fs63015.htm
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of August 2015
Commission File Number 0-30314
PORTAGE BIOTECH INC.
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
47 Avenue Rd., Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5R 2G3
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F _______
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ______
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ______
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes _______ No___X____
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
82- ______________.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: August 26, 2015
PORTAGE BIOTECH INC.
By: /s/ Kam Shah
Kam Shah
Chief Financial Officer
Portage Biotech Inc.
Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
For the three months ended June 30, 2015
Unaudited – Prepared by Management
(US Dollars)
Portage Biotech Inc.
Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2015
(US Dollars)
Index
|
|
|
|
Notice to Reader
|
2
|
|
|
Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position
|
3
|
|
|
Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
|
4
|
Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
|
5
|
|
|
Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows
|
6
|
|
|
Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
|
|
NOTICE TO READER OF CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The consolidated interim financial statements for Portage Biotech Inc. comprised of the consolidated interim statements of financial position as at June 30, 2015 and for the year ended March 31, 2015, and the consolidated interim statement of operations, statement of changes in equity and cash flows for the three month period ended June 30, 2015 are the responsibility of the Company’s management.
The consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared by management and include the selection of appropriate accounting principles, judgments and estimates necessary to prepare these consolidated interim financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.
The consolidated interim financial statements have not been reviewed by the Company’s independent external auditors, Schwartz Levitsky Feldman LLP.
“signed” “signed”
Kam Shah CPA,C.A., Director Declan Doogan MD, Director
August 24, 2015
Portage Biotech Inc.
Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position
(US Dollars)
(Unaudited – see Notice to Reader dated August 24, 2015)
As at ,
|
Note
|
June 30, 2015
|
March 31, 2015 (audited)
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
4
|
$5,987,490
|
$1,718,289
|
Advances and other receivable
|
|
14,728
|
17,575
|
|
|
$6,002,218
|
$1,735,864
|
Long-term assets
|
|
|
|
Goodwill
|
5
|
3,000,000
|
3,000,000
|
Total assets
|
|
$9,002,218
|
$4,735,864
|
Liabilities and Shareholders' equity
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
7(d),12(iii)
|
628,031
|
620,560
|
|
|
$628,031
|
$620,560
|
Shareholders' Equity
|
|
|
|
Capital stock
|
6
|
14,846,795
|
9,691,715
|
Stock option reserve
|
7
|
1,451,860
|
1,312,519
|
Warrants
|
8(i)
|
1,108,402
|
1,108,402
|
Deficit
|
|
(10,243,767)
|
(9,452,864)
|
Total Shareholders' equity
|
|
$7,163,290
|
$2,659,772
|
Non-controlling interests
|
|
$1,210,897
|
$1,455,532
|
Total equity
|
|
8,374,187
|
4,115,304
|
Total liabilities and Shareholders' equity
|
|
$9,002,218
|
$4,735,864
|
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Note 10)
|
|
|
|
Related Party Transactions (Note 12)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On behalf of the Board ”Kam Shah” Director ”Declan Doogan” Director
(signed) (signed)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated interim financial statements.
Portage Biotech Inc.
Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(US Dollars)
(Unaudited – see Notice to Reader dated August 24, 2015)
Three months ended June 30,
|
Note
|
2015
|
2014
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
|
Research and development
|
10((b) to (d) )
|
786,160
|
771,519
|
Consulting fees
|
11 and 12(ii)
|
168,278
|
184,917
|
Professional fees
|
|
48,140
|
41,907
|
Other oprating costs
|
12(i)
|
30,834
|
34,046
|
Bank charges and interest
|
|
2,126
|
984
|
Amortization
|
|
-
|
242
|
|
|
$1,035,538
|
$1,033,615
|
Net loss and comprehensive loss for period
|
|
$(1,035,538)
|
$(1,033,615)
|
Net loss and comprehensive loss attributable to :
|
|
|
|
Owners of the Company
|
|
(790,903)
|
(785,639)
|
Non-controlling interest
|
|
(244,635)
|
(247,976)
|
|
|
$(1,035,538)
|
$(1,033,615)
|
Basic and diluted loss per share
|
|
|
|
Net Loss per share
|
9
|
$(0.00)
|
$(0.00)
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Portage Biotech Inc.
Consolidated Interim Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
For the Three Months ended June 30, 2015
(US Dollars)
(Unaudited – see Notice to Reader dated August 24, 2015)
|
Number of Shares
|
Capital Stock
|
Stock Option Reserve
|
Warrants
|
Accumulated Deficit
|
Non-controlling interest
|
Total Equity
|
|
Balance, April 1, 2014
|
180,775,790
|
$ 7,256,715
|
$ 362,440
|
$ 1,108,402
|
$ (6,334,433)
|
$ 2,678,317
|
$ 5,071,441
|
Options vested
|
|
|
139,438
|
|
|
|
139,438
|
Net loss for year
|
|
|
|
|
(785,639)
|
(247,976)
|
(1,033,615)
|
Balance, June 30, 2014
|
180,775,790
|
$ 7,256,715
|
$ 501,878
|
$ 1,108,402
|
$ (7,120,072)
|
$ 2,430,341
|
$ 4,177,264
|
Balance, April 1, 2015
|
206,775,791
|
$ 9,691,715
|
$ 1,312,519
|
$ 1,108,402
|
$ (9,452,864)
|
$ 1,455,532
|
$ 4,115,304
|
Issued under private placement
|
36,822,003
|
$ 5,155,080
|
|
|
|
|
$ 5,155,080
|
Private placement finders fee
|
|
$ (257,754)
|
|
|
|
|
$ (257,754)
|
Finders fee settled in shares
|
1,841,100
|
$ 257,754
|
|
|
|
|
$ 257,754
|
Options vested
|
|
|
$ 139,341
|
|
|
|
$139,341
|
Net loss for period
|
|
|
|
|
$ (790,903)
|
$ (244,635)
|
$(1,035,538)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, June 30, 2015
|
245,438,894
|
$ 14,846,795
|
$ 1,451,860
|
$ 1,108,402
|
(10,243,767)
|
$ 1,210,897
|
$ 8,374,187
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Portage Biotech Inc.
Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows
(US Dollars)
(Unaudited – see Notice to Reader dated August 24, 2015)
For the three months ended June 30,
|
|
2015
|
2014
|
Cash flows from operating activities
|
|
|
|
Net loss for period
|
|
$ (1,035,538)
|
$ 1,033,616)
|
Adjustments for non-cash items:
|
|
|
|
Amortization of office equipment and furniture
|
|
-
|
242
|
Value of shares and options expensed as consulting fee
|
|
117,278
|
139,438
|
Value of options expensed as research and development
|
|
22,063
|
-
|
Net change in working capital components
|
|
|
|
Other receivables
|
|
2,847
|
207,195
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
7,471
|
304,423
|
|
|
$ (885,879)
|
$ (382,318)
|
Cash flows from financing activities
|
|
|
|
Capital contribution
|
|
5,155,080
|
-
|
|
|
$ 5,155,080
|
$ -
|
(Decrease) Increase in cash during period
|
|
4,269,201
|
(382,318)
|
Cash at beginning of period
|
|
1,718,289
|
2,032,058
|
Cash at end of period
|
|
$ 5,987,490
|
$ 1,649,740
|
Supplemental disclosures
|
|
|
|
Non-cash financing activities
|
|
|
|
Shares issued in settlement of finder’s fee
|
|
(257,754)
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(257,754)
|
-
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Portage Biotech Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements
(US Dollars)
June 30, 2015 and 2014
(Unaudited – see Notice to Reader dated August 24,2015)
1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND GOING CONCERN
Portage Biotech Inc. (“the Company”) was operating as an Ontario, Canada incorporated company, Bontan Corporation Inc. (“Bontan”), until July 5, 2013. On July 5, 2013 Bontan changed its name to the current name and was issued a certificate of Continuance by the Registrar of Corporate Affairs of the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”).
The Company now continues as a BVI incorporated company with its registered office located at FH Chambers, P.O. Box 4649, Road Town, Tortola, BVI. Its Toronto agent is located at 47 Avenue Road, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 2G3, Canada.
The Company is a reporting issuer with the Ontario Securities Commission and US Securities and Exchange Commission and its shares trade on the OTC Markets under the trading symbol “PTGEF,” and are also listed for trading in US currency on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol “PBT.U”.
The Company is engaged in researching and developing pharmaceutical and biotech products through to clinical “proof of concept” with an initial focus on unmet clinical needs. Following proof of concept, the Company will look to sell or license the products to large pharmaceutical companies for further development and commercialization.
The Company is in the pre-clinical stage, and as such no revenue has been generated from its operations. The Company has accumulated losses of approximately $9 million and has negative cash flows from operating activities of approximately $2.6 million during the year ended March 31, 2015.
Management has secured sufficient equity financing which it believes will enable it to complete its pre-clinical work and other commitments. However, it will require additional resources to continue into clinical trials and/or for additional acquisitions The Company continues to obtain financing, although there are no assurances that the management’s plan will be realized. These conditions indicate the existence of a material uncertainty that raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts, or the amounts and classification of liabilities, which might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue its operations.
2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
(a)
|
Statement of Compliance and Basis of presentation
|
These consolidated Interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”), IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting and interpretations of the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee. These consolidated interim financial statements do not include all of the information required for full annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended March 31, 2015.
These consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis except for stock based compensation and warrants which are measured at fair value as detailed in Notes 7 and 8 to these financial statements. In addition, these consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared using the accrual basis of accounting, except for cash flow information.
The Company has no requirement to report on segments as it operates as only one segment.
These consolidated interim financial statements were approved and authorized for issue by the Audit Committee and Board of Directors on August 24, 2015
(b) Consolidation
The consolidated interim financial statements include the accounts of the Company and,
a.
|
Portage Services Ltd.), a wholly owned subsidiary incorporated in Ontario on January 31, 2011. .
|
b.
|
Portage Pharmaceuticals Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary incorporated on April 5, 2013 under the laws of the BVI, as a BVI business company..
|
c.
|
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Limited (“Biohaven), a private corporation incorporated in BVI on September 25, 2013. The Company acquired approximately 54% equity in Biohaven on January 6, 2014.
|
All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.
(c) Functional and presentation currency
The Company’s functional and presentation currency is US Dollar.
(d) Use of Estimates and judgments
The preparation of the consolidated interim financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimates are revised and in any future periods affected. Significant areas where estimation uncertainty and critical judgments are applied include valuation of financial instruments, research and development costs, fair value used for acquisition and measurement of share- based compensation.
3.
|
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
|
The accounting policies are set out in Note 3 to the fiscal 2015 audited consolidated financial statements. These policies have been applied consistently to all periods presented in these consolidated interim financial statements,
New standards and interpretations not yet adopted
Standards issued but not yet effective up to the date of issuance of the Company‘s interim consolidated financial statements are listed below. This listing is of standards and interpretations issued which the Company reasonably expects to be applicable at a future date. The Company intends to adopt those standards when they become effective.
IFRS 9 ‐ Financial Instruments
The IASB intends to replace IAS 39, Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurements, with IFRS 9, Financial Instruments. IFRS 9 will be published in six phases, of which the first phase has been published.
For financial assets, IFRS 9 uses a single approach to determine whether a financial asset is measured at amortized cost or fair value, and replaces the multiple rules in IAS 39. The approach in IFRS 9 is based on how an entity manages its financial instruments in the context of its business model and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial assets. The new standard also requires a single impairment method to be used. For financial liabilities, the approach to the fair value option may require different accounting for changes to the fair value of a financial liability as a result of changes to an entity’s own credit risk.
IFRS 9 (2014) is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning on April 1, 2018, but is available for early adoption. The Company has yet to assess the full impact of IFRS 9.
4. CASH
Cash includes $ 648,644 (As at March 31, 2015: 1,201,509) held in trust by a US lawyer, pending opening of a bank account by Biohaven. There are no restrictions on use of cash.
5. GOODWILL
The Company assesses the recoverability of the carrying value of goodwill on an annual basis as of March 31, and whenever events occur or when circumstances change that would, more likely than not, indicate that the fair value of our reporting unit ( Biohaven) is below its carrying value.
As at June 30, 2015, no new information was available which would indicate that the fair value of goodwill is below its carrying value.
6. CAPITAL STOCK
(a) Authorized: Unlimited number of common shares
|
As at June 30, 2015
|
As at March 31, 2015
|
|
Common
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Balance , beginning of period
|
206,775,791
|
$ 9,691,715
|
180,775,790
|
$ 7,256,715
|
Conversion of debts and coupons
|
-
|
-
|
3,500,001
|
315,000
|
Issued under private placement (i)
|
36,822,003
|
5,155,080
|
20,000,000
|
2,000,000
|
finders fee/Commitment fee settled in shares (i) (ii)
|
1,841,100
|
257,754
|
1,000,000
|
100,000
|
finders fee/Underwriting costs
|
-
|
(257,754)
|
|
(100,000)
|
Shares issued as compensation
|
-
|
-
|
1,500,000
|
120,000
|
Balance, end of period
|
245,438,894
|
$14,846,795
|
206,775,791
|
$ 9,691,715
|
|
i.
|
On June 24, 2015, the Company completed a private placement comprising non-brokered offering of 36,822,003 restricted common shares at a price of US$0.14 per share for gross proceeds of $5,155,080 to accredited investors. Two directors subscribed approximately 11.4 million shares at a total cost of $ 1.6 million. The private placement was done in two tranches. First tranche closed on June 15, 2015 and second one closed on June 24, 2015. MediqVentures Ltd., a private corporation owned by two of the directors of the Company and/or its nominees received 5% of the gross proceeds or $257,754 as finder’s fee as per the terms of the consulting agreement with them. The fee was settled by issuance of 1,841,100 restricted common shares valued at US$ 0.14 per common shares (see ii below).
