UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

 

[X] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013

 

[  ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from _________ to _________

 

Commission File Number 333-181719

 

CARDAX, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

45-4484428

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
 Identification No.)
     

2800 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 129

Honolulu, Hawaii

 

 

96822 

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

(808) 457-1400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes [  ] No [X]

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes [  ] No [X]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes [X] No [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer [  ] Accelerated filer [  ]
Non-accelerated filer [  ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company [X]

 

Indicate by check whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [  ] No [X]

 

As of June 28, 2013, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, there were 10,530,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, outstanding, and 530,000 of such shares were held by non-affiliates. As there was no public market for the registrant’s common stock as of such date, the aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates was $0.

 

As of March 17, 2014 there were 62,854,671 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), of the registrant outstanding.

 

 

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

        Page
Part I     3
  Item 1. Business   3
  Item 1A. Risk Factors   15
  Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments   28
  Item 2. Properties   28
  Item 3. Legal Proceedings   28
  Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures   28
         
Part II     29
  Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Securities   29
  Item 6. Selected Financial Data   30
  Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   31
  Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk   35
  Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data   35
  Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure   35
  Item 9A. Controls and Procedures   35
  Item 9B. Other Information   36
         
Part III     37
  Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance   37
  Item 11. Executive Compensation   40
  Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters   42
  Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence   44
  Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services   46
         
Part IV     47
  Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules   47

 

2
 

 

PART I

 

Item 1. Business.

 

Explanatory Note

 

Unless otherwise noted, references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “Cardax,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” means Cardax, Inc., the registrant, and, unless the context otherwise requires, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cardax Pharma, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pharma”), and Pharma’s predecessor, Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”). The Company’s website address is www.cardaxpharma.com. This website and information contained on, or that can be accessed through, the website are not part of this report.

 

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

There are statements in this annual report that are not historical facts. These “forward-looking statements” can be identified by use of terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “positioned,” “project,” “propose,” “should,” “strategy,” “will,” or any similar expressions. You should be aware that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. For a discussion of these risks, you should read this entire annual report carefully, especially the risks discussed under the section entitled “Risk Factors.” Although we believe that our assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not guarantee our future performance, and our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements. Our assumptions used for the purposes of the forward-looking statements specified in the following information represent estimates of future events and are subject to uncertainty as to possible changes in economic, legislative, industry, and other circumstances, including the development, acceptance and sales of our products and our ability to raise additional funding sufficient to implement our strategy. As a result, the identification and interpretation of data and other information and their use in developing and selecting assumptions from and among reasonable alternatives require the exercise of judgment. In light of these numerous risks and uncertainties, we cannot provide any assurance that the results and events contemplated by our forward-looking statements contained in this annual report will in fact transpire. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. You are cautioned to not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Industry Data

 

Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in this annual report concerning our company, our business, the services we provide and intend to provide, our industry and our general expectations concerning our industry are based on management estimates. Such estimates are derived from publicly available information released by third party sources, as well as data from our internal research, and reflect assumptions made by us based on such data and our knowledge of the industry, which we believe to be reasonable.

 

Overview

 

We are a life sciences company that develops nutraceutical and pharmaceutical technologies and we are a smaller reporting company as defined by applicable federal securities regulations.

 

We acquired our life science business through the following transactions:

 

  May 5, 2006:   Holdings acquired the intellectual property and other assets regarding certain astaxanthin technologies from Hawaii Biotech, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“HBI”), in exchange for shares of common stock of Holdings, shares of preferred stock of Holdings, options to purchase shares of common stock of Holdings and the assumption by Holdings of certain liabilities of HBI.
       
  May 5, 2006 to
May 31, 2013:
  Holdings continued the research and development of astaxanthin technologies and related compounds and raised capital primarily through the issuance of debt securities.
       
  May 31, 2013:   Holdings contributed its assets to Pharma in exchange for all of the capital stock of Pharma and the assumption by Pharma of all of the liabilities of Holdings.
       
  May 31, 2013 to
February 7, 2014:
  Pharma continued the business of Holdings including the research and development of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical technologies, the commercialization of our technologies for products, and raised capital through the offering of senior secured convertible promissory notes.
       
  January 10, 2014:   We made our first investment in Pharma by purchasing 40% of the Pharma common stock (determined after our purchase of such shares) for shares of our Common Stock.
       
  February 7, 2014:   We consummated the merger of our wholly owned subsidiary, Cardax Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Cardax Sub”), with and into Pharma. We will continue the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical business of Pharma.

 

3
 

 

Our executive offices are located at 2800 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 129, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822; our telephone number is (808) 457-1400. Our website is located at http://www.cardaxpharma.com. The information on our website is not part of this annual report.

 

Our Business

 

We are a development stage life sciences company devoting substantially all of our efforts to developing nutraceutical and pharmaceutical technologies for products that provide the anti-inflammatory benefits of steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (“NSAIDs”), but in certain cases, with the safety status of Generally Recognized as Safe (“GRAS”) designation conferred by the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) at certain doses. We will use our proprietary technologies to develop and commercialize products and related derivatives that have the same or substantially similar properties as occurring in nature or “nature-identical,” by total synthesis to provide scalable, pure, and economical therapies for diseases where inflammation and oxidative stress are strongly implicated, including, but not limited to, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, dyslipidemia, metabolic disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hepatitis, cognitive decline, macular degeneration, and prostate disease.

 

Many anti-inflammatory drugs have significant safety risks and side effects that limit their utility, especially in treating a chronic disease. We believe that our ability to develop and commercialize proprietary, nature-identical products and related derivatives provide us with a competitive advantage through a novel treatment approach that combines robust efficacy with safety, oral bioavailability, and tissue selectivity. To date, we have not produced and commercialized any products or generated any revenues from our life sciences business.

 

Strategic Alliances

 

We intend to expand our capabilities for the development, manufacturing, formulation, marketing and distribution or other exploitation of products based on our proprietary technologies by entering into one or more strategic alliances with companies that have established capabilities. Initially, in November 2006 we entered into a Joint Development and Supply Agreement (the “BASF Agreement”) with BASF SE, a German corporation (“BASF”), relating to the research, development, manufacture, and the related intellectual property rights with respect to human nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products containing or utilizing synthetically manufactured astaxanthin in the geometric (trans) and optical (S,S’) isomeric form most prevalent in nature (“ASTX-1”), which is the same geometric and optical isomeric form of astaxanthin found in GRAS-designated microalgal astaxanthin products. Under the BASF Agreement, we have granted BASF an exclusive world-wide license to our rights related to the development and commercialization of human nutraceutical products containing or utilizing ASTX-1 (“BASF Astaxanthin Products”). This license will provide us with potential benefits including specified royalties for future net sales of BASF Astaxanthin Products, from and after the development and manufacture and applicable regulatory approval of any such BASF Astaxanthin Products. The BASF Agreement provides that BASF will manufacture and supply Cardax with preclinical, clinical, and commercial scale amounts of ASTX-1 for pharmaceutical applications (“Cardax Astaxanthin”) on a mutually exclusive basis. The BASF Agreement is subject to certain termination rights of the parties. If any termination is a result of the non-renewal of the then current term of the agreement or because BASF no longer manufactures astaxanthin, then the terminating party shall, upon the request of the non-terminating party, grant the non-terminating party a reasonable royalty-bearing, irrevocable, worldwide non-exclusive license of certain intellectual property rights of the terminating party. Either party may also terminate the BASF Agreement if there is a change of a controlling interest in the other party, and in the case of the Company, the controlling interest is acquired by a manufacturer of synthetic carotenoids.

 

Our Strategy

 

We believe we are well positioned for significant and sustained growth by focusing on additional research and development to commercialize nutraceutical and pharmaceutical technologies or products utilizing synthetically manufactured astaxanthin and related xanthophyll carotenoids, which deliver nature-identical compounds to the body and reduce inflammation in a multifaceted, quantifiable, and inherently safer manner than steroids or NSAIDS.

 

4
 

 

Our initial primary focus is astaxanthin technologies. Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring marine compound that has robust anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity with exceptional safety. Peer-reviewed studies have shown that astaxanthin reduces inflammation, at its source, without the harmful side effects that are common with other anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical products, for example steroids and NSAIDS, including immune system suppression, liver damage, cardiovascular disease risk, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Astaxanthin is also known for giving salmon and lobster their distinctive red coloration.

 

Astaxanthin has an exceptional safety profile. For example, the FDA has responded with no questions regarding the conclusion made in GRAS Notice No. GRN 000294 by Fuji Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (“Fuji”) that Haematococcus pluvialis extract containing astaxanthin esters (the primary ingredient in its microalgal astaxanthin nutraceutical product) is GRAS under the intended conditions of use. Other microalgal astaxanthin nutraceutical manufacturers, including Cyanotech Corporation and Algatechnologies, Ltd., have relied on Fuji’s GRAS designation and self-affirmed their astaxanthin products as GRAS.

 

In humans, astaxanthin has been found in publicly available research studies to lower important inflammatory and metabolic disease measures such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (“TNF-α”), high-sensitivity complement reactive protein (“hsCRP”), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (“LDL-C”), apolipoprotein B (“ApoB”), and triglycerides while raising adiponectin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (“HDL-C”). Astaxanthin has also positively affected markers of oxidative stress in humans including isoprostanes, malondialdehyde (“MDA”), total anti-oxidant capacity (“TAC”), and superoxide dismutase (“SOD”). Astaxanthin and related esters have demonstrated efficacy in models of inflammatory-mediated disease including reduction of TNF-œ levels equivalent to a steroid, reduction of liver enzymes and liver histological damage, reduction of cholesterol levels, reduction of elevated triglycerides, decrease of atheroma formation, reduction of oxidized-LDL levels, reduction in blood clot formation with no increase in bleeding, and decrease in myocardial tissue damage following experimentally-induced myocardial infarction.

 

We believe that the current manufacturing capability of astaxanthin producers utilizing microalgal or other natural manufacturing processes may not satisfy the growing demand for astaxanthin and there will be a need for the synthetic production of nature-identical astaxanthin with pharmaceutical-grade purity at economical costs.

 

We plan to promote scientific understanding of astaxanthin through several strategies, including:

 

sponsoring relevant scientific and medical conferences and presenting or facilitating the presentation of appropriate scientific data to the thousands of physicians and key opinion leaders and the patient groups who typically attend these conferences;
   
advancing direct-to-consumer internet and social media marketing;
   
continuing to support scientific research and publication of peer-reviewed papers; we have collaborated on more than 50 such papers, including 10 papers published in The American Journal of Cardiology, that have noted the benefits and safety of astaxanthin in the treatment of diseases that have inflammation as a common cause;
   
convening scientific advisory board meetings to review existing and planned scientific research, with scientific advisory board members including, but not limited to, persons previously engaged by our predecessors, in the areas of osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease; and
   
conducting human clinical trials.

 

While human clinical trials are not required for FDA nutraceutical approval of astaxanthin products, and under applicable regulations we are not permitted to make claims for treatment of diseases for any nutraceutical products, we believe that positive results from a Phase I human clinical trial and a suite of approximately three to five Phase II human clinical trials in select disease areas of major unmet medical need would significantly raise scientific and consumer awareness that would promote nutraceutical sales and advance our pharmaceutical development program.

 

Safety

 

Safety is a critical aspect of drug development in the current regulatory environment. Many anti-inflammatory drugs target highly specific biological enzymes or receptors such as cyclooxygenase 2 (“COX-2”), TNF-α, and C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (“CCR2”). While these natural targets play a significant role in inflammation, they are also critical components of other important biological pathways. With chronic use of most anti-inflammatory drugs, these pathways may not function normally, resulting in adverse side effects. Also, these treatments often negatively affect other crucial biological systems, creating additional off-target side effects.

 

5
 

 

In contrast, astaxanthin safely reduces inflammation at its source, in that it:

 

localizes in the plasma, mitochondrial, and nuclear membranes;
   
scavenges or quenches the unwanted initiators and effectors of inflammation—reactive oxygen (“ROS”) and nitrogen species (“RNS”); and
   
demonstrates no evidence of the immunosuppressive effects of steroids or TNF-œ inhibitors or off-target effects (e.g., receptor or pathway).

 

Planned Clinical Development

 

We plan to raise additional capital or enter into a strategic collaboration to pursue clinical development of Cardax Astaxanthin:

 

as an over-the-counter drug (“OTC”) and/or prescription drug (“Rx”), in the same or similar form as BASF Astaxanthin Products, if BASF Astaxanthin Products obtain all applicable regulatory approvals or designations necessary for marketing as a nutraceutical; and/or
   
as an Rx, in our novel ASTX-1 ester form, CDX-085, or other proprietary forms, which have additional patent protection and possible formulation or bioavailability benefits versus BASF Astaxanthin Products.

 

In addition to our astaxanthin portfolio, we will continue to pursue our other proprietary anti-inflammatory programs based on our zeaxanthin and lycophyll technologies, which are members of the same class of xanthophyll carotenoids as astaxanthin and have potential applications including, but not limited to, macular degeneration and hepatic disease, and prostate disease, respectively. Similar to our strategy relating to the launch of our astaxanthin products, we may launch our zeaxanthin and lycophyll technologies first as nutraceuticals and later develop them as OTC and/or Rx pharmaceuticals.

 

Our Planned Pharmaceutical Program

 

We believe that a pharmaceutical program will increase our revenue opportunities. A pharmaceutical product would enable the delivery of astaxanthin with an FDA approved OTC label for disease treatment at consumer-appropriate doses and/or an FDA approved Rx label for disease treatment at physician-recommended doses, and should support increased market penetration. We have patents covering pharmaceutical compositions of astaxanthin esters, allowing us to transition an astaxanthin nutraceutical product into a pharmaceutical product following requisite clinical trials and FDA approval.

 

We may choose to undertake the following actions upon certain events including if BASF Astaxanthin Products obtain all applicable regulatory approvals or designations necessary for marketing as a nutraceutical:

 

file an Investigational New Drug application (“IND”) with the FDA;
   
conduct a Phase I human clinical trial to expand clinical dosing of Cardax Astaxanthin beyond that of the approved nutraceutical dose of BASF Astaxanthin Products; and
   
conduct three to five Phase II human clinical trials, with a range of doses in areas of major consumer health and/or unmet medical need.

 

This strategy would offer more than one potential avenue of development and mitigate the risks, including “binary events,” associated with single indication development. We may appropriately augment our management team to pursue this strategy.

 

If any of the lower doses of Cardax Astaxanthin tested in our planned Phase II human clinical trials demonstrate robust safety and efficacy in an area of major consumer health need and are less than or equal to the currently approved nutraceutical dose of BASF Astaxanthin Products, we may decide to conduct pivotal Phase III trials and file a 505(b)(1) or 505(b)(2) New Drug Application (“NDA”) to obtain an OTC label for “low-dose” Cardax Astaxanthin (“OTC-ASTX”). Post-approval clinical studies could also be conducted to expand the label and/or dose. OTC-ASTX may be initially targeted for light-to-moderate osteoarthritis or the onset of other inflammatory disorders. Marketing and distribution of OTC-ASTX could be conducted through BASF or its affiliates, global consumer health companies, or global pharmaceutical companies under license from Cardax, or through any other strategic relationship that we find acceptable.

 

If any of the higher doses of Cardax Astaxanthin tested in any such Phase II human clinical trials demonstrate robust safety and efficacy in an area of major unmet medical need, then we may decide to conduct pivotal Phase III trials and file a 505(b)(1) NDA to obtain an Rx label for “high-dose” Cardax Astaxanthin (“Rx-ASTX”). Rx-ASTX may be initially targeted for moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cognitive decline, metabolic disease, dyslipidemia, or diabetes. Post-approval clinical studies could also be conducted to expand the initial label. Other potential indications driven by oxidative stress and inflammation include, but are not limited to, hepatitis, atherosclerosis, and recurrent thrombosis. Marketing and distribution of Rx-ASTX could be conducted through BASF or its affiliates or global pharmaceutical companies under license from Cardax.

 

6
 

 

Astaxanthin Disease Applications and Mechanism of Action

 

Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress drive “inflammation syndrome” and “metabolic syndrome,” which are manifested in the form of multifactorial symptomatic disease, and redound to the treatment of many apparently distinct yet interconnected disorders at their inflammatory source with a safe and effective product such as astaxanthin.

 

Microalgal astaxanthin nutraceutical products are comprised of a mixture of naturally occurring astaxanthin esters that cleave in the gut and deliver non-esterified astaxanthin to the body. BASF Astaxanthin Products may also utilize nature-identical astaxanthin and deliver non-esterified astaxanthin to the body. CDX-085 is comprised of a novel astaxanthin ester that also cleaves in the gut and delivers non-esterified, nature-identical astaxanthin to the body. Non-esterified astaxanthin, as can be delivered by either Cardax Astaxanthin (including CDX-085), BASF Astaxanthin Products, or microalgal astaxanthin products, can be measured in blood and tissues and is generally recognized to be responsible for the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects and exceptional safety found in animals and humans following administration of astaxanthin products. For the purpose of discussing astaxanthin disease applications and supporting scientific studies, whether examining non-esterified astaxanthin, naturally occurring astaxanthin esters, or novel astaxanthin esters, we refer to these products as “astaxanthin.”

 

Astaxanthin for Arthritis

 

We believe that there is a large potential market for osteoarthritis treatment. We estimate that there are more than 150 million people in developed nations that suffer from osteoarthritis who have the financial ability to pay for treatment through astaxanthin products. Assuming $1 per day for treatment, the potential market could exceed $50 billion annually. Recent expenditures for treatment of arthritis are also substantial. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the “CDC”) report that the amount of direct medical expenditures in the United States for arthritis and other rheumatic conditions for 2003 was $80.8 billion. Drugs.com noted that aggregate U.S. sales of the top three injected TNF-α inhibitors totaled more than $12 billion in 2012. New oral anti-inflammatory drugs may also be approved, further increasing the amount expended for drug treatment. We expect that these drugs will be based on steroid, NSAID, or enzyme/receptor technologies that could pose significant side effects when administered chronically. In contrast, astaxanthin, at very low doses, reduces TNF-œ in humans. In non-human tests, astaxanthin reduces TNF-œ equivalent to a corticosteroid—considered to be the most potent of the anti-inflammatory compounds—as well as other important mediators of inflammation including hsCRP, prostaglandin E2 (“PGE-2”), interleukin 6 (“IL-6”), nuclear factor kappa B (“NF-κB”), and nitric oxide (“NO”). We believe that no evidence of the immunosuppressive effects of steroids or TNF-œ inhibitors has been seen in multiple animal or human studies using astaxanthin. In fact, in animals, astaxanthin administration is statistically significantly associated with fewer infections.

 

Astaxanthin for Cognitive Decline

 

According to the CDC, the number of U.S. adults aged 65 or older will more than double by 2030. As the percentage of elderly in the population continues to increase, the prevalence of diseases resulting in cognitive decline may be also expected to increase. While the underlying cause of cognitive decline still remains to be fully elucidated, many studies support the important pathophysiological role of oxidative stress and inflammation, particularly in both Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Further, epidemiological studies support a relationship between brain carotenoids (i.e., a class of related natural compounds including astaxanthin) and cognitive performance. Measurable amounts of carotenoids have also been found in the human brain and are reported to be significantly lower in the brain of Alzheimer’s disease patients. Most importantly, a recently conducted, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trial supported the potential for astaxanthin to improve cognitive function in an elderly population afflicted with age-related forgetfulness. The trial was conducted with astaxanthin doses comparable to current nutraceutical doses. The development of an astaxanthin based anti-inflammatory approach to aid in cognitive decline represents potential treatment for an expanding population with few options to help slow progression or delay onset of these diseases.

 

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Astaxanthin for Metabolic Syndrome

 

Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical disorders that together increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver disease. Several pathophysiological features define metabolic syndrome including central obesity, increased triglyceride levels, decreased HDL-C levels, elevated blood pressure, and increased fasting glucose levels. In humans, astaxanthin has been shown to significantly lower triglycerides and increase HDL-C levels. Similarly, in animal models of disease, astaxanthin administration significantly decreased blood pressure, increased HDL-C levels, lowered triglycerides, and decreased fasting glucose levels. In addition, decreased levels of the metabolic regulator adiponectin are associated with dysfunction of critical signaling pathways that control glucose production and uptake, triglyceride production and distribution, and mitochondrial biogenesis and function. Astaxanthin has been shown in human and animal studies to significantly increase levels of adiponectin with the inference that restoration of adiponectin function is key to remediation of metabolic syndrome physiology. These studies underscore the potential for astaxanthin treatment to ameliorate the majority of physiological measures defining metabolic syndrome and thereby decrease the risk of ensuing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver disease.

 

Astaxanthin for Triglyceride Reduction

 

Certain therapies for the reduction of triglycerides have issues of safety or convenience. Astaxanthin, however, has been shown to reduce elevated triglycerides in a multi-faceted, quantifiable, and safer manner. Fibric acid derivatives exhibit risks of adverse effects when used in combination with statins. Newer drugs such as purified derivatives of the omega-3 fatty acids must be taken at very high doses and some increase LDL-C concomitant with induced liver stress. In contrast, astaxanthin not only shows significant triglyceride and LDL-C lowering capability, at much lower, more manageable doses, but it also lowers key markers of inflammation such as TNF-œ and raises HDL-C and adiponectin in humans.

 

Astaxanthin for Type 2 Diabetes

 

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (“T2DM”) is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic high blood glucose in the context of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency. The rate of T2DM has increased materially over the last several decades in parallel with obesity. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, which influence intracellular signaling pathways critical to normal metabolic function, have been shown to play an important role in the pathology of T2DM. Drugs including the highly prescribed Metformin are presumed to act via pathways that regulate glucose production, insulin signaling, and mitochondrial functionality, including AMPK (adiponectin pathway) and PI-3/AKT (insulin receptor pathway). Astaxanthin has also been shown to upregulate adiponectin levels in humans and animal models of metabolic dysfunction and thereby restore AMPK pathway functionality. Additionally, astaxanthin has increased insulin levels, decreased glucose levels, and elevated measures of insulin sensitivity in several animal models of disease. Importantly, signaling pathways that regulate glucose and insulin signaling (PI-3/AKT) are often dysregulated and inhibited by oxidative stress and inflammation. Astaxanthin has been shown to upregulate and normalize these insulin and glucose pathways in animal models resulting in restoration of metabolic homeostasis. The evidence to date supports the potential for astaxanthin to ameliorate causes and symptoms of T2DM in humans.

 

Astaxanthin for Hepatic Disease

 

While hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus related liver disease continues to be of significant health concern, several metabolism-linked liver diseases currently have significant prevalence including fatty liver disease (“FLD”), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (“NASH”), and alcoholic steatohepatitis (“ASH”). NASH is the inflammatory progression of FLD and threatens to be the leading indication for liver transplantation in the United States. Chronic oxidative stress and inflammation play an important physiological role in the initiation and progression of NASH and ASH, a position supported by the fact that the anti-oxidant vitamin E has recently been shown to decrease liver enzyme levels and, importantly, diminish biopsy-determined liver pathology in the PIVENS trial, underscoring the importance of oxidative stress in NASH pathophysiology. Astaxanthin, which is normally processed and stored in the liver, has been shown in an animal model of liver disease to decrease elevated liver enzymes and diminish histological pathology. Current clinical treatments for NASH include the thiazolidinediones (pioglitazone and rosiglitazone) that appear to act via stimulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (“PPAR-γ”) driven pathways to influence lipid and glucose metabolism. In cell studies, both vitamin E and astaxanthin also exhibit PPAR-γ activating capacities. The importance of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress on NASH and ASH pathological progression underscores the potential influence of astaxanthin to ameliorate liver disease in humans.

 

Astaxanthin for Atherosclerosis

 

Atherosclerosis is a syndrome affecting arterial blood vessels resulting from chronic inflammation and the accumulation of macrophages and LDL without adequate removal of fats and cholesterol by HDL. In addition to chronic inflammation, chronic oxidative and nitrosative stress also play a significant role in the disease via oxidation and dysregulation of LDL and HDL particles. Astaxanthin has been shown to significantly decrease LDL-C and ApoB levels, increase HDL-C, and decrease TNF-α in humans. Likewise, astaxanthin has been shown to significantly decreased total cholesterol and LDL-C levels and increased HDL-C levels in several animal models of disease. Astaxanthin has been shown to decrease atheroma formation in a diet-driven atherogenesis animal model as well as decrease several measures of LDL oxidation. The effect of astaxanthin on HDL and LDL functionality is understandable because astaxanthin is naturally located within HDL and LDL particles for distribution systemically. An important source of oxidative stress affecting HDL and LDL particles in humans is myeloperoxidase (“MPO”) and astaxanthin has been shown to significantly decrease MPO activity in animals. Astaxanthin was also shown in a cell-based study to increase cholesterol efflux from macrophages, a function that would drastically aid in reduction of atherosclerotic disease. These observations underscore the potential importance of astaxanthin in treatment of atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular diseases.

