Unassociated Document
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
o
|
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
OR
x
|
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
For
the Fiscal Year Ended: December 31, 2009
OR
o
|
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO
SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
OR
o
|
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
000-51341
(Commission
file number)
GENTIUM
S.p.A.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
NOT
APPLICABLE
(Translation
of Registrant’s Name into English)
Italy
(Jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
Piazza
XX Settembre 2
22079
Villa Guardia (Como), Italy
+39
031 385111
(Address,
including zip code, and telephone number,
including
area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Securities
registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Act.
|
|
Name
of each exchange
|
Title
of each class
|
|
on
which registered
|
American
Depositary Shares
|
|
The
Nasdaq Global Market
|
Ordinary
shares, no par value*
|
|
The
Nasdaq Global Market
|
(Title of
Class)
Securities
registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Securities
for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None
Indicate
the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or
common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual
report.
14,956,317 ordinary
shares
·
|
Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration
of the American Depositary
Shares.
|
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
If this
report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the
registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Note –
Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from
their obligations under those Sections.
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.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of
“accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act. (Check one):
Large
accelerated filer o
|
Accelerated
filer o
|
Non-accelerated
filer x
|
Indicate
by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to
follow.
If this
is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell
company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports
required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a
court.
Not
applicable.
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
|
|
|
|
ITEM
1. IDENTITY
OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND
ADVISORS |
|
|
1 |
|
ITEM
2. OFFER
STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE |
|
|
1 |
|
ITEM
3. KEY
INFORMATION |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
SELECTED FINANCIAL
DATA
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
CAPITALIZATION AND
INDEBTEDNESS
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE
OF PROCEEDS
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
RISK
FACTORS
|
|
|
5 |
|
ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE
COMPANY |
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE
COMPANY
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
CAPITAL
EXPENDITURES
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
ORGANIZATIONAL
STRUCTURE
|
|
|
27 |
|
|
|
PROPERTY, PLANT AND
EQUIPMENT
|
|
|
28 |
|
ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF
COMMENTS |
|
|
29 |
|
ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW
AND PROSPECTS |
|
|
29 |
|
|
|
OPERATING
RESULTS
|
|
|
29 |
|
|
|
LIQUIDITY AND
CAPITAL RESOURCES
|
|
|
37 |
|
|
|
RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
OFF-BALANCE SHEET
ARRANGEMENTS
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
|
|
|
40 |
|
ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT
AND EMPLOYEES |
|
|
42 |
|
|
|
DIRECTORS AND SENIOR
MANAGEMENT
|
|
|
42 |
|
|
|
COMPENSATION
|
|
|
44 |
|
|
|
BOARD
PRACTICES
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
|
EMPLOYEES
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
|
SHARE
OWNERSHIP
|
|
|
50 |
|
ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED
PARTY TRANSACTIONS |
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
MAJOR
SHAREHOLDERS
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
RELATED PARTY
TRANSACTIONS
|
|
|
52 |
|
|
|
INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND
COUNSEL
|
|
|
53 |
|
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL
INFORMATION |
|
|
53 |
|
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
|
OTHER FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
|
|
53 |
|
|
|
SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES
|
|
|
54 |
|
ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND
LISTING |
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
OFFER AND LISTING
DETAILS
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
PLAN OF
DISTRIBUTION
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
MARKETS
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
SELLING
SHAREHOLDERS
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
DILUTION
|
|
|
55 |
|
|
|
EXPENSES OF THE
ISSUE
|
|
|
55 |
|
ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
|
|
56 |
|
|
|
SHARE
CAPITAL
|
|
|
56 |
|
|
|
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF
ASSOCIATION
|
|
|
56 |
|
|
|
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND
INDEMNIFICATION MATTERS
|
|
|
64 |
|
|
|
THE NASDAQ GLOBAL
MARKET
|
|
|
64 |
|
|
|
COMPARISON OF ITALIAN AND
DELAWARE CORPORATE
|
|
|
65 |
|
|
|
MATERIAL
CONTRACTS
|
|
|
71 |
|
|
|
EXCHANGE
CONTROLS
|
|
|
72 |
|
|
|
TAXATION
|
|
|
72 |
|
|
|
DIVIDENDS AND PAYING
AGENTS
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
STATEMENTS BY
EXPERTS
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
DOCUMENTS ON
DISPLAY
|
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
SUBSIDIARY
INFORMATION
|
|
|
76 |
|
ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE
DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
|
|
76 |
|
ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER
THAN EQUITY
SECURITIES. |
|
|
76 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
PART
II
|
|
|
|
|
ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARRANGEMENTS
AND DELINQUENCIES |
|
|
77 |
|
ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE
RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF
PROCEEDS |
|
|
77 |
|
ITEM 15T. CONTROLS AND
PROCEDURES |
|
|
77 |
|
ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE
FINANCIAL
EXPERT |
|
|
77 |
|
ITEM 16B. CODE OF
ETHICS |
|
|
78 |
|
ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND
SERVICES |
|
|
78 |
|
ITEM 16D. EXEMPTION FROM THE LISTING
STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES |
|
|
78 |
|
ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED
PURCHASERS |
|
|
78 |
|
ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN CERTIFYING
ACCOUNTANT |
|
|
79 |
|
ITEM 16G. CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE |
|
|
79 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
PART
III
|
|
|
|
|
ITEM 17. FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS |
|
|
81 |
|
ITEM 18. FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS |
|
|
81 |
|
INDEX TO FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS |
|
|
81 |
|
ITEM 19. EXHIBITS |
|
|
82 |
|
PART
I
ITEM
1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORS
Not
applicable.
ITEM
2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not
applicable.
ITEM
3. KEY INFORMATION
GENTIUM
S.P.A.
We are a
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and manufacture of our
primary product candidate, defibrotide, an investigational drug based on
single-stranded DNA extracted from pig intestines. Our development of
defibrotide has been focused on the treatment and prevention of a disease called
hepatic veno-occlusive disease, or VOD, a condition in which some of the veins
in the liver are blocked as a result of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy
or radiation treatments, that are given prior to stem cell
transplantation. Severe VOD is the most extreme form of VOD and is
associated with multiple-organ failure and high rates of morbidity and
mortality. We have completed two clinical trials, a Phase III trial
of defibrotide for the treatment of severe VOD in the U.S., Canada and Israel
and a Phase II/III pediatric trial in Europe for the prevention of
VOD. Defibrotide has been given “orphan” status by the U.S. Food and
Drug Agency, or FDA, and the European Medicines Agency, or EMEA, which means
that we will have limited market exclusivity upon regulatory
approval. Defibrotide has also been granted “fast-track product”
designation by the FDA for the treatment of VOD. While we have not
yet obtained regulatory approval to market defibrotide, we are authorized to
distribute defibrotide on a pre-approved basis under a treatment IND protocol in
the U.S. and through a named-patient program throughout the rest of the
world. We do not know of any FDA or EMEA approved treatments for
VOD.
We are
currently completing certain preclinical and clinical studies requested by
regulatory authorities. As part of our overall strategy, we
anticipate filing for regulatory approval for defibrotide in the U.S. and Europe
by the end of our second quarter in 2011. We are also working closely
on our U.S. regulatory strategy with our commercial partner, Sigma-Tau
Finanziaria S.p.A. and its affiliate Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to which
we have licensed our commercial rights to defibrotide for both the treatment and
prevention of VOD in the Americas.
We have a
manufacturing plant in Italy where we produce active pharmaceutical ingredients,
which are subsequently used to make the finished forms of various drugs. We
believe that we are the sole worldwide producer of defibrotide. In
addition to defibrotide, we manufacture urokinase and sulglicotide, both of
which are sold to third parties. All of the Company’s operating
assets are located in Italy.
We have
accumulated a deficit of approximately €100 million since our inception and
expect to continue to incur net operating losses for the foreseeable
future. However, absent the need to fund any additional clinical
trials, we believe that our cash and cash equivalents, including the upfront
payment received from Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in connection with the
expansion of the license for defibrotide in the Americas, together with revenues
generated from our named-patient and cost recovery programs, will be sufficient
to meet our obligations for at least the next twelve months.
We are
subject to a number of risks, including our ability to successfully obtain
regulatory approval for defibrotide, the uncertainty that defibrotide will
become a successful commercial product, our ability to generate projected
revenue through our named-patient and cost recovery programs, our dependence on
corporate partners, our ability to obtain financing, if necessary, and potential
changes in the health care industry.
SELECTED
FINANCIAL DATA
The
following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with “Operating
and Financial Review and Prospects” and our financial statements and the related
notes appearing elsewhere in this annual report. The selected
financial data as of December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2009 and for the three
years ended December 31, 2009 are derived from our audited financial statements,
which are included in this annual report. The selected financial data
as of December 31, 2005, December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007 and for the
years ended December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2006 have been derived from our
audited financial statements, which are not included in this annual
report. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of
results to be expected in any future period.
The
convenience translation into U.S. dollars has been done solely for the benefit
of the reader, and does not imply that our results would actually have been
these amounts in U.S. dollars had the U.S. dollar been our functional
currency.
Statement
of Operations Data:
|
|
For
the Years Ended December 31,
|
|
(000s
omitted except per share data)
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009(1)
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product
sales to related party
|
|
€ |
3,260 |
|
|
€ |
3,754 |
|
|
€ |
2,704 |
|
|
€ |
651 |
|
|
€ |
195 |
|
|
$ |
279 |
|
Product
sales to third parties
|
|
|
101 |
|
|
|
321 |
|
|
|
2,390 |
|
|
|
4,792 |
|
|
|
9,507 |
|
|
|
13,625 |
|
Total
product sales
|
|
|
3,361 |
|
|
|
4,075 |
|
|
|
5,094 |
|
|
|
5,443 |
|
|
|
9,702 |
|
|
|
13,904 |
|
Other
revenues
|
|
|
280 |
|
|
|
109 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
129 |
|
|
|
185 |
|
Other
revenues from related party
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
140 |
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
1,970 |
|
|
|
337 |
|
|
|
483 |
|
Total
revenues
|
|
|
3,641 |
|
|
|
4,324 |
|
|
|
7,609 |
|
|
|
7,438 |
|
|
|
10,168 |
|
|
|
14,572 |
|
Operating
costs and expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of goods sold
|
|
|
2,911 |
|
|
|
3,092 |
|
|
|
4,584 |
|
|
|
5,596 |
|
|
|
4,002 |
|
|
|
5,736 |
|
Charges
from related parties
|
|
|
1,047 |
|
|
|
854 |
|
|
|
748 |
|
|
|
537 |
|
|
|
279 |
|
|
|
400 |
|
Research
and development
|
|
|
4,557 |
|
|
|
8,927 |
|
|
|
14,497 |
|
|
|
9,569 |
|
|
|
3,512 |
|
|
|
5,033 |
|
General
and administrative
|
|
|
2,284 |
|
|
|
5,421 |
|
|
|
6,279 |
|
|
|
7,668 |
|
|
|
6,036 |
|
|
|
8,651 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
118 |
|
|
|
261 |
|
|
|
725 |
|
|
|
998 |
|
|
|
916 |
|
|
|
1,313 |
|
Write-down
of assets
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
13,740 |
|
|
|
3,403 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
10,917 |
|
|
|
18,555 |
|
|
|
40,573 |
|
|
|
27,
771 |
|
|
|
14,745 |
|
|
|
21,133 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
loss
|
|
|
(7,276 |
) |
|
|
(14,231 |
) |
|
|
(32,964 |
) |
|
|
(20,333 |
) |
|
|
(4,577 |
) |
|
|
(6,561 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign
currency exchange gain (loss), net
|
|
|
(249 |
) |
|
|
(627 |
) |
|
|
(4,001 |
) |
|
|
173 |
|
|
|
162 |
|
|
|
232 |
|
Interest
income (expense), net
|
|
|
(4,148 |
) |
|
|
490 |
|
|
|
1,357 |
|
|
|
256 |
|
|
|
(110 |
) |
|
|
(158 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pre-tax
income loss
|
|
|
(11,673 |
) |
|
|
(14,368 |
) |
|
|
(35,608 |
) |
|
|
(19,904 |
) |
|
|
(4,525 |
) |
|
|
(6,487 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
tax expense (benefit):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Deferred
|
|
|
646 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
646 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
€ |
(12,319 |
) |
|
€ |
(14,368 |
) |
|
€ |
(35,608 |
) |
|
€ |
(19,904 |
) |
|
€ |
(4,525 |
) |
|
$ |
(6,487 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
and Diluted
|
|
€ |
(1.41 |
) |
|
€ |
(1.78 |
) |
|
€ |
(1.33 |
) |
|
€ |
(1.33 |
) |
|
€ |
(0.30 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.43 |
) |
(1)
|
Euro
amounts are translated into U.S. dollars using the Noon Buying Rate for
the Euro on December 31, 2009, of U.S. $1.4332 per Euro. No
representation is made that the Euro amounts referred to in this annual
report could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars at any
particular rate or at all.
|
The
following table summarizes certain of our balance sheet data.
(000s
omitted except per share data
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2009(1)
|
|
Balance
Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalent...
|
|
€ |
12,785 |
|
|
€ |
10,205 |
|
|
€ |
25,964 |
|
|
€ |
11,491 |
|
|
€ |
1,392 |
|
|
$ |
1,995 |
|
Working
capital
|
|
|
11,758 |
|
|
|
13,543 |
|
|
|
19,002 |
|
|
|
3,152 |
|
|
|
1,041 |
|
|
|
1,492 |
|
Property,
net
|
|
|
8,631 |
|
|
|
9,424 |
|
|
|
11,544 |
|
|
|
10,751 |
|
|
|
9,717 |
|
|
|
13,926 |
|
Total
assets
|
|
|
26,113 |
|
|
|
35,393 |
|
|
|
51,959 |
|
|
|
26,901 |
|
|
|
18,167 |
|
|
|
26,037 |
|
Long-term
debt, net of current maturities
|
|
|
2,485 |
|
|
|
5,683 |
|
|
|
4,421 |
|
|
|
3,268 |
|
|
|
3,098 |
|
|
|
4,440 |
|
Shareholders’
equity
|
|
|
17,474 |
|
|
|
21,687 |
|
|
|
28,359 |
|
|
|
10,451 |
|
|
|
7,330 |
|
|
|
10,505 |
|
Capital
stock
|
|
€ |
9,611 |
|
|
€ |
11,774 |
|
|
€ |
14,946 |
|
|
€ |
14,956 |
|
|
€ |
106,962 |
|
|
$ |
153,298 |
|
Number
of shares
|
|
|
9,610,630 |
|
|
|
11,773,613 |
|
|
|
14,946,317 |
|
|
|
14,956,317 |
|
|
|
14,956,317 |
|
|
|
14,956,317 |
|
(1)
|
Euro
amounts are translated into U.S. dollars using the Noon Buying Rate for
the Euro on December 31, 2009, of U.S. $1.4332 per Euro. No
representation is made that the Euro amounts referred to in this annual
report could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars at any
particular rate or at all.
|
Exchange
Rate Information
Fluctuations
in the exchange rates between the Euro and the U.S. dollar will affect the U.S.
dollar amounts received by owners of ADSs on conversion by the depositary of
dividends, if any, paid in euros on the ordinary shares represented by the ADSs.
Moreover, such fluctuations may also affect the U.S. dollar price of the ADSs on
the Nasdaq Global Market. The following table sets forth information regarding
the exchange rates of U.S. dollars per Euro for the periods indicated,
calculated by using the average of the noon buying rates on the last day of each
month during the periods presented.
|
|
U.S.
Dollar per Euro
|
Year
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Period
End
|
2005
|
|
|
1.2400 |
|
|
|
1.1842 |
|
2006
|
|
|
1.2661 |
|
|
|
1.3197 |
|
2007
|
|
|
1.3797 |
|
|
|
1.4603 |
|
2008
|
|
|
1.4695 |
|
|
|
1.3919 |
|
2009
|
|
|
1.3935 |
|
|
|
1.4332 |
|
Source: Federal Reserve Statistical Releases H.10 and G.5
The
following table sets forth information regarding the high and low exchange rates
of U.S. dollars per Euro for the periods indicated using the noon buying rate on
each day of such period.
|
|
U.S.
Dollar per Euro
|
|
Month
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
September
2009
|
|
|
1.4795 |
|
|
|
1.4235 |
|
October
2009
|
|
|
1.5029 |
|
|
|
1.4532 |
|
November
2009
|
|
|
1.5085 |
|
|
|
1.4828 |
|
December
2009
|
|
|
1.5100 |
|
|
|
1.4243 |
|
January
2010
|
|
|
1.4536 |
|
|
|
1.3870 |
|
February
2010
|
|
|
1.3995 |
|
|
|
1.3476 |
|
March
2010 (through March 26, 2010)
|
|
|
1.3758 |
|
|
|
1.3344 |
|
Source:
Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.10
On March
26, 2010, the noon buying rate was €1.00 to $1.3398.
We use
the Euro as our functional currency for financial reporting. This
annual report contains translations of euros into U.S. dollars at specified
rates solely for the convenience of the reader. No representation is made that
the Euro amounts referred to in this annual report could have been or could be
converted into U.S. dollars at any particular rate or at all.
CAPITALIZATION
AND INDEBTEDNESS
Not
applicable.
REASONS
FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not
applicable.
RISK
FACTORS
You
should carefully consider the risks described below, in conjunction with the
other information and financial statements and related notes included elsewhere
in this annual report, before making an investment decision. You should pay
particular attention to the fact that we conduct our operations in Italy and are
governed by a legal and regulatory environment that in some respects differs
significantly from the environment that prevails in other countries with which
you may be familiar. Our business, financial condition or results of operations
could be affected materially and adversely by any or all of these risks. In that
event, the market price of our ADSs could decline and you could lose all or part
of your investment.
Risks Relating to Our
Business
We
may not be able to meet our future cash requirements without obtaining
additional capital from external sources.
As of December 31, 2009, we had
€1,392 million in cash and cash equivalents. We
have generated net losses since our inception. Our net losses for the
year ended December 31, 2009 and for the year ended December 31, 2008 were
€4.53 million and €19.90 million, respectively. We expect to incur
significant losses over the next several years as we pursue regulatory approval
for defibrotide, which may require additional clinical trials, testing and
regulatory compliance activities, and commercialization efforts and related
activities. In addition, our long-term ability to generate cash from
operations is dependent in part on the success of our current strategic partner,
Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as well as the likelihood and timing of new
strategic licensing and partnering relationships and/or the successful
commercialization of defibrotide. If we incur operating losses for
longer than we expect and/or we are unable to raise additional capital, we may
become insolvent and unable to continue our operations.
Since our inception, we have financed
our operations primarily through the sale of equity and convertible notes,
interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents, and debt provided through
secured lines of credit. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of
equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of our
stockholders could be significantly diluted, and these newly-issued securities
may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of existing
stockholders. If we obtain additional debt financing, a substantial portion of
our operating cash flow may be dedicated to the payment of principal and
interest on such indebtedness, and the terms of the debt securities issued could
impose significant restrictions on our operations.
Absent
the need to fund any additional clinical trials, we believe that our cash and
cash equivalents, including the upfront payment received from Sigma-Tau
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in connection with the expansion of the license for
defibrotide in the Americas, together with revenues generated from our
named-patient and cost recovery programs, will be sufficient to meet our
obligations for at least the next twelve months. However, if we elect
to increase our spending above current plans or perform additional clinical
trials, we may need to obtain additional capital through equity or debt
financings, loans and collaborative agreements with corporate partners, which
may not be available to us on favorable terms, if at all.
Our
failure to raise additional funds in the future may delay the development of
defibrotide.
Our
future capital requirements are dependent upon many factors, some of which are
beyond our control, including:
|
·
|
the
successful and continued development of defibrotide in preclinical and
clinical testing in our existing and any future clinical
trials;
|
|
|
|
|
·
|
the
costs associated with protecting and expanding our patent and other
intellectual property rights; |
|
|
|
|
·
|
future
payments, if any, received or made under existing or possible future
collaborative arrangements; |
|
|
|
|
·
|
the
costs associated with building a future commercial
infrastructure; |
|
|
|
|
·
|
the
costs associated with implementing any upgrades to our manufacturing
facility required by the United States Food and Drug Administration, or
FDA, European Medicines Agency, or EMEA, or other regulators; |
|
|
|
|
·
|
the
timing of regulatory approvals needed to market defibrotide; |
|
|
|
|
·
|
success
of our named-patient and cost recovery programs; and |
|
|
|
|
·
|
market
acceptance of defibrotide. |
We may
need additional funds before we have obtained regulatory approval for
defibrotide. We cannot assure you that funds will be available to us
in the future on favorable terms, if at all. If adequate funds are
not available to us on terms that we find acceptable, or at all, we may be
required to delay, reduce the scope of, or eliminate research and development
efforts or clinical trials on defibrotide. We may also be forced to curtail,
cease or restructure our operations, obtain funds by entering into arrangements
with collaborators on unattractive terms or relinquish rights to defibrotide
that we would not otherwise relinquish in order to continue independent
operations.
We
have started to generate limited revenues from sales of defibrotide and have had
significant losses to date, and we do not know whether we will ever generate
significant revenues or achieve profitability.
We have
generated limited revenues through commercial sales of our active pharmaceutical
ingredients and, recently, pre-approval sales of defibrotide through our
named-patient and cost recovery programs. We had total net product
sales of €5.09 million, €5.44 million and €9.70 million in 2007, 2008 and 2009,
respectively. Even
if we are successful in obtaining regulatory approval to market defibrotide, we
may have very limited markets and may not generate enough revenues from
defibrotide to fund our business. In addition, the FDA and EMEA have
designated defibrotide to treat severe VOD and defibrotide to prevent VOD, as
“orphan drugs,” which generally means that fewer than 200,000 people are
affected by the disease or condition.
Our
ability to continue as a going concern is largely dependent on the revenues
being generated from the distribution of defibrotide on a pre-approved
compassionate use basis through our named-patient and cost recovery
programs. If we fail to generate projected revenues from such
compassionate use programs, we may need to obtain additional capital through
equity or debt financings, loans and collaborative agreements with corporate
partners, which may not be available to us on favorable terms, if at all, in
order to fund our operations over the next twelve months.
We expect
to continue to incur significant expenses as we develop and seek regulatory
approval for defibrotide. We incurred a net loss of €35.61 million, €19.90
million and €4.53 million in 2007, 2008
and 2009, respectively. We cannot assure you that we will ever become
profitable. If we fail to achieve profitability within the time frame expected
by investors or securities analysts, the market price of our American Depositary
Shares, or ADSs, may decline.
We
currently do not have any regulatory approvals to sell defibrotide to treat or
prevent VOD, and we cannot guarantee that we will ever be able to sell
defibrotide to treat or prevent VOD anywhere in the world.
We must
demonstrate that defibrotide satisfies rigorous standards of safety and
effectiveness before the FDA, EMEA and other regulatory authorities will approve
defibrotide for commercial marketing. While we have completed two clinical
trials for defibrotide to treat and prevent VOD, the data obtained from these
trials may not be sufficient to obtain regulatory approval and we may be
required to conduct additional clinical trials. We do not currently
have the funds to run an additional clinical trial and we would likely need to
obtain additional capital through equity or debt financings, loans and
collaborative agreements with corporate partners, which may not be available to
us on favorable terms, if at all. As a result, we may not be able to
commercialize defibrotide for sale anywhere in the world.
The
FDA and other regulatory authorities may require us to conduct other clinical
trials of defibrotide to treat severe VOD or prevent VOD, which may delay or
prevent approval and commercialization of our product candidate.
On
December 7, 2009, we announced final clinical trial results for our current
Phase III clinical trial of defibrotide to treat severe VOD and our Phase II/III
pediatric prevention trial in Europe to prevent VOD, both of which were
presented at the American Society of Hematology Conference in New Orleans. While
data from these two trials are encouraging, we may have to conduct a new
clinical trial of defibrotide to treat VOD using a concurrent control group of
untreated patients before obtaining regulatory approval in the U.S. or Europe
for either the treatment or prevention indications. We currently do
not, and we may never, have enough capital to commence and complete a new
clinical trial of defibrotide to treat VOD. In addition, even if we
are able to commence a new clinical trial, one or more clinical centers where
the clinical trial is to be conducted may not be willing to conduct such a
clinical trial on the basis that it is unethical to refuse treatment to patients
when the treatment being investigated could potentially save their
lives. The committee of clinical investigators who sponsored a Phase
II/III clinical trial of defibrotide to treat VOD in Europe conducted by
Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, which had a concurrent control group of untreated
patients, cancelled the trial in October 2005 due to a lack of patients
enrolling. We believe that patients were reluctant to enroll due to
the possibility of being placed into the control group and not receiving
treatment. Therefore, we may never be able to obtain regulatory
approval of defibrotide to treat VOD.
We
may be required to suspend or discontinue any future clinical trials, if
necessary, due to adverse events or other safety issues that could preclude
approval of defibrotide and negatively affect our business model and stock
price.
If we are
required to conduct any future clinical trials for defibrotide, such trials may
be suspended at any time for a number of safety-related reasons. For example, we
may voluntarily suspend or terminate such clinical trials if at any time we
believe that defibrotide prevents an unacceptable risk to the clinical trial
patients. In addition, institutional review boards or regulatory agencies may
order the temporary or permanent discontinuation of our clinical trials at any
time if they believe that the clinical trials are not being conducted in
accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, including if they present an
unacceptable safety risk to patients.
Administering
any product candidate to humans may produce undesirable side effects. VOD is a
complication associated with high dose chemotherapy and stem cell
transplantation. Adverse events involving vascular disorders, coagulation and
potentially life-threatening bleeding have been reported in
patients with VOD treated with defibrotide, which potentially could be related
to the defibrotide therapy. Hypotension has been reported as a
possibly related serious adverse event in the trials of defibrotide to treat
severe VOD. Also, we discontinued a 69-patient Phase I/II clinical trial of
defibrotide to prevent deep vein thrombosis after hip surgery in Denmark in 2002
after three patients experienced hypotension after receiving the defibrotide
intravenously. That trial was discontinued due to the hypotension and
because defibrotide can also be administered orally to prevent deep vein
thrombosis. These adverse events reports will be weighed by the FDA and other
regulatory authorities in determining whether defibrotide can, from a
risk-benefit perspective, be considered to be safe and effective to treat severe
VOD and prevent VOD, to prevent deep vein thrombosis, or any other indication
for which approval is sought.
It is
possible that additional adverse events or safety issues could emerge from
future data, which could impact conclusions relating to the safety of
defibrotide. Any problems that arise from the use of defibrotide would severely
harm our business operations.
We
expect to rely upon our affiliate, Sirton Pharmaceuticals S.p.A., for various
services, and we may not be able to quickly replace these services if it becomes
bankrupt or otherwise unavailable.
We depend on a number of services from
Sirton Pharmaceuticals S.p.A., including steam related to our manufacturing
plant, lab space, and filling and packaging services for defibrotide for use in
our compassionate use programs and any future clinical trials. If
Sirton were to become bankrupt or otherwise cease providing these services, we
may not be able to replace these services in a timely manner. Such a
delay would impact our compassionate use programs and any future clinical
trials.
Sirton,
who is our affiliate, owes us a receivable that we may not be able to
collect.
At December 31, 2009, Sirton owed us a
receivable of €1.38 million and we owed Sirton a payable of €0.28
million. Sirton has been unable to make timely payments on the
outstanding receivables. Currently, Sirton is evaluating its
strategic options in order to avoid bankruptcy, which raises additional concerns
on our ability to collect the outstanding receivables. In 2009, the
Company and Sirton formally offset €0.74 million of payables due to Sirton
against the same amount of receivables due from Sirton. We may never be able to
collect the net receivable due to us from Sirton.
Defibrotide
could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal from the market and we may be
subject to penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements, if and
when defibrotide is approved.
Any
product for which we obtain marketing approval, together with the manufacturing
processes, post-approval commitments, and advertising and promotional activities
for such product, will be subject to continued regulation by the FDA and other
regulatory agencies. Later discovery of previously unknown problems
with defibrotide or its manufacture, or failure to comply with regulatory
requirements, may result in:
· restrictions
on defibrotide or manufacturing processes;
· withdrawal
of defibrotide from the market;
· voluntary
or mandatory recalls;
· fines;
· suspension
of regulatory approvals;
· product
seizures; or
· injunctions
or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.
If we are slow to adapt, or unable to
adapt, to changes in existing regulatory requirements or adoption of new
regulatory requirements or policies, we may lose marketing approval for
defibrotide when and if defibrotide is approved.
Our
manufacturing facility and the manufacturing facility of Patheon S.p.A., who we
have contracted to fill and finish defibrotide, are subject to continuing
regulation by Italian authorities and are subject to inspection and regulation
by the FDA and EMEA. These authorities could force us to stop
manufacturing our products if they determine that we or Patheon are not
complying with applicable regulations or require us to complete further costly
alterations to our facilities.
We
manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients at our manufacturing facility in
Italy. We have hired Patheon S.p.A. to process our lead active
pharmaceutical ingredient, defibrotide, into the finished drug at Patheon’s
manufacturing facility. These facilities are subject to continuing
regulation by the Italian Health Authority and other Italian regulatory
authorities with respect to manufacturing defibrotide. The facilities
are also subject to inspection and regulation by the FDA and EMEA with respect
to manufacturing our product candidates for investigational use. Also, part of
the process for obtaining approval from the FDA and EMEA for defibrotide is
approval by those authorities of these manufacturing facilities in compliance
with current good manufacturing practices. After receiving initial approval, if
any, the FDA or EMEA will continue to inspect our manufacturing facilities,
including inspecting them unannounced, to confirm whether we and Patheon are
complying with good manufacturing practices.
These regulators may require us to stop
manufacturing our products and may deny us approval to manufacture our product
candidates if they determine that we or Patheon are not complying with
applicable regulations. In addition, these regulators may require us
to complete costly alterations to our facilities.
We
expect to rely upon a sole processor, Patheon Italia, to fill and finish
defibrotide into marketable formulations, and we may not be able to quickly
replace Patheon if it fails in its duties.
If
Patheon does not or is not able to perform these services for any reason, it may
take us time to find a replacement processor. Such a delay could
potentially put us in breach of our contractual obligations into which we may
enter, violate local laws requiring us to deliver the product to those in need,
and impact our revenues.
We
may have difficulty obtaining raw material for defibrotide.
Defibrotide
is based on pig intestines. If our current sources of pig intestines
develop safety problems or other issues that impact our supply of pig
intestines, we may not be able to find alternative suppliers in a timely
fashion. In that case, we would have to slow or cease our manufacture
of defibrotide.
If
our third-party clinical trial vendors fail to comply with strict regulations,
the clinical trials for defibrotide may be delayed or unsuccessful.
We do not
have the personnel capacity to conduct or manage all of the clinical trials that
we intend for defibrotide. We rely on third parties to assist us in managing,
monitoring and conducting our clinical trials. We have entered into
and expect to continue to enter into clinical trial agreements with numerous
centers throughout the world in order to continue the development of
defibrotide. In addition, we have entered into an agreement with MDS
Pharma Services (U.S.) Inc. (now INC Research Inc.) to perform clinical research
services in connection with clinical trials conducted in the United States and
agreements with KKS-UKT, GmbH (now CenTrial, GmbH) and MDS Pharma Services
S.p.A. (now Inc Research S.r.l.) to provide such services for our clinical
trials in Europe. If these third parties fail to comply with applicable
regulations or do not adequately fulfill their obligations under the terms of
our agreements with them, we may not be able to enter into alternative
arrangements without undue delay or additional expenditures and, therefore, the
clinical trials for defibrotide may be delayed or unsuccessful.
Furthermore,
the FDA can be expected to inspect some or all of the clinical sites
participating in our clinical trials, or our third party vendors’ sites, to
determine if our clinical trials are being conducted according to good clinical
practices. If the FDA determines that these clinical sites or our third-party
vendors are not in compliance with applicable regulations, we may be required to
delay, repeat or terminate the clinical trials. Any delay, repetition or
termination of our clinical trials could materially harm our business.
We
are currently dependent on third parties to market and distribute defibrotide in
finished dosage form, and we may continue to be dependent on third parties to
market and distribute defibrotide.
Our
internal ability to handle the marketing and distribution functions for
defibrotide is limited and we do not expect to develop the capability to provide
marketing and distribution for defibrotide. Our long-term strategy
includes either developing marketing and distribution capacity internally or
entering into alliances with third parties to assist in the marketing and
distribution of our product candidates. We have entered into an agreement with
Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to market defibrotide to treat and prevent VOD
in North America, Central America and South America and we may need to develop
these capabilities internally or enter into similar agreements to market and
distribute defibrotide to prevent VOD outside the Americas. We face,
and will continue to face, intense competition from other companies for
collaborative arrangements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, for
establishing relationships with academic and research institutions, for
attracting investigators and sites capable of conducting our clinical trials,
and for licenses of proprietary technology. Moreover, these arrangements are
complex to negotiate and time-consuming to document. Our future profitability
will depend in large part on our ability to enter into effective marketing
agreements and our product revenues will depend on those marketers’ efforts,
which may not be successful.
If
we are unable to attract and retain qualified personnel and key relationships,
we may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize defibrotide or
otherwise manage our business effectively.
We are
highly dependent on our senior management, whose services are critical to the
successful implementation of research and development, manufacturing and
regulatory strategies and develop and maintain relationships with qualified
researchers. If we lose their services or the services of one or more of the
other members of our senior management or other key researcher, our ability to
successfully commercialize defibrotide or otherwise manage our business
effectively could be seriously harmed.
Replacing
key employees may be difficult and may take an extended period of time because
of the limited number of individuals in our industry with the breadth of
specific skills and experience required to develop, gain regulatory approval of
and commercialize defibrotide successfully. Competition to hire from this
limited pool is intense, and we may be unable to hire, train, retain or motivate
these additional key personnel. In addition, under Italian law, we cannot
incentivize such key employees with certain forms of equity grants, such as
restricted stock awards, or grant stock options with an exercise price at or
near the recent trading prices of our ADSs, both of which could further limit
our ability to retain and hire key personnel.
On March
1, 2010, we announced our decision to close our New York office and began
transitioning the New York activities to our headquarters in Como,
Italy. If we are unsuccessful in transitioning these activities, our
business and results of operations could be negatively impacted. In
addition, we may need to hire additional personnel and add corporate functions
that we currently do not have. Our ability to manage our operations
and growth will require us to continue to improve our operational, financial and
management controls and reporting system and procedures, or contract with third
parties to provide these capabilities for us.
All
of our manufacturing capability is located in one facility that is vulnerable to
natural disasters, telecommunication and information system failures, terrorism
and similar problems, and we are not insured for losses caused by all of these
incidents.
We
conduct all of our manufacturing operations in one facility located in Villa
Guardia, near Como, Italy. This facility could be damaged by fire, floods,
earthquake, power loss, telecommunication and information system failures,
terrorism or similar events. Our insurance covers losses to our facility,
including the buildings, machinery, electronic equipment and goods, for
approximately €15 million, but does not insure against all of the losses
listed above, including terrorism and some types of flooding. Although we
believe that our insurance coverage is adequate for our current and proposed
operations, there can be no guarantee that it will adequately compensate us for
any losses that may occur. We are not insured for business
interruption and we
have no replacement manufacturing facility readily available.
We
have sold Prociclide and Noravid (two formulations of defibrotide) in Italy to
treat vascular disease with risk of thrombosis, which may affect the pricing of
defibrotide in Europe for the prevention or treatment of VOD.
Until
December 31, 2008, through our distribution agreement with Crinos S.p.A., we
sold Prociclide and Noravid (both forms of defibrotide) in Italy to treat
vascular disease with risk of thrombosis. While we have stopped
selling Prociclide and Noravid for this treatment in Italy, if defibrotide is
approved for sale in Europe or Italy to treat and prevent VOD, or both, we may
need to also obtain approval from regulators as to what price we can charge for
these uses of defibrotide. The regulators may impose an artificially
low cap on defibrotide based on the relatively low price-point of Prociclide and
Noravid previously sold in Italy for the treatment of vascular disease with risk
of thrombosis.
Our
industry is highly competitive and subject to rapid technological changes. As a
result, we may be unable to compete successfully or to develop innovative
products, which could harm our business.
Our industry is highly competitive and
subject to significant and rapid technological change as researchers learn more
about diseases and develop new technologies and treatments. Incidence
of VOD may decrease with new technologies and conditioning regimens, which will
negatively impact our sales opportunities. While we are unaware of any other
products or product candidates that treat or prevent VOD, we believe that other
companies have products or are currently developing products to treat some of
the same disorders and diseases that defibrotide is designed to treat. These
companies include Genzyme Corp., Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Otsuka
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., and Celgene
Corp.
Many of
these competitors have substantially greater research and development
capabilities and experience, and greater manufacturing, marketing and financial
resources than we do. In addition, these companies’ products and product
candidates are in more advanced stages of development than ours or have been
approved for sale by the FDA and other regulatory agencies. As a result, these
companies may be able to develop their product candidates faster than we can or
establish their products in the market before we can or develop a generic form
of defibrotide. Their products may also prove to be more effective, safer or
less costly than defibrotide, which could hurt our ability to recognize any
significant revenues.
In
May 2003, the FDA designated defibrotide as an orphan drug to treat severe
VOD. In January 2007, the FDA designated defibrotide as an orphan
drug to prevent VOD as well. If the FDA approves the New Drug
Applications that we intend to file before approving a New Drug Application
filed by anyone else for these uses of defibrotide, the orphan drug status will
provide us with limited market exclusivity for seven years from the date of the
FDA’s approval of our New Drug Application. However, a marketing authorization
to another applicant may be granted for the same product if we give our consent
to the second applicant, we are unable to supply sufficient quantities of
defibrotide, or the second applicant can establish in its application that its
product is safer, more effective or otherwise clinically superior to our
product. In that case, our product would not have market exclusivity.
Additionally, while we are not aware of any other company researching
defibrotide for these uses, if another company does develop defibrotide for
these uses, there is no guarantee that the FDA will approve our New Drug
Application before approving the other company’s defibrotide product for these
uses, in which case the first product approved would have market exclusivity and
our products would not be eligible for approval until that exclusivity
expires.
In
July 2004, EMEA designated defibrotide as an orphan medicinal product to
both treat and prevent VOD. If the European regulators grant us a marketing
authorization for those uses of defibrotide, we will have limited market
exclusivity for those uses for ten years after the date of the approval.
However, a marketing authorization may be granted to another applicant for the
same product if we give our consent to the second applicant, we are unable to
supply sufficient quantities of defibrotide, or the second applicant can
establish in its application that its product is safer, more effective or
otherwise clinically superior to our product. In that case, our
product would not have market exclusivity.
If
we are unable to adequately protect our intellectual property, our ability to
compete could be impaired.
Our
long-term success largely depends on our ability to create and market
competitive products and to protect those creations. Our pending patent
applications, or those we may file in the future, may not result in patents
being issued. Until a patent is issued, the claims covered by the patent may be
narrowed or removed entirely and, therefore, we may not obtain adequate patent
protection. As a result, we may face unanticipated competition, or
conclude that without patent rights the risk of bringing products to the market
is too great, thus adversely affecting our operating results.
Because
of the extensive time required for the development, testing and regulatory
review of a product candidate, it is possible that before defibrotide can be
approved for sale and commercialized, our relevant patent rights may expire or
remain in force for only a short period following
commercialization. We have been issued a patent in the U.S. and
several other countries which covers the method for determining the biological
activity of defibrotide. This patent expires in 2022 in most
countries. We believe this to be an important patent
because the analytical release of a biological product like defibrotide is a key
step in confirming the purity and biological activity of the final
product. There may be no opportunities to extend this patent and
thereby extend exclusivity related to FDA and EMEA, in which case we could face
increased competition for defibrotide. Patent expiration could
adversely affect our ability to protect future product development and,
consequently, our operating results and financial position. In
addition, generic innovators may be able to circumvent this patent and design a
novel analytical method for determining the biological activity of
defibrotide. In this case, a generic defibrotide could potentially be
on the market once the relevant protections offered by our orphan designations
end.
We also
rely on trade secrets to protect our technology, especially where we do not
believe patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. However, trade secrets
are difficult to protect. While we use reasonable efforts to protect our trade
secrets, our employees, consultants, contractors, outside scientific
collaborators and other advisors may unintentionally or willfully disclose our
information to competitors. Enforcing a claim that a third party illegally
obtained and is using our trade secrets is expensive and time consuming, and the
outcome is unpredictable. In addition, courts outside the United States are
sometimes less willing to protect trade secrets. We intend to eventually license
or sell our products in China, South Korea and other countries which do not have
the same level of protection of intellectual property rights that exists in the
United Sates and Europe. Moreover, our competitors may independently develop
equivalent knowledge, methods and know-how.
Risks
Related to Ownership of the American Depositary Shares
Our
ADSs have generally had low trading volume, and its public trading price has
been volatile.
Between our initial public offering on
June 21, 2005 and December 31, 2009, the closing price of our American
Depositary Shares, or ADSs, have fluctuated between $.33 and $24.40 per share,
with an average daily trading volume for the twelve months ended December 31,
2009 of approximately 54,736
ADSs. The market may experience significant price and volume
fluctuations that are often unrelated to the operating performance of individual
companies.
In addition to general market
volatility, many factors may have a significant adverse effect on the market
price of our ADSs, including:
|
·
|
continuing
operating losses, which we expect over the next several years as we
continue our development
activities;
|
|
·
|
announcements
of decisions made by regulators;
|
|
·
|
results
of our preclinical studies and clinical
trials;
|
|
·
|
announcements
of improvements, new commercial products, failures of products, or
progress toward commercialization by our competitors or
peers;
|
|
·
|
influence
and control by our commercial partner and significant shareholder,
Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A.;
|
|
·
|
developments
concerning proprietary rights, including patent and litigation
matters;
|
|
·
|
publicity
regarding actual or potential results with respect to product candidates
under development by us or by our
competitors;
|
|
·
|
regulatory
developments; and
|
|
·
|
quarterly
fluctuations in our financial
results.
|
We
may not remain listed on the Nasdaq Global Market.
Between our public offering and May
2006, our ADSs were listed on the American Stock Exchange. Since May
2006, our ADSs have been listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. The
Nasdaq Global Market sets forth various requirements that we must meet in order
for our ADSs to continue to be listed on the Nasdaq Global
Market. Violations of the continued listing requirements
include:
|
·
|
if
the closing bid price of our ADSs drops below $1.00 for a period of 30
consecutive trading days;
|
|
·
|
if
our stockholders’ equity falls below $10 million;
or
|
|
·
|
if
we fail to maintain a market value of publicly held securities of at least
$5 million for 30 consecutive trading
days.
|
If we
violate any of these continued listing requirements, our ADSs could be delisted
from the Nasdaq Global Market. The delisting of our ADSs could have
negative results, including the potential loss of confidence by suppliers and
employees, the loss of institutional investor interest, and fewer business
development opportunities.
As of December 31, 2009, our
stockholders’ equity was $10.5 million (€7.33 million). If we fail to
meet the stockholders’ equity or fail to meet the minimum bid price and minimum
market value requirements, we may be delisted from the Nasdaq Global
Market.
Our
largest shareholders exercise significant control over us, which may make it
more difficult for you to elect or replace directors or management and approve
or reject mergers and other important corporate events, including obtaining
potential financing.
Our
largest shareholder, FinSirton S.p.A., will own approximately 25% of our
outstanding ordinary shares at March 31, 2010. Dr. Laura Ferro, who is our
former Chief Executive Officer and President and a current member on our board
of directors, together with members of her family controls
FinSirton. In addition, Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A., along with its
affiliates, will own approximately 18% of our outstanding ordinary shares at
March 31, 2010. Marco Codella, who is the chief financial officer of
Sigma-Tau Finanziaria, serves as a member of our board of
directors. Moreover, we have licensed our rights in defibrotide to
treat and prevent VOD to Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Sigma-Tau Finanziaria.
Both
FinSirton and Sigma-Tau Finanziaria may substantially control the outcome of all
matters requiring approval by our shareholders, including the election of
directors and the approval of mergers or other important corporate
events. They may exercise this ability in a manner that advances
their best interests and not necessarily yours. Also, the
concentration of our beneficial ownership may have the effect of delaying,
deterring or preventing a change in our control, or may discourage bids for the
ADSs or our ordinary shares at a premium over the market price of the ADSs. The
significant concentration of share ownership may adversely affect the trading
price of the ADSs due to investors’ perception that conflicts of interest may
exist or arise.
As
discussed in our risk factor entitled “Our shareholders can prevent us from
executing a financing by alleging that our board of directors acted with serious
irregularities when approving such financing, because the terms of such
financing could harm our company,” both FinSirton and Sigma-Tau Finanziaria own
enough of our ordinary shares to bring legal action against our board of
directors and may be able to prevent us from completing an important corporate
event, such as a financing. In addition, under Italian law, directors are not
required to recuse themselves from any discussion even if a conflict
of interest exists. Accordingly, directors that are affiliated with our
shareholders may be present for certain discussions that involve or impact the
shareholders to which such directors are affiliated.
If
a significant number of ADSs are sold into the market, the market price of the
ADSs could significantly decline, even if our business is doing
well.
Our
outstanding ordinary shares, ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of warrants
and ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of options are not subject to lock-up
agreements. We have filed registration statements registering the
resale of most of our outstanding ordinary shares and related ADSs and all of
our ordinary shares and related ADSs issuable upon exercise of our outstanding
warrants and options. Such registration and ultimate sale of the
securities in the markets may adversely affect the market for the
ADSs.
You
may not have the same voting rights as the holders of our ordinary shares and
may not receive voting materials in time to be able to exercise your right to
vote.
Except as
described in this annual report and in the deposit agreement for the ADSs with
our depositary, holders of the ADSs will not be able to exercise voting rights
attaching to the ordinary shares evidenced by the ADSs on an individual basis.
Holders of the ADSs will have the right to instruct the depositary as their
representative to exercise the rights attached to the ordinary shares
represented by the ADSs. You may not receive voting materials in time to
instruct the depositary to vote, and it is possible that you, or persons who
hold their ADSs through brokers, dealers or other third parties, will not have
the opportunity to exercise a right to vote.
You
may not be able to participate in rights offerings and may experience dilution
of your holdings as a result.
We may
from time to time distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to
acquire our securities. Under our deposit agreement for the ADSs with our
depositary, the depositary will not offer those rights to ADS holders unless
both the rights and the underlying securities to be distributed to ADS holders
are either registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or exempt
from registration under the Securities Act with respect to all holders of ADSs.
We are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to any
such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to cause such a registration
statement to be declared effective. In addition, we may not be able to take
advantage of any exemptions from registration under the Securities Act.
Accordingly, holders of our ADSs may be unable to participate in our rights
offerings and may experience dilution in their holdings as a
result.
You
may be subject to limitations on transfer of your ADSs.
Your ADSs
represented by the ADRs are transferable on the books of the depositary.
However, the depositary may close its transfer books at any time or from time to
time when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties.
In addition, the depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register
transfers of ADSs generally when our books or the books of the depositary are
closed, or at any time if we or the depositary deem it advisable to do so
because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body, or
under any provision of the deposit agreement, or for any other
reason.
Risks
Relating to Being an Italian Corporation
The
process of seeking to raise additional funds is cumbersome, subject to the
verification of an Italian notary public in compliance with our bylaws and
applicable law, and may require prior approval of our shareholders at an
extraordinary shareholders’ meeting.
We are
incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Italy. The principal laws and
regulations that apply to our operations, those of Italy and the European Union,
are different from those of the United States. In order to issue new equity or
debt securities convertible into equity, with some exceptions, we must increase
our authorized capital. In order to do so, our board of directors must meet and
resolve to recommend to our shareholders that they approve an amendment to our
bylaws to increase our capital. Our shareholders must then approve that
amendment to our bylaws in an extraordinary meeting duly called, upon the
favorable vote of the required majority, which may change depending on whether
the meeting is held on a first or second call. These meetings take time to call.
In addition, an Italian notary public must verify the compliance of the capital
increase with our bylaws and applicable Italian law. Further, in general, under
Italian law, our existing shareholders and any holders of convertible securities
(except in specific cases) have preemptive rights to acquire any such shares pro
rated on their percentage interest in our company and on the same terms as
approved for such capital increase. Also, our shareholders can authorize the
board of directors to increase our capital, but the board may exercise such
power for only five years. If the authorized capital by the board is not issued
by the end of those five years, the authorized capital expires, and our board
and shareholders would need to meet again to authorize a new capital
increase.
Italian
law provides, with respect to shareholders’ resolutions approving capital
increase, that, in the event of absence of the minutes of the meeting,
impossibility or illegality of the resolution, any interested person may, for a
period of 180 days following the filing of the shareholders’ resolution with the
Register of Companies, challenge such resolution. If a shareholders’ meeting was
not called to approve the capital increase, the relevant resolution should be
considered invalid and, any interested person may challenge the capital increase
for a period of 90 days following the approval of the financial statements
referring to the year during which the shareholders’ resolution has been, also
partially, executed. In addition, once our shareholders authorize a capital
increase, all those authorized shares that have been subscribed need to be
entirely paid-up before the shareholders may authorize a new capital increase.
These restrictions could limit our ability to issue new equity or convertible
debt securities on a timely basis.
Our
shareholders can prevent us from executing a financing by alleging that our
board of directors acted with serious irregularities when approving such
financing, because the terms of such financing could harm our
company.
On August
12, 2008, Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A., together with one of its affiliates,
filed a claim in the Court of Como claiming that our board of directors acted
with serious irregularities in violation of their duties as directors when
approving a potential financing, because such financing could harm the
company. On August 18, 2008, the Court of Como issued a temporary
order preventing us from moving forward with a potential
financing. While this claim was later dismissed for lack of damages,
it did, nonetheless, prevent the directors from implementing the potential
financing. Any group of shareholders constituting at least 10% of our
outstanding ordinary shares could bring a similar action on a future board
resolution regarding a financing or other important corporate action, and an
Italian court could prevent the transaction from moving forward by issuing an
order to that effect.
We
are restricted under Italian law as to the amount of debt securities that we may
issue relative to our equity.