|
|
ii.
|
Common shares issuable as finder’s fee under the private placement referred to in I above were issued in July 2015.
|
|
(c)
|
As at June 30, 2015, the Company had the following active Consultant Stock Compensation Plan:
|
|
Date of registration*
|
Registered shares under Plan
|
Issued to March 31, 2015
|
As at April 1, 2015
|
issued
|
Cancelled
|
Balance at June 30, 2015
|
2011 Plan
|
11-Apr-11
|
6,000,000
|
(3,438,333)
|
2,561,667
|
-
|
-
|
2,561,667
|
|
As at March 31, 2015, the Company had the following active Consultant Stock Compensation Plan:
|
|
Date of registration*
|
Registered shares under Plan
|
Issued to March 31, 2014
|
As at April 1, 2014
|
issued
|
Cancelled
|
Balance at March 31, 2015
|
2011 Plan
|
11-Apr-11
|
6,000,000
|
(1,938,333)
|
4,061,667
|
(1,500,000)
|
-
|
2,561,667
|
*
|
Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America (SEC) as required under the Securities Act of 1933.
|
|
(d)
|
As required under listing requirements by Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company signed, on October 25, 2013, an escrow agreement with TMX Equity Transfer Services to escrow 88,444,293 of its common shares and 68,724,447 of its warrants issued to four insiders. The escrowed shares and warrants will be released in agreed tranches over the period of three years. As at June 30, 2015, 48,644,356(As at March 31, 2015, 53,066,580) common shares and nil (As at March 31, 2015: 41,234,670 warrants) are still under escrow. All warrants in escrow expired as at June 30, 2015.
|
7. STOCK OPTION PLANS
|
June 30, 2015
|
Year ended March 31, 2015
|
|
(unaudited)
|
(Audited)
|
Balance, beginning of period
|
$ 1,312,519
|
$ 362,440
|
Options issued on December 17, 2013 and vested
|
|
238,221
|
Options issued on February 25, 2015 and vested
|
117,278
|
|
2015 Options to acquire equity in PPL granted to PPl management and vested
|
22,063
|
-
|
2014 Options to acquire equity in PPL granted to PPl management and vested
|
-
|
188,282
|
Revaluation of 2014 PPL options due to extension of maturity period
|
-
|
5,576
|
Options to acquire equity in Biohaven granted to Biohaven consultants and directors (iv)
|
-
|
518,000
|
Balance, end of period
|
$ 1,451,860
|
$ 1,312,519
|
(a)
|
The following is a summary of all active Stock Option Plans as at June 30, 2015:
|
Stock Option Plan
|
2005
|
|
Total
|
Plan
|
2005 Stock Option Plan
|
2013 Option Plan
|
|
Date of Registration
|
Dec. 5, 2005
|
Dec 19, 2013 and March 17, 2015
|
Total
|
Registered *
|
1,000,000
|
20,167,579
|
21,167,579
|
Issued
|
1,000,000
|
9,700,000
|
10,700,000
|
Outstanding, April 1, 2015
|
560,000
|
9,700,000
|
10,260,000
|
Issued
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Exercised
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Expired
|
-
|
|
-
|
Outstanding, June 30, 2015
|
560,000
|
9,700,000
|
10,260,000
|
|
|
|
|
Options fully vested - June 30, 2015
|
560,000
|
5,062,499
|
5,622,499
|
Options not yet vested as at June 30, 2015
|
-
|
4,637,501
|
4,637,501
|
|
560,000
|
9,700,000
|
10,260,000
|
|
|
|
|
Options fully vested - March 31, 2015
|
560,000
|
4,400,000
|
4,960,000
|
Options not yet vested as at March 31, 2015
|
-
|
5,300,000
|
5,300,000
|
|
560,000
|
9,700,000
|
10,260,000
|
|
* Registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America (SEC) as required under the Securities Act of 1933.
|
(b)
|
The weighted average exercise price of the outstanding stock options was US$0.16 as at June 30, 2015 and as at March 31, 2015and weighted average remaining contractual life was approximately 3.93 years (4.18 years as at March 31, 2015).
|
The options can be exercised at any time after vesting within the exercise period in accordance with the applicable option agreement. The exercise price was more than the market price on the date of the grants for all options outstanding as at June 30, 2015 and March 31, 2015.
(i)
|
Movements during the period were as follows:
|
|
June 30, 2015
|
March 31, 2015
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Audited)
|
|
|
# of warrants
|
Weighted average exercise price
|
Fair value
|
# of warrants
|
Weighted average exercise price
|
Fair value
|
|
Issued and outstanding, beginning of year
|
87,906,420
|
$ 0.30
|
$ 1,108,402
|
114,281,420
|
$ 0.31
|
1108402
|
Exercised
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
-
|
|
Expired
|
(87,906,420)
|
$ (0.30)
|
|
(26,375,000)
|
(0.35)
|
|
Issued and outstanding, March 31, 2014
|
-
|
$ -
|
$ 1,108,402
|
87,906,420
|
$ 0.30
|
$ 1,108,402
|
(ii)
|
Details of weighted average remaining life of the warrants granted and outstanding are as follows:
|
|
As at June 30, 2015
|
As at March 31, 2015
|
|
Warrants outstanding & exercisable
|
Warrants outstanding & exercisable
|
Exercise price in US$
|
Number
|
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)
|
Number
|
Weighted average remaining contractual life (years)
|
0.29
|
-
|
-
|
71,456,420
|
0.18
|
0.35
|
-
|
-
|
16,450,000
|
0.06
|
|
-
|
-
|
87,906,420
|
0.16
|
9. LOSS PER SHARE
Loss per share is calculated on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the three months ended June 30, 2014, which was 219,663,492 (Three months ended June 30, 2014: 180,775,790).
The Company had nil warrants (June 30, 2014: 114 million) and 10.3 million options (June 30, 2014: 5 million) which were not exercised as at June 30, 2015. Inclusion of these warrants and options in the computation of diluted loss per share would have an anti-dilutive effect on the loss per share and are therefore excluded from the computation. Consequently, there is no difference between loss per share and diluted loss per share.
