Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1 – Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Business Activities and Organization

 

Processa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an emerging clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of drug products that are intended to provide treatment for and improve the survival and/or quality of life of patients who have a high unmet medical need condition or who have no alternative treatment. Within this group of pharmaceutical products, we currently are developing one product for multiple indications (i.e., the use of a drug to treat a particular disease) and searching for additional products for our portfolio.

 

Our lead product, PCS-499 is an oral tablet that is an analog of an active metabolite of an already approved FDA drug. The advantage of PCS-499 is that it potentially may work in many conditions because it has multiple pharmacological targets it affects that are important in the treatment of these conditions. Based on its pharmacological activity, we have identified multiple unmet medical need conditions where the use of PCS-499 may result in clinical efficacy. The lead indication currently under development for PCS-499 is Necrobiosis Lipoidica (NL). On June 22, 2018, the FDA granted orphan-drug designation to PCS-499 for the treatment of NL. On September 28, 2018, the FDA cleared our IND for PCS-499 in NL such that we could move forward with the Phase 2a safety-dose tolerability trial. We dosed our first NL patient in this Phase 2a clinical trial on January 29, 2019. As of May 1, 2019, we have enrolled nine patients in the trial with one of these patients discontinuing in the trial because of the inconvenience associated with a clinical trial. No adverse effects were noted in this patient. All eight of the other patients are receiving 1.8 gm of PCS-499 daily with no dose limiting side effects. One of these patients has been dosed for three months while two others will soon reach three months of treatment on PCS-499. As expected, we have not seen any significant change in the NL lesion in the one patient who has been treated for three months. Our expectation is that changes in the NL lesion will take at least six months to see any major effect. We anticipate all 12 patients planned for this trial will be enrolled on or before June 2019. In addition, we expect to request a meeting with the FDA before the end of 2019 to further discuss the development of PCS-499, including the next clinical trial.

 

We continue to evaluate other unmet need conditions for PCS-499, as well as other potential assets and are developing strategies, including the regulatory pathway and commercialization plans for product(s) for these unmet medical conditions.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

Accordingly, they do not include all the information and disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments necessary, which are of a normal and recurring nature, for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and of the results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the SEC (as amended). The results of operations for the interim periods shown in this report are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year.

 

Certain amounts have been reclassified in our March 31, 2018 statement of operations to confirm to the current year presentation.

 

Going Concern and Management’s Plans

 

Our condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared using U.S. GAAP and are based on the assumption that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business. We face certain risks and uncertainties that are present in many emerging growth companies regarding product development and commercialization, limited working capital, recurring losses and negative cash flow from operations, future profitability, ability to obtain future capital, protection of patents, technologies and property rights, competition, rapid technological change, navigating the domestic and major foreign markets’ regulatory and clinical environment, recruiting and retaining key personnel, dependence on third party manufacturing organizations, third party collaboration and licensing agreements, lack of sales and marketing activities. We currently have no customers or pharmaceutical products to sell or distribute. These risks and other factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

We have relied exclusively on private placements with a small group of accredited investors to finance our business and operations. We do not have any prospective arrangements or credit facilities as a source of future funds. We have not had any revenue since our inception. We are looking at ways to add a revenue stream to offset some of our expenses but do not currently have any revenue under contract or any immediate sales prospects. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, we had an accumulated deficit of $8.4 million, incurred a net loss for the three months of $750,832 and used $492,429 in net cash from operating activities from continuing operations. At March 31, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents totaling $1.2 million and a Clinical Trial Funding commitment from an investor (PoC Capital) of $1.7 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, PoC Capital paid $115,000 of costs on our behalf related to our Phase 2a trial for NL directly to our CRO. Subsequent to March 31, 2019, PoC Capital has paid an additional $216,965 directly to our CRO.

 

Based on our current plan and our available resources (including the Clinical Trial Funding commitment from PoC Capital), we will need to raise additional capital before the end of the second quarter of 2019 in order to fund our future operations. While we believe our current resources are adequate to complete our current Phase 2a trial for NL, we do not currently have resources to conduct other future trials without raising additional capital. As noted above, the timing and extent of our spending will depend on the costs associated with, and the results of our Phase 2a trial for NL. Our anticipated spending and our cash flow needs could change significantly as the trial progresses. There may be costs we incur during our trial that we do not currently anticipate in order to complete the trial, requiring us to need additional capital sooner than currently expected.

 

Additional funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing when needed, we may have to delay, reduce the scope of, or suspend our current or future clinical trials, or research and development programs. We may seek to raise any necessary additional capital through a combination of public or private equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances, licensing arrangements and other marketing and distribution arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional capital through marketing and distribution arrangements or other collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our product candidates, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we raise additional capital through public or private equity offerings, the ownership interest of our existing stockholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect our stockholders’ rights. If we raise additional capital through debt financing, we may be subject to covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends.

