduct preclinical tests and clinical trials, demonstrate efficacy and safety of our product candidates to the satisfaction of regulatory authorities, obtain marketing approval, enter into manufacturing, distribution and marketing arrangements, obtain market acceptance and, in many cases, obtain adequate reimbursement from government and private insurers. We cannot provide assurance that we will ever generate revenues or achieve and sustain profitability in the future or obtain the necessary working capital for our operations.
 
Reverse Stock Splits
 
On August 16, 2016, we filed a certificate of amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effectuate a reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding common stock on a 1-for-7.4 basis, effective on August 16, 2016 (the “2016 Reverse Stock Split”). On February 14, 2018, we filed a certificate of amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effectuate another reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding common stock on a 1-for-3 basis, effective on February 16, 2018 (the “2018 Reverse Stock Split”; collectively with the 2016 Reverse Stock Split, the “Reverse Stock Splits”). All share and per share amounts, and number of shares of common stock into which each share of preferred stock will convert, in the financial statements and notes thereto included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report have been retroactively adjusted for all periods presented to give effect to the Reverse Stock Splits, including reclassifying an amount equal to the reduction in par value of common stock to additional paid-in capital.
 
Court Validation of Previously Issued Shares of Common Stock upon Conversion of Preferred Stock
 
On September 20, 2018, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court”) entered an order validating (i) issuances of common stock upon conversions of the Company’s preferred stock occurring between June 30, 2014 and February 12, 2018, and (ii) stockholder approval of corporate actions presented to the Company’s stockholders from June 30, 2014 to February 12, 2018. In so doing, the Court granted the Company’s Verified Petition for Relief Under 8 Del. C. § 205 (the “Delaware Petition”) captioned In re: MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc., filed on July 27, 2018, in order to rectify the uncertainty regarding whether shares of our common stock were validly issued upon conversion of our preferred stock from June 30, 2014 to February 12, 2018.
 
As disclosed in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 21, 2018 (the “May Form 8-K”), facts previously came to our attention indicating that certain shares of our common stock issued upon conversion of shares of our preferred stock may not have been validly issued in compliance with the 4.99% blocker provisions set forth in the applicable certificates of designation for conversions occurring between June 30, 2014 and February 12, 2018.
 
Withdrawal and Reinstatement of Auditor Reports; Auditor Resignation and Appointment of New Auditor
 
As disclosed in the May Form 8-K and in part due to the uncertainty regarding the valid issuance of certain shares of our common stock addressed in the Delaware Petition, on May 20, 2018, our Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of management, concluded our prior annual and interim period financial statements for the years 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 included in our Reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q for such years, and our registration statements filed during the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and to date for 2018 with respect to the number of shares of common stock outstanding, and the weighted average number of shares used in calculating earnings per share and related per share figures should not be relied upon. Accordingly, on May 20, 2018, our then-engaged independent accounting firm, CohnReznick, withdrew their audit reports included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the years 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Our Board of Directors further determined the Company could not file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
 
 
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As disclosed on August 8, 2018, effective August 3, 2018, CohnReznick resigned as the Company’s independent auditor. During the Company’s two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and during the subsequent interim reporting periods through March 31, 2018, and the interim period through August 3, 2018, there were no disagreements with CohnReznick on any matter of GAAP or practices, financial statement disclosures, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of CohnReznick would have caused CohnReznick to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports. Additionally, there were no events of the type listed in paragraphs (A) through (D) of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
 
Subsequent to the ratification of the shares by the Court on September 20, 2018, on October 12, 2018 CohnReznick issued their audit report for the consolidated financial statements for the years 2016 and 2017, included in our Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on October 15, 2018, and the auditors’ consent to including their reports in our registration statements filed during the years 2016 and 2017.
 
On August 22, 2018, we entered into an engagement agreement pursuant to which we appointed our new independent accounting firm, Haskell & White LLP.
 
Nasdaq De-listing and Application for Listing on the OTCQB Marketplace
 
On October 16, 2018, the Company applied for listing on the OTCQB Marketplace since the Company believes it now meets the requisite eligibility requirements; however, there can be no assurance of being listed while the SEC Action is underway.
 
On July 2, 2018, the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market (the “Staff”) notified the Company of its determination to delist our securities. In this notice, the Staff indicated their determination was based upon the Company’s non-compliance with the Rule as well as the Company’s non-compliance with the $2.5 million stockholders’ equity requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market per Nasdaq listing rule 5550(b)(1). The Company elected not to appeal the Staff’s decision and, as a result, on July 2, 2018, we received a letter from the Staff indicating trading of the Company’s common stock would be suspended on Nasdaq Capital Market at the open of business on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. On July 11, 2018, our common stock began trading on the OTC Pink, continuing under the symbol MBVX. On May 21, 2018, we notified the Staff that we would not be filing our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, by the required deadline as required for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market per Nasdaq listing rule 5250(c)(1) (the “Rule”). Further, on June 29, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors determined not to submit a plan to the Staff to regain compliance with the Rule, and we announced this decision in a press release on July 2, 2018. On September 26, 2018, the Nasdaq Stock Market announced that it will delist the common stock of MabVax by filing a Form 25 with the SEC to complete the delisting process. The delisting became effective ten days after the Form 25 was filed.
 
Resignation and Appointment of Members of the Board of Directors
 
Effective July 31, 2018, Paul Maier, Jeffrey E. Eisenberg, Thomas C. Varvaro and Kenneth Cohen, resigned as members of the Company’s Board of Directors. There were no disagreements between the resigning Board members and management.
 
Following the resignations, in a separate action, the Board of Directors appointed our Chief Financial Officer, Gregory Hanson, as a member of the Board. Mr. Hanson has served as our Chief Financial Officer since July 2014, and of its subsidiary, MabVax Therapeutics, Inc. since February 2014. Mr. Hanson has over 30 years' experience serving as the CFO, financial executive and director of public and private life sciences and hi-tech companies. Since October 2016, he has served as a member of the board of directors of a private pharmaceutical contract research organization.
  
Our Clinical Development Programs
 
MVT-5873 – for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
 
MVT-5873 as a Monotherapy in Late Stage Cancer Patients – We reported results from our Phase 1a clinical trial of 32 patients treated with our therapeutic antibody product candidate, MVT-5873, as a monotherapy in a poster presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (“ASCO”) Annual Meeting on June 3, 2017. MVT-5873 has been evaluated for safety and tolerability in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and other CA19-9 positive cancers. In this poster presentation, the Company highlighted that the single agent MVT-5837 appeared safe and well tolerated in patients at biologically active doses based on the results of the Phase 1a trial. Furthermore, all patients in the Phase 1a trial were evaluated by RECIST 1.1 for tumor response, and the Company reported 11 patients achieved stable disease in this dose escalation safety trial of 32 patients.
 
The results of the Phase 1a trial with MVT-5873 support that this fully-human antibody targeting CA19-9 cancers can be administered at doses with acceptable safety and have a potentially positive impact on disease. The cancer antigen CA19-9 is broadly expressed in various cancers including pancreatic, colon, and small cell lung cancer making this antibody potentially useful for a larger patient population. Clinical signals from an identifiable subset of subjects enabled us to understand those patients most likely to respond to a MVT-5873 based therapy. We plan to continue to evaluate MVT-5873 at higher doses.
 
 
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MVT-5873 in Combination with a Standard of Care Chemotherapy – Based upon observations from the first two cohorts of patients treated, we are evaluating further clinical development of MVT-5873 in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel as a first line therapy for the treatment of patients newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. MabVax has treated seventeen patients as of August 24, 2018, with the objective of obtaining additional safety and tumor response (RECIST 1.1) data for this treatment regimen. Dr. Eileen O’Reilly, Associate Director of the David M. Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, attending physician, member at MSK and Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, is the lead investigator in the MVT-5873 Phase 1 clinical trial.
 
