Abeona Therapeutics Inc 10-Q for FY2024 Q1
Abeona Therapeutics Inc. (ABEO)
About this 10-Q
Abeona Therapeutics Inc filed this 10-Q on May 15, 2024, covering the quarter ended March 31, 2024 (FY2024 Q1).
Headline figures
Quarter ended March 31, 2024, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Net loss
- $31.58M
- compared with a net loss of $9.11M a year earlier
- Diluted EPS
- -$1.16
- compared with -$0.54 a year earlier
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM
(Mark one)
For
the quarterly period ended
or
For the transition period from to
Commission
file number
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer I.D. No.) |
(Address of principal executive offices, zip code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ |
| Smaller
reporting company | |
| Emerging
growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of May 10, 2024 was shares.
ABEONA THERAPEUTICS INC.
Form 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2024
INDEX
| 1 |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (including information incorporated by reference) contains statements that express management’s opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results and therefore are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “could,” “would,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and variations of such words and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such “forward-looking statements” speak only as of the date made and are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties, estimates, and assumptions by management that are difficult to predict. Various factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. In addition, we disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report, except as may otherwise be required by the federal securities laws.
Forward-looking statements necessarily involve risks and uncertainties, and our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors. These statements include statements about, among other things: our ability to address the items raised in the FDA’s complete response letter related to our Biologics License Application for pz-cel; the timing and outcome of our resubmission of a Biologics License Application for pz-cel; our plans to continue development of AAV-based gene therapies designed to treat ophthalmic diseases; the achievement of or expected timing, progress and results of clinical development, clinical trials and potential regulatory approvals; our pipeline of product candidates; our belief that pz-cel could potentially benefit patients with RDEB; our belief in the adequacy of the clinical trial data from our VIITAL™ clinical trial, together with the data generated in the program to date, to support regulatory approvals; our dependence upon our third-party customers and vendors and their compliance with regulatory bodies; our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues, capital requirements, and needs for additional financing; our intellectual property position and our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce intellectual property protection and exclusivity for our proprietary assets; our estimates regarding the size of the potential markets for our product candidates, the strength of our commercialization strategies and our ability to serve and supply those markets; and future economic conditions or performance.
Important factors that could affect performance and cause results to differ materially from management’s expectations are described in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as updated from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings, including this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These factors include: the timing and outcome of our resubmission of the Biologics License Application for pz-cel; our ability to access our existing at-the-market sale agreement; our ability to access additional financial resources and/or our financial flexibility to reduce operating expenses if required; our ability to obtain additional equity funding from current or new stockholders; the potential impacts of global healthcare emergencies, such as pandemics, on our business, operations, and financial condition; our ability to out-license technology and/or other assets, deferring and/or eliminating planned expenditures, restructuring operations and/or reducing headcount, and sales of assets; the dilutive effect that raising additional funds by selling additional equity securities would have on the relative equity ownership of our existing investors, including under our existing at-the-market sale agreement; the outcome of any interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or other regulatory agencies relating to any of our products or product candidates; our ability to continue to secure and maintain regulatory designations for our product candidates; our ability to develop manufacturing capabilities compliant with current good manufacturing practices for our product candidates; our ability to manufacture cell and gene therapy products and produce an adequate product supply to support clinical trials and potential future commercialization; the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates for any indication once approved; and our ability to meet our obligations contained in license agreements to which we are party.
| 2 |
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Abeona Therapeutics Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Short-term investments | ||||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||
| Other receivables | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | ||||||||
| Total current assets | ||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | ||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | ||||||||
| Other assets | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accrued expenses | ||||||||
| Current portion of operating lease liability | ||||||||
| Current portion of payable to licensor | ||||||||
| Other current liabilities | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| Long-term operating lease liabilities | ||||||||
| Long-term debt | ||||||||
| Derivative liabilities | ||||||||
| Warrant liabilities | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ (deficit) equity: | ||||||||
| Preferred stock - $ par value; authorized shares; shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively | ||||||||
| Common stock - $ par value; authorized shares; and shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively | ||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity | ( | ) | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated statements.
| 3 |
Abeona Therapeutics Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
($ in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||
| License and other revenues | $ | $ | ||||||
| Expenses: | ||||||||
| Research and development | ||||||||
| General and administrative | ||||||||
| Total expenses | ||||||||
| Loss from operations | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Interest income | ||||||||
| Interest expense | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Change in fair value of warrant and derivative liabilities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Other income | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Basic and diluted loss per common share | $ | ) | $ | ) | ||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted | ||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss): | ||||||||
| Change in unrealized (losses) gains related to available-for-sale debt securities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Comprehensive loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated statements.