10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
(a)
|
Under the terms of the License Agreement dated January 25, 2013, PPL is required to reimburse to the Licensor, Trojan Technologies Limited, 50% of all maintenance costs of the US Patent # 7,968,512 and to pay royalties of 3% on Net Receipts from sales of the Licensed Product and 5% on Net Receipts from third parties in respect of development or other exploitation of Licensed Intellectual Property and/or Licensed Products up to a maximum of $ 30 million. Total amount that may be payable in future under the terms of the Agreement cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.
|
(b)
|
PPL has signed consulting contracts with its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer expiring in or around March 2017 and carrying a total monthly commitment of $22,683.Early termination without cause would require a lump sum compensation of $ 75,000 to be paid to the two consultants.
|
(c)
|
Biohaven has signed a Master Service Agreement on January 31, 2014, as subsequently amended in April 2014, with Biohaven Pharmaceuticals Inc, a private Delaware incorporated research and development company (“BPI”). BPI is owned by non-controlling shareholders of Biohaven and is engaged by Biohaven to conduct, on behalf of Biohaven, research and development services relating to identification and development of clinical stage neuroscience compounds targeting the glutamatergic system. The agreement expires on December 31, 2018 and will automatically renew on a year to year basis. Either party can terminate the agreement upon ninety days prior notice. Agreed fee for the period up to June 30, 2015 is $ 3 million payable in quarterly instalment commencing from March 1, 2014.
|
(d)
|
Under the terms of the License Agreement dated September 16, 2013 signed with Yale University, Biohaven is required to pay to the Licensor a milestone royalty of $ 2 million within six months of receiving approval of an NDA ( New Drug Application) and pay earned royalty at 3% on worldwide annual net sales of the licensed products, subject to minimum royalty payment of $ 300,000 in the year one, $ 600,000 in year two, $ 750,000 in year three and $ 1 million from year four onwards subject to reduction ranging from 33% to 95% depending on sales of generic exceeding an agreed market share on a country by country basis and further reduction by 50% is licensee is required to pay third party royalties. Total amount that may be payable in future under the terms of the Agreement cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. Licensor also has right to purchase in cash up to 10% of any securities offered in future financing.
|
Three months ended June 30,
|
Notes
|
2015
|
2014
|
Cash fee
|
|
$ 51,000
|
45,479
|
Options issued to key management
|
7
|
97,363
|
105,031
|
Options issued to others
|
7
|
19,915
|
34,407
|
|
|
$ 168,278
|
$ 184,917
|
12. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Transactions with related parties are incurred in the normal course of business and are measured at the exchange amount, which is the amount of consideration established and agreed to between the related parties. Related party transactions and balances have been listed below, unless they have been disclosed elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements.
(i)
|
Business expenses of $594 (June 30, 2014: 3,867) were reimbursed to directors of the Company.
|
(ii)
|
Consulting fees include cash fee paid to key management for services of $45000 ( June 30, 2014: $.45,000)
|
13. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT
The Company’s financial instruments recognized in the balance sheet consist of the following:
|
June 30, 2015
|
March 31, 2015
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
(Audited)
|
|
Carrying value
|
Fair value
|
Carrying value
|
Fair value
|
Financial assets
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
5,987,490
|
5,987,490
|
1,718,289
|
2,032,058
|
Advances and other receivable
|
14,728
|
14,728
|
17,575
|
227,233
|
Financial liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
628,031
|
628,031
|
620,560
|
620,560
|
Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about financial instruments. These estimates are subject to and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment, therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.
A summary of the Company’s risk exposures as it relates to financial instruments are reflected below:
a)
|
Fair value of financial instruments
|
The Company’s financial assets and liabilities are comprised of cash, advances and receivable and, accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
.The Company classifies the fair value of these transactions according to the following fair value hierarchy based on the amount of observable inputs used to value the instrument:
•
|
Level 1 – Values are based on unadjusted quoted prices available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.
|
•
|
Level 2 – Values are based on inputs, including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value and volatility factors, which can be substantially observed or corroborated in the marketplace. Prices in Level 2 are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date.
|
•
|
Level 3 – Values are based on prices or valuation techniques that are not based on observable market data.
|
Assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the placement within the fair value hierarchy.
The Company’s financial instruments are exposed to certain financial risks: credit risk, liquidity risk, other price risk and market risk.
Credit risk is the risk of loss associated with a counter-party’s inability to fulfill its payment obligations. The credit risk is attributable to various financial instruments, as noted below. The credit risk is limited to the carrying value amount carried on the statement of financial position.
a.
|
Cash– Cash is held with a major international financial institutions in Canada and a major law firm in the USA and therefore the risk of loss is minimal.
|
b.
|
Other receivable – The Company is not exposed to major credit risk attributable to customers. A significant portion of this amount is prepaid to BPI under a master service agreement.
|
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will encounter difficulty in satisfying financial obligations as they become due.
The Company’s approach to managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under both normal and stressed conditions without incurring unacceptable losses or risking harm to the Company’s reputation. The Company holds sufficient cash to satisfy obligations under accounts payable and accruals.
The Company monitors its liquidity position regularly to assess whether it has the funds necessary to take care of its operating needs and needs for investing in new projects. The Company believes that its existing cash will allow it to finance the drug development work apart from meeting its operational needs for at least another year. However, the exact need for additional cash cannot be reasonably ascertained at this stage Should the Company require further funding, it intends to secure it through further rounds of equity financing.
However, as a biotech company at an early stage of development and without significant internally generated cash flows, there are inherent liquidity risks, including the possibility that additional financing may not be available to the Company, or that actual drug development expenditures may exceed those planned. The current uncertainty in global markets could have an impact on the Company’s future ability to access capital on terms that are acceptable to the Company. There can be no assurance that required financing will be available to the Company.
14. CAPITAL DISCLOSURES
The Company considers the items included in Shareholders’ Equity as capital. The Company had payables of approximately $ 0.6 million as at June 30, 2015 ($0.6 million as at March 31, 2015) and current assets, mostly in cash, of approximately $6 million ($1.7 million as at March 31, 2015). The Company’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern in order to pursue new business opportunities and to maintain a flexible capital structure which optimizes the costs of capital at an acceptable risk.
The Company manages the capital structure and makes adjustments to it in light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of the underlying assets. To maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Company may attempt to issue new shares, issue new debt, acquire or dispose of assets or adjust the amount of cash.
As at June 30, 2015, the shareholders’ equity was approximately $ 7.2 million ($2.7 million as at March 31, 2015), $6 million ($1.7 million as at March 31, 2015) of it was held in the form of cash.
The Company is not subject to any externally imposed capital requirements and does not presently utilize any quantitative measures to monitor its capital. There have been no changes to the Company’s approach to capital management during the three months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014.
15. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
|
i.
|
On July 30, 2015, the Company invested $ 700,000 in series A Preferred Stock with conversion rights in a private corporation.
|
|
ii.
|
On August 5, 2015, the Company acquired 893 additional common shares in Biohaven for a total cost of $ 2.5 million.
|
PORTAGE BIOTECH INC.
THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2015
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Prepared as at August 24, 2015
Index
Forward Looking Statements
|
3
|
Nature of Operations and overview
|
4
|
Summary of Results
|
6
|
Number of common shares, options and warrants
|
6
|
Business Environment
|
6
|
Risk Factors
|
6
|
|
6
|
|
8
|
|
10
|
Key Contractual obligations
|
11
|
Off balance sheet arrangements
|
11
|
|
11
|
|
12
|
Use of Estimates and Judgments
|
13
|
Future Accounting Pronouncements
|
13
|
Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
|
14
|
|
14
|
Management Discussion and Analysis
The following discussion and analysis by management of the financial condition and financial results for Portage Biotech Inc. for the three months ended June 30, 2015 should be read in conjunction with the unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2015 and annual report in form 20-F for the same period.
Forward looking statements
This document includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the “safe harbour” provisions of the Securities laws. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to our objectives, goals and strategies to achieve those objectives and goals, as well as statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions. The words “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “suspect”, “outlook”, “believe”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “forecast”, “objective”, “hope” and “continue” (or the negative thereof), and words and expressions of similar import, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of important factors, many of which are beyond our control, could cause our actual results to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to; the applicability of patents and proprietary technology; possible patent litigation; approval of products in the Company’s pipeline; marketing of products; meeting projected drug development timelines and goals; product liability and insurance; dependence on strategic partnerships and licensees; concentration of the Company’s revenue; substantial competition and rapid technological change in the pharmaceutical industry; the publication of negative results of clinical trials of the Company’s products; the ability to access capital; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; changes in government regulation
or regulatory approval processes; dependence on contract research organizations; third party reimbursement; the success of the Company’s strategic investments; the achievement of development goals and time frames; the possibility of shareholder dilution; market price volatility of securities; and the existence of significant shareholders.
We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When reviewing our forward-looking statements, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Additional information about factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements, may be found in the “Risk Factors” section under “Business Environment” and elsewhere in the following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Operating Results and Financial Position for the three months ended June 30, 2015. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf; such statements speak only as of the date made. The forward-looking statements included herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary language.
In this report the words “us”, “we”, “our”, “the Company”, and “Portage” have the same meaning unless otherwise stated and refer to Portage Biotech Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Nature of Operation and overview
Portage Biotech Inc. (“the Company”) was operating as an Ontario, Canada incorporated company, Bontan Corporation Inc. (“Bontan”) until July 5, 2013. On July 5, 2013 the Company changed its name to the current name and was issued a certificate of Continuance by the Registrar of Corporate Affairs of the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”).
The Company now continues as a BVI incorporated company with its registered office located at FH Chambers, P.O. Box 4649, Road Town, Tortola, BVI. Its Toronto agent is located at 47 Avenue Road, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 2G3, Canada.
The Company continues to be a reporting issuer with the Ontario Securities Commission and the US Securities and Exchange Commission and its shares trade on the OTC Markets under the trading symbol “PTGEF,” effective August 23, 2013. Prior to this date, it was trading as Bontan Corporation Inc. under the trading symbol “BNTNF”. Effective October 28, 2013, the Company’s shares are also listed for trading in US currency on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol “PBT.U”.
Portage develops pharmaceutical & biotech products through to clinical “proof of concept” focussing on unmet clinical needs. Following proof of concept, Portage will look to sell or license the products to large pharmaceutical companies for further development through to commercialization.
Portage seeks products & co-development partners in cancer, infectious disease, neurology and psychiatry with novel targeted therapies, or reformulations that can be patented.
Portage will work with a wide range of partners, in all phases of development. The collaboration may include direct funding or investing human capital/sweat equity from our extensive pool of talented scientists and physicians to value-add by mitigating risks, clinical trial design and regulatory expertise.
Our research and development work is primarily carried out through two subsidiaries:
Portage pharmaceuticals Ltd ( PPL)
On June 4, 2013, following the acquisition of Portage Pharma Ltd, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Portage Acquisition Inc. and Portage Pharma Ltd amalgamated. The amalgamated company was named PPL, which has been incorporated in the BVI.
PPL’s focus is in discovering and developing innovative cell permeable peptide (CPP) therapies to normalize gene expression, restore function and improve medical outcomes. Its core technology involves delivering biologically active “cargo” to intracellular and intranuclear targets to normalize cell and tissue function, improve the immunogenicity of vaccines and enable better treatment of intracellular pathogens.
The CPP platform is protected by two suits of intellectual property:
a. an exclusive license for all patents on Antennapedia–based cell permeable peptides for non-oncology use and
b. international patents for proprietary human-derived cell penetrating peptide structures without any therapeutic restrictions. Patent is protected until 2034.
In July 2014, PPL successfully validated this new proprietary cell permeable peptide platform technology derived from human genes. This proprietary platform technology has been shown to efficiently deliver an active pharmacological agent or cargo into a cell without disrupting the cell membrane. In a collaboration with the Pirbright Institute (UK), a conjugate utilizing this proprietary cell permeable peptide and a CD8 T-cell antigenic epitope derived from mycobacterium tuberculosis was demonstrated to provoke a specific CD8 T-cell immune response in Balb/c mice suggesting possible application of this technology for vaccines.
Using the same anti-inflammatory cargo, PPL’s proprietary platform was shown to be superior to other sequences by demonstrating greater in vitro activity, greater in vivo pharmacological activity in mice and advantageous physical-chemical properties for ease of formulation and delivery.
PPL’s proprietary CPP technology can expand the target space for biological drugs to include intracellular targets and PPL seeks collaborations to create CPP conjugates to explore a wide range of therapeutic opportunities utilizing biological drug cargos requiring better access to these targets.
The lead drug candidate for PPL is PPL-003, which combines PPL’s proprietary human CPP platform with the NBD peptide, a highly studied anti-inflammatory peptide. PPL-003 has been further studied through sponsored research and academic collaborations with Yale University and the National Institutes of Health. PPL-003 penetrates cell membranes and inhibits NFkB activation and cytokine production in in vitro assays and cytokine responses to endotoxin in vivo in systemic and inhaled inflammation models in mice.
Further, in another academic collaboration, blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity studies were carried out in parallel with PPL-003 dosing in a brain inflammation model. The studies indicated that PPL-003 penetrates the BBB and is active in brain. PPL-003 has been found to cross the intact BBB and reduce inflammatory cytokines in the brain, indicating that PPL’s proprietary CPP could deliver biological drugs for CNS disease indications.
In addition, in mouse and rabbit uveitis models, PPL-003 penetrates eye tissues after topical administration and reduces inflammation in the eye. PPL-003 was found to be safe after short-term topical eye application in rabbits and is being studied in other inflammatory eye disease models. PPL is planning to advance PPL-003 into human testing for inflammatory eye disease indications.
Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Limited (Biohaven)
On January 6, 2014, the Company acquired approximately 54% equity in Biohaven, a private corporation incorporated on September 25, 2013 under the laws of the British Virgin Islands for $3.5 million. Founder shareholders include originators at Yale University who discovered the therapeutic potential of glutamate modulation in anxiety and depression and have track record of successful registration trials. In July 2015, the Company made additional investment of $ 2.5 million through participation in a private placement by Biohaven. This investment enabled the Company to maintain its 54% equity holding in Biohaven.