On February 12, 2018, we reported on interim results of the current cohort of the Phase 1 study, in which MVT-5873 was given in combination with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine to patients newly diagnosed with CA19-9 positive pancreatic cancer. MVT-5873 at a dose of 0.125 mg/kg when added to first-line chemotherapy was generally well tolerated by all subjects. At that time, all six patients in the current cohort demonstrated measurable tumor reductions, with four patients meeting the criteria for partial response (PR) and two patients meeting the criteria for stable disease (SD). We believe these results further confirm results reported on a portion of the cohort in late 2017. Patient CA19-9 levels, which are a prognostic indicator of the disease state, were markedly reduced in all subjects with this combination therapy. Due to adverse events potentially related to the combination of nab-paclitaxel, gemcitabine and MVT-5873, not seen in the monotherapy clinical study, the Company has suspended patient enrollment at the current dose. We are evaluating plans to enroll additional patients at a lower dose to further explore safety and response in a larger population.
 
MVT-5873 – for the Treatment of Pancreatitis
 
Pancreatitis is a severe and common medical condition that can lead to death or a chronic condition with significant morbidity, systemic inflammatory response and multiple organ dysfunction syndromes. Pancreatitis is also associated with a 16.5-fold elevated risk for developing pancreatic cancer. Best available treatment for pancreatitis is primarily supportive care consisting of rehydration, pain relief, nutritional support followed by antibiotic therapy, and surgery for biliary pancreatitis and other more severe cases. Acute and chronic pancreatitis in the United States accounts for 361,000 hospital admissions each year and for direct health care costs of $3.1 billion annually (Forsmark et al, NEJM 375;20 and Yadav et al, Pancreapedia, July 28, 2016).
 
Investigators at CSHL have made significant new discoveries elucidating the biological pathways that cause both acute and chronic pancreatitis. Investigators found that expression of CA19-9 in the pancreas is sufficient to induce pancreatitis. Specifically, CA19-9 elevation resulted in rapid elevation of pancreatic enzymes in the blood, pancreatic infiltration of immune cells, acinar-to-ductal metaplasia and atrophy, as well as increased proliferation. Investigators then explored the utility of CA19-9 as a therapeutic target for both acute and chronic pancreatitis. This avenue of treatment strategy exhibits potential given that turning off or blocking CA19-9 expression results in the normalization of pancreatic enzyme levels within four days following an acute episode of pancreatitis.
 
MVT-5873 specifically targets CA19-9, and subsequent studies have demonstrated that antibodies capable of binding to CA19-9 and blocking the downstream biological pathways of pancreatitis have a positive effect on ameliorating the disease. Combining the preclinical science supporting the use of the CA19-9 blocking antibodies in the treatment of pancreatitis with the clinically validated data and supplies of MVT-5873 already available gives MabVax the opportunity, assuming adequate funding, to move quickly into the clinic in a mid-stage proof of concept clinical trial in the near-term.
 
MVT-2163 – as an Imaging Agent for Pancreatic Cancer
 
We reported results from our Phase 1a clinical trial of ImmunoPET imaging agent product candidate, MVT-2163, in 12 patients with locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (“PDAC”) or other CA19-9 positive malignancies in a poster presentation and podium talk at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (“SNMMI”) Annual Meeting held in Denver, Colorado on June 10-14, 2017.
 
 
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The Phase 1a clinical trial of MVT-2163 Phase I trial was intended to evaluate our next generation diagnostic PET imaging agent in patients with PDAC or other CA19-9 positive malignancies. MVT-2163 (89Zr-HuMab-5B1) combines the well-established PET imaging radiolabel Zirconium-89, a positron emitting isotope typically labeled as 89Zr, with the targeting specificity of MVT-5873. We designed the trial to establish safety, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, optimal time to obtain the PET image, and the amount of MVT-5873 to be administered as a blocking dose prior to administration of MVT-2163 to obtain optimized PET scan images.
 
As of July 2017, twelve (12) patients were treated in this first-in-human trial evaluating the safety and feasibility of MVT-2163 to image pancreatic tumors and other CA19-9 positive malignancies. MVT-2163 was administered alone and in combination with MVT-5873 and was well tolerated in all cohorts. The only toxicities were infusion reactions that resolved on the day of the injection, with some patients requiring standard supportive medication. We reported that administering MVT-5873 prior to dosing MVT-2163 reduces liver uptake facilitating detection of liver metastases. In addition, we determined that the MVT-5873 cold antibody pre-dose did not interfere with the uptake of MVT-2163 on cancer lesions.
 
Uptake of MVT-2163 was observed in primary tumors and metastases as early as day two and continuously through day seven. Standard Uptake Values (“SUVs”), a measurement of activity in PET imaging, reached as high as 101 in the study. The investigators reported that the SUVs are amongst the highest lesion uptake values they have ever seen for a radiolabeled antibody. Bone and soft tissue disease were readily visualized, and lesion uptake of the radiotracer was higher than typically seen with PET imaging agents. The correlation with Computerized Tomography (“CT”) scans was high.
 
In summary, the MVT-2163 product candidate demonstrated acceptable safety tolerability, pharmacokinetics and biodistribution in this trial. MVT-2163 also produced high quality PET images identifying both primary tumor and metastatic sites. We believe there was a promising correlation with diagnostic CT that warrants further studies correlating these findings with histopathology to assess the accuracy of MVT-2163 in identifying smaller metastatic nodes below the detection level of standard CT scans. We believe the continual increase in high SUVs on cancer lesions in this study supports the use of the Company’s MVT-1075 radioimmunotherapy product candidate, which utilizes the same antibody to deliver a radiation dose for the treatment of patients with pancreatic, lung and colon cancers.
 
In April 2018, the NIH awarded an R01 Research Grant to MSK for continued Phase 1b development of MVT-2163 as a PET diagnostic imaging agent. The R01 grant extends the Phase 1 work already completed by MabVax by evaluating MVT-2163 visual images and biopsies of targeted tissues illuminated with the PET agent. This information will then be used to determine if the new PET imaging agent can improve pre-surgical staging of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Since surgery is currently the only cure for pancreatic cancer and the success rate of surgical intervention is low, having a new diagnostic tool to more accurately assess the location and extent of the dissemination of the cancer has the potential to improve surgical outcomes. Additionally, these data can be used to support the dose and dose distribution determinations for the Company’s HuMab-5B1 antibody based radioimmunotherapy agent, MVT-1075, currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 trial. MabVax will support MSK in its research efforts and allow the clinical study to be conducted under a MabVax IND; however, the bulk of the costs will be borne by the NIH.
 
MVT-1075 – as a Radioimmunotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer
 
On February 28, 2018, we announced positive interim results from the initial three-patient cohort of the Phase 1 clinical trial for MVT-1075, which combines the demonstrated targeting specificity of the MVT-5873 antibody with the proven clinical success of a low-energy radiation emitter, 177Lutetium, often referred to as 177Lu. Results from the first three patients dosed in the initial cohort of this dose escalation Phase 1 safety trial demonstrated that MVT-1075 was reasonably well tolerated and accumulated on tumor as evidenced by dosimetry measurements performed after the first dose. At this initial dose, two subjects met the criteria for stable disease (SD) and one met the criteria of progressive disease (PD) as measured using RECIST 1.1 criteria. Hematologic toxicities were manageable, and the Company is enrolling the first patient in the second cohort.
 