Italian
law provides that we may not issue debt securities for an amount exceeding twice
the amount of our capital, of our legal reserve and of any other disposable
reserves appearing on our latest Italian GAAP balance sheet approved by our
shareholders. The legal reserve is a reserve to which we allocate 5% of our
Italian GAAP net income each year until it equals at least 20% of our capital.
One of the other reserves that we maintain on our balance sheet is a “share
premium reserve,” meaning amounts paid for our ordinary shares in excess of the
amount of such ordinary shares that is allocated to the capital. At December 31,
2009, the sum of our capital, legal reserves and other reserves on our unaudited
Italian GAAP balance sheet was €28.6 million. If we
issue debt securities in the future, until such debt securities are repaid in
full, we may not voluntarily reduce our capital or allocate our reserves (such
as by declaring dividends) if it results in the aggregate of the capital and
reserves being less than half of the outstanding amount of the debt. If our
equity is reduced by losses or otherwise such that the amount of the outstanding
debt securities is more than twice the amount of our equity, some legal scholars
are of the opinion that the ratio must be restored by a recapitalization of our
company. If our equity is reduced, we could recapitalize by issuing new shares
or having our shareholders contribute additional capital to our company,
although there can be no assurance that we would be able to find purchasers for
new shares or that any of our current shareholders would be willing to
contribute additional capital.
If
we suffer losses that reduce our capital to less than €120 thousand, we
would need to either recapitalize, change our form of entity or be
liquidated.
Italian
law requires us to reduce our shareholders’ equity and, in particular, our
capital to reflect on-going losses, in certain cases of losses exceeding 1/3 of
the capital of the Company. We are also required to maintain a minimum capital
of €120 thousand. At December 31, 2009, our Italian GAAP capital was
approximately €14.9 million. If we suffer
losses from operations that reduce our capital to less than €120 thousand,
then either we must increase our capital (which we could do by issuing new
shares or having our shareholders contribute additional capital to our company)
to at least €120 thousand or convert the form of our company into an S.r.l.,
which has a lower capital requirement of €10 thousand. If we did not take
these steps, our company could be liquidated.
We apply
our losses from operations against our legal reserves and capital. If our
capital is reduced for more than one-third as a result of losses, our board of
directors must call a shareholders’ meeting as soon as possible. The
shareholders should take appropriate measures, which may include, inter alia, either the
reduction of the legal reserves and capital by the amount of the remaining
losses, or the carrying out of the losses forward for up to one year. If the
shareholders vote to elect to carry the losses forward up to one year, and at
the end of the year, the losses are still more than one-third of the amount of
the capital, then we must reduce our capital by the amount of the
losses.
Due
to the differences between Italian and U.S. law, the depositary (on your behalf)
may have fewer rights as a shareholder than you would if you were a shareholder
of a U.S. company.
We are
incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Italy. As a result, the rights
and obligations of our shareholders are governed by Italian law and our bylaws,
and are in some ways different from those that apply to U.S. corporations. Some
of these differences may result in the depositary (on your behalf) having fewer
rights as a shareholder than you would if you were a shareholder of a U.S.
corporation. We have presented a detailed comparison of the Italian laws
applicable to our company against Delaware law in “Item 10, Additional Information,
Comparison of Italian
and Delaware Corporate Laws.” We compared the Italian laws applicable to
our company against Delaware law because Delaware is the most common state of
incorporation for U.S. public companies.
Italian
labor laws could impair our flexibility to restructure our
business.
In Italy,
our employees are protected by various laws giving them, through local and
central works councils, rights of consultation with respect to specific matters
regarding their employers’ business and operations, including the downsizing or
closure of facilities and employee terminations. In particular, the following laws are worth mentioning:
(i) Law no. 604/1966, regulating the individual dismissals; (ii) Law no. 223/1991, concerning the
collective dismissal procedure; (iii) Law no. 428/1990, providing for the information
and consultation procedure in case of transfer of the undertaking or part
thereof and (iv) Legislative decree no. 25/2007, introducing a general right to information and
consultation for employees. These laws and the collective bargaining
agreements to which we are subject could impair our flexibility if we need to
restructure our business.
This
annual report may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial
risks and uncertainties regarding future events or our future performance. When
used in this annual report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,”
“may,” “intent,” “continue,” “will,” “plan,” “intend,” and “expect” and similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements. You should read statements that
contain these words carefully because they discuss our future expectations,
contain projections of our future results of operations or of our financial
condition or state other “forward-looking” information. We believe that it is
important to communicate our future expectations to our investors. Although we
believe that our expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are
reasonable, these expectations may not be achieved. The factors listed in the
section captioned “Risk Factors,” as well as any cautionary language included in
this annual report or incorporated by reference, provide examples of risks,
uncertainties and events that may cause our actual results to differ materially
from the expectations we describe in our forward-looking statements. Before you
invest in our ordinary shares or ADSs, you should be aware that the occurrence
of the events described in the “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in this
annual report could have a material adverse effect on our business, performance,
operating results and financial condition. All subsequent written and oral
forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf
are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth
in this annual report. Except as required by federal securities laws, we are
under no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result
of new information, future events, or otherwise.
You should rely only on the information
contained in this annual report. We have not authorized anyone to provide you
with information different from that contained in this annual report. The
information contained in this annual report is accurate only as of the date of
this annual report.
ITEM
4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
HISTORY
AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY
We were
originally formed in 1993 as Pharma Research S.r.L., an Italian private limited
company. In December 2000, we changed from a private limited company
to an Italian corporation. In July 2001, we changed our name to
Gentium S.p.A. Under our current bylaws, the duration of our company will expire
on December 31, 2050. We are governed by the Italian Civil
Code.
We were
part of a group of pharmaceutical businesses founded in Italy in 1944 that has
been involved in the research and development of drugs derived from DNA and DNA
molecules since the 1970s. In 1986, our founding company received
approval to sell Prociclide and Noravid (both forms of defibrotide) in Italy to
treat deep vein thrombosis, and, in 1993, our founding company received approval
to manufacture and sell a form of defibrotide in Italy to both treat and prevent
all vascular disease with risk of thrombosis. We are currently
focused on the development of defibrotide to treat and prevent VOD in the United
States and Europe.
In June
2005, we consummated an initial public offering of our ADSs, which began trading
on the American Stock Exchange. In May 2006, we transitioned the
trading of our ADSs from the American Stock Exchange to the Nasdaq Global
Market.
This
annual report contains market data and industry forecasts that were obtained
from industry publications and third parties.
Our
principal executive offices are located at Piazza XX Settembre 2, 22079
Villa Guardia (Como), Italy. Our telephone number is +39 031 385111.
Our website is located at www.gentium.it. The information contained
on our website is not part of this annual report. Our registered agent for
service of process in New York is CT Corporation System, located at
111 Eighth Avenue, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10011, telephone
number (212) 894-8940.
CAPITAL
EXPENDITURES
The
following table sets forth our capital expenditures for each year in the
three-year period ended December 31, 2009.
|
|
For
the Year Ended December 31,
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Land
and buildings
|
|
€ |
162 |
|
|
€ |
4 |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
Plant
and machinery
|
|
|
1,839 |
|
|
|
544 |
|
|
|
206 |
|
Industrial
equipment
|
|
|
582 |
|
|
|
179 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Other
|
|
|
90 |
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
Leasehold
improvements
|
|
|
249 |
|
|
|
27 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Computer
Software
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
|
224 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
Construction
in progress
|
|
|
250 |
|
|
|
172 |
|
|
|
28 |
|
Total
|
|
€ |
3,241 |
|
|
€ |
1,163 |
|
|
€ |
277 |
|
All of
these capital expenditures are in Italy. We are financing these
expenditures from offerings of our ordinary shares and loans from third
parties.
BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
We are
building upon our extensive experience with defibrotide, an investigational drug
based on DNA derived from pig intestines, which our founding company discovered
over 20 years ago. We are focused on development and manufacture
of defibrotide to treat and prevent VOD, a condition in which some of the veins
in the liver are blocked as a result of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy
or radiation treatments that are given prior to stem cell
transplantation. Severe VOD is the most extreme form of VOD and is
associated with multiple-organ failure and results in high morbidity and
mortality. Defibrotide has been studied in a number of clinical
trials and more recently we have concluded a Phase III clinical trial of
defibrotide to treat severe VOD in the United States, Canada and
Israel. In addition, we have concluded a Phase II/III clinical trial
of defibrotide in Europe to prevent VOD in children. While we have not yet
obtained regulatory approval to market defibrotide, we are authorized to
distribute defibrotide on a pre-approved basis under a treatment IND protocol in
the U.S. and through a named-patient program throughout the rest of the
world.
Due to
the historically low complete response and survival rates and lack of treatments
for VOD, we believe there is an immediate need for a drug to treat and prevent
VOD. The FDA has a “fast track” designation program which is designed to
facilitate the development and expedite their review of new drugs that are
intended to treat serious or life-threatening conditions and that demonstrate
the potential to address unmet medical needs. The FDA has designated defibrotide
to treat severe VOD as a fast track product. The FDA approval process
for defibrotide for this use remains dependent upon sufficient data in
connection with a clinical trial to treat severe VOD.
On
December 7, 2009, we announced final clinical trial results for our current
Phase III clinical trial of defibrotide to treat severe VOD and our Phase II/III
pediatric prevention trial in Europe to prevent VOD. We are currently completing
certain preclinical and clinical studies requested by regulatory
authorities. As part of our overall strategy, we anticipate filing
for regulatory approval for defibrotide in the U.S. and Europe by the end of
second quarter 2011. We expect to utilize the data from the two
studies, together with data obtained from our compassionate use programs,
whereby we have been authorized to distribute defibrotide on a pre-approval
basis, to support our regulatory submissions and any future clinical trials that
may be necessary. We are also working closely on our U.S. regulatory strategy
with our commercial partner, Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. and its affiliate
Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to which we have licensed our commercial rights
to defibrotide for both the treatment and prevention of VOD in the
Americas.
We also
manufacture defibrotide and sulglicotide at our manufacturing facility near
Como, Italy, and we lease a facility from one of our affiliates, Sirton, to
manufacture urokinase. These products are active pharmaceutical
ingredients used to make other drugs. Our revenues from the sales of
these products to date have amounted to €5.1 million, €5.4 million and €9.7
million in 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. In 2009, we launched a
named-patient program and cost recovery program, which have generated
approximately €4.9 million in net sales for the year ended December 31,
2009.
Our
strategy is to obtain regulatory approval for defibrotide to treat and prevent
veno-occlusive disease. Since 2004, we have spent more than €10
million on upgrades to our facilities that we believe will facilitate the FDA
and European regulatory approval process for defibrotide and enable our future
production. We plan to work with our existing license partner,
Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and are seeking additional license partners to
help with the development and commercialization of defibrotide. We
also are attempting to grow our active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API,
business through volume and price increases of sulglicotide and
urokinase.
Market
Overview
One of
the disorders of the vascular system that can result from chemotherapy,
radiation therapy, hormone therapy and stem cell and bone marrow transplants is
VOD. These therapies can cause extensive damage to the cells that line the walls
of small veins in the liver. The body’s natural response is to swell or clot the
sites of injury, but this blocks or “occludes” the vein. This
blockage of the veins is called “Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease,” or
VOD. VOD can cause damage to the liver and, in its severe form, leads
to failure of the liver and other organs (multiple-organ failure), which usually
results in death. According to 2003 data from the International Bone
Marrow Transplant Registry and the European Bone Marrow Transplant Registry,
approximately 21,000 people receive bone marrow transplants, which are types of
stem cell transplants, each year in the United States. Based on our
review of more than 200 articles in the medical literature, we believe that
approximately 12% of patients who undergo stem cell transplants develop
VOD. According to an article in the November 15, 1998 edition
of Blood,
the Journal of the American Society of Hematology, by Enric Carreras et. al.,
approximately 28% of patients who develop VOD progress to severe
VOD. Based upon a historical study conducted by Dana-Farber at three
centers consisting of 38 patients, we believe that of the patients who develop
severe VOD, only approximately 11% achieve a complete response within 100 days
after a stem cell transplantation and only approximately 20% survive more than
100 days. VOD poses a severe risk to the victim’s health. We believe
that there are no FDA or EMEA approved treatments at this time for
VOD.
Strategy
Our
strategic objective is to obtain regulatory approval for defibrotide to treat
and prevent VOD. We plan to continue to work with our existing
license partner, Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for the development of
defibrotide and commercialization of defibrotide in the
Americas. Outside of the Americas, we are seeking additional license
partners to help with the development and commercialization of
defibrotide. We also are attempting to grow our active pharmaceutical
ingredient, or API, business through volume and price increases of sulglicotide
and urokinase.
· Obtain regulatory approval to use
defibrotide to treat and prevent VOD. Gentium, as well as
independent investigators, have run several studies showing the potential
efficacy and safety of defibrotide in the treatment and prevention of VOD (see
detail under “Product Candidate” section below). We have received
orphan status from both the FDA and EMEA for defibrotide. In
addition, we have received fast track designation for the use of defibrotide for
the treatment of severe VOD prior to stem cell transplantation. The
approval of defibrotide for either the treatment or prevention of VOD may be
dependent on one or more future clinical trials. It is possible that
both the FDA and EMEA will view the results of treatment and prevention trials
as supportive of one another, although the exact regulatory approval may include
only an indication of prevention, treatment, or both.
· Increase our marketing capacity,
including the use of strategic partnerships. We have a strategic license
agreement with Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to market defibrotide to
treat and prevent VOD in North America, Central America and South America upon
regulatory approval and have granted Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a
right of first refusal in those territories with respect to offers made by third
parties to market defibrotide to prevent VOD. We intend to develop
the capacity to market defibrotide in other jurisdictions and/or pursue similar
marketing agreements with other strategic partners for Europe and Asia
Pacific.
· Compassionate use programs to
maximize pre-approval data. We distribute defibrotide on a
pre-approved compassionate use basis through our named-patient and treatment IND
programs. We obtain data on the efficacy and safety of defibrotide
through these programs. We expect to utilize this data to supplement
the data obtained from our completed clinical trials and any future clinical
trials that may be necessary. As of February 28,
2010, over 475 patients have received defibrotide through this
program.
· Growth of API
Business. We currently sell sulglicotide to Samil for use in
the South Korean market, and to Crinos for use in the Italian market and
urokinase to Crinos, for the Italian market, and UCB for the Spanish market,
and, to a small extent, sodium heparin for use in the Italian
market. Our goal is to maximize the utilization of our manufacturing
facility and we are exploring ways to increase capacity of urokinase and
sulglicotide. We are also looking at re-negotiating our existing
supply agreements to achieve greater profitability and longer-term
commitments.
Product
Candidate
Defibrotide
to treat severe VOD
The
December 2000 edition of the British Journal of Hematology
published the results of a 40 patient “compassionate use” study of defibrotide
to treat VOD conducted in 19 centers in Europe from December 1997 to June
1999. Twenty-two patients, or 55%, showed a complete
response. Nineteen patients, or 47%, survived more than 100 days
after stem cell transplantation. The study found that four patients of the 19
patients who survived more than 100 days subsequently died. Twenty-eight
patients were judged likely to die or had evidence of multiple-organ
failure. Ten of the 28 “poor risk” patients, or 36%, showed a
complete response within 100 days after stem cell transplantation, all of whom
also survived for at least 100 days. The study found that
defibrotide was generally safely administered with no significant
side-effects.
The December 15, 2002 edition of Blood published results from
88 patients with severe VOD following stem cell transplants who were treated
with defibrotide from March 1995 to May 2001. This study reported data
on 19 patients treated under individual Investigational New Drug Applications
and on a subsequent 69 patient multi-center Phase I/II clinical trial that was
conducted under an Investigational New Drug Application held by a Dana-Farber
investigator. The primary goal of the trial was the assessment of the potential
effectiveness of the drug and its side effects, if any. All patients in the
clinical trial received defibrotide on an emergency basis. This study found that
32 patients, or 36%, showed a complete response within 100 days after stem cell
transplantation, and 31 patients, or 35%, of those patients survived at least
100 days after stem cell transplantation with minimal adverse effects,
primarily transient mild hypotension. Thirteen of those 31 patients who had
survived more than 100 days had died by October 2001, the last date for
which survival information was available. No mortality from VOD or other
toxicity related to the cancer treatment was seen more than 134 days after
treatment with defibrotide, with the most common cause of later death being
relapse.
The
Dana-Farber investigator also sponsored, under his Investigational New Drug
Application, a Phase II clinical trial in the United States of defibrotide which
enrolled 150 stem cell transplant patients with severe VOD, of whom 141 were
evaluable, at nine cancer centers. This trial was partially funded by
a $525 thousand grant from the orphan drug division of the FDA. The purpose of
this trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of this drug, including the effect
of the drug on the survival rate of patients with severe VOD, the effective
dosage and potential adverse side effects. The primary endpoint was complete
response, with survival after 100 days as a secondary endpoint. The
Dana-Farber investigator presented the results from this Phase II clinical trial
at the 47th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology on December 12,
2005. Results show that of 141 patients evaluable for response, 65 patients, or
46%, showed a complete response within 100 days after stem cell transplantation
and 62 patients, or 41%, survived at least 100 days after stem cell
transplantation, with minimal adverse events.
The
January 2004 edition of Bone
Marrow Transplantation published results from 45 children and adolescents
with VOD following stem cell transplants who were treated with
defibrotide. Twenty-two of the 45 patients had severe
VOD. Thirty-four of the 45 patients, or 76%, had a complete response
within 100 days after stem cell transplantation and 29 patients, or 64%,
survived at least 100 days after stem cell transplantation. Of the 22
patients with severe VOD, 11 patients, or 50%, had a complete response and 8
patients, or 36%, survived at least 100 days after stem cell
transplantation. The study found that defibrotide was well tolerated;
about one-third of the patients had a form of coagulopathy, and treatment was
discontinued in two cases where a severe bleeding disorder was observed,
although the events could not be clearly attributed to defibrotide.
We
started a historically controlled Phase III clinical trial in the United States,
Canada and Israel for this use in December 2005 in patients with severe
VOD. The primary endpoint is complete response within 100 days after
stem cell transplantation and the secondary endpoint is survival after 100
days.
On
December 7, 2009, we announced final clinical trial results for our current
Phase III clinical trial of defibrotide to treat severe VOD at the American
Society of Hematology Conference in New Orleans. On an intent to
treat basis (ITT), 24% of patients in the Defibrotide arm compared to 9% of
patients in the historical control arm achieved complete response at 100 days
(p=0.0148). For the secondary efficacy analysis on an ITT basis, the mortality
rate at day 100 was 75% for patients in the historical control arm compared to
62% for patients in the Defibrotide arm (p=0.0508). The ITT analysis included
123 patients with symptoms consistent with VOD that were identified and then
reviewed for eligibility in the historical control arm by an independent medical
review committee. 32 cases were selected as having an unequivocal diagnosis of
severe VOD and multi-organ failure (graft versus host disease was ruled out) and
met all protocol-required entry criteria. 102 patients were enrolled in the
defibrotide treatment group and baseline characteristics were balanced between
the two arms.
Defibrotide
to prevent VOD
We
believe there is a significant market opportunity for defibrotide to prevent VOD
for patients at risk of developing VOD. Based on our experience researching VOD,
we believe that many recipients of high doses of chemotherapy, radiation therapy
or hormone therapy or of therapies that prepare for stem cell transplants have
an elevated risk of developing VOD. The European Group for Blood and
Marrow Transplantation, a not-for-profit scientific society, conducted a Phase
II/III clinical trial in Europe and Israel of defibrotide to prevent VOD in
children. Unlike our Phase III treatment trial in the United States, we had a
randomized control group of patients who received no treatment unless
they developed VOD, at which time they received defibrotide
treatment.
The
results of a study on defibrotide in patients at high risk of VOD were presented
at the 2002 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. One
of 57 patients who received defibrotide as a preventative agent developed
VOD. No patients experienced significant
bleeding.
At the
2005 annual meeting of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation,
the results of a study on defibrotide in patients who received chemotherapy and
stem cell transplants were announced. Eight of 44 patients, or 18%,
who received defibrotide developed VOD, of which three patients, or 7%,
developed severe VOD. By comparison, four of 16 control group
patients, or 25%, who received heparin instead of defibrotide, developed VOD, of
which two, or 12.5%, developed severe VOD. There were no serious adverse events
attributed to the use of defibrotide.
At the
2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology conference, the
results from a preliminary pilot clinical study in Switzerland by the University
Hospital of Geneva on defibrotide in patients at high risk of VOD were
announced. The results suggested that defibrotide may provide
effective and safe prevention against VOD. The study tested patients
who received stem cell transplants. None of the 157 successive transplant
patients who received defibrotide as a preventative agent developed VOD. By
comparison, 10 of 52 patients who underwent transplants in the same center
before the study developed VOD, which was fatal in three cases. The study report
indicated that mild to moderate toxicity such as mild nausea, fever and
abdominal cramps was documented, although the report stated that it was
difficult to determine whether the toxicity was directly attributable to the
defibrotide, the chemotherapy that preceded the stem cell transplants or other
drugs used during the stem cell transplants. The study report did not indicate
the number of patients who experienced this toxicity.
The July
2007 edition of Bone Marrow
Transplant published the results of a study on defibrotide in patients
who received stem cell transplants. While a majority of these
patients received reduced intensity cancer treatments, they still had other risk
factors for VOD. None of the 58 patients who received defibrotide as
a preventative agent developed VOD. No serious adverse events were
reported.
The
results of a study on defibrotide in patients who received stem cell transplants
and had elevated risks for VOD were reported in the November 16, 2007 edition of
Blood. One of 41
evaluable patients who received defibrotide as a preventative agent developed
VOD. No serious adverse events were reported.
On
December 7, 2009, we announced final clinical trial results from our Phase
II/III pediatric prevention study to prevent VOD at the American Society of
Hematology conference. Defibrotide demonstrated a 40% reduction in the incidence
of VOD within 30 days after stem cell transplantation. The analysis included 356
patients; 180 patients in the prophylaxis arm and 176 patients in the control
arm. Although the study was not powered to assess mortality, a
composite score was measured as a secondary endpoint, incorporating
VOD-associated morbidity (including respiratory failure, renal failure,
encephalopathy) and mortality; this score significantly favored defibrotide
prophylaxis (p=0.0340). The study confirmed that the mortality in patients with
VOD, independent of severity, is four times higher than in patients without VOD.
Additionally, the incidence and severity of acute graft versus host disease
(GvHD) by day 100 in the allogeneic SCT recipients (246 patients) was
significantly reduced from 63% for the control arm to 45% for the prophylaxis
arm (p=0.0044 for incidence of GvHD and p=0.0032 for severity). Defibrotide was
well tolerated and no difference in adverse events was observed between the two
study arms.
Historically,
we sold defibrotide as an active pharmaceutical ingredient to our affiliate,
Sirton, who then used the active pharmaceutical ingredient for defibrotide to
fill and finish the product into ampoule and capsule forms. Sirton
then sold these forms of defibrotide to Crinos S.p.A., a subsidiary of Stada
Arzneimittel AG. Crinos, pursuant to a distribution agreement entered
into with us, sold these products throughout Italy, under the trademarks
Prociclide and Noravid, to treat and prevent vascular disease with risk of
thrombosis.
In 2007,
we changed our relationship with Sirton, from customer to a contract
manufacturer, and sold the finished forms of Prociclide and Noravid to Crinos
directly. On December 31, 2008, the distribution agreement with
Crinos expired and, consistent with our overall strategy, we chose not to renew
this agreement and discontinued the manufacture of defibrotide to be finished
into Prociclide and Noravid. We have not pursued any sales of
Prociclide and Noravid in the Italian market in 2009. On August 19,
2009, the Italian Health Agency accepted the Company’s request to withdraw the
marketing authorization for Prociclide and Noravid; however, these products will
be sold in Italy through May 2010. The Company had made the request
to withdraw the marketing authorization of these forms of defibrotide as part of
the Company’s overall strategy regarding the development of defibrotide to treat
and prevent VOD.
On March
6, 2009, we entered into a supply and distribution agreement with IDIS Limited,
whereby IDIS was contracted to be the exclusive supplier of defibrotide on a
named-patient supply basis in all countries other than countries in Europe and
the Americas. This agreement was amended on April 15, 2009 to include all
countries other than Italy and countries in the Americas, and further amended on
May 22, 2009 to include all countries other than Italy and the United States of
America. Gentium supplies the finished and labeled product to IDIS
who in turn provides the product directly to hospitals in all countries except
Italy and the United States.
We have
also instituted an expanded access program, which gives patients diagnosed with
VOD in the United States access to defibrotide under a treatment
IND. Under an expanded access program, the FDA allows early access to
investigational drugs that are being developed to treat serious or
life-threatening diseases for which there is no satisfactory alternative
therapy. We decided to undertake this expanded access program
due to the large numbers of requests for compassionate use of defibrotide, and
the corresponding burden that sites and investigators have been undergoing to
obtain institutional review board and FDA approval for such compassionate use
requests. On September 29, 2009, we entered into an agreement with US
Oncology Clinical Development, whereby US Oncology was contracted as a clinical
research organization to administer and recover costs on behalf of us in
connection with this program. We expect to collect additional usage
tolerability and safety data from patients of this program to support our
planned New Drug Application for the treatment of Severe VOD and/or the
prevention of VOD.
Our
revenues from sales of defibrotide, including Prociclide and Noravid, were
€2.76 million,
€1.73 million, and
€4.90 for 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.
Other
Products
Sulglicotide
Sulglicotide
is developed from swine duodenum and appears to have ulcer healing and
gastrointestinal protective properties. We sell sulglicotide primarily to Samil,
a South Korean company, for use in manufacturing a product of Samil’s in South
Korea, and to Crinos S.p.A. to be sold in the Italian market.
Urokinase
Urokinase
is made from human urine and has the potential to dissolve fibrin clots and, as
such, is used to treat various vascular disorders such as deep vein thrombosis
and pulmonary embolisms. We sell urokinase to a
number of companies, including Crinos and UCB.
Seasonality
Seasonality
does not affect our business, although the timing of manufacturer orders can
cause variability in sales.
Regulatory Matters
Overview
The
preclinical and clinical testing, manufacture, labeling, storage, distribution,
promotion, sale, import and export, reporting and record-keeping of our product
candidates are subject to extensive regulation by governmental authorities in
the United States, principally the FDA and corresponding state agencies, and
regulatory agencies in foreign countries.
Non-compliance
with applicable regulatory requirements can result in, among other things,
injunctions, seizure of products, total or partial suspension of product
manufacturing and marketing, failure of the government to grant approval,
withdrawal of marketing approvals, civil penalty actions and criminal
prosecution. Except as discussed below, we believe that we are in substantial
compliance in all material respects with each of the currently applicable laws,
rules and regulations mentioned in this section. During the most recent biannual
inspection of our manufacturing facility by the Italian Health Authority in
February 2007, the Italian Health Authority noted by way of observations certain
deficiencies in regard to the operation of our facility. We have
corrected all of the deficiencies. Also, a regional Italian
regulatory inspector, during an April 2005 inspection of our manufacturing
facility, requested that we install an exhaust vent on one of our machines. We
have installed this device. In order to obtain FDA approval for the sale of any
of our product candidates, the FDA must determine that this facility meets their
current good manufacturing practices, or GMP, including requirements for
equipment verification and validation of our manufacturing and cleaning
processes. The FDA has not yet inspected our facility, but since 2004 we spent
over €10 million in upgrades to our facility in anticipation of such an
inspection. We are not aware of any other situation that could be
characterized as an incidence of non-compliance in the last three
years.
FDA
regulations require us to undertake a long and rigorous process before any of
our product candidates may be marketed or sold in the United States. This
regulatory process typically includes the following general steps:
|
·
|
our
performance of satisfactory preclinical laboratory and animal studies
under the FDA’s good laboratory practices
regulations;
|
|
·
|
our
submission to and acceptance by the FDA of an IND which must become
effective before human clinical trials may begin in the United
States;
|
|
·
|
our
successful completion of a series of adequate and well-controlled human
clinical trials to establish the safety, purity, potency and effectiveness
of any product candidate for its intended use under the FDA’s good
clinical practices regulations;
|
|
·
|
our
submission to, and review and approval by, the FDA of a marketing
application prior to any commercial sale or shipment of a product;
and
|
|
·
|
our
development and demonstration of manufacturing processes which conform to
FDA-mandated current good manufacturing
practices.
|
This
process requires a substantial amount of time and financial resources. In 2002,
the FDA announced a reorganization that has resulted in the shift of the
oversight and approval process for certain therapeutic biologic drugs and the
related staff from the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research to the
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Our initial product candidate,
defibrotide to treat severe VOD, is being regulated through the
latter.
Preclinical
Testing
Preclinical
tests generally include laboratory evaluation of a product candidate, its
chemistry, formulation, stability and toxicity, as well as certain animal
studies to assess its potential safety and effectiveness. We must submit the
results of these preclinical tests, together with manufacturing information,
analytical data and the clinical trial protocol, to the FDA as part of an
Investigational New Drug Application, which must become effective before we may
begin any human clinical trials. An application automatically becomes effective
30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless the FDA, within this 30-day time
period, raises concerns or questions about the intended conduct of the trials
and imposes what is referred to as a clinical hold. If one or more of our
products is placed on clinical hold, we would be required to resolve any
outstanding issues to the satisfaction of the FDA before we could begin clinical
trials. Preclinical studies generally take several years to complete, and there
is no guarantee that an Investigational New Drug Application based on those
studies will become effective, allowing clinical testing to begin.
Clinical
Trials
In
addition to FDA review of an Investigational New Drug Application, each clinical
institution that desires to participate in a proposed clinical trial must have
the clinical protocol reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board.
The Institutional Review Boards consider, among other things, ethical factors,
informed consent and the selection and safety of human subjects. Clinical trials
must also be conducted in accordance with the FDA’s good clinical practices
requirements. The FDA, and/or the Institutional Review Board at each
institution at which a clinical trial is being performed, may order the
temporary or permanent discontinuation of a clinical trial at any time if it
believes that the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance with FDA
requirements or presents an unacceptable risk to the clinical trial
patients.
Human
clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases that may
overlap, including the following:
Phase I
In Phase
I clinical trials, a product candidate is typically given to either healthy
people or patients with the medical condition for which the new drug is intended
to be used. The main purpose of the trial is to assess a product candidate’s
safety and the ability of the human body to tolerate the product candidate, and
may also assess the dosage, absorption, distribution, excretion and metabolism
of the product candidate.
Phase II
During
Phase II, a product candidate is given to a limited number of patients with the
disease or medical condition for which it is intended to be used in order
to:
|
·
|
further
identify any possible adverse side effects and safety
risks;
|
|
·
|
assess
the preliminary or potential effectiveness of the product candidate for
the specific targeted disease or medical condition;
and
|
|
·
|
assess
dosage tolerance and determine the optimal dose for a Phase III
trial.
|
Phase
III
If and
when one or more Phase II trials demonstrate that a specific dose or range of
doses of a product candidate is likely to be effective and has an acceptable
safety profile, one or more Phase III trials are generally undertaken to
demonstrate clinical effectiveness and to further test for safety in an expanded
patient population with the goal of evaluating the product’s efficacy and its
overall risk-benefit relationship of the product candidate. The successful
demonstration of clinical effectiveness and safety in one or more Phase III
trials is typically a prerequisite to the filing of an application for FDA
approval of a product candidate.
After
approval, the FDA may also require a Phase IV clinical trial to continue to
monitor the safety and effectiveness of the product candidate.
Post-Approval
Regulations
If a
product candidate receives regulatory approval, the approval is limited to
specific clinical uses. Subsequent discovery of previously unknown problems with
a product may result in restrictions on its use or even complete withdrawal of
the product from the market. Any FDA-approved products manufactured or
distributed by us are subject to continuing regulation by the FDA, including
record-keeping requirements and reporting of adverse events or experiences. Drug
manufacturers and their subcontractors are required to register their
establishments with the FDA and state agencies, and are subject to periodic
inspections by the FDA and state agencies for compliance with current good
manufacturing practices, or GMPs, which impose rigorous procedural and
documentation requirements upon us and our contract manufacturers. Failure to
comply with these requirements may result in, among other things, total or
partial suspension of production activities, failure of the FDA to grant
approval for marketing, and withdrawal, suspension, or revocation of marketing
approvals.
If the
FDA approves one or more of our product candidates, we and our contract
manufacturers must provide certain safety and effectiveness information while
the drug is marketed. Product changes, as well as changes in the manufacturing
process or facilities where the manufacturing occurs or other post-approval
changes, may necessitate additional FDA review and approval. The labeling,
advertising, promotion, marketing and distribution of a drug or biologic product
also must be in compliance with FDA requirements which include, among others,
standards and regulations for direct-to-consumer advertising, communication of
information relating to off-label uses, industry sponsored scientific and
educational activities and promotional activities involving the Internet. The
FDA has very broad enforcement authority, and failure to abide by these
regulations can result in penalties, including the issuance of a warning letter
directing a company to correct deviations from regulatory standards and
enforcement actions that can include seizures, fines, injunctions and criminal
prosecution.
Fast
track and orphan drug designation
The FDA
has a “fast track” program that provides the potential for expedited review of
an application. However, there is no assurance that the FDA will, in fact,
accelerate the review process for a fast track product candidate. Fast track
status is provided only for new and novel therapies that are intended to treat
persons with life-threatening and severely debilitating diseases, where there is
a defined unmet medical need, especially where no satisfactory alternative
therapy exists or the new therapy is significantly superior to alternative
therapies. During the development of product candidates that qualify for this
status, the FDA may expedite consultations and reviews of these experimental
therapies. The FDA can base approval of a marketing application for a fast track
product on an effect on a clinical endpoint, or on a surrogate endpoint that is
reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. The FDA may condition the
approval of an application for certain fast track products on additional
post-approval studies to validate the surrogate endpoint or confirm the effect
on the clinical endpoint. Fast track status also provides the potential for a
product candidate to have a “priority review.” A priority review allows for
portions of the application to be submitted to the FDA for review prior to the
completion of the entire application, which could result in a reduction in the
length of time it would otherwise take the FDA to complete its review of the
application. Fast track status may be revoked by the FDA at any time if the
clinical results of a trial fail to continue to support the assertion that the
respective product candidate has the potential to address an unmet medical need.
A product approved under a “fast track” designation is subject to expedited
withdrawal procedures and to enhanced scrutiny by the FDA of promotional
materials.
The FDA
may grant orphan drug status to drugs intended to treat a “rare disease or
condition,” which is generally a disease or condition that affects fewer than
200,000 individuals in the United States. If and when the FDA grants orphan drug
status, the generic name and trade name of the therapeutic agent and its potential orphan use are
disclosed publicly by the FDA. Aside from guidance concerning the non-clinical
laboratory studies and clinical investigations necessary for approval of the
application, orphan drug status does not convey any advantage in, or shorten the
duration of, the regulatory review and approval process. The FDA may grant
orphan drug designations to multiple competing product candidates targeting the
same uses. A product that has been designated as an orphan drug that
subsequently receives the first FDA approval for the designated orphan use is
entitled to orphan drug exclusivity, which means the FDA may not approve any
other applications to market the same drug for the same indication, except in
very limited circumstances, for seven years from the date of FDA approval.
Orphan drug status may also provide certain tax benefits. Finally, the FDA may
fund the development of orphan drugs through its grants program for clinical
studies.
The FDA
has designated defibrotide as an orphan drug for the treatment of severe VOD and
the prevention of VOD and has provided funding for clinical studies for
defibrotide to treat VOD. The FDA has approved the Company’s application for
“fast track” designation for defibrotide to treat severe VOD occurring after
stem cell transplantation by means of injection. If our other product candidates
meet the criteria, we may also apply for orphan drug status and fast track
status for such products.
Market
Exclusivity
In
addition to orphan drug exclusivity, a product regulated by the FDA as a “new
drug” is potentially entitled to non-patent and/or patent exclusivity under the
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or FFDCA, against a third party obtaining
an abbreviated approval of a generic product during the exclusivity period. An
abbreviated approval allows an applicant to obtain FDA approval without
generating, or obtaining a right of reference to, the basic safety and
effectiveness data necessary to support the initial approval of the drug product
or active ingredient. In the case of a new chemical entity (an active ingredient
which has not been previously approved with respect to any drug product)
non-patent exclusivity precludes an applicant for abbreviated approval from
submitting an abbreviated application until five years after the approval of the
new chemical entity. In the case of any drug substance (active ingredient), drug
product (formulation and composition) and method of use patents listed with the
FDA, patent exclusivity under the FFDCA precludes FDA from granting effective
approval of an abbreviated application of a generic product until the relevant
patent(s) expire, unless the abbreviated applicant certifies that the relevant
listed patents are invalid, not infringed or unenforceable and the NDA/patent
holder does not bring an infringement action within 45 days of receipt of
notification of the certification or an infringement action is brought within
45 days and a court determines that the relevant patent(s) are invalid, not
infringed or unenforceable or 30 months have elapsed without a court
decision of infringement.
User
Fees
A New
Drug Application for a prescription drug product that has been designated as an
orphan drug is not subject to the payment of user fees to the FDA unless the
application includes an indication other than the orphan
indication.
A
supplement proposing to include a new indication for a designated orphan disease
or condition in an application is also not subject to a user fee if the drug has
been designated an orphan drug with regard to the indication proposed in such
supplement.
HIPAA
Other
federal legislation may affect our ability to obtain certain health information
in conjunction with our research activities. The Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, mandates, among other things, the
adoption of standards designed to safeguard the privacy and security of
individually identifiable health information. In relevant part, the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, has released two rules to date
mandating the use of new standards with respect to such health information. The
Privacy Rule imposes new standards relating to the privacy of individually
identifiable health information. These standards restrict the manner and
circumstances under which covered entities may use and disclose protected health
information so as to protect the privacy of that information. The second rule
released by HHS establishes minimum standards for the security of electronic
health information. In addition, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009, or ARRA, imposed additional requirements for covered entities to protect
individually identifiable health information. While we do not believe we
are directly regulated as a covered entity under HIPAA, the HIPAA standards and
requirements under ARRA impose requirements on covered entities conducting
research activities regarding the use and disclosure of individually
identifiable health information collected in the course of conducting the
research. As a result, unless they meet these HIPAA and ARRA requirements,
covered entities conducting clinical trials for us may not be able to share with
us any results from clinical trials that include such health
information.
Foreign
Regulatory Approval
Outside
of the United States, our ability to market our product candidates will also be
contingent upon our receiving marketing authorizations from the appropriate
foreign regulatory authorities whether or not FDA approval has been obtained.
The foreign regulatory approval process in most industrialized countries
generally includes risks that are similar with the FDA approval process we have
described herein. The requirements governing conduct of clinical trials and
marketing authorizations, and the time required to obtain requisite approvals
may vary widely from country to country and differ from that required for FDA
approval.
European Union Regulatory Approval
Under the
current European Union regulatory system, applications for marketing
authorizations may be submitted either under a centralized or decentralized
procedure. The centralized procedure (which is compulsory for certain categories
of drugs) provides for the grant of a single marketing authorization that is
valid for all European Union member states. The decentralized procedure provides
for mutual recognition of national approval decisions. Under this procedure, the
holder of a national marketing authorization that is obtained in accordance with
the procedure and requirements applicable in the member state concerned may
submit an application to the remaining member states. Within 90 days of
receiving the applications and assessment report, each member state must decide
whether to recognize approval. The mutual recognition process results in
separate national marketing authorizations in the reference member state and
each concerned member state.
The centralized
procedure
An
applicant under the centralized procedure must be a person who is domiciled in
the European Union or an entity established in the European Union. The applicant
must file a preliminary request containing the information regarding the
product candidate, including its description and the location of the production
plant, as well as the payment of the application fees. The European Agency for
the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (a European Union statutory entity)
formally evaluates the preliminary request and indicates either an initial
approval to review a full application or a rejection. If the European Agency
indicates an initial approval to review a full application, the applicant must
submit the application to the European Agency. This application must indicate
certain specific information regarding the product
candidate, including the composition (quality and quantity) of all the
substances contained in the product, therapeutic indications and adverse events,
modalities of use, the results of physical, chemical, biological and
microbiological tests, pharmacological and toxicity tests, clinical tests, a
description of production and related control procedures, a summary of the
characteristics of the product as required by the European legislation and
samples of labels and information to consumers. The applicant must also file
copies of marketing authorizations obtained, applications filed and denials
received for the same product in other countries, and must prove that the
manufacturer of the product candidate is duly authorized to produce it in its
country.
The
European Agency (through its internal Committee for Proprietary Medicinal
Products) examines the documents and information filed and may carry out
technical tests regarding the product, request information from the member state
concerned with regard to the manufacturer of the product candidate and, when it
deems necessary, inspect the manufacturing facility in order to verify that the
manufacturing facility is consistent with the specifications of the product
candidate, as indicated in the application.
The
Committee generates and submits its final opinion to the European Commission,
the member states and the applicant. The Commission then issues its decision,
which is binding on all member states. However, if the Commission approves the
application, member states still have authority to determine the pricing of the
product in their territories before it can be actually marketed.
The
European Agency may reject the application if the Agency decides that the
quality, safety and effectiveness of the product candidate have not been
adequately and sufficiently proved by the applicant, or if the information and
documents filed are incomplete, or where the labeling and packaging information
proposed by the applicant do not comply with the relevant European
rules.
The
European Agency has also established an accelerated evaluation procedure
applying to product candidates aimed at serious diseases or conditions for which
no suitable therapy exists, if it is possible to predict a substantial
beneficial effect for patients.
The
marketing authorization is valid for five years and may be renewed, upon
application, for further five year terms. After the issue of the authorization
the holder must constantly take into consideration scientific and technical
progress so that the product is manufactured and controlled in accordance with
scientific methods generally accepted.
We plan
to apply for approvals for our product candidates under the centralized
procedure. We believe that the centralized procedure will result in a quicker
approval of our product candidates than the decentralized procedure due to the
fact that we intend to market our product candidates in many European Union
member states, rather than just one.
The decentralized
procedure
The
decentralized procedure provides for mutual recognition of national approval
decisions. Under this procedure, the holder of a national marketing
authorization—obtained in accordance with the procedure and requirements
applicable in the member state concerned (see the description below for
Italy)—may submit an application to the remaining member states. Within
90 days of receiving the applications and assessment report, each member
state must decide whether to recognize approval. The mutual recognition process
results in separate national marketing authorizations in the reference member
state and each concerned member state.
There are
many national legislative instruments (implementing European Union rules)
governing controls on drugs in the post-authorization phase. For instance, the
holder of the national marketing authorization must promptly record in detail
and notify any adverse reaction to the drug of which it becomes aware,
regardless of the country where the reaction occurs, also preparing periodic
update reports on these adverse events. For these and other purposes, the holder
of the authorization must hire and maintain in its organization a person expert
in the field and responsible for all drug controlling and reporting
activities.
Moreover,
any form of information and advertising aimed at promoting the sale of drugs is
governed by specific national legislation (also implementing European Union
rules), which provides for the requirements and limitations of advertising
messages in general, as well as of other particular promotional activities, such
as the organization of conferences regarding certain drugs and the distribution
of free samples.
The
export of drugs from Italy is not subject to authorization (except for plasma
and blood-related products), but the import into Italy from non-European Union
countries must be authorized by the Ministry of Health, on the basis of the
adequacy of the quality controls to be carried out on the imported
drugs.
Pediatric Investigation
Plan
The pediatric investigation plan, or
PIP, is a key element in the European pediatric regulations and came into effect
in January 2007. The PIP is a plan for defining the use of a
medicinal product across all age groups of the pediatric population and across
all indications. The pediatric committee, or PDCO, is a body within EMEA
responsible for overseeing the requirements of the pediatric regulation. The
PDCO may grant a waiver from using a medicinal product in certain (or all)
indications and/or certain (or all) pediatric age groups, and/or a deferral of
the start or completion of all or some of the studies in the PIP. If
a sponsor complies with a PIP agreed by PDCO, the sponsor may receive a
six-month extension on patents covering the product described in the plan, or if
the product has been designated an orphan drug by EMEA, an additional two years
of market exclusivity, even if a pediatric indication is not
approved.
European orphan drug
status
European
legislation provides for a particular procedure for the designation of medicinal
products as orphan drugs. Such designation may include incentives for
the research, development and marketing of these orphan drugs and, in case of a
subsequent successful application for a marketing authorization regarding the
same therapeutic indications, grants a substantial period of market
exclusivity.
A
medicinal product – at any stage of its development but in any case prior to the
filing of any application for the marketing authorization – may be designated as
an orphan drug if the person/entity that has applied for the designation can
establish that it is intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a
life-threatening or chronically debilitating condition affecting no more than
five persons out of every ten thousand persons in the European Union, or the
diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life-threatening, seriously debilitating
or serious and chronic condition in the European Union and, without incentives,
it is unlikely that the marketing of the medicinal product within the European Union would generate
sufficient income to justify the necessary investments in the relevant medicinal
product. Moreover, the sponsor must prove that there is no satisfactory method
of diagnosis, prevention or treatment of the condition in question that has been
authorized in the European Union or, if such method exists, that the medicinal
product will be of significant benefit to those affected by that
condition.
In order
to obtain the designation of a medicinal product as an orphan drug, the sponsor
shall submit an application to the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medical
Products, which must describe the indication of the active ingredients of the
medicinal product, the proposed therapeutic indications and proof that the
criteria established by the relevant European legislation are met.
The
European Agency reviews the application and prepares a summary report to a
special Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products, which issues an opinion within
90 days of the receipt of the application. The European Commission must
adopt a decision within 30 days of the receipt of the committee’s opinion.
If the European Commission approves the application, the designated medicinal
product is entered in the European Register of Orphan Medicinal Products and the
product is eligible for incentives made available by the European Union and by
member states to support research into, and development and availability of,
orphan drugs.
After the
registration, the sponsor must submit to the European Agency an annual report on
the state of development of the designated orphan drug. A designated orphan drug
may be removed from the Register of Orphan Medicinal Products in three
cases:
|
·
|
at
the request of the sponsor;
|
|
·
|
if
it is established, before the market authorization is granted, that the
requirements provided for in the European orphan drug legislation are no
longer met; or
|
|
·
|
at
the end of the period of market exclusivity (as explained
below).
|
Orphan
drug market exclusivity means that the European Union shall not, for a period of
10 years from the grant of the marketing authorization for an orphan drug,
accept any other application for a marketing authorization, grant a marketing
authorization or accept an application to extend an existing marketing
authorization, for the same product. This period, however, may be reduced to six
years if at the end of the fifth year it is established that the criteria laid
down in the legislation are no longer met by the orphan drug, or where the
available evidence shows that the orphan drug is sufficiently profitable, so
that market exclusivity is no longer justified.
However,
as an exception to orphan drug market exclusivity, a marketing authorization may
be granted for the same therapeutic indications to a similar medicinal product
if:
|
·
|
the
holder of the marketing authorization for the orphan drug has given his
consent to the second applicant;
|
|
·
|
the
holder of the marketing authorization for the orphan drug is unable to
supply sufficient quantities of the latter;
or
|
|
·
|
the
second applicant can establish in its application that the second
medicinal product, although similar to the authorized orphan drug, is
safer, more effective or otherwise clinically
superior.
|
Raw
Materials
We
extract many of our products and product candidates from the DNA of pig
intestines through well-established processes used by others to manufacture many
other drugs. In particular, we extract defibrotide from swine intestinal mucosa
and sulglicotide from swine duodenum. In 2004, we entered into supply agreements
with La.bu.nat. S.r.l. for La.bu.nat. to supply us with the swine intestinal mucosa and swine duodenum we need to
produce defibrotide and sulglicotide.
The
contract term of the swine intestinal mucosa supply agreement expires on
December 31, 2010, with automatically renewable three year periods, unless
either party notifies the other party in writing six months prior to the annual
date of termination.
The
contract term of the swine duodenum supply agreement expires on December 31,
2010, with automatically renewable three year periods, unless either party
notifies the other party in writing six months prior to the annual date of
termination.
While we
have no current arrangements with any other supplier of our critical raw
material, we believe there are suitable alternative sources of pig intestine.
The FDA and other regulatory bodies may evaluate La.bu.nat.’s or any other
supplier’s processing centers as part of approving our product candidates and
our ongoing production of our products.
Our other
product, urokinase, is derived from human urine, which is subject to similar
regulatory review. While we currently purchase the urine from only one supplier
of urine and do not have a fixed supply agreement with that supplier, we believe
there are suitable alternative sources of this material.
Historically, there has been no
significant price volatility for any of our raw materials. It is possible that
widespread illness or destruction of pigs could result in volatility of the
price of pig intestines.
Competition
Our
industry is highly competitive and characterized by rapid technological change.
Significant competitive factors in our industry include:
|
·
|
controlling
the manufacturing costs;
|
|
·
|
the
effectiveness and safety of
products;
|
|
·
|
the
timing and scope of regulatory
approvals;
|
|
·
|
the
willingness of private insurance companies and government sponsored health
care programs to reimburse patients or otherwise pay for the drugs and the
related treatments;
|
|
·
|
the
availability of alternative treatments for the disorders as well as the
availability of alternatives to the treatments which cause or contribute
to these disorders (such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell
transplants, etc.);
|
|
·
|
the
ability to perform clinical trials, independently or with
others;
|
|
·
|
intellectual
property and patent rights and their protection;
and
|
|
·
|
sales
and marketing capabilities.
|
We face
competition in both the development and marketing of our product candidates.
During development alternative treatments for similar or completely different
disorders may limit our ability to get participants or co-sponsors for clinical
trials with our product candidates. Any product candidates that we successfully
develop that are approved for sale by the FDA or similar regulatory authorities
in other countries may compete with products currently being used or that may
become available in the future. Many organizations, including large
pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, such as Genzyme Corp.,
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eisai
Co., Ltd., and Celgene Corp, as well as academic and research organizations and
government agencies, may be interested in pursuing the research and development
of drug therapies that target the blood vessel wall. Many of these organizations
have substantially greater capital resources than we have, and greater
capabilities and resources for basic research, conducting preclinical studies
and clinical trials, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, marketing and sales. As
a result, our competitors may develop or license products or other novel
technologies that are more effective, safer or less costly than our existing
products or products that are being developed by us, or may obtain regulatory
approval for products before we do. Clinical development by others may render
our products or product candidates noncompetitive.