 

8
 

 

Astaxanthin for Thrombosis

 

Rethrombosis is a major risk for people who have had acute coronary syndrome or an ischemic stroke. The goal of therapy following thrombosis is to maintain arterial patency and to preserve the area of reduced perfusion in the heart or the brain. Following a thrombotic stroke, for example, the re-occlusion, or rethrombosis rate, is high, estimated at 30% overall in the first 30 days. A majority of the re-occlusive events occur within the initial 7-10 days post-treatment. While therapies targeting stroke and in particular brain salvage (i.e., neuroprotection) have had limited clinical success, we believe that prevention of the reformation of blood clots, or rethrombosis, is a novel and relatively efficient pathway to demonstrate feasibility for human use and to an eventual FDA approval for this indication. Lysing blood clots has already proven helpful with tissue plasminogen activator (“tPA”) and other thrombolytic agents, and prevention of rethrombosis can be measured in a statistically significant and clinically meaningful way. In several animal studies of thrombosis and rethrombosis, astaxanthin administration has been shown to demonstrate robust efficacy with no change in bleeding times.

 

Consistent with other astaxanthin disease applications, oxidative stress and inflammation play major roles in the pathophysiology of rethrombosis. While we plan to focus initially on arthritis, cognitive decline, and metabolic dysfunction, we remain very interested in areas such as rethrombosis and related platelet aggregation following an ischemic stroke, where animal models have been particularly predictive of human efficacy.

 

Astaxanthin Mechanism of Action

 

Following oral administration of astaxanthin and intestinal uptake, astaxanthin is delivered initially to the liver via chylomicrons and subsequently distributed to tissues throughout the body via plasma lipoprotein particles including very low-density lipoprotein (“VLDL”), HDL, and LDL. Once in the cell, astaxanthin accumulates within various organelles including nuclear, endoplasmic reticulum (“ER”), and mitochondrial membranes. Localization within mitochondria is highly controlled by the cell and allows astaxanthin to uniquely regulate oxidative and nitrosative stress in a privileged location critical to normal metabolic function and often at the heart of metabolic dysfunction and aging. Due to its chemical structure, astaxanthin completely spans the lipid component of cell membranes, facilitating its biphasic (aqueous and lipid) anti-oxidant functions. In support of the unique property of astaxanthin, one study examined X-ray diffraction profiles of five structurally related anti-oxidants embedded in a lipid matrix and demonstrated that each oriented differently with only astaxanthin traversing the lipid, potentially explaining in part why other well-known anti-oxidants, including beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E, have not achieved greater clinical success. In addition to mitochondrial influence, astaxanthin’s aqueous and lipid anti-oxidant functions have the capacity to influence intracellular inflammatory and metabolic pathway signaling because many important intracellular pathways are directly modulated by inflammatory and oxidative stress mediators. In support of strong anti-oxidant function within the body, astaxanthin administration has been shown to demonstrate statistically significant anti-oxidant capacity in humans as measured by decreased isoprostanes, decreased MDA levels, increased TAC, and increased SOD, as well as decreased lipid peroxidation. Likewise, numerous animal studies have supported the extensive and powerful anti-oxidant capacity of astaxanthin in vivo. Many studies support the strong influence of astaxanthin on mitochondrial functionality, as well as inflammatory and metabolic intracellular signaling in animals and in cell-based models.

 

Our Other Programs

 

We have two other anti-inflammatory programs with potential applications in large markets that are in development: zeaxanthin esters for macular degeneration and hepatic disease; and lycophyll esters for prostate disease. Both of these product platforms have potential to be developed first as nutraceuticals (e.g., in naturally occurring ester forms) and later as pharmaceuticals (e.g., at higher doses and/or in novel ester forms). We have used a limited amount of synthetic zeaxanthin in our preliminary research and development efforts. We plan additional research and development to select the optimal zeaxanthin esters for nutraceutical and/or pharmaceutical development through our own capabilities or through a strategic alliance or a manufacturing agreement. We have produced synthetic lycophyll and we plan to conduct additional research and development to first increase our production capabilities of lycophyll and then to select the optimal lycophyll esters for nutraceutical and/or pharmaceutical development through our own capabilities or through a strategic alliance or a manufacturing agreement. To date, we have not commercialized any of these technologies.

 

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Research and Development

 

Our research and development program is presently comprised of employees, consultants, including regulatory, scientific, and medical professionals, and third-party collaborators or contract organizations, including academic institutions, contract research organizations, and contract manufacturing organizations. We utilized dedicated internal synthetic chemistry, biology, and bioanalytical chemistry laboratories and a research and development staff to conduct discovery stage synthesis of product candidates (with transfer of materials and/or methods for additional process development and/or testing), in vitro testing of product candidates and related components to elucidate the mechanism of action, and analysis of biological samples from internal research and/or contract organizations to detect and quantify levels of product candidates and related components following administration of product in various studies. Our research and development staff has also worked with other professionals to identify, contract and transfer materials and methods, and oversee research and manufacturing by contract organizations. Contract organizations provide us with access to larger scale manufacturing, animal studies of disease, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity, and analysis that would not otherwise be available to us without significant expense. We anticipate that the majority of our research and development will be conducted by contract organizations with direction and oversight by our current internal research and development personnel, including three Ph.D. scientists, two Ph.D. scientists/executives, one operational executive, and one M.D. consultant.

 

In addition to conducting or overseeing research and development activities, our research and development personnel analyze and interpret other research on astaxanthin, as well as related compounds, competing products, applicable disease pathology, and industry trends. In the United States National Library of Medicine’s online repository, PubMed.gov, there are more than 1,000 peer-reviewed journal articles that reference astaxanthin in the title or abstract, over 300 of which were published in the last three years, with the vast majority published by organizations and researchers that are not affiliated with us. This type of “open-source” research has served to significantly advance the understanding of astaxanthin, and has also presented our research and development personnel with the critical task of keeping up-to-date on all of the latest research and interpreting and integrating the findings with our research and that of others in order to serve as the preeminent thought leaders on astaxanthin’s mechanism of action and its application in biological systems and disease areas.

 

Our research and development expenditures totaled $944,330, $702,792, and $15,542,286 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for the period from inception to December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

Government Regulation

 

Most aspects of our business are subject to some degree of government regulation. For some of our products, government regulation is significant and, in general, there appears to be a trend toward more stringent regulation throughout the world, as well as global harmonization of various regulatory requirements. We expect to devote significant time, effort and expense to address the extensive government and regulatory requirements applicable to our business. We believe that we are no more or less adversely affected by existing government regulations than our competitors.

 

FDA Regulation

 

Pharmaceutical companies must comply with comprehensive regulation by the FDA and other regulatory agencies in the United States and comparable authorities in other countries. While not necessary for FDA nutraceutical approval of any product, we may conduct Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III human clinical trials with our products.

 

We must obtain regulatory approvals by the FDA and, to the extent we have any international distribution of our products, foreign government agencies prior to human clinical testing and commercialization of any pharmaceutical product and for post-approval clinical studies for additional indications in approved drugs. We anticipate that any pharmaceutical product candidate will be subject to rigorous preclinical and clinical testing and pre-market approval procedures by the FDA and similar health authorities in foreign countries to the extent applicable. Various federal statutes and regulations also govern or influence the preclinical and clinical testing, record-keeping, approval, labeling, manufacture, quality, shipping, distribution, storage, marketing and promotion, export and reimbursement of products and product candidates.

 

The steps ordinarily required before a drug product may be marketed in the United States include:

 

preclinical studies;
   
submission to the FDA of an IND, which must become effective before human clinical trials may commence;
   
adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of the product candidate in the desired indication for use;
   
submission of a NDA to the FDA, together with payment of a substantial user fee; and
   
FDA approval of the NDA, including inspection and approval of the product manufacturing facility and select sites at which human clinical trials were conducted.

 

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Preclinical trials typically involve laboratory evaluation of product candidate chemistry, formulation and stability, as well as animal studies to assess the potential safety and efficacy of each product candidate. The results of preclinical trials are submitted to the FDA as part of an IND and are reviewed by the FDA before the commencement of clinical trials. Unless the FDA objects to an IND, the IND will become effective 30 days following its receipt by the FDA. Submission of an IND may not result in FDA clearance to commence clinical trials, and the FDA’s failure to object to an IND does not guarantee FDA approval of a marketing application.

 

Clinical trials involve the administration of the product candidate to humans under the supervision of a qualified principal investigator. In the United States, clinical trials must be conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practices under protocols submitted to the FDA as part of the IND. In addition, each clinical trial must be approved and conducted under the auspices of an institutional review board and with the patient’s informed consent. We would be subject to similar protocols and similar regulatory considerations if we conduct clinical trials outside the United States.

 

The goal of Phase I clinical trials is to establish initial data about safety and tolerability of the product candidate in humans. The investigators seek to evaluate the effects of various dosages and to establish an optimal dosage level and schedule.

 

The goal of Phase II clinical trials is to provide evidence about the desired therapeutic efficacy of the product candidate in limited studies with small numbers of carefully selected subjects. Investigators also gather additional safety data.

 

Phase III clinical trials consist of expanded, large-scale, multi-center studies in the target patient population. This phase further tests the product’s effectiveness, monitors side effects, and, in some cases, compares the product’s effects to a standard treatment, if one is already available. Phase III trials are designed to more rigorously test the efficacy of a product candidate and are normally randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled. Phase III trials are typically monitored by an independent data monitoring committee, or DMC, which periodically reviews data as a trial progresses. A DMC may recommend that a trial be stopped before completion for a number of reasons including safety concerns, patient benefit or futility.

 

Data obtained from this development program are submitted as part of a NDA to the FDA and possibly to corresponding agencies in other countries for review. The NDA requires agency approval prior to marketing in the relevant country. Extensive regulations define the form, content and methods of gathering, compiling and analyzing the product candidate’s safety and efficacy data.

 

The process of obtaining regulatory approval can be costly, time consuming and subject to unanticipated delays. Regulatory agencies may refuse to approve an application if they believe that applicable regulatory criteria are not satisfied and may also require additional testing for safety and efficacy and/or post-marketing surveillance or other ongoing requirements for post-marketing studies. In some instances, regulatory approval may be granted with the condition that confirmatory Phase IV clinical trials are carried out, and if these trials do not confirm the results of previous studies, regulatory approval for marketing may be withdrawn. Moreover, each regulatory approval of a product is limited to specific indications. The FDA or other regulatory authorities may approve only limited label information for the product. The label information describes the indications and methods of use for which the product is authorized, may include Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies and, if overly restrictive, may limit a sponsor’s ability to successfully market the product. Regulatory agencies routinely revise or issue new regulations, which can affect and delay regulatory approval of product candidates.

 

Furthermore, pharmaceutical manufacturing processes must conform to current Good Manufacturing Practices, or cGMPs. Manufacturers, including a drug sponsor’s third-party contract manufacturers, must expend time, money and effort in the areas of production, quality control and quality assurance, including compliance with stringent record-keeping requirements. Manufacturing establishments are subject to periodic inspections by the FDA or other health authorities, in order to assess, among other things, compliance with cGMP. Before approval of the initiation of commercial manufacturing processes, the FDA will usually perform a preapproval inspection of the facility to determine its compliance with cGMP and other rules and regulations. In addition, foreign manufacturing establishments must also comply with cGMPs in order to supply products for use in the United States, and are subject to periodic inspection by the FDA or by regulatory authorities in certain countries under reciprocal agreements with the FDA. Manufacturing processes and facilities for pharmaceutical products are highly regulated. Regulatory authorities may choose not to certify or may impose restrictions, or even shut down existing manufacturing facilities that they determine are non-compliant.

 

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Hawaii Tax Credit

 

For tax years 2006 to 2010, our predecessor received an aggregate amount of $1,262,117 in refundable tax credits from the State of Hawaii – Department of Taxation in connection with qualified research expenditures in the State of Hawaii. The Hawaii Tax Credit for Research Activities (“HTCRA”) was intended to encourage taxpayers to design, develop, and/or improve products, processes, techniques, formulas or software and intended to reward programs that pursue innovation in the State of Hawaii. The HTCRA was discontinued by the State of Hawaii for tax years 2011 and 2012, but has been made available again in tax year 2013 with certain modifications to the qualification and credit calculations.

 

Federal Research and Development Tax Credit

 

In January 2013, the President of the United States signed into law the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which extends the United States research and development tax credit (the “Research Credit”) under Section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for tax years 2012 and 2013, as well as other provisions. The Research Credit provides taxpayers, such as the Company with a specified tax credit for qualified research activities, including those conducted by us. The Research Credit expired on December 31, 2013.

 

Federal Qualified Therapeutic Development Project Credit

 

In 2010, our predecessor received $244,479 as a refundable Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project (“QTDP”) tax credit from the federal government. The QTDP Program was a tax benefit (a tax credit or grant) to small firms that showed significant potential to produce new and cost-saving therapies, support United States jobs, and increase United States competitiveness. The QTDP Program was part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, and was included in Section 48D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. To provide an immediate boost to United States biomedical research, the credit or grant was available for qualified investments made, or to be made, in tax years 2009 and 2010.

 

Other Regulations

 

Pharmaceutical companies, including us, are subject to various federal and state laws pertaining to healthcare “fraud and abuse,” including anti-kickback and false claims laws. The Federal Anti-kickback Statute makes it illegal for any person, including a prescription drug manufacturer, or a party acting on its behalf, to knowingly and willfully solicit, offer, receive or pay any remuneration, directly or indirectly, in exchange for, or to induce, the referral of business, including the purchase, order or prescription of a particular drug, for which payment may be made under federal healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Some of the state prohibitions apply to referral of patients for healthcare services reimbursed by any source, not only the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

 

In the course of practicing medicine, physicians may legally prescribe FDA approved drugs for an indication that has not been approved by the FDA and which, therefore, is not described in the product’s approved labeling, so-called “off-label use.” The FDA does not ordinarily regulate the behavior of physicians in their choice of treatments. The FDA and other governmental agencies do, however, restrict communications on the subject of off-label use by a manufacturer or those acting on behalf of a manufacturer. Companies may not promote FDA-approved drugs for off-label uses. The FDA and other governmental agencies do permit a manufacturer (and those acting on its behalf) to engage in some limited, non-misleading, non-promotional exchanges of scientific information regarding unapproved indications. The United States False Claims Act prohibits, among other things, anyone from knowingly and willfully presenting, or causing to be presented for payment to third-party payers (including Medicare and Medicaid) claims for reimbursed drugs or services that are false or fraudulent, claims for items or services not provided as claimed or claims for medically unnecessary items or services. Violations of fraud and abuse laws may be punishable by criminal and/or civil sanctions, including imprisonment, fines and civil monetary penalties, as well as possible exclusion from federal health care programs (including Medicare and Medicaid). In addition, under this and other applicable laws, such as the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, there is an ability for private individuals to bring similar actions. Further, there is an increasing number of state laws that require manufacturers to make reports to states on pricing and marketing information. Many of these laws contain ambiguities as to what is required to comply with the law.

 

We are subject to various laws and regulations regarding laboratory practices and the experimental use of animals in connection with our research. In each of these areas, as above, the FDA and other regulatory authorities have broad regulatory and enforcement powers, including the ability to suspend or delay issuance of approvals, seize or recall products, withdraw approvals, enjoin violations and institute criminal prosecution, any one or more of which could have a material adverse effect upon our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We must comply with regulations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act and other federal, state and local regulations. We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the use, generation, manufacture, storage, air emission, effluent discharge, handling and disposal of certain hazardous or potentially hazardous materials. We may be required to incur significant costs to comply with environmental and health and safety regulations in the future. Our research and development involves the controlled use of hazardous materials, including, but not limited to, certain hazardous chemicals.

 

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Our activities are also potentially subject to federal and state consumer protection and unfair competition laws. We are also subject to the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the FCPA, which prohibits companies and individuals from engaging in specified activities to obtain or retain business or to influence a person working in an official capacity. Under the FCPA, it is illegal to pay, offer to pay, or authorize the payment of anything of value to any foreign government official, governmental staff members, political party or political candidate in an attempt to obtain or retain business or to otherwise influence a person working in an official capacity. In addition, federal and state laws protect the confidentiality of certain health information, in particular, individually identifiable information, and restrict the use and disclosure of that information. At the federal level, the Department of Health and Human Services promulgated health information privacy and security rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. In addition, many state laws apply to the use and disclosure of health information.

 

Competition

 

The industry in which we intend to compete is subject to intense competition. We believe that our ability to compete will be dependent in large part upon our ability to continually enhance and improve our products and technologies. In order to do so, we plan to effectively utilize and expand our research and development capabilities. Competition is based primarily on scientific and technological superiority, technical support, availability of patent protection, protection of trade secrets, access to adequate capital, ability to develop, acquire and market products successfully, ability to obtain governmental approvals and ability to serve the particular needs of customers. We intend to compete on the basis of safety, effectiveness, convenience, manufacturing superiority, intellectual property, and where appropriate, price.

 

Because of the broad manifestation of inflammation in chronic disease, numerous pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are developing or producing anti-inflammatory therapeutic agents. These companies include, but are not limited to: AbbVie, Amgen, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, MT Pharma, Nestle/Pamlab, Novartis, Pfizer, Reata, Roche/Genentech, Sanofi-Aventis, Servier, Takeda, Vivus.

 

In addition to competing with non-astaxanthin anti-inflammatory drugs, we intend to compete with microalgal astaxanthin nutraceutical products on the basis of our global-scale manufacturing capability and product purity. We believe that large-scale, multi-fold expansion of naturally produced microalgal astaxanthin would require large amounts of land, and fresh water for open pond systems or large amounts of infrastructure and energy for closed systems, and, consequently, a significant if not overwhelming amount of investment capital. Furthermore, microalgal astaxanthin products, which are lipophilic extracts of a commercially cultivated microalga, typically have relatively low astaxanthin content, with the majority of the product comprised of other lipophilic, non-astaxanthin microalgal compounds. In contrast, we expect our synthetically manufactured astaxanthin products to have very high astaxanthin content, with consistent pharmaceutical-grade purity. Higher relative astaxanthin content should reduce the total pill volume required to deliver an intended astaxanthin dose and may translate into smaller and/or fewer pills per dose or serving.

 

We also intend to compete against other synthetic astaxanthin nutraceutical products on the basis of nature-identical product differentiation, although competitors in this space are limited by the substantial cost and technical expertise required to develop large-scale, industrial production of astaxanthin. DSM, a Dutch company that has operated in the synthetic astaxanthin animal feed market for several decades, has announced plans to launch a synthetic astaxanthin nutraceutical product or dietary ingredient in 2014, utilizing its animal feed product, a racemic mixture of astaxanthin isomers, without additional regulatory approval. To our knowledge, the racemic mixture of astaxanthin isomers is primarily present in the human diet through consumption of industrially raised animals. In contrast, our astaxanthin products will contain the single isomer of astaxanthin that is naturally occurring in microalgae—the same isomeric form of astaxanthin found in GRAS-designated microalgal astaxanthin nutraceutical products.

 

Our success will also depend in large part on our ability to obtain and maintain international and domestic patent and other legal protections for the proprietary technology that we consider important to our business. We intend to continue to seek appropriate patent protection for our products where applicable by filing patent applications in the United States and other selected countries. We intend for these patent applications to cover, where applicable, claims for composition of matter, uses, processes for preparation and formulations. Our success will also depend on our ability, and the ability of our current and/or future strategic partners to maintain trade secrets related to proprietary production methods for products that we, or our partners, intend to market.

 

Raw Materials and Components

 

We plan to utilize strategic partners and/or contract manufacturers for the production of our products and product candidates. The raw materials and supplies required for the production of our products and product candidates may be available, in some instances from one supplier, and in other instances, from multiple suppliers. In those cases where raw materials are only available through one supplier, such supplier may be either a sole source (the only recognized supply source available to us) or a single source (the only approved supply source for us among other sources). We, our strategic partners, and/or our contract manufacturers will adopt appropriate policies to attempt, to the extent feasible, to minimize our raw material supply risks, including maintenance of greater levels of raw materials inventory and implementation of multiple raw materials sourcing strategies, especially for critical raw materials. Although to date we have not experienced any significant delays in obtaining any raw materials from suppliers, we cannot provide assurance that we, our strategic partners, and/or our contract manufacturers, will not face shortages from one or more of them in the future.

 

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Customers

 

We currently do not have any customers for our nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products.

 

Intellectual Property

 

We have obtained and are continuing to seek patent protection for compositions of matter, pharmaceutical compositions, and pharmaceutical uses, in certain disease areas, of our various carotenoid analogs and derivatives. Such carotenoids include, but are not limited to, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, lutein, and/or lycophyll, and esters and other analogs and derivatives of these compounds. More specifically, we seek to protect: (i) the composition of matter of novel carotenoid analogs and derivatives, (ii) pharmaceutical compositions comprising synthetic or natural preparations of novel or natural occurring carotenoid analogs and derivatives, and (iii) the pharmaceutical use of synthetic preparations of novel or naturally occurring carotenoid analogs and derivatives in specific disease areas, including, but not limited to, the treatment of inflammation and related tissue damage, liver disease, and reperfusion injury, as well as the pharmaceutical use of synthetic or natural preparations of novel or natural occurring carotenoid analogs and derivatives for the reduction of platelet aggregation. We intend to enforce and defend our intellectual property rights consistent with our strategic business objectives.

 

We have rights to 20 issued patents, including 13 in the United States and 7 others in China, India, Japan, and Hong Kong, related to the technology described above. These patents will expire during the years of 2023 to 2028, subject to any patent term extensions of the individual patent. We have 1 patent application pending in the United States and 5 foreign patent applications pending in Europe, Canada, and Brazil, also related to the technology described above.

 

We also have rights to U.S. Patent No. 5,871,766 issued to Brigham and Women’s Hospital Inc. (“BWH”) under the Exclusive License Agreement dated as of May 1, 2003 (“BWH-License”), by and between BWH and our predecessor, which was subsequently assigned to us. The licensed patent includes technology related to the pharmaceutical use of astaxanthin, and other specified carotenoids, for the amelioration of a major vascular event, such as, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, and cardiovascular death. The BWH-License will remain in effect, unless otherwise terminated, until the licensed patent expires in February 2016. Under the BWH-License, we must pay BWH a royalty based on a percentage of net sales of product(s) we sell utilizing the licensed technology and/or of sublicense income, with other specified license maintenance fees and/or minimum royalties. Presently, we are not focusing on utilizing these licensed patent rights.

 

In February 2012, we licensed our rights to certain monoclonal antibodies against placlitaxel and tangible property relating to assay kits to detect various anti-cancer compounds, including manufacturing and technical know-how, to Biomiga Diagnostics Co. This technology was acquired by us from HBI in 2006 and is unrelated to our primary anti-inflammatory programs.

 

Employees

 

As of March 17, 2014, we have nine full time employees dedicated to our nutraceutical and pharmaceutical business. None of our employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement. We believe the relations with our employees are satisfactory.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

An investment in our Common Stock, any warrants to purchase our Common Stock, or any other security that may be issued by us involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all of the other information included in this annual report, before making an investment decision. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could suffer. In that case, the trading price of our shares of Common Stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. You should read the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” above for a discussion of what types of statements are forward-looking statements, as well as the significance of such statements in the context of this annual report.

 

Risks Related to Our Business, Industry and Financial Condition

 

We have a history of operating losses and have received a going concern opinion from our auditors.

 

We have incurred substantial net losses since our inception and may continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future, as we continue our product development activities. As a result of our limited operating history, we have limited historical financial data that can be used in evaluating our business and our prospects and in projecting our future operating results.

 

Additionally, we have received a “going concern” opinion from our auditors. As reflected in the financial statements that are filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we are a development stage company with no material amount of earned revenue since our inception. This raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to raise additional capital and implement our business plan. If we are unable to achieve or sustain profitability or to secure additional financing on acceptable terms, we may not be able to meet our obligations as they come due, raising substantial doubts as to our ability to continue as a going concern. Any such inability to continue as a going concern may result in our Common Stock holders losing their entire investment. There is no guarantee that we will become profitable or secure additional financing on acceptable terms. Our financial statements contemplate that we will continue as a going concern and do not contain any adjustments that might result if we were unable to continue as a going concern. Changes in our operating plans, our existing and anticipated working capital needs, the acceleration or modification of our expansion plans, increased expenses, potential acquisitions or other events will all affect our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

We are dependent upon the success of our lead astaxanthin technologies, which may not be successfully commercialized.