 
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This Phase 1 first-in human dose escalation clinical trial, which began in June 2017, is an open-label, multi-center study evaluating the safety and efficacy of MVT-1075 in up to 22 patients for patients with PDAC or other CA19-9 positive malignancies including colon and lung cancers. The primary endpoint of this trial is to determine the maximum tolerated dose and safety profile in late stage patients with recurring disease who have failed prior therapies. Secondary endpoints include evaluating tumor response rate and duration of response by RECIST 1.1 and determining dosimetry and pharmacokinetics. This dose-escalation study utilizes a traditional 3+3 design and is based on experience we gained through prior clinical studies that treated 50 patients with either MVT-5873, or our imaging agent MVT-2163. The investigative sites are Honor Health in Scottsdale, Arizona, and MSK in New York City.
 
In April 2017, we reported preclinical results for MVT-1075 at the American Association of Clinical Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, demonstrating suppression, and in some instances, regression, of tumor growth in xenograft animal models of pancreatic cancer, potentially making this product candidate an important new therapeutic agent in the treatment of pancreatic, colon and lung cancers. Supporting the MVT-1075 RIT clinical investigation are the Company's successful MVT-5873 and MVT-2163 Phase 1a safety and target specificity data which were reported earlier this year at the annual meetings of the ASCO and the SSNMMI, respectively. The combined results from 50 patients in the Phase 1 MVT-5873 and MVT-2163 studies established safety and provided significant insight into drug biodistribution and an optimal dosing strategy, which the Company has incorporated into the MVT-1075 program.
 
Asset Sales and License Agreements
 
License Grant to Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc.
 
On June 27, 2018, we entered into a Sublicense Agreement with Y-mAbs, pursuant to which we granted Y-mAbs an exclusive sublicense to a bi-valent ganglioside-based vaccine product candidate intended to treat neuroblastoma, a rare pediatric cancer.
 
Neuroblastoma is a rare solid tumor in childhood with only about 650 cases diagnosed each year in North America. The incidence is about 10.54 cases per 1 million per year in children younger than 15 years. About 37% are diagnosed as infants, and 90% are younger than 5 years at diagnosis, with a median age at diagnosis of 19 months. Neuroblastoma is responsible for 12% of all cancer deaths in children less than 15 years of age.
 
Total value of the transaction to MabVax is $1.3 million, $700,000 of which was paid upon execution of the agreement and $600,000 of which is to be paid within five (5) days of the first anniversary of the execution date, provided the agreement as not been terminated prior to the anniversary, plus a share of a Priority Review Voucher if granted by the FDA to Y-mAbs on approval of the vaccine and the Priority Review Voucher is subsequently sold. Additionally, Y-mAbs will be responsible for all further development of the product candidate as well as any downstream payment obligations related to this specific vaccine to MSK that were specified in the original MabVax-MSK license agreement. If Y-mAbs successfully develops and receives FDA approval for the Neuroblastoma vaccine product candidate, it is obligated to file with the FDA for a Priority Review Voucher. If this voucher is granted to Y-mAbs and subsequently sold, then MabVax will receive a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the voucher by Y-mAbs.
 
The neuroblastoma vaccine product candidate was originally developed by Dr. Philip Livingston and colleagues at MSK and licensed as part of a broader portfolio of anti-cancer vaccines licensed to MabVax. MabVax filed for and was granted an Orphan Drug Designation for the neuroblastoma vaccine and has manufactured Phase II clinical supplies for a planned but not initiated clinical trial to be conducted with the consortium New Advances in Neuroblastoma Therapy (“NANT”). NANT is the only consortium of academic medical centers in the world solely dedicated to developing novel treatments and biomarkers for children with Neuroblastoma. Over the last several years, MabVax has shifted its focus and resources to the Company’s human antibody discovery and development programs that are currently in early stage clinical trials and have attracted partner interest.
 
Sale of Asset to Boehringer Ingelheim and Related Agreements
 
On July 6, 2018, we entered into the Asset Purchase Agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim, pursuant to which Boehringer Ingelheim purchased all of our rights to assets owned or controlled by us that related to a specific human antibody research and development program to identify and characterize antibodies that bind to an undisclosed glycan antigen. The transaction closed on July 6, 2018.
 
 
- 28 -
 
 
Pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, MabVax may receive a total of $11 million, $4 million of which was paid upfront and the remainder upon the achievement by Boehringer Ingelheim of various specified milestone events, plus further earn-out payments through the later of the expiration of the last to expire valid claim of the licensed program patent covering a Boehringer Ingelheim product, or ten (10) years from the date of first commercial sale of such Boehringer Ingelheim product on a country-by-country and product-by-product basis.
 
MabVax discovered the antibody series at the center of this transaction from biological samples, originally from patients who were vaccinated against their solid tumors with a glycan antigen-containing vaccine. We believe our methods of discovery of fully human antibodies directly from vaccinated cancer patients has potential advantages, which include greater specificity and reduced toxicities.
 
Plan for Remainder of 2018
 
Based on the experience with recent asset sales and license agreements, and continuing inquiries from third parties regarding their interest in other MabVax assets and clinical progress to date related to MVT-5873, MVT-1075, and MVT-2163, we intend on continuing to explore additional licensing and/or collaboration opportunities for certain fields of use of our technology. However, there can be no assurance that any such transaction will occur.
 
If we are able to secure additional funds, we intend to, among other things:
 
continue enrollment in our clinical study of MVT-5873 in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in first line therapy for the treatment of patients newly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer with the objective of confirming early observations seen to date, to enable discussions with potential strategic partners and investors.
 
enroll additional patients into the MVT-5873 monotherapy trial with the aim of establishing a higher maximum tolerated dose. We have submitted our Investigational New Drug Application (“IND”), to the FDA, for a revised protocol to enable continuation of the trial at higher doses.
 
support the continued development of the MVT-2163 imaging agent under the R01 grant made to MSK for the Phase 1b portion of this clinical program.
 
continue clinical development of MVT-1075 for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer patients, by completing additional cohorts of patients in a dose escalation safety trial to continue to assess the safety and potential efficacy of this treatment; also, to enable discussions with potential strategic partners and investors.
 
Use a portion of existing supplies of MVT-5873 to pursue a proof of concept clinical trial of MVT-5873 in the treatment of pancreatitis.
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
We are providing the following information about our revenues, expenses, and cash and liquidity.
 
Comparison of the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017
 
Revenues, Cost of Revenues and Net Sales:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
%
Increase/
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
%
Increase/
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
(Decrease)
 
 
2018  
 
 
2017
 
 
(Decrease)
 
Revenues
 $4,000,000 
 $- 
  100%
 $4,700,000 
 $- 
  100%
Cost of revenues
  785,000 
  - 
  100%
  785,000 
  - 
  100%
Gross profit
 $3,215,000 
  - 
  100%
 $3,915,000 
  - 
  100%
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
 
 
- 29 -
 
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2018, we recognized $4,000,000 in revenues, as compared to no revenues for the same period in the prior year. The revenues in 2018 were due to the revenues recognized from the sale to Boehringer Ingelheim of all of our rights to certain assets owned or controlled by us that related to a specific human antibody research and development program to identify and characterize antibodies that bind to an undisclosed glycan antigen. The cost of revenues was $785,000 resulting in a gross profit of $3,215,000. The Company had no continuing obligations to provide any services under the contract, enabling the revenues to be recognized. Given the uncertainty of Boehringer Ingelheim achieving any of the future milestones, the Company did not recognize as revenue any of the future potential milestones as of September 30, 2018.
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recognized $4,700,000 in revenues, as compared to no revenues for the same period in the prior year. The cost of revenues was $785,000 resulting in a gross profit of $3,915,000. The revenues in 2018 were due to the revenues recognized from the upfront payment by Y-mAbs for rights to develop the neuroblastoma vaccine and the sale to Boehringer Ingelheim of our rights to certain assets owned or controlled by us related to a specific human antibody research and development program to identify and characterize antibodies that bind to an undisclosed glycan antigen.
 
