Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v3.19.1
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Company Policy [Policy Text Block]
The Company
 
We are a pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for the treatment of select chronic diseases utilizing our proprietary long-term drug delivery platform, ProNeura™, and we are currently transitioning to a commercial stage enterprise having re-acquired Probuphine® in May 2018, our first product approved in the U.S. for the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence. We operate in only one business segment, the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. All share and per share amounts give retroactive effect to a 1 for 6 reverse stock split effected in January 2019. See Note 14 
“Subsequent Events.”
 
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern.
  
At December 31, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $9.3 million, which we believe, along with the $0.6 million received from the subsequent exercise of warrants, are sufficient to fund our planned operations through the third quarter of 2019. Thereafter, we will require additional funds to finance our operations, including the commercialization of Probuphine in the U.S., completion of the Probuphine Phase IV clinical trials mandated by the FDA and advancement of our current ProNeura development programs to later stage clinical studies. Our efforts to obtain additional financing may not be successful.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Going Concern Assessment [Policy Text Block]
Going concern assessment
 
We assess going concern uncertainty in our financial statements to determine if we have sufficient cash on hand and working capital, including available borrowings on loans, to operate for a period of at least one year from the date the financial statements are issued or available to be issued, which is referred to as the “look-forward period” as defined by Accounting Standard Update ASU No. 2014-15. As part of this assessment, based on conditions that are known and reasonably knowable to us, we will consider various scenarios, forecasts, projections, estimates and will make certain key assumptions, including the timing and nature of projected cash expenditures or programs, and its ability to delay or curtail expenditures or programs, if necessary, among other factors. Based on this assessment, as necessary or applicable, we make certain assumptions around implementing curtailments or delays in the nature and timing of programs and expenditures to the extent we deem probable those implementations can be achieved and we have the proper authority to execute them within the look-forward period in accordance with ASU No. 2014-15.
 
Based upon the above assessment, we concluded that, at the date of filing the financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, we did not have sufficient cash to fund our operations for the next 12 months without additional funds and, therefore, there was substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within 12 months after the date the financial statements were issued.
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]
Stock-Based Compensation
 
We recognize compensation expense using a fair-value based method, for all stock-based payments including stock options and restricted stock awards and stock issued under an employee stock purchase plan. These standards require companies to estimate the fair value of stock-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option pricing model. See Note 12 “Stock Plans,” for a discussion of our stock-based compensation plans. Our non-cash stock-based compensation expense related to employees, non-employee members of our Board and consultants totaled approximately $1.6 million, $1.7 million and $1.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Warrants Issued In Connection With Equity Financing [Policy Text Block]
Warrants Issued in Connection with Equity Financing
 
We generally account for warrants issued in connection with equity financings as a component of equity, unless there is a deemed possibility that we may have to settle the warrants in cash. For warrants issued with deemed possibility of cash settlement, we record the fair value of the issued warrants as a liability at each reporting period and record changes in the estimated fair value as a non-cash gain or loss in the Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).
Cash And Cash Equivalents And Marketable Securities [Policy Text Block]
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities
 
Our investment policy emphasizes liquidity and preservation of principal over other portfolio considerations. We select investments that maximize interest income to the extent possible given these two constraints. We satisfy liquidity requirements by investing excess cash in securities with different maturities to match projected cash needs and limit concentration of credit risk by diversifying our investments among a variety of high credit-quality issuers and limit the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. The estimated fair values have been determined using available market information. We do not use derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio.
 
All investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered to be cash equivalents. Marketable securities, consisting primarily of high-grade debt securities, U.S. government and corporate notes and bonds, and commercial paper, are classified as available-for-sale at time of purchase and carried at fair value. If the fair value of a security is below its amortized cost and we plan to sell the security before recovering its cost, the impairment is considered to be other-than-temporary. Other-than-temporary declines in fair value of our marketable securities are charged against interest income. We had money market funds of approximately $8.9 million and $7.4 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, included in our cash and cash equivalents. We did not hold any marketable securities as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Property and Equipment
 
Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the assets.
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Revenue Recognition
 
Beginning January 1, 2018, we have followed the provisions of ASC Topic 606, 
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
. The guidance provides a unified model to determine how revenue is recognized.
 