While we
are unaware of any other products or product candidates that treat or prevent
VOD, we believe that other companies have products or are currently developing
products to treat some of the same disorders and diseases that our other product
candidates are designed to treat.
Our
statements above are based on our general knowledge of and familiarity with our
competitors.
Legal
Proceedings
Currently, we are not a party to
or engaged in any material legal proceedings.
ORGANIZATIONAL
STRUCTURE
We were part of a group of
pharmaceutical businesses founded in Italy in 1944 that has been involved in the
research and development of drugs derived from DNA and DNA molecules since the
1970’s. In 1993, FinSirton formed our company as Pharma Research S.r.L., an
Italian private limited company, to pursue research and development activities
of prospective pharmaceutical specialty products. FinSirton is our
largest shareholder, and is controlled by Dr. Laura Ferro, our former Chief
Executive Officer and President and a current member of our board of directors,
together with her family. In December 2000, we changed from a private limited
company to a corporation and in July 2001 we changed our name to Gentium
S.p.A. Under our current bylaws, the duration of our company
will expire on December 31, 2050. We have no
subsidiaries.
PROPERTY,
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Manufacturing
and Facilities
We own a
manufacturing facility near Como, Italy which, at December 31, 2009, is subject
to a mortgage securing repayment of an aggregate of €2.0 million of debt owed to
Banca Nazionale del Lavoro. The manufacturing facility is 2,350
square meters in size. In order to obtain FDA approval for the sale
of any of our product candidates, the FDA must determine that this facility
meets their current good manufacturing practices, or GMPs, including
requirements for equipment verification and validation of our manufacturing and
cleaning processes. The FDA has not yet inspected our facility, but since 2004
we have spent more than €10 million for upgrades to our facility in anticipation
of such an inspection.
We
typically operate our manufacturing facility on two eight hour shifts per day.
Our estimated current production, our production capacity, and percentage of
utilization for defibrotide for the fiscal year 2010 are set forth
below:
Product
|
|
Estimated
Current
Production
Levels
(kilograms/year)
|
|
|
Maximum
Production
Capacity
With Two
Eight
Hour Shifts
(kilograms/year)
|
|
|
Percentage
of
Utilization
|
|
Defibrotide
|
|
|
180 |
|
|
|
4,400 |
|
|
|
4
|
% |
Until
December 31, 2008, we manufactured defibrotide to be filled and finished and
sold under the trademarks Prociclide and Noravid to treat and prevent vascular
disease with risk of thrombosis in Italy. We have discontinued the manufacture
of defibrotide for this use; however, we will continue to manufacture
defibrotide to meet future demands and for clinical trials and compassionate use
purposes.
Our
estimated current production, production capacity, and percentage of utilization
for sulglicotide for the fiscal year 2010 are set forth below:
Product
|
|
Estimated
Current
Production
Level
(kilograms/year)
|
|
|
Maximum
Production
Capacity
With Two
Eight
Hour Shifts
(kilograms/year)
|
|
|
Percentage
of
Utilization
|
|
Sulglicotide
|
|
|
7,015 |
|
|
|
7,015 |
|
|
|
100
|
% |
Our
estimated current production, production capacity, and percentage of utilization
for urokinase for the fiscal year 2010 are set forth below:
Product
|
|
Estimated
Current
Production
Level
(millions
of units/year)
|
|
|
Maximum
Production
Capacity
With One
Eight
Hour Shift
(millions
of units/year)
|
|
|
Percentage
of
Utilization
|
|
Urokinase
|
|
|
37,800 |
|
|
|
37,800 |
|
|
|
100
|
% |
Our
facility is subject to customary regulation by regional agencies regarding
worker health and safety, fire department, water, air, noise and environmental
pollution and protection by Azienda Sanitaria Locale and Agenzia Regionale
Prevenzione e Ambiente. We have engaged Lariana Depur, a consortium that
specializes in the treatment of waste water, to treat our waste water. We
monitor our waste water to control the levels of nitrogen, chlorides and
chemical oxygen before delivering the waste water to Lariana Depur for
additional treatment. We do not expect any difficulties in complying with these
regulations. Also, we installed two scrubbers to reduce the odors and chemicals
released into the air by the facility to comply with Italian
regulations.
The
environmental management system was certified under the UNI EN ISO 14001
Standard on April 20, 2007 and the EMAS certification was obtained on July 26,
2007. We defined our environmental policy to be in compliance with
current regulations on environmental protection, to provide for continuous
improvement of our manufacturing performance, to protect our employees’ health,
to protect the safety of people working at our location and to respect the
safety of people living close to our plant and the surrounding
community.
We lease
2,350 square meters of office and laboratory space from FinSirton. In
addition, we lease 100 square meters of laboratory and manufacturing space for
urokinase from Sirton.
ITEM
4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM
5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
You
should read the following discussion together with the financial statements,
related notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this annual
report. This discussion may contain predictions, estimates and other
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those
discussed under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this annual report. These risks
could cause our actual results to differ materially from any future performance
suggested below.
OPERATING
RESULTS
Overview
We are a
biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and manufacture of our
primary product candidate, defibrotide, an investigational drug based on
single-stranded DNA extracted from pig intestines. Our development of
defibrotide has been focused on the treatment and prevention of a disease VOD, a
condition in which some of the veins in the liver are blocked as a result of
cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation treatments, that are given
prior to stem cell transplantation. Severe VOD is the most extreme
form of VOD and is associated with multiple-organ failure and high rates of
morbidity and mortality. We have completed two clinical trials, a
Phase III trial of defibrotide for the treatment of severe VOD in the U.S.,
Canada and Israel and a Phase II/III pediatric trial in Europe for the
prevention of VOD. Defibrotide has been given orphan status by the
FDA and EMEA, which means that we will have limited market exclusivity upon
regulatory approval. Defibrotide has also been granted fast-track
product designation by the FDA for the treatment of VOD. While we
have not yet obtained regulatory approval to market defibrotide, we are
authorized to distribute defibrotide on a pre-approved basis under a treatment
IND protocol in the U.S. and through a named-patient program throughout the rest
of the world. We do not know of any FDA or EMEA approved treatments
for VOD.
We are
currently completing certain preclinical and clinical studies requested by
regulatory authorities. As part of our overall strategy, we
anticipate filing for regulatory approval for defibrotide in the U.S. and Europe
by the end of our second quarter in 2011. We are also working closely
on our U.S. regulatory strategy with our commercial partner, Sigma-Tau
Finanziaria S.p.A. and its affiliate Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to which
we have licensed our commercial rights to defibrotide for both the treatment and
prevention of VOD in the Americas.
We have a
manufacturing plant in Italy where we produce active pharmaceutical ingredients,
which are subsequently used to make the finished forms of various drugs. We
believe that we are the sole worldwide producer of defibrotide. In
addition to defibrotide, we manufacture urokinase and sulglicotide, both of
which are sold to third parties. All of the Company’s operating
assets are located in Italy.
Historically,
we sold defibrotide as an active pharmaceutical ingredient to our affiliate,
Sirton, who then filled and finished the defibrotide active pharmaceutical
ingredient into ampoule and capsule forms. Sirton then sold these
ampoules and capsules to Crinos S.p.A., a subsidiary of Stada Arzneimittel
AG. Crinos, pursuant to a distribution agreement entered into with
us, sold these products throughout Italy, under the trademarks Prociclide and
Noravid, to treat and prevent vascular disease with risk of thrombosis in
Italy.
In 2007,
we changed our relationship with Sirton, from customer to a contract
manufacturer, and sold the finished forms of Prociclide and Noravid to Crinos
directly. On December 31, 2008, the distribution agreement with
Crinos expired and, consistent with our overall strategy, we chose not to renew
this agreement and discontinued the manufacture of defibrotide to be finished
into Prociclide and Noravid. In August, 2009, the Italian Health
Agency accepted the Company’s request to withdraw the marketing authorization
for Prociclide and Noravid but granted an extension of the marketing
authorization through May 2010 in order to sell the products that were
previously distributed.
In 2009 we launched a named-patient
program, administered by IDIS Limited, and a cost recovery program, administered
by US Oncology Clinical Development. Both of these programs are
designed to provide defibrotide to patients on a pre-approval compassionate use
basis. For the year ended December 31, 2009, sales of defibrotide
through these programs amounted to approximately 51% of our total product
sales.
In January 2010, we amended and
expanded our existing license agreement with Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to
include the prevention indication of defibrotide for the
Americas. Following this amendment, we decided to close our New York
office and consolidate our corporate activities within our headquarters in
Italy.
Historically,
we have also generated revenue from research and development agreements with
co-development partners, from the sale of rights to our intellectual property,
and from licensing agreements. Our licensing agreements have included
up-front payments (some of which are paid based on achieving defined
milestones), reimbursement of research and development expenses, and royalties
from product sales in the licensed territories. Our revenues by type
are as described below:
|
|
For
The Years Ended December 31,
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Product
sales:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prociclide
and Noravid
|
|
€ |
2,756 |
|
|
€ |
1,728 |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
Urokinase
|
|
|
1,461 |
|
|
|
844 |
|
|
|
1,974 |
|
Sulglicotide
|
|
|
764 |
|
|
|
2,672 |
|
|
|
2,789 |
|
Other
|
|
|
113 |
|
|
|
199 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
Named-patient/cost
recovery program sales
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
4,904 |
|
Total
product sales
|
|
|
5,094 |
|
|
|
5,443 |
|
|
|
9,702 |
|
Other
revenues
|
|
|
2,515 |
|
|
|
1,995 |
|
|
|
466 |
|
Total
revenue
|
|
€ |
7,609 |
|
|
€ |
7,438 |
|
|
€ |
10,168 |
|
Of our
product sales in the periods shown in the table above, all were sales in Italy
except for 13.5% during the year ended December 31, 2007 and 49.1% during the
year ended December 31, 2008, which were primarily sales of sulglicotide in
South Korea, and 85.9% for the year ended December 31, 2009, which were sales of
sulglicotide in South Korea, sales of urokinase in Spain and sales of
defibrotide through the named-patient and cost recovery programs. Substantially
all of our other revenues is the result of a cost sharing arrangement with
Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., entered into in 2007, under which Sigma-Tau
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. agreed to reimburse us for 50% of certain costs incurred
in our Phase III clinical trial of defibrotide to treat severe VOD and milestone
payments under our 2001 License and Supply Agreement entered into with Sigma-Tau
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
We expect
to continue to incur net losses as we continue the development of defibrotide,
apply for regulatory approvals and expand our operations. However,
absent the need to fund any additional clinical trials, we believe that our cash
and cash equivalents, including the upfront payment received from Sigma-Tau
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in connection with the expansion of the license for
defibrotide in the Americas, together with revenues generated from our
named-patient and cost recovery programs, will be sufficient to meet our
obligations for at least the next twelve months. However, if we elect
to increase our spending above current plans or perform additional clinical
trials, we may need to obtain additional capital through equity or debt
financings, loans and collaborative agreements with corporate partners, which
may not be available to us on favorable terms, if at all.
As of
December 31, 2009, substantially all of our cash and cash equivalents were held
in accounts at financial institutions located in the Republic of Italy and the
United States, that we believe are of acceptable credit quality. We
invest our cash in liquid instruments that meet high credit quality standards
and generally mature within three months of purchase. We are exposed
to exchange rate risk with respect to certain of our cash balances and accounts
receivables that are denominated in U.S. dollars. As of December 31,
2009, we held a cash balance of $0.50 million, receivables of $0.96 million and
payables of $1.99 million that were denominated in U.S. dollars. This
dollar-based balances are available to be used for future purchases and other
liquidity requirements that may be denominated in such currency. We
are exposed to unfavorable and potentially volatile fluctuations of the U.S.
dollar against the Euro (our functional currency).
Any
increase (decrease) in the value of the U.S. dollar against the Euro will result
in unrealized foreign currency remeasurement losses (gains) with respect to the
Euro. The value of the Euro against the U.S. dollar and other
currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in
political and economic conditions. Any change in the value of the
Euro relative to other currencies that we transact business with in the future
could materially and adversely affect our cash flows, revenues and financial
condition. To the extent we hold assets denominated in U.S. dollars,
any appreciation of the Euro against the U.S. dollar could result in a non-cash
charge to our operating results and a reduction in the value of our U.S. dollar
denominated assets upon remeasurement.
In
addition, we are exposed to foreign currency risks to the extent that we enter
into transactions denominated in currencies other than our functional currency,
such as investments, programming costs and accounts payable. Changes
in exchange rates with respect to these items will result in unrealized or
realized foreign currency transaction gains and losses upon settlement of the
transactions.
We are
exposed to changes in interest rates primarily as a result of our
borrowings. Our primary exposure to variable rate debt is through the
EURIBOR and we have entered into interest rate cap agreement to manage exposure
to movements in interest rates. Interest rate cap agreements lock in
a maximum interest rate should variable rates rise, but enable us to benefit
from lower interest rates.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our
financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial
statements requires management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and
related disclosures. We base our estimates and judgments on historical
experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable
under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
We
believe the following policies to be critical to understand our financial
conditions and results of operations because they require us to make estimates,
assumptions and judgments about matters that are inherently
uncertain.
Revenue
Recognition
Our
primary source of revenue was from the sale of products, named-patient and cost
recovery programs and from collaborative arrangements. We recognize revenue from
product sales when ownership of the product is transferred to and accepted by
the customer, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is
reasonably assured. Provisions for returns and other adjustments related to
sales are provided in the same period the related sales are recorded on the
basis of historical rates of return. Historically, our returns have been
insignificant. Revenues are recorded net of applicable allowance for contractual
adjustments entered into with customers.
Collaborative
arrangements generally contemplate that our technology or intellectual property
will be utilized to commercialize or produce certain pharmaceutical products and
that we will receive certain revenues pursuant to these agreements.
Collaborative arrangements with multiple deliverables are divided into separate
units of accounting if certain criteria are met, including whether the delivered
element has stand-alone value to the customer and whether there is objective and
reliable evidence of the fair value of the undelivered items. The consideration
received from these arrangements is allocated among the separate units based on
their respective fair value, and the applicable revenue recognition criteria are
applied to each separate unit. Revenue associated with substantive at-risk
milestones is recognized based upon the achievement of the milestones as defined
in the respective agreements. We defer and recognize as revenue non-refundable
payments received in advance that are related to the future performance over the
life of the related research project. We recognize reimbursements to fund
research and development efforts as the qualified expenditures are made.
Finally, royalty revenues are recognized when earned when the applicable sales
are made.
Inventories
Inventories
consist of raw materials, semi-finished and finished active pharmaceutical
ingredients and defibrotide distributed through the named-patient and treatment
IND programs. We state inventories at the lower of cost or market, determining
cost on an average cost basis. We periodically review inventories and reduce
items that we consider outdated or obsolete to their estimated net realizable
value. We estimate reserves for excess and obsolete inventories based on
inventory levels on hand, future purchase commitments, and current and forecast
product demand. Our reserve level and as a result our overall profitability, is
therefore subject to our ability to reasonably forecast future sales levels
versus quantities on hand and existing purchase commitments. Forecasting of
demand and resource planning are subject to extensive assumptions that we must
make regarding, among other variables, expected market changes, overall demand,
pricing incentives and raw material availability. Significant changes in these
estimates could indicate that inventory levels are excessive, which would
require us to reduce inventories to their estimated net realizable
value.
In the
highly regulated industry in which we operate, raw materials, work in progress
and finished goods inventories have expiration dates that must be factored into
our judgments about the recoverability of inventory cost. Additionally, if our
estimate of a product’s demand and pricing is such that we may not fully recover
the cost of inventory, we must consider that in our judgment as well. We also
review our inventory for quality assurance and quality control issues identified
in the manufacturing process and determine if a write-down is necessary. In the
context of reflecting inventory at the lower of cost or market, we will record
an inventory reserve as soon as a need for such a reduction in net realizable
value is determined.
Prior to
commencement of selling defibrotide through the named-patient and cost recovery
programs, we had expensed all costs associated with the production of
defibrotide as research and development expense. Subsequent to signing the
agreements associated with the named-patient and cost recovery programs, we
capitalized the subsequent costs of manufacturing defibrotide as inventory,
including costs to convert existing raw materials to active pharmaceutical
ingredient and costs to package and label previously manufactured inventory
whose costs had already been expensed as research and development expense. Until
we sell the inventory for which a portion of the costs were previously expensed,
the carrying value of our inventories and our cost of sales will reflect only
incremental costs incurred subsequent to the signing of these
agreements.
We
expense costs relating to the production of clinical products as research and
development expense in the period incurred, which are not expected to be sold
through the named-patient and cost recovery programs and will continue to do so
until we receive an approval letter from the United States Food and Drug
Administration, or FDA, or European Medicines Agency, or EMEA, for a new product
or product configuration. Upon receipt of an approval letter from FDA
or EMEA for a new product or product configuration, we will begin to capitalize
the subsequent inventory costs relating to that product
configuration.
Impairment
of Long-lived Assets
Our
long-lived assets consist primarily of property and equipment. We evaluate our
ability to recover the carrying value of long-lived assets used in our business,
considering changes in the business environment or other facts and circumstances
that suggest their value may be impaired.
If, based
on the preceding discussion, our management has concluded that impairment
indicators exist, we will initially review by assessing the undiscounted cash
flows expected to be derived from the asset or group of assets, comparing the
lowest level of total expected undiscounted cash flow to the carrying value. If
the carrying value of the asset or the group of assets exceeds the sum of the
undiscounted cash flows, impairment is considered to exist. An impairment charge
is assessed by comparing the assets’ fair value to the carrying value. Fair
value can be calculated by a number of different approaches, including
discounted cash flow, comparables, market valuations or quoted market prices.
The process and steps required to assess the possible impairments of assets,
including the identification of possible impairment indicators, assessing
undiscounted cash flows, selecting the appropriate discount rate, the
calculation of the weighted average cost of capital and the discounts or
premiums inherent in market prices requires a substantial amount of management
discretion and judgment. If actual results differ from these estimates, or if we
adjust these estimates in future periods, operating results could be
significantly affected.
Research
and Development Expenses
We have
several activities, and their related costs, that are included in research and
development expenses. These activities include primarily salaries and benefits
of our direct employees, employee stock based compensation expense, facility
costs, overhead costs, clinical trial costs and related trial product
manufacturing costs, contracted services and subcontractor costs. Clinical trial
costs include costs associated with contract research organizations. The
billings that we receive from contract research organizations for services
rendered may not be received for several months following the service. We accrue
the estimated costs of the contract research organizations related services
based on our estimate of management fees, site management and monitoring costs
and data management costs. Our research and development department is in
continuous communication with our contract research organizations to assess both
their progress on the underlying study and the reasonableness of their cost
estimates. Differences between estimated trial costs and actual have not been
material to date, and any changes have been made when they become known. Under
this policy, research and development expense can vary due to accrual
adjustments related to the underlying clinical trials and the expenses incurred
by the contract research organizations. At December 31, 2009, we had
€0.32 million of
future payables under outstanding contracts with various contract research
organizations that are not revocable. Most of these contracts are on
a cost plus or actual cost basis.
Stock-Based
Compensation
Employee
stock-based compensation is estimated at the date of grant based on the employee
stock award’s fair value using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and is
recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service period, which is
generally the vesting period, in a manner similar to other forms of compensation
paid to employees. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the use of
certain subjective assumptions. The most significant of these assumptions are
our estimates of the expected volatility of the market price of our stock, the
expected term of the award and the expected forfeiture rate. When establishing
an estimate of the expected term of an award, we consider the vesting period of
the award, our recent historical experience of employee stock option exercise,
the expected volatility and a comparison to relevant peer group
data.
We review
our assumptions periodically and, as a result, we may change our assumptions
used to value share based awards granted in future periods. Such
changes may lead to a significant change in the expense we recognize in
connection with share based payments.
In using
the option pricing model that we have selected, changes in the underlying
assumptions have the following effect on the resulting fair value
output:
An
increase to the:
|
|
Results
in a fair value estimate that is:
|
Price
of the underlying share
|
|
Higher
|
Exercise
price of option
|
|
Lower
|
Expected
volatility of stock
|
|
Higher
|
Risk-free
interest rate
|
|
Higher
|
Expected
term of option
|
|
Higher
|
In our
current valuation, we consider the volatility factor to be an important factor
in determining the fair value of the options granted. We have used 60.65% factor
based on what we believe is a representative sample of similar biopharmaceutical
companies. However,
this sample is not perfect as it omits, for example, Italian companies, due to
the fact that there are a limited number of companies such as ourselves publicly
traded in the U.S. market. Significant changes to these estimates could have a
material impact on the results of our operations.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
Please
see Note 2 of our financial statements, “Summary of Significant Accounting
Policies to our Financial Statements,” for a discussion of new
accounting standards.
Results of Operations
The
following tables set forth our results of operations:
|
|
For
The Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Amounts
in thousands except share and per share data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product
sales to related party
|
|
€ |
2,704 |
|
|
€ |
651 |
|
|
€ |
195 |
|
Product
sales to third parties
|
|
|
2,390 |
|
|
|
4,792 |
|
|
|
9,507 |
|
Total
product sales
|
|
|
5,094 |
|
|
|
5,443 |
|
|
|
9,702 |
|
Other
revenues
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
129 |
|
Other
revenues from related party
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
1,970 |
|
|
|
337 |
|
Total
Revenues
|
|
|
7,609 |
|
|
|
7,438 |
|
|
|
10,168 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
costs and expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of goods sold
|
|
|
4,584 |
|
|
|
5,596 |
|
|
|
4,002 |
|
Research
and development
|
|
|
14,497 |
|
|
|
9,569 |
|
|
|
3,512 |
|
General
and administrative
|
|
|
6,279 |
|
|
|
7,668 |
|
|
|
6,036 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
725 |
|
|
|
998 |
|
|
|
916 |
|
Charges
from related parties
|
|
|
748 |
|
|
|
537 |
|
|
|
279 |
|
Write-down
of assets
|
|
|
13,740 |
|
|
|
3,403 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Total
operating costs and expenses:
|
|
|
40,573 |
|
|
|
27,771 |
|
|
|
14,745 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
loss
|
|
|
(32,964 |
) |
|
|
(20,333 |
) |
|
|
(4,577 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign
currency exchange gain/(loss), net
|
|
|
(4,001 |
) |
|
|
173 |
|
|
|
162 |
|
Interest
income/(expense), net
|
|
|
1,357 |
|
|
|
256 |
|
|
|
(110 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
before income tax expense
|
|
|
(35,608 |
) |
|
|
(19,904 |
) |
|
|
(4,525 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
€ |
(35,608 |
) |
|
€ |
(19,904 |
) |
|
€ |
(4,525 |
) |
Net
loss per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
and diluted net loss per share
|
|
|
(2.52 |
) |
|
|
(1.33 |
) |
|
|
(0.30 |
) |
Weighted
average shares used to compute basic and
diluted net loss per share
|
|
|
14,105,128 |
|
|
|
14,956,263 |
|
|
|
14,956,317 |
|
Year
Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2008
Product
sales.
Our
product sales were €9.70 million for 2009 compared to €5.44 million for 2008, an
increase of €4.26 million or 78.3%. The
increase was primarily due to the launch in April 2009 of the named-patient
program and the launch in September 2009 of the cost recovery program in the
U.S. Named-patient program and cost recover program sales, for the
year ended December 31, 2009 amounted to €4.90 million.
Sales to
a related party, Sirton, for the year ended December 31, 2009 and 2008
represented 2% and 12% of the total product sales, respectively. The decrease in
sales to a related party is primarily due to the fact that in the second quarter
of 2009 we terminated our supply agreement with Sirton and entered into direct
sales agreements with Sirton’s customers in order to mitigate the risk
associated with Sirton’s poor financial condition. Additionally,
after March 2008, we did not recognize product sales to a related party, unless
paid in advance, amounting to €1.08 million, because one of
the criteria stated by SAB 104 (“collectability is reasonably assured”) was not
met.
Sales to
third parties increased to €9.51 million for 2009
compared to €4.79 million for 2008, an increase of €4.72 million or 98.5%. The
increase was primarily due to the launch in 2009 of the named-patient and cost
recovery programs, which amounted to €4.90 million in
sales. Excluding such sales, sales to third parties related to the
API business would have been €4.61 million and €4.79 million in 2009 and 2008,
respectively, with a decrease of €0.18 million or 3.8%, primarily due to slight
decrease on unit sold of sulglicotide, offset by price increase and higher
volume of urokinase sold in 2009 compared to prior year.
Other
revenues
Our other
revenues were €0.47 million for 2009
compared to €1.99 million for 2008. The decrease versus the
prior-year is primarily attributable to a decrease in activities that were
reimbursed from Sigma-Tau under our cost sharing agreement, offset by a
milestone payment from Sigma-Tau of €0.23 million ($0.35 million) for
completion of the phase III clinical trial.
Cost
of goods sold.
Our cost
of goods sold was €4.00 million for 2009 compared to €5.60 million for 2008.
Cost of goods sold as a percentage of product sales, was 41% in 2009
compared to 103% in 2008. The percentage decrease is primarily due to
higher margin on defibrotide sold through the named-patient program and price
increases in the API business. The Company fully expensed the cost
of inventory in the prior year. Additionally, the higher
percentage of cost of goods sold in 2008 was primarily due to the fact that
product sales to a related party, Sirton, were not recognized in the amount
of €1.08 million due to Sirton's poor financial condition and concerns over
the ability to collect such receivables.
Research
and development expenses.
We
incurred research and development expenses of €3.51 million in 2009 compared
to €9.57 million for 2008. Research and development expenses in 2009
and 2008 are net of €0.85 and €0.79 million, respectively,
of government grants in the form of a tax credit. The reduction from the
prior year is a result of a decrease in the activities related to the treatment
and prevention studies.
General
and administrative expenses.
Our
general and administrative expenses were €6.04 million in 2009 compared
to €7.67 million in 2008. In 2008, we established a reserve for doubtful
accounts in the ammount of €1.78 million, of which
€0.68 was releasedin 2009. Additionally, the Company
had lower payroll costs due to the temporary layoffs under a special public
fund used in Italy under the “Cassa Integrazione Guadagni” program.
Depreciation
and amortization expense.
Depreciation
and amortization expense was €0.92 million in 2009 compared
to €1.00 million in 2008. Depreciation expense excludes depreciation
of our manufacturing facilities included in our cost of goods sold.
Foreign
currency exchange gain (loss), net
Our
foreign currency exchange gain (loss) is primarily due to remeasurement at
December 31, 2009 of U.S. dollar cash balances. The positive result
between 2008 and 2009 is due to a more favorable exchange rate in 2009 and a
lower cash balance.
Interest income/(expense), net.
Interest
income /(expense), net amounted to €(0.11) million and €0.26
million in 2009 and 2008, respectively. The decrease in interest
income /(expense), net is a result of a lower amounts of invested
funds in 2009 compared to the prior period as well as a decrease in
interest rates.
Net
loss.
Our net
loss was €4.53 million in 2009 compared
to €19.90 million in 2008. The difference was primarily due to net
sales generated with the launch of the named-patient program, decrease in
general and administrative expense, research and development expense, and higher
margin on products sold through the named-patient program.
Year
Ended December 31, 2008 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2007
Product
sale.
Our
product sales were €5.44 million for 2008 compared to €5.09 million for 2007, an
increase of €0.35 million or 7%. The increase was primarily due to an increase
in demand for our products from our customers. Sales to a related
party, Sirton, for the year ended December 31, 2007 and 2008 represented 53% and
12% of the total product sales, respectively. The decrease in sales to a related
party is primarily due to the fact that we did not recognize product sales to a
related party for sale transactions consummated after March 2008, amounting to
€1.08 million, because one of the criteria stated by SAB 104 (“collectability is
reasonably assured”) was not met. In addition, in contemplation of
the expiration of our distribution agreement with Crinos, we stopped selling
Prociclide and Noravid as a finished product to Crinos during the three month
period ended December 31, 2008. Sales to third parties increased to
€4.79 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 due to higher sales volume of
sulglicotide. Sulglicotide is used by a South Korean manufacturer to
produce a finished product.
Other
revenues
Our other
revenues were €1.99 million for 2008 compared to €2.51 million for 2007.
Fluctuation versus the prior-year period is primarily due to timing on the
recognition of reimbursement from Sigma Tau, under a cost sharing arrangement
entered into during the third quarter of 2007, of certain costs incurred in our
ongoing phase III clinical trial of defibrotide to treat severe
VOD.
Cost
of goods sold.
Our cost
of goods sold was €5.60 million for 2008 compared to €4.58 million in
2007. Cost of goods sold as a percentage of product sales was 103% in
2008 compared to 90% in 2007. The decrease in gross margin was primarily due to
the non-recognition of product sales to a related party, Sirton, for sale
transactions consummated after March 2008. The Company did not recognize product
sales due to Sirton’s poor financial condition, which caused concerns over the
collectability of such receivables.
If we
would have recognized such revenue, cost of goods sold as a percentage of
product sales would have been 86% for 2008 compared to 90% for
2007. The increase in gross margin would have been primarily due to
change in product mix.
Research
and development expenses.
We
incurred research and development expenses of €9.57 million in 2008 compared to
€14.50 million for 2007. Research and development expenses are net of
€0.79 million government grants accrued as a reduction of expense. Excluding
such grants, research and development expense would have been €10.36 million and
€14.50 million in 2008 and 2007, respectively. Research and development expenses
were primarily for the development of Defibrotide to treat and prevent VOD. The
decrease from the comparable period in 2007 is the timing of performance of
clinical research organizations and regulatory activities. Also contributing to
the research and development expenses was stock based compensation of €0.38
million in 2008 compared to €0.44 million in 2007.
General
and administrative expenses.
Our
general and administrative expenses were €7.67 million in 2008 compared to €6.28
million in 2007. The 2008 general and administrative expenses reflect the
establishment of an allowance for doubtful accounts of €1.78
million. General and administrative expenses include general
corporate expenses, legal and other professional fees and stock based
compensation expense of €1.50 million in 2008 compared to €1.36 million in
2007.
Depreciation
and amortization expense.
Depreciation
and amortization expense was €1.00 million in 2008 compared to €0.73 million in
2007. Depreciation expense excludes depreciation of our manufacturing
facilities included in our cost of goods sold.
Write-down
of assets
We
recorded an impairment of €3.40 million in 2008 compared to €13.74 million in
2007. Write-down of
assets include the write-down of acquired trademarks for Prociclide and Noravid
(both forms of defibrotide), the Italian marketing authorizations for Prociclide
and Noravid, inventory, and the Company’s patents. The trademarks and
marketing authorizations for Prociclide and Noravid have been written-down due
to the expiration and non-renewal by the Company of the distribution agreement
with Crinos S.p.A., which distributed Prociclide and Noravid in Italy to treat
and prevent vascular disease with risk of thrombosis. Because the
Company has decided to discontinue the distribution of Prociclide and Noravid,
doubt has been raised concerning the recoverability of future cash flows
expected to be derived from these assets. Therefore, the Company has
impaired €1.70 million of the remaining net book value of the trademarks and
Italian marketing authorizations for Prociclide and Noravid. In
addition, the Company wrote down €1.23 million of the remaining book value of
semi-finished and finished Prociclide and Noravid in our inventory, including
such products expected to be returned by Crinos, as these products are no longer
saleable. At December 31, 2008, we wrote down the remaining carrying
value of the Company’s patents amounting to €0.48 million, because there was no
expected future cash flows to support the amounts to be derived over the
remaining useful life of the patents.
Foreign
currency exchange gain (loss), net
Our
foreign currency exchange gain (loss) is primarily due to remeasurement at
December 31, 2008 of U.S. dollar cash balances. The positive result
between 2007 and 2008 is due to a more favorable exchange rate in 2008 and a
lower cash balance in 2008 versus 2007.
Interest income, net.
Interest
income, net amounted to €0.26 million and €1.36 million in 2008 and 2007,
respectively. Gross interest income amounted to €0.59 million and €1.67 million
in 2008 and 2007, respectively, a decrease of €1.08 million. The decrease is a
result of a lower amount of invested funds in the 2008 period and decrease in
interest rates. Interest expense totaled €0.33 million and €0.32
million in 2008 and 2007, respectively, an increase of €0.01 million
attributable to an fluctuation in interest rate.
Net
loss.
Our net
loss was €19.90 million in 2008 compared to €35.61 million in
2007. The difference was primarily due to the write-down of assets
acquired from Crinos amounting to €13.74 million, foreign exchange gain and
lower research and development expenses, offset by an increase in general and
administrative expenses due to the allowance for doubtful accounts of €1.78
million.
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
During
2007, we used approximately €14.2 million of cash to fund operations and working
capital requirements, €0.81 to reimburse current portions of long term debts and
capital lease obligations, and approximately €7.1 million for capital
expenditures and acquisition of intangible assets, including €8 million paid to
Crinos. We funded these amounts from the following
sources:
· €7.6
million in gross revenues;
· $47.5
million in gross proceeds from a private placement of 2,354,000 ordinary
shares;
· $8.4
million in gross proceeds from the exercise of warrants and stock
options;
· €279
thousand in short term borrowing; and
· €10.2
million from cash available at December 31, 2006.
During
2008, we used approximately €12.78 million of cash to fund operations and
working capital requirements, €1.60 to reimburse current portion of long term
debts, short term borrowings and capital lease obligations, and approximately
€0.59 million for capital expenditures. We funded these amounts from
the following sources:
· €7.44 million in gross
revenues;
· €147
proceeds from long term debt, and
· €25.96
million from cash available at December 31, 2007.
During
2009, we used approximately €5.16 million of cash to fund
operations and working capital requirements, €1.17 to reimburse current portion
of long term debts and capital lease obligations, and approximately €4.25 million for capital
expenditures, including €4 million paid to Crinos. We funded these
amounts from the following sources:
· €9.70 million in gross
revenues;
· €0.26
million in sales of marketable securities; and
· €11.49 million from cash
available at December 31, 2008.
At
December 31, 2009, we had an aggregate of €3.51 million in debt
outstanding and had €1.39 million in cash and cash equivalents. In
connection with the closure of our New York office, we will be using
approximately €1.51 ($1.71) million of cash, which will be funded by cash
available and approximately €5.11 ($7.00) million from the upfront payment
received in connection with the amendment and expansion of the license agreement
with Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Additional information about the
maturity and repayment obligations for this debt and interest rate structure and
our material commitments for capital expenditures is provided below under
“Contractual Obligations and Commitments.”
We expect
to devote substantial resources to continue our research and development
efforts, on regulatory expenses, and to expand our licensing and collaboration
efforts. Our funding requirements will depend on numerous factors
including:
· the
scope and results of our clinical trials;
· whether
we are able to commercialize and sell defibrotide for the uses for which we are
developing it;
· advancement
of other product candidates in development;
· the
timing of, and the costs involved in, obtaining regulatory
approvals;
· the
cost of manufacturing activities;
· the
costs associated with building a future commercial infrastructure;
|
·
|
the
costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and
enforcing patent claims and other patent-related costs, including
litigation costs and results of such litigation;
and
|
|
·
|
our
ability to establish and maintain additional collaborative
arrangements.
|
We do not
expect our revenues to increase significantly until we successfully obtain FDA
and European regulatory marketing approval for, and begin selling, defibrotide
to treat severe VOD and prevent VOD. We believe that some of the key factors
that will affect our internal and external sources of cash are:
|
·
|
our
ability to obtain FDA and European regulatory marketing approval for and
to commercially launch defibrotide to treat severe
VOD;
|
|
|
the
receptivity of the capital markets to financings, generally, and of
biotechnology companies, specifically;
and
|
|
·
|
our
ability to enter into additional collaborative arrangements with corporate
and academic collaborators and the success of such
relationships.
|
Through December 31, 2009, the Company
had accumulated losses of approximately €100 million. However, absent
the need to fund any additional clinical trials, management believes that the
Company’s cash and cash equivalents, including the upfront payment received from
Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in connection with the expansion of the license
agreement for defibrotide in the Americas, together with revenues generated from
the Company’s named-patient and cost recovery programs, will be sufficient to
meet the Company’s obligations for at least the next twelve
months. If the Company elects to increase its spending above current
plans or perform additional clinical trials, it may need to obtain additional
capital through equity or debt financings, loans and collaborative agreements
with corporate partners, which may not be available to the Company on favorable
terms, if at all.
Italian
law provides for limits and restrictions on our issuance of debt securities,
described in our risk factor entitled, “We are restricted under Italian law
as to the amount of debt securities that we may issue relative to our
equity.” In order to issue new equity or debt securities
convertible into equity, with some exceptions, we must increase our authorized
capital through a process described in our risk factor entitled, “The process of seeking to raise
additional funds is cumbersome, subject to the verification of a notary public
as to compliance with our bylaws and applicable law and may require prior
approval of our shareholders at an extraordinary meeting.”
RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT
We
discover, research and conduct initial development of our product candidates at
our facilities in Italy, and also hire consultants to do so in various countries
in Europe and the United States. We typically conduct preclinical laboratory and
animal studies of product candidates either ourselves or through other research
facilities. We typically engage medical centers to conduct clinical trials of
our product candidates. In certain cases, where we believe the development costs
will be substantial, we may enter into collaborative arrangements to help us
develop those product candidates. We expense research and development costs as
incurred.
Research
and Development Expenses
Our
research and development expenses consist primarily of costs associated with
research, preclinical development contract research organization charges,
regulatory activities, laboratory supplies and materials, manufacturing costs,
contracted services and clinical trials for our product
candidates. During the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009,
we had three major categories of research projects relating to defibrotide to
treat VOD, defibrotide to prevent VOD and assorted other projects. The table
below presents our research and development expenses by project for each of the
years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
|
|
For
The Years Ended December 31,
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Defibrotide
to treat VOD
|
|
€ |
11,035 |
|
|
€ |
7,131 |
|
|
€ |
641 |
|
Defibrotide
to prevent VOD
|
|
|
869 |
|
|
|
1,055 |
|
|
|
2,102 |
|
Others
|
|
|
2,593 |
|
|
|
1,383 |
|
|
|
769 |
|
Total
|
|
€ |
14,497 |
|
|
€ |
9,569 |
|
|
€ |
3,512 |
|
We expect
to continue to incur expenses for the development of defibrotide to treat and
prevent VOD. We will need additional funds before we have completed
the development of defibrotide to treat and prevent VOD. A further
discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with developing defibrotide
and certain consequences of failing to do so are set forth in the risk factors
under the heading “Risks Relating to Our Business” as well as other risk
factors.
Intellectual Property Rights And
Patents
Patent rights and other proprietary
rights are important in our business. We have sought, and intend to continue to
seek, patent protection for our inventions and rely upon patents, trademarks,
trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological innovations and licensing
opportunities to develop and maintain a competitive advantage.
However, the patent positions of
companies like ours involve complex legal and factual questions and, therefore,
their enforceability cannot be predicted with any certainty. Our patents, those
licensed to us, and those that may be issued to us in the future may be
challenged, invalidated or circumvented, and the rights granted under them may
not provide us with protection or competitive advantages against competitors
with similar technology. Furthermore, our competitors may independently develop
similar technologies or duplicate any technology developed by us. Because of the
extensive time required for development, testing and regulatory review of a
potential product, it is possible that, before any of our product candidates can
be approved for sale and commercialized, our relevant patent rights may expire
or remain in force for only a short period following
commercialization.
OFF-BALANCE
SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We do not
have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
TABULAR
DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
Contractual
Obligations and Commitments
Our major
contractual obligations and commitments relate to our real estate mortgages,
other financing from banks and financial institutions, and various service
agreements (including those related to our clinical trials).
The
following table summarizes our long-term commitments as of December 31,
2009.
(in
thousands)
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1
Year
|
|
|
2
Years
|
|
|
3
Years
|
|
|
4
Years
|
|
|
5
Years
|
|
|
More
than 5 Years
|
|
Long-Term
Debt Obligations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mortgage
loans
|
|
€ |
1,800 |
|
|
€ |
400 |
|
|
€ |
400 |
|
|
€ |
400 |
|
|
€ |
400 |
|
|
€ |
200 |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
Finance
loans
|
|
|
375 |
|
|
|
250 |
|
|
|
125 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Equipment
loans
|
|
|
706 |
|
|
|
415 |
|
|
|
291 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Research
loan
|
|
|
217 |
|
|
|
166 |
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
€ |
3,098 |
|
|
€ |
1,231 |
|
|
€ |
867 |
|
|
€ |
400 |
|
|
€ |
400 |
|
|
€ |
200 |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
leases
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Capital
lease obligation
|
|
|
91 |
|
|
|
70 |
|
|
|
21 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Research
and Development
Programs
|
|
|
323 |
|
|
|
323 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
€ |
3,559 |
|
|
€ |
1,640 |
|
|
€ |
904 |
|
|
€ |
415 |
|
|
€ |
400 |
|
|
€ |
200 |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
We
received various loans from the Minister for University and Research granted
through San Paolo-IMI Bank (now Intesa SanPaolo) in September 2000 and December
2008. The loans are for financing research and development of defibrotide to
treat and prevent VOD and bears interest at 1.0% per annum. We will need to
repay the first loan in installments every six months beginning six months after
the completion of the related research and development, but no later than
January 2012. At December 31, 2009, the amount outstanding under this
loan was €145
thousand. We will need to repay the second loan in seven installments due every
six months, beginning January 2009. At December 31, 2009, the amount outstanding
under this loan was €85 thousand.
On July
9, 2004, we obtained a loan in the approximate amount of €487 thousand from
Cassa di Risparmio di Parma e Piacenza. The loan was obtained pursuant to Law
No. 1329 of 28 November 1965 (Legge Sabatini), a law that facilitates the
purchase and the lease of new production equipment. The loan is secured by a
lien on our equipment and machinery. On August 4, 2004, we
obtained an additional loan in the amount of €388 thousand from Cassa di
Risparmio di Parma e Piacenza under the same terms and conditions. At
December 31, 2009, these loans were fully reimbursed.
On April
20, 2006, we obtained a five year financing facility from Banca Intesa
Mediocredito S.p.A. of up to €1 million to finance our purchase and installation
of two reactors in our manufacturing facility. The financing has a
five-year term and bears interest at the three-month Euribor rate plus
1.7%. It is secured by Banca Intesa debt securities in the aggregate
amount of €263 thousand that we purchased and which expire on May 10,
2011. We make installment payments on the facility of €131 thousand
every six months until its final maturity in April 2011. In December
2009, Banca Intesa Mediocredito S.p.A agreed to defer payment of principal due
for 12 months, extending the original term of the loan to 2012. At December 31,
2009, the aggregate amount outstanding under this facility was €394
thousand.
On June
14, 2006, we obtained a loan in the amount of €2,800 thousand from Banca
Nazionale Del Lavoro S.p.A. The loan is secured by a mortgage on
certain of our land and buildings. It bears interest at the six-month
Euribor rate plus 1.00%, the principal of which will be repaid in 14
installments, every six months, starting from December 27, 2007 until final
maturity in 2014 and the interest on which will be paid every six months
starting from June 27, 2006. In December 2009, Banca Nazionale Del
Lavoro S.p.A. agreed to defer payment of principal due for 12 months, extending
the original term of the loan to 2015. At December 31, 2009, the principal
amount outstanding under this loan was €2,000 thousand.
On June
30, 2006, we obtained a loan in the amount of €750 thousand from San Paolo IMI
S.p.A (now Banca Intesasanpaolo S.p.A.). for the acquisition and installation of
manufacturing equipment. The loan bears interest at the three month
Euribor rate plus 1.20%. Beginning on June 15, 2008, the rate will be
decreased to 1.02% over the Euribor rate. The loan is payable in
thirteen quarterly installments of approximately €58 beginning on June 15, 2008
through June 15, 2011. Interest is due quarterly beginning on September 15,
2006. The agreement requires us to maintain a minimum level of net
shareholders’ equity determined in accordance with Italian generally accepted
accounting principles. The Company was in compliance with this
provision of the agreement at December 31, 2009. In December 2009, San Paolo IMI
S.p.A agreed to defer payment of principal due for 12 months, extending the
original term of the loan to 2012. At December 31, 2009, the amount outstanding
under this loan was €437 thousand.
On
December 20, 2006 we obtained three loans from Banca Intesa S.p.A (now Banca
Intesasanpaolo S.p.A.).
The first
of these loans is in the amount of €230 thousand for a term of 60 months,
maturing on December 31, 2011. Principal and interest are due in 20
quarterly installments beginning on March 31, 2007. It bears interest
at the three-month Euribor rate plus 1%. In December 2009, Banca
Intesa S.p.A agreed to defer payment of principal due for 12 months, extending
the original term of the loan to 2012. At December 31, 2009, the amount
outstanding under this loan was €110 thousand.
The
second loan is in the amount of €500 thousand for a term of 60 months, maturing
on December 31, 2011. Principal and interest are due in 60 monthly
installments beginning on January 31, 2006. It bears interest at the
three-month Euribor rate plus 1%. In December 2009, Banca Intesa
S.p.A agreed to defer payment of principal due for 12 months, extending the
original term of the loan to 2012. At December 31, 2009, the amount outstanding
under this loan was €222 thousand.
The third
loan is in the amount of €225 thousand for a term of 57 months (after a
technical pre-amortization period from December 20, 2006 to March 15, 2007)
maturing on December 15, 2011. It must be used within six months for
investments in the innovation of products and/or production processes or to buy
manufacturing equipment. Principal and interest payments are due in
quarterly installments starting on June 15, 2007. It bears interest
at the three-month Euribor rate plus 0.8%. In December 2009, Banca
Intesa S.p.A agreed to defer payment of principal due for 12 months, extending
the original term of the loan to 2012. At December 31, 2009, the amount
outstanding under this loan was €113 thousand.
Our
commitments for clinical research consist of fixed price contracts with
third-party research organizations related to clinical trials for the
development of defibrotide and related consulting services for advice regarding
FDA issues.
In
connection with our purchase of the Italian marketing rights to defibrotide and
related trademarks from Crinos, we paid Crinos €4 million in 2006, placed
another €4 million in escrow, which was released to Crinos in April 2007, paid
Crinos an additional installment of €4 million in December 2007, and paid Crinos
a final installment of €4 million in January 2009.
ITEM
6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
DIRECTORS
AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Set forth
below is the name, birth date, position and a brief account of the business
experience of each of our executive officers, significant employees and
directors as of March 31, 2010.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
Dr.
Khalid Islam (1)
|
|
54
|
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
Gary
Gemignani (2)
|
|
44
|
|
Executive
Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Dr.
Massimo Iacobelli
|
|
50
|
|
Senior
Vice-President, Scientific Director
|
Salvatore
Calabrese
|
|
40
|
|
Senior
Vice-President, Finance
|
Gigliola
Bertoglio (3)
|
|
75
|
|
Director
|
Marco
Codella
|
|
50
|
|
Director
|
Dr.
Glenn Cooper (4)
|
|
57
|
|
Director
|
Dr.
Laura Ferro (1)
|
|
59
|
|
Director
|
Dr.
Bobby W. Sandage, Jr. (5)
|
|
56
|
|
Director
|
(1)
|
Member
of the scientific oversight
committee.
|
(2)
|
Will
be leaving as of March 31, 2010 in connection with our previously
disclosed closure of our New York
office.
|
(3)
|
Member
of the audit committee (chairperson), nominating and corporate governance
committee and compensation
committee.
|
(4)
|
Member
of the compensation committee (chairperson), nominating and corporate
governance committee (chairperson) and audit
committee.
|
(5)
|
Member
of the scientific oversight committee (chairperson) and audit
committee.
|
Dr. Khalid Islam has served as
our Chairman of our Board of Directors since December 2009 and our Chief
Executive Officer since November 2009. Dr. Islam is the founder and
current Chairman of Ki Consulting AG, a consulting firm specializing in the
development of pharmaceutical drugs. Dr. Islam is also the co-founder of
Sirius Healthcare Partners, an advisory firm for mid-cap and small-cap life
science companies. From July 1999 until May 2008, Dr. Islam was the
President and Chief Executive Officer for Arpida AG, a Swiss biopharmaceutical
company that focuses on novel products for the treatment of microbial
infections. Prior to that, Dr. Islam worked as an Alliance Manager for
Hoechts Marion Roussel, a global pharmaceutical company, where he assisted with
drug discovery and development. Dr. Islam has extensive experience
working on behalf of pharmaceutical companies with both the United States Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and has been
involved with the development and marketing of several pharmaceutical
products. Dr. Islam has previously served as a member of the Board of
Directors for Arpida AG, Rheoscience A/S, and Arpida Inc. Dr. Islam
received a B.S. in Biochemistry from Chelsea College, University of London, in
1977 and his Ph.D. from Imperial College, University of London, in
1983.
Gary G. Gemignani has served
as our Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer since June
2006. From 2004 to 2005, Mr. Gemignani was the Vice President and
Controller for the US Pharmaceuticals Division of Novartis AG, a pharmaceutical
and consumer health company. From 1998 to 2004, he held a variety of
vice-president level positions for Prudential Financial Inc., a financial
products and services provider. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Gemignani held
a variety of senior financial positions at Wyeth, a pharmaceutical, consumer
healthcare and animal health company. From 1986 to 1993, he was an
employee of Arthur Andersen & Co. Mr. Gemignani received a
bachelor of science in accounting from St. Peter’s College.
Dr. Massimo Iacobelli has
served as our Senior Vice-President, Scientific Director since 2002 and as our
Vice President, Clinical Development and Chief Medical Office from 1995 to 2002.
From 1990 to 1994, he was the Senior Vice-President, Medical Marketing, at
Sirton. From 1988 to 1989, Dr. Iacobelli directed the Drug Safety
Department at Bayer S.p.A. He received a medical degree from Università degli
Studi, Napoli, Italy.