 

We have no commercial products and currently generate no revenue from commercial sales or collaborations and may never be able to develop marketable products. While not necessary for FDA approval of nutraceutical products, we plan to conduct clinical trials to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of our product(s) in humans. A failure of any clinical trial can occur at any stage of testing. The results of initial clinical testing of this product may not necessarily indicate the results that will be obtained from later or more extensive testing. Additionally, any observations made with respect to blinded clinical data are inherently uncertain as we cannot know which set of data come from patients treated with an active drug versus the placebo vehicle. Investors are cautioned not to rely on observations coming from blinded data and not to rely on initial clinical trial results as necessarily indicative of results that will be obtained in subsequent clinical trials.

 

A number of different factors could prevent us from conducting a clinical trial or commercializing our product candidates on a timely basis, or at all.

 

We, the FDA, other applicable regulatory authorities or an institutional review board, or IRB, may suspend clinical trials of a product candidate at any time for various reasons, including if we or they believe the subjects or patients participating in such trials are being exposed to unacceptable health risks. Among other reasons, adverse side effects of a product candidate on subjects or patients in a clinical trial could result in the FDA or other regulatory authorities suspending or terminating the trial and refusing to approve a particular product candidate for any or all indications of use.

 

Clinical trials of a product require the enrollment of a sufficient number of patients, including patients who are suffering from the disease or condition the product candidate is intended to treat and who meet other eligibility criteria. Rates of patient enrollment are affected by many factors, and delays in patient enrollment can result in increased costs and longer development times.

 

Clinical trials also require the review and oversight of IRBs, which approve and continually review clinical investigations and protect the rights and welfare of human subjects. An inability or delay in obtaining IRB approval could prevent or delay the initiation and completion of clinical trials, and the FDA may decide not to consider any data or information derived from a clinical investigation not subject to initial and continuing IRB review and approval.

 

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Numerous factors could affect the timing, cost or outcome of our drug development efforts, including the following:

 

  delays in filing or acceptance of investigational drug applications for our product candidates;
     
  difficulty in securing centers to conduct clinical trials;
     
  conditions imposed on us by the FDA or comparable foreign authorities that are applicable to our business regarding the scope or design of our clinical trials;
     
  problems in engaging IRBs to oversee trials or problems in obtaining or maintaining IRB approval of studies;
     
  difficulty in enrolling patients in conformity with required protocols or projected timelines;
     
  third-party contractors failing to comply with regulatory requirements or to meet their contractual obligations to us in a timely manner;
     
  our product candidates having unexpected and different chemical and pharmacological properties in humans than in laboratory testing and interacting with human biological systems in unforeseen, ineffective or harmful ways;
     
  the need to suspend or terminate clinical trials if the participants are being exposed to unacceptable health risks;
     
  insufficient or inadequate supply or quality of our product candidates or other materials necessary to conduct our clinical trials;
     
  effects of our product candidates not being the desired effects or including undesirable side effects or the product candidates having other unexpected characteristics;
     
  the cost of our clinical trials being greater than we anticipate;
     
  negative or inconclusive results from our clinical trials or the clinical trials of others for similar product candidates or inability to generate statistically significant data confirming the efficacy of the product being tested;
     
  changes in the FDA’s requirements for testing during the course of that testing;
     
  reallocation of our limited financial and other resources to other programs; and
     
  adverse results obtained by other companies developing similar products.

 

It is possible that none of the product candidates that we may develop will obtain the appropriate regulatory approvals necessary to begin selling them or that any regulatory approval to market a product may be subject to limitations on the indicated uses for which we may market the product. The time required to obtain FDA and other approvals is unpredictable, but often can take years following the commencement of clinical trials, depending upon the complexity of the product candidate. Any analysis we perform of data from clinical activities is subject to confirmation and interpretation by regulatory authorities, which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. Any delay or failure in obtaining required approvals could have a material adverse effect on our ability to generate revenue from the particular product candidate.

 

We also must comply with clinical trial and post-approval safety and adverse event reporting requirements. Adverse events related to our products must be reported to the FDA in accordance with regulatory timelines based on their severity and expectedness. Failure to make timely safety reports and to establish and maintain related records could result in withdrawal of marketing authorization.

 

We may also become subject to numerous foreign regulatory requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials, manufacturing and marketing authorization, pricing and third-party reimbursement. The foreign regulatory approval process includes all of the risks associated with the FDA approval described above as well as risks attributable to the satisfaction of local regulations in foreign jurisdictions. Approval by the FDA does not assure approval by regulatory authorities outside of the United States.

 

We have limited experience in managing communications with regulatory agencies, including filing investigational new drug applications, filing new drug applications, submission of promotional materials and generally directing the regulatory processes in all territories.

 

We may be responsible for managing communications with regulatory agencies, including filing investigational new drug applications, filing new drug applications, submission of promotional materials and generally directing the regulatory processes in all territories. We have limited experience directing such activities and may not be successful with our planned development strategies, on the planned timelines, or at all. Even if any of our product candidates are designated for “fast track” or “priority review” status or if we seek approval under accelerated approval (Subpart H) regulations, such designation or approval pathway does not necessarily mean a faster development process or regulatory review process or necessarily confer any advantage with respect to approval compared to conventional FDA procedures. Accelerated development and approval procedures will only be available if the indications for which we are developing products remain unmet medical needs and if our clinical trial results support use of surrogate endpoints, respectively. Even if these accelerated development or approval mechanisms are available to us, depending on the results of clinical trials, we may elect to follow the more traditional approval processes for strategic and marketing reasons, since drugs approved under accelerated approval procedures are more likely to be subjected to post-approval requirements for clinical studies to provide confirmatory evidence that the drugs are safe and effective. If we fail to conduct any such required post-approval studies or if the studies fail to verify that any of our product candidates are safe and effective, our FDA approval could be revoked. It can be difficult, time-consuming and expensive to enroll patients in such clinical trials because physicians and patients are less likely to participate in a clinical trial to receive a drug that is already commercially available. Drugs approved under accelerated approval procedures also require regulatory pre-approval of promotional materials which may delay or otherwise hinder commercialization efforts.

 

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We intend to operate in highly competitive industries, and our failure to compete effectively could adversely affect our market share, financial condition and growth prospects. If competitors are better able to develop and market products that are more effective, or gain greater acceptance in the marketplace than our products, our commercial opportunities may be reduced or eliminated.

 

The nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industry is constantly evolving, and scientific advances are expected to continue at a rapid pace. This results in intense competition among companies operating in the industry. Other, larger companies may have, or may be developing, products that compete with our products and may significantly limit the market acceptance of our products or render them obsolete. Our technical and/or business competitors would include major pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, consumer health companies, universities and nonprofit research institutions and foundations. Most of these competitors have significantly greater research and development capabilities than we have, as well as substantial marketing, financial and managerial resources. Our lead product is expected to primarily compete against nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products that provide anti-inflammatory benefits. In addition, there are several other companies, both public and private, that service the same markets as we do, all of which compete to some degree with us.

 

The primary competitive factors facing us include safety, efficacy, price, quality, breadth of product line, manufacturing quality and capacity, service, marketing and distribution capabilities. Our current and future competitors may have greater resources, more widely accepted and innovative products and stronger name recognition than we do. Our ability to compete is affected by our ability, or that of our strategic partners, to:

 

  develop or acquire new products and innovative technologies;
     
  obtain regulatory clearance and compliance for our products;
     
  manufacture and sell our products cost-effectively;
     
  meet all relevant quality standards for our products in their particular markets;
     
  respond to competitive pressures specific to each of our geographic and product markets;
     
  protect the proprietary technology of our products and avoid infringement of the proprietary rights of others;
     
  market our products;
     
  attract and retain skilled employees, including sales representatives;
     
  maintain and establish distribution relationships; and
     
  engage in acquisitions, joint ventures or other collaborations.

 

Competitors could develop products that are more effective, achieve favorable reimbursement status from third-party payors, cost less or are ready for commercial introduction before our products. If our competitors are better able to develop and patent products earlier than we can, or develop more effective and/or less expensive products that render our products obsolete or non-competitive, our business will be harmed and our commercial opportunities will be reduced or eliminated.

 

We believe that the market in which we compete in is also highly sensitive to the introduction of new products, including various prescription drugs, which may rapidly capture a significant share of the market. In the United States, we expect to also compete for sales with heavily advertised national brands manufactured by large pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consumer health companies, as well as other retailers.

 

As some products gain market acceptance, we may experience increased competition for those products as more participants enter the market. Currently, we are not a manufacturer. To the extent that we engage third-party manufacturers or use strategic alliances to produce our products, our manufacturing capabilities may not be adequate or sufficient to compete with large scale, direct or third-party manufacturers. Certain of our potential competitors are larger than us and have longer operating histories, customer bases, greater brand recognition and greater resources for marketing, advertising and product promotion. They may be able to secure inventory from vendors on more favorable terms, operate with a lower cost structure or adopt more aggressive pricing policies. In addition, our potential competitors may be more effective and efficient in introducing new products. We may not be able to compete effectively, and our attempt to do so may require us to increase marketing and/or reduce our prices, which may result in lower margins. Failure to effectively compete could adversely affect our market share, financial condition and growth prospects.

 

17
 

 

Market acceptance of our proposed products is vital to our future success.

 

The commercial success of our proposed products is dependent upon the acceptance of such products. Our proposed products may not gain and maintain any significant degree of market acceptance among potential users, healthcare providers, or acceptance by third-party payors, such as health insurance companies. The medical indications that can be treated by our proposed products can also be treated by other products or techniques. The medical community widely accepts alternative treatments, and certain of these other treatments have a long history of use. We cannot be certain that our proposed products and the procedures in which they are used will be able to replace those established treatments or that users will accept and utilize our products or any other medical products that we may market.

 

Market acceptance will depend upon numerous factors, many of which are not under our control, including:

 

  the safety and efficacy of our products;
     
  favorable regulatory approval and product labeling;
     
  the availability, safety, efficacy and ease of use of alternative products or treatments;
     
  our ability to educate potential users on the advantages of our products;
     
  the price of our products relative to alternative technologies; and
     
  the availability of third-party reimbursement.

 

If our proposed products do not achieve significant market acceptance, our future revenues and profitability would be adversely affected.

 

The pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry is subject to extensive and complex healthcare regulation. Any determination that we have violated federal or state laws applicable to us that regulate healthcare would have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects and financial condition.

 

Federal and state laws regulating healthcare are extensive and complex. The laws applicable to our business are subject to evolving interpretations, and therefore we cannot be sure that a review of our operations by federal or state courts or regulatory authorities will not result in a determination that we have violated one or more provisions of federal or state law. Any such determination could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects and financial condition.

 

If we fail to comply with FDA regulations our business could suffer.

 

The manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and foreign and state regulatory authorities. In the United States, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies such as ours must comply with laws and regulations promulgated by the FDA. These laws and regulations require various authorizations prior to a product being marketed in the United States. Manufacturing facilities and practices are also subject to FDA regulations. The FDA regulates the clinical testing, manufacture, labeling, sale, distribution and promotion of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products in the United States. Our failure to comply with regulatory requirements, including any future changes to such requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Even after clearance or approval of a product, we are subject to continuing regulation by the FDA, including the requirements of registering our facilities and listing our products with the FDA. We are subject to reporting regulations. These regulations require us to report to the FDA if any of our products may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury and such product or a similar product that we market would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury. Unless an exemption applies, we must report corrections and removals to the FDA where the correction or removal was initiated to reduce a risk to health posed by the product or to remedy a violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The FDA also requires that we maintain records of corrections or removals, regardless of whether such corrections and removals are required to be reported to the FDA. In addition, the FDA closely regulates promotion and advertising, and our promotional and advertising activities could come under scrutiny by the FDA.

 

The FDA also requires that manufacturing be in compliance with its Quality System Regulation, or QSR. The QSR covers the methods and documentation of the design, testing, control, manufacturing, labeling, quality assurance, packaging, storage and shipping of our products. Our failure to maintain compliance with the QSR requirements could result in the shutdown of, or restrictions on, our manufacturing operations, to the extent we have any, and the recall or seizure of our products, which would have a material adverse effect on our business. In the event that one of our suppliers fails to maintain compliance with our quality requirements, we may have to qualify a new supplier and could experience manufacturing delays as a result.

 

The FDA has broad enforcement powers. If we violate applicable regulatory requirements, the FDA may bring enforcement actions against us, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Violations of regulatory requirements, at any stage, including after approval, may result in various adverse consequences, including the delay by a regulatory agency in approving or refusal to approve a product, withdrawal or recall of an approved product from the market, other voluntary agency-initiated action that could delay further development or marketing, as well as the imposition of criminal penalties against the manufacturer and NDA holder.

 

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Recently enacted and future legislation may increase the difficulty and cost for us to commercialize our product candidates and affect the prices we may obtain.

 

The United States and many foreign jurisdictions have enacted or proposed legislative and regulatory changes affecting the healthcare system that could prevent or delay marketing approval of our product candidates, restrict or regulate post-approval activities and affect our ability to profitably sell any product candidate for which we obtain marketing approval.

 

In the United States, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, or Medicare Modernization Act, changed the way Medicare covers and pays for pharmaceutical products. The legislation expanded Medicare coverage for drug purchases by the elderly by establishing Medicare Part D and introduced a new reimbursement methodology based on average sales prices for physician-administered drugs under Medicare Part B. In addition, this legislation provided authority for limiting the number of drugs that Medicare will cover in any therapeutic class under the new Medicare Part D program. Cost reduction initiatives and other provisions of this legislation could decrease the coverage and reimbursement rate that we receive for any of our approved products. While the Medicare Modernization Act applies only to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payors often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates. Therefore, any reduction in reimbursement that results from the Medicare Modernization Act may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors.

 

In March 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, or, collectively, the Affordable Care Act, a law intended to broaden access to health insurance, reduce or constrain the growth of healthcare spending, enhance remedies against healthcare fraud and abuse, add new transparency requirements for healthcare and health insurance industries, impose new taxes and fees on pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers and impose additional health policy reforms. Among other things, the Affordable Care Act expanded manufacturers’ rebate liability under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program by increasing the minimum rebate for both branded and generic drugs, effective the first quarter of 2010, and revising the definition of “average manufacturer price,” or AMP, for reporting purposes, which could increase the amount of Medicaid drug rebates manufacturers are required to pay to states. The legislation also extended Medicaid drug rebates, previously due only on fee-for-service utilization, to Medicaid managed care utilization, and created an alternative rebate formula for certain new formulations of certain existing products that is intended to increase the amount of rebates due on those drugs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which administers the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, also has proposed to expand Medicaid drug rebates to the utilization that occurs in the United States territories, such as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Also effective in 2010, the Affordable Care Act expanded the types of entities eligible to receive discounted 340B pricing, although, with the exception of children’s hospitals, these newly eligible entities will not be eligible to receive discounted 340B pricing on orphan drugs. In addition, because 340B pricing is determined based on AMP and Medicaid drug rebate data, the revisions to the Medicaid rebate formula and AMP definition described above could cause the required 340B discounts to increase. Furthermore, as of 2011, the new law imposes a significant annual fee on companies that manufacture or import branded prescription drug products and requires manufacturers to provide a 50% discount off the negotiated price of prescriptions filled by beneficiaries in the Medicare Part D coverage gap, referred to as the “donut hole.” Substantial new provisions affecting compliance have also been enacted, which may affect our business practices with healthcare practitioners. Notably, a significant number of provisions are not yet, or have only recently become, effective. Although it is too early to determine the full effect of the Affordable Care Act, the new law appears likely to continue the downward pressure on pharmaceutical pricing, especially under the Medicare program, and may also increase our regulatory burdens and operating costs.

 

In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the Affordable Care Act was enacted. In August 2011, the President signed into law the Budget Control Act of 2011, which, among other things, created the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to recommend to Congress proposals in spending reductions. The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction did not achieve a targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for fiscal years 2012 through 2021, triggering the legislation’s automatic reduction to several government programs. This includes aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of up to 2% per fiscal year.

 

19
 

 

We expect that the Affordable Care Act, as well as other healthcare reform measures that have and may be adopted in the future, may result in more rigorous coverage criteria and in additional downward pressure on the price that we receive for any approved product, and could seriously harm our future revenues. Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other government programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability or commercialize our products.

 

The Affordable Care Act and other regulations regarding the United States healthcare system are subject to substantial reformation. For example, some members of the United States Congress have proposed delaying the implementation of the Affordable Care Act or the repeal of this legislation. The legislation has not been repealed. In addition, President Obama has, and may continue, to modify the Affordable Care Act through executive orders and we cannot provide any assurance of the effect of any such modifications. We are not able to provide any assurance that the continued healthcare reform debate will not result in legislation, regulation or executive action by the President of the United States that is adverse to our business.

 

We rely on third-parties to supply and manufacture our proposed products. If these third-parties do not perform as expected or if our agreements with them are terminated, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations would be materially adversely affected.

 

We outsource our manufacturing to third-parties such as BASF. Our reliance on contract manufacturers and suppliers exposes us to risks, including the following:

 

  We rely on our suppliers and manufacturers to provide us with the needed products or components in a timely fashion and of an acceptable quality. An uncorrected defect or supplier’s variation in a component could harm our or our third-party manufacturers’ ability to manufacture, and our ability to sell, products and may subject us to product liability claims.
     
  The facilities of our third-party manufacturers must satisfy production and quality standards set by applicable regulatory authorities. Regulatory authorities periodically inspect manufacturing facilities to determine compliance with these standards. If we or our third-party manufacturers fail to satisfy these requirements, the facilities could be shut down.
     
  These manufacturing operations could also be disrupted or delayed by fire, earthquake or other natural disaster, a work stoppage or other labor-related disruption, failure in supply or other logistical channels, electrical outages or other reasons. If there was any such disruption to any of these manufacturing facilities, our third-party manufacturers would potentially be unable to manufacture our products.
     
  A third-party manufacturer or supplier could decide to terminate our manufacturing or supply arrangement, including due to a disagreement between us and such third-party manufacturer, if the third-party manufacturer determines not to further manufacture our products, or if we fail to comply with our obligations under such arrangements.
     
  If any third-party manufacturer makes improvements in the manufacturing process for our products, we may not own, or may have to share, the intellectual property rights to the innovation.

 

We currently rely on a limited number of suppliers to provide key components for our products. If these or other suppliers become unable to provide components in the volumes needed or at an acceptable price or quality, we would have to identify and qualify acceptable replacements from alternative suppliers. We may experience stoppages in the future. We may not be able to find a sufficient alternative supplier in a reasonable time period, or on commercially reasonable terms, if at all, and our ability to produce and supply our products could be impaired.

 

To the extent we are able to identify alternative suppliers, qualifying suppliers is a lengthy process. There are a limited number of manufacturers and suppliers that may satisfy applicable requirements. In addition, FDA regulations may require additional testing of any components from new suppliers prior to our use of these materials or components, which testing could delay or prevent the supply of components. Moreover, a new manufacturer would have to be educated in, or develop substantially equivalent processes for, production of our products, which could take a significant period of time.

 

Each of these risks could delay the development or commercialization of our products or result in higher costs or deprive us of potential product revenues. Furthermore, delays or interruptions in the manufacturing process could limit or curtail our ability to meet demand for our products and/or make commercial sales, unless and until the manufacturing capability at the facilities are restored and re-qualified or alternative manufacturing facilities are developed or brought on-line and “scaled up.” Any such delay or interruption could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

 

20
 

 

An unexpected interruption or shortage in the supply or significant increase in the cost of components could limit our ability to manufacture any products, which could reduce our sales and margins.

 

To the extent we engage in relationships with contract manufacturers in the future, an unexpected interruption of supply or a significant increase in the cost of components, whether to us or to our contract manufacturers for any reason, such as regulatory requirements, import restrictions, loss of certifications, disruption of distribution channels as a result of weather, terrorism or acts of war, or other events, could result in significant cost increases and/or shortages of our products. Our inability to obtain a sufficient amount of products or to pass through higher cost of products we offer could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

We have limited experience in marketing our products and services.

 

We have undertaken limited marketing efforts for our proposed products and services. Our sales and marketing teams, and/or those of our strategic partners, will compete against the experienced and well-funded sales organizations of competitors. Our future revenues and ability to achieve profitability will depend largely on the effectiveness of our sales and marketing team, and we will face significant challenges and risks related to marketing our services, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

  the ability of sales representatives to obtain access to or persuade adequate numbers of healthcare providers to purchase and use our products and services;
     
  the ability to recruit, properly motivate, retain, and train adequate numbers of qualified sales and marketing personnel;
     
  the costs associated with hiring, training, maintaining, and expanding an effective sales and marketing team; and
     
  assuring compliance with government regulatory requirements affecting the healthcare industry in general and our products in particular.

 

Although we will be relying primarily on strategic partners to distribute our products, we may seek to establish a network of distributors in selected markets to market, sell and distribute our products. If we fail to select or use appropriate distributors, or if the sales and marketing strategies of such distributors prove ineffective in generating sales of our products, our future revenues would be adversely affected and we might never become profitable.

 

We plan to rely on third-party distributors for sales, marketing and distribution activities.

 

We plan to rely on third-party distributors to sell, market, and distribute our products. Because we intend to rely on third-party distributors for sales, marketing and distribution activities, we will be subject to a number of risks associated with our dependence on these third-party distributors, including:

 

  lack of day-to-day control over the activities of third-party distributors;
     
  third-party distributors may not fulfill their obligations to us or otherwise meet our expectations;
     
  third-party distributors may terminate their arrangements with us on limited or no notice or may change the terms of these arrangements in a manner unfavorable to us for reasons outside of our control; and
     
  disagreements with our distributors could require or result in costly and time-consuming litigation or arbitration.

 

If we fail to establish and maintain satisfactory relationships with third-party distributors, we may be unable to sell, market and distribute our products, our future revenues and market share may not grow as anticipated, and we could be subject to unexpected costs which would harm our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Commercialization of our proposed products and services will require us to build and maintain sophisticated sales and marketing teams.

 

We have limited prior experience with commercializing our products. To successfully commercialize our products and services, we will need to establish and maintain sophisticated sales and marketing teams. While we intend to use current Company employees to lead our marketing efforts, we may choose to expand our marketing and sales team. Experienced sales representatives may be difficult to locate and retain, and all new sales representatives will need to undergo extensive training. There is no assurance that we will be able to recruit and retain sufficiently skilled sales representatives, or that any new sales representatives will ultimately become productive. If we are unable to recruit and retain qualified and productive sales personnel, our ability to commercialize our products and to generate revenues will be impaired, and our business will be harmed.

 

21
 

 

We may not be able to establish or maintain the third-party relationships that are necessary to develop or potentially commercialize some or all of our product candidates.

 

We expect to depend on collaborators, partners, licensees, contract research organizations, contract manufacturing organizations, clinical research organizations and other third-parties to support our discovery efforts, to formulate product candidates, to manufacture our product candidates and to conduct clinical trials for some or all of our product candidates. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to successfully negotiate agreements for or maintain relationships with collaborators, partners, licensees, contractors, clinical investigators, vendors and other third-parties on favorable terms, if at all. Our ability to successfully negotiate such agreements will depend on, among other things, potential partners’ evaluation of the superiority of our technology over competing technologies, the quality of the preclinical and clinical data that we have generated and the perceived risks specific to developing our product candidates. If we are unable to obtain or maintain these agreements, we may not be able to clinically develop, formulate, manufacture, obtain regulatory approvals for or commercialize our product candidates. We cannot necessarily control the amount or timing of resources that our contract partners will devote to our research and development programs, product candidates or potential product candidates, and we cannot guarantee that these parties will fulfill their obligations to us under these arrangements in a timely fashion. We may not be able to readily terminate any such agreements with contract partners even if such contract partners do not fulfill their obligations to us.

 

We currently rely on our strategic partnership with BASF for a significant part of our future revenue. We are dependent upon BASF performing their obligations under our current arrangements with them. If BASF becomes unable to provide its services as provided in such arrangements, we would have to identify and qualify an acceptable replacement. We may experience stoppages in the future. We may not be able to find a sufficient alternative provider in a reasonable time period, or on commercially reasonable terms, if at all, and our ability to produce and supply our products could be impaired.