We generate revenue principally from the sale of Probuphine in the U.S., collaborative research and development arrangements, technology licenses and sales, and government grants. Consideration received for revenue arrangements with multiple components is allocated among the separate performance obligations based upon their relative estimated standalone selling price.
 
In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as we fulfill our obligations under our agreements, we perform the following steps: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations based on estimated selling prices; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy each performance obligation.
 
Performance Obligations
 
A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account in ASC Topic 606. Our performance obligations include commercialization license rights, development services and services associated with the regulatory approval process.
 
We have optional additional items in contracts, which are accounted for as separate contracts when the customer elects such options. Arrangements that include a promise for future commercial product supply and optional research and development services at the customer’s discretion are generally considered as options. We assess if these options provide a material right to the customer and, if so, such material rights are accounted for as separate performance obligations. If we are entitled to additional payments when the customer exercises these options, any additional payments are recorded in revenue when the customer obtains control of the goods or services.
 
Transaction Price
 
We have both fixed and variable consideration. Non-refundable upfront payments are considered fixed, while milestone payments are identified as variable consideration when determining the transaction price. Funding of research and development activities is considered variable until such costs are reimbursed at which point they are considered fixed. We allocate the total transaction price to each performance obligation based on the relative estimated standalone selling prices of the promised goods or services for each performance obligation.
  
At the inception of each arrangement that includes milestone payments, we evaluate whether the milestones are considered probable of being achieved and estimate the amount to be included in the transaction price using the most likely amount method. If it is probable that a significant revenue reversal would not occur, the value of the associated milestone is included in the transaction price. Milestone payments that are not within our control, such as approvals from regulators, are not considered probable of being achieved until those approvals are received.
 
For arrangements that include sales-based royalties or earn-out payments, including milestone payments based on the level of sales, and the license or purchase agreement is deemed to be the predominant item to which the royalties or earn-out payments relate, we recognizes revenue at the later of (a) when the related sales occur, or (b) when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty or earn-out payment has been allocated has been satisfied (or partially satisfied).
 
Allocation of Consideration
 
As part of the accounting for these arrangements, we must develop assumptions that require judgment to determine the stand-alone selling price of each performance obligation identified in the contract. Estimated selling prices for license rights are calculated using the residual approach. For all other performance obligations, we use a cost-plus margin approach.
 
Timing of Recognition
 
Significant management judgment is required to determine the level of effort required under an arrangement and the period over which we expect to complete our performance obligations under an arrangement. We estimate the performance period or measure of progress at the inception of the arrangement and re-evaluate it each reporting period. This re-evaluation may shorten or lengthen the period over which revenue is recognized. Changes to these estimates are recorded on a cumulative catch up basis. If we cannot reasonably estimate when our performance obligations either are completed or become inconsequential, then revenue recognition is deferred until we can reasonably make such estimates. Revenue is then recognized over the remaining estimated period of performance using the cumulative catch-up method. Revenue is recognized for licenses or sales of functional intellectual property at the point in time the customer can use and benefit from the license. For performance obligations that are services, revenue is recognized over time proportionate to the costs that we have incurred to perform the services using the cost-to-cost input method.
 
In Process Research and Development, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Research and Development Costs and Related Accrual
 
Research and development expenses include internal and external costs. Internal costs include salaries and employment related expenses, facility costs, administrative expenses and allocations of corporate costs. External expenses consist of costs associated with outsourced clinical research organization activities, sponsored research studies, product registration, patent application and prosecution, and investigator sponsored trials. We also record accruals for estimated ongoing clinical trial costs. Clinical trial costs represent costs incurred by CROs and clinical sites. These costs are recorded as a component of research and development expenses. Under our agreements, progress payments are typically made to investigators, clinical sites and CROs. We analyze the progress of the clinical trials, including levels of patient enrollment, invoices received and contracted costs when evaluating the adequacy of accrued liabilities. Significant judgments and estimates must be made and used in determining the accrued balance in any accounting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates under different assumptions. Revisions are charged to expense in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Net Income (Loss) Per Share
 
Basic net income (loss) per share excludes the effect of dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue shares were exercised into shares. In calculating diluted net income (loss) per share, the numerator is adjusted for the change in the fair value of the warrant liability (only if dilutive) and the denominator is increased to include the number of potentially dilutive common shares assumed to be outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method.
   