Salvatore Calabrese has served
as our Senior Vice-President of Finance since February 2010 and our
Vice-President of Finance since February 2005. From
December 2003 until February 2005, he was an Accounting and Finance
Manager for Novuspharma, S.p.A., a development stage biopharmaceutical company
focused on the discovery and development of cancer drugs and a subsidiary of
Cell Therapeutics, Inc., a public reporting company, which then merged into
Cell Therapeutics, Inc. He reported to the Chief Financial Officer of Cell
Therapeutics, Inc. and was responsible for cost containment, budgeting,
financial reporting and the implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. From
September 1996 until November 2003, Mr. Calabrese was employed by
PricewaterhouseCoopers as an accountant and was a Manager in Assurance Business
Advisory Services at the time of departure. From October 2000 to
June 2003, Mr. Calabrese worked in the Boston, MA office of
PricewaterhouseCoopers. He earned a Bachelors’ Degree in Economics at the
University of Messina and a Masters’ Degree in Accounting, Audit and Financial
Control at the University of Pavia. He is also a chartered accountant in the
Republic of Italy.
Gigliola Bertoglio has served
as one of our directors from December 2004. Following the
termination of our board of directors in August 2009, Ms. Bertoglio was
re-elected to our board of directors on October 15,
2009. Ms. Bertoglio has been a partner of Audirevi S.r.l., an
Italian registered public accounting firm, since January 2005 and was a
self-employed consultant during 2004. From 1970 through 2003 she was employed by
Reconta Ernst & Young (the Italian affiliate of Ernst & Young
LLP) and its predecessors and was an audit partner beginning in 1977. From 1998
until leaving the firm, she was responsible for the firm’s Capital Market Group
in Italy. From 1989 to 1998, she was responsible for directing the firm’s
Professional Standards Group, a member of the Accounting and Auditing Standards
Group of Ernst & Young International and a coordinating audit partner
for clients with international operations. From 1977 to 1989, Ms. Bertoglio
was a partner of the Italian firm of Arthur Young & Co. (the
predecessor to Ernst & Young) where she was responsible for directing
the firm’s Professional Standards Group, served in an advisory role to the
Accounting and Auditing Standards Group of Arthur Young International and was a
coordinating audit partner for clients with international operations. From 1970
to 1977, she was an Audit Manager (1970 to 1974) and an Audit Principal (1975 to
1977) with the Italian firm of Arthur Young & Co. in its Rome and Milan
offices. Prior to 1970, Ms. Bertoglio was employed in the New York offices
of Horwath & Horwath and LKH&H, both of which were public
accounting firms. She earned a degree in Public Accounting from New York
University and a Diploma in Accounting from Economics Institution in Biella,
Italy. She is a Certified Public Accountant (active license to August 31,
2002, inactive after that) in the United States and included in the Register of
Authorized Auditors of Consob, the Italian Stock Exchange’s regulatory agency
for public companies.
Marco Codella has served as
one of our directors from June 2005. Following the termination of our
board of directors in August 2009, Mr. Codella was re-elected to our board of
directors on October 15, 2009. Mr. Codella has been the Chief
Financial Officer of Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.p.A., an
international family of pharmaceutical companies, since May 1999 and he has been
Chief Financial Officer of Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. since July
2008. Mr. Codella was a professor of Economics and Management
Accounting at University of Rome, La Sapienza from 2001 to 2007. From
1997 to 1999, Mr. Codella was the Finance, IT and Logistics Director of Crown
Cork & Seal Italy S.p.A., an Italian subsidiary of Crown Holdings, Inc., a
manufacturer of packaging products to consumer marketing companies. From 1994 to
1997, Mr. Codella was the Finance and IT Director of Crown Cork & Seal Italy
S.p.A. From 1990 to 1994, Mr. Codella held various finance positions at Digital
Equipment Italia S.p.A., an Italian subsidiary of Digital Equipment Corporation,
a computer company. From 1987 to 1990, Mr. Codella was the Finance Manager of an
Italian subsidiary of Ampex Corporation, a provider of technology for
acquisition, storage and processing of visual information. From 1984 to 1987,
Mr. Codella was an auditor at Deloitte, Haskins & Sells, an accounting firm.
Mr. Codella is a director of Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. He is also a Director
of Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.p.A., Biosint S.p.A.,
Tecnogen S.p.A., Sigma-Tau Healthscience LLC, Sigma-Tau India, Sigma-Tau BV, and
Sigma-Tau Healthscience International BV, each of which is a
subsidiary of Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. Mr. Codella is an Italian certified
public accountant. Mr. Codella graduated summa cum laude from Rome University in
1984 with a degree in economics.
Dr. Glenn Cooper has served as
one of our directors since October 2009. Dr. Cooper served as
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nasdaq-listed Indevus Pharmaceutical, a
specialty pharmaceutical company focused on urology and endocrinology, from 1993
until 2009 when Indevus Pharmaceutical was acquired by Endo
Pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining Indevus in 1993, Dr. Cooper held
numerous executive level positions, including President and Chief Executive
Officer of Progenitor, Inc., Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer of Sphinx Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and various clinical and
regulatory positions with NYSE-listed Eli Lilly and Company. Dr.
Cooper has participated in the development and commercialization of numerous
drugs, including Prozac®, Axid®, Lorabid®, Ceclor®, SANCTURA®, SANCTURA XR®,
Supprelin-LA®, and Vantas®. Dr. Cooper is currently a member of the
Board of Directors of Repligen Corporation, listed on Nasdaq. Dr.
Cooper received an M.D. from Tufts University School of Medicine, performed
his postdoctoral training in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the
New England Deaconess Hospital and the Massachusetts General Hospital and
received a B.A. from Harvard University.
Dr. Laura Ferro is our
former President and Chief Executive Officer and has served as one of our
directors from 1991. Following the termination of our board of
directors in August 2009, Dr. Ferro was re-elected to our board of directors on
October 15, 2009. Dr. Ferro is the former President and Chief
Executive Officer of our largest shareholder, FinSirton. From 1991 to
2010, Dr. Ferro also held various positions at Sirton Pharmaceuticals S.p.A., a
subsidiary of FinSirton that specializes in manufacturing pharmaceutical
products. Prior to that, Dr. Ferro was a practicing physician
for 15 years. Dr. Ferro is a member of the executive committee of
Farmindustria, an Italian pharmaceutical industry group. She is also the
President of the Gianfranco Ferro Foundation, a not-for-profit Italian
organization with the mission of stimulating research, education and
dissemination of information on the correct use of medications and adverse
effects of medicines. Dr. Ferro received her M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from
the University of Milan, and a MBA from Bocconi University in Milan in
1994. Dr. Ferro is a licensed physician. She was certified in
psychiatry at the University of Milan in 1981 and in Clinical Pharmacology at
the University of Milan in 1994.
Dr. Bobby W. Sandage, Jr.
has served as one of our directors since October 2009. From 1991, and
until Indevus Pharmaceuticals was acquired by Endo Pharmaceuticals in 2009, Dr.
Sandage held various positions at Indevus Pharmaceuticals, including as Executive
Vice President of Research and Development and Chief Scientific
Officer. Following the acquisition of Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Dr.
Sandage served as the Executive Vice President for Endo Pharmaceuticals, a
pharmaceutical company listed on Nasdaq that is engaged in the research,
development, sale and marketing analgesic products and products to treat various
urological and endocrinological conditions. Prior to joining Indevus
Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Sandage held senior drug development positions DuPont Merck
Pharmaceutical Company, DuPont Critical Care (formerly American Critical Care)
and Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Sandage is currently a member of the
Board of Directors of Osteologix Inc., a public pharmaceutical company that
focuses on the treatment and prevention of diseases of bone and joint tissue. He
has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Genta, Inc., also a
public company. Dr. Sandage has
a B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Arkansas and Ph.D. in Clinical
Pharmacy from Purdue University.
All of
our directors’ terms expire at the date of our ordinary shareholders’ meeting
approving our 2009 Italian GAAP financial statements, which will be held on
April 26, 2010 (first call) and, if necessary, April 30, 2010 (second
call). All of our current directors have been nominated for
re-election.
COMPENSATION
Compensation
of Directors and Executive Officers
For the
year ended December 31, 2007, the aggregate cash compensation to our executive
officers and directors as a group was approximately €1.29
million. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the cash compensation
to our executive officers and directors were €0.90 million and €0.47
million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the cash
compensation to our executive officers and directors were €1.18 million and
€0.30 million,
respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2007, we granted
options to purchase an aggregate amount of 429,000 ordinary shares to executive
officers and directors at exercise prices ranging from $16.52 to $18.95 that
terminate on dates ranging from March 26, 2017 to November 9,
2017. During the year ended December 31, 2008, we granted options to
purchase an aggregate of 220,648 ordinary shares to executive officers and
directors at exercise prices ranging from $5.20 to $13.98 that terminate on
dates ranging from January 2, 2018 to May 9, 2018. We did not grant
any options during the year ended December 31, 2009.
Share-Based
Compensation Plans
2004
Equity Incentive Plan
Our board
of directors proposed a capital increase for our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan to
our shareholders on September 2, 2004. Our shareholders approved that
capital increase on September 30, 2004. Our board of directors approved the
specific terms of our 2004 Equity Incentive Plan effective as of
September 30, 2004. Our shareholders approved the specific terms of our
2004 Equity Incentive plan on April 28, 2005. On July 31, 2006, our
board of directors approved an amended and restated version of our 2004 Equity
Incentive Plan to reflect minor revisions, including an Italian law requirement
that all shares issued under the plan be paid for in cash in at least an amount
equal to €4.50 per share, which was the net worth of our company at the time of
the capital increase relating to the plan. On March 26, 2007, our
board of directors approved an amendment to the Amended and Restated 2004 Equity
Incentive Plan, extending the term of the plan to 2019. Our
shareholders approved this amendment on April 27, 2007.
The
incentive plan authorizes 1,500,000 ordinary shares for issuance. The maximum
number of shares that may be issued under the incentive plan subject to
incentive share options is 1,500,000. At December 31, 2009, there were 1,355,000
shares underlying outstanding options, with a weighted average exercise price of
$12.18. Shares subject to share awards that have expired or otherwise
terminated without having been exercised in full again become available for the
grant of awards under the incentive plan. In the event of a share
split or other alteration in our capital structure, without the receipt of
consideration, appropriate adjustments will be made to outstanding awards to
prevent dilution or enlargement of participant’s rights. The plan is governed by
Italian law.
Our
incentive plan provides for the grant of incentive share options (as defined in
Section 422 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code) to employees, including
officers and employee-directors, and nonstatutory share options, restricted
share purchase rights, restricted share unit awards, share appreciation rights
and share bonuses to employees, including our officers, directors and
consultants who are subject to tax in the United States. The incentive plan also
provides for the periodic automatic grant of nonstatutory share options to our
non-employee directors.
The
incentive plan is administered by our board of directors or a committee
appointed by our board of directors. The board or the committee determines
recipients and types of awards to be granted, including the number of shares
subject to an award, the vesting schedule of awards, the exercisability of
awards, and subject to applicable restrictions, other terms of awards. The board
of directors has delegated administration of the incentive plan to the
compensation committee.
The term
of share options granted under the incentive plan generally may not exceed ten
years, although the capital increase relating to the ordinary shares issuable
upon exercise of such options expires on September 30, 2019. Our
compensation committee determines the price of share options granted under the
incentive plan, provided that the exercise price for an incentive share option
cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of our ordinary shares on the
date of grant. No incentive share option may be granted to any person who, at
the time of the grant, owns (or is deemed to own) ordinary shares possessing
more than 10% of our total voting ordinary shares, unless the option exercise
price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the ordinary shares on the
date of grant and the term of the incentive share option does not exceed five
years from the date of grant. The exercise price for a nonstatutory share option
can vary in accordance with a predetermined formula while the option is
outstanding. In addition, the aggregate fair market value, determined at the
time of grant, of the ordinary shares with respect to which an incentive share
option first becomes exercisable during any calendar year (under the incentive
plan and all of our other equity compensation plans) may not exceed
$100 thousand.
Options
granted under the incentive plan vest at the rate determined by our compensation
committee. Typically, options granted under the incentive plan vest over three
years, with one-third of the shares covered by the option vesting on the first
anniversary of the grant date and the remainder vesting monthly over the next
two years.
Generally,
the optionee may not transfer a share option other than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution unless the optionee holds a nonstatutory share option
that provides otherwise. However, an optionee may designate a beneficiary who
may exercise the option following the optionee’s death. An optionee whose
service relationship with us ceases for any reason may exercise the option to
the extent it was vested for the term provided in the share option agreement.
Options generally expire three months after the termination of an optionee’s
service. However, if an optionee is permanently disabled or dies during his or
her service, that person’s options generally may be exercised up to
12 months following disability or death.
Share
appreciation rights granted under our incentive plan may be paid in our ordinary
shares, cash or a combination of the two, as determined by our board of
directors. The grant of a share appreciation right may be granted subject to a
vesting schedule determined by our board of directors.
Restricted
share purchase rights granted under the incentive plan may be granted pursuant
to a repurchase option in our favor that will lapse in accordance with a vesting
schedule and at a price determined by the board of directors (or a committee
appointed by the board of directors). Rights under a share bonus or a restricted
share purchase award are transferable only upon such terms and conditions as are
set forth in the relevant agreement, as determined by the board of directors (or
the committee appointed by the board of directors) in its sole
discretion.
When we
become subject to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code which denies
a deduction to publicly held companies for certain compensation paid to
specified employees in a taxable year to the extent the compensation exceeds
$1.0 million, no person may be granted share options and/or share appreciation
rights under the incentive plan covering more than 500,000 ordinary shares in
any fiscal year. In addition, no person may be granted restricted share purchase
rights, share units and/or share bonuses under the incentive plan covering more
than 250,000 ordinary shares in any fiscal year. However, in connection with a
participant’s first year of employment, such participant may be granted options
and/or share appreciation rights covering up to 600,000 ordinary shares and
restricted share purchase rights, share units and/or share bonuses covering up
to 500,000 ordinary shares.
In the
event of certain corporate transactions (including, but not limited to, a sale
or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, a merger or a
consolidation), all outstanding awards under the incentive plan will be subject
to the terms and conditions of the agreement memorializing the transaction. The
agreement may provide for the assumption or substitution of awards by any
surviving entity, the acceleration of vesting (and exercisability, if
applicable) or the cancellation of awards with or without consideration. In
addition, at the time of grant, our board of directors may provide for
acceleration of vesting in the event of a change in control. In the event of a
change in control, non-employee director options outstanding under the incentive
plan will automatically become vested and will terminate if not exercised prior
to such a change in control.
The board
of directors may amend the incentive plan at any time. Amendments will be
submitted for shareholder approval to the extent required by applicable laws,
rules and regulations. The incentive plan will terminate on September 30,
2019 unless sooner terminated by the board of directors or a committee appointed
by the board of directors.
Our
Amended and Restated 2004 Italy Stock Award Sub-Plan is a part of our Amended
and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan and provides for the grant of share
options and the issuance of share grants to certain of our employees who reside
in the Republic of Italy and who are liable for income tax in the Republic of
Italy. Generally, the exercise price for a share option under the Italy sub-plan
cannot be less than the average of the closing price of our ordinary shares
listed on the American Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Global Market System, as
applicable, over the 30 days preceding the date of grant. No share option
granted under our Italy sub-plan may cover more than 10% of the voting rights in
our annual meeting of shareholders or 10% of our capital or equity. Share grants
will be made in consideration for past services.
Generally,
a participant under the Italy sub-plan may not transfer a share award other than
by applicable law. However, a participant under the Italy sub-plan may designate
a beneficiary who may exercise the award following the participant’s
death.
In the
event of certain corporate transactions (including, but not limited to, a sale
or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, a merger or a
consolidation), all outstanding awards under the Italy sub-plan will be subject
to the terms and conditions of the agreement memorializing the transaction. The
agreement may provide for the assumption or substitution of awards by any
surviving entity, the acceleration of vesting (and exercisability, if
applicable) or the cancellation of awards with or without consideration. In
addition, at the time of grant, our board of directors may provide for
acceleration of vesting in the event of a change in control.
The Italy
sub-plan will terminate on September 30, 2019 unless sooner terminated by
our board of directors.
2007
Stock Option Plan
Our board
of directors proposed a capital increase for our 2007 Stock Option Plan and the
specific terms of such plan on March 26, 2007. Our shareholders
approved the capital increase and the terms of the plan on April 27,
2007.
The 2007
Stock Option Plan authorizes 1,000,000 ordinary shares for
issuance. At December 31, 2009, there were 242,030 shares underlying
outstanding options, with a weighted average exercise price of $7.45. Shares
subject to options that have expired or otherwise terminated without being
exercised in full again become available for issuance under the
plan. In the event of a share split or other alteration in our
capital structure, without the receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments
will be made to the outstanding awards to prevent dilution or enlargement of a
participant’s rights. The plan is governed by Italian
law.
The 2007
Stock Option Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options (as defined
in Section 422 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code) to employees, including
officers and employee-directors, and nonstatutory stock options. The
plan also provides for the periodic automatic grant of nonstatutory stock
options to our non-employee directors.
The 2007
Stock Option Plan is administered by our board of directors or a committee
appointed by our board of directors. The board or the committee determines
recipients and types of options to be granted, including the number of shares
subject to an option, the vesting schedule of options, the exercisability of
options, and subject to applicable restrictions, other terms of options. The
board of directors has delegated administration of the 2007 Stock Option Plan to
the compensation committee.
The term of share options granted under
the 2007 Stock Option Plan generally may not exceed the earlier of ten years and
March 26, 2022. Our compensation committee determines the price of
share options granted under the 2007 Stock Option Plan, subject to certain
limitations.
No
incentive share option may be granted to any person who, at the time of the
grant, owns (or is deemed to own) ordinary shares possessing more than 10% of
our total voting ordinary shares, unless the option exercise price is at least
110% of the fair market value of the ordinary shares on the date of grant and
the term of the incentive share option does not exceed five years from the date
of grant. The exercise price for a nonstatutory share option can vary
in accordance with a predetermined formula while the option is
outstanding. In addition, the aggregate fair market value, determined
at the time of grant, of the ordinary shares with respect to which an incentive
share option first becomes exercisable during any calendar year (under the 2007
Stock Option Plan and all of our other equity compensation plans) may not exceed
$100 thousand.
Options
granted under the 2007 Stock Option Plan vest at the rate determined by our
compensation committee. Typically, options granted to employees under the 2007
Stock Option Plan vest over three years, at the rate of one-third of the shares
covered by the option vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date and the
remainder vesting monthly over the next two years.
Generally,
the optionee may not transfer a share option other than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution unless the optionee holds a nonstatutory share option
that provides otherwise. However, an optionee may designate a beneficiary who
may exercise the option following the optionee’s death. An optionee whose
service relationship with us ceases for any reason may exercise the option to
the extent it was vested for the term provided in the share option agreement.
Options generally expire three months after the termination of an optionee’s
service. However, if an optionee is permanently disabled or dies during his or
her service, that person’s options generally may be exercised up to 12 months
following disability or death.
In the
event of certain corporate transactions (including, but not limited to, a sale
or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, a merger or a
consolidation), all outstanding options under the 2007 Stock Option Plan will be
subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement memorializing the
transaction. The agreement may provide for the assumption or substitution of
options by any surviving entity, the acceleration of vesting (and
exercisability, if applicable) or the cancellation of options with or without
consideration. In addition, at the time of grant, our board of directors may
provide for acceleration of vesting in the event of a change in control. In the
event of a change in control, non-employee director options outstanding under
the 2007 Stock Option Plan will automatically become vested and will terminate
if not exercised prior to such a change in control.
The board
of directors may amend the 2007 Stock Option Plan at any time. Amendments will
be submitted for shareholder approval to the extent required by applicable laws,
rules and regulations. The 2007 Stock Option Plan will terminate on March 26,
2022 unless sooner terminated by the board of directors or a committee appointed
by the board of directors.
The board
of directors has proposed that the shareholders approve an amendment to the 2007
Stock Option Plan increasing the number of shares authorized under such plan to
2,200,000 at our Annual Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting on April 26, 2010 (first
call) and, if necessary, April 30, 2010 (second call). In addition,
as part of the overall director compensation package, the board of the directors
has proposed that the shareholders approve a stock option grant with an economic
value of $110,000 using the Black-Scholes model. We expect these
options to only be issued to our non-employee directors.
Other
pension and retirement plans
We do not
have any other pension or retirement plans, other than a 401(k) plan for our
U.S. employees.
BOARD
PRACTICES
Board
Composition
Our board
of directors currently consists of six members: Ms. Bertoglio, Dr. Cooper, Mr.
Codella, Dr. Ferro, Dr. Islam and Dr. Sandage. Ms. Bertoglio, Dr.
Cooper and Dr. Sandage have never been employed by us or any of our subsidiaries
and are independent directors. FinSirton also agreed to vote its
shares in favor of electing one person designated by Sigma-Tau Finanziaria
S.p.A. Mr. Codella is the designee of Sigma-Tau. We do not
have any agreements with any of our directors that provide for benefits upon
termination of employment, although under Italian law, if directors are removed
by the vote of shareholders at an ordinary shareholders’ meeting prior to the
end of their term without cause, they may have a claim for damages against
us. These damages may include, but are not limited to, compensation
that would otherwise have been paid to the director for the remainder of his or
her term and damage to his or her reputation.
Our
Compensation Committee recommends the compensation of our directors to our
shareholders and our board of directors. Under Italian law, our
shareholders determine the compensation of our directors relating to basic board
service, such as annual fees for serving on the board and fees for attending
board meetings. Our directors then determine “additional”
compensation for our directors for serving on the various board committees and
attending committee meetings. Our compensation committee and board of
directors have approved the following total director compensation for the term
from our October 2009 ordinary shareholders’ meeting to our ordinary
shareholders’ meeting approving our 2009 Italian GAAP financial statements,
prorated on an annualized basis:
|
·
|
an
annual cash retainer of $45 thousand for each non-employee director,
subject to shareholder approval;
and
|
|
·
|
$20
thousand to the chairperson of the audit committee; $10 thousand to the
chairperson of the compensation committee; $15 thousand to the chairperson
of the scientific oversight committee; $7.5 thousand to the chairperson of
the nominating and corporate governance committee; and $5 thousand to all
the other non-employee members of
committees.
|
Board
Committees and Code of Ethics
Our board
of directors has established an audit committee, a compensation committee, a
nominating and corporate governance committee, and a scientific oversight
committee.
Audit Committee. Our audit
committee consists of Ms. Bertoglio, Dr. Cooper and Dr. Sandage, each of
whom is an independent director. Ms. Bertoglio is an audit committee
financial expert. The audit committee is a standing committee of, and
operates under a written charter adopted by, our board of directors. The audit
committee:
|
·
|
establishes
procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received
by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing
matters and the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of
concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing
matters;
|
|
·
|
has
the authority to engage independent counsel and other advisors, as it
determines necessary to carry out its duties, and determine the
compensation of such counsel and advisors, as well as its ordinary
administrative expenses; and
|
|
·
|
approves
related party transactions.
|
Our audit
committee directly oversees our independent accountants, including the
resolution of disagreements between management and the independent
accountants. As discussed below, under Italian law, our board of
statutory auditors also oversees our independent accountants with respect to our
Italian GAAP financial statements. Under Italian law, our
shareholders must be the party that appoints, terminates and determines the
compensation for our independent accountants, although our audit committee does
make recommendations on such matters to our board of directors, which in turn
makes recommendations to our shareholders.
Compensation Committee. Our
compensation committee consists of Dr. Cooper and Ms. Bertoglio, each of whom is
an independent director. Under Nasdaq rules, the compensation of a U.S. domestic
company’s chief executive officer and all other officers must be determined, or
recommended to the board of directors, either by a compensation committee
comprised of independent directors or a majority of the independent directors of
its board of directors. Disclosure of individual management compensation
information is mandated by the Exchange Act proxy rules, but foreign private
issuers are generally exempt from that requirement. Our compensation committee
makes recommendations to our board of directors regarding salaries, benefits,
and incentive compensation for our executive officers and
directors. Part of the compensation of our directors is fixed
periodically by our shareholders at their annual ordinary shareholder meetings.
We disclose the aggregate compensation of our executive officers and directors
in our Exchange Act reports, but not individual compensation of those officers
or directors.
Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee. Our nominating and corporate governance committee consists of
Dr. Cooper and Ms. Bertoglio, each of whom is an independent director. Under
Nasdaq rules, the directors of a U.S. domestic company must be either selected
or recommended for the board of directors’ selection by either a nominating
committee comprised solely of independent directors or by a majority of the
independent directors. Under Italian law, directors may also be nominated by our
shareholders. Our nominating and corporate governance committee performs the
duties required by Nasdaq, including assisting the board of directors in
fulfilling its responsibilities by:
|
·
|
identifying
and approving individuals qualified to serve as members of our board of
directors;
|
|
·
|
selecting
director nominees for our annual meetings of
shareholders;
|
|
·
|
evaluating
our board’s performance; and
|
|
·
|
developing
and recommending to our board corporate governance guidelines and
oversight with respect to corporate governance and ethical
conduct.
|
Our
shareholders are able to nominate directors other than those nominated by the
nominating committee.
Scientific Oversight
Committee. Our scientific oversight committee consists of Dr.
Sandage, Dr. Islam and Dr. Ferro. Our scientific oversight committee
assists the board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with
respect to clinical and regulatory matters. The scientific oversight
committee’s primary purposes are to:
· oversee
management’s design and execution of clinical trials;
· provide
input and advice to management regarding the same; and
· periodically
update the rest of the board of directors regarding the company’s performance of
the clinical trials and the committee’s advice regarding the same.
Other Committees. Our board
of directors may establish other committees as it deems necessary or appropriate
from time to time, including, but not limited to, an executive
committee.
Board
of Statutory Auditors
Under
Italian law, in addition to electing our board of directors, our shareholders
also elect a board of statutory auditors. The statutory auditors are elected for
a term of three years, may be reelected for successive terms and may be removed
only for cause and with the approval of a competent court. Each member of the
board of statutory auditors must provide certain evidence that he or she is
qualified to act in that capacity under Italian law, and that he or she meets
certain professional standards. The board of statutory auditors is required to
verify that we comply with applicable law and our bylaws, respect the principles
of correct administration and maintain adequate organizational structure,
internal controls and administrative and accounting system, and oversees our
independent accountants with respect to our Italian GAAP financial
statements.
The
following table sets forth the names of the three members of our board of
statutory auditors and the two alternate statutory auditors and their respective
positions, as of the date of this annual report. The current board of statutory
auditors was elected on June 30, 2009 for a term that ends at the date of the
ordinary shareholders’ meeting to approve our 2011 annual financial
statements.
Name
|
|
Position
|
Giorgio
Iacobone
|
|
Chairman
|
Carlo
Ciardiello
|
|
Member
|
Augusto
Belloni
|
|
Member
|
Domenico
Ferrari
|
|
Alternate
|
Romano
Chiapponi
|
|
Alternate
|
Mr.
Iacobone and Mr. Belloni also serves as members of the board of statutory
auditors of Sirton.
In 2007,
they met six times and attended six board of director meetings and one
shareholder meeting. In 2008, they met eight times and attended
thirteen board of director meetings and one shareholder meeting. In
2009, they met thirteen times and attended ten board of director meetings and
one shareholder meeting. In 2009, we accrued €31 thousand as
compensation for their service as our board of statutory auditors and €200
thousand as compensation for the assumed responsibility for the ordinary
administration of the company, from August 2009 until our board of directors was
reconstituted in October 2009.
Indemnification
of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability
We have
entered into or will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our
directors and executive officers which may, in some cases, be broader than the
specific indemnification provisions contained in Italian law.
At
present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our
directors, officers, employees, or agents where indemnification by us will be
required or permitted and we are not aware of any threatened litigation or
proceeding that may result in a claim for such indemnification.
We have
purchased directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, including liabilities
arising under the Securities Act, and intend to maintain this insurance in the
future.
EMPLOYEES
The table
below shows the number, activity and geographic location of our permanent
employees as of December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009. As of the date of
this report, all of our employees are in Italy, except for four individuals,
including Gary Gemignani, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, who are based in the United States.
|
|
As
of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Administration,
accounting, finance, business development
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
R&D,
clinical, regulatory
|
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
14 |
|
Production,
quality assurance control
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
Total
|
|
|
80 |
|
|
|
74 |
|
|
|
67 |
|
Italian
law imposes certain confidentiality obligations on our employees and provides
that either any intellectual property created by them while in our employ belong
to us or we have a right of option on it, although we must compensate them for
such intellectual property creation. Our employees in Italy are subject to
national collective bargaining agreements. National agreements are negotiated
collectively between the national associations of companies within a given
industry and the respective national unions. National agreements provide a basic
framework on working conditions, including, among other things, pay, security
and other provisions. Our employees, other than executive officers in Italy,
were subject to a collective bargaining agreement that was renewed on December
18, 2009 and expires on December 31, 2012. Our executive officers in Italy are
subject to a collective bargaining agreement that was renewed on
November 25, 2009 and expires on December 31, 2013. We believe that we
maintain satisfactory relations with our employees.
Under
Italian law, employees are entitled to amounts based on salary and years of
service upon leaving their employment, even if we terminate them for cause or
they resign. We had a liability for these termination indemnities of €601
thousand at
December 31, 2009. Under Italian law, we make social security and national
healthcare contributions for our employees to the Italian government, which
provides pension and healthcare insurance benefits.
In 2009 the Company initiated a
fifty-two week temporary lay-off program called Cassa Integrazione. Under the
program, Italian social securities partially funds the payroll of the
temporarily laid-off employees. During the course of 2009, 40 employees were affected
by the temporary layoff program.
SHARE
OWNERSHIP
Dr. Laura
Ferro and members of her family control FinSirton. As a result, Dr. Ferro
may be deemed to beneficially own FinSirton’s shares of our company.
Dr. Ferro disclaims such beneficial ownership. Dr. Ferro also
holds options that, within 60 days of March 31, 2010, are vested as to 446,220
shares.
Mr. Gary
Gemignani, our Chief Financial Officer, and Dr. Massimo Iacobelli, our
Scientific Director, hold options that, within 60 days of March 31, 2010, are
vested as to 222,561 and 235,918, respectively.
To our
knowledge, none of our other directors and officers listed herein owned one
percent or more of our ordinary shares at March 31, 2010. See “Item 7, Major
Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.”
ITEM
7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
MAJOR
SHAREHOLDERS
The
following table shows information with respect to the beneficial ownership of
our ordinary shares as of March 31, 2010 by:
|
·
|
each
person, or group of affiliated persons, who we know owns beneficially 5%
or more of our ordinary shares, and
|
|
·
|
all
of our directors and executive officers as a
group.
|
At March
31, 2010, we had 14,956,317 ordinary shares outstanding. Except as
indicated in the footnotes to this table and subject to community property laws
where applicable, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment
power with respect to all ordinary shares shown as beneficially owned by them.
Beneficial ownership and percentage ownership are determined in accordance with
the rules of the SEC. Ordinary shares underlying our convertible securities that
are exercisable within 60 days from March 31, 2010 are deemed outstanding
for computing the amount and percentage owned by the person or group holding
such convertible securities, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the
percentage owned by any other person or group.
|
|
Number
of Shares
Beneficially
Owned
|
|
|
Percent
|
|
Principal
Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Laura
Ferro (1)
|
|
|
4,144,894 |
|
|
|
27.2
|
% |
FinSirton
S.p.A.(2)
|
|
|
3,750,000 |
|
|
|
25.1
|
% |
Paolo
Cavazza (3)
|
|
|
2,624,378 |
|
|
|
17.46
|
% |
Claudio
Cavazza (4)
|
|
|
2,474,943 |
|
|
|
16.55
|
% |
Sigma-Tau
Finanziaria S.p.A. (5)
|
|
|
2,311,011 |
|
|
|
15.45
|
% |
Defiante
Farmaceutica, S.A. (6)
|
|
|
1,011,001 |
|
|
|
6.76
|
% |
All
directors and executive officers as a group (9 persons)
(7)
|
|
|
4,754,674 |
|
|
|
31.8
|
% |
(1)
|
Dr.
Laura Ferro, who is our former Chief Executive Officer and President and
one of our current directors, may be deemed to share voting or dispositive
control with FinSirton over the ordinary shares in Gentium that FinSirton
beneficially owns. Dr. Ferro disclaims beneficial ownership of such
shares.
|
(2)
|
Address
is Piazza XX Settembre 2, 22079 Villa Guardia (Como),
Italy. The board of directors of FinSirton, including Dr. Laura
Ferro, may be deemed to share voting or dispositive control with FinSirton
over the ordinary shares in Gentium that FinSirton beneficially
owns. The members of the board of directors of FinSirton,
including Dr. Ferro, disclaim beneficial ownership of such
shares. FinSirton entered into a loan agreement with Intesa San
Paolo S.p.A. on June 12, 2007, and in connection therewith, pledged
700,000 and 2,300,000 ordinary shares in our company to IntesaSanpaolo
S.p.A. to secure repayment of such
loan.
|
(3)
|
Based
upon the information obtained from a Schedule 13D filed with the SEC, as
amended. Address is Via Tesserte, 10, Lugano,
Switzerland. Consists of (i) 1,300,000 outstanding ADSs held by
Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A., (ii) 1,011,001 outstanding ADSs held by
Defiante Farmaceutica S.A.; and (iii) 300,994 outstanding ADSs held by
Chaumiere Consultadoria e Servicos S.A. Mr. Paolo Cavazza owns,
directly and indirectly, 40% of the outstanding equity of Sigma-Tau
Finanziaria S.p.A. and so may be deemed to beneficially own the shares
beneficially owned by Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. In
connection with a purchase by Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. of 800,000
ordinary shares from FinSirton in April 2005, FinSirton agreed that,
if the per share price in a sale by our shareholders of all of our
ordinary shares is less than $5.00 per share, FinSirton will transfer to
Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. an additional number of ordinary shares equal
to (x) $3.2 million divided by the product determined by multiplying
(i) 0.8 by (ii) the per share sale price less (y) 800,000
ordinary shares. Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. owns, directly
and indirectly, 100% of the outstanding equity of Defiante and so may be
deemed to be the beneficial owner of the outstanding ordinary shares and
ADSs held by Defiante and issuable upon exercise of Defiante’s
warrants. Mr. Paolo Cavazza and members of his family
indirectly own Chaumiere and so may be deemed to beneficially own the ADSs
beneficially owned by Chaumiere.
|
(4)
|
Based
upon the information obtained from a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC, as
amended. Address is Via Sudafrica, 20, Rome, Italy
00144. Consists of (i) 1,300,000 outstanding ADSs held by
Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A., (ii) 1,011,001 outstanding ADSs held by
Defiante Farmaceutica L.d.A., and (iii) 163,942 ADSs held by Inverlochy
Consultadoria e Servicos LdA. Mr. Claudio Cavazza owns,
directly and indirectly, 60% of the outstanding equity of Sigma-Tau
Finanziaria S.p.A. and so may be deemed to beneficially own the shares
beneficially owned by Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. In
connection with a purchase by Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. of 800,000
ordinary shares from FinSirton in April 2005, FinSirton agreed that,
if the per share price in a sale by our shareholders of all of our
ordinary shares is less than $5.00 per share, FinSirton will transfer to
Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. an additional number of ordinary shares equal
to (x) $3.2 million divided by the product determined by multiplying
(i) 0.8 by (ii) the per share sale price less (y) 800,000
ordinary shares. Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. owns, directly
and indirectly, 100% of the outstanding equity of Defiante and so may be
deemed to be the beneficial owner of the outstanding ordinary shares and
ADSs held by Defiante and issuable upon exercise of Defiante’s
warrants. Inverlochy Consultadoria e Servicos, LdA is
indirectly wholly-owned by Mr. Claudio Cavazza. By reason of
such relationship, Mr. Cavazza may be deemed to beneficially own the ADSs
held by Inverlochy Consultadoria e Servicos,
LdA.
|
(5)
|
Based
upon the information obtained from a Schedule 13D filed with the SEC, as
amended. Address is Via Sudafrica 20, 00144 Roma, Italy.
Consists of (i) 1,300,000 outstanding ADSs held by Sigma-Tau Finanziaria
S.p.A. and (ii) 1,011,001 outstanding ADSs held by Defiante
. Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. owns, directly and indirectly,
100% of the outstanding equity of Defiante and so may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of the outstanding ordinary shares and ADSs held by
Defiante and issuable upon exercise of Defiante’s warrants. The board of
directors of Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. may be deemed to share voting or
dispositive power with Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. over the ordinary
shares in our company that Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. beneficially owns,
and so may be deemed to beneficially own the ordinary shares that
Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. beneficially owns. In connection
with a purchase by Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. of 800,000 ordinary shares
from FinSirton in April 2005, FinSirton agreed that, if the per share
price in a sale by our shareholders of all of our ordinary shares is less
than approximately $5.00 per share, FinSirton will transfer to Sigma-Tau
Finanziaria S.p.A. an additional number of ordinary shares equal to (x)
$3.2 million divided by the product determined by multiplying (i) 0.8 by
(ii) the per share sale price less (y) 800,000 ordinary
shares.
|
(6)
|
Based
upon the information obtained from a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC, as
amended. Address is Rua dos Ferreios, 260, Funchal-Madeira
(Portugal) 9000-082.
|
(7)
|
Assumes
that Dr. Laura Ferro is deemed to beneficially own the ordinary shares
beneficially owned by FinSirton and includes 446,220 ordinary shares
issuable upon exercise of options currently exercisable and exercisable
within 60 days of March 31, 2010.
|
As of
March 31, 2010, there were no record holders of our ordinary shares located in
the United States.
There
were no changes in percentage ownership by the holders listed above since
January 1, 2007 except for the following.
· All
shareholders of our company prior to our February 2007 private placement were
substantially diluted by the shares issued in that private
placement.
· In
our February 2007 private placement, Chaumiere acquired 87,667 ordinary shares,
Defiante acquired 87,666 ordinary shares and Inverlochy acquired 87,667 ordinary
shares. Paolo Cavazza may be deemed to have acquired the ordinary
shares acquired by Chaumiere. Paolo Cavazza, Claudio Cavazza
and Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. may be deemed to have acquired the ordinary
shares acquired by Defiante. Claudio Cavazza may be deemed to have
acquired the ordinary shares acquired by Inverlochy.
· In
June 2007, Biomedical Value Fund, L.P. sold 227,447 ordinary shares to Sigma-Tau
Finanziaria S.p.A. and 304,468 ordinary shares to Defiante, and Biomedical
Offshore Value Fund, Ltd. sold 272,553 ordinary shares to Sigma-Tau Finanziaria
S.p.A. and 259,362 ordinary shares to Defiante.
· From
July 2005 to May 2008, our company issued stock option awards to our officers
and directors. 1,120,306 ordinary shares are issuable upon exercise of these
stock option awards within 60 days of March 31, 2010.
The
holders of 5% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares do not have different
voting rights than other holders of our ordinary shares. Dr. Ferro and her
family, through their ownership of 100% of the outstanding ordinary shares of
FinSirton, may effectively control all decisions and actions that must be made
or taken by holders of our ordinary shares by virtue of the fact that FinSirton
beneficially owned approximately 25% of our outstanding ordinary shares at March
31, 2010.
Change
of Control Arrangements
There are no arrangements of which we
are aware that could result in a change of control over us other than
FinSirton’s
arrangement to vote its ordinary shares in our company in favor of electing a
nominee to our board of directors designated by Sigma-Tau Finanziaria
S.p.A.
RELATED
PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Other
than described below, between January 1, 2007 and the date of this report,
we have not entered into or proposed to enter into any transaction or loan with
any affiliate of ours, any of our directors, executive officers, holders of 10%
or more of our ordinary shares, any member of their immediate family or any
enterprise over which any such person is able to exercise a significant
influence other than our employment agreements with our executive
officers.
Control
by Dr. Ferro’s Family
Dr. Laura
Ferro, who is our former Chief Executive Officer and President and one of our
current directors, along with members of her family control FinSirton. As a
result, Dr. Ferro and her family indirectly control approximately 25% of
our outstanding ordinary shares at March 31, 2010.
Agreements
with Various Entities
On
January 1, 2007, we entered into a Commercial Lease Contract with FinSirton to
lease additional space for offices, manufacturing space, laboratories and
storage facilities. This contract expires on December 31,
2013. The area leased is approximately 600 square meters in
size. The contract provides for an annual fee of €30 thousand which
is updated each year on the basis of variation of the cost of living index. In
July 2009, the agreement was amended to reduce space rented and annual fee was
decreased to €15 thousand.
On
January 7, 2010, we amended our existing license with Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. to include a license for the intravenous formulation of defibrotide for the
prevention of veno-occlusive disease in the Americas and to transfer the New
Drug Application post approval in the United States. In addition, we
agreed to establish a joint steering committee with Sigma-Tau to discuss in good
faith, the development, filing and relevant funding of defibrotide for any
therapeutic indication in the territory licensed to Sigma-Tau.
On
October 12, 2007, we entered into a letter agreement with Sigma-Tau
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., pursuant to which Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. agree
to reimburse us for 50% of certain costs relating to our Phase III clinical
trial of defibrotide to treat severe VOD. This agreement was amended
effective January 7, 2010. While Sigma-Tau will continue to share
development costs for studies currently required for the filing of an NDA for
defibrotide, we have agreed to negotiate in good faith with Sigma-Tau regarding
the funding of certain additional costs that may be required to obtain
regulatory approval in the U.S., and that $1,000,000 of costs reimbursed by
Sigma-Tau will be deductible from its future royalty payments due to Gentium
under the License and Supply Agreement.
On
November 30, 2007, we entered into a Manufacturing Agreement with Sirton,
pursuant to which Sirton will manufacture finished ampoules and capsules of
defibrotide from the raw ingredient. We terminated this agreement in
November 2008; however, Sirton continues to manufacture finished ampoules for
use in our compassionate use programs and any future clinical trials that may be
necessary. On February 2, 2009 we executed a technical services
transfer agreement with Patheon S.p.A., whereby Patheon S.p.A. would take over
the manufacture of the finished vials of defibrotide.
Three of
the participants in our February 2007 private placement are affiliated with
other shareholders, one of our commercial partners and one of our
directors:
· Defiante
Farmaceutica, L.d.A. purchased 87,666 ordinary shares in the February 2007
private placement. Defiante also converted its Series A notes into
359,505 ordinary shares at the consummation of our initial public offering and
holds warrants issued in connection with the Series A notes to purchase 73,334
ordinary shares;
· Chaumiere
Consultadoria e Servicos SDC Unipessoal LdA purchased 87,667 ordinary shares in
the February 2007 private placement. Chaumiere also purchased which
purchased 152,376 ordinary shares and warrants to purchase 60,951 ADSs in our
October 2005 private placement; and
· Inverlochy
Consultadoria & Servicos LdA purchased 87,667 ordinary shares in the
February 2007 private placement.
Each of
these investors is an affiliate of Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A., which owns
1,300,000 ordinary shares. Pursuant to a voting agreement between Sigma-Tau
Finanziaria S.p.A. and FinSirton, a designee of Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A.,
Marco Codella, was elected to be a member of our board of directors upon
consummation of our initial public offering in June 2005. Mr. Codella
is the Chief Financial Officer of Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Reunite
S.p.A., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sigma-Tau Finanziaria
S.p.A. Each of these three investors is also an affiliate of
Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which is a party to a License and Supply
Agreement with us pursuant to which we have licensed the right to market
defibrotide to treat and prevent VOD in North America, Central America and South
America to Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and pursuant to which Sigma-Tau
Pharmaceuticals, Inc has agreed to purchase defibrotide for this use from us.
This agreement is described in more detail in “Business—Our Strategic
Alliances—License and Distribution Agreements.” Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
also has a right of first refusal to market defibrotide for certain other uses
in North America, Central America and South America.
Indemnification
Agreements
We have
entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers
containing provisions that may require us to indemnify them against liabilities
that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers and
to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them.
However, we will not indemnify directors or officers with respect to liabilities
arising from willful misconduct of a culpable nature.
INTERESTS
OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
Not
applicable.
ITEM
8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS
Please
refer to Item 18, “Financial Statements” of this annual
report.
OTHER
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Export
Sales
Not
applicable.
Legal
Proceedings
As of the date of this report, we
are not a party to any legal or governmental proceeding that is pending or, to
our knowledge, threatened or contemplated against our company that, if
determined adversely to us, would have a materially adverse effect, either
individually or in the aggregate, on the business, financial condition or
results of operations.
Dividend
Policy
We have
never declared or paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares. We currently
intend to retain all available funds to support our operations and to finance
the growth and development of our business. We are not subject to any
contractual restrictions on paying dividends. Under Italian law and our bylaws,
our payment of any annual dividend must be proposed by our board of directors to
the shareholders and is subject to the approval of our shareholders at the
annual ordinary shareholders’ meeting. Before dividends may be paid out of our
profit in any year, we must allocate an amount equal to 5% of the net profit to
our legal reserve until such reserve is at least equal to 20% of the our
capital. If a loss in our capital occurs, we may not pay dividends until the
capital is reconstituted or reduced by the amount of such losses. We may
distribute reserves deriving from available retained earnings from prior years,
provided that after such payment, we will have a legal reserve at least equal to
the legally required minimum of 20% of the capital. We may not approve or pay
dividends until this minimum is met. If the minimum is met, the board of
directors proposes to the shareholders the issuance of a dividend and the
shareholders approve that issuance, the shareholders’ resolution will specify
the manner and the date for their payment.
Any
dividend we declare will be paid to the holders of ADSs, subject to the terms of
the deposit agreement, to the same extent as holders of our ordinary shares,
less the fees and expenses payable under the deposit agreement. Any dividend we
declare will be distributed by the depositary to the holders of the
ADSs.
If we
issue debt securities in the future, until those debt securities are repaid in
full, we may not declare dividends if it results in the aggregate of the capital
and reserves being less than half of the outstanding amount of the
debt.
The board
of directors may not approve interim dividends at times between our annual
ordinary shareholders’ meetings. Any future determination relating to dividend
policy will be made at the discretion of our shareholders’ meeting
and will depend on a number of factors, including our future earnings, capital
requirements, financial condition, future prospects and other factors as the
shareholders’ meeting may deem relevant.
Under Italian law, Italian companies
are required to supply to the Italian tax authorities certain information
regarding the identity of non-resident shareholders in connection with the
payment of dividends. Shareholders are required to provide their Italian tax
identification number, if any, or alternatively, in the case of legal entities,
their name, country of establishment and address, or in the case of individuals,
their name, address and place and date of birth, or in the case of partnerships,
the information required for individuals with respect to one of their
representatives. In the case of ADSs owned by non-residents of Italy, we
understand that the provision of information concerning the depositary, in its
capacity as holder of record of the ordinary shares underlying the ADSs, will
satisfy this requirement. However, beneficial U.S. ADS holders are entitled to a
reduction of the withholding taxes applicable to dividends paid to them under
the income tax convention for the avoidance of double taxation between the
United States and Italy, signed on August 25, 1999 and entered into force on
December 16, 2009 (the “Income Tax Convention”); provided, however, that
conditions set out in the Income Tax Convention are met and subject to the
applicable anti-avoidance provisions. In order for you to benefit from that
reduction, we are required to furnish certain information concerning you to the
Italian tax authorities and, therefore any claim by you for those benefits would
need to be accompanied by the required information.
SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES
No
significant changes have occurred since the date of the most recent annual
financial statements.
ITEM
9.THE OFFER AND LISTING
OFFER
AND LISTING DETAILS
Our ADSs
are listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “GENT.” Neither our ordinary
shares nor our ADSs are listed on a securities exchange outside the United
States. The Bank of New York is our depositary for purposes of
issuing the ADRs representing the ADSs. Each ADS represents one
ordinary share.
Trading
in our ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Market System commenced on May 16,
2006. Prior to this date, our ADSs were traded on the American Stock
Exchange, beginning June 16, 2005 and ending on May 15, 2006, the date we
de-listed. The following table sets forth, for each of the periods
indicated, the high and low closing prices per ADS as reported by the American
Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, as applicable.
|
|
Price
Range of ADSs
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005 (beginning June 16,
2005)
|
|
$ |
9.10 |
|
|
$ |
6.92 |
|
2006
|
|
$ |
22.74 |
|
|
$ |
7.85 |
|
2007
|
|
$ |
24.40 |
|
|
$ |
13.51 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
Quarter
|
|
$ |
13.98 |
|
|
$ |
6.36 |
|
Second
Quarter
|
|
$ |
7.60 |
|
|
$ |
3.41 |
|
Third
Quarter
|
|
$ |
4.29 |
|
|
$ |
1.62 |
|
Fourth
quarter
|
|
$ |
1.73 |
|
|
$ |
0.44 |
|
Full
Year
|
|
$ |
13.98 |
|
|
$ |
0.44 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
Quarter
|
|
$ |
0.90 |
|
|
$ |
0.33 |
|
Second
Quarter
|
|
$ |
1.91 |
|
|
$ |
0.58 |
|
Third
Quarter
|
|
$ |
3.87 |
|
|
$ |
1.36 |
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
|
$ |
2.75 |
|
|
$ |
1.89 |
|
Full
Year
|
|
$ |
3.87 |
|
|
$ |
0.33 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Month Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
January
31, 2010
|
|
$ |
2.36 |
|
|
$ |
1.93 |
|
February
28, 2010
|
|
$ |
1.85 |
|
|
$ |
1.32 |
|
March
31, 2010 (through March 29, 2010)
|
|
$ |
3.23 |
|
|
$ |
1.34 |
|
The
closing price of the ADSs on Nasdaq on March 29, 2010 was $2.58.
Sources: American Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
Not
applicable.
MARKETS
Our ADSs are listed on The Nasdaq
Global Market under the symbol “GENT.” Neither our ordinary shares
nor our ADSs are listed on a securities exchange outside the United
States.
SELLING
SHAREHOLDERS
Not
applicable.
DILUTION
Not
applicable.
EXPENSES
OF THE ISSUE
Not
applicable.
ITEM
10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
SHARE
CAPITAL
Not
applicable.