Biohaven is engaged in the identification and development of novel glutamatergic agents for treatment –resistant neuropsychiatric disorders. Biohaven’s drug development platform is based on modulating glutamate for multiple therapeutic indications and represents the 1st new class of antidepressant in 30 years.
Biohaven intellectual property comprises patents licensed from Yale and Harvard Universities, exclusive Zydis formulation license from Catalent Inc. and divisional patents pending for additional claims. In August 2015, Biohaven acquired the world-wide intellectual property rights to a portfolio of over 300 prodrugs owned by ALS Biopharma, LLC (“ALSBio”). The prodrugs covered by the agreement were designed and prepared by Fox Chase Chemical Diversity Center, Inc. (“FCCDC”) through a research program funded, in part, by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, through two peer-reviewed Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants awarded to FCCDC. Most of the ALSBio prodrugs would be classified as New Molecular Entities (NMEs), and the intellectual property rights acquired by Biohaven include all future therapeutic indications.
The first drug candidate – BVH 0223 - being developed as a first-in class, novel oral glutamatergic agent for anxiety and depression with additional potential indications. A second unique drug candidate also targets the glutamatergic system with a well-established safety profile. Biohaven will begin optimization of its formulation in 2016.
Overall clinical development strategy:
·
|
On July 22, 2015, Biohaven Filed Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for BVH-0223 with United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On August 22, 2015, Biohaven received a clearance from FDA to begin its clinical studies in humans.
|
·
|
Phase 1 study is scheduled to commence immediately and will combine single and multiple doses to confirm acceptable pharmacokinetics and tolerability.
|
·
|
Phase 3 efficacy trial scheduled in early 2016, depending upon the results and success of Phase 1 trial.
|
Biohaven has in-house team with industry-wide reputation in the successful conduct of affective disorders randomized clinical trials
Portage Services Ltd (PSL)
We also have a wholly owned subsidiary, Portage Services Ltd.,(PSL) which was incorporated in Ontario, Canada under the name 1843343 Ontario Inc. and changed its name to the present name on July 11, 2013. PSL acts as a local agent for the Company as per the requirements of the Ontario Securities Commission. PSL maintains an office in Toronto, Canada and looks after all corporate, financials and regulatory matters.
We have developed a comprehensive website – www.portagebiotech.com which provide information on our people, activities and other corporate details.
Summary of Results
The following table summarizes financial information for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 and the preceding eight quarters: (All amounts in ‘000 US$ except net loss per share, which are actual amounts)
Quarter ended
|
June 30, 2015
|
March 31, 2015
|
Dec. 31, 2014
|
Sept. 30, 2014
|
June 30, 2014
|
March 31, 2014
|
Dec. 31, 2013
|
Sept. 30, 2013
|
June 30, 2013
|
Net loss - attributable to the owners of the Company
|
(791)
|
(966)
|
(637)
|
(729)
|
(786)
|
(1,667)
|
(292)
|
(348)
|
(3,998)
|
Working capital
|
5,374
|
1,115
|
1,725
|
796
|
1,174
|
2,067
|
4,246
|
3,243
|
3,591
|
shareholders equity
|
7,163
|
2,660
|
2,794
|
1,615
|
1,746
|
2,393
|
4,251
|
3,248
|
3,596
|
Net loss per shares - basic and diluted
|
(0.00)
|
(0.00)
|
(0.00)
|
(0.00)
|
(0.00)
|
(0.04)
|
(0.00)
|
(0.00)
|
(0.03)
|
Number of common shares, options and warrants
These are as follows:
As at,
|
June 30, 2015
|
August 24, 2015
|
Shares issued and outstanding
|
243,597,794
|
245,438,894
|
Shares subscribed but issued in subsequent month (a)
|
1,841,100
|
|
Warrants issued and outstanding (a)
|
Nil
|
nil
|
Options granted but not yet exercised (b)
|
10,260,000
|
9,700,000
|
(a)
|
Shares issuable in settlement of finder’s fee due on June 24, 2015 were actually issued in July 2015.
|
(b)
|
Options are exercisable into equal number of common shares at an average exercise price of US$0.16 and have a weighted average remaining contractual life of approximately 3.93 years as at June 30, 2015.
|
Business Environment
Risk factors
Please refer to the Annual Report in the form F-20 for the fiscal 2015 for detailed information as the economic and industry factors that are substantially unchanged.
Business plan
Portage is in the business of licensing, researching and developing potential drug candidates. The Company would like to assemble a portfolio of products: diversified as to their stage of development and pathology. Then inexpensively take them through to phase 2b clinical trial often called proof of concept (“POC”).
Upon a successful POC we will monetize the products through sale or license to big Pharma.
We are seeking discovery and co-development partners in areas such as cancer, infectious disease, neurology and psychiatry developing novel targeted therapies, stem cell therapy and even older marketed products that have been found to have novel patentable characteristics that bring new value to patients.
The goal is to grow Portage by carefully selecting compelling products to license, acquire or position as a joint venture. The product portfolio will be carefully selected to be at various stages in drug development but with an overriding characteristic of being attractive to large pharmaceutical companies. Portage has a strong team with extensive experience in drug development that will be leveraged to source the aforementioned products, to undertake the due diligence and guide them through drug development to monetization. Furthermore the team’s track record of drug development success will be utilized to gain equity in lieu of cash in third party products.
Portage seeks to work with a wide range of partners, in all phases of development through in-licensing or other types of alliances. The collaboration may include direct funding or investing in human capital from our extensive pool of talented scientists and physicians. Specifically, Portage will invest sweat equity as well as, or instead of, capital. This internal pool of drug developers, financiers, scientists and physicians will provide unique value-add for our partners including but not limited to mitigating risks, clinical trial design, regulatory expertise and maximizing the rewards.
Development plans for our operating subsidiaries are as follows:
·
|
In July 2014, PPL has successfully validated a new proprietary cell permeable peptide platform technology derived from human genes. This proprietary platform technology – PPL-003 - has been shown to efficiently deliver an active pharmacological agent or cargo into a cell without disrupting the cell membrane.
|
·
|
Formulation work has continued in preparation of its lead cell permeable carrier and anti-inflammatory cargo conjugate to be studied in animal models of non-infectious uveitis and dry eye.
|
·
|
Based on positive results, and subject to the Company being able to raise the required funding or find partners , management will initiate GMP manufacturing and GLP preclinical studies to support IND filing and human testing targeting proof of concept in patients. – expected to be in 2016.
|
·
|
The lead candidate – BHV-0223 – is being developed for treatment-resistant depression and anxiety disorders.
|
·
|
The active component of BHV-0223 is approved for the treatment of a non-psychiatric illness; its safety and pharmacodynamic effect have been well characterized in patients. The formulation of BHV-0223 will provide a clinically differentiated product with a superior safety profile to previous formulations of the AP.