 

Uncertainty concerning our ability to continue as a going concern may hinder our ability to obtain future financing. Continued operations and our ability to continue as a going concern are dependent on our ability to obtain additional funding in the future and thereafter, and no assurances can be given that such funding will be available at all, in a sufficient amount, or on reasonable terms. Without additional funds from debt or equity financing, sales of assets, sales or out-licenses of intellectual property or technologies, or other transactions providing funds, we will rapidly exhaust our resources and be unable to continue operations. Absent additional funding, we believe that our cash and cash equivalents will not be sufficient to fund our operations for a period of one year or more after the date that these consolidated financial statements are available to be issued based on the timing and amount of our projected net loss from continuing operations and cash to be used in operating activities during that period of time.

  

As a result, substantial doubt exists about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that these condensed consolidated financial statements are available to be issued. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of recorded assets, or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be different should we be unable to continue as a going concern based on the outcome of these uncertainties described above.

 

Use of Estimates

 

In preparing our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, we make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to: stock-based compensation, determining the fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities, intangible assets, and income taxes. These estimates and assumptions are continuously evaluated and are based on management’s experience and knowledge of the relevant facts and circumstances. While we believe the estimates to be reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those estimates and could impact future results of operations and cash flows.

 

Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets acquired individually or with a group of other assets from others (other than in a business combination) are recognized at cost, including transaction costs, and allocated to the individual assets acquired based on relative fair values and no goodwill is recognized. Cost is measured based on cash consideration paid. If consideration given is in the form of non-cash assets, liabilities incurred, or equity interests issued, measurement of cost is based on either the fair value of the consideration given or the fair value of the assets (or net assets) acquired, whichever is more clearly evident and more reliably measurable. Costs of internally developing, maintaining or restoring intangible assets that are not specifically identifiable, have indeterminate lives or are inherent in a continuing business are expensed as incurred.

 

Intangible assets purchased from others for use in research and development activities and that have alternative future uses (in research and development projects or otherwise) are capitalized in accordance with ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. Those that have no alternative future uses (in research and development projects or otherwise) and therefore no separate economic value are considered research and development costs and are expensed as incurred. Amortization of intangibles used in research and development activities is a research and development cost.

 

Intangibles with a finite useful life are amortized using the straight-line method unless the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are consumed or used up are reliably determinable. The useful life is the best estimate of the period over which the asset is expected to contribute directly or indirectly to our future cash flows. The useful life is based on the duration of the expected use of the asset by us and the legal, regulatory or contractual provisions that constrain the useful life and future cash flows of the asset, including regulatory acceptance and approval, obsolescence, demand, competition and other economic factors. We evaluate the remaining useful life of intangible assets each reporting period to determine whether any revision to the remaining useful life is required. If the remaining useful life is changed, the remaining carrying amount of the intangible asset will be amortized prospectively over the revised remaining useful life. If an income approach is used to measure the fair value of an intangible asset, we consider the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the intangible asset, adjusted as appropriate for company-specific factors discussed above, to determine the useful life for amortization purposes.

 

If no regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic or other factors limit the useful life of the intangible to us, the useful life is considered indefinite. Intangibles with an indefinite useful life are not amortized until its useful life is determined to be no longer indefinite. If the useful life is determined to be finite, the intangible is tested for impairment and the carrying amount is amortized over the remaining useful life in accordance with intangibles subject to amortization. Indefinite-lived intangibles are tested for impairment annually and more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that it is more-likely-than-not that the asset is impaired.

  

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Intangibles Other Than Goodwill

 

We account for the impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant and Equipment and ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, which require that long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to its expected future undiscounted net cash flows generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amounts of the assets exceed the fair value of the assets based on the present value of the expected future cash flows associated with the use of the asset. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. Based on management’s evaluation, there was no impairment loss recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2019.

 

Stock-based Compensation

 

Stock-based compensation expense is based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation. We expense stock-based compensation to employees over the requisite service period based on the estimated grant-date fair value of the awards. Stock-based awards with graded-vesting schedules are recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award. We estimate the fair value of stock option grants using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, and the assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock-based awards represent management’s best estimates and involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. Stock-based compensation costs are recorded as general and administrative or research and development costs in the statements of operations based upon the underlying individual’s role.

 

Net Loss Per Share

 

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing our net loss available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year. Diluted loss per share is computed by dividing our net loss available to common shareholders by the diluted weighted average number of shares of common stock during the period. Since we experienced a net loss for both periods presented, basic and diluted net loss per share are the same. As such, diluted loss per share for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 excludes the impact of potentially dilutive common shares related to the conversion of our Senior Notes and outstanding stock options and warrants since those shares would have an anti-dilutive effect on loss per share.

 

Research and Development

 

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and consisted of direct and overhead-related expenses.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

On January 1, 2019, we adopted Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 842, Leases. ASC 842 was issued to increase transparency and comparability among entities by recognizing right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about our lease agreements. We elected practical expedients upon transition that allows us to not reassess the lease classification of our leases, whether initial direct costs qualify for capitalization for our leases or whether any expired contracts are or contain leases. Additionally, we elected the optional transition method that allows for a cumulative effect adjustment in the period of adoption and we did not restate prior periods. The adoption of the new guidance on leasing resulted in the recognition of a right-of-use asset of $293,198 and lease obligations of $303,161. The difference between the right-of-use asset and the lease obligations is due to deferred rent liability related to our facility operating lease at December 31, 2018.

 

The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated statement of operations. For further details regarding the adoption of this standard, see Note 7, “Operating Leases.”