Research and development expenses:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
%
Increase/
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
%
Increase/
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
(Decrease)
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
(Decrease)
 
Research and development
 $199,367 
 $1,017,061 
  (80.4)%
 $2,915,709 
 $6,168,125 
  (52.7)%
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2018, we incurred research and development expenses of $199,367, as compared to $1,017,061 for the same period a year ago. Stock-based compensation expense included in research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $96,157 and $292,523, respectively. Decreased expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to the same period in the prior year are primarily due to reduced spending on our Phase I clinical trials of MVT-5873 as a therapeutic and MVT-2163 as a diagnostic for pancreatic cancer and other CA 19.9 malignancies, and a reduction in staff that supported preclinical and clinical development efforts.
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we incurred research and development expenses of $2,915,709 as compared to $6,168,125 for the same period a year ago. Stock-based compensation expense included in research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $340,979 and $989,884, respectively. Decreased expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to the same period in the prior year are primarily due to decreased spending on our Phase I clinical trials of MVT-5873 as a therapeutic and MVT-2163 as a diagnostic for pancreatic cancer and other CA 19.9 malignancies, and a reduction in staff that supported preclinical and clinical development efforts.
 
General and administrative expenses:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
%
Increase/
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
%
Increase/
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
(Decrease)
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
(Decrease)
 
General and administrative
 $2, 520,950 
 $1,831,629 
  37.6%
 $6,409,491 
 $7,513,621 
  (14.7)%
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2018, we incurred general and administrative expenses of $2,520,950 as compared to $1,831,629 for the same period a year ago. Stock-based compensation expense included in general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $172,458 and $721,213, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 included $0 and $ 68,250 in restricted stock for services, respectively. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to higher legal costs of $1,553,041 and outside professional services of $208,098, partially offset by lower staff costs, as compared to the same period last year.
 
 
- 30 -
 
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we incurred general and administrative expenses of $6,409,491, as compared to $7,513,621 for the same period a year ago. Stock-based compensation expense included in general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $966,183 and $3,526,488, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 included $0 and $ 131,800 in restricted stock for services, respectively. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to lower compensation costs of $2,966,631 including a decrease of stock-based compensation expenses of $2,560,305, and lower consulting service costs of $48,420 offset by higher legal costs of $2,569,994 compared to the same period last year.
 
Interest income and other income (expense):
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
%
Increase/
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
%
Increase/
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
(Decrease)
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
(Decrease)
 
Interest and other expense
 $(154,002)
 $(231,471)
  (32.3)%
 $(497,689)
 $(743,137)
  (33.0)%
 
Interest and other expense was $154,002 and $231,471 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The amount for the three months ended September 30, 2018, consisted primarily of $96,755 of interest expense related to interest on the Company’s term loan from Oxford Finance, LLC (“Oxford Finance”), $23,612 of financing cost amortization, and $31,468 of warrant amortization. The amount for the three months ended September 30, 2017, consisted primarily of $142,007 related to Oxford Finance, First Insurance financing, and the Company's capital lease, $39,654 of financing cost amortization, and $49,782 of warrant amortization. 
 
The amount of interest for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, consisted primarily of $308,271 interest expense related to interest on the Company’s term loan from Oxford Finance, $82,636 of financing cost amortization, and $105,568 of warrant amortization. The amount of interest and other expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, consisted primarily of $449,300 interest expense related to the Company’s term loan from Oxford Finance, $130,416 of financing cost amortization, $163,727 of warrant amortization and other items of $306.
 
The fair value of the warrants issued to Oxford Finance related to the term loan was recorded as a discount to the value of the note payable and is being amortized over the term of the loan. Financing costs incurred related to the term loan are also amortized over the term of the loan.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
 
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements as well as the reported revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments related to our operating costs. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
 
Our critical accounting policies include:
 
Revenue recognition 
 
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), using the full retrospective transition method. Under this method, the Company would have been required to revise its financial statements, if applicable, for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, and applicable interim periods within those years, as if Topic 606 had been effective for those periods. However, Topic 606 did not have any impact on the Company’s revenue recognition upon adoption. This standard applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards, such as leases, insurance, collaboration arrangements and financial instruments. Under Topic 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods and services. To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of Topic 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with the customer(s); (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods and services it transfers to the customer. At contract inception, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract that falls under the scope of Topic 606, determines those that are performance obligations and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct. The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.
 
 
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License and Other Revenues
 
The Company enters into licensing agreements which are within the scope of Topic 606, under which it licenses certain of its product candidates’ rights to third parties. The terms of these arrangements typically include payment of one or more of the following: non-refundable, up-front license fees; development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments; and royalties on Gross Profit of the licensed product, which will be classified as royalty revenues, if and when earned.
 
In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as it fulfills its obligation under each of its agreements, the Company performs the five steps described above. As part of the accounting for these arrangements, the Company must develop assumptions that require judgment to determine the stand-alone selling price, which may include forecasted revenues, development timelines, reimbursement of personnel costs, discount rates and probabilities of technical and regulatory success.
 
Licensing of Intellectual Property If the license to the Company’s intellectual property is determined to be distinct from the other performance obligations identified in the arrangement, the Company recognizes revenue from non-refundable, up-front fees allocated to the license when the license is transferred to the licensee and the licensee is able to use and benefit from the license. For licenses that are bundled with other performance obligations, the Company utilizes judgment to assess the nature of the combined performance obligation to determine whether the combined performance obligation is satisfied over time or at a point in time and, if over time, the appropriate method of measuring progress for purposes of recognizing revenue from non-refundable, up-front fees. The Company evaluates the measure of progress each reporting period, and, if necessary, adjusts the measure of performance and related revenue recognition.
 
Milestone Payments At the inception of each arrangement that includes development milestone payments, the Company evaluates whether the milestones are considered probable of being reached and estimates the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur, the associated milestone value is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within the control of the Company or the licensee, such as regulatory approvals, are not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received. The transaction price is then allocated to each performance obligation on a relative stand-alone selling price basis, for which the Company recognizes revenue as or when the performance obligations under the contract are satisfied. At the end of each subsequent reporting period, the Company re-evaluates the probability of achievement of such development milestones and any related constraint and, if necessary, adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price. Any such adjustments are recorded on a cumulative catch-up basis, which would affect license, collaboration and other revenues and earnings in their period of adjustment. To date, the Company has not recognized any milestone payments, because the milestones are not within the control of the Company and the technology is at an early stage of development, or the licensee has the ability to terminate the agreement before the milestone payment is due.
 
Royalties – For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including milestone payments based on the level of sales, and for which the license is deemed to be the predominant item to which royalties relate, the Company recognizes revenue at the later of (i) when the related sales occur or (ii) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied). To date, the Company has not recognized any royalty revenue from its license agreements.
 
Clinical trial expenses
 
We accrue clinical trial expenses based on work performed. In determining the amount to accrue, we rely on estimates of total costs incurred based on the enrollment of subjects, the completion of trials and other events defined in contracts. We follow this method because we believe reasonably dependable estimates of the costs applicable to various stages of a clinical trial can be made. However, the actual costs and timing of clinical trials are highly uncertain, subject to risks, and may change depending on several factors. Differences between the actual clinical trial costs and the estimated clinical trial costs that we have accrued in any prior period are recognized in the subsequent period in which the actual costs become known. Historically, these differences have not been material; however, material differences could occur in the future.
 