|
·
|
IND filed by Biohaven has now been cleared by the FDA and work is scheduled to start shortly on Phase 1 clinical trial on humans.
|
·
|
Depending upon the results of Phase 1 clinical trial, a Phase 3 trial will be scheduled in early 2016.
|
Results of operations
Three months ended June 30,
|
2015
|
2014
|
|
In 000’s US$
|
Income
|
-
|
-
|
Expenses
|
(1,036)
|
(1,034)
|
Net loss for period, attributable to
|
(1,036)
|
(1,034)
|
Portage shareholders
|
(791)
|
(786)
|
Non-controlling interest
|
(245)
|
(248)
|
Deficit at end of period
|
(10,244)
|
(7,120)
|
Expenses
The overall analysis of the expenses is as follows:
|
Three months ended June 30,
|
|
2014
|
2014
|
Research and development
|
$ 786,160
|
$ 771,519
|
Consulting fee & payroll
|
168,278
|
184,917
|
Professional fees
|
48,140
|
41,907
|
Operating expenses
|
32,960
|
35,272
|
|
$ 1,035,538
|
$ 1,033,615
|
Research and development costs
These costs comprised the following:
|
Three months ended June 30,
|
|
2015
|
2014
|
Legal regarding Patents registration
|
5,452
|
9,791
|
Consultants – scientists and researchers
|
99,609
|
72,470
|
Fee paid by Biohaven under a service contract
|
500,000
|
500,000
|
Other outside services – lab testing, peptide handling etc.
|
181,099
|
189,258
|
|
$ 786,160
|
$ 771,519
|
Three months ended June 30, 2015:
Level of research and development costs remained consistent. Major cost being fee paid by Biohaven to a third party research company under a Master Service Agreement. This is more fully explained in note 10 (c) to the unaudited consolidated financials for the three months ended June 30, 2015. All other R & D costs were incurred at PPL in their pre-clinical work on their product candidate PPL-003. Consulting fees include cash fees of approximately $ 68,000 and value of vested options of $ 22,000 paid to the PPL chief executive officer and chief scientific officer.
PPL is currently progressing into additional preclinical efficacy and safety studies which involve more animal studies for PPL-003. Biohaven filed their IND in July and has now received clearance from FDA to proceed to the clinical trial phase 1 on humans as explained elsewhere in this report.
Three months ended June 30, 2014
During the three months ended June 30, 2014, significant development work was carried out both at PPL and Biohaven. At PPL, costs included cash fee of $ 72,470 and value of options granted and vested to the management, as more fully explained in Note 7 (d) to the consolidated interim financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2014. Third party outsourcing costs were $146,703 related mainly to testing on four peptides developed by the PPL management. Biohaven costs related to third party outsourcing cost of $ 500,000 under a master service agreement dated January 31, 2014, as amended.
Brief description of development work at operating subsidiaries during the three montsh ended June 30, 2014:
PPL
·
|
Completed experimental work on the ANTP and additional transporter proteins. Based on these experimental results, PPL decided to focus its future preclinical development efforts on a proprietary cell penetrating peptide to carry therapeutic cargos as treatments for unmet medical needs. The company's lead candidate, targeting inflammation utilizing a human-derived transporter protein platform, was found active in isolated cells and in mice. The company now plans further animal disease model studies to confirm the activity of the lead candidate and to determine the most efficient path to clinical proof of concept in the highest confidence indication among a short list of clear therapeutic opportunities that will address a large market and an unmet clinical need.
|
·
|
Signed a collaborative research and development agreements with Yale University to study the biological activity and cell penetrating properties of peptides developed by PPL and byProfessor Alanna Schepartz of Yale’s department of Chemistry. These studies will compare the ability of these peptides to cross cell membranes and deliver biologically active cargo to an intracellular target.
|
·
|
Entered into a materials collaborative research and development agreement with the National Eye Institute, one of the National Institutes of Health. PPL will provide its lead cell permeable peptide targeting inflammatory diseases to Dr. Robert B. Nussenblatt to investigate its efficacy in animal models of uveitis. PPL will also provide financial support for these studies.
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BIOHAVEN
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Biohaven has been issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) a notice of allowance related to Biohaven’s intellectual property licensed from Yale University (U.S. Patent Application No. 11/399,188). The patent claims cover the use of certain glutamate modulating agents in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
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·
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Signed a Master Service Agreement to conduct, on behalf of Biohaven, research and development services relating to identification and development of clinical stage neuroscience compounds targeting the glutamatergic system.
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Consulting fees and payroll
Consulting fees include cash fee and vested options as explained in note 11 to the unaudited consolidated financials for the three months ended June 30, 2015.
Cash fee for the three months to June 30, 2015 included fee of $ 45,000 paid to CFO. Value of vested options granted to six consultants including the four directors of the Company totalled to approximately $ 117,000 for the period. There were no payroll since the administrative assistant at PSL who resigned in July 2014 was not replaced.
During the three months ended June 30, 2014, consulting fee totalled $ 184,917 and payroll was 9,455. Consulting fee included cash fee of $45,000 to CFO and value of options vested of $139,438, of which $105,031 were issued to directors and key management.
Professional fees
Professional fees for the three months ended June 30, 2015 included legal fee of $ 6,324 incurred by the Company and $ 31,816 incurred by Biohaven towards various corporate matters which included consultation in connection with private placements being carried out at Portage and Biohaven and regulatory matters. Audit fee of $ 10,000 has also been accrued and included in professional cost for the period.
Professional fee for the three months ended June 30, 2014 consisted of legal fees of approximately $ 47,000, $ 37,000 incurred by Biohaven and balance on review of private placement documents by the corporate lawyers of the Company. Audit fee accrual of approximately $ 10,000 was offset by reversal of over accrual for the fiscal 2014 resulting in a negative charge fo approximately $ 5,000.
Other operating costs
Other operating costs during the three months ended June 30, 2015 comprised various regulatory filing fees of approximately $ 17,000, rent for PSL office in Toronto of $ 3,500, fees paid to transfer agents of $ 4,000 and directors and officers insurance premium of $4,000.
The costs were more or less consistent for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Working Capital
As at June 30, 2015, the Company had a net working capital of approximately 5.3 million compared to a working capital of approximately $ 1.1 million as at March 31, 2015. Significant increase is due to additional funds of approximately $ 5. 2 million raised through a private placement which closed on June 24, 2015, while net funds used for operating activities were approximately $0.9 million for the same period.
As at June 30, 2014, the Company had a net working capital of approximately $ 1.2 million compared to a working capital of approximately $2 million as at March 31, 2014.
Cash on hand as at June 30, 2015 was approximately $6 million compared to $ 1.7 million as at March 31, 2015 due to raising of additional equity as explained above.
Cash on hand as at June 30 2014 was approximately $ 1.6 million compared to $2 million as at March 31, 2014. The decrease was entirely due to net operating cash outflow of approximately $400,000.