The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016: 
 
 
 
Years ended December 31,
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) used for basic earnings per share
 
$
(9,308
)
 
$
(14,307
)
 
$
5,135
 
Less change in fair value of warrant liability
 
 
 
 
 
619
 
 
 
825
 
Less change in fair value of derivatives
 
 
134
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) used for diluted earnings per share
 
$
(9,442
)
 
$
(14,926
)
 
$
4,310
 
Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted-average outstanding common shares
 
 
5,688
 
 
 
3,534
 
 
 
3,457
 
Effect of dilutive potential common shares resulting from options
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24
 
Effect of dilutive potential common shares resulting from warrants
 
 
 
 
 
4
 
 
 
96
 
Weighted-average shares outstanding—diluted
 
 
5,688
 
 
 
3,538
 
 
 
3,577
 
Net income (loss) per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
(1.64
)
 
$
(4.05
)
 
$
1.49
 
Diluted
 
$
(1.66
)
 
$
(4.22
)
 
$
1.20
 
 
The table below presents common shares underlying stock options and warrants that are excluded from the calculation of the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding used for the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per common share. These are excluded from the calculation due to their anti-dilutive effect for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016: 
 
 
 
Years ended December 31,
 
(in thousands)
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
2016
 
Weighted-average anti-dilutive common shares resulting from options and awards
 
 
588
 
 
 
393
 
 
 
214
 
Weighted-average anti-dilutive common shares resulting from warrants
 
 
264
 
 
 
203
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
852
 
 
 
596
 
 
 
214
 
Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Comprehensive income and loss for the periods presented is comprised solely of our net income and loss. Comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 were $ 9.0 million and 14.3 million, respectively. Comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $ 5.1 million.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Recent Accounting Pronouncements 
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, 
Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash
 . ASU No. 2016-18 is intended to reduce diversity in practice in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the Statements of Cash Flows. The ASU requires that the Statements of Cash Flows explain the change in total cash, cash equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts. The ASU also requires a reconciliation between the total of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash presented on the Statements of Cash Flows and the cash and cash equivalents balance presented on the Balance Sheets. We adopted ASU No. 2016-18, and the guidance has been retrospectively applied to all periods presented. The adoption of the guidance did not have an impact on our Balance Sheets or Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).
 
In July 2017, the  FASB issued a two-part Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2017-11,
I. Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments With Down Round Features and II. Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests With a Scope Exception
amending guidance in FASB ASC 260, Earnings Per Share, FASB ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. The amendments in Part I of ASU 2017-11 change the classification analysis of certain equity-linked financial instruments (or embedded features) with down round features. The amendments in Part II of ASU 2017-11 re-characterize the indefinite deferral of certain provisions of Topic 480 that now are presented as pending content in the Codification, to a scope exception. Those amendments do not have an accounting effect. ASU 2017-11 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. We adopted ASU 2017- 11 for the year ended December 31, 2017, and retrospectively applied ASU 2017-11 as required. There was no retrospective impact as a result of the adoption of ASU 2017-11 on the financial statements. See Note 8, “Debt Agreements.”
 
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, 
Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments,
 addressing eight specific cash flow issues in an effort to reduce diversity in practice. The amended guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2017, and for interim periods within those years. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-15 did not have a material impact on our statements of cash flows.
  
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09,
Compensation - Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting
(“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 addresses several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including: (a) income tax consequences; (b) classification of awards as either equity or liabilities; (c) classification on the statement of cash flows; and (d) accounting for forfeitures. We adopted the provisions of ASU 2016-09 in the first quarter of 2017. We have elected to continue to estimate forfeitures based on the estimated number of awards expected to vest. In addition, the adoption of ASU 2016-09 resulted in the recognition of $12.0 million of previously unrecognized excess tax benefits in deferred tax assets, fully offset by a valuation allowance. All tax-related cash flows resulting from stock-based compensation, including the excess tax benefits related to the settlement of stock-based payment awards, are now classified as cash flows from operating activities on our Statements of Cash Flows. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 did not have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.
 