Consideration of Impairment of Goodwill
 
The Company maintains a goodwill balance of $6,826,003 on its balance sheet as of September 30, 3018 and December 31, 2017, and tests for impairment at least annually and whenever there has been a material change in the Company by applying GAAP principles related to ASC 350 Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (ASC 350). Based on a qualitative analysis of the Company’s products in the pipeline as of September 30, 2018, the $4.0 million in revenue earned during the quarter, and a potential new indication for the Company’s lead antibody program, MVT-5873, for the treatment of pancreatitis, the Company concluded there was no goodwill impairment as of September 30, 2018. The goodwill was established in connection with the merger of MabVax Therapeutics, Inc. a Delaware corporation, with a subsidiary of the Company on July 8, 2014, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated May 12, 2014, by and among the Company, a subsidiary of the Company and MabVax Therapeutics, Inc. as amended June 30, 2014 and July 7, 2014 (the “Merger”), whereby MabVax Therapeutics, Inc. is the surviving company in the Merger, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
 
Stock-based compensation
 
Our stock-based compensation programs include grants of stock options and restricted stock to employees, non-employee directors and non-employee consultants. Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the calculated fair value of the award, and is recognized as an expense, under the straight-line method, over the employee, non-employee director or non-employee consultant’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant). 
 
We account for equity instruments, including stock options and restricted stock, issued to employees and non-employees in accordance with authoritative guidance for equity-based payments. Stock options issued are accounted for at their estimated fair value determined using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model, and restricted stock is accounted for using the grant date fair value of our common stock granted. The fair value of options and restricted stock granted to non-employees is re-measured as they vest, and the resulting increase in value, if any, is recognized as expense during the period the related services are rendered. 
 
Income taxes
 
Significant judgment is required by management to determine our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities, and the valuation allowance to record against our net deferred tax assets, which are based on complex and evolving tax regulations. Our tax calculation is impacted by tax rates in the jurisdictions in which we are subject to tax and the relative amount of income earned in each jurisdiction. Our deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined using the enacted tax rates expected to be in effect for the years in which those tax assets are expected to be realized. 
 
 
- 32 -
 
 
The effect of an uncertain income tax position is recognized as the largest amount that is “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained under audit by the taxing authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. 
 
The realization of our deferred tax assets is dependent upon our ability to generate sufficient future taxable income. We establish a valuation allowance when it is more-likely-than-not that the future realization of all or some of the deferred tax assets will not be achieved. The evaluation of the need for a valuation allowance is performed on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis, and includes a review of all available evidence, both positive and negative. As of September 30, 2018, the Company concluded that it was more-likely-than-not that its deferred tax assets would not be realized, and a full valuation allowance has been recorded.
 
The above listing is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all our accounting policies. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a transaction is specifically dictated by GAAP. See our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which contain additional accounting policies and other disclosures required by GAAP.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
To date, we have funded our operations primarily through upfront payments from asset sales and license agreements, government grants, proceeds from the sale of common and preferred stock, the issuance of debt, the issuance of common stock in lieu of cash for services, payments from collaborators and interest income. We have experienced negative cash flow from operations each year since our inception. As of September 30, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of $118,349,884. We expect to continue to incur increased expenses, resulting in losses, over the next several years due to, among other factors, our continuing and planned clinical trials and anticipated research and development activities, unless we can achieve additional licenses or asset sales of our product candidates that are under development, or revenues from research collaborations or services. There can be no assurance that we will be able to achieve additional license and sales revenue, or that such revenues would be large enough to offset our operating expenses. We had cash of $951,751 and a working capital deficit of $6,334,244 as of September 30, 2018. We also have approximately $2.4 million in debt maturing in 2019.
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
 2017
 
Cash provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
 $(2,620,437)
 $(8,702,932)
Investing activities
 $ 
 $(21,072)
Financing activities
 $2,686,478 
 $3,897,063 
 
Net cash used in operating activities was $2,620,437 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $8,702,932 for the same period a year ago. The net cash used in both periods was primarily attributable to the net losses, adjusted to exclude certain non-cash items, primarily stock-based compensation and amortization of finance costs related to the term loan. Net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was also impacted by a decrease of $437,094 in accrued clinical operations and site costs and an increase of $1,356,273 in accounts payable related primarily to unpaid professional fees. 
 
The net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, amounted to $0 and $21,072, respectively.
 
Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $2,686,478. Net cash provided by financing activities was $3,897,063 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was attributable to the fundraising from the February 2018 Private Placements and May 2018 Private Placements. Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was attributable to the net proceeds from the May 2017 Public Offering, a private offering that closed on May 3, 2017, in which the Company sold 850 shares of Series H Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $850,000 before offering costs of $29,429, and a private placement and underwritten offering in August 2017 and two registered direct offerings in September 2017.
 
 
- 33 -
 
 
Overview of 2018 Private Placements
 
Between February 2 and February 10, 2018, the Company entered into separate purchase agreements with investors pursuant to which the Company sold (i) shares of its common stock, (ii) shares of its convertible preferred stock, and (iii) warrants to purchase shares of common (the “February 2018 Private Placements”). From April 30 to May 2, 2018, the Company entered into separate purchase agreements with investors pursuant to which we agreed to sell shares of its common stock and convertible preferred stock (the “May 2018 Private Placements”). No financial advisor was used in connection with the February 2018 Private Placements nor the May 2018 Private Placements.
 
The securities issued in connection with the February 2018 Private Placements and the May 2018 Private Placements were offered and sold solely to accredited investors in reliance on the exemption from registration afforded by Rule 506 of Regulation D and Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The Company entered into separate registration rights agreements with each of the investors in the February 2018 Private Placements and the May 2018 Private Placements, pursuant to which the Company agreed to undertake to file a registration statement to register the resale of the shares of common stock and the shares of common stock underlying the warrants and preferred stock. The Company also agreed to use reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective and to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement until all of such shares of common stock have been sold or are otherwise able to be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, without any restrictions.
 
February 2018 Private Placements
 
In connection with the February 2018 Private Placements, the Company sold (i) an aggregate of 555,562 shares of its common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $1,250,000, or $2.25 per share, (ii) 5,000 shares of our newly designated 0% Series M Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series M Preferred Stock”) for an aggregate purchase price of $1,500,000, or $300.00 per share, and (iii) warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 855,561 shares of common stock each with an exercise price of $2.70 per share. The net proceeds of the February 2018 Private Placements were $2,700,000 after transaction costs of $50,000.
 
May 2018 Private Placements
 
In connection with the May 2018 Private Placements, the Company agreed to sell (i) 218,182 shares of common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $240,000, or $1.10 per share, and (ii) 5,363.64 shares of newly designated 0% Series N Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series N Preferred Stock”) at an aggregate purchase price of $590,000, or $110.00 per share. The following investors in the May 2018 Private Placements also invested in the February 2018 Private Placements (the “Prior Investors”): GRQ Consultants Inc., Roth 401K FBO Renee Honig; GRQ Consultants Inc., Roth 401K FBO Barry Honig; Melechdavid, Inc.; Grander Holdings Inc. 401K; Robert S. Colman Trust UDT 3/13/85; Ben Brauser; Joshua A. Brauser; Daniel A. Brauser; Gregory Aaron Brauser; Erick E. Richardson; and Ronald B. Low.
 