MEMORANDUM
AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
Bylaws
The
following is a summary of certain information concerning our ordinary shares and
bylaws (Statuto) and of the Italian law provisions applicable to companies whose
shares are not listed in a regulated market in the European Union, as in effect
at the date of this annual report. The summary contains all the information that
we consider to be material regarding the shares but does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our bylaws or Italian
law, as the case may be.
Under
Italian law, most of the procedures regulating our company other than those
provided for under, including certain rights of shareholders, are contained in
our bylaws as opposed to our articles of association. Amendments to our bylaws
requires approval at an extraordinary meeting of shareholders, as described
below.
In
January 2003, the Italian government approved a wide-ranging reform of the
corporate law provisions of the Italian Civil Code, which came into force on
January 1, 2004. On September 30, 2004, our shareholders approved a
number of amendments to our bylaws dictated or made possible by the 2003
corporate law reform. Our bylaws were also amended on April 28, 2005, November
29, 2005, April 28, 2006, April 27, 2007, and June 30, 2009. The following
summary takes into account the 2003 corporate law reform and the consequent
amendments to our bylaws.
As of
March 31, 2010 our issued and outstanding share capital consisted of 14,956,317
ordinary shares, without a par value. The Euro currency was adopted in Italy on
January 1, 1999. The redenomination of the ordinary shares from Italian Lira
into Euro was approved by our shareholders on December 27, 2000. All the issued
and outstanding shares are fully paid, non-assessable and in registered
form.
We are
registered with the Companies’ Registry of Como. Our registered offices are
located in Piazza XX Settembre n. 2, Comune di Villa Guardia, frazione Civello,
Como, Italy, registration number 02098100130.
Our
corporate purpose is the manufacturing, on behalf of our company and third
parties, and marketing in both Italy and other countries, of pharmaceutical
preparations, pharmaceutical products, raw materials for pharmaceutical and
para-pharmaceutical use and in general all and any products sold by pharmacies
or for hospital use, excluding in all cases the retail sale in Italy of
pharmaceutical preparations and products, medical articles and clinical
apparatuses in general and organic and inorganic products that may be used in
agrotechnical and/or zootechnical fields. We may also prepare and organize for
our own account or on behalf of third parties the documentation required for
obtaining authorizations for marketing pharmaceutical products in compliance
with the regulations in force in the countries of destination and be the holders
of those authorizations. We may grant and/or transfer licenses to Italian and
foreign enterprises or corporate bodies or acquire licenses for ourselves or
third parties. For each product contemplated by our corporate purposes, we may
carry out research programs in general and in particular technological,
chemical, pharmacotoxicological and clinical research programs in the hospital
and pharmaceutical field. We are generally authorized to take any commercial
transactions necessary or useful to achieve our corporate purpose, with the
exclusion of investment services and other financial or professional activities
reserved by Italian law to authorized entities.
Authorization
of shares
Our
shareholders may authorize the issuance of additional shares at any time at an
extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. However, the newly issued shares may not be
purchased before all the outstanding shares (i.e., the shares already
subscribed) are entirely paid for. On September 30, 2004, after a recommendation
by our board of directors, our shareholders approved a capital increase to allow
for the issuance of:
· up
to 1,560,000 ordinary shares available for grant under our share option
plans;
· up
to 1,335,000 ordinary shares upon the conversion of the Series A senior
convertible promissory notes;
· up
to 881,100 ordinary shares upon the exercise of the warrants; and
· 4,554,000
ordinary shares, including the shares underlying the ADSs in our initial public
offering (including ordinary shares underlying the underwriters’ purchase option
and the over-allotment option).
The
authorization for the ordinary shares authorized at this meeting is valid until
September 30, 2009, other than the 1,560,000 shares available for grant under
our Amended and Restated and 2004 Equity Incentive Plan and our Amended and
Restated Nonstatutory Plan and Agreement, whose authorization is valid until
September 30, 2019, and except that 1,353,297 of these ordinary shares were
authorized for issuance in connection with our issuance of the Series A notes
and related warrants, but were not actually issued, and so become unauthorized
and unissuable under Italian law.
On
November 29, 2005, after a recommendation by our board of directors, our
shareholders approved a capital increase of 713,518 ordinary shares to be
reserved for issuance upon exercise of the warrants we issued to the
participants in our October 2005 private placement and the placement agent for
that private placement.
On April
28, 2006, after a recommendation by our board of directors, our shareholders
approved an amendment to our bylaws that provides that our board of directors be
granted, pursuant to articles 2443 and 2420-ter of the Italian Civil
Code, with the power to:
· increase
the capital of our company in cash, up to €90 million of par value, in one or
more transactions, and to reserve all or part of such amount for the exercise of
warrants issued by means of the same resolution of our board of directors
providing for the relevant capital increase;
· issue
convertible bonds (including subordinated) and increase the capital of our
company, in one or more transactions, up to €10 million of par value, through
the issuance of ordinary shares reserved for the conversion of such convertible
bonds, and to reserve all or part of such convertible bonds for issuance upon
the exercise of warrants issued by means of the same resolution of our board of
directors providing for issuance of the convertible bonds; and
· in
each case, exclude or limit the option right of our shareholders in favor of
“strategic investors” (as defined by our bylaws) if our board of directors
determines that exclusion or limitation to be in the interest of our
company.
On May
31, 2006, pursuant to the powers granted by the shareholders’ meeting dated
April 28, 2006, our board of directors resolved upon a capital increase of
466,446 ordinary shares to be reserved for issuance upon exercise of warrants.
On December 15, 2006, pursuant to the powers granted by the shareholders’
meeting dated April 28, 2006, our board of directors resolved upon a capital
increase of 151,200 ordinary shares to be reserved for issuance upon exercise of
warrants.
On
February 6, 2007, pursuant to the powers granted by the shareholders’ meeting
dated April 28, 2006, our board of directors resolved upon a capital increase of
2,354,000 ordinary shares to be subscribed within March 9, 2007, by “strategic
investors.”
On April
27, 2007, after a recommendation by our board of directors, our shareholders
approved a capital increase relating to 1,000,000 ordinary shares to be reserved
for issuance pursuant to exercise of options available for grant under our 2007
Stock Option Plan.
On June
30, 2009, our shareholders resolved to (i) remove the par value of our ordinary
shares, including the par value of the ordinary shares previously issued by the
company, and (ii) grant the board of directors with the power to increase the
capital in cash up to an amount equal to Euro 100,000,000 on a separable basis,
in one or more transactions, for a rights offering, through the issuance of up
to a maximum of 120,000,000 shares, without par value, with the faculty to
reserve all or part of such amount to the exercise of warrants issued by means
of the same resolution of the Board of Directors approving the relevant capital
increase, and with the faculty to reserve 1/4 of
any such capital increase to employees as equity incentive under the Company’s
equity incentive plans in effect from time to time.
Form
and transfer of shares
Our
ordinary shares are not represented by share certificates; rather, they are
registered in book-entry form. All of our ordinary shares are issued through
Monte Titoli, an Italian clearinghouse and depositary, and held through various
participants, primarily financial institutions, on Monte Titoli’s system.
Transfers in our ordinary shares are processed on Monte Titoli’s system. We
update our shareholder book (libro soci) that we keep at
our corporate offices for Italian law purposes from time to time with the names
of the record shareholders based on information that will be provided to us by
Monte Titoli participants.
This
shareholder book is the controlling register of our record shareholders for
Italian law purposes, including for establishing the record shareholders for
shareholder meetings, declaration of dividends and stock splits or combinations.
A shareholders’ name must be entered on this shareholder book in order for the
shareholder to establish its rights against us.
There are
no limitations on the right to own or vote our ordinary shares, including by
non-Italian residents or foreign residents. However, owners of our ordinary
shares must establish an account with a Monte Titoli participant. Owners of ADSs
representing our ordinary shares are subject to certain limitations as to their
rights as explained in our risk factors entitled, “Risks Relating to Being an Italian
Corporation – You may not have the same voting rights as the holders of our
ordinary shares and may not receive voting materials in time to be able to
exercise your right to vote,” “- You may not be able to participate in rights
offerings and may experience dilution of your holdings as a result” and “- You
may be subject to limitations on transfer of your ADSs.” There are no
provisions in our articles of association or bylaws that would have an effect of
delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of our company and that
would operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition or corporate
restructuring involving our company. There are no provisions in our bylaws
governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be
disclosed. There are no provisions discriminating against any existing or
prospective holder of our ordinary shares as a result of such shareholder owning
a substantial number of our shares. There are no sinking fund provisions or
provisions providing for liability for further capital calls by our
company.
Dividend
rights
Our
payment of any annual dividend must be proposed by our board of directors to the
shareholders and is subject to the approval of our shareholders at the annual
ordinary shareholders’ meeting. Before dividends may be paid out of our
unconsolidated net income in any year, we must allocate an amount equal to 5% of
the Italian GAAP net income to our legal reserve until such reserve is at least
equal to 20% of our capital. If a loss in our capital occurs, we may not pay
dividends until the capital is reconstituted or reduced by the amount of such
losses. We may pay dividends out of available retained earnings from prior
years, provided that after such payment, we will have a legal reserve at least
equal to the legally required minimum of 20% of the capital. We may not approve
or pay dividends until this minimum is met. If the minimum is met, the board of
directors proposes to the shareholders the issuance of a dividend and the
shareholders’ resolution approves that issuance, the shareholders’ resolution
will specify the manner and the date for their payment. Any dividends which
shareholders do not collect within five years of the date on which they become
payable will be forfeited by those shareholders and we will keep the money. The
board of directors may not approve interim dividends at times between our annual
ordinary shareholders’ meetings.
Board
of directors
Pursuant
to our bylaws, our board of directors must consist of between three and eleven
individuals. Our board of directors is elected at an ordinary shareholders’
meeting and the members stay in their office for no longer than one year. Our
directors, who may but are not required to be shareholders, may be re-elected.
Directors do not stand for reelection at staggered intervals. Cumulative voting
rights are not permitted or required. There are no provisions in our articles of
association or bylaws regarding retirement or non-retirement of our directors
under an age limit requirement.
Our board
of directors has complete power of our ordinary and extraordinary administration
and in particular may perform all acts it deems advisable for the achievement of
our corporate purposes, except for the actions reserved by applicable law or the
bylaws to a vote of the shareholders at an ordinary or extraordinary
shareholders’ meeting. See also, “Item 10, Additional Information, Memorandum
and Articles of Association, Meetings of Shareholders.”
If we
cannot repay our creditors, and a court determines that our directors did not
perform their duties regarding the preservation of our assets, the court may
find our directors liable to our creditors.
Our board
of directors may also appoint one or more senior managers (direttori generali) who
report directly to the board. These senior managers may be employees, and the
board may delegate certain powers to them that the board has not already
delegated to managing directors or an executive committee, and subject to the
limitations discussed below.
Under
Italian law, our board of directors may not delegate certain responsibilities,
including the preparation and approval of draft financial statements, the
approval of merger and de-merger plans to be presented to shareholders’
meetings, increases in the amount of our share capital or the issuance of
convertible debentures (if any such power has been delegated to our board of
directors by our shareholders at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting) and the
fulfillment of the formalities required when our capital is required to be
reduced as a result of accumulated losses that affect our stated capital by more
than one third. See also, “Item 10, Additional Information, Memorandum and
Articles of Association, Meetings of Shareholders.”
Meetings
of our board of directors are called three days in advance or, in case of
urgency, at least one day in advance. Statutory auditors are normally required
to attend our board meetings, but if a meeting has been duly called, the board
can validly take action at the meeting even if the board of statutory auditors
do not attend. If the meeting has not been duly called, the meeting is
nevertheless validly constituted if all of the directors in office and all of
the statutory auditors are in attendance. The chairman may call meetings on his
own initiative and meetings must be called upon the request of two
directors.
Meetings
of our board of directors may be held in person, or by audio-conference or
video-conference, in any member state of the European Union or in the United
States. The quorum for meetings of our board of directors is the attendance of
the majority of the directors in office. Resolutions are adopted by the vote of
the majority of the directors in attendance at a meeting at which a quorum is
met.
Under
Italian law, directors having any interest in a proposed transaction must
disclose their interest to the board and to the statutory auditors, even if such
interest is not in conflict with our interest in the same transaction. The
interested director is not required to abstain from voting on the resolution
approving the transaction, but the resolution must state explicitly the reasons
for, and the benefit to us of, the approved transaction. If these provisions are
not complied with, or if the transaction would not have been approved without
the vote of the interested director, the resolution may be challenged by a
director or by our board of statutory auditors if the approved transaction may
be prejudicial to us. A managing director, a member of the executive committee
or any senior manager having any interest in a proposed transaction that he or
she has authority to approve must solicit prior board approval of such
transaction. The interested director or senior manager may be held liable for
damages to us resulting from a resolution adopted in breach of the above rules.
Finally, directors may be held liable for damages to us if they illicitly profit
from insider information or corporate opportunities.
Under
Italian law, directors may be removed from office at any time by the vote of
shareholders at an ordinary shareholders’ meeting although, if removed in
circumstances where there was no just cause, such directors may have a claim for
damages against us. These damages may include, but are not limited to,
compensation that would otherwise have been paid to the director for the
remainder of their term and damage to their reputation. Directors may resign at
any time by written notice to our board of directors and to the chairman of our
board of statutory auditors. Our board of directors must appoint substitute
directors to fill vacancies arising from removals or resignations, subject to
the approval of the board of statutory auditors, to serve until the next
ordinary shareholders’ meeting. If at any time more than half of the members of
our board of directors resign or otherwise cease to be directors, the board of
directors in its entirety ceases to be in office and our board of statutory
auditors must promptly call an ordinary shareholders’ meeting to appoint new
directors.
Our
Compensation Committee recommends the compensation of our directors to our board
of directors, which in turn makes recommendations to our shareholders. Under
Italian law, our shareholders determine the compensation of our directors
relating to basic board service, such as annual fees for serving on the board
and/or fees for attending board meetings. Our board of directors, after
consultation with our board of statutory auditors, may determine the
remuneration of directors that serve on the various board committees and/or
perform management or other special services for us, such as managing directors.
Our directors are entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection
with their service as directors, such as expenses incurred in travel to attend
board meetings. Our articles of association and bylaws do not contain any
provisions with respect to borrowing powers exercisable by our
directors.
Effective
January 1, 2004, an Italian share corporation may adopt one of three
different models of corporate governance structure. The three models
are:
· a
board of directors and a board of statutory auditors, which is the historical
model that all companies had prior to January 1, 2004;
· a
one-tier model with a single board of directors, including an audit committee
composed of independent non-executive directors; or
· a
two-tier model, including a management board, which is entrusted with management
responsibilities, and a supervisory board which is entrusted mainly with control
and supervisory responsibilities and, among other functions, appoints and
removes the members of the management board and approves our annual financial
statements.
Replacing
the historical model with the new one-tier model or two-tier model requires an
extraordinary shareholders meeting resolution. The amended bylaws approved by
our shareholders on September 30, 2004 do not provide for a change in our
governance structure. As a result, we continue to have a board of directors and
a board of statutory auditors.
Statutory
auditors
Under
Italian law, at least one effective statutory auditor and one alternate
statutory auditor of a company shall be chosen among those registered with the
Register of Auditors established with the Ministry of Justice. The other
statutory auditors shall be chosen among those registered with any register
established by decree of the Ministry of Justice or among University professors
in economic and law matters, if they are not registered with the Register of
Auditors. The following persons may not be appointed as statutory
auditors:
· one
who is legally incapacitated, bankrupted, or disqualified from holding public or
executive offices under Italian law;
· a
spouse, parent and relative-in-law of someone that is a director of the company,
a director of a company that controls the company, or a director of a company
that is under common control as the company; and
· one
whose independence may be jeopardized due to an employment or consultant
relationship or any other economic relationship with the company, a company that
controls the company, or a company that is under common control as the
company.
In
addition to electing our board of directors, our shareholders elect the board of
statutory auditors (Collegio
Sindacale) from individuals qualified to act in such capacity under
Italian law. At our ordinary shareholders’ meetings, the statutory auditors are
elected for a term of three fiscal years, may be re-elected for successive terms
and may be removed only for cause and with the approval of a competent court.
Each member of our board of statutory auditors must provide certain evidence
that he is qualified to act in such capacity under Italian law and meets certain
professional standards.
Our
bylaws currently provide that the board of statutory auditors shall consist of
three effective statutory auditors and two alternate statutory auditors (who
will automatically replace a statutory auditor who resigns or is otherwise
unable to serve).
Our board
of statutory auditors is required, among other things, to verify that
we:
· comply
with applicable laws and our bylaws;
· respect
principles of good governance; and
· maintain
adequate organizational structure, internal controls and administrative and
accounting system.
Our board
of statutory auditors is required to meet at least once each ninety days. In
addition, our statutory auditors are supposed to attend meetings of our board of
directors and shareholders’ meetings. In case a
statutory auditor, without just cause, does not attend the
shareholders’ meetings or, during the same fiscal year, two
consecutive meetings of the board of directors, such statutory auditor shall
cease from his/her office. If the statutory auditors do not attend two consecutive meetings of
the board of directors or shareholders, they may be terminated for cause by the
shareholders. Our statutory auditors may decide to call a meeting of our shareholders, ask for information about
our management from our directors, carry out inspections and verifications at
our offices and exchange information with our external auditors. Any shareholder
may submit a complaint to our board of statutory auditors regarding facts that
the shareholder believes should be subject to scrutiny by our board of statutory
auditors, which must take any complaint into account in its report to the
shareholders’ meeting. If shareholders collectively representing 5% of our share
capital submit such a complaint, our board of statutory auditors must promptly
undertake an investigation and present its findings and any recommendations to a
shareholders’ meeting (which must be convened immediately if the complaint
appears to have a reasonable basis and there is an urgent need to take action).
Our board of statutory auditors may report to a competent court serious breaches
of directors’ duties. The court may take such actions as it feels appropriate,
including inspecting our company’s operations, removing directors, appointing
temporary administrators to manage our company and any other actions that the
court feels is necessary to preserve the value of our company for our creditors
and shareholders.
As
mentioned in the preceding section, effective January 1, 2004, an Italian
joint stock company may depart from the traditional Italian model of corporate
governance structure and opt for two alternative models, neither of which
includes a board of statutory auditors. Our amended bylaws do not provide for a
change in our governance structure, although we do have an audit committee
simply as an internal body of our board of directors.
External
auditor
Italian
law requires us to appoint an external auditor or a firm of external auditors,
each of them qualified to act in such capacity under Italian law, that shall
verify during the fiscal year that our accounting records are correctly kept and
accurately reflect our activities, and that our financial statements correspond
to the accounting records and the verifications conducted by the external
auditors and comply with applicable rules. The external auditor or the firm of
external auditors express their opinion on the financial statements in a report
that may be reviewed by the shareholders at our offices prior to the annual
shareholders’ meeting. The report remains on file at our offices and may be
reviewed after the annual shareholders’ meeting as well; it is also published
for review by the general public.
The
external auditor or the firm of external auditors are appointed for a three-year
term by the vote of our shareholders at an ordinary shareholders’ meeting. At
the ordinary shareholders’ meeting, the shareholders may ask questions of the
board of statutory auditors about their view of the auditors prior to voting on
whether to appoint the auditors. Once appointed, the shareholders may remove the
auditors only for cause and with the approval of the board of statutory auditors
and of a competent court.
Meetings
of shareholders
Shareholders
are entitled to attend and vote at ordinary and extraordinary shareholders’
meetings. Votes may be cast personally or by proxy. Shareholders’ meetings may
be called by our board of directors (or, in certain cases, by the board of
statutory auditors) and must be called if requested by holders of at least 10%
of the issued shares. Shareholders are not entitled to request that a meeting of
shareholders be convened to vote on issues which as a matter of law shall be
resolved upon the basis of a proposal, plan or report by our board of directors.
If the shareholders’ meeting is not called despite the request by shareholders
and such refusal is unjustified, a competent court may call the
meeting.
We may
hold meetings of shareholders at our registered office in Villa Guardia, or
elsewhere within Italy, any other member of the European Union or in the United
States following publication of notice of the meeting in the “Gazzetta Ufficiale della Republica
Italiana” or in the newspaper “Il Sole 24 Ore” at least
15 days before the date fixed for the meeting. Our bylaws provide that we
must mail written notice of meetings to our shareholders at least 10 days before
the date fixed for the meeting. The depositary will mail to all record holders
of ADSs a notice containing a summary of all information included in any notice
of a shareholders’ meeting received by the depositary. The notice of a
shareholders’ meeting must specify two meeting dates for an ordinary or
extraordinary shareholders’ meeting (first and second “calls”). The notice of
the shareholders’ meeting also specifies the dates for further calls. The notice
must contain a list of the items to be dealt with and state the day, hour and
place for the meeting for both the first and second calls. However, if the above
procedures are not complied with, the shareholders’ meeting will still be deemed
to be validly held if all outstanding shares are represented, all other holders
having the right to vote are present and the meeting is attended by a majority
of the board of directors and the board of statutory auditors.
We must
convene an ordinary shareholders’ meeting at least once a year within
120 days after the end of the fiscal year. Our annual financial statements
must be approved by vote of our shareholders at this annual ordinary
shareholders’ meeting. We may delay holding the shareholders’ meeting up to
180 days after the end of the fiscal year if we must prepare consolidated
financial statements or if particular circumstances concerning our structure or
our purposes so require. At ordinary shareholders’ meetings, our shareholders
also appoint the external auditors, approve any distribution of dividends that
have been proposed by our board of directors, elect our board of directors and
statutory auditors, determine their remuneration and vote on any business matter
the resolution or authorization of which is entrusted to the shareholders by
law.
We may
call extraordinary shareholders’ meetings to vote upon split-ups, dissolutions,
appointment of receivers and similar extraordinary actions. We may also call
extraordinary shareholders’ meetings to vote upon proposed amendments to our
bylaws, issuance of convertible debentures, mergers and de-mergers and capital
increases and reductions, if the actions may not be authorized by the board of
directors. The board of directors has the authority to transfer our registered
office within Italy, authorize, on a non-exclusive basis, amendments to our
bylaws that are required by law, authorize mergers by absorption into us of our
subsidiaries in which we hold all or at least 90% of the issued share capital,
authorize reductions of our share capital in case of withdrawal of a shareholder
and indicate who among the directors is our legal representative. If the
shareholders authorize the issuance of shares or other securities at an
extraordinary meeting, they may delegate the power to make specific issuances to
the board of directors.
Once our
shareholders have authorized the issuance of securities, the securities that
have been subscribed must be fully paid for before the shareholders may
authorize the issuance of additional securities, unless the shareholders meet
and vote to cancel those authorized but not subscribed securities.
The
quorum for an ordinary meeting of our shareholders on the first call is at least
50% of the outstanding ordinary shares, while on second call there is no quorum
requirement. In either case, resolutions are adopted by the majority of ordinary
shares in attendance or represented at the meeting. The quorum for an
extraordinary shareholders’ meeting is more than half of the outstanding
ordinary shares on the first call and more than one-third of the outstanding
shares on second call. Resolutions are adopted by the majority of the
outstanding ordinary shares on first call and at least two-thirds of the holders
of shares in attendance or represented at the meeting on second call. In
addition, certain matters (such as, for example, a change in our purpose, the
transfer of our registered office outside Italy or our liquidation prior to the
date set forth in our bylaws) must be adopted by shareholders representing more
than one-third of the outstanding ordinary shares (not just the ordinary shares
in attendance or represented at the meeting).
Shareholders
are entitled to one vote per ordinary share. Neither Italian law nor our bylaws
limit the right of non-resident or foreign owners to hold or vote their shares.
Shareholders do not need to “lodge” their share certificates (if any) or any
communication from their broker in order to take part in the meeting. As a
registered shareholder, the depositary (or its nominee) will be entitled to vote
the ordinary shares underlying the ADSs. The deposit agreement requires the
depositary (or its nominee) to accept voting instructions from owners of ADSs
and to execute such instructions to the extent permitted by law.
Shareholders
may appoint attorneys-in-fact by delivering in writing the relevant proxy to
represent them in an ordinary or extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. Our
directors, auditors and employees may not be proxies. Italian law provides that
each proxy cannot be granted to represent more than 20 shareholders prior to the
company “making recourse to the risk capital market.” Italian scholars are
undecided as to whether listing shares on an exchange outside of European Union
constitutes “making recourse to the risk capital market for the purpose of the application of the Italian Civil
Code.” If we are deemed to make recourse to the risk capital market by
means of listing ADSs representing our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global
Market System, each proxy cannot be granted to represent more than 50
shareholders if the capital is equal to €5 million or less or more than 100
shareholders if the capital is more than €5 million but less than or equal
to €25 million. If the capital is more than €25 million, each proxy
cannot be granted to represent more than 200 shareholders. At December 31, 2009,
we had 14,956,317 shares outstanding and a capital equal to Euro 14,956,317 and
so if we are deemed to make recourse to the risk capital market, each proxy may
not be granted to represent more than 100 shareholders.
Preemptive
rights
Pursuant
to Italian law, holders of outstanding ordinary shares and convertible
debentures are entitled to subscribe for issuance of ordinary shares or
convertible debentures in proportion to their holdings at the time that the
shareholders authorize the capital increase for those issuances, unless those
issuances are for non-cash considerations. The preemptive rights may be excluded
or limited by shareholders’ resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of
holders of more than 50 percent of the ordinary shares at an extraordinary
meeting of shareholders, or by a board of directors if the bylaws delegate such
power to the board of directors (including the power to exclude or limit the
preemptive right), and such exclusion or limitation is in the interest of the
company. There can be no assurance that the holders of ADSs may be able to
exercise fully any preemptive rights to which our holders of ordinary shares may
be entitled. If ADS holders are not able to exercise their preemptive rights,
the depositary will, to the extent possible, dispose of such rights for their
account.
FinSirton
waived its preemptive right in connection with the authorization of our private
placement of the Series A notes and warrants, the issuance of options under
our Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan and Amended and Restated
Nonstatutory Share Option Plan and Agreement and the issuance of 4,554,000
additional ordinary shares, which includes the shares underlying the ADSs
offered in our initial public offering and the shares issued in our October 2005
private placement. Our shareholders waived their preemptive rights in connection
with the authorization of 713,518 ordinary shares to be reserved for issuance
upon exercise of the warrants we issued to the participants in our October 2005
private placement and the placement agent for that private
placement.
Our board
of directors excluded the shareholders’ pre-emptive rights in connection with
the authorization of 1,943,525 ordinary shares and 466,446 ordinary shares to be
reserved for issuance of the warrants we issued to the participants in our June
2006 private placement. Our board of directors also excluded the shareholders’
pre-emptive rights in connection with the authorization of 2,354,000 ordinary
shares we issued to the participants in our February 2007 private placement. Our
shareholders waived their pre-emptive rights in connection with the
authorization of 1,000,000 ordinary shares to be reserved for issuance upon
exercise of options available for grant under our 2007 Stock Option
Plan.
Preference
shares; other securities
Italian
law permits us to issue preference shares with limited voting rights, other
classes of equity securities with different economic and voting rights,
“participation certificates” with limited economic and voting rights, as well as
“tracking shares,” if our bylaws permit such issuances. Our bylaws currently do
allow us to issue these securities. We may also issue convertible and
non-convertible debt securities. In order to issue convertible debt securities,
our board of directors would need to recommend to our shareholders that they
approve the issuance of particular securities in connection with a capital
increase, and the shareholders would need to vote to approve such an issuance
and capital increase at an extraordinary meeting. The board of directors would
also need to recommend, and the shareholders would need to approve by vote at
the extraordinary meeting, specific terms of the securities. The shareholders
may vote at the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting to delegate to the board of
directors the power to issue those securities from time to time, but not for
more than five years from the date of the extraordinary shareholders’
meeting.
Debt-equity
ratio
Italian
law provides that we may not issue debt securities for an amount exceeding twice
the amount of our capital, of our legal reserve and of any other disposable
reserves appearing on our latest Italian balance sheet approved by our
shareholders. The legal reserve is a reserve to which we allocate 5% of our
Italian GAAP net income each year until it equals at least 20% of our capital.
One of the other reserves that we maintain on our balance sheet is a “share
premium reserve”, meaning amounts paid for our ordinary shares in excess of the
amount of such ordinary shares that is allocated to the capital. Until our
outstanding debt securities are repaid in full, we may not voluntarily reduce
our capital or distribute our reserves (such as by declaring dividends) in the
event the aggregate of the capital and reserves, following such reduction of
capital and/or distribution of reserves, is less than half of the outstanding
amount of the debt securities. If our equity is reduced by losses or otherwise
such that the amount of the outstanding debt securities is more than twice the
amount of our equity, we cannot distribute profits to our shareholders until the
ratio between the amount of our debt securities and our capital and reserves is
restored. Moreover, some legal scholars are of the opinion that in such a case
the ratio must be restored by a recapitalization of our company. If our equity
is reduced, we could recapitalize by means of issuing new shares or having our
current shareholders contribute additional capital to our company, although
there can be no assurance that we would be able to find purchasers for new
shares or that any of our current shareholders would be willing to contribute
additional capital. These laws regarding the ratio of debt securities to capital
and reserves do not apply to issuances of debt securities to professional
investors (as defined by Italian law). However, in such a case, should the
professional investors transfer such debt securities to third parties not
qualified as professional investors, the former remain liable to us for the
payment of such securities.
Reduction
of equity by losses
Italian
law requires us to reduce our shareholders’ equity in certain situations. Our
shareholders’ equity has three main components: capital, legal reserves and
other shareholders’ equity (such as any share premium and any retained
earnings). We apply our losses from operations against our shareholders’ equity
other than legal reserves and capital first. If additional losses remain, or if
we have no shareholders’ equity other than legal reserves and capital, and the
additional losses are more than one-third of the amount of our legal reserves
and capital, our board of directors must call a shareholders’ meeting as soon as
possible. The shareholders should take appropriate measures, which may include,
inter alia, either the
reduction of the legal reserves and capital by the amount of the remaining
losses, or the carrying out of the losses forward for up to one year. If the
shareholders vote to elect to carry the losses forward up to one year, and at
the end of the year, the losses are still more than one-third of the amount of
the capital, then we must reduce our capital by the amount of the losses.
However, as an S.p.A., we must maintain a capital of at least
€120 thousand. If the amount of the losses would reduce our capital to less
than €120 thousand, then:
· we
would need to increase our capital, which we could do by issuing new shares or
having our shareholders contribute additional capital to our company, although
there can be no assurance that we would be able to find purchasers for new
shares or that any of our current shareholders would be willing to contribute
additional capital; or
· if
neither of these options were taken, our shareholders or, if they do not so
resolve, a court of competent jurisdiction, could appoint a liquidator, not necessarily an Italian citizen,
to liquidate our company.
Segregation
of assets and proceeds
Pursuant
to Italian law, our board of directors may resolve to segregate our assets into
one or more separate pools. Such pools of assets may have an aggregate value not
exceeding 10% of the net worth of the company. Each pool of assets must be used
exclusively for the carrying out of a specific business and may not be attached
by our general creditors. Similarly, creditors with respect to such specific
business may only attach those assets that are included in the corresponding
pool. Tort creditors, on the other hand, may always attach any of our assets.
Our board of directors may authorize us to issue securities carrying economic
and administrative rights relating to a pool. In addition, financing agreements
relating to the funding of a specific business may provide that the proceeds of
such business be used exclusively to repay the financing. Such proceeds may be
attached only by the financing party and such financing party would have no
recourse against other assets of ours.
We have
no present intention to enter into any such transaction and none is currently in
effect.
Liquidation
rights
Pursuant
to Italian law and subject to the satisfaction of the claims of all creditors,
our shareholders are entitled to a distribution in liquidation that is equal to
an amount resulting from the division of the
positive liquidation balance by the number of shares (to the extent
available out of our net assets). Preferred shareholders and holders of
“participating certificates” typically do not participate in the distribution of
assets of a dissolved corporation beyond their established contractual
preferences. Once the rights of preferred shareholders and holders of
participating certificates and the claims of all creditors have been fully
satisfied, holders of ordinary shares are entitled to the distribution of any
remaining assets.
Purchase
of shares by us
We are
permitted to purchase our outstanding shares, subject to certain conditions and
limitations provided for by Italian law. We may only purchase the shares out of
profits available for dividends or out of distributable reserves, in each case
as appearing on the latest shareholder-approved financial statements. Further,
we may only repurchase fully paid-in shares. Such purchases must be authorized
by our shareholders by vote at an ordinary shareholders’ meeting and the authorization may be issued for a period not
exceed the term of eighteen (18) months. .
A
corresponding reserve equal to the purchase price of such shares must be created
in the balance sheet, and such reserve is not available for distribution, unless
such shares are sold or cancelled. Shares purchased and held by us may be resold
only pursuant to a resolution of our shareholders adopted at an ordinary
shareholders’ meeting. The voting rights attaching to the shares held by us or
our subsidiaries cannot be exercised, but the shares can be counted for quorum
purposes in shareholders’ meetings. Dividends and other rights, including
pre-emptive rights, attaching to such shares will accrue to the benefit of other
shareholders.
Notification
of the acquisition of shares
In
accordance with Italian antitrust laws, the Italian Antitrust Authority is
required to prohibit the acquisition of control in a company which would thereby
create or strengthen a dominant position in the domestic market or a significant
part thereof and which would result in the elimination or substantial reduction,
on a lasting basis, of competition, provided that certain turnover thresholds
are exceeded. However, if the turnover of the acquiring party and the company to
be acquired exceed certain other monetary thresholds, the antitrust review of
the acquisition falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of the European
Commission.
Minority
shareholders’ rights; withdrawal rights
Shareholders’
resolutions which are not adopted in conformity with applicable law or our
bylaws may be challenged (with certain limitations and exceptions) within ninety
days by absent, dissenting or abstaining shareholders representing individually
or in the aggregate at least 5% of our share capital (as well as by our board of
directors or our board of statutory auditors). Shareholders not reaching this
threshold or shareholders not entitled to vote at our meetings may only claim
damages deriving from the resolution.
Dissenting
or absent shareholders may withdraw from the company as a result of
shareholders’ resolutions approving, among others things, material modifications
of our purpose or of the voting rights of our ordinary shares, our
transformation from a share corporation into a different legal entity or the
transfer of our registered seat outside Italy. In such a case, our other
shareholders would have a pre-emptive right to purchase the shares of the
withdrawing shareholder. Should no shareholder exercise that pre-emptive right,
the shares must be offered to third parties or, in the absence of any third
party wishing to buy them, they will be purchased by us by using the available
reserves. In the event no reserve is available, our capital must be reduced
accordingly. Any repurchase of such shares by us must be on terms authorized by
our board of directors, upon consultation with our board of statutory auditors
and our external auditor, having regard to our net assets value, our prospective
earnings and the market value of our ordinary shares, if any. Under Italian law,
we may set forth different criteria in our bylaws for the consideration to be
paid to withdrawing shareholders. We have not done so as of the date of this
annual report.
Each
shareholder may bring to the attention of the board of statutory auditors facts
or acts which such shareholder deems wrongful. If such shareholders represent
more than 5% of our share capital, our board of statutory auditors must
investigate without delay and report its findings and recommendations to our
shareholders’ meeting. Shareholders representing more than 10% of our share
capital have the right to report to the competent court serious breaches of the
duties of the directors which may be prejudicial to us or to our subsidiaries.
In addition, shareholders representing at least 20% of our share capital may
commence derivative suits before the competent court against our directors,
statutory auditors and general managers. We may waive or settle the suit unless
shareholders holding at least 20% of the shares vote against such waiver or
settlement. We will reimburse the legal costs of such action in the event that
the claim of such shareholders is successful and the court does not award such
costs against the relevant directors, statutory auditors or general
managers.
Liability
for mismanagement of subsidiaries
Pursuant
to Italian law, if we, acting in our own interest or the interest of third
parties, mismanage a company that we control, we are liable to that company’s
shareholders and creditors for ensuing damages. That liability is excluded if
the ensuing damage is fully eliminated, including through subsequent
transactions, or the damage is effectively offset by the global benefits
deriving in general to the company from the continuing exercise of such
direction and coordination powers. We are presumed to have control over, among
other companies, any subsidiary whose financial statements are consolidated into
ours. Since we currently have no subsidiaries, this law does not apply to us at
this time.
LIMITATION
OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION MATTERS
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the Securities Act, may be permitted to directors, officers or
persons controlling our company under the foregoing provisions, we have been
informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore
unenforceable.
THE
NASDAQ GLOBAL MARKET
Our ADSs
are listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the trading symbol
“GENT.”
COMPARISON
OF ITALIAN AND DELAWARE CORPORATE LAWS
WE ARE
GOVERNED BY THE CORPORATE LAWS IN ITALY, WHICH ARE IN SOME CASES LESS FAVORABLE
TO SHAREHOLDERS THEN THE CORPORATE LAWS IN DELAWARE, UNITED STATES.
The
following is a summary of material differences between the Delaware General
Corporate Law and the laws of Italy.
Mergers
and other extraordinary corporate transactions
Under
Delaware law, a merger or consolidation requires the approval of a majority of
the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote in person or by proxy
and if any class or series is entitled to vote thereon as a class, the
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares within each class or series
entitled to vote as a class in person or by proxy, unless the certificate of
incorporation requires a greater vote. The sale, lease, exchange or other
disposition of all, or substantially all, the property and assets, of a Delaware
corporation requires a majority vote unless the certificate of incorporation
requires a greater vote. Under Delaware law, the dissolution of a corporation
requires a majority vote unless the certificate of incorporation requires a
greater vote.
Under
Italian law, a merger requires the approval of more than half of the share
capital at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. Our bylaws designate power to
approve mergers of wholly-owned subsidiaries and subsidiaries of which we own at
least 90% to our board of directors, although our shareholders may overrule our
board of directors.
Amendments
to charter documents
Under
Delaware law, charter documents are composed of two documents: a certificate of
incorporation and bylaws. An amendment to the certificate of incorporation
ordinarily requires a majority vote (unless the certificate of incorporation
requires a greater vote). If a class or series is entitled separately to vote on
an amendment, its majority vote (unless the certificate of incorporation
requires a greater vote), separately calculated, is necessary to approve the
amendment. In addition, under Delaware law, the holders of outstanding shares of
a class or series are entitled to vote as a class upon a proposed amendment by a
majority vote (unless the certificate of incorporation requires a greater vote),
whether or not entitled to vote thereon by the provisions of a company’s
certificate of incorporation, if the amendment would have certain effects
identified in Delaware law.
Under
Delaware law, directors of a corporation may adopt, amend or repeal the
corporation’s bylaws, unless the certificate of incorporation reserves the power
exclusively to the shareholders, or the shareholders, in amending, repealing or
adopting a particular bylaw, expressly provide that the board of directors may
not amend or repeal that bylaw. Unless the certificate of incorporation or a
bylaw adopted by the shareholders provides otherwise, a corporation’s
shareholders may amend, repeal or adopt the corporation’s bylaws even though the
bylaws may also be amended, repealed or adopted by its directors.
Under
Italian law, the charter documents are composed of articles of association and
bylaws. An amendment to these documents requires the approval of more than half
of the share capital at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, except that
certain extraordinary actions, such as change in our purpose, advanced
liquidation or issuance of preferred shares and others, only require the
approval of more than one-third of our outstanding shares for both first and
second call.
Under
Delaware law a company shall use one of these same endings or others, including
“association”, “company”, “corporation”, “club”, “foundation”, “fund”,
“incorporated,” “institute”, “society”, “union”, “syndicate” or “limited” (or
abbreviations thereof, with or without punctuation), or words (or abbreviations
thereof, with or without punctuation) of like import of foreign countries or
jurisdictions (provided they are written in roman characters or
letters).
Under
Italian law, the name of a corporation must end in “S.p.A.” or “Societá per
Azioni.”
Capital
Delaware
law permits companies to be incorporated with par value shares or no par value
shares. If a Delaware company issues par value shares and receives an amount in
excess of the par value, the directors may attribute a portion of the excess as
“capital.” If a Delaware company issues no par value shares, the directors may
attribute a portion of the amount paid as “capital.”
Italian
law permits companies to be incorporated with par value shares or no par value
shares. If an Italian company issues par value shares and receives an amount in
excess of the par value, the par value is attributed as “capital” and the excess
is attributed to a “premium reserve,” which is part of shareholders’
equity.
Franchise
tax
Delaware
levies a franchise tax based on authorized capital. Italian law has no such
tax.
Liability
of shareholders
The
liability of shareholders of a Delaware company is limited to the amount paid
for their shares. The liability of shareholders of a Italian company is also
limited to the amount paid for their shares.
Quorum
of shareholders
Under
Delaware law, with respect to any matter, a quorum shall be present at a meeting
of shareholders if the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote are
represented at the meeting in person or by proxy, unless otherwise provided in
the certificate of incorporation. Where a separate vote by a class or series or
classes or series is required, a quorum shall be present at a meeting of
shareholders if the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote are
represented at the meeting in person or by proxy, unless otherwise provided in
the certificate of incorporation.
Under
Italian law, a quorum shall be met at an ordinary meeting of shareholders on
first call if the holders of at least 50% of the outstanding ordinary shares are
represented at the meeting in person or by proxy, but there is no quorum
requirement on second call. A quorum shall be met at an extraordinary meeting of
shareholders on first call if the holders of more than half of the share capital
is represented at the meeting in person or by proxy and if the holders of more
than one-third of the outstanding shares are represented at the meeting in
person or proxy on second call.
Actions
without a meeting-shareholders
Under
Delaware law, shareholders may take action without a meeting if a consent in
writing is signed by the shareholders having the minimum number of votes that
would be necessary to take such action at a meeting, unless the certificate of
incorporation provides otherwise.
Under
Italian law, shareholders may not act without a meeting.
Special/extraordinary
meetings
Under
Delaware law, special meetings of shareholders may be called by the board of
directors or by such person or persons as may be authorized by the certificate
of incorporation or the bylaws.
Under
Italian law, an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting may be called by our board
of directors and must be called if requested by holders of at least 10% of the
issued shares. Shareholders are not entitled to request that a meeting of
shareholders be convened to vote on issues which as a matter of law shall be
resolved upon the basis of a proposal, plan or report by our board of directors.
If the shareholders’ meeting is not called despite the request by shareholders
and such refusal is unjustified, a competent court may call the
meeting.
Director
qualifications
Under
Delaware law, directors need not be residents of Delaware or shareholders of the
corporation unless the certificate of incorporation or bylaws so require. The
certificate of incorporation or bylaws may prescribe other qualifications for
directors.
Under
Italian law, the only requirement for directors is that they have not been
deemed “legally incompetent” to be a director under Italian law. “Legal
incompetence” is determined by a competent court and can be determined for
reasons such as lack of mental capacity, physical incapability, emotional
instability, bankruptcy, certain criminal convictions or drug or alcohol
addiction.
Election
of directors
Under
Delaware law, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation,
shareholders are not entitled to cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Absent such provision, the directors of a corporation are elected by a plurality
of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote in person or by
proxy at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present.
Under
Italian law, shareholders are not entitled to cumulative voting in the election
of directors. The directors of a corporation are elected by a majority of the
votes cast by the shareholders entitled to vote in person or by proxy at an
ordinary meeting of shareholders at which the relevant quorum is
met.
Actions
without a meeting - directors
Under
Delaware law, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the
board of directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the board
consent to it in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or
electronic transmission is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board
unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or
bylaws.
Under
Italian law, directors of a joint stock company may not act without a
meeting.
Removal
of directors
Under
Delaware law, one or more or all the directors of a corporation may be removed
for cause or, unless provided in the certificate of incorporation, removed
without cause by the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the majority of
votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote thereon, subject to certain
exceptions.
Under
Italian law, directors may be removed from office at any time by the vote of
shareholders at an ordinary shareholders’ meeting although, if removed in
circumstances where there was no just cause, such directors may have a claim for
damages against us. These damages may include, but are not limited to,
compensation that would otherwise have been paid to the director for the
remainder of their term and damage to their reputation. Our board of directors
must appoint substitute directors to fill vacancies arising from removals,
subject to the approval of the board of statutory auditors, to serve until the
next ordinary shareholders’ meeting. If at any time more than half of the
members of our board of directors are removed or otherwise cease to be
directors, the board of directors in its entirety ceases to be in office and our
board of statutory auditors must promptly call an ordinary shareholders’ meeting
to appoint new directors.
Location
of directors meetings
Delaware
law provides that, unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of
incorporation or bylaws, the board may hold its meetings outside of the State of
Delaware. Under Italian law and our bylaws, meetings of our board of directors
may be held in person, or by audio-conference or video-conference, in any member
state of the European Union or in the United States.
Limitation
of liability and indemnification
Delaware
law requires directors and members of any committee designated by the board of
directors to discharge their duties in good faith and with that degree of
diligence, care and skill which ordinary prudent people would exercise under
similar circumstances and positions. Delaware law permits a corporation to set
limits on the extent of a director’s liability. Italian law requires directors
and members of any committee designated by the board of directors to discharge
their duties in good faith and with that degree of diligence required by the
nature of their office and their specific competence. If we cannot repay our
creditors, and a court determines that our directors did not perform their
duties regarding the preservation of our assets, the court may find our
directors liable to our creditors.
Dividends
Delaware
law provides that the board of directors of a corporation may authorize and the
corporation may make distributions subject to any restrictions in its
certificate of incorporation. However, Delaware law provides that distributions
may not be made if, after giving effect to the distribution, the corporation
would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of its
business or total assets would be less than total liabilities.
Under
Italian law, our payment of any annual dividend must be proposed by our board of
directors to the shareholders and is subject to the approval of our shareholders
at the annual ordinary shareholders’ meeting. Before dividends may be paid out
of our profit in any year, we must allocate an amount equal to 5% of the net
profit to our legal reserve until such reserve is at least equal to 20% of our
capital. If our capital is reduced as a result of accumulated losses, we may not
pay dividends until the capital is reconstituted or reduced by the amount of
such losses. We may distribute reserves deriving from available retained
earnings from prior years, provided that after such payment, we will have a
legal reserve at least equal to the legally required minimum of 20% of the
capital. We may not approve or pay dividends until this minimum is met. If the
minimum is met, the board of directors proposes the issuance of a dividend and
the shareholders’ resolution approves that issuance, the shareholders’
resolution will specify the manner and the date for their payment. Any dividends
which shareholders do not collect within five years of the date on which they
become payable will be forfeited by those shareholders and we will keep the
money. The board of directors may not approve interim dividends at times between
our annual ordinary shareholders’ meetings.
Return
of capital
Delaware
law provides that corporations may return capital by dividend, redemption or
repurchase subject to certain solvency tests. Shareholder approval is not
required for these transactions so long as the corporation meets the solvency
tests.
Under
Italian law, we are permitted to purchase our outstanding shares, subject to
certain conditions and limitations provided for by Italian law. We may only
purchase the shares out of profits available for dividends or out of
distributable reserves, in each case as appearing on the latest
shareholder-approved financial statements. Further, we may only repurchase fully
paid-in shares. Such purchases must be authorized by our shareholders by vote at
an ordinary shareholders’ meeting and the
authorization may be issued for a period not exceeding eighteen (18)
months. A corresponding reserve equal to the purchase price of such
shares must be created in the balance sheet, and such reserve is not available
for distribution, unless such shares are sold or cancelled. Shares purchased and
held by us may be resold only pursuant to a resolution of our shareholders
adopted at an ordinary shareholders’ meeting. The voting rights attaching to the
shares held by us or our subsidiaries cannot be exercised, but the shares can be
counted for quorum purposes in shareholders’ meetings. Dividends and other
rights, including pre-emptive rights, attaching to such shares will accrue to
the benefit of other shareholders.
Officers
Under
Delaware law, a corporation is required to have such officers as are required to
sign instruments to be filed with the Secretary of State and stock certificates.
It is necessary that the corporation have at least two officers to comply with
this requirement. The corporation has complete freedom to designate its
executives by whatever names it wishes and to allocate the managerial power
delegated to executives as the corporation may wish. Any number of offices may
be held by the same person unless otherwise provided by the certificate of
incorporation or the bylaws. Officers may be chosen in any way and by any person
or body if the bylaws or a resolution of the governing body so
specifies.
Under
Italian law, there are no requirements for any specific numbers or titles of
officers.
Share
certificates
Under
Delaware law, the shares of a corporation shall be represented by certificates,
provided that the board of directors of the corporation may provide by
resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of
its stock shall be uncertified stock. However, existing shareholders and future
shareholders are able to obtain a stock certificate signed by or in the name of
the corporation by the chairman or vice-chairman of the board of directors or
the president or vice-president, and by the treasurer or an assistant treasurer,
or the secretary or an assistant secretary of such corporation if they desire.
The terms governing preferred stock must be expressed “in clear language” in the
certificate of incorporation (or by a separate resolution authorized by the
charter).
Under
Italian law, the shares of a corporation may be issued in either registered or
certificated form. Our bylaws provide that our ordinary shares are not
certificated. Rather, they are held through various participants, primarily
institutions, on Monte Titoli’s system and registered by book-entry form on our
shareholders book.
Preemptive
rights
Under
Delaware law, shareholders do not possess preemptive rights as to the issuance
of additional securities by the corporation, unless the certificate of
incorporation provide otherwise.
Under
Italian law, shareholders and holders of convertible debentures are entitled to
subscribe for issuance of ordinary shares or convertible debentures in
proportion to their holdings at the time that the shareholders authorize the
capital increase for those issuances, except in case of contribution in kind.
The preemptive rights may be excluded or limited by shareholders’ resolution
adopted by the affirmative vote of holders of more than 50 percent of the
ordinary shares at an extraordinary meeting of shareholders, in first and second
call, and such exclusion or limitation is in the interest of our
company.
Liquidation
rights generally
Under
Delaware law, shareholders are entitled to share ratably in the distribution of
assets upon the dissolution of their corporation. Preferred shareholders
typically do not participate in the distribution of assets of a dissolved
corporation beyond their established contractual preferences. Once the rights of
preferred shareholders have been fully satisfied, holders of common stock are
entitled to the distribution of any remaining assets.