 

We expect to continue to incur significant research and development expenses, which may make it difficult for us to attain profitability.

 

We expend substantial funds to develop our proprietary technologies, and additional substantial funds will be required for further research and development, including preclinical testing and clinical trials of any product candidates, and to manufacture and market any products that are approved for commercial sale. Because the successful development of our products is uncertain, we are unable to precisely estimate the actual funds we will require to develop and potentially commercialize them. In addition, we may not be able to generate enough revenue, even if we are able to commercialize any of our product candidates, to become profitable.

 

We may be subject to product liability claims. Our insurance may not be sufficient to cover these claims, or we may be required to recall our products.

 

Our business is to develop and commercialize, among other things, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products that provide anti-inflammatory benefits. As a result, we will face an inherent risk of product liability claims. The pharmaceutical industry has been historically litigious. Since our products are to be used in the human body, manufacturing errors, design defects or packaging defects could result in injury or death to the patient. This could result in a recall of one or more of our products and substantial monetary damages. Any product liability claim brought against us, with or without merit, could result in a diversion of our resources, an increase in our product liability insurance premiums and/or an inability to secure coverage in the future. We may also have to pay any amount awarded by a court in excess of our policy limits. In addition, any recall of our products, whether initiated by us or by a regulatory agency, may result in adverse publicity for us that could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Our product liability insurance policies will have various exclusions; therefore, we may be subject to a product liability claim or recall for which we have no insurance coverage. In such a case, we may have to pay the entire amount of the award or costs of the recall. Finally, product liability insurance may be expensive and may not be available in the future on acceptable terms, or at all.

 

If we experience product recalls, we may incur significant and unexpected costs and damage to our reputation and, therefore, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

We may be subject to product recalls, withdrawals or seizures if any of our products are believed to cause injury or illness or if we are alleged to have violated governmental regulations in the manufacture, labeling, promotion, sale or distribution of our products. A recall, withdrawal or seizure of any of our products could materially and adversely affect consumer confidence in our brands and lead to decreased demand for our products. In addition, a recall, withdrawal or seizure of any of our products would require significant management attention, would likely result in substantial and unexpected expenditures and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

22
 

 

If we are unable to obtain and maintain protection of our intellectual property, the value of our products may be adversely affected.

 

Our business is dependent in part upon our ability to use intellectual property rights to protect our products from competition. To protect our products, we rely on a combination of patent and other intellectual property laws, employment, confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees and contractors, and confidentiality agreements and protective contractual provisions with our partners, licensors and other third-parties. These methods, however, afford us only limited protection against competition from other products.

 

We attempt to protect our intellectual property position, in part, by filing patent applications related to our proprietary technology, inventions and improvements that are important to our business. However, our patent position is not likely by itself to prevent others from commercializing products that compete directly with our products. Moreover, we do not have patent protection for certain components of our products and our patent applications can be challenged. In addition, we may fail to receive any patent for which we have applied, and any patent owned by us or issued to us could be challenged, invalidated, or held to be unenforceable. We also note that any patent granted may not provide a competitive advantage to us. Our competitors may independently develop technologies that are substantially similar or superior to our technologies. Further, third-parties may design around our patented or proprietary products and technologies.

 

We rely on certain trade secrets and we may not be able to adequately protect our trade secrets even with contracts with our personnel and third-parties. Also, any third-party could independently develop and have the right to use, our trade secret, know-how and other proprietary information. If we are unable to protect our intellectual property rights, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could suffer materially.

 

Our ability to market our products may be impaired by the intellectual property rights of third-parties.

 

Our success depends in part on our products not infringing on the patents and proprietary rights of other parties. For instance, in the United States, patent applications filed in recent years are confidential for 18 months, while older applications are not published until the patent issues. As a result, there may be patents and patent applications of which we are unaware, and avoiding patent infringement may be difficult.

 

Our industry is characterized by a large number of patents, patent applications and frequent litigation based on allegations of patent infringement. Competitors may own patents or proprietary rights, or have filed patent applications, related to products that are similar to ours. We may not be aware of all of the patents and pending applications potentially adverse to our interests that may have been issued to others. Moreover, since there may be unpublished patent applications that could result in patents with claims relating to our products, we cannot be sure that our current products will not infringe any patents that might be issued or filed in the future. Based on the litigious nature of our industry and the fact that we may pose a competitive threat to some companies who own or control various patents, we believe it is possible that one or more third-parties may assert a patent infringement claim seeking damages or enjoining us from the manufacture or marketing of one or more of our products. Such a lawsuit may have already been filed against us without our knowledge, or may be filed in the near future. If any future claim of infringement against us was successful, we may be required to pay substantial damages, cease the infringing activity or obtain the requisite licenses or rights to use the technology, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all. Even if we were able to obtain rights to a third-party’s intellectual property rights, these rights may be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors potential access to the same rights and weakening our market position. Moreover, regardless of the outcome, patent litigation could significantly disrupt our business, divert our management’s attention and consume our financial resources. We cannot predict if or when any third-party patent holder will file suit for patent infringement.

 

We may be involved in lawsuits or proceedings to protect or enforce our intellectual property rights or to defend against infringement claims, which could be expensive and time consuming.

 

Litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights, protect our trade secrets or determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. Interference proceedings conducted by a patent and trademark office may be necessary to determine the priority of inventions with respect to our patent applications. Litigation or interference proceedings could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. In addition, in an infringement proceeding, a court may decide that a patent of ours is not valid or is unenforceable or may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our patents do not cover the technology. An adverse determination of any litigation or defense proceedings could put one or more of our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly and could put our patent applications at risk of not issuing. In addition, we may be enjoined from marketing one or more of our products if a court finds that such products infringe the intellectual property rights of a third-party.

 

23
 

 

During litigation, we may not be able to prevent the confidentiality of certain of our proprietary rights because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation. In addition, during the course of litigation, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments. If investors or customers perceive these results to be negative, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our insurance liability coverage is limited and may not be adequate to cover potential losses.

 

In the ordinary course of business, we purchase insurance coverage (e.g., liability coverage) to protect us against claims made by third parties and employees for property damage or personal injuries. However, the protection provided by such insurance is limited in significant respects and, in some instances, we have no coverage and certain of our insurance policies have substantial “deductibles” or have limits on the maximum amounts that may be recovered. Insurers have also introduced new exclusions or limitations of coverage for claims related to certain perils including, but not limited to, mold and terrorism. If a series of losses occurred, such as from a series of lawsuits in the ordinary course of business each of which were subject to the deductible amount, or if the maximum limit of the available insurance was substantially exceeded, we could incur losses in amounts that would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. We do not presently have any product liability insurance that would provide coverage for any allegation of product defects or related claims. We will review our ability to obtain such insurance coverage later, but there cannot be any assurance that such insurance coverage will be available on acceptable terms.

 

Our operating results may fluctuate, which may result in volatility of our share price.

 

Our operating results, including components of operating results, can be expected to fluctuate from time to time in the future. Some of the factors that may cause these fluctuations include:

 

  the impact of acquisitions;
     
  market acceptance of our existing products, as well as products in development;
     
  the timing of regulatory approvals;
     
  our ability or the ability of third-party distributers to sell, market, and distribute our products;
     
  our ability or the ability of our contract manufacturers to manufacture our products efficiently; and
     
  the timing of our research and development expenditures.

 

If we are unable to manage our expected growth, our future revenue and operating results may be adversely affected.

 

Our anticipated growth is expected to place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources. Our current and planned personnel, systems, procedures and controls may not be adequate to support our anticipated growth. To manage our growth we will be required to improve existing, and implement new, operational and financial systems, procedures and controls and expand, train and manage our growing employee base. We expect that we may need to increase our management personnel to oversee our expanding operations. Recruiting and retaining qualified individuals can be difficult. If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, or are unsuccessful in recruiting qualified management personnel, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.

 

We are highly dependent on our senior management, and if we are not able to retain them or to recruit and retain additional qualified personnel, our business will suffer.

 

We are highly dependent upon our senior management, including David G. Watumull, our President and Chief Executive Officer, Gilbert M. Rishton, Ph.D., our Chief Science Officer, Timothy J. King, our Vice President, Research, John B. Russell, our Chief Financial Officer, David M. Watumull, our Vice President, Operations, and Nicholas Mitsakos, our Executive Chairman. The loss of services of David G. Watumull or any other member of our senior management could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. We carry a $1 million “key person” life insurance policy on David G. Watumull but do not carry similar insurance for any of our other senior executives.

 

We may choose to increase our management personnel. For example, we will need to obtain certain additional functional capability, including regulatory, sales, quality assurance and control, either by hiring additional personnel or by outsourcing these functions to qualified third-parties. We may not be able to engage these third-parties on terms favorable to us. Also, we may not be able to attract and retain qualified personnel on acceptable terms given the competition for such personnel among companies that operate in our markets. The trend in the pharmaceutical industry of requiring sales and other personnel to enter into non-competition agreements prior to starting employment exacerbates this problem, since personnel who have made such a commitment to their current employers are more difficult to recruit. If we fail to identify, attract, retain and motivate these highly skilled personnel, or if we lose current employees, our business, prospects, financial conditions and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

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A single stockholder controls us.

 

Holdings owns approximately 52.9% of our issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock or approximately 27.3% of our issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock determined on a fully diluted basis. Holdings has the voting ability to influence the membership of our Board of Directors and the outcome of other decisions requiring stockholder approval. This level of ownership may delay, deter or prevent the change of control of us, even if such change of control would be beneficial to the other holders of our securities. In addition, pursuant to the terms of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of November 27, 2013 by and among Holdings, Pharma, Cardax Sub, and us, as amended, we agreed not to sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of the Pharma stock or Pharma property and assets, including Pharma’s goodwill and its corporate franchises for a period that is the earlier of two years or until Holdings owns less than 10% of our common stock, determined on a fully diluted basis. Our agreement with Holdings does not prohibit or restrict (i) the sale of stock in Pharma, (ii) any pledge or other grant of a security interest in, or other financing of Pharma or its assets, including any foreclosure of such security interest or (iii) any right of us to issue any amount or class of stock or effect a sale or change in control of us.

 

Our ability to grow and compete in the future will be adversely affected if adequate capital is not available to us or not available on terms favorable to us.

 

The ability of our business to grow and compete depends on the availability of adequate capital, which in turn depends in large part on our cash flow from operations and the availability of equity and debt financing. We cannot assure you that our cash flow from operations will be sufficient or that we will be able to obtain equity or debt financing on acceptable terms or at all to implement our growth strategy. As a result, we cannot assure you that adequate capital will be available to finance our current growth plans, take advantage of business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures, any of which could harm our business. Additionally, if adequate additional financing is not available on acceptable terms, we may not be able to continue our business operations. Any additional capital, investment or financing of our business may result in dilution of our stockholders or be on terms and conditions that impair our ability to profitably conduct our business.

 

You may have limited access to information regarding our Company because we are a limited reporting company exempt from many regulatory requirements.

 

As a filer subject to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company is not required to prepare proxy or information statements; our Common Stock is not subject to the protection of the going private regulations; the Company is subject to only limited portions of the tender offer rules; our officers, directors, and more than ten (10%) percent stockholders are not required to file beneficial ownership reports about their holdings in our Company; such persons are not subject to the short-swing profit recovery provisions of the Exchange Act; and stockholders of more than five percent (5%) are not required to report information about their ownership positions in the securities. As a result, investors will have reduced visibility as to the Company and its financial condition.

 

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock

 

Our Common Stock has a limited trading market, which could affect your ability to sell shares of our Common Stock and the price you may receive for our Common Stock.

 

Our Common Stock is currently traded in the over-the-counter market and “bid” and “asked” quotations regularly appear on the OTC Bulletin Board and the OTCQB maintained by OTC Markets, Inc. under the symbol “CDXI”. There is only limited trading activity in our securities. We have a relatively small public float compared to the number of our shares outstanding. Accordingly, we cannot predict the extent to which investors’ interest in our Common Stock will provide an active and liquid trading market, which could depress the trading price of our Common Stock and could have a long-term adverse impact on our ability to raise capital in the future. Due to our limited public float, we may be vulnerable to investors taking a “short position” in our Common Stock, which would likely have a depressing effect on the price of our Common Stock and add increased volatility to our trading market. The volatility of the market for our Common Stock could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. There cannot be any guarantee that an active trading market for our securities will develop or, if such a market does develop, will be sustained. Accordingly, investors must be able to bear the financial risk of losing their entire investment in our Common Stock.

 

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We may voluntarily file for deregistration of our Common Stock with the Commission.

 

Compliance with the periodic reporting requirements required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” or “SEC”) consumes a considerable amount of both internal, as well external, resources and represents a significant cost for us. Our senior management team has relatively limited experience managing a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Our management will be required to design and implement appropriate programs and policies in responding to increased legal, regulatory compliance and reporting requirements, and any failure to do so could lead to the imposition of fines and penalties and harm our business. In addition, if we are unable to continue to devote adequate funding and the resources needed to maintain such compliance, while continuing our operations, we may be in non-compliance with applicable SEC rules or the securities laws, and be delisted from the OTC Bulletin Board or other market we may be listed on, which would result in a decrease in or absence of liquidity in our Common Stock, and potentially subject us and our officers and directors to civil, criminal and/or administrative proceedings and cause us to voluntarily file for deregistration of our Common Stock with the Commission.

 

Future sales of our Common Stock in the public market could lower the price of our Common Stock and impair our ability to raise funds in future securities offerings.

 

We intend to raise additional capital through the sale of our securities. Future sales of a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the then prevailing market price of our Common Stock and could make it more difficult for us to raise funds in the future through the sale of our securities.

 

We may issue shares of preferred stock that subordinate your rights and dilute your equity interests.

 

We believe that for us to successfully execute our business strategy we will need to raise investment capital and it may be preferable or necessary to issue preferred stock to investors. Preferred stock may grant the holders certain preferential rights in voting, dividends, liquidation or other rights in preference over a company’s Common Stock.

 

The issuance by us of preferred stock could dilute both the equity interests and the earnings per share of existing holders of our Common Stock. Such dilution may be substantial, depending upon the number of shares issued. The newly authorized shares of preferred stock could also have voting rights superior to our Common Stock, and in such event, would have a dilutive effect on the voting power of our existing stockholders.

 

Any issuance of preferred stock with voting rights could, under certain circumstances, have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of us by increasing the number of outstanding shares entitled to vote and by increasing the number of votes required to approve a change in control of us. Shares of voting or convertible preferred stock could be issued, or rights to purchase such shares could be issued, to render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or otherwise. Such issuances could therefore deprive our stockholders of benefits that could result from such an attempt, such as the realization of a premium over the market price that such an attempt could cause. Moreover, the issuance of such shares of preferred stock to persons friendly to our Board of Directors could make it more difficult to remove incumbent managers and directors from office even if such change were to be favorable to stockholders generally.

 

The market price of our Common Stock may be volatile and may be affected by market conditions beyond our control.

 

The market for our Common Shares is characterized by significant price volatility when compared to seasoned issuers, and we expect that our share price will continue to be more volatile than a seasoned issuer for the indefinite future. The volatility in our share price is attributable to a number of factors. First, our shares of Common Stock are sporadically and thinly traded. As a consequence of this lack of liquidity, the trading of relatively small quantities of shares by our stockholders may disproportionately influence the price of those shares in either direction. The price for our shares could, for example, decline precipitously in the event that a large number of shares of our Common Stock are sold on the market without commensurate demand, as compared to a seasoned issuer which could better absorb those sales without adverse impact on its share price. Second, we are a speculative or “risky” investment due to our limited operating history and lack of profits to date, and uncertainty of future market acceptance for our potential products. As a consequence of this enhanced risk, more risk-averse investors may, under the fear of losing all or most of their investment in the event of negative news or lack of progress, be more inclined to sell their shares on the market more quickly and at greater discounts than would be the case with the stock of a seasoned issuer. Many of these factors are beyond our control and may decrease the market price of our Common Stock, regardless of our operating performance. We cannot make any predictions or projections as to what the prevailing market price for our Common Stock will be at any time, including as to whether our Common Stock will sustain its current market price, or as to what effect the sale of shares or the availability of Common Stock for sale at any time will have on the prevailing market price.

 

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The market price of our Common Stock is subject to significant fluctuations in response to, among other factors:

 

  changes in our financial performance or a change in financial estimates or recommendations by securities analysts;
     
  announcements of innovations or new products or services by us or our competitors;
     
  the emergence of new competitors or success of our existing competitors;
     
  operating and market price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable;
     
  changes in our Board of Directors or management;
     
  sales or purchases of our Common Stock by insiders;
     
  commencement of, or involvement in, litigation;
     
  changes in governmental regulations; and
     
  general economic conditions and slow or negative growth of related markets.

 

In addition, if the market for stock in our industry, or the stock market in general, experiences a loss of investor confidence, the market price of our Common Stock could decline for reasons unrelated to our business, financial condition or results of operations. If any of the foregoing occurs, it could cause the price of our Common Stock to fall and may expose us to lawsuits that, even if unsuccessful, could be costly to defend and distract our Board of Directors and management.

 

We do not have a majority of independent directors, which limits our ability to establish effective independent corporate governance procedures and increases the control of management.

 

We currently have three directors, only one of whom is independent; accordingly, we cannot establish board committees with independent members to oversee certain functions such as compensation or audit issues. Until a majority of our Board of Directors is composed of independent members, if ever, there will be limited independent oversight of our management’s decisions and activities.

 

We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future, and you must rely on increases in the market prices of our Common Stock for returns on your investment.

 

For the foreseeable future, we intend to retain any earnings to finance the development and expansion of our business, and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our Common Stock. Accordingly, investors must be prepared to rely on sales of their Common Stock after price appreciation to earn an investment return, which may never occur. Investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our Common Stock. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our Board of Directors deems relevant.

 

We are subject to penny stock regulations and restrictions and you may have difficulty selling shares of our Common Stock.

 

The Commission has adopted regulations which generally define so-called “penny stocks” as an equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exemptions. Our Common Stock is a “penny stock”, and we are subject to Rule 15g-9 under the Exchange Act, or the Penny Stock Rule. This rule imposes additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers that sell such securities to persons other than established customers and “accredited investors” (generally, individuals with a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000, or $300,000 together with their spouses). For transactions covered by Rule 15g-9, a broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to sale. As a result, this rule affects the ability of broker-dealers to sell our securities and affects the ability of purchasers to sell any of our securities in the secondary market.

 

For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require delivery, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, of a disclosure schedule prepared by the Commission relating to the penny stock market. Disclosure is also required to be made about sales commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative and current quotations for the securities. Finally, monthly statements are required to be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stock.

 

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There can be no assurance that our shares of Common Stock will qualify for exemption from the Penny Stock Rule. In any event, even if our Common Stock were exempt from the Penny Stock Rule, we would remain subject to Section 15(b)(6) of the Exchange Act, which gives the Commission the authority to restrict any person from participating in a distribution of penny stock if the Commission finds that such a restriction would be in the public interest.

 

In addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has adopted similar rules that may also limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our Common Stock. FINRA rules require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for such customer. Prior to recommending speculative low priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. The FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our Common Stock, which may limit your ability to buy and sell our stock and have an adverse effect on the market for our shares.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

None.

 

Item 2. Properties.

 

We maintain a facility of approximately 738 square feet at 2800 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii, which is leased on a month-to-month basis. We also maintain a laboratory located in a leased facility of approximately 1,094 square feet at 99-193 Aiea Heights Drive, Aiea, Hawaii. The term of this lease commenced on June 1, 2006 and expires on October 31, 2014. We believe that our facilities are adequate for our current purposes.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

 

From time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm our business. We are currently not aware of any such legal proceedings or claims that we believe will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

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Part II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Securities.

 

Market Information

 

Our shares of Common Stock are quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol CDXI. Prior to February 21, 2014, shares of our Common Stock were quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol KOFF, commencing on August 30, 2012. There were no trades recorded for the quarters ended September 30, 2012, December 31, 2012, September 30, 2013 or December 31, 2013. The high and low bid quotations for our shares of Common Stock for each full quarterly period within the two most recent fiscal years are:

 

 

Quarter Ended   High     Low  
             
September 30, 2012   $ 0.15     $ 0.15  
December 31, 2012   $ 0.15     $ 0.15  
                 
March 31, 2013   $ 0.15     $ 0.15  
June 30, 2013   $ 0.70     $ 0.15  
September 30, 2013   $ 0.70     $ 0.70  
December 31, 2013   $ 0.70     $ 0.70  

 

Such quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and do not necessarily represent actual transactions.

 

Holders

 

As of March 17, 2014 there were approximately 170 stockholders of record of our Common Stock. The number of stockholders does not include beneficial owners holding shares through nominee names.

 

Dividends

 

We have never paid any cash dividends and intend, for the foreseeable future, to retain any future earnings for the development of our business. Our future dividend policy will be determined by our Board of Directors on the basis of various factors, including our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements and investment opportunities.

 

Penny Stock Regulations

 

The Commission has adopted regulations which generally define so-called “penny stocks” as an equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exemptions. Our Common Stock is a “penny stock”, and we are subject to Rule 15g-9 under the Exchange Act, or the Penny Stock Rule. This rule imposes additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers that sell such securities to persons other than established customers and “accredited investors” (generally, individuals with a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000, or $300,000 together with their spouses). For transactions covered by Rule 15g-9, a broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to sale. As a result, this rule affects the ability of broker-dealers to sell our securities and affects the ability of purchasers to sell any of our securities in the secondary market.

 

For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require delivery, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, of a disclosure schedule prepared by the Commission relating to the penny stock market. Disclosure is also required to be made about sales commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative and current quotations for the securities. Finally, monthly statements are required to be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stock.

 

There can be no assurance that our shares of Common Stock will qualify for exemption from the Penny Stock Rule. In any event, even if our Common Stock were exempt from the Penny Stock Rule, we would remain subject to Section 15(b)(6) of the Exchange Act, which gives the Commission the authority to restrict any person from participating in a distribution of penny stock if the Commission finds that such a restriction would be in the public interest.

 

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In addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, the FINRA has adopted similar rules that may also limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our Common Stock. FINRA rules require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for such customer. Prior to recommending speculative low priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. The FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our Common Stock, which may limit the ability of our stockholders to sell their shares and have an adverse effect on the market for our shares.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

 

We adopted, and our stockholders approved, the Cardax, Inc. 2014 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2014 Plan”), effective as of February 7, 2014. Under such plan, we may grant equity based incentive awards, including options, restricted stock, and other stock-based awards, to any directors, employees, advisers, and consultants that provide services to us or any of our subsidiaries on terms and conditions that are from time to time determined by us. An aggregate of 30,420,148 shares of our Common Stock are reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan, and options for the purchase of 27,756,821 shares of our Common Stock have been granted and are outstanding as of March 17, 2014. The purpose of the 2014 Plan is to provide financial incentives for selected directors, employees, advisers, and consultants of Cardax and/or its subsidiaries, thereby promoting the long-term growth and financial success of the Company.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table summarizes information as of March 17, 2014 about our outstanding stock options and shares of Common Stock reserved for future issuance under our existing equity compensation plans.

 

Plan category   Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
    Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
    Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under
equity compensation plans
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders     27,756,821     $ 0.51       2,663,327  
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders     -       -       -  
Total     27,756,821     $ 0.51       2,663,327  

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

The information required by Item 701 of Regulation S-K has previously been provided in a Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on February 10, 2014.

 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 

During each month within the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, neither we nor any “affiliated purchaser,” as that term is defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act, repurchased any of our Common Stock or other securities.

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

 

We are a “smaller reporting company,” and, accordingly, we are not required to provide the information required by this Item.

 

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

The financial data discussed below is derived from our audited financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for the period from inception (March 23, 2006) to December 31, 2013, which are found elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The financial data discussed below is only a summary and investors should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of our operations in conjunction with our financial statements and the related notes to those statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements reflecting our current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Corporate Overview and History

 

We acquired Pharma and its life science business through the merger of Cardax Sub, our wholly-owned transitory subsidiary, with and into Pharma on February 7, 2014 (the “Merger”), and a stock purchase agreement. As a result of these transactions, Pharma became our wholly-owned subsidiary. The only consideration that we paid under the stock purchase agreement and the Merger was shares of our Common Stock. On May 31, 2013, Pharma acquired all of the assets and assumed all of the liabilities of Holdings. Accordingly, we have two predecessors: Pharma and Pharma’s predecessor, Holdings. Prior to the February 7, 2014 effective date of the Merger, we operated under the name “Koffee Korner Inc.” and our business was limited to a single location retailer of specialty coffee located in Houston, Texas. On the effective date of the Merger, we divested our coffee business and now exclusively continue Pharma’s life sciences business. We currently devote substantially all of our efforts to developing nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products that provide the anti-inflammatory benefits of steroids or NSAIDs, but in certain cases, with the safety status of GRAS designation conferred by the FDA at certain doses.