Under the terms of the May 2018 Private Placements, we were required to offer an aggregate of 12,777.77 shares (the “May 2018 Inducement Shares”) of newly designated 0% Series O Preferred Stock (the “Series O Preferred Stock”) to investors who previously purchased securities in the February 2018 Private Placements and who also purchased securities in the May 2018 Private Placements with an aggregate purchase price of at least 40% of their investment amounts in the February 2018 Private Placements. Based on the closing of the offering, and participation of the Prior Investors who invested an aggregate of $830,000 (the “May 2018 Inducement Investors”), the Company issued an aggregate of 10,605.56 May 2018 Inducement Shares in the form of Series O Preferred Stock convertible into an aggregate of 1,060,556 shares of common stock. The May 2018 Private Placements closed on May 15, 2018, with the Company receiving gross proceeds totaling $830,000.
 
 
- 34 -
 
 
Working Capital
 
Our working capital deficit was $6,334,244 at September 30, 2018, as compared to a working capital deficit of $4,598,748 at December 31, 2017. The decrease in working capital was primarily due to increased capital usage during the first nine months of 2018 primarily related to the Company’s clinical development programs and professional services.
 
Going Concern
 
We believe our cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018, will be sufficient to fund our projected operating requirements into December 2018. In order to continue our current and future operations and continue our clinical product development programs beyond December 2018, we will depend substantially on our ability to obtain upfront and milestone payments from potential additional license and/or partnering agreements for use of our technologies in certain fields of use and on raising capital through other financing transactions in a timely manner, of which we can make no assurances that any such transaction will occur. As discussed in Item 1 of Part II of this Quarterly Report, we cannot conclude that any future registration statements that we may file with the SEC will be declared effective during the pendency of the SEC Action (as defined in Item 1 of Part II of this Quarterly Report). As a result, our ability to raise capital is and will likely remain severely impaired during the pendency of the SEC Action, and certain capital raising structures involving the registration of our securities with the SEC upon which we have heavily relied in the past to fund our operations may not be available to us for the immediate future. Further, we still owe a balance of approximately $2.8 million to Oxford Finance for which principal payments will begin to be made in January 2019 under the Second Amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement (see Note 6). We are uncertain about our ability to raise sufficient funds to continue our existing operations after December 2018 without additional licensing and/or collaborating transactions and without financing structures that do not involve the use of or reliance upon our ability to register securities with the SEC. We have been exploring potential additional licensing and/or partnering transactions and other arrangements through which the value of our Company could be enhanced. We may raise funds through such potential arrangements with collaborators or others that may require us to sell product candidates that we might otherwise seek to develop or commercialize independently. Our failure to enter into licensing and/or partnering transactions or raise capital when needed could materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
We anticipate we will continue to incur substantial net losses into the foreseeable future as we: (i) continue our Phase I clinical trials of MVT-5873 in combination with chemotherapy and our Phase I clinical trial of our radioimmunotherapy product candidate MVT-1075 for the treatment of various cancers, (ii) continue preclinical development activities related to developing other product candidates in our library, (iii) monitor patients in clinical trials that have already completed their treatment regimens, and (iv) incur legal expenses related to the SEC Action. Based on management’s assumptions for continuing to develop its existing pipeline of product candidates without additional funding or licensing portions of our technology for particular uses, we expect we will have sufficient funds to meet our obligations into December 2018. We may also incur costs and expenses in connection with liabilities under our organizational documents and indemnification agreements that we have with our officers and directors who may individually incur expenses in relation to the SEC Action.
 
We plan to continue to fund our debt maturities, research and development and operating activities through additional strategic partnerships or other arrangements with organizations that have capabilities and/or products that are complementary to our own capabilities and/or product candidates, licensing arrangements, and through public or private equity financings and debt financings or other arrangements if the strategic transactions are not timely, if at all. However, we cannot be sure that such strategic transactions or additional funds will be available on reasonable terms, or at all. If we are unable to secure strategic transactions or adequate additional funding, we may be forced to reduce spending, extend payment terms with suppliers, liquidate assets where possible, suspend or curtail planned programs and/or cease our operations entirely. In addition, if we do not meet our payment obligations to third parties as they come due, including any payment we owe to Oxford Finance, we may be subject to litigation claims. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to our management. Any of these actions could materially harm our business and results of operations.
 
If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, substantial dilution to our existing stockholders would result. If we raise additional funds by incurring debt financing, the terms of the debt may involve significant cash payment obligations as well as covenants and specific financial ratios that may restrict our ability to operate our business.
 
 
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Our future capital uses and requirements depend on numerous factors, including the following:
 
our ability to establish license agreements with third parties and reliance on receipt of payments from milestones;
 
the costs associated with conducting Phase I and II clinical trials;
 
the costs and timing of obtaining regulatory approvals;
 
our ability to establish, and the scope of, any new research collaborations;
 
our ability to raise capital on attractive terms, if at all, during the pendency of the SEC Action;
 
the costs and timing of obtaining, enforcing and defending our patent and IP rights; and
 
competing technological and market developments.
 
Future Contractual Obligations
 
On September 2, 2015, the Company entered into the Lease with AGP Sorrento Business Complex, L.P., for certain premises consisting of office and laboratory space in buildings located at 11535 Sorrento Valley Rd., San Diego, California, to serve as the Company’s New Premises. Because certain tenant improvements needed to be made to the New Premises before the Company could take occupancy, the term of the Lease did not commence until the New Premises were ready for occupancy, which was on February 4, 2016. The Lease terminates on February 28, 2022, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the Lease. Pursuant to the terms of the Lease, the current monthly base rent paid by the Company is $37,801, subject to annual increases as set forth in the Lease.
 
The Company has an option to extend the Lease term for a single, five-year period. If the Lease term is extended for the optional five-year period, the monthly base rent will be adjusted based on fair market rental value. In addition to rent, the Company agreed to pay a portion of the taxes and utility, maintenance and other operating costs paid or accrued relating to the ownership and operation of the property.
 
Our master lease and sublease of our facility located at 3165 Porter Drive in Palo Alto, California were terminated on February 28, 2013, and we entered into a termination agreement with ARE on February 19, 2013 to voluntarily surrender its premises. Because of the termination agreement, we were relieved of further obligations under the master lease and further rights to rental income under the sublease and paid a termination fee of approximately $700,000. In addition to the termination fee, if we receive $15 million or more in additional financing, in the aggregate, an additional termination fee of $590,504 will be due to ARE. The additional financing was achieved in 2015 and the termination fee is reflected on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as an accrued lease contingency fee.
 
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
 
See Note 1, "Adopted Accounting Standards" and "Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted."
 
 
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We have no material off-balance sheet arrangements.
 
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Interest Rate Sensitivity
 
Our cash and cash equivalents of $951,751 at September 30, 2018, consisted of cash and money market funds, all of which will be used for working capital purposes. We do not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes. Our primary exposure to market risk is related to the variability of interest rates under the Loan Agreement (as defined in Note 6 to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report) we entered into with Oxford Finance in January 2016. Under the Loan Agreement, the interest rate for the term loan is set monthly at an Index Rate plus 11.29%, where the Index Rate is the greater of the 30-day LIBOR rate or 0.21%. Interest is due on the first day of each month, in arrears, calculated based on a 360-day year. In addition, interest income on our deposits is affected by changes in the general level of interest rates in the United States. Because of the short-term nature of our cash and cash equivalents, we do not believe that we have any material exposure to changes in their fair values as a result of changes in interest rates. The continuation of historically low interest rates in the United States will limit our earnings on investments held in U.S. dollars.
 