Under
Italian law, and subject to the satisfaction of the claims of all creditors, our
shareholders are entitled to a distribution in liquidation that is equal to
an amount resulting from the division of the
positive liquidation balance by the number of shares or shareholders (to
the extent available out of our net assets). Preferred shareholders and holders
of “participating certificates” typically do not participate in the distribution
of assets of a dissolved corporation beyond their established contractual
preferences. Once the rights of preferred shareholders and holders of
participating certificates have been fully satisfied, holders of ordinary shares
are entitled to the distribution of any remaining assets.
Shareholder
derivative suits
Under
Delaware law, a derivative suit may be brought only if the plaintiff was a
record or beneficial owner of shares at the time of the transaction of which he
or she complains, and the initial pleading in the suit states that the ownership
requirement is satisfied, and with particularity, the efforts of the plaintiff
to have the suit brought for the corporation by the board of directors, or the
reasons for not making such efforts. The court may require the plaintiff to give
security for the expenses incurred or expected to be incurred by the defendants.
The court may also require the plaintiff to pay expenses to the defendants if
the court finds, upon final judgment for the defendants, that the suit was
brought without reasonable cause.
Under
Italian law, a shareholder’s name must be entered in the shareholder’s register
in order to establish his rights as a shareholder against us. Each shareholder
may bring to the attention of the board of statutory auditors facts or acts
which such shareholder deems wrongful. If such shareholders represent more than
5% of our share capital, our board of statutory auditors must investigate
without delay and report its findings and recommendations to our shareholders’
meeting. Shareholders representing more than 10% of our share capital have the
right to report to the competent court serious breaches of the duties of the
directors which may be prejudicial to us or to our subsidiaries. In addition,
shareholders representing at least 20% of our share capital may commence
derivative suits before the competent court against our directors, statutory
auditors and general managers. We may waive or settle the suit unless
shareholders holding at least 20% of the shares vote against such waiver or
settlement. We will reimburse the legal costs of such action in the event that
the claim of such shareholders is successful and the court does not award such
costs against the relevant directors, statutory auditors or general
managers.
Dissenters’
rights
Any
shareholder of a Delaware corporation has the right to dissent from any plan of
merger or consolidation to which the corporation is a party, provided that
unless the certificate of incorporation otherwise provides, a shareholder shall
not have the right to dissent from any plan of merger or consolidation with
respect to shares of a class or series which is listed on a national securities
exchange or is held of record by not less than 2,000 holders on the record date
fixed to determine the shareholders entitled to vote upon the plan of merger or
consolidation. A dissenting shareholder has a right of appraisal of its
shares.
Under
Italian law, shareholders’ resolutions which are not adopted in conformity with
applicable law or our bylaws may be challenged (with certain limitations and
exceptions) within ninety days by absent, dissenting or abstaining shareholders
representing individually or in the aggregate at least 5% of our share capital
(as well as by our board of directors or our board of statutory auditors).
Shareholders not reaching this threshold or shareholders not entitled to vote at
our meetings may only claim damages deriving from the resolution.
Dissenting
or absent shareholders may withdraw from the company as a result of
shareholders’ resolutions approving, among others things, material modifications
of our purpose or of the voting rights of our ordinary shares, our
transformation from a share corporation into a different legal entity or the
transfer of our registered office outside Italy. In such a case, our other
shareholders would have a pre-emptive right to purchase the shares of the
withdrawing shareholder. Should no shareholder exercise that pre-emptive right,
the shares must be offered to third parties or, in the absence of any third
party wishing to buy them, they will be purchased by us by using the available
reserves. In the event no reserve is available, our capital must be reduced
accordingly. According to Italian law, any repurchase of such shares by us must
be on terms authorized by our board of directors, upon consultation with our
board of statutory auditors and our external auditor, having regard to our net
assets value, our prospective earnings and the market value of our ordinary
shares, if any. Under Italian law, we may set forth different criteria in our
bylaws for the consideration to be paid to withdrawing shareholders in such
withdrawal. We have not done so as of the date of this annual
report.
Interested
shareholder transactions
Delaware
corporations are subject to the State of Delaware’s “business combination”
statute. In general, that statute prohibits a publicly-traded corporation from
engaging in various “business combination” transactions with any “interested
stockholder” for a period of three years after the time that the shareholder
became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved by
the board prior to the time the shareholder became an interested stockholder,
the interested stockholder acquired 85% or more of the outstanding shares in a
transaction in which it became an interested stockholder, or the business
combination is approved by the board and by holders of two-thirds of the shares
not held by the interested stockholder. A “business combination” includes
mergers, assets sales and other transactions resulting in financial benefit to a
shareholder. An “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with
affiliates and associates, owns 15% or more of a corporation’s voting
stock.
Under
Italian law, directors having any interest in a proposed transaction must
disclose their interest to the board and to the statutory auditors, even if such
interest is not in conflict with our interest in the same transaction. The
interested director is not required to abstain from voting on the resolution
approving the transaction, but the resolution must state explicitly the reasons
for, and the benefit to us of, the approved transaction. If these provisions are
not complied with, or if the transaction would not have been approved without
the vote of the interested director, the resolution may be challenged by a
director or by our board of statutory auditors if the approved transaction may
be prejudicial to us. A legal representative of our company having any interest
in a proposed transaction that he or she has authority to approve must solicit
prior board approval of such transaction. The interested director may be held
liable for damages to us resulting from a resolution adopted in breach of the
above rules. Finally, directors may be held liable if they illicitly profit from
insider information or corporate opportunities.
Inspection
of books and records
Under
Delaware law, upon the written request of any shareholder, the corporation shall
mail to such shareholder its balance sheet as at the end of the preceding fiscal
year, and its profits and loss and surplus statements for such fiscal year.
Inspection rights are extended to any person who beneficially owns stock through
either a voting trustee or nominee who holds the stock of record on behalf of
such person. Where the shareholder is other than a record holder, such person
must state under oath the person’s status as a shareholder and produce
documentary evidence of beneficial ownership. Any shareholder is entitled to
examine a corporation’s relevant books and records for any proper purpose,
namely, a purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as a shareholder,
upon written demand stating the purpose thereof.
Under
Italian law, our shareholders may review the report of the board of directors on
the management of our company and the report of our statutory auditors and our
accounting firm on our financial statements during the fifteen days prior to the
ordinary shareholders’ meeting to approve those financial statements. The report
remains on file at our offices and may be reviewed after the annual
shareholders’ meeting as well; it is filed with the Companies’ Registry of Como
for review by the general public. Moreover, any shareholder is entitled to
examine the shareholders’ ledger and the ledger of the minutes of the
shareholders’ meeting, at any time.
Registered
office
Delaware
law requires a “registered office” in Delaware. Italian law requires a
registered office in Italy.
Issuance
of shares
Under
Delaware law, directors have the authority to issue shares of common stock. If
the certificate of incorporation so provides, they may also designate the terms
of preferred stock and issue shares of preferred stock.
Under
Italian law, issuances of any shares, ordinary or otherwise, require an
amendment to our bylaws to increase our capital, which must be recommended to
our shareholders by our board of directors and approved by a vote of our
shareholders at an extraordinary meeting of shareholders. Once our shareholders
have authorized the issuance of securities and the same have been subscribed,
those securities must be paid for before the newly issued shares may be
purchased. The board would also need to recommend, and the shareholders would
need to approve by vote at the extraordinary meeting, specific terms of the
securities. Also, our shareholders can authorize the board of directors to
increase our capital, one or more times, for a certain amount, but the board may
exercise such power for only five years. If the authorized capital is not issued
by the end of those five years, the authorized capital expires, and our board
and shareholders would need to meet again to authorize a new capital increase.
Our shareholders authorized our board of directors to increase our capital by up
to €90 million of ordinary shares and €10 million for ordinary shares issuable
upon conversion of convertible bonds on April 28, 2006. In addition, on June 30,
2009, our shareholders resolved to grant the board of directors with the power
to increase the capital in cash up to an amount equal to Euro 100,000,000 on a
separable basis, in one or more transactions, with the faculty to reserve all or
part of such amount to the exercise of warrants issued by means of the same
resolution of the Board of Directors approving the relevant capital increase,
and with the faculty to reserve 1/4 of any such
capital increase to employees as equity
incentive under the Company’s equity incentive plans. Italian law provides,
with respect to shareholders’ resolutions approving capital increase, that, in
the event of absence of the minutes of the meeting, any interested person may,
for a period of 180 days following the filing of the shareholders’ resolution
with the Register of Companies, challenge such resolution. If a shareholders’
meeting was not called to approve the capital increase, the relevant resolution
should be considered invalid and any interested person may challenge the capital
increase for a period of 90 days following the approval of the financial
statements referring to the year during which the shareholders’ resolution has
been, also partially, executed. Finally, once our shareholders authorize a
capital increase, all those authorized shares that have been subscribed need to
be entirely paid-up before the shareholders may authorize a new capital
increase.
Debt-equity
ratio
Under
Delaware law, a corporation is not restricted as to the amount of debt
securities that it may issue.
Under
Italian law, we may issue debt securities for an amount not exceeding twice the
amount of our capital, of our legal reserve and of any other disposable reserves
appearing on our latest Italian balance sheet approved by our shareholders. The
legal reserve is a reserve to which we allocate 5% of our net income each year
until it equals at least 20% of our capital. One of the other reserves that we
maintain on our balance sheet is a “share premium reserve”, meaning amounts paid
for our ordinary shares in excess of the amount of such ordinary shares that is
allocated to the capital. Until our outstanding debt securities are repaid in
full, we may not voluntarily reduce our capital or distribute our reserves (such
as by declaring dividends) in the event the aggregate of the capital and
reserves, following such reduction of capital and/or distribution of reserves,
is less than half of the outstanding amount of the debt securities. If our
equity is reduced by losses or otherwise such that the amount of the outstanding
debt securities is more than twice the amount of our equity, we cannot
distribute profits to our shareholders until the ratio between the amount of our
debt securities and our capital and reserves is restored. Moreover, some legal
scholars are of the opinion that in such a case the ratio must be restored by a
recapitalization of our company. If our equity is reduced, we could recapitalize
by means of issuing new shares or having our current shareholders contribute
additional capital to our company, although there can be no assurance that we
would be able to find purchasers for new shares or that any of our current
shareholders would be willing to contribute additional capital. These laws
regarding the ratio of debt securities to capital and reserves do not apply to
issuances of debt securities to professional investors (as defined by Italian
law). However, in such a case, should the professional investors transfer such
debt securities to third parties not qualified as professional investors, the
former remain liable to us for the payment of such securities.
Reduction
of equity by losses
Under
Delaware law, a corporation’s shareholders’ equity is reduced by losses, and may
become negative.
Italian
law requires us to reduce our shareholders’ equity in certain situations. Our
shareholders’ equity has three main components: capital, legal reserves and
other shareholders’ equity (such as any premium paid for the shares over
the par value and
any retained earnings). We apply our losses from operations against our legal
reserves and capital. If our capital is reduced for more than one-third as a
result of losses, our board of directors must call a shareholders’ meeting as
soon as possible. The shareholders should take appropriate measures, which may
include, inter alia,
either the reduction of the legal reserves and capital by the amount of the
remaining losses, or the carrying out of the losses forward for up to one year.
If the shareholders vote to elect to carry the losses forward up to one year,
and at the end of the year, the losses are still more than one-third of the
amount of the capital, then we must reduce our capital by the amount of the
losses. However, as an S.p.A., we must maintain capital of at least
€120 thousand. If the amount of the losses would reduce our capital to less
than €120 thousand, then:
· we
would need to increase our capital, which we could do by issuing new shares or
having our shareholders contribute additional capital to our company, although
there can be no assurance that we would be able to find purchasers for new
shares or that any of our current shareholders would be willing to contribute
additional capital; or
· our
shareholders would need to convert our company to an “S.r.l”, a private limited
liability company, which has a lower capital requirement of €10 thousand;
or
· if
neither of these options were taken, our shareholders or, if they do not so
resolve, a court of competent jurisdiction, could appoint a liquidator, not
necessarily an Italian citizen to liquidate our company.
MATERIAL
CONTRACTS
The
contracts described below have been entered into by our company since January 1,
2008 and, as of the date of this report, contain provisions under which we have
an obligation or right which is or may be material to us. This
discussion is not complete and should be read in conjunction with the agreements
described below, each of which has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to this
annual report.
On January 7, 2010, we amended our
existing license with Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to include a license for
the intravenous formulation of defibrotide for the prevention of veno-occlusive
disease in the Americas and to transfer the New Drug Application post approval
in the United States. In addition, we agreed to establish a joint steering
committee with Sigma-Tau to discuss in good faith, the development, filing and
relevant funding of defibrotide for any therapeutic indication in the territory
licensed to Sigma-Tau.
On September 29, 2009, we entered into
a clinical research agreement with US Oncology Clinical Development, whereby US
Oncology was contracted as a clinical research organization to help administer
certain aspects of our expanded access program and associated cost recovery
program. US Oncology is responsible for site activation, drug supply
management, data collection/management, and adverse event reporting to Gentium
as well as billing and invoicing. We pay US Oncology based on the amount
of service performed each month as well as a fixed fee for each unit of drug
product shipped. US Oncology does not pay Gentium until it receives
payments from the hospitals/institutions.
On March
6, 2009, we entered into a supply and distribution agreement with IDIS Limited,
whereby IDIS will be the exclusive supplier of defibrotide on a named-patient
supply basis in all countries other than Europe and the Americas. This
agreement was amended on April 15, 2009 to include all countries other than
Italy and countries in the Americas, and further amended on May 22, 2009 to
include all countries other than Italy and the U.S. Gentium will
supply the finished and labeled product to IDIS who will in turn provide the
product directly to hospitals in countries outside Europe and the
Americas. IDIS will maintain all relevant importation and regulatory
licenses necessary to perform this service. IDIS will also assist Gentium
with various clinical and regulatory obligations such as adverse event
reporting. Gentium will instruct IDIS the price to charge for defibrotide,
and in some cases, whether defibrotide will be given away free of
charge. IDIS will invoice the hospitals directly and in turn pay
Gentium once IDIS collects the receivable. Gentium will pay a fee to IDIS
for each unit shipped and will also pay IDIS a monthly service fee.
On
February 2, 2009, we entered into a technical transfer services agreement with
Patheon International A.G., whereby its affiliate, Patheon Italia S.p.A. (as
subcontractor) will assume the fill and finish of defibrotide in vials
(currently performed by Sirton). Patheon will perform the transfer of all
analytical methods, will run a feasibility batch and will eventually run
validation batches which, if successful, will be used for commercial sale upon
final regulatory approval of defibrotide. Patheon will also support
Gentium in its regulatory filings by providing key documentation, review of
Gentium’s regulatory submissions and access to regulators from the FDA and/or
EMEA to inspect Patheon’s facility (the Pre-Approval Inspection). Gentium
pays Patheon certain upfront and milestones to compensate Patheon for the
services it performs as well as the capital expenditures it incurs. All
equipment purchased by Patheon will reside at Patheon but will be owned by
Gentium.
EXCHANGE
CONTROLS
No
exchange control consent is required in Italy for the transfer to persons
outside of Italy of dividends or other distributions with respect to, or of the
proceeds from the sale of, shares of an Italian company.
TAXATION
Tax Consequences Applicable to US
Holders
The
following contains a description of the principal United States federal and
Italian tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of ADSs or
ordinary shares by a US holder, as defined below. This summary does not purport
to be a comprehensive description of all of the tax considerations that may be
relevant to a decision to purchase ADSs representing our ordinary shares and
each potential purchaser is therefore urged to consult its own tax
advisor.
In
particular, this summary deals only with US holders who will hold their ADSs as
a capital asset and does not address the tax treatment
of a US holder who:
· owns
ADSs representing 10% or more of our voting shares (either directly or through
attribution);
· holds
ADSs in connection with a permanent establishment or fixed base of business
located in Italy;
· holds
ADSs in the ordinary course or as an integral part of the holder’s trade or
business or as part of a hedging, straddle, integrated or conversion
transaction;
· who
is subject to special treatment under the US income tax laws (such as securities
dealers, brokers, traders that elect to mark to market, insurance companies,
banks, tax-exempt organizations, partnerships and other pass-through entities);
(v) whose functional currency is not the US dollar; or
· is
a resident of Italy for purposes of Italian domestic law or the Income Tax
Convention, as defined above, or acts through an Italian permanent establishment
or fixed base to which the ADSs are connected.
In addition, the following discussion
does not address any aspect of state, local or non-US tax laws (other than
certain Italian tax laws) or any alternative minimum tax
consequences.
The
summary is based upon tax laws of the United States and the Republic of Italy
and on the provisions of the Income Tax Convention in each case as in effect on
the date hereof, all of which are subject to change (possibly with retroactive
effect). We will not update this summary to reflect changes in laws and if such
a change occurs, this summary could become inaccurate. In this
regard, a new tax treaty to replace the current Income Tax Convention was signed
on August 25, 1999, but has not yet been ratified. This new
treaty, if ratified, would not change significantly the provisions of the Income
Tax Convention that are discussed below. For purposes of these laws
and income tax conventions, beneficial owners of ADRs representing ADSs should
be treated as the beneficial owners of the ordinary shares represented by the
ADSs. Prospective purchasers of the ADSs are advised to consult their own tax
advisors as to the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition
of the ADSs including, in particular, state and local tax
consequences.
For
purposes of this section, a US holder means:
· an
individual citizen or resident of the United States;
· a
corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income
tax purposes) organized in or under the laws of the US or any political
subdivision thereof;
· an
estate the income of which is includible in gross income for US federal income
tax purposes regardless of its source;
· a
trust if a US court is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over the
administration of the trust and one or more US persons have the authority to
control all substantial decisions of the trust; and
· any
other person that is subject to US federal income taxation on a net income basis
in respect of income attributable to its ownership of the ADSs. A US owner means
a US holder that is considered a resident of the United States for purposes of
the Income Tax Convention and who is not subject to an anti-treaty shopping
provision.
Italian
Taxation of US Holders
General. Under
Italian law, financial instruments issued by an Italian company are subject to
the same tax regime as shares, provided that their remuneration is entirely
represented by a participation in the economic results of the
issuer. Pursuant to Article 10(3) of the Income Tax Convention, the
tax regime of dividends set forth therein applies to income from corporate
rights of an Italian company, which is subject to the same taxation treatment as
income from shares under the laws of Italy. One interpretation of
these laws would be that a beneficial owner of an ADS should be subject to the
same tax regime as a beneficial owner of a share for purposes of both Italian
law and the Income Tax Convention. However, no official
interpretation has been issued by the Italian tax authorities on this subject
matter to date
Income Tax Withholding on
Dividends. We do not anticipate making any distributions with
respect to our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. However, if we were to
make distributions with respect to our ordinary shares, we would generally be
required under Italian law, except as otherwise discussed below, to apply a 27%
final withholding tax on payments made to holders of ADSs who are not residents
of Italy for tax purposes. Under Italian law, US owners can claim a refund of up
to four-ninths of the Italian withholding tax withheld on dividends (thereby
effectively reducing the rate of withholding to 15%) by presenting evidence to
the Italian tax authorities that income taxes have been fully paid on the
dividends in the country of residence of the US owners in an amount at least
equal to the total refund claimed. US holders should consult their own tax
advisers concerning the possible availability of this refund, which
traditionally has been payable only after extensive delays.
Under the
Income Tax Convention, dividends paid to US owners will be subject to Italian
withholding tax at a reduced rate of 15% for individuals not engaged in an
entrepreneurial activity. However, the amount that we will initially make
available to the depositary for payment to US owners will reflect withholding at
the 27% rate. US owners who comply with the certification procedures described
below may claim a refund of the difference between the 27% rate and the 15% rate
(referred to herein as a “treaty refund”). The certification procedure will
require the US owner to:
· to
obtain from the US Internal Revenue Service (generally, by filing
Form 8802) a form of certification required by the Italian tax authorities
with respect to each dividend payment (Form 6166, printed on U.S.
Department of Treasury stationary), unless a previously filed certification is
effective with respect to the payment,
· produce
a statement whereby the US owner represents that it is a US owner that does not
maintain a permanent establishment in Italy, and
· set
forth certain other required information. The time for processing requests for
certification by the Internal Revenue Service can be lengthy. Accordingly, US
owners should begin the process of obtaining a certification from the Internal
Revenue Service as soon as possible after receiving instructions from the
depositary.
The
depositary’s instructions will specify certain deadlines for delivering the
documentation required to obtain a treaty refund, including the certification
that the US owners must obtain from the US Internal Revenue Service. In the case
of ADSs held by US owners through a broker or other financial intermediary, the
required documentation should be delivered to such financial intermediary for
transmission to the depositary. In all other cases, US owners should deliver the
required documentation directly to the depositary. We have agreed with the
depositary that if the required documentation is received by the depositary on
or within 30 days after the dividend payment date and, in our reasonable
judgment, such documentation satisfies the requirements for a refund of Italian
withholding taxes under the Income Tax Convention then in effect between the
United States and Italy, we will (within 45 days after that) pay an amount
equal to the treaty refund to the depositary for the benefit of the US owners
entitled thereto.
If the
depositary does not receive a US owner’s required documentation within
30 days after the dividend payment date, the US owner may for a short grace
period (specified in the depositary’s instructions) continue to claim an amount
equal to the treaty refund by delivering the required documentation (either
through the US owner’s financial intermediary or directly, as the case may be)
to the depositary. However, after this grace period, the treaty refund must be
claimed directly from the Italian tax authorities rather than through the
depositary. Expenses and extensive delays have been encountered by US owners
seeking refunds from the Italian tax authorities.
Income Tax on Capital
Gains. Under Italian law, capital gains realized by a person
who is not a resident of Italy (not having a permanent establishment or fixed
base in Italy to which the ADSs are connected) on the disposal of a “qualified”
shareholding contribute to determine the overall taxable income for income tax
purposes. Ministerial Decree April 2, 2008 – issued pursuant to Article 1,
paragraph 38 of the Law December 24, 2007 (Budget Law 2008) – sets out that
49.72% (it was 40% until 2008) of the capital gains would contribute to
determine the overall taxable income. This rate applies to capital gains
realized as from January 1, 2009. The 40%, previously in effect, still applies
to capital gains realized in connection with disposal deeds executed before
January 1, 2009. Losses can be offset against taxable gains for a
corresponding amount and, if in excess, can be carried forward up to four years.
A “qualified” shareholding is defined as ordinary shares and/or rights
(including ADSs) that represent more than 20% of share capital voting in the
ordinary shareholders’ meeting or 25% of a company’s total share capital. A
“disposal” of a qualified shareholding occurs if, in any 12-month period
following the date when a shareholding meets one of the thresholds illustrated
above, a shareholder disposes of shares or ADSs that, individually or in the
aggregate, constitute a “qualified” shareholding. Generally, Italian capital
gain tax, levied at a rate of 12.5%, is imposed on gains realized upon the
transfer or sale of “non-qualified” shareholdings whether held within or outside
Italy. A “non-qualified” shareholding is defined as an interest in ordinary
shares and/or rights (including ADSs) which does not reach the thresholds
described above for a qualified shareholding.
Furthermore,
save for any applicable anti-avoidance provision, pursuant to the Income Tax
Convention, a US owner will not be subject to Italian capital gain tax or to
Italian individual or corporate income tax unless such US owner has a permanent
establishment or fixed base in Italy to which the owner’s ADSs is effectively
connected. To this end, US owners selling ADSs and claiming benefits under the
Income Tax Convention may be required to produce appropriate documentation
establishing that the above-mentioned conditions have been met.
Estate and Gift
Tax. Inheritance and gift taxes, abolished in 2001, have been
re-introduced in the Italian system by Law Decree No. 262 of 3 October 2006
(converted into law, with amendments, by Law No. 286 of 24 November 2006), as
amended. Such taxes will apply on the overall net value of the relevant assets,
at the following rates, depending on the relationship between the testate (or
donor) and the beneficiary (or donee): (a) 4%, if the beneficiary (or donee) is
the spouse or a direct ascendant or descendant (such rate only applying on the
net asset value exceeding, for each person, €1 million); (b) 6%, if the
beneficiary (or donee) is a brother or sister (such rate only applying on the
net asset value exceeding, for each person, €100,000); (c) 6% if the beneficiary
(or donee) is another relative within the fourth degree or a direct
relative-in-law as well an indirect relative-in-law within the third degree; and
(d) 8% if the beneficiary is a person, other than those mentioned under (a), (b)
and (c), above. In case the beneficiary has a serious disability recognized
pursuant to applicable law, inheritance and gift taxes will apply on its portion
of the net asset value exceeding €1.5 million.
Transfer tax. In
connection with the Italian stamp duty tax on transfer of shares and ADSs,
according to article 37 of Law Decree no. 248 of December 31, 2007, converted
with amendments into Law no. 31 of February 28, 2008, the stamp duty has been
abolished with regards to contracts having as their object the transfer of
shares. In certain cases the relevant transfer acts would be subject
to the registration tax at a flat amount equal to €168.
United States Taxation of US Holders
Taxation of Distributions Made on
ADSs. As previously indicated, we do not anticipate making any
distributions with respect to our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future.
However, if we were to make distributions with respect to our ordinary shares,
the amount of such distribution (including the amount of any Italian taxes
withheld therefrom) would generally be includible in the gross income of a US
holder of an ADS (on the date of receipt by the depositary) as foreign source
dividend income to the extent that such distributions are paid out of our
current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for United States
federal income tax purposes. If the amount of any distribution paid on our
ordinary shares exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, that
excess will first reduce a holder’s basis in its ADSs and, to the extent the
distribution is in excess of the holder’s basis, the excess will be treated as
capital gain. Dividends paid to US holders that are corporations will not be
eligible for the dividends-received deduction (which is generally applicable
only to dividends paid by US corporations).
The US
dollar amount of dividends received by individuals prior to January 1, 2011 with
respect to our shares or ADSs will be subject to taxation at a maximum rate,
15 percent, subject to exceptions for certain short-term and hedged stock
positions. Dividends received from a “qualified foreign corporation” generally
qualify for the reduced rate. In this regard, a foreign corporation that is not
a passive foreign investment company (PFIC) in the year that the dividends are
paid or in the preceding taxable year will generally constitute a qualified
foreign corporation with respect to any dividends paid by it on its stock if the
stock is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United
States. Because the ADSs are readily tradable on an established securities
market in the United States, we should constitute a qualified foreign
corporation and dividends paid by us prior to January 1, 2011 on our ordinary
shares and received by US holders of ADSs that are individuals should qualify
for the reduced rate, subject to above-mentioned exception for certain
short-term and hedged stock positions, so long as we are not a PFIC in the year
the dividends are paid or in the preceding taxable year (and so long as the ADSs
continue to be readily tradable on an established securities market). While we
do not believe that we are currently a PFIC, no assurances can be provided that
we will not constitute a PFIC in any year during which we make a distribution on
our ordinary shares (or in the taxable year preceding the year of
distribution).
The
amount of any cash distribution received in Euro with respect to the ADSs will
equal the US dollar value of the distribution, including the amount of any
Italian taxes withheld therefrom, determined at the spot exchange rate in effect
on the date that the distribution is received by the depositary (regardless of
whether or not the distribution is in fact converted into US dollars), and a US
holder will have a tax basis in the Euro equal to that same value. Upon a
subsequent sale or other disposition of the Euro, any gain or loss recognized by
the US holder will be ordinary income or loss for US federal income tax
purposes.
Subject
to general foreign tax credit limitations, a US holder may elect to credit any
Italian income taxes withheld on dividends paid with respect to the ADSs against
the holder’s US federal income tax liability (provided, inter alia, that the US
holder satisfies certain holding requirements with respect to the ADSs). Amounts
withheld in excess of the applicable rate under the income tax convention in
effect between the United States and Italy in respect of a US holder who
qualifies for the benefits of the convention will not be eligible for this
credit, but the US holder may claim a refund for this excess from the Italian
tax authorities. See “Item 10, Additional Information, Taxation, Italian
Taxation of US Holders, Income Tax Withholding on Dividends.” As an
alternative to claiming a foreign tax credit, a US holder may claim a deduction
for any withheld Italian income taxes, but only with respect to a year for which
the US holder elects to do so with respect to all of its foreign income taxes.
There are complex rules that limit the amount of foreign income taxes that may
be credited against a US holder’s federal income tax liability, and US holders
are strongly urged to consult their own tax advisors as to the applicability and
effect of these limitations.
Sales or other Disposition of the
ADSs. Subject to the discussion set forth below
regarding PFICs, a US holder will recognize capital gain or loss for US federal
income tax purposes on the sale or other disposition of the ADSs equal to the
difference between the amount realized on the disposition and the holder’s basis
in the ADSs. Such gain or loss will generally be long-term capital gain or loss
if the US holder has owned the ADSs for more than one year at the time of the
sale or other disposition.
Back-up
Withholding. A US holder may be subject to back-up withholding
at the applicable rate with respect to dividends paid on or proceeds from the
sale or other disposition of the ADSs unless the US holder (a) is an exempt
recipient or (b) provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to
no loss of exemption from back-up withholding and otherwise complies with all
applicable back-up withholding requirements.
Special Rules Applicable to
PFICs. Special federal income tax rules apply to US holders
who own stock in a PFIC. In this regard, a foreign corporation is generally
considered a PFIC for any taxable year in which 75% or more of its gross income
is passive income or in which 50% or more of the average value of its assets are
considered “passive assets” (generally assets that generate passive income or
assets held for the production of passive income). We believe that we currently
are not a PFIC and do not anticipate that we will become a PFIC in the
future.
However,
if we were to be classified as a PFIC, a US holder would generally be subject to
a special tax at ordinary income tax rates on so-called “excess
distributions”—which include both certain distributions received on the ADSs and
gain recognized on any sale or other disposition of the ADSs. The amount of
income tax on these excess distributions will be increased by an interest charge
to compensate for any tax deferral, calculated as if the excess distributions
were earned ratably over the period the US holder held the ADSs. In addition,
the tax on excess distributions treated as earned in prior years will be subject
to tax at the maximum rate applicable in the year in which such income is deemed
to have been earned. The harshness of the foregoing rules may be avoided if the
US holder properly elects to include in its ordinary income each year such
holder’s pro rata share of our ordinary earnings and to include in its long-term
capital gain income each year such holder’s pro rata share of our net capital
gain, whether or not distributed. However, we do not intend to provide US
holders with the information that they would need in order to make this
election. Alternatively, a holder of ADSs may avoid the tax consequences
detailed above by making a mark-to-market election, but only if the ADSs are
“regularly traded” for purposes of Section 1296 of the Code. No assurances
can be made that the ADSs will be regularly traded and, in any event, a US
holder should consult its own tax advisor before making any election under
Section 1296 of the Code.
In
addition, if we were to be classified as a PFIC, US holders would not qualify
for the benefit of the reduced US federal tax rate applicable to certain
dividends received by individuals through the end of 2010, as described above in
“United States Taxation of US Holders—Taxation of Distributions Made on the
ADSs.”
DIVIDENDS
AND PAYING AGENTS
Not
applicable.
STATEMENTS
BY EXPERTS
Not
applicable.
DOCUMENTS
ON DISPLAY
We are
subject to the periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the
Exchange Act applicable to a foreign private issuer. Under the Exchange Act, we
are required to file annual reports on Form 20-F within six months of our
fiscal year end, and we submit other reports and information under cover on
Form 6-K with the SEC. Copies of the registration statements, their
accompanying exhibits, as well as such reports and other information, when so
filed, may be inspected without charge and may be obtained at prescribed rates
at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1200,
Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information regarding the Washington,
D.C. Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or by contacting
the SEC at its website at www.sec.gov.
As a
foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other
things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements,
and our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from
the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in
Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we will not be required under
the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC
as frequently or as promptly as United States companies whose securities are
registered under the Exchange Act.
SUBSIDIARY
INFORMATION
Currently,
we do not have any subsidiaries.
ITEM
11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market
risk represents the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates
and foreign exchange rates. The carrying amounts of cash and cash
equivalents, accounts receivable and other receivables, and the interest rate on
our debt with floating rates represents our principal exposure to credit risk in
relation to our financial assets.
As of
December 31, 2009, substantially all of our cash and cash equivalents were held
in accounts at financial institutions located in the Republic of Italy and the
United States that we believe are of acceptable credit quality. We
invest our cash in liquid instruments that meet high credit quality standards
and generally have maturity at the date of purchase of less than three
months. We are exposed to exchange rate risk with respect to certain
of our cash balances, accounts receivable and accounts payable that are
denominated in the U.S. dollar. As of December 31, 2009 we held a
cash balance of $0.50 million, accounts receivable of $0.96 million and accounts
payable of $1.99 million that were denominated in U.S. dollars. As the net
positions of our unhedged foreign currency transactions fluctuate, our earnings
might be negatively affected. As of December 31, 2009, our foreign currency
transactions are minimal and changes to the exchange rate between the US dollar
and Euro would have an immaterial affect on our earnings. If the US dollar were
10% stronger against the Euro, our net liabilities balance would increase by
approximately €0.04 million as of December 31, 2009.
As of
December 31, 2009, we had €3,276 thousand principal
amount of floating debts. Our exposure includes changes in interest
rates, as borrowing under our debts bear interest at floating rates based on
Euribor plus an applicable margin. We have managed our interest rate
risk by entering into interest cap agreements. Substantially all of
our current revenue generating operations are transacted in, and substantially
all of our assets and liabilities are denominated in the Euro. In the
future, we expect to transact business in the United States dollar and other
currencies. The value of the Euro against the United States dollar
and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things,
changes in political and economic conditions. Any change in the value
of the Euro relative to other currencies that we transact business with in the
future could materially and adversely affect our cash flows, revenues and
financial condition. To the extent we hold assets denominated in
United States dollars, any appreciation of the Euro against the United States
dollar could result in a charge to our operating results and a reduction in the
value of our United States dollar denominated assets upon remeasurement.
ITEM
12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES.
Not
applicable.
PART
II
ITEM
13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARRANGEMENTS AND DELINQUENCIES
None.
ITEM
14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF
PROCEEDS
None.
Management’s
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
(a) We
maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act
is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods
specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated
and communicated to our management to allow for timely decisions regarding
required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure
controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls, no matter how
well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving
the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment
in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and
procedures.
As
required by Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act, an evaluation of the
effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange
Act) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report was carried out
under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including
our chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Based on
that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer
concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are
effective.
(b) Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting. Our internal control system was designed to
provide reasonable assurance to our management and board of directors regarding
the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. All
internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent
limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can
provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement
preparation and presentation.
Our
management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2009. In making this assessment, it used the
criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on
this assessment, management concluded our internal control over financial
reporting was effective as of December 31, 2009.
(c) Because
a material weakness was identified in our controls and procedures as of December
31, 2008, management has taken the necessary steps to address such material
weakness for the period covered by this report, which included an earlier review
process by qualified professionals for certain non-routine and estimation
processes. Except for the foregoing, there has not been any change in
our internal control over financial reporting identified in the evaluation
required by Rule 13a-15 or Rule 15d-15 of the Exchange Act that occurred during
the period covered by this annual report that has materially affected, or is
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial
reporting.
(d) This
annual report on Form 20-F does not include an attestation report of our
independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over
financial reporting pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this annual
report.
ITEM
16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
We have
both a board of statutory auditors and an audit committee. Our board
of directors has determined that Gigliola Bertoglio qualifies as an “audit
committee financial expert” within the meaning of this Item 16A.
ITEM
16B. CODE OF ETHICS
We have
adopted a code of ethics, as defined in Item 16B of Form 20-F under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that is applicable to, among
others, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer. Copies of this code of ethics are available upon request by
writing to us at the address on the cover page of this annual report; we have
also posted the code of ethics on our website at
www.gentium.it. Material appearing on this website is not
incorporated by reference into this annual report. If we amend the
provisions of this code of ethics, or if we grant any waiver of such provisions,
we will disclose such amendment or waiver on our website at the same
address.
ITEM
16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The
following table sets forth the fees contractually agreed to with our independent
auditors, Reconta Ernst & Young S.p.A. for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 2008 and 2009:
(in
thousands of Euros)
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Audit
Fees
|
|
€ |
155 |
|
|
€ |
120 |
|
Audit-Related
Fees
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Tax
Fees
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
All
Other Fees
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Total
fees
|
|
€ |
155 |
|
|
€ |
120 |
|
In the
above table, in accordance with the SEC’s definitions and rules, “audit fees”
are fees for professional services for the audit of a company’s financial
statements, and for services that are normally provided by the accountant in
connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. Reconta Ernst
& Young S.p.A. did not provide any tax compliance services or advice on
specific changes in tax regulations for the years ended December 31, 2008 and
2009.
To help
ensure the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm,
the Audit Committee is required to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services
to be performed for us by our independent registered public accounting firm. All
audit and permitted non-audit services, including the fees and terms thereof, to
be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm must be
approved in advance by the Audit Committee.
ITEM
16D. EXEMPTION FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
Under
Italian law, our shareholders, not the audit committee, must be the party that
appoints, terminates and determines the compensation for our independent
accountants, although our audit committee does make recommendations on such
matters to our board of directors, which in turn makes recommendations to our
shareholders. As a result, our audit committee is not able to perform all of the
duties required by Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. Our audit committee has established procedures for the receipt,
retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting
controls and auditing matters, has authority to engage independent counsel and
other advisors and determine the compensation of such advisors, as well as its
ordinary administrative expenses, and also oversees, with the board of statutory
auditors, our independent accountants (including resolution of disagreements
between management and the independent accountants regarding financial
reporting). Rule 10A-3 provides that foreign private issuers with a board
of statutory auditors established in accordance with local law or listing
requirements and meeting specified requirements with regard to independence and
responsibilities (including the performance of most of the specific tasks
assigned to audit committees by the rule, to the extent prohibited by local law)
(“Statutory Auditor Requirements”) are exempt from the audit committee
requirements established by the rule. Our board of directors has determined
that, because of the existence and nature of our board of statutory auditors,
together with the performance of other duties under Rule 10A-3 by our
shareholders and the performance of the remaining duties by our audit committee,
we either satisfy Rule 10A-3 or qualify for an exemption provided by
Rule 10A-3 from the audit committee requirements of
Rule 10A-3.
ITEM
16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED
PURCHASERS
Not
applicable.
ITEM 16F.CHANGE IN
CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
Not
applicable.
ITEM 16G.CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
The
Nasdaq Listing Rules set forth the corporate governance requirements of
companies listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market. Subsection (a)(3) of
Listing Rule 5615 provides that a foreign private issuer may follow its home
country practices in lieu of the corporate governance requirements of the Nasdaq
Stock Market, under certain circumstances. Pursuant to this Listing
Rule 5615(a)(3), we follow Italian practices in lieu of six of the Nasdaq Stock
Market’s corporate governance requirements pertaining to: (1) independent
directors, (2) our audit committee, (3) solicitation of proxies and provision of
proxy statements, (4) quorum requirements, (5) shareholder approval
requirements, and (6) executive sessions. In addition, while we
currently comply with Nasdaq’s requirement to have a majority of our independent
directors or a committee comprised solely of independent directors determine or
recommend compensation for our executive officers and select or recommend
director nominees, we are not required to follow these rules, nor does Italian
law provide for such requirements.
Majority of Independent
Directors
The Nasdaq Stock Market:
Listing Rule 5605(b)(1) requires that a majority of the board of directors be
“independent.” In order for a director to be considered “independent,” a
director may not be an employee of the company or have a relationship with the
company which, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would
interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the
responsibilities of a director.
Italian practices: The
presence of a prescribed number of independent directors on the company’s board
is neither mandated by any Italian law applicable to the company nor required by
the company’s bylaws.
However, Italian law sets forth certain
independence requirements applicable to the company’s statutory auditors. The
following persons may not be appointed as statutory auditors: a person who is
(i) legally incapacitated, bankrupted, or disqualified from holding public or
executive offices under Italian law (ii) a spouse, parent and
relative-in-law of someone that is a director of the company, a director of a
company that controls the company, or a director of a company that is under
common control as the company, or (iii) one whose
independence may be jeopardized due to an employment or consultant relationship
or any other economic relationship with the company, a company that controls the
company, or a company that is under common control as the company. The Italian
Civil Code mandates that at least one effective statutory auditor be a chartered
public accountant. Each of the current members of the board of statutory
auditors is a chartered public accountant.
Audit
committee.
The Nasdaq Stock
Market: Listing Rule 5605(c)(3) requires compliance with Rule
10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which requires
that:
· a
company’s audit committee be directly responsible for the appointment,
compensation, retention and oversight of the work of any registered public
accounting firm engaged (including resolution of disagreements between
management and the auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of
preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest
services for the company;
· each
such registered public accounting firm must report directly to the audit
committee;
· that
the audit committee establish procedures for the receipt, retention and
treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or
auditing matters;
· that
the audit committee have authority to engage independent counsel and other
advisors;
· that
the audit committee determine compensation for the independent accountants;
and
· that
the audit committee determine compensation for any advisors to the audit
committee, as well as its ordinary administrative expenses.
Italian
practices: Under Italian law, our shareholders, not the audit
committee, must be the party that appoints, terminates and determines the
compensation for our independent accountants, although our audit committee does
make recommendations on such matters to our board of directors, which in turn
makes recommendations to our shareholders. As a result, our audit
committee is not able to perform all of the duties required by Rule 10A-3
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our audit committee directly
oversees our independent accountants, including the resolution of disagreements
between management and the independent accountants. Under Italian
law, our board of statutory auditors also oversees our independent accountants
with respect to our Italian GAAP financial
statements. Rule 10A-3 provides that foreign private issuers
with a board of statutory auditors established in accordance with local law or
listing requirements and meeting specified requirements with regard to
independence and responsibilities (including the performance of most of the
specific tasks assigned to audit committees by the rule, to the extent
prohibited by local law) (“Statutory Auditor Requirements”) are exempt from the
audit committee requirements established by the rule. Our board of
directors has determined that, because of the existence and nature of our board
of statutory auditors, together with the performance of other duties under Rule
10A-3 by our shareholders and the performance of the remaining duties by our
audit committee, we either satisfy Rule 10A-3 or qualify for an exemption
provided by Rule 10A-3 from the audit committee requirements of
Rule 10A-3.
Following the termination of our former
board of directors in August 2009, our board of statutory auditors temporarily
assumed responsibility for the ordinary administration of the company. During
this temporary period, we relied on this exemption from both the audit committee
requirements provided by Nasdaq and the audit committee requirements provided by
Exchange Act Rule 10A-3 for foreign private issuers with a board of
statutory auditors established in accordance with local law or listing
requirements and subject to independence requirements under local law or listing
requirements.
Proxy Solicitation and Proxy
Statements
The Nasdaq Stock
Market: Listing Rule 5620(b) requires issuers to solicit proxy
statements for all meetings of shareholders and to provide copies of such proxy
solicitation to Nasdaq.
Italian
Practice: As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the
proxy rules of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We do not
solicit proxies from holders of our ordinary shares, nor are we required to do
so under Italian law. Our depositary, the Bank of New York, does solicit proxies
from ADS holders for instructions on how to vote its ordinary shares at our
shareholder meetings. The Bank of New York also delivers reports from our board
of directors regarding the agenda items for the shareholder meetings to the ADS
holders. We file these board reports, the Bank of New York’s proxy card and any
related items with the SEC on Form 6-K.
Quorum
requirements.
The Nasdaq Stock
Market: Listing Rule 5620(c) sets forth The Nasdaq Stock
Market’s quorum requirement for shareholder meetings, stating that “in no case
shall such quorum be less than 33 1/3% of the outstanding shares of the
company’s common voting stock.”
Italian
practices: In accordance with Italian law, our shareholders
are entitled to attend and vote at an ordinary and extraordinary shareholders’
meetings. Shareholders are notified of two meeting dates for an ordinary and
extraordinary shareholders’ meeting (first and second “calls”). The quorum for
an ordinary meeting of shareholders on the first call is at least 50% of the
outstanding ordinary shares, while on a second call there is no quorum
requirement. The quorum for an extraordinary meeting of shareholders is the
majority of the capital on the first call and more than one-third of the
outstanding capital on a second call.
Shareholder approval
requirements.
The Nasdaq Stock
Market: Listing Rule 5635 sets forth certain Nasdaq Stock
Market’s shareholder approval requirements in connection with the acquisition of
stock or assets of another company, equity based compensation of officers,
directors, employees or consultants, a change of control, and private
placements. Specifically, Listing Rule 5635(a) requires shareholder approval
prior to the issuance of securities in connection with the acquisition of the
stock or assets of another company if the issuance of securities will have
voting power equal to or greater than 20%, number of shares to be issued will be
equal to or in excess of 20% of the outstanding number of shares before the
issuance of such securities, or any director, officer or “substantial
shareholder” gains an increase in outstanding common shares or voting power of
5% or more in connection with such transaction. Listing Rule 5635(b) requires
shareholder approval prior to the issuance of securities when such issuance or
potential issuance will result in a change of control. Listing Rule 5635(c)
requires shareholder approval when an equity incentive plan is established or
materially amended or other equity compensation is made or materially amended.
Listing Rule 5635(d) requires shareholder approval in connection with a private
placement at a price less than the greater of book or market value which results
in the issuance of 20% or more of the outstanding common stock prior to the
issuance or 20% or more of the outstanding voting power prior to the
issuance.
Italian
Practice: Although the Company’s shareholders must authorize
the issuance of shares in connection with any capital increase, such power can
be granted to the board of directors in advance of any of the above mentioned
transactions, if necessary, and none of the Listing Rule 5635 requirements
discussed above require specific shareholder approval under Italian
law.
Executive
Sessions
The Nasdaq
Market: Listing Rule 5602(b)(2) requires that independent
directors have regularly scheduled meetings in which only independent directors
are present.
Italian Practice: Under
Italian law, neither non-executive directors nor independent directors are
required to meet in executive sessions. The members of the Company’s board of
statutory auditors are required to meet at least every
90 days.
PART
III
ITEM
17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Not
applicable.
ITEM
18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
GENTIUM
S.p.A.
INDEX
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accountants
|
|
F-1
|
Balance
Sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2009
|
|
F-2
|
Statements
of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and
2009
|
|
F-3
|
Statements
of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and
2009
|
|
F-4
|
Statements
of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and
2009
|
|
F-5
|
Notes
to Financial Statements
|
|
F-7
|
ITEM
19. EXHIBITS
Exhibit
|
|
Description
|
Charter
documents
|
1(i)
|
|
Articles
of Association of Gentium S.p.A., formerly known as Pharma Research S.r.l.
dated November 11, 1993, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to
the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No. 333-122233,
previously filed with the SEC on January 24, 2005.
|
1(ii)
|
|
Amended
and Restated Bylaws of Gentium S.p.A. dated April 27, 2007, incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 1(ii) to the Annual Report on Form 20-F previously
filed with the SEC on April 30, 2007.
|
American
Depositary Share Documents
|
2.1
|
|
Form
of Deposit Agreement among Gentium S.p.A., The Bank of New York and the
owners and beneficial owners from time to time of American Depositary
Receipts (including as an exhibit the form of American Depositary
Receipt), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Amendment No. 5 to
the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No. 333-122233,
previously filed with the SEC on June 9, 2005.
|
2.2
|
|
Form
of American Depositary Receipt (see Exhibit 2.1).
|
Security
Subscription Agreements
|
2.3
|
|
Securities
Subscription Agreement among Gentium S.p.A. and the other parties thereto
dated as of May 31, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9.1 to
the Registration Statement on Form F-3, Registration No. 333-135622,
previously filed with the SEC on July 6, 2006.
|
2.4
|
|
Securities
Subscription Agreement among Gentium S.p.A. and the other parties thereto,
dated as of February 6, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to
the report on Form 6-K, previously filed with the SEC on February 7,
2007.
|
Warrants
|
2.5
|
|
Form
of warrant (regarding Series A financing), incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.2.2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No.
333-122233, previously filed with the SEC on January 24,
2005.
|
2.6
|
|
Form
of Representatives’ Purchase Option between Gentium S.p.A. and Maxim Group
LLC and I-Bankers Securities Inc., incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 1.2 to Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1,
Registration No. 333-122233, previously filed with the SEC on June 9,
2005.
|
2.7
|
|
Form
of American Depositary Shares Purchase Warrant by Gentium S.p.A. dated
October 14, 2005, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8.2 to the
Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No. 333-130796,
previously filed with the SEC on December 30, 2005.
|
2.8.1
|
|
Form
of American Depositary Shares Purchase Warrant by Gentium S.p.A. dated
June 6, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9.2 to the
Registration Statement on Form F-3, Registration No. 333-135622,
previously filed with the SEC on July 6, 2006.
|
2.8.2
|
|
Form
of Ordinary Share Warrant by Gentium S.p.A. dated June 6, 2006,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9.3 to the Registration Statement
on Form F-3, Registration No. 333-135622, previously filed with the SEC on
July 6, 2006.
|
Investor
Rights and Registration Rights Agreements
|
2.9.1
|
|
Form
of Investors’ Rights Agreement between Gentium S.p.A. and holders of the
Series A senior convertible promissory notes and warrants dated
October 15, 2004, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2.4 to the
Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No. 333-122233,
previously filed with the SEC on January 24,
2005.
|
2.9.2
|
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Gentium S.p.A. Series A Senior Convertible Promissory
Notes, Warrants, Subscription Agreements and Investor Rights Agreements
among Gentium S.p.A. and the other parties thereto dated May 27,
2005, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2.6 to Amendment No. 4 to the
Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No. 333-122233,
previously filed with the SEC on May 31, 2005.
|
2.10
|
|
Investors’
Rights Agreement by and among Gentium S.p.A., Alexandra Global Master
Fund Ltd. and Generation Capital Associates made as of
January 10, 2005, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the
Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No. 333-122233,
previously filed with the SEC on January 24, 2005.
|
2.11
|
|
Investors’
Rights Agreement by and among Gentium S.p.A. and Sigma-Tau Finanziaria
S.p.A. made as of April 4, 2005, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.5 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1,
Registration No. 333-122233, previously filed with the SEC on April 7,
2005.
|
2.12
|
|
Registration
Rights Agreement among Gentium S.p.A. and the other parties thereto made
and entered into as of October 14, 2005, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.8.3 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No.