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, 
Leases (Topic 842)
, which establishes a new lease accounting model for lessees. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, 
Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements
 which provides an optional transition method that allows entities to elect to apply the standard prospectively at its effective date, versus recasting the prior periods presented. We are currently in the process of evaluating the transition method. Unlike current GAAP which requires only capital leases to be recognized on the balance sheet, the new guidance will require both types of leases (i.e. operating and capital leases) to be recognized on the balance sheet. The FASB lessee accounting model will continue to account for both types of leases. The capital lease will be accounted for in substantially the same manner as capital leases are accounted for under existing GAAP. The operating lease will be accounted for in a manner similar to operating leases under existing GAAP, except that lessees will recognize a lease liability and a lease asset for all of those leases. The amended guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We expect to adopt this standard beginning in 2019 and do not expect that this standard will have a material impact on our statements of operations and comprehensive loss; however, we expect that upon adoption, this standard will impact the carrying value of our assets and liabilities on our balance sheets as a result of the requirement to record right-of-use assets and corresponding lease obligations for current operating leases. We are still evaluating whether there are other existing contracts that may become leases under the new lease standard, and the impact of the adoption of this standard on our financial statements and disclosures. We will continue to monitor additional modifications, clarifications or interpretations undertaken by the FASB that may impact our current conclusions, and will expand our analysis to include any new lease arrangements initiated prior to adoption.
 
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
and has subsequently issued several supplemental or clarifying ASUs (collectively, “ASC 606”), ASC 606 supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASC 606 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASC 606 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP.
 
The standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASC 606 recognized at the date of adoption.  
We adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2018 under the modified retrospective transition method, applying the new guidance to the most current period presented. Upon adoption, there was no change to the units of accounting previously identified under legacy GAAP, which are now considered performance obligations under the new guidance, and there was no change to the revenue recognition pattern for each performance obligation. Therefore, the adoption of the new standard resulted in no cumulative effect to the opening accumulated deficit balance.
 
We assessed the impact that the adoption of ASC 606 would have on our financial statements by analyzing our current portfolio of customer contracts, including a review of historical accounting policies and practices to identify potential differences in the application of ASC 606. Additionally, we performed a comprehensive review of our current processes and systems to determine and implement changes required to support the adoption of ASC 606 on January 1, 2018. 
Subsequent Events, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Subsequent Events
 
We have evaluated events that have occurred subsequent to December 31, 2018 and through the date that the financial statements are issued.
Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Fair Value Measurements
 
We measure the fair value of financial assets and liabilities based on authoritative guidance which defines fair value, establishes a framework consisting of three levels for measuring fair value, and requires disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
 
Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2 – quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable;
Level 3 – inputs that are unobservable (for example cash flow modeling inputs based on assumptions).
 
 
Financial instruments, including receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities are carried at cost, which we believe approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The $8.9 million and $7.4 million fair values of money market funds as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 included in our cash and cash equivalents, are classified as Level 1 and were derived from quoted market prices as active markets for these instruments exists. Our warrant liabilities are classified within level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because the value is calculated using significant judgment based on our own assumptions in the valuation of these liabilities.
 
As a result of the fair value adjustment of the warrant liabilities, we recorded no gains or losses on changes in the fair value during the year ended December 31, 2018. We recorded a non-cash gain on decreases in the fair value of approximately
$619,000 
during the year ended December 31, 2017 in our Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). See Note 7, “Warrant Liability” for further discussion on the calculation of the fair value of the warrant liability.
 
We recorded non-cash gains of approximately $134,000 related to decreases in the fair value of our derivative liability for the year ended December 31, 2018. See Note 5 “Molteni Purchase Agreement” for further discussion on the calculation of the fair value of the derivative liability.
  
The following table rolls forward the fair value of the Company’s warrant liability, the fair value of which is determined by Level 3 inputs for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):
 
 
 
December 31,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
Fair value, beginning of period
 
$
 
 
$
619
 
Issuance of derivatives
 
 
159
 
 
 
 
Change in fair value
 
 
(134
)
 
 
(619
)
Fair value, end of period
 
$
25
 
 
$