We do not hold any derivative financial instruments or commodity-based instruments.
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the Company has evaluated, with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in such rules) as of the end of the period covered by this report. The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of September 30, 2018.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. For example, prior to September 30, 3018, the Company relied upon filings by investors who are required to file their ownership positions on Schedules 13D and 13G. In light of previously unavailable information that the Company learned in connection with the SEC Action, the Company believes it can no longer rely upon such filings by any of the Aggregated Investors (as defined in Item 12 of Part III of the Company’s Amendment to Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on October 15, 2018) on a going forward basis. In order to continue to ensure internal control is maintained on a going forward basis, which is likely to continue until such SEC Action is closed, the Company will not rely on the Schedules 13D and 13G filed by any Aggregated Investor but will aggregate the beneficial ownership of all Aggregated Investors for reporting purposes and when applying any applicable conversion blockers. The Company will continue to aggregate the holdings of all the Aggregated Investors until the Company is confident, based on facts and information received from an individual or entity or through the Company’s own investigation and verification of facts reasonably attainable, that the individual or entity should no longer be included as an Aggregated Investor. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods, including assessment of beneficial ownership by the Aggregated Investors, 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. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
As required by Rule 13a-15(d) of the Exchange Act, our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, conducted an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any changes occurred during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded there were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that could significantly affect internal controls over financial reporting as of September 30, 2018.
 
 
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 
On January 29, 2018, the Company received notice from the SEC of an investigation (along with the SEC Complaint, defined below, the “SEC Action”). We believe the SEC is investigating (i) potential violations by the Company and its officers, directors and others of Section 10(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (as amended, the “Exchange Act”) and Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (as amended, the “Securities Act”); and (ii) potential violations by multiple holders of our preferred stock of the reporting and disclosure requirements imposed by Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and pursuant to Schedules 13D and 13G. We further believe the SEC Action pertains to our relationships with the Investor Defendants (defined below), including (i) the circumstances under which the Investor Defendants invested in the Company and whether they have acted as an undisclosed group in connection with their investment; (ii) the manner with or in which the Investor Defendants may have sought to control or influence the Company and its leadership since their respective investments (and the extent to which those efforts to control or influence have been successful); and (iii) our prior disclosures regarding the control of the Company and beneficial ownership of our common and preferred stock included in our registration statements filed in 2017 and 2018 and in our Exchange Act reports.
 
On September 7, 2018, the SEC filed a complaint (the “SEC Complaint”) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the following individuals and entities who have purchased securities of the Company: Barry C. Honig, John Stetson, Michael Brauser, John R. O'Rourke III, Mark Groussman, Phillip Frost, Alpha Capital Anstalt, ATG Capital LLC, Frost Gamma Investments Trust, GRQ Consultants, Inc., Grander Holdings, Inc., Melechdavid, Inc., OPKO Health, Inc., HS Contrarian Investments, LLC, and Southern Biotech, Inc. (collectively, the “Investor Defendants”), and against others who we believe have not made any investment in the Company. SEC v. Honig, et al., No. 1:18-cv-01875 (S.D.N.Y. 2018). In the Complaint, the SEC alleges a variety of misconduct with respect to the Investor Defendants’ transactions and/or relationships with three public issuers, including a public issuer identified as “Company C,” which we understand to be MabVax. With respect to “Company C” in particular, the SEC alleges that some of the Investor Defendants manipulated the price of the Company’s securities by writing, or causing to be written, false or misleading promotional articles, and a variety of other manipulative trading practices. The SEC further alleges that some of the Investor Defendants filed false reports of their beneficial ownership or failed to file reports of their beneficial ownership when required to do so. The SEC claims that, by engaging in this and the other alleged actions in the Complaint, the Investor Defendants and other defendants violated the anti-fraud and many other provisions of the Exchange Act, the Securities Act and SEC Rules promulgated thereunder. The SEC Complaint does not assert any claims against the Company or any of its directors or officers, nor otherwise allege that they were culpable participants in the misconduct allegedly undertaken by the Investor Defendants.
 
We have cooperated with the SEC in connection with the SEC Action. Although the SEC has not asserted claims against the Company or any of its directors or officers, we cannot predict whether the SEC Action ultimately will conclude in a manner adverse to the Company or any of its directors and officers, or in a manner adverse to the Investor Defendants or other of the Company’s current or former stockholders. We also cannot predict when the SEC Action or any related matters may conclude, or how any such matters or resolution may impact how the Company is perceived by the market, potential partners and potential investors in our securities. In the past, the SEC informed us it would not declare effective any registration statements registering our securities effective during the pendency of the SEC Action.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Company Filed Complaint Against Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP
 
On September 10, 2018, the Company filed, in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, a complaint (the “Sichenzia Complaint”) against Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP, a law firm that previously represented the Company in certain corporate, securities, and SEC matters (“Sichenzia”), and eight current Sichenzia partners, and one former Sichenzia partner, Harvey Kesner, MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. v. Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP et al., No. 37-2018-00045609-CU-PN-CTL. The Sichenzia Complaint asserts claims for negligent professional practice, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, deceit, and fraud by the defendants. The Company is evaluating additional claims it may have against others in connection with the same or similar subject matter.
 
Delaware Order Granting Petition for Relief
 
On September 20, 2018, the Court entered an order validating (i) issuances of common stock upon conversions of the Company’s preferred stock occurring between June 30, 2014 and February 12, 2018, and (ii) stockholder approval of corporate actions presented to the Company’s stockholders from June 30, 2014 to February 12, 2018. In so doing, the Court granted the Delaware Petition captioned In re: MabVax Therapeutics Holdings, Inc., filed on July 27, 2018, in order to rectify the uncertainty regarding whether shares of our common stock were validly issued upon conversion of our preferred stock from June 30, 2014 to February 12, 2018.
 
Class Action and Derivative Complaints
 
In re MabVax Therapeutics Securities Litigation, Case No. 18-cv-1160-BAS-NLS 
 
On June 4, 2018, and August 3, 2018, two securities class action complaints were filed by purported stockholders of the Company in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California (the “U. S. District Court”) against the Company and certain of its current officers. On September 6, 2018, the U.S. District Court consolidated the two actions and appointed lead plaintiffs. On October 10, 2018, lead plaintiffs filed their consolidated complaint, which, in addition to naming the Company and certain current officers as defendants, also names certain investors as defendants. The consolidated complaint alleges, among other things, that the defendants violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, by misleading investors about problems with the Company’s internal controls, improper calculation of its beneficial ownership, and improper influence by certain investors. The consolidated complaint also alleges that some of the investor defendants violated Section 9 of the Exchange Act by manipulating the Company’s stock price. The consolidated complaint seeks unspecified damages, interest, fees and costs. The current deadline to respond to the consolidated complaint is December 6, 2018.
 
Liesman v. Hansen et al., Case No. 18-cv-2237-BTM-WVG 
 
On September 26, 2018, a shareholder derivative complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.  The complaint arises from similar allegations as In re MabVax Therapeutics Securities Litigation but asserts a state law breach of fiduciary duty claim against certain of the Company’s current and former directors and officers.  In particular, the complaint alleges that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to implement the necessary controls to ensure that certain financial disclosures and disclosures concerning stock ownership were accurate.  Plaintiff seeks, on behalf of the Company, damages, fees, costs, and equitable relief.
 
Jackson v. Hansen et al., Case No. 18-cv-2302-BAS-MSB-BGS
 
On October 4, 2018, a shareholder derivative complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.  The complaint arises from similar allegations as In re MabVax Therapeutics Securities Litigation and Liesman v. Hansen et al.  but, in addition to a breach of fiduciary duty claim, also includes causes of action for unjust enrichment, abuse of control, gross mismanagement and waste of corporate assets.  Plaintiff seeks, on behalf of the Company, damages, fees, costs, and equitable relief. The deadline to respond to the complaint is December 21, 2018.
 
 
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Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
RISK FACTORS
  
Other than stated below, there have been no material changes in or additions to the Risk Factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended on Form 10-K/A on October 15, 2018, for the year ended December 31, 2017 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.
 