 

We are a development stage company as defined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic No. 915, Development Stage Entities. We are devoting substantially all of our present efforts to establishing our business. Our planned principal operations have not commenced and, accordingly, no revenue has been derived therefrom. We own intellectual property that we are marketing in varying stages worldwide. Our initial revenue generating opportunities are from our strategic alliance, including an exclusive license of our rights related to the development and commercialization of human nutraceutical products containing or utilizing a nature-identical form of astaxanthin, which provides anti-inflammatory benefits with an exceptional safety profile and global manufacturing capability. We also plan to pursue pharmaceutical applications of astaxanthin and related compounds.

 

At present we are not able to estimate if or when we will be able to generate sustained revenues. Our auditors have included in their report on our financial statements a “going concern” explanatory paragraph; that is to say, our financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern. Given our recurring losses from operations, there is substantial doubt of our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

Results of Operations

 

Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for the Period from Inception to December 31, 2013:

 

The following table reflects our operating results for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for the period from inception to December 31, 2013:

 

Operating Summary   Year ended
December 31, 2013
    Year ended
December 31, 2012
    Change     Inception to
December 31, 2013
 
Revenues   $ -     $ 10,000     $ (10,000 )   $ 92,903  
Operating Expenses     (3,591,745 )     (1,805,283 )     (1,786,462 )     (31,996,085 )
Net Operating Loss     (3,591,745 )     (1,795,283 )     (1,796,462 )     (31,903,182 )
Other Income (Expenses)     (769,420 )     (748,107 )     (21,313 )     (994,475 )
Net Loss   $ (4,361,165 )   $ (2,543,390 )   $ (1,817,775 )   $ (32,897,657 )

 

Operating Summary

 

We are a development stage company with limited operations and had revenues of $0, $10,000, and $92,903 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for the period from inception to December 31, 2013, respectively. Revenues primarily consisted of sales of assay kits for diagnostic research purposes unrelated to our primary life science business.

 

Operating expenses were $3,591,745, $1,805,283, and $31,996,085 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the period from inception through December 31, 2013, respectively. Operating expenses primarily consisted of services provided to the Company, including payroll and consultation, for research and development, and administration. These expenses were paid in accordance with agreements entered into with each consultant, employee, or service provider. Included in general and administrative expenses were $9,877, $23,645, and $1,599,467 in share based compensation for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for the period from inception to December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

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Other expenses, net, were $769,420, $748,107, and $994,475 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for the period from inception to December 31, 2013, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2013, other expenses primarily consisted of interest expense on notes payable. For the year ended December 31, 2013, interest expense was $741,916. For the period from inception to December 31, 2013, interest expense of $4,309,379 was primarily offset by research grant income of $1,179,646, gain on extinguishment of lease penalties and interest of $786,945, and federal and state tax credits of $1,506,596. Included in interest expense were $60,581, $363,858, and $1,648,452 in amortization of notes payable discounts for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for the period from inception to December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

Assets and Liabilities

 

Assets were $1,768,482 and $1,481,774 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. At December 31, 2013, cash totaled $222,410. Negative working capital of $13,376,910 as of December 31, 2013, was primarily due to various debt, net of repayments and discount, financing transactions in which we received aggregate gross proceeds of $5,550,403 through the issuance of convertible debt, accrued payroll and paid time off of $3,774,580, and accrued Board of Director fees and related consultation of $468,546. The accrual of payroll and Board of Director fees and related consultation, which occurred from January 2008 to December 2013, was due to significant capital constraints, and was selected in favor of layoffs or furloughs in order to maximize employee and director retention. As of June 2013, the Company initiated repayment on these accrued amounts, utilizing approximately 10% of proceeds from a financing and plans to continue a structured repayment of the outstanding amounts over time as financing permits.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Since our inception, we have sustained operating losses and have used cash raised by issuing securities in our operations. During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the period from inception to December 31, 2013, we used cash in operating activities of $4,127,761, $1,159,237, and $23,516,610, respectively, and incurred a net loss of $4,361,165, $2,543,390, and $32,897,657, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2013, our predecessor reported net operating losses of approximately $21,123,140 on its U.S. federal income tax return. If Holdings is acquired by or merged with and into us, then the net operating losses may be available to offset our future taxable income to the extent permitted under the Internal Revenue Code.

 

We require additional financing in order to continue to fund our operations, and pay existing and future liabilities and other obligations. It is estimated that our limited available cash resources as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, would be sufficient to continue operations only through December 31, 2014. We cannot give any assurance that we will in the future be able to achieve a level of profitability from the sale of our products or otherwise to sustain our operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on recoverability and reclassification of assets or for the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

Any inability to so obtain additional financing on acceptable terms will materially and adversely affect us, including requiring us to significantly further curtail or cease business operations altogether.

 

Our working capital and capital requirements at any given time depend upon numerous factors, including, but not limited to:

 

  the progress of research and development programs;
     
  the level of resources that we devote to the development of our technologies, patents, marketing and sales capabilities; and
     
  revenues from the sale of any products or license revenues and the cost of any production or other operating expenses.

 

We have funded our research and development primarily by issuing convertible debt securities in several separate private placements of securities.

 

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During Holdings’ year ending December 31, 2013, it received total proceeds from the sale of promissory notes of $559,611, which was comprised of aggregate gross proceeds of $709,611 less $150,000 aggregate repayment of such proceeds in the same period. On May 31, 2013, the outstanding principal amount of these notes, together with the outstanding principal amount of notes sold in prior years, plus all accrued interest thereon owed to each investor were exchanged for senior secured convertible promissory notes issued by Pharma in the aggregate principal amount of $3,648,244.

 

During Pharma’s year ending December 31, 2013, it received total proceeds from the sale of senior secured convertible promissory notes of $4,840,792.

 

During Pharma’s 2014 quarter-to-date, it received total proceeds from the sale of convertible unsecured promissory notes of $2,076,000.

 

Upon the consummation of the Merger, the outstanding principal amount of the senior secured convertible promissory notes issued by Pharma, consisting of (a) the aggregate principal amount of approximately $3,648,244 for notes exchanged with Holdings on May 31, 2013, and (b) the aggregate principal amount of $4,840,792 for notes issued by Pharma during the year ending December 31, 2013, together in the aggregate principal amount of $8,489,036, plus all accrued interest thereon, was automatically converted into an aggregate number of 14,446,777 shares of our Common Stock and warrants, issued by Cardax, to purchase an aggregate of 14,446,777 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price equal to $0.625 that expire on February 7, 2019.

 

Upon the consummation of the Merger, the outstanding principal amount of the convertible unsecured promissory notes issued by Pharma, consisting of the aggregate principal amount of $2,076,000 plus all accrued interest thereon, was automatically converted into an aggregate number of 3,353,437 shares of our Common Stock and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 3,321,600 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price equal to $0.625 that expire on February 7, 2019.

 

In addition, upon the consummation of the Merger, we issued and sold an aggregate of 6,276,960 shares of our Common Stock and warrants, that expire on February 7, 2019, to purchase an aggregate of 6,276,960 shares of our Common Stock at a price per share equal to $0.625, for aggregate gross cash proceeds of $3,923,100.

 

We will incur ongoing recurring expenses associated with professional fees for accounting, legal, and other expenses for annual reports, quarterly reports, proxy statements and other filings under the Exchange Act. We estimate that these costs will likely be in excess of $250,000 per year for the next few years. These obligations will reduce our ability and resources to fund other aspects of our business. We hope to be able to use our status as a public company to increase our ability to use non-cash means of settling obligations and compensate certain independent contractors who provide professional services to us, although there can be no assurances that we will be successful in any of those efforts.

 

The following is a summary of our cash flows provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities during the periods indicated:

 

Cash Flow Summary   Year ended
Dec. 31, 2013
    Year ended
Dec. 31, 2012
    Inception to
Dec. 31, 2013
 
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities   $ (4,127,761 )   $ (1,159,237 )   $ (23,516,610 )
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities     (59,955 )     (31,141 )     (1,267,371 )
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities     4,402,327       1,130,050       25,006,391  
Net Cash Increase (Decrease) for Period     214,611       (60,328 )     222,410  
Cash at Beginning of Period     7,799       68,127          
Cash at End of Period   $ 222,410     $ 7,799     $ 222,410  

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, our operating activities primarily consisted of payments to, or accruals for payments to, employees, directors, and consultants, for services related to research and development and administration. During the period from inception to December 31, 2013, our operating activities primarily consisted of payments to, or accruals for payments to, employees, directors, consultants, contract research organizations, contract manufacturing organizations, academic institutions, professional service providers, and landlords, for services and property leases related to research and development and administration.

 

33
 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the period from inception to December 31, 2013, our investing activities were primarily related to fixed asset additions and capitalization of patent costs.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the period from inception to December 31, 2013, our financing activities consisted of various transactions in which we raised proceeds through the issuance of debt, preferred stock, and common stock. The increase in our financing activities was primarily attributable to our requirement to obtain significant amounts of capital to support our operations prior to the commencement of a revenue stream or other liquidity events. Because of the nature of our business, capital is required to support research and development costs, as well as, our normal operating costs.

 

Our existing liquidity is not sufficient to fund our operations, anticipated capital expenditures, working capital and other financing requirements for the foreseeable future. We will need to seek to obtain additional debt or equity financing, especially if we experience downturns or cyclical fluctuations in our business that are more severe or longer than anticipated, or if we experience significant increases in the cost of components and manufacturing, or increases in our expense levels resulting from being a publicly-traded company. If we attempt to obtain additional debt or equity financing, we cannot assure you that such financing will be available to us on favorable terms, or at all.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurements, which amends the fair value measurement guidance and includes some enhanced disclosure requirements. The most significant change in disclosures is an expansion of the information required for Level 3 measurements based on unobservable inputs. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In September 2011, the FASB ASU No. 2011-08, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other Testing Goodwill for Impairment, issued amendments to its accounting guidance on testing goodwill for impairment. The amendments allow entities to use a qualitative approach to test goodwill for impairment. This permits an entity to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If it is concluded that this is the case, it is required to perform the currently prescribed two-step goodwill impairment test. Otherwise, the two-step goodwill impairment test is not required. This guidance is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment test performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 and early adoption is permitted. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of year 2012 and the implementation thereof did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, to require reporting of the impact of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss on the line items on the statement of operations, if a reclassification is required in its entirety in one reporting period. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of the ASU did not have a significant impact on our financial statements.

 

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists, to specify when an unrecognized tax benefit should be presented as a liability versus an offset against a deferred tax asset. The ASU is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2013. We are currently assessing the impact of this ASU on our financial statements.

 

Our management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective accounting pronouncements, if adopted, would have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements filed with this annual report.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

There are no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

34
 

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

We are a “smaller reporting company,” and, accordingly, we are not required to provide the information required by this Item.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

The consolidated financial statements required by this Item, together with the report of our independent public accounting firm, KBL, LLP, begin on page F-1, immediately following the signatures to this annual report. Please refer to Item 15 of this report for an index of the consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.

 

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 15d-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that (a) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (b) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of the our management and directors; and (c) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2013.

 

In light of the material weaknesses described below, additional analyses and other procedures were performed to ensure that the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). These measures included expanded quarter-end closing procedures, the dedication of significant internal resources to scrutinize account analyses and reconciliations, and management’s own internal reviews and efforts to remediate the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting described below.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Except as described below, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

In-Process Remediation Actions to Address the Internal Controls Weaknesses

 

Management identified the following material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013:

 

1. Lack of a functioning audit committee. The Company lacks a majority of independent members and lacks a majority of outside directors on our board of directors, resulting in ineffective oversight in the establishment and monitoring of required internal controls and procedures.

 

 

35
 

 

2. Segregation of Duties. The Company has inadequate segregation of duties consistent with control objectives of having segregation of the initiation of transactions, the recording of transactions and the custody of assets.

 

3. Control activities relating to period end reporting. The Company has ineffective controls over period end financial disclosure and reporting processes.

 

In an effort to remediate the identified material weaknesses and other deficiencies and enhance our internal controls, we have initiated, or plan to initiate, the following series of measures:

 

We will increase our personnel resources and technical accounting expertise within the accounting function when funds are available to us. First, we will create a position to segregate duties consistent with control objectives of having separate individuals perform (i) the initiation of transactions, (ii) the recording of transactions and (iii) the custody of assets. Second, we will create a senior position to focus on financial reporting and standardizing and documenting our accounting procedures with the goal of increasing the effectiveness of the internal controls in preventing and detecting misstatements of accounting information. Third, we plan to appoint one or more outside directors to our board of directors who shall be appointed to an audit committee resulting in a fully functioning audit committee who will undertake the oversight in the establishment and monitoring of required internal controls and procedures such as reviewing and approving estimates and assumptions made by management when funds are available to us.

 

Management believes that the appointment of one or more outside directors, who shall be appointed to a fully functioning audit committee, will remedy the lack of a functioning audit committee and a lack of a majority of outside directors on our Board.

 

We anticipate that these initiatives will be at least partially, if not fully, implemented within the next twelve months. However, due to our small size and limited resources we could experience additional delays in implementation.

 

Item 9B. Other Information.

 

Not applicable.

 

36
 

 

Part III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

 

Set forth below is a list of the names, ages and positions of our directors and executive officers.

 

Name   Age   Position(s)
Nicholas Mitsakos   54   Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors
David G. Watumull   64   President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Frank C. Herringer   71   Director
John B. Russell   41   Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Richard M. Morris   53   Secretary
David M. Watumull   32   Vice President, Operations, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary

 

Biographies of Directors and Executive Officers

 

Nicholas Mitsakos has served as our Executive Chairman of the Board since February 7, 2014. Mr. Mitsakos has served as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Pharma since its inception in May 2013, as Executive Chairman of the Board Holdings since May 2009, as Chairman of the Board of Holdings from May 2006 to May 2009, and as a Director of Holdings from its inception in March 2006 to May 2006. Mr. Mitsakos has served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arcadia Holdings, Inc. since 1989, focusing on private equity and venture capital investments globally. He has also been a senior advisor to Sardis Capital, a London-based merchant bank since 2003, to Franklin Templeton China in Shanghai since 2001, and previously to Templeton International. Mr. Mitsakos has also served as a director of Meru Networks, Inc. since 2002, Chairman of IMEx Minerals, LLC since 2005, and Co-Chairman of Ubiquity Broadcasting Corporation since 2011. Mr. Mitsakos worked at Goldman Sachs in 1985 and Drexel Burnham Lambert from 1986 to 1989. He holds B.S. degrees in Computer Science and Microbiology from the University of Southern California, where he graduated first in his class, and an MBA from Harvard University. He taught at UCLA’s Anderson School of Business from 1992 to 1998, and is also on the board of UCLA’s Center for Cerebral Palsy within the UCLA Medical School. Mr. Mitsakos is also on the board of the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific and a lecturer at the Harvard Innovation Center at Harvard University.

 

David G. Watumull has served as our Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director since February 7, 2014. Mr. Watumull has served as the Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director of Pharma since its inception in May 2013 and as the Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director of Holdings since its inception in March 2006. Mr. Watumull is a co-founder of Holdings and has over 20 years of experience as a biotechnology industry executive. From 2001 to 2006, Mr. Watumull served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Hawaii Biotech, Inc. Mr. Watumull was Executive Vice President of Aquasearch, Inc., a public astaxanthin nutraceutical company, from 1998 to 2000. From 1997 to 1998 he headed his own biotech research firm, Watumull & Co. From 1994 to 1997 he was a biotech research analyst, money manager, and investment banker at First Honolulu Securities. From 1992 to 1994 he led his own money management firm, Biovest, Inc. Prior to that, from 1982 to 1992, Mr. Watumull worked at Paine Webber in various capacities, including as a biotech money manager and investment executive.

 

Frank C. Herringer has served as a Director since February 7, 2014. Mr. Herringer has served as a Director of Pharma since its inception in May 2013 and as a Director of Holdings since its inception in March 2006. Mr. Herringer has served as Chairman of the Board of Transamerica Corporation, a financial services company, since 1996. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Transamerica from 1991 to 1999 and President from 1986 to 1999, when Transamerica was acquired by Aegon N.V. From the date of the acquisition until 2000, Mr. Herringer served on the Executive Board of Aegon N.V. and as Chairman of the Board of Aegon USA, Inc. Mr. Herringer is also a Director of Aegon U.S. Corporation, the holding company of Aegon N.V.’s operations in the United States, Amgen Inc., a biotechnology company, Safeway, Inc., a food and drug retailer, and The Charles Schwab Corporation, a financial services company. Mr. Herringer holds an A.B. from Dartmouth College and an MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College, where he graduated first in his class.

 

37
 

 

John B. Russell, CPA, has served as our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since February 7, 2014. Mr. Russell has also served as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Pharma and Holdings since July 2013. Mr. Russell is the founder of JBR Business Solutions, LLC and has served as its President since 2010. Mr. Russell has 19 years of accounting, finance, operations, and SEC reporting experience in biopharmaceutical and high-tech industries. From 2010 to the present, he has served as Chief Financial Officer for various privately-held start-up companies. Mr. Russell was in charge of the Business Advisory Services for the Grant Thornton Honolulu office from 2006 to 2010. From 2005 to 2006, Mr. Russell worked at a consulting company as the Operations Consulting - Financial Management lead, advising Cisco Systems, Inc. Mr. Russell was the General Accounting Manager of the publicly traded company Scios Inc. from 2003 to 2005, where he was in charge of SEC reporting and internal controls. Mr. Russell was the Controller for several portfolio companies in the venture capital firm, Raza Foundries, Inc., from 2001 to 2002, and the General Accounting Manager for inSilicon Corporation, a public company, from 2000 to 2001. Previous to that, Mr. Russell was an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP from 1995 to 2000. Mr. Russell is a licensed CPA in Hawaii and has a B.A. in Economics/Accounting from Claremont McKenna College.

 

Richard M. Morris has served as our Secretary since February 7, 2014. Mr. Morris has served as Assistant Secretary of Pharma since May 2013 and Assistant Secretary of Holdings since July 2013. Mr. Morris is a Partner at Herrick, Feinstein LLP, our legal counsel (“Herrick”). As a partner of Herrick, Mr. Morris represents a variety of clients, primarily in corporate matters. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mr. Morris was an auditor with the Commodities Exchange in New York and later focused on operations and financial management at Kidder Peabody. He also was the U.S. Audit Manager for the financial division for a diversified Australian company. Mr. Morris has a B.S. in Accounting from New York University (1982) and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law (1990), with bar admissions in New York and Connecticut.

 

David M. Watumull has served as our Vice President, Operations, Assistant Treasurer, and Assistant Secretary since February 7, 2014. Mr. Watumull has served as Vice President, Operations of Pharma since its inception in May 2013, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of Pharma since July 2013, and Secretary and Treasurer of Pharma from its inception in May 2013 to July 2013. Mr. Watumull has served as Vice President, Operations, Assistant Treasurer, and Assistant Secretary of Holdings since July 2013, and previously as Director, Operations and Finance from 2009 to 2013, Operations Manager from 2008 to 2009, and Program Manager from its inception in 2006 to 2009. Mr. Watumull heads day-to-day company operations related to accounting, banking, budgeting, leasing, insurance, debt/equity transactions and due diligence, capitalization structure, reporting, corporate governance, contracting and related legal matters, intellectual property, human resources, front office, facilities and equipment, and information technology. Mr. Watumull also manages the relationships, timelines, and budgets of development partners, contractors, and regulatory consultants associated with the production and testing of Cardax products. Mr. Watumull was previously Program Manager at Hawaii Biotech, Inc. from 2005 to 2006, Project Coordinator from 2004 to 2005, and Information Technology Associate / Manager from 2002 to 2004. Mr. Watumull also worked at Aquasearch, Inc. from 2000 to 2001 in various capacities including Medical Information Specialist and Information Technology Associate. Mr. Watumull graduated first in his high school class and studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Hawaii.

 

Executive officers are appointed by our Board of Directors. Each executive officer holds his or her office until he or she resigns, is removed by our Board of Directors or his or her successor is elected and qualified. Directors are elected annually by our stockholders at the annual meeting. Each director holds his or her office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or his or her earlier resignation or removal.

 

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors since our last annual report.

 

Family Relationships

 

David G. Watumull is the father of David M. Watumull. There are no other family relationships among any of our officers or directors.

 

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

To the best of our knowledge, none of our directors or executive officers has been convicted in a criminal proceeding, excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors, or has been a party to any judicial or administrative proceeding during the past ten years that resulted in a judgment, decree, or final order enjoining the person from future violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities laws, or a finding of any violation of federal or state securities laws, except for matters that were dismissed without sanction or settlement. Except as set forth in our discussion below in “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence – Transactions with Related Persons,” none of our directors, director nominees, or executive officers has been involved in any transactions with us or any of our directors, executive officers, affiliates, or associates which are required to be disclosed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission.

 

38
 

 

Code of Ethics

 

Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, effective as of February 7, 2014 (the “Code of Ethics”), contains the ethical principles by which our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, among others, are expected to conduct themselves when carrying out their duties and responsibilities. A copy of our Code of Ethics may be found on our website at www.cardaxpharma.com. We will provide a copy of our Code of Ethics to any person, without charge, upon request, by writing to David G. Watumull, Cardax, Inc., 2800 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 129, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822.

 

Board Committees

 

We are not required under the Securities and Exchange Act to maintain any committees of our Board of Directors. We have formed certain committees of our board as a matter of preferred corporate practices.

 

We have an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee, each of which has the composition and responsibilities described below.

 

Audit Committee. Our audit committee oversees a broad range of issues surrounding our accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of our financial statements, including the following:

 

  monitors the integrity of our financial statements, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, our independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence, and the performance of our internal audit function and independent registered public accounting firm;
     
  assumes direct responsibility for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of any independent registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of performing any audit, review or attest services and for dealing directly with any such accounting firm;
     
  provides a medium for consideration of matters relating to any audit issues; and
     
  prepares the audit committee report that the rules require be included in our filings with the SEC.

 

The members of our audit committee are Nicholas Mitsakos, Frank C. Herringer and David G. Watumull. At this time, we do not have an audit committee financial expert serving on our audit committee because we believe the cost related to retaining a financial expert at this time is cost prohibitive. Our audit committee has a written charter available on our website at www.cardaxpharma.com.

 

Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee reviews and recommends policy relating to compensation and benefits of our officers, directors and employees, including reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and other senior officers, evaluating the performance of these persons in light of those goals and objectives and setting compensation of these persons based on such evaluations. The compensation committee reviews and evaluates, at least annually, the performance of the compensation committee and its members, including compliance of the compensation committee with its charter.

 

The members of our compensation committee are Nicholas Mitsakos and Frank C. Herringer. Our compensation committee has a written charter available on our website at www.cardaxpharma.com.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The nominating and corporate governance committee oversees and assists our Board of Directors in identifying, reviewing and recommending nominees for election as directors; evaluating our Board of Directors and our management; developing, reviewing and recommending corporate governance guidelines and a corporate code of business conduct and ethics; and generally advises our Board of Directors on corporate governance and related matters.

 

The members of our nominating and corporate governance committee are Nicholas Mitsakos, Frank C. Herringer, and David G. Watumull, and Nicholas Mitsakos serves as its chairman. Our compensation committee has a written charter available on our website at www.cardaxpharma.com.

 

39
 

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

 

The following sets forth information with respect to the compensation awarded or paid to David G. Watumull, our Chief Executive Officer, Nicholas Mitsakos, our Executive Chairman of the Board, and David M. Watumull, our Vice President, Operations, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, for all services rendered in all capacities to the Company and its predecessors during the fiscal years ending December 31, 2012 and 2013. These three executive officers are referred to as the “named executive officers” throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, the following sets forth information with respect to the compensation awarded or paid to our two highest compensated individuals not serving as executive officers, Gilbert M. Rishton, our Chief Science Officer, and Timothy J. King, our Vice President, Research, for all services rendered in all capacities to the Company and its predecessors during the fiscal years ending December 31, 2012 and 2013.