| 4 |
Abeona Therapeutics Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
($ in thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Loss | (Deficit) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Accumulated | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Additional | Other | Stockholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | Paid-in | Accumulated | Comprehensive | Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Loss | (Deficit) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | | ||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock in connection with restricted share awards, net of cancellations and shares settled for tax withholding settlement | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs under open market sale agreement (ATM) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||||||||||
| Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Additional | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | Paid-in | Accumulated | Comprehensive | Stockholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Loss | Equity | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | | ||||||||||||||
| Balance | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | | ||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock in connection with restricted share awards, net of cancellations and shares settled for tax withholding settlement | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs under open market sale agreement (ATM) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | — | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||
| Balance | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated statements.
| 5 |
Abeona Therapeutics Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
($ in thousands)
(Unaudited)
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | ||||||||
| Change in fair value of warrant and derivative liabilities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accretion and interest on short-term investments | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Amortization of right-of-use lease assets | ||||||||
| Non-cash interest | ||||||||
| Change in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Other receivables | ( | ) | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Other assets | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Lease liabilities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Other current liabilities | ||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
| Capital expenditures | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Purchases of short-term investments | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments | ||||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
| Proceeds from ATM sales of common stock, net of issuance costs | ||||||||
| Payment from net settlement of restricted share awards | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | ||||||||
| Payment of debt issuance costs | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | ( | ) | ||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period | ||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | $ | ||||||
| Supplemental cash flow information: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | $ | ||||||
| Supplemental non-cash flow information: | ||||||||
| Derivative and warrant additions associated with loan and security agreement | $ | $ | ||||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ | $ | ||||||
| Cash paid for taxes | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated statements.
| 6 |
ABEONA THERAPEUTICS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 1 – NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Background
Abeona Therapeutics Inc. (together with the Company’s subsidiaries, “Abeona” or the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing cell and gene therapies for life-threatening diseases. The Company’s lead clinical program is for pz-cel, an autologous, engineered cell therapy currently in development for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (“RDEB”). The Company’s development portfolio also features adeno-associated virus (“AAV”)-based gene therapies designed to treat highly unmet, medically needed ophthalmic diseases using the novel AIM™ capsids that the Company has exclusively licensed from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and internal AAV vector research programs.
Basis of Presentation
The Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, except as otherwise disclosed, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and changes in financial position for such periods, have been made. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statement results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full fiscal year or any future period. Certain information that is normally required by U.S. GAAP has been condensed or omitted in accordance with rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The December 31, 2023 condensed consolidated balance sheet was derived from the audited statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP.
Therefore, these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on March 18, 2024.
Liquidity
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 205-40, Going Concern, the Company has evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements were issued.
As a biopharmaceutical organization, the Company has devoted substantially all of its resources since inception to research and development activities for pz-cel and other product candidates, business planning, raising capital, establishing its intellectual property portfolio, acquiring or discovering product candidates, and providing general and administrative support for these operations. As a result, the Company has incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows from operations since its inception and anticipates such losses and negative cash flows will continue for the foreseeable future.
Since
its inception, the Company has funded its operations primarily with proceeds from sales of shares of its stock. The Company has incurred
recurring losses since its inception, including net losses of $
| 7 |
While the Company believes its capital resources are sufficient to fund the Company’s on-going operations for the next 12 months from the issuance date of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company’s liquidity could be materially affected over this period by: (1) its ability to raise additional capital through equity offerings, debt financings, or other non-dilutive third-party funding; (2) costs associated with new or existing strategic alliances, or licensing and collaboration arrangements; (3) negative regulatory events or unanticipated costs related to pz-cel; (4) any other unanticipated material negative events or costs. One or more of these events or costs could materially affect the Company’s liquidity. If the Company is unable to meet its obligations when they become due, the Company may have to delay expenditures, reduce the scope of its research and development programs, or make significant changes to its operating plan. The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions.
Other receivables
Other
receivables include employee retention credits (“ERC”), sublease rent receivables and other miscellaneous receivables. As
of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had ERC receivables of $
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
There have been no new or material changes to the significant accounting policies discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 that are of significance, or potential significance, to the Company.