The rights of our common stockholders are limited by and subordinate to the rights of the holders of Series D Preferred Stock, Series E Preferred Stock, Series I Preferred Stock, Series J Preferred Stock, Series K Preferred Stock, Series L Preferred Stock, Series M Preferred Stock, Series N Preferred Stock and Series O Preferred Stock; these rights may have a negative effect on the value of shares of our common stock.
 
As of November 13, 2018, the holders of our Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series D Preferred Stock”), Series E Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series E Preferred Stock”), Series I Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series I Preferred Stock”), Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series J Preferred Stock”), Series K Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series K Preferred Stock”), Series L Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series L Preferred Stock”), Series M Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series M Preferred Stock”), Series N Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series N Preferred Stock”), and Series O Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series O Preferred Stock”) have rights and preferences generally superior to those of the holders of common stock. The existence of these superior rights and preferences may have a negative effect on the value of shares of our common stock. These rights are more fully set forth in the Series D Preferred Stock certificate of designations, Series E Preferred Stock certificate of designations, Series I Preferred Stock certificate of designations, Series J Preferred Stock certificate of designations, Series K Preferred Stock certificate of designations, Series L Preferred Stock certificate of designations, Series M Preferred Stock certificate of designations, Series N Preferred Stock certificate of designations, and Series O Preferred Stock certificate of designations, respectively, and include, but are not limited to the right to receive a liquidation preference, prior to any distribution of our assets to the holders of our common stock, in an amount equal to $0.01 per share or $441 for the Series D Preferred Stock, $0.01 per share or $333 for the Series E Preferred Stock, $0.01 per share or $6,456 for the Series I Preferred Stock, $687.50 per share or approximately $531,252 for the Series J Preferred Stock, $0.01 per share or $632 for the Series K Preferred Stock, $100.00 per share or approximately $4.6 million for the Series L Preferred Stock, $300 per share or approximately $1.5 million for the Series M Preferred Stock, $0.01per share or approximately $54 for the Series N Preferred Stock and $0.01 per share or approximately $106 for Series O Preferred Stock.
 
We may not be able to achieve compliance for listing on a national exchange which could make it more difficult for investors to sell their shares
 
Our common stock was delisted on The NASDAQ Capital Market on July 11, 2018, and currently trades on the OTC Pink market. Delisting of our common stock effectively results in our common stock being designated a “penny stock” is that securities broker-dealers cannot recommend the shares but must trade it on an unsolicited basis. Penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document prepared by the SEC, which specifies information about penny stocks and the nature and significance of risks of the penny stock market. A broker-dealer must also provide the customer with bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and sales person in the transaction, and monthly account statements indicating the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. In addition, the penny stock rules require that, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules; the broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the trading activity in the secondary market for shares that become subject to those penny stock rules. Under such circumstances, shareholders may find it more difficult to sell, or to obtain accurate quotations, for our common stock, and our common stock would become substantially less attractive to certain purchasers such as financial institutions, hedge funds and other similar investors.
 
Future sales of our securities, or the perception in the markets that these sales may occur, could depress our stock price.
 
Additional equity financings or other share issuances by us, including shares issued in connection with strategic alliances and corporate partnering transactions, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. As of November 13, 2018, we had 7,869,860 shares held by our existing shareholders available for resale pursuant to Rule 144 or resale registration statements, upon conversion of Series D Preferred Stock, Series E Preferred Stock, Series I Preferred Stock, Series J Preferred Stock, Series K Preferred Stock, Series L Preferred Stock, Series M Preferred Stock, Series N Preferred Stock, and Series O Preferred Stock. Sales by existing stockholders of a large number of shares of our common stock in the public market or the perception that additional sales could occur could cause the market price of our common stock to drop. Moreover, to the extent that additional shares of our outstanding stock are registered, or otherwise become eligible for resale, and are sold, or the holders of such shares are perceived as intended to sell them, this could further depress the market price of our common stock.  These factors could also make it more difficult for us to raise capital or make acquisitions through the issuance of additional shares of our common stock or other equity securities.
 
 
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The number of shares of issued and outstanding common stock as of October 31, 2018, represents approximately 46% of our fully diluted shares of common stock.  Additional issuances of shares of common stock upon conversion and/or exercise of preferred stock, options to purchase common stock and warrants to purchase common stock will cause substantial dilution to existing stockholders.
 
At November 13, 2018, we had 9,254,582 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Up to an additional 7,869,860 shares may be issued upon conversion of our Series D Preferred Stock, Series E Preferred Stock, Series I Preferred Stock, Series J Preferred Stock, Series K Preferred Stock, Series L Preferred Stock; Series M Preferred Stock; Series N Preferred Stock and Series O Preferred Stock 1,221,935 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants at a weighted average price of $7.15; 1,820,589 shares upon exercise of all outstanding options to purchase our common stock at a weighted average price of $7.44, resulting in a total of up to 20,166,968 shares that may be issued and outstanding. The issuance of any and all of the 10,912,384 shares issuable upon exercise or conversion of our outstanding convertible securities will cause substantial dilution to existing stockholders and may depress the market price of our common stock.
 
Our common stock trades on the OTC Pink Market, therefore compliance with applicable state securities laws may be required for subsequent offers, transfers and sales of the shares of common stock offered hereby.
 
Our common stock is traded on the OTC Pink and not currently eligible to be listed on a national securities exchange, therefore, subsequent transfers of the shares of our common stock offered hereby by U.S. holders may not be exempt from state securities laws. In such event, it will be the responsibility of the holder of shares or warrants to register or qualify the shares for any subsequent offer, transfer or sale in the United States or to determine that any such offer, transfer or sale is exempt under applicable state securities laws.
 
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
 
None.
 
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
 
Oxford Finance Assertion of Events of Default under the Loan Agreement – On August 14, 2018, Oxford Finance gave Notice asserting that certain “Events of Default” have occurred and are continuing under Sections 8.3 and 8.11 the Loan Agreement. Specifically, Oxford Finance makes general reference to the Alleged Default Events. In the Notice, Oxford Finance does not specify which provisions of the Loan Agreement are allegedly implicated by each of the Alleged Default Events, stating only generally its position that Events of Default have occurred under Sections 8.3 and 8.11 of the Loan Agreement and other Events of Default “may” have occurred. The Company informed Oxford Finance that it disputes the Alleged Default Events, individually or collectively, constitute a “Material Adverse Change” or other event of default under the Loan Agreement. In addition, the Company already engaged a new auditor, Haskell & White LLP, effective August 22, 2018, and on September 20, 2018, the Court ratified the Delaware Petition. Also, on October 16, 2018, the Company applied for listing on the OTCQB Marketplace and believes it now meets the requisite eligibility requirements; however, there can be no assurance of being listed while the SEC Action is underway. As of November 13, 2018, Company management has been meeting at least weekly since September 30, 2018, to keep Oxford Finance informed on potential fund-raising activities.
 
For additional information, see Note 6 to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report.
 
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
 
None.
 
Item 5. Other Information.
 
None.
 
Item 6. Exhibits.
 
The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
 
 
 
Exhibit
No.
Exhibit Name
Filed
with this Form 10-Q
Asset Purchase and License Agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
 X
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 X
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 X
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 X
101*
Interactive data file
 
 
* Furnished herewith
† Confidential treatment requested for portions of this exhibit. Confidential materials omitted and filed separately with the SEC.
 
 
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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
Date: November 13, 2018
MABVAX THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS, INC.
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ J. David Hansen
 
 
J. David Hansen
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer authorized
to sign on behalf of the registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Gregory P. Hanson
 
 
Gregory P. Hanson
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
authorized to sign on behalf of the registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
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