 

Compensation of Executive Officers

 

The following table sets forth information regarding each element of compensation that we paid or awarded to our named executive officers, and our two highest compensated individuals not serving as executive officers, for the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013:

 

Name   Year     Salary Paid or
Accrued(1)
    All
Other Comp.
    Total  
David G. Watumull
Chief Executive Officer
  2012
2013
    $
$
425,000
455,855
(3)     10,446
10,446
(2)
(2)
  $
$
435,446
466,301
 
                               
Nicholas Mitsakos
Executive Chairman
  2012
2013
    $
$
40,000
217,897
(4)
(5)
    -
-
    $
$
40,000
217,897
 
                    -     $    
David M. Watumull   2012     $ 100,000       -     $ 100,000  
Vice President, Operations, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Secretary   2013     $ 143,628 (6)     -     $ 143,628  
                               
Gilbert M. Rishton   2012     $ 40,000  (7)
    -     $ 40,000  
Chief Science Officer   2013     $ 121,527  (8)     -     $ 121,527  
                               
Timothy J. King   2012     $ 130,000       -     $ 130,000  
Vice President, Research   2013     $ 154,588 (9)     -     $ 154,588  

 

  (1) Includes compensation paid and accrued. Please refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations for additional discussion with respect to accrued compensation.
     
  (2) The amount disclosed refers to certain annual insurance premiums paid on behalf of Mr. David G. Watumull in lieu of additional cash compensation.
     
  (3) In June 2013, the annual cash salary of Mr. David G. Watumull increased to $450,000. The amount disclosed for the 2013 fiscal year also includes payment of salary accrued prior to such year and paid in 2013.
     
  (4) The amount disclosed represents compensation accrued for services provided by Mr. Mitsakos as a director for the 2012 fiscal year.
     
  (5) In June 2013, the annual cash compensation of Mr. Mitsakos as the Executive Chairman increased to $240,000. The amount disclosed for the 2013 fiscal year also includes payment of compensation accrued prior to such year and paid in 2013.
     
  (6) In June 2013, the annual cash salary of Mr. David M. Watumull increased to $170,000. The amount disclosed for the 2013 fiscal year also includes payment of salary accrued prior to such year and paid in 2013.
     
  (7) The amount disclosed refers to services provided by Mr. Rishton as Chief Science Officer for the 2012 fiscal year for an annual cash salary of $160,000. Mr. Rishton was employed on a part-time basis during 2012 with a total cash salary of $40,000 paid or accrued for such year.
     
  (8) In June 2013, the annual cash salary of Mr. Rishton increased to $200,000. In July 2013, Mr. Rishton became employed on a full-time basis. The amount disclosed for the 2013 fiscal year also includes payment of salary accrued prior to such year and paid in 2013.
     
  (9) In June 2013, the annual cash salary of Mr. King increased to $170,000. The amount disclosed for the 2013 fiscal year also includes payment of salary accrued prior to such year and paid in 2013.

 

40
 

 

Outstanding Equity Awards to Executive Officers at Fiscal Year-End 2013

 

The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding option awards to our named executive officers as of December 31, 2013:

 

    Option awards(1)(2)
Name   Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised options
exercisable
    Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options
unexercisable
    Equity
incentive
plan awards:
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
unearned
options
    Option
exercise
price
($)
    Option expiration
date
David G. Watumull     3,885,209       -       -     $ 0.07     May 15, 2016
Nicholas Mitsakos     1,321,736 (3)             -     $ 0.07     May 15, 2016
Nicholas Mitsakos     1,000,000 (4)     1,000,000 (4)     -     $ 0.07     May 1, 2019
David M. Watumull     100,000       -       -     $ 0.07     May 15, 2016

 

  (1) The type of securities underlying all outstanding option awards was common stock of Holdings. All unvested options vested on February 7, 2014. Upon the closing of the Merger, we substituted the options described above and extended the expiration date for such options to February 7, 2024. In addition, the number of shares underlying such options was divided by an exchange ratio of approximately 2.2 and the exercise price was multiplied by that ratio.
     
  (2) None of our named executive officers have received stock awards.
     
  (3) Represents 1,321,736 in option awards for services provided by Mr. Mitsakos as a director.
     
  (4) Represents 2,000,000 in option awards for consulting services provided by Mr. Mitsakos.

 

Compensation of Directors

 

The following table sets forth information regarding each element of compensation that we paid or awarded to our directors for the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013:

 

Name   Year     Board Fees Paid or
Accrued(1)
    All
Other Comp.
    Total  
Frank C. Herringer     2012     $ 25,000       -     $ 25,000  
      2013     $ 25,000       -     $ 25,000  

 

  (1) Includes board fees paid and accrued. Please refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations for additional discussion with respect to accrued board fees.

 

Mr. Mitsakos, our Executive Chairman of the Board, received compensation for his services as a director as set forth under “Compensation of Executive Officers.”

 

41
 

 

Outstanding Equity Awards to Directors at Fiscal Year-End 2013

 

The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding option awards to directors as of December 31, 2013:

 

    Option awards(1)(2)
Name   Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised options
exercisable
    Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options
unexercisable
    Equity
incentive
plan awards:
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
unearned
options
    Option
exercise
price
($)
    Option expiration
date
Frank C. Herringer     660,000       -       -     $ 0.07     May 15, 2016

 

  (1) The type of securities underlying all outstanding option awards was common stock of Holdings. Upon the closing of the Merger, we substituted the options described above and extended the expiration date for such options to February 7, 2024. In addition, the number of shares underlying such options was divided by an exchange ratio of approximately 2.2 and the exercise price was multiplied by that ratio.
     
  (2) None of our directors have received stock awards.

 

Mr. Mitsakos, our Executive Chairman of the Board, received option awards for his services as a director as set forth under “Outstanding Equity Awards to Directors at Fiscal Year-End 2013.”

 

Employment and Consulting Agreements

 

We are currently party to employment agreements with each of Messrs. David G. Watumull, David M. Watumull, Gilbert M. Rishton and Timothy J. King, which provide for employment for an initial term of one year, subject to renewal and earlier termination rights as provided in such agreements. These agreements provide for compensation terms and duration of employment as set forth in each such agreement. Such agreements include restrictive covenants concerning competition with us and solicitation of our employees and clients, if such individuals are terminated for cause as defined in such agreements.

 

On February 7, 2014, we entered into an Agreement for Services as the Executive Chairman with Nicholas Mitsakos, pursuant to which Mr. Mitsakos agreed to serve as our Executive Chairman. We agreed to pay Mr. Mitsakos an annual salary of $240,000 for his services as an executive officer.

 

2014 Equity Compensation Plan

 

Our 2014 Plan is administered by our compensation committee. The purpose of the 2014 Plan is to provide financial incentives for selected directors, employees, advisers, and consultants of Cardax and/or its subsidiaries, thereby promoting the long-term growth and financial success of the Company. The issuance of awards under the 2014 Plan is at the discretion of our compensation committee, which has the authority to determine the persons to whom any awards shall be granted and the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any award. Under the 2014 Plan, we may grant equity based incentive awards, including options, restricted stock, and other stock-based awards, to any directors, employees, advisers, and consultants that provide services to us or any of our subsidiaries. An aggregate of 30,420,148 shares of our Common Stock have been reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan, which is subject to adjustment as described in such plan. As of March 17, 2014, there are 2,663,327 shares of Common Stock available for future awards under the 2014 Plan.

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

 

The information required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K regarding our 2014 Plan is outlined above in Item 5 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

42
 

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The following table sets forth information regarding the ownership of our Common Stock as of March 17, 2014 for:

 

  each director;
     
  each person known by us to own beneficially 5% or more of our common stock;
     
  each officer named in the summary compensation table elsewhere in this report; and
     
  all directors and executive officers as a group.

 

The amounts and percentages of our Common Stock beneficially owned are reported on the basis of regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or “investment power,” which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under these rules more than one person may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which such person has no economic interest.

 

Unless otherwise indicated below, to the best of our knowledge each beneficial owner named in the table has sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned, subject to community property laws where applicable.

 

Name   Amount of Beneficial
Ownership of
Common Stock
    Percent of
Common  Stock(1)
 
             
Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(2)     33,229,093       52.9 %
Paulson Capital Corp.     9,044,868 (3)     13.6 %
Nicholas Mitsakos(4)     3,661,695 (5)     5.5 %
Frank C. Herringer(6)     711,103 (7)     1.1 %
David G. Watumull(8)     4,839,241 (9)     7.1 %
David M. Watumull(10)     1,537,904 (11)     2.4 %
All directors and executive officers as a group (4 persons)     10,749,943       14.7 %

 

(1) Based on 62,854,671 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of March 17, 2014.
   
(2) The address of Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is 2800 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822.
   
(3) Represents (a) 3,872,434 shares of Common Stock owned of record by Paulson Cardax Investments I, LLC, (b) 3,872,434 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by Paulson Cardax Investments I, LLC of warrants that are presently exercisable, at an exercise price of $0.625 per share, and (c) 1,300,000 shares of Common Stock owned of record by Paulson Investment Company, Inc. Paulson Investment Company, Inc. is the managing member of Paulson Cardax Investments I, LLC and holds voting and investment control over the shares and warrants held by Paulson Cardax Investments I, LLC. Paulson Investment Company, Inc. disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of Common Stock and warrants owned by Paulson Cardax Investments I, LLC. Paulson Investment Company, Inc. is a subsidiary of Paulson Capital Corp., a publicly traded company. The address of Paulson Cardax Investments I, LLC, Paulson Investment Company, Inc. and Paulson Capital Corp. is 1331 NW Lovejoy Street, Suite #720, Portland, Oregon 97209.
   
(4) The address of Mr. Mitsakos is c/o Cardax, Inc., 2800 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822. Mr. Mitsakos is the Executive Chairman of our Board of Directors.
   
(5) Represents (a) 1,496,700 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by Mr. Mitsakos of options that are presently exercisable, at an exercise price of $0.155 per share, (b) 1,726,325 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by Mr. Mitsakos of options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days, at an exercise price of $0.625 per share, (c) 219,335 shares of Common Stock, which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Mitsakos as the sole owner, Chairman and CEO of Arcadia Holdings, Inc., the owner of such shares and (d) 219,335 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by Arcadia Holdings, Inc. of warrants that are presently exercisable, at an exercise price of $0.625 per share, and which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Mitsakos.
   
(6) The address of Mr. Herringer is c/o Cardax, Inc., 2800 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822. Mr. Herringer is a member of our Board of Directors.
   
(7) Represents (a) 297,381 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by Mr. Herringer of options that are presently exercisable, at an exercise price of $0.155 per share, (b) 194,388 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by Mr. Herringer of options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days, at an exercise price of $0.625 per share, (c) 109,667 shares of Common Stock, which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Herringer as the trustee of Frank C. and Maryellen Cattani Herringer 1995 Family Trust, the owner of such shares and (d) 109,667 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by Frank C. and Maryellen Cattani Herringer 1995 Family Trust of warrants that are presently exercisable, at an exercise price of $0.625 per share, and which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Herringer.

 

43
 

 

(8) The address of Mr. David G. Watumull is c/o Cardax Pharma, Inc., 2800 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822. Mr. David G. Watumull is our President, CEO, and a member of our Board of Directors.
   
(9) Represents (a) 1,750,588 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by Mr. David G. Watumull of options that are presently exercisable, at an exercise price of $0.155 per share, and (b) 3,088,653 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by Mr. David G. Watumull of options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days, at an exercise price of $0.625 per share.
   
(10) The address of Mr. David M. Watumull is c/o Cardax, Inc., 2800 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822. Mr. David M. Watumull is our Vice President, Operations.
   
(11) Represents (a) 45,058 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by Mr. David M. Watumull of options that are presently exercisable, at an exercise price of $0.155 per share, and (b) 1,492,846 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise by Mr. David M. Watumull of options that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days, at an exercise price of $0.625 per share.

 

Holdings currently owns approximately 52.9% of our issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock or approximately 27.3% of our issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock determined on a fully diluted basis. We may agree with Holdings for the merger of Holdings with and into us or other similar transaction, in which we would issue and sell the same number of shares of Common Stock to the stockholders of Holdings that Holdings owns in us. Any such transaction would not require us to increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of our Common Stock and would result in Holdings no longer owning a controlling interest in our Common Stock.

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

Transactions with Related Persons

 

Nicholas Mitsakos, our Executive Chairman, is the sole owner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arcadia Holdings, Inc. (“Arcadia”). On September 23, 2010, Arcadia purchased a certain secured promissory note from Holdings in the principal amount of $99,900. On March 23, 2013, that certain secured promissory note, as amended, together with all accrued interest thereon owed to Arcadia, was converted into a certain secured convertible promissory note of Holdings in the principal amount of $125,852. On May 31, 2013, that certain secured convertible promissory note, together with all accrued interest thereon owed to Arcadia, was exchanged for a certain secured convertible promissory note of Pharma in the principal amount of $128,231. Upon the consummation of the Merger, (i) the outstanding principal amount of that certain secured convertible promissory note of Pharma, together with all accrued interest thereon owed to Arcadia, was automatically converted into an aggregate number of 219,335 shares of our Common Stock and (ii) Cardax issued to Arcadia a warrant to purchase an aggregate of 219,335 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price equal to $0.625 per share through February 7, 2019.

 

Frank C. Herringer, our Director, is the trustee of the Frank C. and Maryellen Cattani Herringer 1995 Family Trust (the “Herringer Trust”). On September 23, 2010, the Herringer Trust purchased a certain secured promissory note from Holdings in the principal amount of $49,950. On March 23, 2013, that certain secured promissory note, as amended, together with all accrued interest thereon owed to the Herringer Trust, was converted into a certain secured convertible promissory note of Holdings in the principal amount of $62,926. On May 31, 2013, that certain secured convertible promissory note, together with all accrued interest thereon owed to the Herringer Trust, was exchanged for a certain senior secured convertible promissory note of Pharma in the principal amount of $64,116. Upon the consummation of the Merger, (i) the outstanding principal amount of that certain secured convertible promissory note of Pharma, together with all accrued interest thereon owed to the Herringer Trust, was automatically converted into an aggregate number of 109,667 shares of our Common Stock and (ii) Cardax issued to the Herringer Trust a warrant to purchase an aggregate of 109,667 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price equal to $0.625 per share through February 7, 2019.

 

On January 30, 2012, Koffee Korner Inc. issued (1) 10,000,000 shares of its common stock to its sole director and sole officer Nazneen D’Silva in exchange for her ownership interest in Koffee Korner’s Inc., a Texas corporation, and (2) 200,000 shares of its common stock to its former legal counsel Frank J. Hariton as a founder and promoter. We distributed all of the shares of Koffee Korner’s Inc., to Nazneen D’Silva, pursuant to that certain Spin-Off Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2014, which provides that we are indemnified and held harmless against any and all losses, liabilities, damages and expenses whatsoever as and when incurred arising out of, or based upon, or in connection with our business and the business of Koffee Korner’s Inc. prior to the date of such distribution.

 

44
 

 

On July 30, 2013, Pharma entered into an agreement with JBR Business Solutions, LLC, pursuant to which John B. Russell agreed to serve as Pharma’s chief financial officer. Pharma agreed to pay JBR Business Solutions a fee of $7,000 per month. John B. Russell, our Chief Financial Officer, is the founder and president of JBR Business Solutions.

 

Between May 2013 and November 2013, Paulson Cardax Investments I, LLC purchased certain senior secured convertible promissory notes from Pharma in the aggregate principal amount of $2,281,792. Upon the consummation of the Merger, (i) the outstanding principal amount of those certain senior secured convertible promissory notes, together with all accrued interest thereon, was automatically converted into an aggregate number of 3,872,434 shares of our Common Stock and (ii) Cardax issued to Paulson Cardax Investments I, LLC a warrant to purchase an aggregate of 3,872,434 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price equal to $0.625 per share through February 7, 2019.

 

Immediately prior to the closing of the Merger further described above, Holdings owned approximately 39% of our issued and outstanding Common Stock and we owned 40% of the issued and outstanding common stock of Pharma.

 

From July 1, 2013 to February 7, 2014, we leased our principal office, located at 167 Penn Street, Washington Boro, Pennsylvania, on a month-to-month basis from our former chief executive officer Austin Kibler for a monthly rent of $1.00. Effective February 10, 2014, shortly after our acquisition of Cardax Pharma, Inc., we moved our principal office to Honolulu, Hawaii.

 

Director Independence

 

Frank C. Herringer is our only independent director. Because our Common Stock is not currently listed on a national securities exchange, we have used the definition of “independence” of The NASDAQ Stock Market to make this determination. NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) provides that an “independent director” is a person other than an officer or employee of the Company or any other individual having a relationship that, in the opinion of the Company’s Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. The NASDAQ listing rules provide that a director cannot be considered independent if:

 

  the director is, or at any time during the past three years was, an employee of the Company;
     
  the director or a family member of the director accepted any compensation from the Company in excess of $120,000 during any period of 12 consecutive months within the three years preceding the independence determination (subject to certain exclusions, including, among other things, compensation for board or board committee service);
     
  a family member of the director is, or at any time during the past three years was, an executive officer of the Company;
     
  the director or a family member of the director is a partner in, controlling stockholder of, or an executive officer of an entity to which the Company made, or from which the Company received, payments in the current or any of the past three fiscal years that exceed 5% of the recipient’s consolidated gross revenue for that year or $200,000, whichever is greater (subject to certain exclusions);
     
  the director or a family member of the director is employed as an executive officer of an entity where, at any time during the past three years, any of the executive officers of the Company served on the compensation committee of such other entity; or
     
  the director or a family member of the director is a current partner of the Company’s outside auditor, or at any time during the past three years was a partner or employee of the Company’s outside auditor, and who worked on the Company’s audit.

 

45
 

 

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

 

The table below sets forth the aggregate fees billed for fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 for professional services rendered by the principal accountants for the audit of our annual financial statements and review of the financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

 

    Fiscal Year Ended
December 31, 2013
    Fiscal Year Ended
December 31, 2012
 
             
Audit Fees(1)   $ 102,500 *   $ - *
Audit-Related Fees(2)   $ -     $ -  
Tax Fees(3)   $ -     $ -  
All Other Fees(4)   $ -     $ -  
Total   $ 102,500     $ -  

 

* The amount of audit fees disclosed for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 represents the aggregate audit fees billed during 2013. The amount billed in 2013 includes fees incurred in connection with the audit and review of financial statements for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.
   
(1) Audit fees consist of fees incurred for professional services rendered for the audit of our financial statements, for reviews of our interim financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and for services that are normally provided in connection with statutory or regulatory filings or engagements.
   
(2) Audit-related fees consist of fees billed for professional services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements, but are not reported “Audit Fees.”
   
(3) Tax fees consist of fees billed for professional services relating to tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning.
   
(4) All other fees consist of fees billed for products and services provided by our principal accountants, other than for products and services reported above.

 

Audit Committee’s Pre-Approval Policies

 

Our audit committee is responsible for, among other things, the selection, appointment, retention and dismissal of our independent auditors. Additionally, our audit committee pre-approves the retention of our independent auditors for any non-audit services, and the funding for payment of compensation to our independent auditors for both audit and non-audit services.

 

Audit Hours Incurred

 

Less than fifty percent of the hours expended on our principal accountant’s engagement to audit our financial statements for the most recent fiscal year were attributed to work performed by persons other than our principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees.

 

46
 

 

Part IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

 

(a) Financial Statements

 

    Page
     
Report of Independent Registered Accounting Firm   F-3
Consolidated Financial Statements:    
Consolidated balance sheets   F-4
Consolidated statements of operations   F-5
Consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit)   F-6
Consolidated statements of cash flows   F-8
Notes to the consolidated financial statements   F-9

  

(b) Financial Statement Schedules

 

All financial statement schedules are included in the footnotes to the financial statements, or are inapplicable or otherwise not required.

 

(c) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description
2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 27, 2013, by and among Koffee Korner Inc., Cardax Acquisition, Inc., Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Cardax Pharma, Inc.*
     
2.2   First Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 10, 2014, by and among Koffee Korner Inc., Cardax Acquisition, Inc., Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Cardax Pharma, Inc.**
     
2.3   Second Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 7, 2014, by and among Koffee Korner Inc., Cardax Acquisition, Inc., Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Cardax Pharma, Inc.***
     
3.1   Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of Cardax, Inc.**
     
3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Cardax, Inc.**
     
4.1   Form of specimen certificate representing Common Stock of Cardax, Inc.***
     
4.2   Form of Class A Warrant***
     
4.3   Form of Noteholder Warrant, as supplemented by Notice to Noteholders***
     
4.4   Form of Placement Agent Warrant***
     
4.5   Form of Financial Consultant Warrant***
     
4.6   Form of Warrant issued to JLS Ventures, LLC***
     
10.1   Cardax, Inc. 2014 Equity Compensation Plan**
     
10.2   Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2014 Equity Compensation Plan***
     
10.3   Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant under the 2014 Equity Compensation Plan***
     
10.4   Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant In Substitution of Stock Option Grant under the Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2006 Equity Compensation Plan***
     
10.5   Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 10, 2014, by and among Koffee Korner Inc., Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Cardax Pharma, Inc.**
     
10.6   Spin-off Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2014, between Koffee Korner Inc. and Nazneen D’Silva***
     
10.7   Senior Executive Employment Agreement, dated February 7, 2014, of David G. Watumull***

 

47
 

 

10.8   Senior Executive Employment Agreement, dated February 7, 2014, of David M. Watumull***
     
10.9   Senior Executive Employment Agreement, dated February 7, 2014, of Gilbert M. Rishton***
     
10.10   Senior Executive Employment Agreement, dated February 7, 2014, of Timothy J. King***
     
10.11   Agreement for Services as the Executive Chairman dated February 7, 2014, by and between Cardax, Inc. and Nicholas Mitsakos***
     
10.12   Joint Development and Supply Agreement effective on November 15, 2006, by and between BASF Aktiengesellschaft and Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Joint Development and Supply Agreement effective on April 15, 2007****
     
16.1   Letter dated February 7, 2014 from Li and Company, PC***
     
21.1   Subsidiaries of Cardax, Inc.***
     
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
31.2   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
32.1   Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
32.2   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

* Filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated November 27, 2014.

** Filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated January 13, 2014.

*** Filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated February 10, 2014.

**** Filed as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated February 10, 2014. Confidential treatment has been requested for this exhibit, and confidential portions have been filed separately with the SEC.

 

48
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 15(d) 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: March 31, 2014

 

  CARDAX, INC.
     