333-130796, previously filed with the SEC on December 30,
2005.
|
2.13
|
|
Registration
Rights Agreement among Gentium S.p.A. and the other parties thereto made
and entered into as of June 6, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.9.4 to the Registration Statement on Form F-3, Registration No.
333-135622, previously filed with the SEC on July 6,
2006.
|
2.14
|
|
Registration
Rights Agreement among Gentium S.p.A. and the other parties thereto made
and entered into as of February 9, 2007, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.10.3 to the Registration Statement on Form F-3, Registration No.
333-141198, previously filed with the SEC on March 9,
2007.
|
Equity
Incentive and Stock Option Plans
|
4.1.1
|
|
Amended
and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No.
333-137534, previously filed with the SEC on September 22,
2006.
|
4.1.2
|
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, made as of March
26, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1.2 to the Annual Report
on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007, previously filed with
the SEC on April 30, 2007.
|
4.2.1
|
|
Amended
and Restated Nonstatutory Share Option Plan and Agreement dated March 23,
2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Annual Report on
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005, previously filed with the
SEC on May 30, 2006.
|
4.2.2
|
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Amended and Restated Nonstatutory Share Option Plan and
Agreement, made as of March 26, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.2.2 to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31,
2007, previously filed with the SEC on April 30, 2007.
|
4.3
|
|
2007
Stock Option Plan, dated March 26, 2007, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.42 to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December
31, 2007, previously filed with the SEC on April 30,
2007.
|
Loan
Agreements
|
4.4
|
|
Ministry
for Universities, Scientific and Technological Research Loan granted to
Gentium S.p.A., successor in interest to Crinos Industria Farmacobiologica
S.p.A., by Sanpaolo Imi S.p.A., dated September 27, 2000,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement on
Form F-1, Registration No. 333-122233, previously filed with the SEC on
January 24, 2005.
|
4.5
|
|
Loan
Agreement between Banca Nazionale del Lavoro S.p.A. and Gentium S.p.A.
dated June 14, 2006 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7.3 to the
Registration Statement on Form F-3, Registration No. 333-135622,
previously filed with the SEC on July 6, 2006.
|
4.6
|
|
Loan
Agreement for €230,000 with Banca Intesa S.p.A., dated December 20, 2006,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to the report on Form 6-K,
previously filed with the SEC on February 2,
2007.
|
4.7
|
|
Loan
Agreement for €500,000 with Banca Intesa S.p.A., dated December 20, 2006,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the report on Form 6-K,
previously filed with the SEC on February 2, 2007.
|
4.8
|
|
Loan
Agreement for €225,000 with Banca Intesa S.p.A., dated December 20, 2006,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the report on Form 6-K,
previously filed with the SEC on February 2, 2007.
|
4.9
|
|
Financing
Contract between Banca Intesa Mediocredito S.p.A. and Gentium S.p.A. dated
April 20, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.36.2 to the Annual
Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005, previously filed
with the SEC on May 30, 2006.
|
4.10
|
|
Loan
Agreement, dated June 30, 2006, between San Paolo IMI S.p.A. and Gentium
S.p.A. , incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.43 to the Annual Report on
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006, previously filed with the
SEC on April 30, 2007.
|
Clinical
Trial Agreements
|
4.11.1
|
|
Master
Services Agreement, dated March 14, 2007, between MDS Pharma Services
(US), Inc. and Gentium S.p.A., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to
the report on Form 6-K, previously filed with the SEC on March 20,
2007.
|
4.11.2
|
|
Statement
of Work, effective August 8, 2007, between Gentium S.p.A. and MDS Pharma
Services, Inc. (prospective arm), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3
to the report on Form 6-K, previously filed with the SEC on August 22,
2007.
|
4.11.3
|
|
Statement
of Work, effective August 8, 2007, between Gentium S.p.A. and MDS Pharma
Services, Inc. (historical arm), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to
the report on Form 6-K, previously filed with the SEC on August 22,
2007.
|
License
and Distribution Agreements
|
4.12.1
|
|
License
and Supply Agreement by and between Gentium S.p.A. and Sigma-Tau
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (assignee of Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche
Riunite S.p.A.) dated December 7, 2001, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.15 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No.
333-122233, previously filed with the SEC on January 24,
2005.
|
4.12.2
|
|
Letter
Agreement, dated October 12, 2007, between Gentium S.p.A. and Sigma-Tau
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the
report on Form 6-K, previously filed with the SEC on December 12,
2007.
|
4.12.3*
|
|
Amendments
to License and Supply Agreement and Letter Agreement, dated December 7,
2001 and October 12, 2007, respectively, effective January 7, 2010,
between Gentium S.p.A. and Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 2 to the Form 6-K, previously filed with the SEC
on January 11, 2010.
|
4.13.1
|
|
Contract
to Supply Active Ingredients between Sirton Pharmaceuticals
S.p.A. and Gentium S.p.A. dated January 2, 2006, incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.24.2 to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year
ended December 31, 2005, previously filed with the SEC on May 30,
2006.
|
4.13.2
|
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Contract to Supply Active Ingredients, effective as of December
7, 2007, by and between Gentium S.p.A. and Sirton Pharmaceuticals
S.p.A.
|
4.14.1
|
|
Master
Agreement, dated December 28, 2006, among Gentium S.p.A., Crinos S.p.A.,
SFI Stada Financial Investments Ltd. and SFS Stada Financial Services
International Ltd., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to the report
on Form 6-K, previously filed with the SEC on January 3,
2007.
|
4.14.2
|
|
Distribution
Agreement, dated December 28, 2006, between Gentium S.p.A. and Crinos
S.p.A., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6 to the report on Form 6-K,
previously filed with the SEC on January 3, 2007.
|
4.21*
|
|
Technical
Transfer Services Agreement, dated February 2, 2009, between Gentium
S.p.A. and Patheon Italia S.p.A, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.21
to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008,
previously filed with the SEC on March 31,
2009.
|
4.22.1
|
|
Technical
Agreement, dated February 26, 2009, between Gentium S.p.A. and IDIS
Limited, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.22.1 to the Annual Report
on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008, previously filed with
the SEC on March 31, 2009.
|
4.22.2*
|
|
Supply
and Distribution Agreement, dated March 6, 2009, between Gentium S.p.A.
and IDIS Limited, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.22.2 to the
Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008,
previously filed with the SEC on March 31, 2009.
|
4.23*
|
|
Master
Contract Clinical Research Agreement, dated September 29, 2009, between US
Oncology Clinical Development and Gentium S.p.A., incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 2 to the report on Form 6-K, previously filed with
the SEC on December 8, 2009.
|
Management
Services Agreements
|
4.15
|
|
Service
Agreement between FinSirton S.p.A. and Gentium S.p.A. dated
January 2, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25.2 to the
Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005,
previously filed with the SEC on May 30, 2006.
|
4.16
|
|
Service
Agreement between Sirton Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. and Gentium S.p.A. dated
January 2, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26.2 to the
Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005,
previously filed with the SEC on May 30, 2006.
|
Leases
|
4.17
|
|
Commercial
Lease Contract between Gentium S.p.A. and Sirton Pharmaceuticals S.p.A.
dated January 1, 2005, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to
Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration
No. 333-122233, previously filed with the SEC on May 10,
2005.
|
4.18
|
|
Commercial
Lease Contract between Gentium S.p.A. and FinSirton S.p.A. dated
January 1, 2005, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to
Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration
No. 333-122233, previously filed with the SEC on May 10,
2005.
|
4.19
|
|
Commercial
Lease Contract between Gentium S.p.A. and FinSirton S.p.A. dated January
1, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.32.2 (improperly coded as
Exhibit 4.43(2)) to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ending
December 31, 2006, previously filed with the SEC on April 30,
2007.
|
Miscellaneous
|
4.20
|
|
Form
of indemnification agreement between Gentium S.p.A. and each officer and
director, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to Amendment No. 2 to
the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No. 333-122233,
previously filed with the SEC on May 10, 2005.
|
Certifications
and Consents
|
12.1
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
12.2
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
13.1
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
13.2
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
15(a)
|
|
Consent
of Reconta Ernst & Young S.p.A. dated March 31,
2010.
|
*
|
Portions
of this exhibit have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities
and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request for confidential
treatment.
|
|
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board
of Directors and Shareholders of Gentium S.p.A.
We have
audited the accompanying balance sheets of Gentium S.p.A. as of December 31,
2009 and 2008, and the related statements of operations, shareholders’ equity,
and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31,
2009. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an
audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits
included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis
for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but
not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no
such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing
the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our
opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Gentium S.p.A. at December 31, 2009
and 2008, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles.
Reconta
Ernst & Young S.p.A.
Milan,
Italy
March 31,
2010
GENTIUM
S.p.A.
BALANCE
SHEETS
Amounts
in thousands except share and per share data
|
|
As
of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
€ |
11,491 |
|
|
€ |
1,392 |
|
Accounts
receivable
|
|
|
625 |
|
|
|
3,213 |
|
Accounts
receivable from related parties, net
|
|
|
816 |
|
|
|
501 |
|
Inventories,
net
|
|
|
907 |
|
|
|
1,551 |
|
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
1,682 |
|
|
|
1,431 |
|
Total
Current Assets
|
|
|
15,521 |
|
|
|
8,088 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property,
manufacturing facility and equipment, at cost
|
|
|
21,019 |
|
|
|
21,262 |
|
Less:
Accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
10,268 |
|
|
|
11,545 |
|
Property,
manufacturing facility and equipment, net
|
|
|
10,751 |
|
|
|
9,717 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible
assets, net of amortization
|
|
|
95 |
|
|
|
76 |
|
Available
for sale securities
|
|
|
510 |
|
|
|
263 |
|
Other
non-current assets
|
|
|
24 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
Total Assets
|
|
€ |
26,901 |
|
|
€ |
18,167 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
€ |
5,823 |
|
|
€ |
4,379 |
|
Accounts
payable to Crinos
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Accounts
payable to related parties
|
|
|
325 |
|
|
|
286 |
|
Accrued
expenses and other current liabilities
|
|
|
810 |
|
|
|
1,907 |
|
Current
portion of capital lease obligations
|
|
|
65 |
|
|
|
67 |
|
Current
maturities of long-term debt
|
|
|
1,346 |
|
|
|
408 |
|
Total
Current Liabilities
|
|
|
12,369 |
|
|
|
7,047 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term
debt, net of current maturities
|
|
|
3,268 |
|
|
|
3,098 |
|
Capital
lease obligations
|
|
|
158 |
|
|
|
91 |
|
Termination
indemnities
|
|
|
655 |
|
|
|
601 |
|
Total
Liabilities
|
|
|
16,450 |
|
|
|
10,837 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share
capital (€1.00 and no par value as of December 31, 2008 and 2009,
respectively; 18,454,292 and 18,302,617 shares authorized as of December
31, 2008 and 2009, respectively; 14,956,317 shares issued and outstanding
at December 31, 2008 and 2009)
|
|
|
14,956 |
|
|
|
106,962 |
|
Additional
paid in capital
|
|
|
90,619 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
(17 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
|
|
(95,107 |
) |
|
|
(99,632 |
) |
Total
Shareholders’ Equity
|
|
|
10,451 |
|
|
|
7,330 |
|
Total Liabilities and
Shareholders’ Equity
|
|
€ |
26,901 |
|
|
€ |
18,167 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
STATEMENTS
OF OPERATIONS
|
|
For
the Year Ended December 31,
|
|
Amounts in
thousands except share and per share data
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product
sales to related party
|
|
€ |
2,704 |
|
|
€ |
651 |
|
|
€ |
195 |
|
Product
sales to third parties
|
|
|
2,390 |
|
|
|
4,792 |
|
|
|
9,507 |
|
Total
product sales
|
|
|
5,094 |
|
|
|
5,443 |
|
|
|
9,702 |
|
Other
revenues
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
25 |
|
|
|
129 |
|
Other
revenues from related party
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
1,970 |
|
|
|
337 |
|
Total
Revenues
|
|
|
7,609 |
|
|
|
7,438 |
|
|
|
10,168 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
costs and expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of goods sold
|
|
|
4,584 |
|
|
|
5,596 |
|
|
|
4,002 |
|
Research
and development
|
|
|
14,497 |
|
|
|
9,569 |
|
|
|
3,512 |
|
General
and administrative
|
|
|
6,279 |
|
|
|
7,668 |
|
|
|
6,036 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
725 |
|
|
|
998 |
|
|
|
916 |
|
Charges
from related parties
|
|
|
748 |
|
|
|
537 |
|
|
|
279 |
|
Write-down
of assets
|
|
|
13,740 |
|
|
|
3,403 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
40,573 |
|
|
|
27,771 |
|
|
|
14,745 |
|
Operating
loss
|
|
|
(32,964 |
) |
|
|
(20,333 |
) |
|
|
(4,577 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
1,674 |
|
|
|
587 |
|
|
|
49 |
|
Foreign
currency exchange gain/(loss), net
|
|
|
(4,001 |
) |
|
|
173 |
|
|
|
162 |
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
(317 |
) |
|
|
(331 |
) |
|
|
(159 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
€ |
(35,608 |
) |
|
€ |
(19,904 |
) |
|
€ |
(4,525 |
) |
Net
loss per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
and diluted net loss per share
|
|
€ |
(2.52 |
) |
|
€ |
(1.33 |
) |
|
€ |
(0.30 |
) |
Weighted
average shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per
share
|
|
|
14,105,128 |
|
|
|
14,956,263 |
|
|
|
14,956,317 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
STATEMENTS
OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007, 2008 AND 2009
Amounts
in thousands
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Additional
Paid-in Capital
|
|
|
Accumulated
Deficit
|
|
|
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive income/(loss)
|
|
|
Total
Shareholders’ Equity
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
11,774 |
|
|
€ |
11,774 |
|
|
€ |
49,476 |
|
|
€ |
(39,595 |
) |
|
€ |
32 |
|
|
€ |
21,687 |
|
Unrealized
loss on marketable securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(34 |
) |
|
|
(34 |
) |
Issuance
of ordinary shares in private placement, net
|
|
|
2,354 |
|
|
|
2,354 |
|
|
|
32,129 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34,483 |
|
Issuance
of ordinary shares upon exercise of options
|
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
90 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
118 |
|
Issuance
of ordinary shares upon exercise of warrants, net
|
|
|
790 |
|
|
|
790 |
|
|
|
5,119 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,909 |
|
Stock
based compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,804 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,804 |
|
Net
loss for 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(35,608 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(35,608 |
) |
Balance
at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
14,946 |
|
|
€ |
14,946 |
|
|
€ |
88,618 |
|
|
€ |
(75,203 |
) |
|
€ |
(2 |
) |
|
€ |
28,359 |
|
Unrealized
loss on marketable securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(15 |
) |
|
|
(15 |
) |
Issuance
of ordinary shares upon exercise of options
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38 |
|
Stock
based compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,973 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,973 |
|
Net
loss for 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(19,904 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(19,904 |
) |
Balance
at December 31, 2008
|
|
|
14,956 |
|
|
€ |
14,956 |
|
|
€ |
90,619 |
|
|
€ |
(95,107 |
) |
|
|
(17 |
) |
|
€ |
10,451 |
|
Unrealized
gain on marketable securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
17 |
|
Stock
based compensation prior to no par value resolution
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
717 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
717 |
|
Resolution
of no par value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
91,336 |
|
|
|
(91,336 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
Stock
based compensation subsequent to no par value resolution
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
670 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
670 |
|
Net
loss for 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,525 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,525 |
) |
Balance
at December 31, 2009
|
|
|
14,956 |
|
|
€ |
106,962 |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
|
€ |
(99,632 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
€ |
7,330 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
GENTIUM
S.p.A.
STATEMENTS
OF CASH FLOWS
Amounts
in thousands
|
|
For
the Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Cash
Flows From Operating Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
€ |
(35,608 |
) |
|
€ |
(19,904 |
) |
|
€ |
(4,525 |
) |
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Write-down
of intangible assets
|
|
|
13,740 |
|
|
|
2,175 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Write-down
of inventory
|
|
|
206 |
|
|
|
1,228 |
|
|
|
19 |
|
Unrealized
foreign exchange loss/(gain)
|
|
|
2,951 |
|
|
|
(337 |
) |
|
|
(223 |
) |
Depreciation
and
amortization
|
|
|
1,538 |
|
|
|
1,699 |
|
|
|
1,300 |
|
Stock
based compensation
|
|
|
1,804 |
|
|
|
1,973 |
|
|
|
1,386 |
|
Loss/(Gain)
on fixed asset disposal
|
|
|
(15 |
) |
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Allowance/(Release)
for doubtful accounts
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,783 |
|
|
|
(684 |
) |
Loss
on marketable securities
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
|
|
(1,249 |
) |
|
|
(1,001 |
) |
|
|
(2,603 |
) |
Inventories
|
|
|
(217 |
) |
|
|
(625 |
) |
|
|
(663 |
) |
Prepaid
expenses and other current and noncurrent assets
|
|
|
(3,426 |
) |
|
|
568 |
|
|
|
524 |
|
Accounts
payable, accrued expenses and deferred revenues
|
|
|
6,103 |
|
|
|
(310 |
) |
|
|
363 |
|
Termination
indemnities
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
(31 |
) |
|
|
(54 |
) |
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
(14,169 |
) |
|
|
(12,775 |
) |
|
|
(5,156 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
Flows From Investing Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital
expenditures
|
|
|
(2,890 |
) |
|
|
(437 |
) |
|
|
(245 |
) |
Intangible
assets expenditures
|
|
|
(215 |
) |
|
|
(154 |
) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
Proceeds
on disposal of fixed assets
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Sales
of marketable securities
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
262 |
|
Restricted
cash
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Acquisition
of Crinos Assets
|
|
|
(8,000 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(4,000 |
) |
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(7,090 |
) |
|
|
(591 |
) |
|
|
(3,986 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
Flows From Financing Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds
from private placements, net of offering expenses
|
|
|
34,483 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Proceeds
from warrant and stock option exercises, net
|
|
|
6,027 |
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Repayments
of long-term debt
|
|
|
(724 |
) |
|
|
(1,216 |
) |
|
|
(1,108 |
) |
Proceeds
(repayment) from/of short term borrowings
|
|
|
279 |
|
|
|
(279 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Principal
payment of capital lease obligation
|
|
|
(89 |
) |
|
|
(107 |
) |
|
|
(65 |
) |
Proceeds
from long-term debt
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
147 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Net
cash provided by/used in financing activities
|
|
|
39,976 |
|
|
|
(1,417 |
) |
|
|
(1,173 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase/(decrease)
in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
18,717 |
|
|
|
(14,783 |
) |
|
|
(10,315 |
) |
Effect
of exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(2,958 |
) |
|
|
310 |
|
|
|
216 |
|
Cash
and cash equivalents, beginning of
period
|
|
|
10,205 |
|
|
|
25,964 |
|
|
|
11,491 |
|
Cash
and cash equivalents, end of
period
|
|
€ |
25,964 |
|
|
€ |
11,491 |
|
|
€ |
1,392 |
|
Amounts
in thousands
|
|
For
The Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Supplemental
disclosure of cash flow information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
paid for interest
|
|
€ |
320 |
|
|
€ |
308 |
|
|
€ |
143 |
|
Supplemental
disclosure of non cash investing and financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets
acquired under lease obligations
|
|
€ |
328 |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
Non
cash item related to asset acquisition
|
|
|
4,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Offset
noncash assets and liabilities with Crinos and Sirton
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
5,327 |
|
|
|
744 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
NOTES
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For
the Three Years Ended December 31, 2009
(All
amounts in thousands of Euro or U.S. dollars unless specified
otherwise)
1. BUSINESS
AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Basis of
Presentation: Gentium S.p.A. (“Gentium,” the “Company,” “we,” or “our”) is a biopharmaceutical
company focused on the development and manufacture of our primary product
candidate, defibrotide, an investigational drug based on single-stranded DNA
extracted from pig intestines. Our development of defibrotide has
been focused on the treatment and prevention of a disease VOD, a condition in
which some of the veins in the liver are blocked as a result of cancer
treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation treatments, that are given prior
to stem cell transplantation. Severe VOD is the most extreme form of
VOD and is associated with multiple-organ failure and high rates of morbidity
and mortality. We have completed two clinical trials, a Phase III
trial of defibrotide for the treatment of severe VOD in the U.S., Canada and
Israel and a Phase II/III pediatric trial in Europe for the prevention of
VOD. Defibrotide has been given orphan status by the FDA and EMEA,
which means that we will have limited market exclusivity upon regulatory
approval. Defibrotide has also been granted fast-track product
designation by the FDA for the treatment of VOD. While we have not
yet obtained regulatory approval to market defibrotide, we are authorized to
distribute defibrotide on a pre-approved basis under a treatment IND protocol in
the U.S. and through a named-patient program throughout the rest of the
world. We do not know of any FDA or EMEA approved treatments for
VOD.
We are
currently completing certain preclinical and clinical studies requested by
regulatory authorities. As part of our overall strategy, we
anticipate filing for regulatory approval for defibrotide in the U.S. and Europe
by the end of our second quarter in 2011. We are also working closely
on our U.S. regulatory strategy with our commercial partner, Sigma-Tau
Finanziaria S.p.A. and its affiliate Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to which
we have licensed our commercial rights to defibrotide for both the treatment and
prevention of VOD in the Americas.
We have a
manufacturing plant in Italy where we produce active pharmaceutical ingredients,
which are subsequently used to make the finished forms of various drugs. We
believe that we are the sole worldwide producer of defibrotide. In
addition to defibrotide, we manufacture urokinase and sulglicotide, both of
which are sold to third parties. All of the Company’s operating
assets are located in Italy.
In 2009,
we entered into a supply and distribution agreement with IDIS Limited, whereby
IDIS was contracted to be the exclusive supplier of defibrotide on a
named-patient supply basis in all countries except other than Italy and the
United States of America. We have also instituted an expanded access program for
patients diagnosed with severe VOD in the United States who are not eligible to
participate in or otherwise lack access to the Phase III clinical
trial. Under an expanded access program, the FDA allows early access
to investigational drugs that are being developed to treat serious diseases for
which there is no satisfactory alternative therapy. We decided to
undertake this expanded access program due to the large numbers of requests for
compassionate use of defibrotide, and the corresponding burden that sites and
investigators have been undergoing to obtain institutional review board and FDA
approval for such compassionate use requests. We expect to collect
additional usage tolerability and safety data from patients of this program to
support our planned New Drug Application for the treatment of Severe VOD and/or
the prevention of VOD.
The accompanying financial statements
have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America. These financial statements are denominated in
the currency of the European Union (the Euro or €). Unless otherwise
indicated, all amounts are reported in thousands of Euro or US$, except share
and per share data. Management performed an evaluation of the Company’s
activities through the date of filing of this annual report on Form 20-F, and
has concluded that there are no subsequent events requiring disclosure through
the date except for transactions discussed in Note 19.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will
continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and
the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business for the
twelve-month period following the date of the balance sheet. Through December
31, 2009, the Company had accumulated losses of approximately €100 million. The
Company expects to continue to incur net losses as it continues the development
of defibrotide, apply for regulatory approvals and expand our
operations. However, absent the need to fund any additional clinical
trials, management believes that the Company’s cash and cash equivalents,
including the upfront payment received from Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in
connection with the expansion of the license agreement for defibrotide in the
Americas, together with revenues generated from the Company’s named-patient and
cost recovery programs, will be sufficient to meet the Company’s obligations for
at least the next twelve months. If the Company elects to increase
its spending above current plans or perform additional clinical trials, the
Company may need to obtain additional capital through equity or debt financings,
loans and collaborative agreements with corporate partners, which may not be
available to the Company on favorable terms, if at all.
2. SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Use of Estimates and
Reclassification: The preparation of financial
statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual amounts and results could differ from those
estimates.
Reclassifications: Certain
prior year amounts have been reclassified to be consistent with the current year
presentation. We have reclassified €4.0 million related to our investment in
certain assets of Crinos from operating activities to investing activities in
our 2007 statement of cash flows, and separately disclosed the related non-cash
component in the supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
activities, which was previously only separately disclosed in the notes to the
2007 financial statements. This reclassification did not have any impact our
balance sheets or statement of operations. Additionally, we have separately
disclosed certain non-cash items in the supplemental disclosure of non-cash
investing and financing activities in the 2008 statement of cash flows to be
consistent with the current period presentation. These items were all
separately disclosed throughout the notes of the financial statements for the
prior year. In 2009, we began separately disclosing revenue received pursuant to
a collaborative agreement with our related party Sigma-Tau in the statement of
operations and included amounts due from Sigma-Tau under accounts receivable
from related parties. This reclassification did not impact total revenues, but
had the effect of reducing other revenues by €2,500 and €1,970 for the years
ended 2007 and 2008, respectively. This reclassification also increased accounts
receivable from related parties, net and decreased prepaid and other current
assets by €496 as of December 31, 2008.
Segment
information: The Company is managed and operated as one
business. The entire business is managed by a single management team that
reports to the chief executive officer. The Company does not operate separate
lines of business or separate business entities with respect to any of its
product or product candidates. The Company’s chief
operating decision makers review the profit and loss and manage the operations
of the Company on an aggregate basis. Accordingly, the Company operates in one
segment, which is the biopharmaceutical industry.
Cash and Cash
Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include
highly liquid, temporary cash investments having original maturity dates of
three months or less. For reporting purposes, cash equivalents are stated at
cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value.
Concentration of Credit Risk and
Other Risks and Uncertainties: Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit
risks consist principally of cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and
trade receivables. The Company limits investments to short-term low risk
instruments. Trade receivables from one foreign customer are guaranteed by a
letter of credit from a primary bank institution. The Company has an exposure to
credit risk in its trade accounts receivable, which are typically unsecured,
from sales of defibrotide through its named-patient and cost recovery programs.
As of December 31, 2009 two distributors accounted for approximately 65% and 15%
of our accounts receivable, respectively. As of December 31, 2008, two customers
accounted for approximately 62% and 31% of our accounts receivable,
respectively. We are exposed to risks associated with foreign currency
transactions to use U.S. dollars to make contract payments denominated in euros
and vice versa. As the net positions of our unhedged foreign currency
transactions fluctuate, our earnings might be negatively affected. We currently
do not utilize forward exchange contracts or any type of hedging instruments to
hedge foreign exchange risk as we believe our overall exposure is relatively
limited. For the year ended December 31, 2009, three customers accounted for
47%, 28% and 12% of our product sales to third parties, respectively. For
the year ended December 31, 2008, two customers accounted for 56% and 40% of our
product sales to third parties, respectively. For the year ended December 31,
2007, two customers accounted for 71% and 29% of our product sales to third
parties, respectively.
The
Company is subject to a number of risks, including its ability to successfully
obtain regulatory approval for defibrotide, the uncertainty that defibrotide
will become a successful commercial product, its ability to generate projected
revenue through its named-patient and cost recovery programs, its dependence on
corporate partners, its ability to obtain financing, if necessary, and potential
changes in the health care industry.
Trade accounts
receivable: Trade accounts receivable are recorded net of
allowances for distributors’ fees where we are not invoiced directly and
doubtful accounts. Estimates for distributors’ fees are based on contractual
terms. Estimates for our allowance for doubtful accounts is determined based on
existing contractual payment terms, historical payment patterns of our customers
and individual customer circumstances.
Inventories: Inventories
consist of raw materials, semi-finished and finished active pharmaceutical
ingredients and defibrotide distributed through the named-patient and treatment
IND programs. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market,
cost being determined on an average cost basis, which approximates the
first-in-first-out method. Prior to commencement of selling defibrotide through
the named-patient and cost recovery programs, we had expensed all costs
associated with the production of defibrotide as research and development
expenses. Subsequent to signing the agreements associated with the named-patient
and cost recovery programs, we capitalized the subsequent costs of manufacturing
defibrotide as inventory, including costs to convert existing raw materials to
active pharmaceutical ingredients and costs to package and label previously
manufactured inventory whose costs had already been expensed as a research and
development expense. Until we sell the inventory for which a portion of the
costs were previously expensed, the carrying value of our inventories and our
cost of sales will reflect only incremental costs incurred subsequent to the
signing of these agreements.
The
Company periodically reviews its inventories and items that are considered
outdated or obsolete are reduced to their estimated net realizable value. The
Company estimates reserves for excess and obsolete inventories based on
inventory levels on hand, future purchase commitments, and current and
forecasted product demand. If an estimate of future product demand suggests that
inventory levels are excessive, then inventories are reduced to their estimated
net realizable value. We also review our inventory for quality assurance and
quality control issues identified in the manufacturing process and determine if
a write-down is necessary.
We
expense costs relating to the production of clinical products as research and
development expense in the period incurred, which are not expected to be sold
through the named-patient and cost recovery programs and will continue to do so
until we receive an approval letter from the United States Food and Drug
Administration, or FDA, or European Medicines Agency, or EMEA, for a new product
or product configuration. Upon receipt of an approval letter from FDA
or EMEA for a new product or product configuration, we will begin to capitalize
the subsequent inventory costs relating to that product
configuration.
Property, Manufacturing Facility and
Equipment: Property and equipment are carried at
cost, subject to review for impairment of significant assets whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not
be recoverable. Repairs and maintenance are charged to operations as incurred,
and significant expenditures for additions and improvements are capitalized if
they extend the useful life or capacity of the asset. Leasehold improvements are
amortized over the economic life of the asset or the lease term, whichever is
shorter. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated
useful life of the respective assets, ranging from five to twenty
years.
The cost
of property, manufacturing facility and equipment also includes a proportionate
share of the Company’s financing costs. The amount of interest cost to be
capitalized for qualifying assets is that portion of the interest cost incurred
during the assets’ acquisition periods that could have been avoided if
expenditures for the assets had not been made. Interest expense capitalized is
amortized over the same life as the underlying constructed asset.
Computer Software We
capitalize costs of computer software obtained for internal use. Such costs are
included in property, manufacturing facility and equipment and amortized over
the estimated useful life of the software.
Intangibles: Intangible
assets are stated at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over their
expected useful life, estimated to be five to ten years for licenses and
trademarks.
Impairment of Long-lived Assets,
including Intangibles: The Company’s long-lived assets consist
primarily of intangible assets and property and equipment. The Company evaluates
its ability to recover the carrying value of long-lived assets used in its
business, considering changes in the business environment or other facts and
circumstances that suggest their value may be impaired. If this evaluation
indicates the carrying value will not be recoverable, based on the undiscounted
expected future cash flows estimated to be generated by these assets, the
Company will reduce the carrying amount to the estimated fair
value.
Marketable
Securities: The Company’s marketable securities are classified
as securities available for sale in non-current assets and are carried at fair
value based on market prices. Unrealized gains and losses (which are deemed to
be temporary), if any, are reported in other comprehensive income or loss as a
separate component of shareholders’ equity.
A decline
in the market value of any available for sale securities below cost that is
deemed to be other than temporary results in a reduction in the carrying amount
to fair value. The impairment would be charged to earnings and a new cost basis
for the securities established. Factors evaluated to determine if an impairment
is other than temporary include significant deterioration in the credit rating,
asset quality, or business prospects of the issuer; adverse changes in the
general market condition in which the issuer operates; the intent and ability to
retain the investment for a sufficient period of time to allow for recovery in
the market value of the investment; and any concerns about the issuer’s ability
to continue as a going concern.
Revenue
Recognition: The Company recognizes revenue from
the sale of products to a related party, Sirton, third parties and from
collaborative arrangements.
Product Sales:
Revenues from product sales are recognized when there is persuasive evidence
that an arrangement exists, delivery to the customer has occurred and title
passes to the customer, the price is fixed or determinable and collectability is
reasonably assured. Upon recognition of revenue from product sales, provisions
are made for customer incentives such as cash discounts for minimum amounts
ordered, distributor fees and expected returns of expired products, as
appropriate.
Items
deducted from Gross Product Sales:
|
·
|
Distributor fees: We
entered into an agreement with distributors to manage defibrotide as an
investigational drug on a named-patient and cost recovery basis. We
recognize a fee to distributors based on a contractually determined fixed
percentage of sales. These fees are accrued at the time of the sale and
offset against product sales and are typically granted within 60 days
after the issuance of a sales report. Distributor fees that are invoiced
directly to us are recorded in accrued expenses and other current
liabilities in our balance sheets.
|
|
·
|
Cash discounts: We
recognize a price discount to a customer if a minimum number of purchase
quantities are purchased in a calendar year. We establish a reserve based
on estimates of the amounts earned or to be claimed on the related sales,
which is classified as accrued expenses and other current liabilities in
our balance sheets, and as a reduction of product
sales.
|
|
·
|
Product returns: We do
not provide our customers with a general right of product return, but
permit returns if the product is damaged or defective when received by the
customer or if the product has expired. Our estimates for expected returns
of expired products are based primarily on an ongoing analysis of
historical return patterns. To date there have been no returns due to
product expiration.
|
Collaborative
arrangements with multiple deliverables are divided into separate units of
accounting if certain criteria are met, including whether the delivered element
has stand-alone value to the customer and whether there is objective and
reliable evidence of the fair value of the undelivered items. The consideration
received from these arrangements is allocated among the separate units based on
their respective fair value, and the applicable revenue recognition criteria are
applied to each separate unit. Revenues from collaborative arrangements
generally include manufacturing fee arrangements if the research and development
efforts ever reach the commercialization phase.
Revenue
from non-refundable up-front license fees and milestone payments are recognized
as performance occurs and our obligations are completed. In accordance with the
specific terms of the Company’s obligations under these arrangements, revenue is
recognized as the obligation is fulfilled or ratably over the development or
manufacturing period. Revenue associated with substantive at-risk milestones is
recognized based upon the achievement of the milestones as defined in the
respective agreements. Revenue from reimbursement of research costs under
collaborative arrangements is recognized as the related research and development
costs are incurred, as provided for under the terms of these arrangements.
Advance payments received in excess of amounts earned are classified as deferred
revenue until earned in the balance sheets.
Costs
incurred by the Company for shipping and handling are included in cost of goods
sold.
The
Company recognizes revenue from royalties based on the licensees’ sales of the
Company’s products or technologies. Royalties are recognized as earned in
accordance with the contract terms when royalties from licensees can be reliably
measured and collectability is reasonably assured.
Research and
Development: Research and development expenditures
are charged to operations as incurred. Research and development expenses consist
of costs incurred for proprietary and collaborative research and development,
including activities such as product registration and investigator-sponsored
trials. Research and development expenses include salaries, benefits and other
personnel related costs, clinical trial and related trial product manufacturing
costs, contract and other outside service fees, employee stock based
compensation expenses and allocated facilities and overhead costs, offset by
research and development tax credits due from the Italian Tax
Authorities.
Clinical Trial
Accruals: The Company accrues for the costs of
clinical studies conducted by contract research organizations based on the
estimated costs and contractual progress over the life of the individual study.
These costs can be a significant component of research and development
expenses.
Income
Taxes: The Company uses the liability method of
accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and
liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences related to
the temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax basis of
assets and liabilities and net operating loss carry-forwards, all calculated
using presently enacted tax rates. Valuation allowances are established when
necessary to reduce deferred tax assets when it is considered more likely than
not that tax assets will not be recoverable.
Foreign currency
transactions: The Company has no foreign
subsidiaries and, therefore, has no translation adjustment in the financial
statements. However, net realized and unrealized gains and losses resulting from
foreign currency transactions that are denominated in a currency other than the
Company’s functional currency, the Euro, are included in the statements of
operations.
Share Based
Compensation: The Company has always accounted
for share based compensation on the basis of fair value. Compensation expense
for awards that are ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense on a
straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the equity compensation
award, which is generally the vesting period.
From time to time, the
Company grants options to persons other than officers, employees and directors,
such as consultants. Equity instruments granted to such
persons requires the measuring of the fair value of that instrument at the
earlier of either the date at which a commitment for performance by the
counterparty to earn the equity instruments is reached, or the date at which the
counterparty’s performance is complete. Fair value of all option
grants are estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing
model. The Black-Scholes model takes into account volatility in the price of the
Company’s stock, the risk-free interest rate, the estimated life of the option,
the closing market price of the Company’s stock and the exercise
price.
Fair Value of Financial
Instruments: The carrying amounts of cash and cash
equivalents, accounts receivables, prepaid expenses, other current assets,
accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair values due to the
short-term maturities of these instruments. Marketable securities are carried at
the market price.
Comprehensive
Income: Comprehensive loss is comprised of net loss and other
comprehensive income or (loss), or OCI. OCI includes certain changes
in stockholders’ equity that are excluded from net
loss. Specifically, we include only unrealized gains or losses on our
available for sale securities in OCI. Other comprehensive loss, net
of tax, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, was €(35,642), €
(19,853) and €(4,508), respectively.
Loss Per Share: Basic
net loss per share is based upon the weighted-average number of common shares
outstanding and excludes the effect of dilutive common stock issuable from stock
options and warrants. In computing diluted loss per share, only potential common
shares that are dilutive, or those that reduce earnings per share, are included.
The issuance of common stock from stock options and warrants, is not assumed if
the result is anti-dilutive, such as when a loss is reported
Recently Issued Accounting
Standards:
The FASB
issued the ASC (Accounting Standard Codification), which defines the new
hierarchy for U.S. GAAP. The ASC is now the sole source for all authoritative
non-governmental accounting guidance, with the exception of grandfathered
guidance, SEC rules and interpretive releases and Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 166 and No. 167. The ASC did not change U.S.
GAAP. The ASC was effective for all reporting periods that ended after
September 15, 2009. The Company adopted the ASC in 2009.
In
January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2010-6, Fair Value Measurements and
Disclosures (Topic 820), Improving Disclosures about Fair Value
Measurements, which expands fair value disclosure requirements.
Transition will be in two phases with expanded disclosures regarding activity
for Level 1 and 2 applicable for the Company on January 1, 2010 and
expanded disclosures for Level 3 activity effective on January 1,
2011.
In
December 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-17, Consolidations (Topic 810):
Improvements to Financial Reporting by Enterprises Involved with Variable
Interest Entities. This ASU amends the FASB Accounting Standards
Codification for Statement 167. In June 2009, the FASB issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No.167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation
No. 46(R) (SFAS No. 167). SFAS No.167 eliminates FASB
Interpretation No. 46(R)’s exceptions to consolidating qualifying
special-purpose entities, contains new criteria for determining the primary
beneficiary, and increases the frequency of required reassessments to determine
whether a company is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. SFAS
No. 167 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15,
2009, which for the Company is January 1, 2010, with earlier adoption
prohibited. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2009-17 to have an
effect on its financial statements.
In
December 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-16, Accounting for Transfers of Financial
Assets. This ASU amends the FASB Accounting Standards Codification for
Statement 166. In June 2009, the FASB issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 166, Accounting for Transfers of
Financial Assets—an amendment of FASB Statement
No. 140 (SFAS No. 166). SFAS No. 166 eliminates
the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity, creates more stringent
conditions for reporting a transfer of a portion of a financial asset as a sale,
clarifies other sale-accounting criteria, and changes the initial measurement of
a transferor’s interest in transferred financial assets. SFAS
No. 166 will be effective for transfers of financial assets in fiscal
years beginning after November 15, 2009, which for the Company is 2010, and
in interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier adoption prohibited.
The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2009-16 to have an effect on its
financial statements.
In
October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-13, Multiple Deliverable
Revenue
Arrangements (ASU 2009-13), which amended the accounting standards for
multiple element arrangements to:
|
·
|
provide
updated guidance on whether multiple deliverables exist, how the elements
in an arrangement should be separated, and how the consideration should be
allocated;
|
|
|
|
|
·
|
require
an entity to allocate revenue in an arrangement using estimated selling
prices (ESP) of each element if a vendor does not have vendor-specific
objective evidence of selling price (VSOE) or third-party evidence of
selling price (TPE); and
|
|
|
|
|
·
|
eliminate
the use of the residual method and require a vendor to allocate revenue
using the relative selling price
method.
|
ASU
2009-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2010, which
for the Company is January 1, 2011, with early application permitted. The
Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, ASU 2009-13 will have on the
Company’s financial statements.
In August
2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-05, Fair Value Measurements and
Disclosures (ASU 2009-05), which amends ASC Topic 820, Fair Value
Measurements (ASC 820). The update addresses practice
difficulties caused by tension between fair-value measurements based on the
price that would be paid to transfer a liability to a new obligor and
contractual or legal requirements that prevent such transfers from taking place.
ASU 2009-05 was adopted on October 1, 2009 and did not have a material impact on
our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In May
2009, ASC 855 established principles and requirements for the evaluation,
recognition and disclosure of subsequent events. In particular, this topic sets
forth the period after the balance sheet date during which management of
reporting entity shall evaluate events or transactions that may occur for
potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, the
circumstances under which an entity shall recognize events or transactions
occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements, and the
disclosures that an entity shall make about events or transactions that occurred
after the balance sheet date. Our adoption of ASC 855 in the year ended December
31, 2009 did not have an impact on its financial position or results of
operations.
3. RELATED
PARTIES
The
Company has significant relationships with two privately owned Italian
companies, FinSirton and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sirton. FinSirton, the
parent company of several businesses, is the Company’s largest shareholder
(approximately 25% ownership at December 31, 2009) and was originally the
Company’s sole shareholder. The Company’s former Chief Executive Officer and
President and a current member on our board of directors, Dr. Laura Ferro,
together with members of her family control FinSirton, and previously served as
a member of Sirton’s Board of Directors.
Historically,
FinSirton and Sirton provided the Company with a number of business services
such as purchasing, logistics, quality assurance, quality control, analytical
assistance for research and development, and regulatory services as well as
office space, personnel, administrative services, information technology systems
and accounting services. Although the Company has substantially
reduced the functions and activities provided by FinSirton and Sirton, the
Company still depends on Sirton for certain infrastructure costs, manufacturing
capacity and quality control. These service agreements have recurring
one year terms that may be terminated by either party upon written notice to the
other party at least one month prior to the expiration of the term.
The
Company has historically sold the active pharmaceutical ingredient form of
defibrotide to Sirton, who then manufactured and sold the finished products
primarily to one customer, Crinos S.p.A (“Crinos”). Crinos,
pursuant to its distribution agreement with the Company, then sold the finished
products throughout Italy under the trademarks Prociclide and
Noravid. In 2007, we changed our relationship with Sirton, from
customer to a contract manufacturer, and sold the finished forms of Prociclide
and Noravid to Crinos directly. On December 31, 2008, the
distribution agreement with Crinos expired and, consistent with the Company’s
overall strategy, the Company chose not to renew this agreement and discontinued
the manufacture of defibrotide to be finished into Prociclide and
Noravid.
In
connection with the expiration of the distribution agreement with Crinos, in
November 2008, we began limiting Sirton’s manufacturing of defibrotide to uses
for our clinical trials and compassionate use programs.
Finally,
the Company leases space for manufacturing, offices, laboratories and storage
facilities from Sirton and FinSirton. These agreements expire on December 31,
2010 and 2013. Total expense under these operating leases for the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009 amounted to €199, €199 and €198,
respectively. See Note 18 for such operating lease
commitments.
For the
years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, the Company had the following
transactions with FinSirton and Sirton:
|
|
For
the Year Ended
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product
sales
|
|
€ |
2,704 |
|
|
€ |
651 |
|
|
€ |
195 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of goods sold
|
|
|
248 |
|
|
|
353 |
|
|
|
296 |
|
Research
and development
|
|
|
185 |
|
|
|
298 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Charges
from related parties
|
|
|
748 |
|
|
|
537 |
|
|
|
279 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1,181 |
|
|
|
1,188 |
|
|
|
575 |
|
As of
December 31, 2008 and 2009 the Company had the following balances with FinSirton
and Sirton:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
Receivable – Sirton
|
|
€ |
2,103 |
|
|
€ |
1,382 |
|
Allowance
of doubtful accounts
|
|
|
(1,783 |
) |
|
|
(1,099 |
) |
Accounts
Receivable, net
|
|
|
320 |
|
|
|
283 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
Payable Sirton
|
|
|
320 |
|
|
|
283 |
|
Account
Payable FinSirton
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
325 |
|
|
|
286 |
|
Sirton
has been unable to make timely payments on outstanding
receivables. At December 31, 2009, proceeds from collections of our
accounts receivable from Sirton amounted to €202. The Company and Sirton
formally offset €744 and €3,227 of payables due to Sirton against the same
amount of receivables due from Sirton, for the year ended December 31, 2009 and
2008, respectively. Outstanding payables due to Sirton can be legally offset
with accounts receivables due from Sirton.
Currently,
Sirton is evaluating its strategic options in order to avoid bankruptcy, which
raises doubt regarding the ability to realize the net receivable outstanding.
Prior to 2008 there was no allowance for the accounts receivables due from
Sirton as whole amounts were received relating to those receivables. While the
Company continues to pursue the collection of such net receivable, in 2008 we
established an allowance for doubtful accounts of €1,783, which was partially
released in 2009 for €684, as general and administrative expenses, and we have
not recognized revenue from product sales to Sirton that occurred after March
2008, unless such sales were paid in advance, because one of the criteria
indicated by SAB 104 (“collectability is reasonably assured”), was not met. As a
result, the Company has significantly eliminated its ongoing activities which
result in additional receivables from Sirton and is entering into agreements
with alternative customers and contract manufacturers. Approximately 53%, 12%
and 2% of the Company’s product sales for the years ended December 31, 2007,
2008 and 2009, respectively, have been to Sirton.
The
Company is also party to a License and Supply Agreement with Sigma-Tau
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. pursuant to which we have licensed the right to market
defibrotide to treat and prevent VOD in North America, Central America and South
America to Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and pursuant to which Sigma-Tau
Pharmaceuticals, Inc has agreed to purchase defibrotide for this use from
us. Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an affiliate of Sigma-Tau
Finanziaria S.p.A. One of our board members, Marco Codella, is the
Chief Financial Officer of Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutice Riunite S.p.A.,
which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sigma-Tau Finanziaria S.p.A. See Note 4
for more discussion on our relationship with Sigma-Tau.
The
accounting policies applied to transactions with affiliates are consistent with
those applied in transactions with independent third parties and management
believes that all related party agreements are negotiated on an arm’s length
basis.
4. COLLABORATIVE
ARRANGEMENTS
In
December 2001, the Company entered into a license and supply agreement with
Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (as assignee of Sigma-Tau Industrie
Farmaceutiche Riunite S.p.A., hereinafter referred to as “Sigma-Tau”). Under the
multi-year agreement, Sigma-Tau obtained exclusive rights to distribute, market
and sell defibrotide to treat VOD in the United States. In 2005, the Company
expanded Sigma-Tau’s current license territory to all of North America, Central
America and South America (collectively, the “Americas”). As reported in
footnote 19, effective January 7, 2010, the Company expanded the license
agreement to include the intravenous formulation of defibrotide to prevent VOD
in the Americas. This license expires on the later of the eighth year
of the Company’s launch of the product or the expiration of the U.S. patent
regarding the product, which expires in 2010. In return for the
license, Sigma-Tau agreed to pay the Company an aggregate of $19,350, of which
€9,173 ($11,350) has been received to date, based on the exchange rate in effect
on the date of receipt. As reported in footnote 19, the amount that has not been
received, equal to $8,000, represents milestone payment due upon approval from
the FDA and the transfer of the approved NDA to Sigma-Tau. The agreement also
envisions that the Company will produce and supply defibrotide to Sigma-Tau for
marketing and distribution in the United States if and when the drug is approved
by the FDA.
If the
Company unilaterally discontinues development of defibrotide to treat VOD (after
written notice to Sigma-Tau) and then resumes the development, substantially
availing itself of the stages previously completed, either independently or with
a third party, within 36 months of the discontinuation, then the Company
will be required to promptly reimburse Sigma-Tau for the amounts received. The
Company has no intention to discontinue the development of the
product.
If during
the drug development stages the Company realizes that the activities to bring
the product to completion would require a material increase of expenditures, the
parties will discuss the increased costs and revisions to the terms of the
agreement; if the parties are unable to mutually agree on such revisions, either
party can terminate the agreement. If the Company or Sigma-Tau terminates the
agreement for that reason and the Company then resumes the development,
substantially availing itself of the stages previously completed, either
independently or with a third party, within 36 months of the termination,
the Company will be required to promptly reimburse Sigma-Tau for the amounts
received.
On
October 12, 2007, the Company and Sigma-Tau entered into a cost sharing
agreement to address the need for additional funding not included in the
original license and supply agreement. Under this agreement Sigma-Tau will
reimburse the Company for 50% of certain costs incurred in the Company’s ongoing
Phase III clinical trial of defibrotide to treat severe VOD. We recognize the
reimbursement of research and development expenses as revenue when we incur the
costs subject to reimbursement. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the
Company recorded €0.10 million of contributions
received from Sigma-Tau accounted as other revenue.
In
December 2009, we recognized €234 ($350) as a milestone payment from Sigma-Tau
for completing the phase III pivotal study.
The
following table outlines the nature and amount of other revenue recognized under
the cost sharing agreement in the accompanying financial
statements:
|
|
For
the Year Ended
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Research
and development cost reimbursement
|
|
€ |
2,360 |
|
|
€ |
1,970 |
|
|
€ |
103 |
|
Upfront
payments recognized ratably
|
|
€ |
140 |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
Milestone
payments
|
|
€ |
- |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
|
€ |
234 |
|
|
|
€ |
2,500 |
|
|
€ |
1,970 |
|
|
€ |
337 |
|
The
following table outlines the receivable that Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has
agreed to pay as a reimbursement of costs incurred on Phase III trial for the
treatment of severe VOD pursuant to a cost-sharing letter agreement between the
Company and Sigma-Tau. The balance was classified as accounts receivable from
related parties in the accompanying financial statements:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Accounts
Receivable from Sigma-Tau
|
|
€ |
496 |
|
|
€ |
218 |
|
5.