Operating cash flow
During the three months ended June 30, 2015, operating activities required a net cash outflow of approximately $0.9 million compared to $0.4 million for the same period in 2014. The cash outflow included research and development costs of approximately $ 0.7 million and balance included legal and consulting fees. Costs were met from existing cash.
During the three months ended June 30, 2014, operating activities required a net cash outflow of approximately $0.4 million ( June 30, 2013: $0.2 million), which was met from the existing cash.
The Company is in pre-clinical stage and is required to support further research and development at its subsidiaries The Company has not yet determined whether costs incurred and to be incurred are economically recoverable. The Company's continuing operations are dependent upon any one of:
1. the existence of economically recoverable medical solutions;
2. the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing to complete the research; or
3. future profitable production from, or proceeds from the disposition of intellectual property.
Although there are no assurances that management's plan will be realized, management believes the Company will be able to secure the necessary financing to continue operations into the future. In June 2015, the Company completed a private placement and raised approximately $ 5.2 million.
However, the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014 include a going concern note which reflects need for further financing to continue our planned research and development work and operating needs of all our subsidiaries.
Financing cash flows
During the three months ended June 30, 2015, the Company raised approximately $ 5.2 million through a private placement of approximately 36.8 million restricted common shares issued at $0.14 per share
There was no financing activity during the three months ended June 30, 2014.
Key Contractual obligations
Details of contractual obligations, commitments and contingent liabilities are provided in note 10 to the unaudited consolidated financials for the three months ended June 30, 2015.
Off balance sheet arrangements
At June 30, 2015 and 2014, the Company did not have any off balance sheet arrangements, including any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnership to enhance perceived liquidity.
Transactions with related parties
Transactions with related parties are incurred in the normal course of business and are measured at the exchange amount, which is the amount of consideration established and agreed to between the related parties. Related party transactions are detailed in note 12 to the unaudited consolidated financials for the three months to June 30, 2015.
Financial and derivative Instruments
The Company’s financial instruments recognized in the balance sheet consist of the following:
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June 30, 2015
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March 31, 2015
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(Unaudited)
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(Audited)
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Carrying value
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Fair value
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Carrying value
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Fair value
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Financial assets
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Cash
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5,987,490
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5,987,490
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1,718,289
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2,032,058
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Advances and other receivable
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14,728
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14,728
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17,575
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227,233
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Financial liabilities
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Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
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628,031
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628,031
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620,560
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620,560
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Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about financial instruments. These estimates are subject to and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment, therefore cannot be determined with precision. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.
A summary of the Company’s risk exposures as it relates to financial instruments are reflected below:
b)
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Fair value of financial instruments
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The Company’s financial assets and liabilities are comprised of cash, advances and receivable and, accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
.The Company classifies the fair value of these transactions according to the following fair value hierarchy based on the amount of observable inputs used to value the instrument:
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Level 1 – Values are based on unadjusted quoted prices available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.
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•
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Level 2 – Values are based on inputs, including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value and volatility factors, which can be substantially observed or corroborated in the marketplace. Prices in Level 2 are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date.
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•
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Level 3 – Values are based on prices or valuation techniques that are not based on observable market data.
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Assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the placement within the fair value hierarchy.
The Company’s financial instruments are exposed to certain financial risks: credit risk, liquidity risk, other price risk and market risk.
Credit risk is the risk of loss associated with a counter-party’s inability to fulfill its payment obligations. The credit risk is attributable to various financial instruments, as noted below. The credit risk is limited to the carrying value amount carried on the statement of financial position.
c.
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Cash– Cash is held with a major international financial institutions in Canada and a major law firm in the USA and therefore the risk of loss is minimal.
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d.
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Other receivable – The Company is not exposed to major credit risk attributable to customers. A significant portion of this amount is prepaid to BPI under a master service agreement.
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Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will encounter difficulty in satisfying financial obligations as they become due.
The Company’s approach to managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under both normal and stressed conditions without incurring unacceptable losses or risking harm to the Company’s reputation. The Company holds sufficient cash to satisfy obligations under accounts payable and accruals.
The Company monitors its liquidity position regularly to assess whether it has the funds necessary to take care of its operating needs and needs for investing in new projects. The Company believes that its existing cash will allow it to finance the drug development work apart from meeting its operational needs for at least another year. However, the exact need for additional cash cannot be reasonably ascertained at this stage Should the Company require further funding, it intends to secure it through further rounds of equity financing.
However, as a biotech company at an early stage of development and without significant internally generated cash flows, there are inherent liquidity risks, including the possibility that additional financing may not be available to the Company, or that actual drug development expenditures may exceed those planned. The current uncertainty in global markets could have an impact on the Company’s future ability to access capital on terms that are acceptable to the Company. There can be no assurance that required financing will be available to the Company.
Use of Estimates and Judgments
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the year in which the estimates are revised and in any future years affected. Significant areas where estimation uncertainty and critical judgments are applied include valuation of financial instruments, valuation of property, plant and equipment, impairment losses, depletion and depreciation, and measurement of stock based compensation.
Future Accounting Pronouncements
Standards issued but not yet effective up to the date of issuance of the Company‘s consolidated financial statements are listed below. This listing is of standards and interpretations issued which the Company reasonably expects to be applicable at a future date. The Company intends to adopt those standards when they become effective.
IFRS 9 ‐ Financial Instruments
The IASB intends to replace IAS 39, Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurements, with IFRS 9, Financial Instruments. IFRS 9 will be published in six phases, of which the first phase has been published.
For financial assets, IFRS 9 uses a single approach to determine whether a financial asset is measured at amortized cost or fair value, and replaces the multiple rules in IAS 39. The approach in IFRS 9 is based on how an entity manages its financial instruments in the context of its business model and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial assets. The new standard also requires a single impairment method to be used. For financial liabilities, the approach to the fair value option may require different accounting for changes to the fair value of a financial liability as a result of changes to an entity’s own credit risk.
IFRS 9 (2014) is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning on April 1, 2018, but is available for early adoption. The Company has yet to assess the full impact of IFRS 9.
Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
Our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer (“the Management”) are primarily responsible in establishing and maintaining controls and procedures concerning disclosure of material information and their timely reporting in consultation and under direct supervision of the audit committee which comprises two independent directors plus the CFO.. We have also instituted controls involving dual signatures and approval processes. We plan to introduce more rigorous controls as our activities expand. However, given the size and nature of our current operations and the involvement of independent directors, significantly reduces the risk factors associated with the inadequate segregation of duties.
The Management has instituted a system of disclosure controls for the Company to ensure proper and complete disclosure of material information. The limited number of consultants and direct involvement of the Management facilitates access to real time information about developments in the business for drafting disclosure documents. All documents are circulated to the board of directors and audit committee according to the disclosure time-lines.
Public securities filings
Additional information, including the Company’s annual information form in the Form 20-F annual report is filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators at www.sedar.com and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and can be viewed at www.edgar.com.