  By: /s/ David G. Watumull
  Name: David G. Watumull
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and President

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
/s/ David G. Watumull   President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director   March 31, 2014
David G. Watumull      
         
/s/ John B. Russell   Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer   March 31, 2014
John B. Russell      
         
/s/ Nicholas Mitsakos   Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors   March 31, 2014
Nicholas Mitsakos      
         
/s/ Frank C. Herringer   Director    March 31, 2014
Frank C. Herringer      

 

49
 

 

Consolidated Financial Statements and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,

and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

December 31, 2013 and 2012

 

F-1
 

 

Contents

 

    Page
     
Report of Independent Registered Accounting Firm   F-3
Consolidated Financial Statements:    
Consolidated balance sheets   F-4
Consolidated statements of operations   F-5
Consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit)   F-6
Consolidated statements of cash flows   F-8
Notes to the consolidated financial statements   F-9

 

F-2
 

 

    114 West 47th Street, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Telephone: 212.785.9700
Fax: 212.785.0700
www.kbl.com

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its subsidiary, Cardax Pharma, Inc., (a Development Stage Company) (collectively, the “Company”), as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the two years then ended, and for the period from inception of the development stage (March 23, 2006) to December 31, 2013. Management is responsible for these financial statements. 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 audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its 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, as well as 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 Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years then ended, and for the period from inception of the development stage (March 23, 2006) to December 31, 2013 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations, and is dependent upon debt and equity financing to provide sufficient working capital to maintain continuity. These circumstances create substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

/s/ KBL, LLP  
KBL, LLP  
New York, NY  
March 31, 2014  

 

F-3
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

   December 31, 2013   December 31, 2012 
ASSETS          
           
CURRENT ASSETS          
Cash  $222,410   $7,799 
Inventory   986,674    986,674 
Deposits and other assets   94,220    39,704 
Prepaid expenses   14,380    11,183 
Total current assets   1,317,684    1,045,360 
           
NON-CURRENT ASSETS          
Property and equipment, net   26,041    1,404 
Intangible assets, net   424,757    435,010 
Total non-current assets   450,798    436,414 
           
TOTAL ASSETS  $1,768,482   $1,481,774 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
           
CURRENT LIABILITIES          
Accrued payroll and payroll related expenses  $3,774,580   $3,696,897 
Notes payable, current portion, net of discount of $4,592 and $65,173 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively   9,039,444    3,609,098 
Accounts payable   682,319    712,186 
Accrued interest   657,092    673,975 
Fees payable to directors   468,546    533,001 
Lease settlement payable, current portion   -    251,184 
Employee settlement   50,000    50,000 
Patent license payable, current   10,000    15,833 
Other current liabilities   12,613    4,424 
Total current liabilities   14,694,594    9,546,598 
           
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES          
Notes payable, less current portion   -    500,000 
Patent license payable, less current portion   10,000    20,000 
Total non-current liabilities   10,000    520,000 
           
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES   -    - 
           
Total liabilities   14,704,594    10,066,598 
           
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)          
Preferred Series A - $0.001 par value; 40,118,013 shares authorized, issued, and outstanding   40,118    40,118 
Preferred Series B - $0.001 par value; 55,555,555 shares authorized, 20,237,459 issued and outstanding   20,237    20,237 
Common stock - $0.001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized, 9,488,227 issued and outstanding   9,488    9,488 
Additional paid in capital   19,891,702    19,881,825 
Deficit accumulated during the development stage   (32,897,657)   (28,536,492)
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)   (12,936,112)   (8,584,824)
           
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)  $1,768,482   $1,481,774 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

For the 

 

           Period from 
          March 23, 2006, 
   Year ended   Year ended   (Inception) to 
   December 31, 2013   December 31, 2012   December 31, 2013 
             
REVENUES  $-   $10,000   $92,903 
                
OPERATING EXPENSES:               
Research and development   944,330    702,792    15,542,286 
Selling, general, and administrative expenses   2,611,184    979,285    15,030,573 
Depreciation and amortization   36,231    123,206    1,423,226 
Total operating expenses   3,591,745    1,805,283    31,996,085 
                
Loss from operations   (3,591,745)   (1,795,283)   (31,903,182)
                
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES):               
Interest expense, net   (741,916)   (734,168)   (4,309,379)
Net loss on sale and disposal of assets   (9,230)   (1,254)   (37,878)
Research grant income   -    -    1,179,646 
Gain on debt extinguishment   -    -    786,945 
Federal and state tax credits   -    -    1,506,596 
Dividend income   -    -    55,206 
Other expenses, net   (18,274)   (12,685)   (175,611)
Total other expenses   (769,420)   (748,107)   (994,475)
                
Loss before the provision for income taxes   (4,361,165)   (2,543,390)   (32,897,657)
                
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES, net   -    -    - 
                
NET LOSS  $(4,361,165)  $(2,543,390)  $(32,897,657)
                
NET LOSS PER SHARE               
Basic  $(0.46)  $(0.27)     
Diluted  $(0.46)  $(0.27)     
                
SHARES USED IN CALCULATION OF NET INCOME PER SHARE               
Basic   9,488,227    9,488,227      
Diluted   9,488,227    9,488,227      

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

   Common Stock   Preferred Series A   Preferred Series B   Additional   Accumulated     
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount  Paid-In-Capital   Deficit   Total 
                                     
Balance at March 23, 2006   -   $-    -   $-    -   $-   $-   $-   $- 
                                              
Issuance of common stock   9,447,100    9,447    -    -    -    -    1,571,787    -    1,581,234 
                                              
Issuance of Series A Preferred stock   -    -    40,118,013    40,118    -    -    6,674,742    -    6,714,860 
                                              
Stock based compensation   -    -    -    -    -    -    771,460    -    771,460 
                                              
Stock option exercise   6,842    7    -    -    -    -    297    -    304 
                                              
Net loss (unaudited)   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    (4,104,289)   (4,104,289)
                                              
Balance at December 31, 2006   9,453,942    9,454    40,118,013    40,118    -    -    9,018,286    (4,104,289)   4,963,569 
                                              
Issuance of Series B preferred stock   -    -    -    -    8,235,868    8,236    3,697,817    -    3,706,053 
                                              
Issuance of Series B Preferred stock warrants   -    -    -    -    -    -    255,398    -    255,398 
                                              
Stock based compensation   -    -    -    -    -    -    319,019    -    319,019 
                                              
Stock option exercise   20,000    20    -    -    -    -    1,380    -    1,400 
                                              
Net loss (unaudited)   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    (7,908,993)   (7,908,993)
                                              
Balance at December 31, 2007   9,473,942    9,474    40,118,013    40,118    8,235,868    8,236    13,291,900    (12,013,282)   1,336,446 
                                              
Issuance of Series B Preferred stock   -    -    -    -    5,996,624    5,997    2,692,488    -    2,698,485 
                                              
Issuance of Series B Preferred stock warrants   -    -    -    -    -    -    122,436    -    122,436 
                                              
Stock based compensation   -    -    -    -    -    -    138,868    -    138,868 
                                              
Stock option exercise   14,285    14    -    -    -    -    986    -    1,000 
                                              
Net loss (unaudited)   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    (6,700,148)   (6,700,148)
                                              
Balance at December 31, 2008   9,488,227    9,488    40,118,013    40,118    14,232,492    14,233    16,246,678    (18,713,430)   (2,402,913)
                                              
Conversions of notes payable and accrued interest   -    -    -    -    1,653,310    1,653    742,337    -    743,990 
                                              
Issuance of Series B Preferred stock warrants   -    -    -    -    -    -    508,672    -    508,672 
                                              
Stock based compensation   -    -    -    -    -    -    165,949    -    165,949 
                                              
Net loss (unaudited)   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    (1,451,711)   (1,451,711)
                                              
Balance at December 31, 2009   9,488,227    9,488    40,118,013    40,118    15,885,802    15,886    17,663,636    (20,165,141)   (2,436,013)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this financial statement.

 

F-6
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

   Common Stock   Preferred Series A   Preferred Series B   Additional   Accumulated     
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Paid-In-Capital   Deficit   Total 
                                     
Balance at December 31, 2009   9,488,227    9,488    40,118,013    40,118    15,885,802    15,886    17,663,636    (20,165,141)   (2,436,013)
                                              
Issuance and conversion of mandatorily convertible notes   -    -    -    -    3,401,329    3,401    826,863    -    830,264 
                                              
Issuance of mandatorily convertible notes   -    -    -    -    -    -    258,652    -    258,652 
                                              
Issuance of Series B Preferred stock warrants   -    -    -    -    -    -    268,555    -    268,555 
                                              
Stock based compensation   -    -    -    -    -    -    123,809    -    123,809 
                                              
Net loss (unaudited)   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    (3,948,021)   (3,948,021)
                                              
Balance at December 31, 2010   9,488,227    9,488    40,118,013    40,118    19,287,131    19,287    19,141,515    (24,113,162)   (4,902,754)
                                              
Conversion of mandatorily convertible notes   -    -    -    -    611,485    611    15,908    -    16,519 
                                              
Issuance of Series B Preferred stock   -    -    -    -    338,843    339    152,140    -    152,479 
                                              
Issuance of Series B Preferred stock warrants   -    -    -    -    -    -    359,882    -    359,882 
                                              
Stock based compensation   -    -    -    -    -    -    46,840    -    46,840 
                                              
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    (1,879,940)   (1,879,940)
                                              
Balance at December 31, 2011   9,488,227    9,488    40,118,013    40,118    20,237,459    20,237    19,716,285    (25,993,102)   (6,206,974)
                                              
Issuance of Series B Preferred stock warrants   -    -    -    -    -    -    141,895    -    141,895 
                                              
Stock based compensation   -    -    -    -    -    -    23,645    -    23,645 
                                              
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    (2,543,390)   (2,543,390)
                                              
Balance at December 31, 2012   9,488,227   $9,488    40,118,013   $40,118    20,237,459   $20,237   $19,881,825   $(28,536,492)  $(8,584,824)
                                              
Stock based compensation   -    -    -    -    -    -    9,877    -    9,877 
                                              
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    (4,361,165)   (4,361,165)
                                              
 Balance at December 31, 2013   9,488,227   $9,488    40,118,013   $40,118    20,237,459   $20,237   $19,891,702   $(32,897,657)  $(12,936,112)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this financial statement.

 

F-7
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

For the

 

           Period from 
           March 23, 2006, 
   Year-ended   Year-ended   (Inception) to 
   December 31, 2013   December 31, 2012   December 31, 2013 
             
Cash flows from operating activities:               
Net loss  $(4,361,165)  $(2,543,390)  $(32,897,657)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:               
Depreciation   5,622    92,596    1,007,176 
Amortization   30,609    30,610    168,363 
Stock based compensation expense   9,877    23,645    1,599,467 
Discount amortization   60,581    363,858    1,648,452 
Net loss on sale of assets   -    1,254    (28,648)
Loss on abandonment of patents   9,340    -    57,847 
Changes in assets and liabilities:               
Deposits and other assets   (54,516)   59,572    (94,220)
Prepaid expenses   (3,197)   (8,088)   505 
Inventory   -    -    (986,674)
Accrued payroll and payroll related expenses   77,683    671,270    3,650,771 
Accounts payable   (29,867)   (48,173)   682,319 
Accrued interest   450,555    363,768    1,124,530 
Fees payable to directors   (64,455)   63,000    468,546 
Patent license payable   (15,833)   (6,667)   20,000 
Other current liabilities   8,189    (1,242)   12,613 
Lease settlement payable   (251,184)   (221,250)   - 
Employee settlement   -    -    50,000 
Net cash used in operating activities   (4,127,761)   (1,159,237)   (23,516,610)
Cash flows from investing activities:               
Purchases of property and equipment   (30,259)   -    (729,163)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment   -    4,014    112,759 
Expenditures on patents   (29,696)   (35,155)   (650,967)
Net cash used in investing activities   (59,955)   (31,141)   (1,267,371)
Cash flows from financing activities:               
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock   -    -    1,581,275 
Proceeds from the issuance of series A preferred stock   -    -    6,714,860 
Proceeds from the issuance of series B preferred stock   -    -    7,259,402 
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options   -    -    2,663 
Proceeds from the issuances of notes payable   5,550,403    1,180,000    13,716,167 
Repayment of principal on notes payable   (1,148,076)   (49,950)   (4,267,976)
Net cash provided by financing activities   4,402,327    1,130,050    25,006,391 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH   214,611    (60,328)   222,410 
Cash at the beginning of the period   7,799    68,127    - 
Cash at the end of the period  $222,410   $7,799   $222,410 
                
NON-CASH FINANCING AND INVESTING ACTIVITIES:               
Issuance of stock for property and equipment  $-   $-   $388,165 
Issuance of stock for deposits and other assets  $-   $-   $14,885 
Conversion of convertible notes payable to series B preferred stock  $-   $-   $743,990 
Issuance of Series B Preferred stock warrants  $-   $140,592   $1,653,044 
Conversion of accrued interest into notes payable  $467,438   $-   $- 
                
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:               
Cash paid for interest  $234,400   $4,500   $273,786 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-8
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 1 – COMPANY BACKGROUND

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Holdings”) was incorporated in the State of Delaware on March 23, 2006.

 

In May of 2006, Hawaii Biotech, Inc., contributed its anti-inflammatory, small molecule line of business into Holdings. See Note 7 for a description of the assets contributed, liabilities assumed, and Holdings stock issued in the exchange.

 

In May of 2013, Holdings formed a 100% owned subsidiary company called Cardax Pharma, Inc. (“Pharma”). Pharma was formed to maintain Holdings’ operations going forward, leaving Holdings as a shell holding company. All references herein to the Company, refers to Holdings and Pharma, collectively.

 

The Company was formed for the purpose of developing a platform of proprietary, exceptionally safe, small molecule compounds for large unmet medical needs where oxidative stress and inflammation play important causative roles. The Company’s platform has application in arthritis, metabolic syndrome, liver disease, and cardiovascular disease, as well as macular degeneration and prostate disease. The Company’s current primary focus is on the development of astaxanthin technologies. Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring marine compound that has robust anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

 

On November 29, 2013, the Company entered into a definitive merger agreement (“Merger Agreement”) with Koffee Korner Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Koffee Korner”) (OTCBB:KOFF), and its wholly owned subsidiary (“Koffee Sub”), pursuant to which, among other matters and subject to the conditions set forth in such Merger Agreement, Koffee Sub would merge with and into Pharma. In connection with such merger agreement and related agreements, upon the consummation of such merger, Pharma would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Koffee Korner and Koffee Korner would issue shares of its common stock to Holdings. At the effective time of such merger, Holdings would own a majority of the shares of the then issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Koffee Korner.

 

On February 7, 2014, the Company completed its merger with Koffee Korner, which was renamed to Cardax, Inc. See Note 17 for more details.

 

Development stage entity

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 915, Development Stage Entities. A development stage enterprise is one in which planned and principal operations have not commenced or, if its operations have commenced, there has been no significant revenue there from. Development stage companies report cumulative costs from the enterprise’s inception.

 

F-9
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 1 – COMPANY BACKGROUND (continued)

 

Development stage entity (continued)

 

The Company has primarily devoted its efforts to raising capital, obtaining financing, designing and patenting products, research and development, and administrative functions. These consolidated financial statements assume that the Company will operate as a continuing entity. Management of the Company expects to raise additional capital and financing to provide the Company with sufficient cash flow to meet its current obligations and continue as a viable business venture.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and from inception (March 23, 2006) to December 31, 2013, the Company had net losses of $4,361,165, $2,543,390, and $32,897,657, respectively. Additionally, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $32,897,657 and $28,536,492, for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and used cash in operating activities of $4,127,761, $1,159,237, and $23,516,610, for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for the period from inception (March 23, 2006) to December 31, 2013, respectively. Those factors create an uncertainty about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Although there can be no assurances, management believes that (i) the Company will be able to continue operating through 2014 with the cash received in the current quarter-to-date (described in Note 17 – Subsequent Events), and (ii) the Company will be able to obtain additional financing through debt and/or equity arrangements such that it can continue operating after such time. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of presentation

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Estimates in these consolidated financial statements include asset valuations, estimates of future cash flows from and the economic useful lives of long-lived assets, certain accrued liabilities, income taxes and tax valuation allowances, and fair value estimates. Despite management’s intention to establish accurate estimates and reasonable assumptions, actual results could differ materially from these estimates and assumptions.

 

F-10
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Cash

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company held no cash equivalents at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

The Company maintains cash and cash equivalent deposit accounts at several financial institutions. Accounts at these institutions are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000. The Company’s cash balance at times may exceed these limits. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company did not have any amounts in excess of federally insured limits on deposit.

 

Inventory

 

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the average cost method. Market is defined as sales price less cost to dispose and a normal profit margin. Inventory costs include materials and third party costs.

 

Management provides a reserve against inventory for known or expected inventory obsolescence. The reserve is determined by specific review of inventory items for product age and quality which may affect saleability. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, management determined that a reserve was not necessary.

 

Property and equipment, net

 

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Equipment under capital lease obligations and leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter period of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the equipment. Such amortization is included in depreciation and amortization in the consolidated financial statements.

 

Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets as follows.

 

Furniture and office equipment 7 years
Research and development equipment 3 to 7 years
Information technology equipment 5 years
Software 3 years

 

Major additions and improvements are capitalized, and routine expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is charged to income for the period.

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

In accordance with ASC No. 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment, the Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets, as appropriate, may not be recoverable.

 

F-11
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Impairment of long-lived assets (continued)

 

When the sum of the undiscounted future net cash flows expected to result from the use and the eventual disposition is less than the carrying amounts, an impairment loss would be measured based on the discounted cash flows compared to the carrying amounts. There was no impairment charge recorded for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and from inception to December 31, 2013.

 

Research grant income

 

The Company recognizes revenue on cost reimbursement grant award contracts when allowable and reimbursable expenses are incurred, and upon meeting the legal and contractual requirements of the funding source.

 

Fair value measurements

 

US GAAP establishes a framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

 

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

 

  Level 1:Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access.
     
  Level 2:Inputs to the valuation methodology include:

 

Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
   
Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;
   
Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and
   
Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
   
 If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

 

  Level 3:Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

 

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, there were no recurring fair value measurements of assets and liabilities subsequent to initial recognition.

 

F-12
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Fair value measurements (continued)

 

The fair value of the preferred stock warrants is based on unobservable inputs. Such instruments are generally classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company estimated the fair value of the warrants using an option-pricing model incorporating assumptions that market participants would use in their estimates of fair value. Some of these assumptions include estimates for interest rates, expected dividends, and the fair value of the underlying preferred stock. The estimated fair value of the underlying preferred stock is itself determined using an option-pricing method. Under this method, the fair value of an enterprise’s common and preferred stock is estimated as the net value of a series of call options, representing the present value of the expected future returns to the stockholders.

 

The Company’s other financial instruments include borrowings under notes payable. The carrying values of its financial instruments approximate their fair values due to the fact that they are short-term in nature at December 31, 2013 and 2012 (Level 3).

 

Warrants

 

Debt instruments with detachable warrants to acquire shares that may be redeemable are accounted for in accordance with ASC No. 470, Debt. Under ASC No. 470, detachable warrants to purchase the Company’s series A preferred stock were classified as a discount on the underlying note on the consolidated balance sheets and carried at fair value. The Company initially measured the warrants at fair value on issuance.

 

Differences between fair value of the series B preferred stock and warrants on the date of grant were recorded as additional paid in capital.

 

Stock based compensation

 

The Company accounts for stock based compensation costs under the provisions of ASC No. 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense related to the fair value of stock based compensation awards that are ultimately expected to vest. Stock based compensation expense recognized includes the compensation cost for all share based payments granted to employees based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of ASC No. 718. ASC No. 718 is also applied to awards modified, repurchased, or canceled during the periods reported.

 

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share

 

The Company’s convertible redeemable preferred stock was entitled to receive dividends of up to 8.5% at the original issue price per annum when and if dividends are declared on the common stock and thereafter participate pro rata on an as converted basis with the common stock holders on any distributions to common stockholders. They were therefore participating securities. As a result, the Company calculates the net income (loss) per share using the two-class method. Accordingly, the net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders is derived from the net income (loss) for the period and, in periods in which the Company has net income attributable to common stockholders, an adjustment is made for the noncumulative dividends and allocations of earnings to participating securities based on their outstanding shareholder rights.

 

F-13
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share (continued)

 

Under the two-class method, the net loss attributable to common stockholders is not allocated to the convertible redeemable preferred stock as the convertible redeemable preferred stock did not have a contractual obligation to share in the Company’s losses.

 

The diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by giving effect to all potential common stock equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury stock method or the as-if converted method as applicable. In periods when the Company incurred a net loss attributable to common stockholders, stock options and warrants to purchase common stock were considered to be common stock equivalents, but have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders as their effect is antidilutive.

 

Income taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes under an asset and liability approach. Deferred income taxes reflect the impact of temporary differences between assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting purposes and the amounts recognized for income tax reporting purposes, net operating loss carry-forwards, and other tax credits measured by applying currently enacted tax laws. A valuation allowance is provided when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

 

The Company determines whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company uses a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon tax authority examination, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

 

The Company files income tax returns in the United States (“U.S.”) Federal, State of Hawaii, and State of California jurisdictions. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and require significant judgment to apply.

 

The following represents the open tax years and jurisdictions that the Company used in its evaluation of tax positions:

 

Open tax years ending    
December 31,   Jurisdiction
2010 - 2013   U.S. Federal
2010 - 2013   State of Hawaii
2010 - 2013   State of California

 

F-14
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Income taxes (continued)

 

The Company did not recognize any tax liabilities for income taxes associated with unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2013 and 2012. It is the Company’s policy to include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, within the provision for taxes in the statements of operations.

 

Advertising

 

The Company expenses all advertising costs as incurred and are included as an element of general and administrative costs in the accompanying statements of operations. There were no advertising expenses for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for the period from inception (March 23, 2006) to December 31, 2013.

 

Research and development

 

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and consists primarily of salaries and wages of scientists and related personnel engaged in research and development activities, scientific consultations, manufacturing of product candidates, third-party research, laboratory supplies, rents associated with operating leased laboratory equipment, and scientific advisory boards. The focus of these costs is on the development of astaxanthin technologies.

 

Recently issued accounting standards

 

In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurements, which amends the fair value measurement guidance and includes some enhanced disclosure requirements. The most significant change in disclosures is an expansion of the information required for Level 3 measurements based on unobservable inputs. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption of this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In September 2011, the FASB ASU No. 2011-08, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other Testing Goodwill for Impairment, issued amendments to its accounting guidance on testing goodwill for impairment. The amendments allow entities to use a qualitative approach to test goodwill for impairment. This permits an entity to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If it is concluded that this is the case, it is required to perform the currently prescribed two-step goodwill impairment test. Otherwise, the two-step goodwill impairment test is not required. This guidance is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment test performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of year 2012 and the implementation thereof did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. 

 

F-15
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Recently issued accounting standards (continued)

 

In February 2013, the FASB ASU No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, to require reporting of the impact of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss on the line items on the statement of operations, if a reclassification is required in its entirety in one reporting period. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of the ASU did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists, to specify when an unrecognized tax benefit should be presented as a liability versus an offset against a deferred tax asset. The ASU is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this ASU on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective accounting pronouncements, if adopted, would have a material effect on the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

NOTE 3 – INVENTORY

 

Inventory consists of the following as of December 31:

 

   2013   2012 
Processed materials  $986,674   $986,674 
Total inventories  $986,674   $986,674 

 

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, $924,452, in inventory was stored at one of the Company’s suppliers, which was located in Germany.

 

F-16
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 4 – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net

 

Property and equipment, net, consists of the following as of December 31:

 

   2013   2012 
Research and development equipment  $686,673   $686,673 
Leasehold improvements   153,161    153,161 
Furniture and office equipment   78,678    78,678 
Information technology equipment   105,319    75,060 
Software   9,386    9,386 
    1,033,217    1,002,958 
Less accumulated depreciation   (1,007,176)   (1,001,554)
Total property and equipment, net  $26,041   $1,404 

 

Depreciation expense was $5,622, $92,596, and $1,007,176, for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for the period from inception (March 23, 2006) to December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

NOTE 5 – INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net

 

Intangible assets, net, consists of the following as of December 31:

 

   2013   2012 
Patents  $593,120   $572,764 
Less accumulated amortization   (168,363)   (137,754)
Total intangible assets, net  $424,757   $435,010 

 

Patents are amortized straight-line over a period of fifteen years. Amortization expense was $30,609, $30,610, and $168,363, for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for the period from inception March 23, 2006 to December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

F-17
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 6 – LONG-TERM CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE, net

 

The Company’s notes payable outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, were as follows:

 

   2013   2012 
2008 Unsecured promissory note. Originated on November 12, 2008. Principal of $100,000 with $45,000 to be repaid by June 30, 2009, with $10,000 in monthly payments thereafter until repaid in full. Required a one-time interest payment of $15,000. This note was paid in full on February 7, 2014.  $55,000   $55,000 
           
2012 Short-term unsecured promissory notes. Originated at various dates in 2012 with maturities ranging from three months to one year and interest rates ranging from 8% to 12%. All of these notes were subsequently either converted into Bridge Loans or repaid in 2013. Warrants to purchase 224,220 shares of preferred Series B stock were issued in conjunction with these notes.   -     829,047 
           
2009 Non-mandatorily convertible, unsecured note. Originated on March 31, 2009, principal of $500,000 accrues interest at 8% per annum. Principal and interest were due in full on March 31, 2014 or convertible at the option of the note holder into Series B preferred stock at a rate of $0.45 per share. A warrant to purchase 222,222 shares of preferred Series B stock was issued in conjunction with this note. This note was paid in full on February 7, 2014.   500,000    500,000 
           
2010 Secured promissory notes. Principal of $549,450 originated on September 23, 2010 and $62,438 originated on November 12, 2010. Accrued interest at 10% or 14% per annum. Maturity of all notes was extended from September 23, 2012 to March 23, 2013 by majority note holder approval. Interest rate was 2% higher during the period of extension. These notes were secured by all of the Company’s intellectual property. Warrants to purchase 339,937 shares of preferred Series B stock were issued in conjunction with these notes for $612. All of these notes were subsequently either converted into the Bridge Loans or repaid in 2013.   -     611,888 
(Continued on next page)  $555,000   $1,995,935 

 

F-18
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 6 – LONG-TERM CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE, net (continued)

 

(Continued from previous page)  $555,000   $1,995,935 
           
2011 Secured promissory notes. Principal of $1,828,686 originated at various dates of 2011. Accrued interest at 10% per annum. Maturity of all notes was extended from September 23, 2012 to March 23, 2013 by majority note holder approval. Interest rate was 2% higher during the period of extension. These notes were secured by all of the Company’s intellectual property. Warrants to purchase 1,015,934 shares of preferred Series B stock were issued in conjunction with the debt for $1,829. All of these notes were subsequently either converted into the Bridge Loans or repaid in 2013.   -    1,828,686 
           
2012 Secured promissory notes. Principal of $349,650 originated in February and March of 2012. Accrued interest at 10% per annum. Maturity of all notes was extended from September 23, 2012 to March 23, 2013 by majority note holder approval. Interest rate was 2% higher during the period of extension. These notes were secured by all of the Company’s intellectual property. Warrants to purchase 194,250 shares of preferred Series B stock were issued in conjunction with the debt for $350. All of these notes were subsequently either converted into the Bridge Loans or repaid in 2013.   -    349,650 
           
2013 Bridge Loan. Principal from existing notes in the amount of $3,180,806 (comprised of $2,621,195 in principal outstanding as of December 31, 2012 and $559,611 in new principal issued from January through April 2013) along with accrued interest of $467,438 were converted into a 2013 Bridge Loan along with $4,840,792 of new principal. These notes accrued interest at 10% per annum with outstanding principal and interest due in 2014. These notes converted into common shares as part of the February 7, 2014, merger with Koffee Korner at the rate of $0.625 per share. See Note 17.   8,489,036    - 
Total notes payable   9,044,036    4,174,271 
           
Current maturities of long-term notes, net of discount   9,039,444    3,609,098 
Discount attributable to current maturities   4,592    65,173 
Total current maturities   9,044,036    3,674,271 
Notes payable, less current maturities  $-   $500,000 

 

F-19
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 6 – LONG-TERM CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE, net (continued)

 

Interest

 

Interest expense on these notes was $681,335, $370,310, and $2,658,927, for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for the period from inception (March 23, 2006) to December 31, 2013, respectively. Interest accrued on these notes as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, was $657,092 and $673,975, respectively.