ACQUISITION OF MARKETING AUTHORIZATION AND TRADEMARKS
On
December 28, 2006, the Company entered into a Master Agreement with Crinos
S.p.A. to acquire the Italian marketing authorizations and related trademarks to
Prociclide and Noravid (both forms of defibrotide) for
€16,000. Prociclide and Noravid have been sold in Italy to treat
vascular disease with risk of thrombosis. As part of the transaction,
Crinos waived its right of first refusal to market future therapeutic
indications for defibrotide in the European market, and the Company agreed to
pay Crinos a 1.5% royalty on net sales of defibrotide for the treatment and/or
prevention of VOD in Europe for seven years. The transfer of the
market authorizations was subject to approval by the Italian regulators, which
occurred on April 26, 2007.
The
Company entered into this transaction for long term strategic purposes.
Specifically, to allow the Company to be able to manage defibrotide globally
with control over the distribution of defibrotide and the flexibility to market
defibrotide itself or seek marketing partners for the European market. As a
result, in 2007 the Company wrote off all but €2,260 of the €16,000 purchase
price (€13,740 charge) based primarily on an analysis of the net present value
of the estimated future cash flows from the sales of only the oral formulation
of defibrotide to treat vascular disease of thrombosis through December 31,
2008, as well as other cash flows through 2012.
In 2008,
the Company decided not to renew the agreements entered into with Crinos for the
distribution of Prociclide and Noravid in Italy, and allowed such agreements to
expire on December 31, 2008. Accordingly, the Company evaluated the
recoverability of the marketing authorizations and trademarks from its expected
future cash flows and, as reported in footnote 9, as of December 31, 2008, the
Company wrote down the remaining net book value of such assets amounting to €847
and €848, respectively.
On August
19, 2009, the Italian Agency accepted the Company’s request to withdraw the
marketing authorization for Prociclide and Noravid. On September 30,
2009, the Italian Agency granted an additional 180 days to complete the sale of
products that were previously distributed. The Company made the
request to withdraw the marketing authorization of these forms of defibrotide as
part of the Company’s overall strategy regarding the development of defibrotide
to treat and prevent VOD.
6. INVENTORIES
The Company’s inventories consisted
of:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Raw
materials
|
|
€ |
526 |
|
|
€ |
407 |
|
Semi-finished
goods
|
|
|
117 |
|
|
|
136 |
|
Finished
goods
|
|
|
264 |
|
|
|
1,008 |
|
Total
|
|
€ |
907 |
|
|
€ |
1,551 |
|
At
December 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively, the Company reserved €56 and €75 to
adjust a by-product cost to its net realizable value. As of December
31, 2008, the Company, in connection with the expiration and non-renewal of the
distribution agreement entered into with Crinos, wrote down €1,228 of
semi-finished and finished Prociclide and Noravid in our inventory which
included products returned by Crinos in January 2009. Prior to signing the
named-patient and cost recovery agreements, all costs associated with the
production of defibrotide were expensed as research and development
expenses.
7. PREPAID
EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
The
Company’s prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted
of:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
VAT
receivables
|
|
€ |
1,161 |
|
|
€ |
581 |
|
Tax
credit
|
|
|
299 |
|
|
|
582 |
|
Other
prepaid expenses and current assets
|
|
|
222 |
|
|
|
268 |
|
Total
prepaid expenses and current assets
|
|
€ |
1,682 |
|
|
€ |
1,431 |
|
The value
added tax (“VAT”)
amounts represent a tax on the value of consumption. VAT has no effect on the
Company’s operating results, as payments and receipts are allowed to be netted
against each other in periodic filings with the tax authorities. The VAT payment
system is a “custodial” relationship. VAT liabilities are generated when the
Company invoices customers, including the VAT amount, and VAT receivables are
created when the Company purchases goods and services subject to
VAT. The decrease in VAT receivable is due to the utilization of €516
to offset the payment of an equivalent amount of social securities and
withholding tax, reimbursement of quarterly VAT credit of €516 and
the increase in 2009 VAT receivables of €452.
The tax
credit includes a residual amount of €350 as government grants received, in the
form of a tax credit, for 2008 research and development activities, which is
expected to be utilized in the first quarter of 2010 to offset social securities
and withholding tax due. Additionally, the tax credit includes €232
of government grants due in the form of a tax credit for 2009 research and
development activities, which will be utilized in the fourth quarter of 2010
after the Company has filed its 2009 tax return.
2008 and
2009 tax credit benefits have been accounted for in the second quarter of 2009
based on reliable estimates of the amount of tax credit to which the Company is
entitled. The credits were accounted for in compliance with Law 244/07 and Law
296/06 enacted by the Italian Parliament, which established a tax credit in the
measure of 10% of the research and development costs incurred in taxable year
2007/2009 (increased to 40% of the costs incurred on contracts entered into with
University and Public Research Centers). On January 28, 2009, Decree N.
185/2008, released by the Italian Authorities, which amended Law 244/07 and Law
296/06 regarding the utilization of the tax credit, was converted into Law N.
2/2009. The law indicates that pre-approval (so called “nulla osta”) by the Tax
Authority is required for the utilization of the tax credit and that filing the
annual tax return is not alone sufficient to claim the utilization of such
credit. On June 15 2009, we obtained such pre-approval for our 2008 and 2009 tax
credits, which eliminated the uncertainty on the recoverability of such credit.
For these reasons, the tax credit on 2008 and 2009 research and development
activities, were recognized in the second quarter of 2009.
8. PROPERTY,
MANUFACTURING FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT
The
Company’s property, manufacturing facility and equipment consisted
of:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
Cost
|
|
|
Accumulated
Depreciation
|
|
|
Net
book value
|
|
|
Cost
|
|
|
Accumulated
Depreciation
|
|
|
Net
book value
|
|
Land
and building
|
|
€ |
2,686 |
|
|
|
1,254 |
|
|
|
1,432 |
|
|
€ |
2,687 |
|
|
|
1,327 |
|
|
|
1,360 |
|
Plant
and machinery
|
|
|
14,977 |
|
|
|
7,587 |
|
|
|
7,390 |
|
|
|
15,184 |
|
|
|
8,508 |
|
|
|
6,676 |
|
Industrial
equipment
|
|
|
1,264 |
|
|
|
695 |
|
|
|
569 |
|
|
|
1,269 |
|
|
|
764 |
|
|
|
505 |
|
Furniture
and fixtures
|
|
|
1,060 |
|
|
|
473 |
|
|
|
587 |
|
|
|
1,084 |
|
|
|
562 |
|
|
|
522 |
|
Leasehold
improvements
|
|
|
322 |
|
|
|
154 |
|
|
|
168 |
|
|
|
325 |
|
|
|
231 |
|
|
|
94 |
|
Internally
Developed Software
|
|
|
674 |
|
|
|
105 |
|
|
|
569 |
|
|
|
685 |
|
|
|
153 |
|
|
|
532 |
|
Construction
in progress
|
|
|
36 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
36 |
|
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
€ |
21,019 |
|
|
|
10,268 |
|
|
|
10,751 |
|
|
€ |
21,262 |
|
|
|
11,545 |
|
|
|
9,717 |
|
The
Company’s intangible assets consisted of:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
|
Cost
|
|
|
Accumulated
amortization
|
|
|
Impairment
|
|
|
Net
book value
|
|
|
Cost
|
|
|
Accumulated
amortization
|
|
|
Net
book value
|
|
Patent
rights
|
|
€ |
1,230 |
|
|
|
750 |
|
|
|
480 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Licenses
and trademarks
|
|
|
1,297 |
|
|
|
355 |
|
|
|
847 |
|
|
|
95 |
|
|
|
171 |
|
|
|
95 |
|
|
|
76 |
|
Marketing
authorizations
|
|
|
1,131 |
|
|
|
283 |
|
|
|
848 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Total
|
|
€ |
3,658 |
|
|
|
1,388 |
|
|
|
2,175 |
|
|
|
95 |
|
|
€ |
171 |
|
|
|
95 |
|
|
|
76 |
|
The
amount of amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2008
and 2009 was €479, €476 and €22, respectively. We estimate that we will incur
amortization for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014
of €23, €20, €11, €11,
and €11,
respectively.
As of
December 31, 2008, the Company terminated the distribution agreement entered
into with Crinos and in 2009 submitted a request for the withdrawal of
Prociclide and Noravid (both forms of defibrotide) from the Italian
market. Such plan raised significant doubt concerning the
recoverability of these assets expected to be derived from future cash flows,
which required the Company, as of December 31, 2008, to write-down the remaining
net book value of the trademark and Italian marketing authorizations for
Prociclide and Noravid of €847 and €848, respectively.
In
connection with the expiration and non-renewal of the distribution agreement
with Crinos and the Company’s plan to withdraw Prociclide and Noravid from the
Italian market, the Company revised the asset value of the capitalized cost of
patents for which no future benefits are reasonably assured. Changes in the
carrying value are the result of the lack of future benefits to be derived over
the remaining useful life from these assets. The impact of the change
resulted in an increase of net loss of €480, which has been included in the write-down of assets in
the statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2008.
10.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT
The table
below presents information about assets and liabilities that are measured at
fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 with the
valuation techniques the Company utilized to determine such fair value, as
required since accounting pronouncement revisions adopted by the Company in
2008. Fair values determined based on Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices
(unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The
Company’s Level 1 assets consist of cash and marketable debt securities. Fair
values determined based on Level 2 inputs utilize observable quoted prices for
similar assets and liabilities in active markets and observable quoted prices
for identical or similar assets in markets that are not very active. Fair values
determined based on Level 3 inputs utilize unobservable inputs and include
valuations of assets or liabilities for which there is little, if any, market
activity. Level 3 assets or liabilities include those whose fair value
measurements are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow
methodologies or similar valuation techniques, as well as significant management
judgment or estimation.
|
|
|
|
|
Fair
Value Measurements at
December
31, 2009 using
|
|
|
|
Total Carrying
Value
at
December
31, 2009
|
|
|
Quoted prices in
active
markets
(Level
1)
|
|
|
Significant other
observable
inputs
(Level
2)
|
|
|
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level
3)
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
€ |
1,392 |
|
|
€ |
1,392 |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
Available
for sale securities
|
|
|
263 |
|
|
|
263 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
€ |
1,655 |
|
|
€ |
1,655 |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair
Value Measurements at
December
31, 2008 using
|
|
|
|
Total Carrying
Value
at
December
31, 2008
|
|
|
Quoted prices in
active
markets
(Level
1)
|
|
|
Significant other
observable
inputs
(Level
2)
|
|
|
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level
3)
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
€ |
11,491 |
|
|
€ |
11,491 |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
Available
for sale securities
|
|
|
510 |
|
|
|
510 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
€ |
12,001 |
|
|
€ |
12,001 |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
|
€ |
- |
|
The fair
values of our cash and cash equivalents and available for sale securities are
determined through market, observable and corroborated sources. Available for
sale securities refers to Banca IntesaSanpaolo bond
TV05/10/2004-11.
The
carrying amounts of accounts receivables, prepaid expenses, other current
assets, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair values due to the
short-term maturities of these instruments.
11. ACCRUED
EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accrued
expenses and other current liabilities consist of:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Accrued
compensation and employee benefits
|
|
€ |
268 |
|
|
€ |
1,320 |
|
Due
to social security
|
|
|
218 |
|
|
|
134 |
|
Withholding
tax due
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
|
131 |
|
Other
payables
|
|
|
191 |
|
|
|
322 |
|
Total
|
|
€ |
810 |
|
|
€ |
1,907 |
|
12. CREDIT
FACILITY, LONG-TERM DEBT AND LEASES
Long term
debt, net of current maturities consists of:
|
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
a |
) |
Mortgage
loan bearing interest at the Euribor 6 month rate plus 1.0% due June 2015
(3.97% and 1.99% at December 31, 2008 and 2009,
respectively)
|
|
|
2,200 |
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
b |
) |
Equipment
loan secured by marketable securities, bearing interest at the Euribor 3
months rate plus 1.70% due April 2012 (4.59% and 2.40% at December 31,
2008 and 2009, respectively)
|
|
|
656 |
|
|
|
394 |
|
|
c |
) |
Equipment
loan bearing interest at the Euribor 3 months rate plus 1.20% due June
2012 (4.09% and 1.90% at December 31, 2008 and 2009,
respectively)
|
|
|
625 |
|
|
|
437 |
|
|
d |
) |
Financing
loan bearing interest at the Euribor 1 months rate plus 1.00% due December
2012 (3.60% and 1.453% at December 31, 2008 and 2009,
respectively)
|
|
|
314 |
|
|
|
222 |
|
|
e |
) |
Equipment
loans secured by the underlying equipment pursuant to the Sabatini Law,
interest at 2.1%
|
|
|
131 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
f |
) |
Research
loan from the Italian Ministry for University and Research, interest at 1%
per annum, due January 2012
|
|
|
249 |
|
|
|
145 |
|
|
g |
) |
Financing
loan bearing interest at the Euribor 3 months rate plus 1.00% due December
2012 (3.89% and 1.70% at December 31, 2008 and 2009,
respectively)
|
|
|
148 |
|
|
|
113 |
|
|
h |
) |
Equipment
loan bearing interest at the Euribor 3 months rate plus 0.80% due December
2012 (3.69% and 1.50% at December 31, 2008 and 2009,
respectively)
|
|
|
144 |
|
|
|
110 |
|
|
i |
) |
Research
loan from the Italian Ministry for University and Research, interest at 1%
per annum, due January 2012
|
|
|
147 |
|
|
|
85 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,614 |
|
|
|
3,506 |
|
|
|
|
Less
current maturities
|
|
|
(1,346 |
) |
|
|
(408 |
) |
|
|
|
Total
|
|
€ |
3,268 |
|
|
€ |
3,098 |
|
The
equipment loan in the amount of €437 requires the Company to maintain €5,000 of
net shareholders’ equity determined in accordance with Italian generally
accepted accounting principles. The Company was in compliance with the covenant
at December 31, 2008 and 2009.
The
Company’s marketable securities consist of debt securities, which have been
pledged to secure the Company’s repayment of the loan from Banca
Intesa-Mediocredito S.p.A. The loan agreement requires that pledged securities
equal at least 50% of the remaining loan principal at all times. Accordingly,
such securities have been gradually released from the pledge as the Company
repaid the principal of the loan. The total amount of pledged securities as of
December 31, 2008 and 2009 was €510 and €263, respectively.
In
December 2009, in connection with a national agreement among the Italian Bank
Association and the Italian Ministry of Economics and Enterprise Organizations,
companies that met certain criteria, such as good standing, qualification of
small and medium enterprises, were eligible to apply for a deferment on the
payment of principal debt outstanding for a twelve-month
period. Except for our research loan incurred with the Italian
Ministry for University and Research, which was not eligible, we requested and
obtained deferment on payment of our principal loan payment originally due in
the next twelve months for €1,113.
|
|
December
31,
|
|
2011
|
|
|
1,231 |
|
2012
|
|
|
867 |
|
2013
|
|
|
400 |
|
2014
|
|
|
400 |
|
Thereafter
|
|
|
200 |
|
Total
|
|
€ |
3,098 |
|
13.
INTEREST RATE CAP AGREEMENTS
On June
28, 2006, the Company entered into an interest rate cap agreement with BNL
providing protection against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to 50%
of the total loan commitment. The Euribor rate portion of the interest rate was
capped at 4.00%. The agreement expires on June 28, 2011. At that time
50% of the principal is scheduled to be repaid. The fair market value of the
interest cap agreement as of December 31, 2009 is (€12).
On July
4, 2006 the Company entered into an interest rate cap agreement with San Paolo
IMI S.p.A. providing protection against fluctuations in interest rates with
respect to 50% of the total loan commitment. The Euribor rate portion of the
interest rate was capped at 3.75%. The agreement expired on July 6,
2009.
On July
5, 2006 the Company entered into an interest rate cap agreement with Banca
Intesa S.p.A. providing protection against fluctuations in interest rates with
respect to 50% of the total loan commitment. The Euribor rate portion of the
interest rate was capped at 3.70%. The agreement expired on July 5,
2009.
14. INCOME
TAXES
The
Company has not had income tax expenses for the years ended December 31, 2007,
2008 and 2009.
The
components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as
follows:
|
|
As
of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Deferred
tax assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
operating losses
|
|
€ |
15,532 |
|
|
€ |
15,455 |
|
Capitalization
of research & development costs
|
|
|
5,865 |
|
|
|
6,925 |
|
Property,
plant and equipment
|
|
|
744 |
|
|
|
642 |
|
Write
down of intangible assets
|
|
|
3,658 |
|
|
|
2,765 |
|
Allowance
on doubtful account
|
|
|
477 |
|
|
|
289 |
|
Inventory
write-off
|
|
|
249 |
|
|
|
209 |
|
Other
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
116 |
|
Deferred
tax assets
|
|
|
26,534 |
|
|
|
26,401 |
|
Deferred tax
liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred
tax liabilities
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
|
|
|
Net
deferred tax assets
|
|
|
26,534 |
|
|
|
26,401 |
|
Valuation
Allowance
|
|
|
(26,534 |
) |
|
|
(26,401 |
) |
Net
deferred taxes
|
|
€ |
-- |
|
|
€ |
-- |
|
Under the
Italian tax system, operating losses cannot be carried back to claim refunds.
Instead, losses are carried forward five years, and any overpayments that may
have been made can be credited against future amounts due for income tax or
employee social security payments. The Company has reviewed its
deferred tax assets in light of the cumulative loss that has been incurred in
the periods presented. Although the Company has paid some income taxes in the
past, the Company believes that with its expected future research and
development costs, it is more likely than not that the Company will not be able
to generate sufficient taxable income to utilize the deferred tax assets prior
to their expiration. Accordingly, a valuation allowance has been established
against these deferred tax assets.
As of
December 31, 2009, the Company’s tax position and relative carry-forward is as
follows:
Year
|
|
Tax loss
|
|
|
Tax benefit
|
|
Expiring date
|
2005
|
|
|
5,883 |
|
|
|
1,618 |
|
2010
|
2006
|
|
|
11,248 |
|
|
|
3,093 |
|
2011
|
2007
|
|
|
18,956 |
|
|
|
5,213 |
|
2012
|
2008
|
|
|
13,520 |
|
|
|
3,718 |
|
2013
|
2009
|
|
|
6,593 |
|
|
|
1,813 |
|
2014
|
The
Company provided no benefit for its operating losses due to the accumulated
losses noted above.
15. SHAREHOLDERS’
EQUITY
The
Company had 14,956,317 ordinary shares, €1.00 par value per share, and
14,956,317 ordinary shares, no par value per share, issued and outstanding as of
December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2009, respectively. On December
31, 2009, the authorized shares were 18,302,617. Authorized capital
is as follows:
|
|
December
31
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009
|
|
Issued
and outstanding
|
|
|
14,956,317 |
|
|
|
14,956,317 |
|
Reserved
for share option plans
|
|
|
2,500,000 |
|
|
|
2,500,000 |
|
Reserved
for exercise of warrants
|
|
|
846,300 |
|
|
|
846,300 |
|
Reserved
for future offerings
|
|
|
151,675 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
18,454,292 |
|
|
|
18,302,617 |
|
On April
28, 2006, our shareholders granted our board of directors the power to increase
the capital of our company in cash, up to €90 million of par value, in one or
more transactions, and to reserve all or part of such amount for the exercise of
warrants issued by means of the same resolution of our board of directors
providing for the relevant capital increase. As of December 31, 2009,
our board of directors has authorized the issuance of 4,915,171 ordinary shares
in connection with this resolution by our shareholders.
On June
30, 2009, our shareholders granted our board of directors the power to increase
the capital of our company in cash, up to an amount equal to €100 million on a
separable basis, in one or more transactions, for a rights offering, and to
reserve all or part of such amount for the exercise of warrants issued by means
of the same resolution of our board of directors providing for the relevant
capital increase. With the same resolution our shareholders granted
our board of directors the power to cancel the par value of the ordinary shares
of the Company, which was completed on June 30, 2009. As of December 31, 2009,
our board of directors has not authorized the issuance of any shares pursuant to
this resolution by our shareholders.
Warrants
A summary
of the warrant activity for the three years ended December 31, 2009 is presented
below.
|
|
Warrants
|
|
|
Weighted
Average Exercise Price
|
|
Balance,
December 31, 2006
|
|
|
1,637,004 |
|
|
€ |
9.63 |
|
|
$ |
11.18 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(790,704 |
) |
|
€ |
7.51 |
|
|
$ |
10.57 |
|
Cancelled
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Balance,
December 31, 2007
|
|
|
846,300 |
|
|
€ |
6.29 |
|
|
$ |
11.75 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Cancelled
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Balance,
December 31, 2008
|
|
|
846,300 |
|
|
€ |
6.29 |
|
|
$ |
11.75 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Cancelled
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance,
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
846,300 |
|
|
€ |
6.29 |
|
|
$ |
11.75 |
|
The
following is a summary of outstanding warrants as of December 31, 2009:
|
|
Number
of warrants issued
|
|
|
Number
of warrants exercised
|
|
|
Number
of warrants cancelled
|
|
|
Number
of warrants outstanding
|
|
Warrant
issued in conjunction with Promissory note
|
|
|
503,298 |
|
|
|
22,734 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
480,564 |
|
Initial
Public Offering
|
|
|
151,200 |
|
|
|
107,990 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
43,210 |
|
2005
private placement
|
|
|
713,518 |
|
|
|
713,518 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
2006
private placement
|
|
|
466,446 |
|
|
|
143,920 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
322,526 |
|
Total
|
|
|
1,834,462 |
|
|
|
988,162 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
846,300 |
|
In
conjunction with the convertible promissory notes sold in a private placement
from October 2004 to January 2005, the Company issued warrants for the purchase
of an aggregate of 503,298 ordinary shares at a purchase price (as adjusted) of
$9.52 per share. The warrants are fully vested, exercisable at the option of the
holder, in whole or in part, and expire on the later of five years and three
months from the date of grant or four years and three months from our initial
public offering date. Through December 31, 2009, the Company issued 22,734 ordinary shares upon
exercise of these warrants for proceeds of $216 (€170). As of the
date of the filing of these financial statements 395,586 warrants
expired.
In
connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”), the Company granted
warrants to purchase 151,200 ordinary shares to the underwriters for services
rendered during the IPO. The warrants are fully vested, exercisable at the
option of the holder, in whole or in part, and expire five years from the date
of grant. Through December 31, 2009, we had issued 107,990 ordinary shares upon
exercise of these warrants at a price per share of $11.25, for proceeds of
$1,215 (€914).
In
connection with a private placement in 2005, the Company issued warrants for the
purchase of an aggregate of 620,450 ordinary shares at an exercise price of
$9.69 per ordinary share. The warrants are fully vested, exercisable at the
option of the holder, in whole or in part, and expire five years from the date
of grant. In addition, the Company issued to one of the placement agents a five
year warrant for the purchase of 93,068 ordinary shares at an exercise price of
$9.69 per ordinary share. As of December 31, 2009, all of the
warrants had been exercised and the Company had issued 713,518 ordinary shares
underlying these warrants for aggregate proceeds of $6,914
(€5,000).
In
connection with a private placement in 2006, the Company issued warrants for the
purchase of an aggregate of 388,705 ordinary shares at an exercise price of
$14.50 per ordinary share. In addition, the Company issued to one of the
placement agents a five year warrant for the purchase of 77,741 ordinary shares
at an exercise price of $17.40 per ordinary share. The warrants are fully
vested, exercisable at the option of the holder, in whole or in part, and expire
five years from the date of grant. Through December 31, 2009, we had issued
143,920 ordinary shares upon exercise of these warrants for proceeds of $2,087
(€1,490).
16. EQUITY
INCENTIVE PLANS.
Amended
and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan
Certain
of the Company’s employees and directors participate in the Amended and Restated
2004 Equity Incentive Plan and Italy Stock Award Plan. These plans
were initially adopted on September 30, 2004 and amended on April 27,
2007. The plans provide for the issue of incentives awards for up to
1,500,000 ordinary shares to employees, consultants, directors, and non-employee
directors. Awards may be in the form of either incentive or non-qualified
options. Our compensation committee determines the price of share
options granted under the incentive plan, provided that the exercise price for
an incentive share option cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of
our ordinary shares on the date of grant. The term of share options
granted under the incentive plan generally may not exceed ten years, although
the capital increase relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of
such options expires on September 30, 2019. As of December 31, 2009,
there were 1,355,000 shares underlying outstanding options and 145,000 shares
available for future grants under this plan.
Options
granted under the incentive plan vest at the rate determined by our compensation
committee. Typically, options granted under the incentive plan to officers and
employees vest over three years, with one-third of the shares covered by the
option vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remainder
vesting monthly over the next two years.
2004
Italy Stock Award Sub-Plan
Our
Amended and Restated 2004 Italy Stock Award Sub-Plan is a part of our Amended
and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan and provides for the grant of share
options and the issuance of share grants to certain of our employees who reside
in the Republic of Italy and who are liable for income tax in the Republic of
Italy. Generally, the exercise price for a share option under the Italy sub-plan
cannot be less than the average of the closing price of our ordinary shares
listed on the American Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Global Market System, as
applicable, over the 30 days preceding the date of grant.
2007
Stock Option Plan
On April
27, 2007, the Company’s shareholders approved the 2007 Stock Option Plan
providing for options that may be granted to the Company’s directors, employees
and consultants to purchase up to 1,000,000 ordinary shares. As of December 31,
2009, there were 242,030 shares underlying outstanding options and 757,970
shares available for future grants under this plan. Shares subject to
options that have expired or otherwise terminated without being exercised in
full again become available for issuance under the plan.
The 2007
Stock Option Plan is administered by our board of directors or a committee
appointed by our board of directors. The board or the committee determines
recipients and types of options to be granted, including the number of shares
subject to an option, the vesting schedule of options, the exercisability of
options, and subject to applicable restrictions, other terms of options. The
board of directors has delegated administration of the 2007 Stock Option Plan to
the compensation committee.
The term
of share options granted under the 2007 Stock Option Plan generally may not
exceed the earlier of ten years or March 26, 2022. Our compensation
committee determines the price of share options granted under the 2007 Stock
Option Plan, subject to certain limitations.
Options
granted under the 2007 Stock Option Plan vest at the rate determined by our
compensation committee. Typically, options granted to employees under the 2007
Stock Option Plan vest over three years, at the rate of one-third of the shares
covered by the option vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date and the
remainder vesting monthly over the next two years.
The board
of directors may amend the 2007 Stock Option Plan at any time. Amendments will
be submitted for shareholder approval to the extent required by applicable laws,
rules and regulations. The 2007 Stock Option Plan will terminate on March 26,
2022 unless sooner terminated by the board of directors or a committee appointed
by the board of directors.
The
following table lists the balance available by the Plans at December 31,
2009.
|
|
Amended
and Restated Nonstatutory Plan and Agreement
|
|
|
Amended
and Restated 2004 Stock Option Plan
|
|
|
2007
Stock
Option Plan
|
|
Number
of shares authorized
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
1,500,000 |
|
|
|
1,000,000 |
|
Number
of option granted since inception
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
1,500,000 |
|
|
|
327,178 |
|
Number
of options exercised
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Number
of shares cancelled/expired
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
145,000 |
|
|
|
85,148 |
|
Number
of shares available for grant
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
145,000 |
|
|
|
757,970 |
|
Stock-based
compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the
award ultimately expected to vest and is recognized as expense over the service
period, which is generally the vesting period. The Company recorded
non-cash compensation expense of €1,804, €1,973 and €1,386 for the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively.
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
2007
|
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
2008
|
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
2009
|
|
Cost
of goods sold
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
87 |
|
|
|
59 |
|
Research
and development
|
|
|
437 |
|
|
|
385 |
|
|
|
267 |
|
General
and administrative
|
|
|
1,362 |
|
|
|
1,501 |
|
|
|
1,060 |
|
Total
stock based compensation
|
|
|
1,804 |
|
|
|
1,973 |
|
|
|
1,386 |
|
The
Company expects to incur significant non-cash compensation expense for option
grants in the future. As of December 31, 2009 total compensation cost
not yet recognized was €602, which is expected to be expensed over a maximum
vesting period of 24 months.
The
weighted average grant-date fair market value of options granted to officers,
employees, directors and consultants for the years ended December 31, 2007 and
2008, as of the date of the grants, was $10.03 and $5.37, respectively. There
were no options granted to officers, employees, directors and consultants for
the year ended December 31, 2009. The fair value of each option grant
is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.
The valuation of
options granted was based on the following weighted average
assumptions:
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
2007
|
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
2008
|
|
|
Year
ended December 31,
2009
|
|
Risk
free interest rate
|
|
|
4.47%
|
|
|
|
2.60%
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Expected
dividend yield
|
|
|
0%
|
|
|
|
0%
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Expected
stock price volatility
|
|
|
60%
|
|
|
|
60%
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Expected
term
|
|
4.9
years
|
|
|
5.62
years
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
All of
the Company’s stock options vest ratably through continued employment over the
vesting period. The number of options expected to vest is based on estimated
forfeitures of options that were outstanding at December 31, 2009. Once
vested, options become exercisable immediately.
The Black-Scholes model takes into account volatility in
the price of the Company’s stock, the risk-free interest rate, the estimated
life of the option, the closing market price of the Company’s stock and the
exercise price. Some of these inputs are highly subjective assumptions and these
assumptions can vary over time. Additionally the Company has limited historical
information available to support its estimate of certain assumptions required to
value employee stock options. In developing its estimate of expected term, due
to the limited history, the existing historical share option exercise experience
is not a particularly relevant indicator of future exercise
patterns. Additionally, due to the limited period that there has been
a public market for the Company’s securities, the historical volatility of the
Company’s ordinary shares may not be representative of the expected volatility.
Finally, the use of implied volatility, the volatility assumption inherent in
the market price of a company’s traded options, is not practicable because the
Company has no publicly traded options. In order to determine the
expected volatility, the Company analyzed other available information, including
the historical experience of a group of stocks in the Company’s industry having
similar traits. The risk-free rate for the expected term of the option is based
on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The Company
assumed that no dividends would be paid during the expected term of the
options.
Share-based
compensation expense recognized in the statement of operations is based on
awards ultimately expected to vest, reduced for estimated forfeitures.
Pre-vesting forfeiture percentage was estimated to be approximately zero. If
pre-vesting forfeitures occur in the future, the Company will record the effect
of such forfeitures as the forfeitures occur.
For the
years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009, the Company issued 5,000, nil and
nil options, respectively, to consultants and recorded non-cash compensation
expense of approximately €44, €nil and €nil, respectively.
A summary
of the Company’s stock option activity based on the exchange rate in effect on
the grant date is as follows:
|
|
Shares
Available for Grant
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Weighted
Average Exercise Price
|
|
Options
outstanding at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
423,000 |
|
|
|
1,115,000 |
|
|
€ |
7.15 |
|
|
$ |
9.45 |
|
Options
available under 2007 Plan
|
|
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
(529,500 |
) |
|
|
529,500 |
|
|
€ |
13.56 |
|
|
$ |
18.34 |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(28,000 |
) |
|
€ |
4.21 |
|
|
$ |
5.58 |
|
Options
outstanding at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
893,500 |
|
|
|
1,616,500 |
|
|
€ |
9.31 |
|
|
$ |
12.43 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
(220,678 |
) |
|
|
220,678 |
|
|
€ |
6.43 |
|
|
$ |
9.57 |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(10,000 |
) |
|
€ |
3.78 |
|
|
$ |
5.58 |
|
Cancellations
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(30,000 |
) |
|
€ |
11.08 |
|
|
$ |
14.56 |
|
Options
outstanding at December 31, 2008
|
|
|
672,822 |
|
|
|
1,797,178 |
|
|
€ |
8.96 |
|
|
$ |
12.08 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Cancellations
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(200.148 |
) |
|
€ |
8.88 |
|
|
$ |
11.82 |
|
Options
outstanding at December 31, 2009
|
|
|
672,822 |
|
|
|
1.597.030 |
|
|
€ |
8.96 |
|
|
$ |
12.12 |
|
Cash
received on stock options exercised amounted to $156 and $56 in the years ended
December 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively. No stock options were exercised
in the year ended December 31, 2009. The intrinsic value of options
exercised in 2007, 2008 was $423 and $74, respectively. The estimated fair value
of shares vested during 2007, 2008 and 2009 was $3,981, $6,431 and $7,607,
respectively.
The
following table summarizes outstanding and exercisable options as of December
31, 2009, based on the exchange rate in effect on December 31,
2009:
|
|
Options
Outstanding
|
|
Options
Exercisable
|
Exercise
Price
|
|
Number
Outstanding
|
|
Weighted-
Average Years Remaining on Contractual Life
|
|
Weighted
Average E
xercise
Price
|
|
Number
Exercisable
|
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
€3.63
($5.20)
|
|
36,970
|
|
8.35
|
|
€3.63
($5.20)
|
|
19,519
|
|
€3.63
($5.20)
|
€4.94
($7.08)
|
|
15,000
|
|
5.82
|
|
€4.94
($7.08)
|
|
15,000
|
|
€4.94
($7.08)
|
€5.58
($8.00)
|
|
50,000
|
|
0.82
|
|
€5.58
($8.00)
|
|
50,000
|
|
€5.58
($8.00)
|
€6.28
($9.00)
|
|
802,000
|
|
5.51
|
|
€6.28
($9.00)
|
|
802,000
|
|
€6.28
($9.00)
|
€6.66
($9.55)
|
|
9,528
|
|
8.16
|
|
€6.66
($9.55)
|
|
5,826
|
|
€6.66
($9.55)
|
€6.98
($10.00)
|
|
25,000
|
|
0.96
|
|
€6.98
($10.00)
|
|
25,000
|
|
€6.98
($10.00)
|
€8.79
($12.60)
|
|
90,000
|
|
6.42
|
|
€8.79
($12.60)
|
|
90,000
|
|
€8.79
($12.60)
|
€9.75
($13.98)
|
|
105,032
|
|
8.00
|
|
€9.75
($13.98)
|
|
67,089
|
|
€9.75
($13.98)
|
€10.33
($14.80)
|
|
22,500
|
|
7.96
|
|
€10.33
($14.80)
|
|
15,000
|
|
€10.33
($14.80)
|
€11.53
($16.52)
|
|
73,000
|
|
7.64
|
|
€11.53
($16.52)
|
|
52,324
|
|
€11.53
($16.52)
|
€12.11
($17.35)
|
|
10,000
|
|
6.32
|
|
€12.11($17.35)
|
|
10,000
|
|
€12.11
($17.35)
|
€13.05
($18.71)
|
|
10,000
|
|
7.32
|
|
€13.05
($18.71)
|
|
10,000
|
|
€13.05
($18.71)
|
€13.22
($18.95)
|
|
348,000
|
|
7.23
|
|
€13.22
($18.95)
|
|
319,008
|
|
€13.22
($18.95)
|
|
|
1,597,030
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,480,766
|
|
|
At
December 31, 2009 the aggregate intrinsic value of the outstanding options was
nil and the aggregate intrinsic value of the exercisable options was
nil.
17. NET
LOSS PER SHARE
Net loss
per share is computed using the weighted average number of ordinary shares
outstanding during the applicable period. Because the effect is
anti-dilutive, the Company has excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss
per share the impact of ordinary equivalent shares resulting from the assumed
exercise of stock options and warrants under the treasury stock
method. There is no difference between basic and diluted net loss per
share for all periods presented.
18. COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
In April
2007, the Company entered into a five year term capital lease agreement to
finance €218 in lab equipment purchases. The borrowing is payable in equal
monthly instalments of €4 over a period of 60 months. The agreement is
classified as a capital lease and expires in March 2012.
In April
2007, the Company entered into a five year term capital lease agreement to
finance €110 in lab equipment purchases. The borrowing is payable in equal
monthly instalments of €2 over a period of 60 months. The agreement is
classified as a capital lease and expires in March 2012.
Future
minimum lease payment non-cancellable under operating and capital leases as of
December 31, 2009 are:
|
|
Operating
Leases
|
|
|
Capital
Leases
|
|
2010
|
|
|
192 |
|
|
|
73 |
|
2011
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
73 |
|
2012
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
21 |
|
2013
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Thereafter
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Total
minimum lease payments
|
|
€ |
239 |
|
|
|
167 |
|
Less:
imputed interest
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9 |
) |
Present
value of net minimum lease payment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
158 |
|
Less: Current
portion of capital lease payment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(67 |
) |
Long
term portion of capital lease payment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
91 |
|
As of
December 31, 2009, we had €323 of future payables under outstanding contracts
with various contract research organizations that are not revocable. Most of
these contracts are on a cost plus or actual cost basis.
19. SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS
Effective
January 7, 2010, the Company announced that it had amended its existing License
and Supply and Cost Sharing Agreements with Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for
the development and commercialization of Defibrotide in North America, Central
and South America. The License and Supply Agreement has been amended to include
a license to Sigma-Tau for the intravenous formulation of Defibrotide for the
prevention of veno-occlusive disease in the Americas and to transfer the New
Drug Application (NDA) post approval in the United States. In return for the
amended terms, Gentium will receive an initial payment of $7,000, in execution
of the amended agreements, an additional payment of $6,000 following approval
from the FDA to market Defibrotide in the US and a further $2,000 following the
transfer of the approved NDA to Sigma-Tau. Gentium will receive a 7% royalty on
net sale and a supply margin equal to the greater of 31% of net sales of
Defibrotide or €.050 per unit in the Americas. Gentium will reimburse $1,000 of
costs reimbursed by Sigma-Tau from its future royalty payments due to Gentium
under the License and Supply Agreement.
On
February 5, 2010, the Company received its first installment of $7,000 under the
amended license and supply agreement entered with Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals
Inc.
As of
February 22, 2010, 395,586 warrants issued in connection with our Series A
financing expired unexercised.
On March
1, 2010 the Company announced management and corporate restructuring changes
resulting from a strategic decision to close down its New York office and
consolidate the Company's resources and operations into its headquarters in
Como, Italy. The closure of the New York office and consolidation of corporate
operations are expected to result in one-time payments of approximately €1.51
($1.71) million.
SIGNATURES
The
registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on
Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign
this annual report on its behalf.
|
GENTIUM
S.P.A.
|
|
Date:
March 31, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Khalid
Islam
|
|
|
|
Dr. Khalid
Islam
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
INDEX
OF EXHIBITS
Exhibit
|
|
Description
|
Charter
documents
|
1(i)
|
|
Articles
of Association of Gentium S.p.A., formerly known as Pharma Research S.r.l.
dated November 11, 1993, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to
the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No. 333-122233,
previously filed with the SEC on January 24, 2005.
|
1(ii)
|
|
Amended
and Restated Bylaws of Gentium S.p.A. dated April 27, 2007, incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 1(ii) to the Annual Report on Form 20-F previously
filed with the SEC on April 30, 2007.
|
American
Depositary Share Documents
|
2.1
|
|
Form
of Deposit Agreement among Gentium S.p.A., The Bank of New York and the
owners and beneficial owners from time to time of American Depositary
Receipts (including as an exhibit the form of American Depositary
Receipt), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Amendment No. 5 to
the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No. 333-122233,
previously filed with the SEC on June 9, 2005.
|
2.2
|
|
Form
of American Depositary Receipt (see Exhibit 2.1).
|
Security
Subscription Agreements
|
2.3
|
|
Securities
Subscription Agreement among Gentium S.p.A. and the other parties thereto
dated as of May 31, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9.1 to
the Registration Statement on Form F-3, Registration No. 333-135622, previously filed
with the SEC on July 6, 2006.
|
2.4
|
|
Securities
Subscription Agreement among Gentium S.p.A. and the other parties thereto,
dated as of February 6, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to
the report on Form 6-K, previously filed with the SEC on February 7,
2007.
|
Warrants
|
2.5
|
|
Form
of warrant (regarding Series A financing), incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.2.2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No.
333-122233, previously filed with the SEC on January 24,
2005.
|
2.6
|
|
Form
of Representatives’ Purchase Option between Gentium S.p.A. and Maxim Group
LLC and I-Bankers Securities Inc., incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 1.2 to Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1,
Registration No. 333-122233, previously filed with the SEC on June 9,
2005.
|
2.7
|
|
Form
of American Depositary Shares Purchase Warrant by Gentium S.p.A. dated
October 14, 2005, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8.2 to the
Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No. 333-130796,
previously filed with the SEC on December 30, 2005.
|
2.8.1
|
|
Form
of American Depositary Shares Purchase Warrant by Gentium S.p.A. dated
June 6, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9.2 to the
Registration Statement on Form F-3, Registration No. 333-135622,
previously filed with the SEC on July 6,
2006.
|
2.8.2
|
|
Form
of Ordinary Share Warrant by Gentium S.p.A. dated June 6, 2006,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9.3 to the Registration Statement
on Form F-3, Registration No. 333-135622, previously filed with the SEC on
July 6, 2006.
|
Investor
Rights and Registration Rights Agreements
|
2.9.1
|
|
Form
of Investors’ Rights Agreement between Gentium S.p.A. and holders of the
Series A senior convertible promissory notes and warrants dated
October 15, 2004, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2.4 to the
Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No. 333-122233,
previously filed with the SEC on January 24, 2005.
|
2.9.2
|
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Gentium S.p.A. Series A Senior Convertible Promissory
Notes, Warrants, Subscription Agreements and Investor Rights Agreements
among Gentium S.p.A. and the other parties thereto dated May 27,
2005, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2.6 to Amendment No. 4 to the
Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No. 333-122233,
previously filed with the SEC on May 31, 2005.
|
2.10
|
|
Investors’
Rights Agreement by and among Gentium S.p.A., Alexandra Global Master
Fund Ltd. and Generation Capital Associates made as of
January 10, 2005, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the
Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No. 333-122233,
previously filed with the SEC on January 24, 2005.
|
2.11
|
|
Investors’
Rights Agreement by and among Gentium S.p.A. and Sigma-Tau Finanziaria
S.p.A. made as of April 4, 2005, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.5 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1,
Registration No. 333-122233, previously filed with the SEC on April 7,
2005.
|
2.12
|
|
Registration
Rights Agreement among Gentium S.p.A. and the other parties thereto made
and entered into as of October 14, 2005, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.8.3 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No.
333-130796, previously filed with the SEC on December 30,
2005.
|
2.13
|
|
Registration
Rights Agreement among Gentium S.p.A. and the other parties thereto made
and entered into as of June 6, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.9.4 to the Registration Statement on Form F-3, Registration No.
333-135622, previously filed with the SEC on July 6,
2006.
|
2.14
|
|
Registration
Rights Agreement among Gentium S.p.A. and the other parties thereto made
and entered into as of February 9, 2007, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.10.3 to the Registration Statement on Form F-3, Registration No.
333-141198, previously filed with the SEC on March 9,
2007.
|
Equity
Incentive and Stock Option Plans
|
4.1.1
|
|
Amended
and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No.
333-137534, previously filed with the SEC on September 22,
2006.
|
4.1.2
|
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, made as of March
26, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1.2 to the Annual Report
on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007, previously filed with
the SEC on April 30, 2007.
|
4.2.1
|
|
Amended
and Restated Nonstatutory Share Option Plan and Agreement dated March 23,
2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Annual Report on
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005, previously filed with the
SEC on May 30, 2006.
|
4.2.2
|
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Amended and Restated Nonstatutory Share Option Plan and
Agreement, made as of March 26, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.2.2 to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31,
2007, previously filed with the SEC on April 30, 2007.
|
4.3
|
|
2007
Stock Option Plan, dated March 26, 2007, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.42 to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December
31, 2007, previously filed with the SEC on April 30,
2007.
|
Loan
Agreements
|
4.4
|
|
Ministry
for Universities, Scientific and Technological Research Loan granted to
Gentium S.p.A., successor in interest to Crinos Industria Farmacobiologica
S.p.A., by Sanpaolo Imi S.p.A., dated September 27, 2000,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement on
Form F-1, Registration No. 333-122233, previously filed with the SEC on
January 24, 2005.
|
4.5
|
|
Loan
Agreement between Banca Nazionale del Lavoro S.p.A. and Gentium S.p.A.
dated June 14, 2006 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7.3 to the
Registration Statement on Form F-3, Registration No. 333-135622,
previously filed with the SEC on July 6, 2006.
|
4.6
|
|
Loan
Agreement for €230,000 with Banca Intesa S.p.A., dated December 20, 2006,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to the report on Form 6-K,
previously filed with the SEC on February 2, 2007.
|
4.7
|
|
Loan
Agreement for €500,000 with Banca Intesa S.p.A., dated December 20, 2006,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the report on Form 6-K,
previously filed with the SEC on February 2, 2007.
|
4.8
|
|
Loan
Agreement for €225,000 with Banca Intesa S.p.A., dated December 20, 2006,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the report on Form 6-K,
previously filed with the SEC on February 2, 2007.
|
4.9
|
|
Financing
Contract between Banca Intesa Mediocredito S.p.A. and Gentium S.p.A. dated
April 20, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.36.2 to the Annual
Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005, previously filed
with the SEC on May 30, 2006.
|
4.10
|
|
Loan
Agreement, dated June 30, 2006, between San Paolo IMI S.p.A. and Gentium
S.p.A. , incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.43 to the Annual Report on
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006, previously filed with the
SEC on April 30, 2007.
|
Clinical
Trial Agreements
|
4.11.1
|
|
Master
Services Agreement, dated March 14, 2007, between MDS Pharma Services
(US), Inc. and Gentium S.p.A., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to
the report on Form 6-K, previously filed with the SEC on March 20,
2007.
|
4.11.2
|
|
Statement
of Work, effective August 8, 2007, between Gentium S.p.A. and MDS Pharma
Services, Inc. (prospective arm), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3
to the report on Form 6-K, previously filed with the SEC on August 22,
2007.
|
4.11.3
|
|
Statement
of Work, effective August 8, 2007, between Gentium S.p.A. and MDS Pharma
Services, Inc. (historical arm), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to
the report on Form 6-K, previously filed with the SEC on August 22,
2007.
|
License
and Distribution Agreements
|
4.12.1
|
|
License
and Supply Agreement by and between Gentium S.p.A. and Sigma-Tau
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (assignee of Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche
Riunite S.p.A.) dated December 7, 2001, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.15 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No.
333-122233, previously filed with the SEC on January 24,
2005.
|
4.12.2
|
|
Letter
Agreement, dated October 12, 2007, between Gentium S.p.A. and Sigma-Tau
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the
report on Form 6-K, previously filed with the SEC on December 12,
2007.
|
4.12.3*
|
|
Amendments
to License and Supply Agreement and Letter Agreement, dated December 7,
2001 and October 12, 2007, respectively, effective January 7, 2010,
between Gentium S.p.A. and Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 2 to the Form 6-K, previously filed with the SEC
on January 11, 2010.
|
4.13.1
|
|
Contract
to Supply Active Ingredients between Sirton Pharmaceuticals
S.p.A. and Gentium S.p.A. dated January 2, 2006, incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.24.2 to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year
ended December 31, 2005, previously filed with the SEC on May 30,
2006.
|
4.13.2
|
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Contract to Supply Active Ingredients, effective as of December
7, 2007, by and between Gentium S.p.A. and Sirton Pharmaceuticals
S.p.A.
|
4.14.1
|
|
Master
Agreement, dated December 28, 2006, among Gentium S.p.A., Crinos S.p.A.,
SFI Stada Financial Investments Ltd. and SFS Stada Financial Services
International Ltd., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to the report
on Form 6-K, previously filed with the SEC on January 3,
2007.
|
4.14.2
|
|
Distribution
Agreement, dated December 28, 2006, between Gentium S.p.A. and Crinos
S.p.A., incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6 to the report on Form 6-K,
previously filed with the SEC on January 3, 2007.
|
4.21*
|
|
Technical
Transfer Services Agreement, dated February 2, 2009, between Gentium
S.p.A. and Patheon Italia S.p.A, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.21
to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008,
previously filed with the SEC on March 31, 2009.
|
4.22.1
|
|
Technical
Agreement, dated February 26, 2009, between Gentium S.p.A. and IDIS
Limited, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.22.1 to the Annual Report
on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008, previously filed with
the SEC on March 31, 2009.
|
4.22.2*
|
|
Supply
and Distribution Agreement, dated March 6, 2009, between Gentium S.p.A.
and IDIS Limited, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.22.2 to the
Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008,
previously filed with the SEC on March 31, 2009.
|
4.23*
|
|
Master
Contract Clinical Research Agreement, dated September 29, 2009, between US
Oncology Clinical Development and Gentium S.p.A., incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 2 to the report on Form 6-K, previously filed with
the SEC on December 8, 2009.
|
Management
Services Agreements
|
4.15
|
|
Service
Agreement between FinSirton S.p.A. and Gentium S.p.A. dated
January 2, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25.2 to the
Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005,
previously filed with the SEC on May 30,
2006.
|
4.16
|
|
Service
Agreement between Sirton Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. and Gentium S.p.A. dated
January 2, 2006, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26.2 to the
Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005,
previously filed with the SEC on May 30, 2006.
|
Leases
|
4.17
|
|
Commercial
Lease Contract between Gentium S.p.A. and Sirton Pharmaceuticals S.p.A.
dated January 1, 2005, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to
Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration
No. 333-122233, previously filed with the SEC on May 10,
2005.
|
4.18
|
|
Commercial
Lease Contract between Gentium S.p.A. and FinSirton S.p.A. dated
January 1, 2005, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to
Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration
No. 333-122233, previously filed with the SEC on May 10,
2005.
|
4.19
|
|
Commercial
Lease Contract between Gentium S.p.A. and FinSirton S.p.A. dated January
1, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.32.2 (improperly coded as
Exhibit 4.43(2)) to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ending
December 31, 2006, previously filed with the SEC on April 30,
2007.
|
Miscellaneous
|
4.20
|
|
Form
of indemnification agreement between Gentium S.p.A. and each officer and
director, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to Amendment No. 2 to
the Registration Statement on Form F-1, Registration No. 333-122233,
previously filed with the SEC on May 10, 2005.
|
Certifications
and Consents
|
12.1
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
12.2
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
13.1
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
13.2
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
15(a)
|
|
Consent
of Reconta Ernst & Young S.p.A. dated March 31,
2010.
|
*
|
Portions
of this exhibit have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities
and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request for confidential
treatment.
|