Credit Losses
The Company reviews its available-for-sale investments for credit losses on a collective basis by major security type and in line with the Company’s investment policy. As of March 31, 2024, the Company’s available-for-sale investments were in securities that are issued by the U.S. treasury and U.S. federal agencies, are highly rated, and have a history of zero credit losses. The Company reviews the credit quality of its accounts receivables by monitoring the aging of its accounts receivable, the history of write offs for uncollectible accounts, and the credit quality of its significant customers, the current economic environment/macroeconomic trends, supportable forecasts, and other relevant factors. The Company’s accounts receivable are with customers that do not have a history of uncollectibility nor a history of significantly aged accounts receivables. As of March 31, 2024, the Company did not recognize a credit loss allowance for its investments or accounts receivable.
Basic and diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. The weighted average number of shares of common stock includes the weighted average effect of outstanding pre-funded warrants for the purchase of shares of common stock for which the remaining unfunded exercise price is $ or less per share. The Company does not include the potential impact of dilutive securities in diluted net loss per share, as the impact of these items is anti-dilutive. Potential dilutive securities result from outstanding restricted stock, stock options, and stock purchase warrants.
| 8 |
The following table sets forth the potential securities that could potentially dilute basic loss per share in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share because to do so would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented:
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options | ||||||||
| Shares of common stock underlying restricted stock | ||||||||
| Shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants | ||||||||
| Total | ||||||||
In
January 2024 as part of the Loan and Security Agreement, see Note 8, the Company issued warrants to purchase $
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
The Company did not adopt any new accounting pronouncements during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. ASU 2023-09 is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax information through improvements to income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. The standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact that the adoption will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which expands disclosures about a public entity’s reportable segments and requires more enhanced information about a reportable segment’s expenses, interim segment profit or loss, and how a public entity’s chief operating decision maker uses reported segment profit or loss information in assessing segment performance and allocating resources. The standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact that the adoption will have on its consolidated financial statements.
| 9 |
NOTE 2 – SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
The following table provides a summary of the short-term investments (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF AVAILABLE FOR SALE SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
| March 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||
| Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gain | Gross Unrealized Loss | Fair Value | |||||||||||||
| Available-for-sale, short-term investments: | ||||||||||||||||
| U.S. treasury securities | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||
| U.S. federal agency securities | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Total available-for-sale, short-term investments | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Amortized Cost | Gross Unrealized Gain | Gross Unrealized Loss | Fair Value | |||||||||||||
| Available-for-sale, short-term investments: | ||||||||||||||||
| U.S. treasury securities | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||
| U.S. federal agency securities | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Total available-for-sale, short-term investments | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2024, the available-for-sale securities classified as short-term investments mature in one year or less. The Company carries its available-for-sale securities at fair value in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities as of March 31, 2024, were not significant and were primarily due to changes in interest rates, including market credit spreads, and not due to increased credit risks associated with specific securities. None of the short-term investments have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for more than 12 months. Accordingly, no other-than-temporary impairment was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
There
were
| 10 |
NOTE 3 – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated or amortized using the straight-line method based on useful lives as follows (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
| Useful lives (years) | March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||
| Laboratory equipment | $ | $ | ||||||||
| Furniture, software and office equipment | ||||||||||
| Leasehold improvements | ||||||||||
| Subtotal | ||||||||||
| Less: accumulated depreciation | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Total property and equipment, net | $ | $ | ||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization on property and equipment was $
NOTE 4 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Company calculates the fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities that qualify as financial instruments and includes additional information in the notes to the consolidated financial statements when the fair value is different than the carrying value of these financial instruments. The estimated fair value of other receivables, prepaid expenses and other current assets, other assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses, and payables to licensor approximate their carrying amounts due to the relatively short maturity of these instruments.
U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. This guidance establishes a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
| ● | Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. | |
| ● | Level 2 - Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data. | |
| ● | Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets and liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar valuation techniques that use significant unobservable inputs. |
The Company has segregated all financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis (at least annually) into the most appropriate level within the fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to determine the fair value at the measurement date in the table below.