 

Note conversions

 

Management tested the conversion of the 2012 short-term unsecured promissory notes and 2010 to 2012 secured promissory notes to bridge loans in 2013 for potential extinguishment accounting. Because the fair market value of the notes prior to conversion as compared to the fair market value of the notes subsequent to the conversion was less than a 10% difference, management is applying modification accounting and is accruing interest based on the new note terms.

 

Discount

 

A discount on these notes of $4,592 and $65,173, at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, was based on the fair value of detachable warrants issued at the time of funding. This discount is being amortized straight-line over the term of the underlying note. Discount amortization of $60,581, $363,858, and $1,648,452 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and from inception to December 31, 2013, respectively, was recognized as a part of interest expense.

 

A summary of the debt discount activity for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, is as follows:

 

Balance January 1, 2012  $288,439 
Debt discount recorded on 2011 notes   140,592 
Amortization of debt discount   (363,858)
Balance December 31, 2012   65,173 
Amortization of debt discount   (60,581)
Balance at December 31, 2013  $4,592 

 

Maturities

 

As of December 31, 2013, all of the Company’s notes payables have a maturity date in 2014.

 

F-20
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 7 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Formation

 

The Company was incorporated in the State of Delaware on March 23, 2006. In May 2006, Hawaii Biotech, Inc. contributed its anti-inflammatory, small molecule line of business into the Company which consisted of the following assets and liabilities:

 

Cash  $7,007,371 
Due from Hawaii Biotech, Inc.   1,000,000 
Prepaid expenses   14,279 
Employee note receivable   288,576 
Fixed assets, net of depreciation of $181,905   388,165 
Other assets   606 
Total assets   8,698,997 
      
Accounts and accrued expenses payable   138,921 
Due to Hawaii Biotech, Inc.   70,279 
Equipment leases payable   181,203 
Total liabilities   390,403 
Net assets transferred  $8,308,594 

 

The Company issued (i) 9,447,100 shares of common stock of the Company, (ii) 14,440,920 shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company, (iii) 11,113,544 shares of Series B Preferred Stock of the Company and (iv) 13,859,324 shares of Series C Preferred Stock of the Company to Hawaii Biotech, Inc., in exchange for the assets and liabilities contributed to the Company. The above shares were then distributed by Hawaii Biotech, Inc. to its shareholders. An additional 704,225 shares of Series C Preferred Stock were issued as part of the initial capitalization of the Company.

 

Authorized shares

 

On formation, the Company was authorized to issue 10,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.001 per share. On May 5, 2006, the Articles of Incorporation were amended and restated. As part of this amendment, the number of authorized shares increased to 219,582,802 of which 127,000,000 were designated as common stock and the remaining 92,582,802 was designated as preferred stock. The 92,582,802 of preferred stock was allocated 14,440,920 to Series A, 11,113,544 Series B, 42,028,338 to Series C with 25,000,000 undesignated. Par value for all classes of stock was $0.001.

 

F-21
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 7 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (continued)

 

On January 30, 2007, the Articles of Incorporation were amended and restated. As part of this amendment, the number of authorized shares increased to 245,673,568 of which 150,000,000 were designated as common stock and the remaining 95,673,568 was designated as preferred stock. The 95,673,568 of preferred stock was allocated 40,118,013 to Series A and 55,555,555 to Series B. As part of this amendment all outstanding shares of Series A, B, and C preferred stock on the date of amendment were converted to shares of Series A preferred stock. Par value for all classes of stock was $0.001.

 

Dividends

 

Subject to the rights of any series of Preferred Stock that may from time to time come into existence, the holders of Series A and Series B preferred stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available therefor, dividends at the rate of 8.5% of the original Series A Series and B issue prices, per annum, on each outstanding share of Series A and Series B preferred stock on a pari passu basis, payable in preference and priority to any payment of any dividend on common stock of the Company for such year. The right to such dividends on Preferred Stock shall not be cumulative, and no rights shall accrue to the holders of Preferred Stock by reason of the fact that the Company may have failed to declare or pay dividends on Preferred Stock in any previous fiscal year of the Company, whether or not earnings of the Company where sufficient to pay such dividends. No dividend shall be paid on common stock in any year, other than dividends payable solely in common stock, until all dividends for such year have been declared and paid on preferred stock. No dividends were accrued or paid during 2013 and 2012, or for the period from inception (March 23, 2006) to December 31, 2013.

 

Liquidation preference

 

The holders of Series A and Series B preferred stock shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or surplus funds of the Company to the holders of common stock by reason of their ownership of such stock, the amount of $0.33, the original Series A issue price, and $0.45, the original Series B issue price, (in each case adjusted for any stock dividends, combinations or splits with respect to such shares) for each share of Series A and Series B preferred stock, respectively, then held by them, and, in addition, an amount equal to all declared but unpaid dividends on Series A and Series B preferred stock, respectively, held by them.

 

F-22
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 7 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (continued)

 

Liquidation preference (continued)

 

If the assets and funds thus distributed among the holders of Series A and Series B preferred stock shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of full aforesaid preferential amounts, then, subject to the rights of series of preferred stock that may from time to time come into existence, the entire assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed ratably among the holders of Series A and Series B preferred stock in the respective proportions which the aggregate preferential amount of all shares of Series A and Series B preferred stock then held by each such holder bears to the aggregate preferential amount of all shares of Series A and Series B preferred stock outstanding as of the date of the distribution upon the occurrence of such liquidation event.

 

After payment has been made to the holders of preferred stock of the full amounts to which they shall be entitled as aforesaid, the holders of Series A preferred stock, Series B preferred stock and common stock shall participate on a pro rata basis based on the number of Common Stock equivalent shares held by a holder in the distribution of all remaining assets of the Company legally available for distribution, with the outstanding shares of Series A and Series B preferred stock treated as though they had been converted into the appropriate number of shares of Common Stock.

 

Conversion rights

 

Each share of Series A and Series B preferred stock shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the date of issuance of such share at the office of the Company or any transfer agent for such series of Series A or Series B preferred stock into such number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of common stock as is determined by dividing $0.33 in the case of Series A preferred stock and $0.45 in the case of Series B preferred stock, by the applicable Conversion Price, in effect on the date the certificate is surrendered for conversion. The price at which shares of Common Stock shall be deliverable upon conversion of Series A or Series B preferred stock shall initially be $0.33 per share with respect to shares of Series A preferred stock and $0.45 per share with respect to shares of Series B preferred stock.

 

Voting rights

 

The holder of each share of common stock issued and outstanding shall have one vote and the holder of each share of preferred stock shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of common stock into which such share of preferred stock could be converted.

 

Exercise of stock options

 

The Company issued common stock pursuant to the exercise of stock options as follows:

 

Year  Common shares issued   Average Price   Amount Realized 
2006   6,842   $0.044   $304 
2007   20,000   $0.070   $1,400 
2008   14,285   $0.070   $1,000 

 

F-23
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 8 – STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

 

On May 15, 2006, the Company adopted the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Under the Plan, the Company may issue shares of restricted stock, incentive stock options, or non-statutory stock options to employees, directors, and consultants. The aggregate number of shares which may be issued under the Plan is 16,521,704, which was increased by 1,456,786 to 17,978,490 as part of the Series B Offering in 2007.

 

Incentive stock options may be granted to employees at a price per share not less than 100% of the fair market value at date of grant. If the incentive stock option is granted to a 10% stockholder, then the purchase or exercise price per share shall not be less than 110% of the fair market value per share of common stock on the grant date. Non-statutory stock options and restricted stock may be granted to employees, directors, and consultants at a price per share, not less than 100% of the fair market value at date of grant. Options granted are exercisable, unless specified differently in the grant documents, over a default term of ten years from the date of grant and generally vest over a period of four years.

 

A summary of stock option activity is as follows:

 

   Options   Weighted
average
exercise
price
   Weighted
average
remaining contractual
term in years
   Aggregate
intrinsic value
 
Outstanding January 1, 2012   17,933,091   $0.07    4.17   $358,662 
Exercisable January 1, 2012   16,602,622   $0.07    4.05   $332,052 
Granted   -    -           
Exercised   -    -           
Forfeited   (2,642,605)  $0.07           
Outstanding December 31, 2012   15,290,486   $0.07    3.89   $305,810 
Exercisable December 31, 2012   14,524,861   $0.07    3.75   $290,497 
Granted   -    -           
Exercised   -    -           
Forfeited   -    -           
Outstanding December 31, 2013   15,290,486   $0.07    3.89   $305,810 
Exercisable December 31, 2013   15,290,486   $0.07    3.89   $305,810 

 

F-24
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 8 – STOCK OPTION PLAN (continued)

 

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above is before applicable income taxes and represents the excess amount over the exercise price option recipients would have received if all options had been exercised on the date of issue, based on a valuation of the Company’s stock for that day.

 

A summary of the Company’s non-vested options for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, is presented below:

 

   2013   2012 
Non-vested at January 1,   765,625    1,330,469 
Granted   -    - 
Vested   (765,625)   (564,844)
Forfeited   -    - 
Non-vested at December 31,    -    765,625 

 

As of December 31, 2013, there was no unrecognized stock-based compensation expense.

 

Under ASC No. 718, the Company estimates the fair value of stock options granted on each grant date using the Black-Scholes option valuation model and recognizes an expense ratably over the requisite service period. The range of fair value assumptions related to options outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, were as follows:

 

   2013   2012 
Dividend yield   0.0%    0.0% 
Risk-free rate   0.92% - 5.15%    0.92% - 5.15% 
Expected volatility   116% - 170%    116% - 170% 
Expected term   2.5 - 7.5 years    2.5 - 7.5 years 

 

The expected volatility was calculated based on the historical volatilities of publicly traded peer companies, determined by the Company. The risk free interest rate used was based on the U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the stock options to be valued. The expected dividend yield was zero, as the Company does not anticipate paying a dividend within the relevant time frame. Due to a lack of historical information needed to estimate the Company’s expected term, it was estimated using the simplified method allowed under ASC No. 718.

 

F-25
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 8 – STOCK OPTION PLAN (continued)

 

As part of the requirements of ASC No. 718, the Company is required to estimate potential forfeitures of stock grants and adjust stock based compensation expense accordingly. The estimate of forfeitures will be adjusted over the requisite service period to the extent that actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from such estimates. Changes in estimated forfeitures will be recognized in the period of change and will also impact the amount of stock based compensation expenses to be recognized in future periods.

 

The Company recognized $9,877, $23,645, and $1,599,467, in stock based compensation expense during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for the period from inception (March 23, 2006) to December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

NOTE 9 – WARRANTS

 

The following is a summary of the Company’s warrant activity:

 

   Warrants   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Weighted
Average
Remaining Contractual
Term in Years
   Aggregate Intrinsic Value 
Outstanding January 1, 2012   4,182,261   $0.45    4.77    - 
Exercisable January 1, 2012   4,182,261   $0.45    4.77    - 
Granted   418,470   $0.45    5.00      
Exercised   -                
Forfeited/Cancelled   (906,760)  $0.45           
Outstanding December 31, 2012   3,693,971   $0.45    4.81    - 
Exercisable December 31, 2012   3,693,971   $0.45    4.81    - 
Granted   -                
Exercised   -                
Forfeited/Cancelled   (298,138)  $0.45           
Outstanding December 31, 2013   3,395,833   $0.45    5.28    - 
Exercisable December 31, 2013   3,395,833   $0.45    5.28    - 

 

F-26
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 9 – WARRANTS (continued)

 

Under ASC No. 718, the Company estimates the fair value of warrants granted on each grant date using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. The fair value of warrants issued with debt is recorded as a debt discount and amortized over the life of the debt.

 

The range of fair value assumptions related to warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, were as follows:

 

   2013   2012 
Dividend yield   0.0%    0.0% 
Risk-free rate   0.62% - 4.59%    0.62% - 4.59% 
Expected volatility   108% - 167%    108% - 167% 
Expected term   2.5 - 10.0 years    2.5 - 10.0 years 

 

The expected volatility was calculated based on the historical volatilities of publicly traded peer companies, determined by the Company. The risk free interest rate used was based on the U.S. Treasury constant maturity rate in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the warrants to be valued. The expected dividend yield was zero, as the Company does not anticipate paying a dividend within the relevant time frame. The expected warrant term is the life of the warrant.

 

NOTE 10 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Consulting agreements

 

As part of consulting agreements, a director provided consulting services to the Company. The Company incurred $129,231, $0, and $417,231 in consulting fees to this director for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and from inception to December 31, 2013, respectively. Amounts payable under these agreements were $216,000 and $288,000 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

F-27
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 11 – INCOME TAXES

 

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon the difference between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rate expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the differences are expected to be reversed.

 

The income tax provision (benefit) is composed of the following at December 31:

 

    2013   2012 
    Federal    State    Total    Federal    State    Total 
Current  $-   $-   $-   $-   $-   $- 
Deferred   -    -    -    -    -    - 
             $-             $- 

 

The following table presents a reconciliation of the statutory Federal rate and the Company’s effective tax rate for the years ended December 31:

 

   2013   2012 
Tax provision (benefit) at Federal statutory rate   (34.00)%   (34.00)%
Accrued compensation   1.19%   9.82%
Accrued interest expense   0.34%   9.73%
Stock based compensation   0.08%   0.32%
Depreciation and amortization   (0.21)%   0.13%
Other   0.05%   0.05%
Change in valuation allowance   32.55%   13.96%
Effective tax rate   0.00%   0.00%

 

F-28
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 11 – INCOME TAXES (continued)

 

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The following table presents significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities for the years ended December 31:

 

   2013   2012 
Deferred tax assets:          
Net operating loss carryforwards  $8,879,799   $7,695,899 
Accrued compensation   1,720,775    1,662,473 
Accrued interest   251,167    257,620 
Credit carryforwards   124,525    124,525 
Stock based compensation   611,380    802,512 
Discount amortization   630,104    321,301 
Amortization   53,595    41,895 
Gross deferred tax assets   12,271,345    10,906,224 
Less valuation allowance   (12,188,172)   (10,844,963)
Net deferred tax assets   83,173    61,261 
Deferred tax liabilities:          
Depreciation   (68,371)   (46,501)
Gain on sale of assets   (14,802)   (14,760)
Gross deferred tax liabilities   (83,173)   (61,261)
Net deferred tax assets  $-   $- 

 

F-29
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 11 – INCOME TAXES (continued)

 

As of December 31, 2013, the Company had Federal net operating loss carryforward of $24,220,407. The net operating loss carryforward expires at various dates beginning in 2026 if not utilized. In addition, the Company had net operating losses for Hawaii income tax purposes of $20,776,118 as of December 31, 2013, which expire at various dates beginning in 2026 if not utilized. These amounts differ from the Company’s accumulated deficit due to permanent and temporary tax differences.

 

The Company’s valuation allowance was primarily related to the operating losses. The valuation allowance is determined in accordance with the provisions of ASC No. 740, Income Taxes, which requires an assessment of both negative and positive evidence when measuring the need for a valuation allowance. Based on the available objective evidence and the Company’s history of losses, management provides no assurance that the net deferred tax assets will be realized. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company has applied a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets net of the expected income from the reversal of the deferred tax liabilities.

 

For tax years 2006 to 2010 the Company received an aggregate amount of cash totaling $1,506,596 representing federal and State of Hawaii tax credits in connection with qualified research expenditures incurred. The tax credits were created to encourage taxpayers to design, develop, and/or improve products, processes, techniques, formulas or software and intended to reward programs that pursue innovation in the State of Hawaii. The tax credits are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

NOTE 12 – RESEARCH GRANT INCOME

 

The Company was awarded a three year government grant from the National Institutes of Health to fund research costs and support the Company’s development program by paying for inventory critical to the manufacturing of its product candidates. The grant included an allocation for indirect costs equal to 40% of the Company’s costs incurred exclusive of subcontractor costs.

 

The grant was used to pay for inventory of $752,634, subcontractor costs of $60,000, salaries and benefits allocable to research of $42,234, and $5,880 for miscellaneous costs such as supplies. Additionally, $318,898 was allocated as indirect costs.

 

F-30
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 13 – BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

 

The following table sets forth the computation of the Company’s basic and diluted net income (loss) per share for the years ended December 31,:

 

   2013   2012 
Net loss attributable to common shareholders, basic  $(4,361,165)  $(2,543,390)
Net loss attributable to common shareholders, diluted  $(4,361,165)  $(2,543,390)
Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic   9,488,227    9,488,227 
           
Dilutive effect of common stock options   -    - 
Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, diluted   9,488,227    9,488,227 
           
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic  $(0.46)  $(0.27)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, diluted  $(0.46)  $(0.27)

 

The following outstanding shares of common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the years presented because including them would have been antidilutive:

 

   December 31, 2013   December 31, 2012 
Common stock options   15,290,486    15,290,486 

 

F-31
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 14 – CONCENTRATION

 

The Company purchases all of its inventory from one vendor in Germany. Although there were no purchases from this vendor for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, outstanding payables to this vendor were $86,255 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

NOTE 15 – LEASES

 

Lease settlement

 

On April, 29, 2011, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with a lessor whereby the Company would make monthly payments totaling $614,934 from January 1, 2011 to October 1, 2013, in exchange of a waiver of $786,945 in late and other fees, which is recorded as a gain on debt extinguishment on the 2011 statement of operations. In the event of default, this waived amount would be payable in full in addition to the settlement amount. Total lease settlement amount payable was $251,184 as of December 31, 2012.

 

Although in default at the end of 2012, the Company subsequently cured and settled the obligation in full on October 1, 2013. The lessor upheld the Satisfaction of Judgment without exercising any of the default provisions.

 

750,000 shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Shares were held as security for this liability and released in connection with the Satisfaction of Judgment.

 

Hawaii Research Center

 

The Company entered into a lease for laboratory and office space on May 9, 2006. This lease was amended on September 7, 2011, October 30, 2012, and October 31, 2013. Under the terms of the October 31, 2013 lease amendment, the lease was extended for a period of one year. Total rent expense under this agreement was $63,393, $71,760, and $2,070,801, for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and from inception to December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

Manoa Innovation Center

 

The Company entered into an automatically renewable month-to-month lease for office space on August 13, 2010. Under the terms of this lease, the Company must provide a written notice 45 days prior to vacating the premises. Total rent expense under this agreement was $27,241, $23,026, and $91,199, for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and from inception to December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

Maturities

 

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases were $30,632, at December 31, 2013. This amount was all due during 2014.

 

F-32
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 16 – COMMITMENTS

 

Patent payable

 

As part of the formation of the Company, a patent license was transferred to the Company. The original license began in 2006. Under the terms of the license the Company agreed to pay $10,000 per year through 2015 and royalties of 2% on any revenues resulting from the license. There were no revenues generated by this license during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and from inception to December 31, 2013. The remaining obligation of $20,000 and $35,833 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, is recorded as patent license payable on the balance sheet.

 

Employee settlement

 

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company owed a former employee a settlement payable in the amount of $50,000 for accrued vacation benefits. As part of the settlement, a stock option previously granted to the former employee was fully vested and extended.

 

License and agreements

 

In November 2006, the Company entered into a joint development and supply agreement with the supplier of all of its inventory. Under the agreement, the Company granted the supplier a non-exclusive world-wide license, with an option to convert the license to an exclusive license, to use the Company’s rights related to the development and commercialization of human nutraceutical astaxanthin products. In 2013, the license was converted to an exclusive license. The Company is to receive between specified royalties based on future net sales of such human nutraceutical astaxanthin products. No royalties were realized from this agreement as of December 31, 2013 or 2012.

 

In February 2012, the Company entered into a licensing agreement granting a company worldwide exclusive rights to certain monoclonal antibodies against paclitaxel and tangible property relating to assay kits to detect various anti-cancer compounds, including manufacturing and technical know-how. The Company is to receive payments upon attaining certain milestones and royalties based on future net sales of products utilizing the licensed technology. The Company generated $10,000 of fees during 2012 from this agreement.

 

F-33
 

 

Cardax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Subsidiary

(A Development Stage Entity)

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

NOTE 17 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

The Company evaluated its December 31, 2013, consolidated financial statements for subsequent events through March 31, 2014, the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued and noted the following non-recognized events for disclosure.

 

On January 3, 2014, the Company issued $2,076,000 in notes payable to investors. These notes accrued interest at 10% per annum and automatically converted upon the merger as described below.

 

On February 7, 2014, the Company completed its merger with Koffee Korner, which was renamed to Cardax, Inc. (“Cardax”) (OTCBB:CDXI). Concurrent with the merger: (i) Cardax received aggregate gross cash proceeds of $3,923,100 in exchange for the issuance and sale of an aggregate 6,276,960 of shares of Cardax common stock, together with five year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 6,276,960 shares of Cardax common stock at $0.625 per share, (ii) the notes issued on January 3, 2014, in the outstanding principal amount of $2,076,000 and all accrued interest thereon, automatically converted into 3,353,437 shares of Cardax common stock upon the reverse merger at $0.625 per share, together with five year warrants to purchase 3,321,600 shares of common stock at $0.625 per share, (iii) the notes issued in 2013, in the outstanding principal amount of $8,489,036 and all accrued interest thereon, automatically converted into 14,446,777 shares of Cardax common stock upon the reverse merger at $0.625 per share, together with five year warrants to purchase 14,446,777 shares of common stock at $0.625 per share, (iv) stock options to purchase 15,290,486 shares of Holdings common stock at $0.07 per share were cancelled and substituted with stock options to purchase 6,889,555 shares of Cardax common stock at $0.155 per share, (v) additional stock options to purchase 20,867,266 shares of Cardax common stock at $0.625 per share were issued, and (vi) the notes issued in 2008 and 2009, in the outstanding principal amounts of $55,000 and $500,000, respectively, and all accrued interest thereon, were repaid in full. The assets and liabilities of Koffee Korner were distributed in accordance with the terms of a spin-off agreement on the closing date. Please refer to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Cardax on February 10, 2014 for a full description of the merger and related events.

 

F-34
 

 

Supplemental Information to be Furnished With Reports Filed Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act by
Registrants Which Have Not Registered Securities Pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act

 

No annual report to security holders covering the Company’s last fiscal year has been sent as of the date of this report. No proxy statement, form of proxy, or other proxy soliciting material relating to the Company’s last fiscal year has been sent to any of the Company’s security holders with respect to any annual or other meeting of security holders. If such report or proxy material is furnished to security holders subsequent to the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company will furnish copies of such material to the Commission at the time it is sent to security holders.