| 11 |
The following table provides a summary of financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF FAIR VALUE, ASSETS AND LIABILITIES MEASURED ON RECURRING AND NON-RECURRING BASIS
| Description | Fair Value at March 31, 2024 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||
| Recurring Assets | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash equivalents | ||||||||||||||||
| Money market fund | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Short-term investments | ||||||||||||||||
| U.S. treasury securities | ||||||||||||||||
| U.S. federal agency securities | ||||||||||||||||
| Total assets measured at fair value | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
| Payable to licensor | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Derivative liabilities | — | — | ||||||||||||||
| Warrant liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities measured at fair value | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Description | Fair Value at December 31, 2023 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||
| Recurring Assets | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash equivalents | ||||||||||||||||
| Money market fund | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Short-term investments | ||||||||||||||||
| U.S. treasury securities | ||||||||||||||||
| U.S. federal agency securities | ||||||||||||||||
| Total assets measured at fair value | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
| Payable to licensor | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Warrant liabilities | ||||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities measured at fair value | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Warrant Liabilities
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had the following outstanding warrant liabilities:
SCHEDULE OF OUTSTANDING WARRANT LIABILITIES
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Warrants issued as part of the 2021 Public Offering, expiration date | ||||||||
| Warrants issued as part of the 2022 Private Placement, expiration date | ||||||||
| Warrants issued as part of the 2024 loan agreement, expiration date | ||||||||
| Outstanding warrants | ||||||||
| 12 |
For
the warrants issued as part of the 2024 loan agreement, the Company utilized the exercise price of $
The common stock warrants related to the 2021 Public Offering and the 2022 Private Placement are not indexed to the Company’s own stock and therefore have been classified as liabilities at their estimated fair value. The common stock warrants related to the Loan Agreement were determined to be liability classified under ASC 815 as the common stock warrants do not include an explicit share limit and the number of shares issuable under the warrant agreements are variable based on the exercise price. Changes in the estimated fair value of the warrant liabilities is recorded as changes in fair value of warrant liabilities in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.
The following table provides a summary of the activity on the warrant liabilities (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITY OF WARRANT LIABILITIES
| Warrant liabilities as of December 31, 2023 | $ | |||
| Fair value of warrants issued in connection with Loan Agreement | ||||
| Loss recognized in earnings from change in fair value | ||||
| Warrant liabilities as of March 31, 2024 | $ |
The warrant liabilities are valued using significant inputs not observable in the market. Accordingly, the warrant liability is measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs and are classified as Level 3 inputs within the fair value hierarchy. Fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 are sensitive to changes in the assumptions or methodology used to determine fair value and such changes could result in a significant increase or decrease in the fair value. The Company’s valuation of the common stock warrants utilized the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which incorporated assumptions and estimates to value the common stock warrants. The Company assessed these assumptions and estimates at the end of each reporting period.
SCHEDULE OF ESTIMATE FAIR VALUE OF WARRANTS
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Common share price | $ | $ | ||||||
| Expected term (years) | ||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate (%) | ||||||||
| Volatility (%) | ||||||||
| Expected dividend yield (%) | ||||||||
Derivative Liabilities
The Conversion Right embedded within the Loan Agreement (see Note 8 below) required bifurcation as certain adjustments to the conversion price were not indexed to the Company’s own stock and therefore the Conversion Right was recorded as a derivative liability. The derivative liability is remeasured at each reporting period with the change in fair value recorded to changes in fair value of warrants and derivative liabilities in the condensed consolidated statement of operations until the derivative is exercised, expired, reclassified, or otherwise settled.
The following table provides a summary of the activity on the derivative liabilities (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITY OF DERIVATIVE LIABILITIES
| Derivative liabilities as of December 31, 2023 | $ | |||
| Fair value of derivatives issued in connection with Loan Agreement | ||||
| Loss recognized in earnings from change in fair value | ||||
| Derivative liabilities as of March 31, 2024 | $ |
The derivative liabilities are valued using significant inputs not observable in the market. Accordingly, the derivative liability is measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs and are classified as Level 3 inputs within the fair value hierarchy. Fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 are sensitive to changes in the assumptions or methodology used to determine fair value and such changes could result in a significant increase or decrease in the fair value. The Company’s valuation of the derivatives utilized the Monte Carlo simulation model, which incorporated assumptions and estimates to value the derivatives. The Company assessed these assumptions and estimates at the end of each reporting period.
SCHEDULE OF ESTIMATE FAIR VALUE OF DERIVATIVES
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Common share price | $ | |||||||
| Expected term (years) | ||||||||
| Risk-free interest rate (%) | ||||||||
| Volatility (%) | ||||||||
| 13 |
NOTE 5 – SETTLEMENT LIABILITY
On
November 12, 2021, the Company entered into a settlement agreement (“Settlement Agreement”) with the Company’s prior
licensor REGENXBIO Inc. (“REGENXBIO”) to resolve all existing disputes between the parties. In accordance with the Settlement
Agreement, the Company agreed to pay REGENXBIO a total of $
As
of March 31, 2024, the Company recorded the payable due to REGENXBIO in the condensed consolidated balance sheets based on the present
value of the remaining payments due to REGENXBIO under the Settlement Agreement using an effective interest rate of
NOTE 6 – ACCRUED EXPENSES
The following table provides a summary of the components of accrued expenses (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF ACCRUED EXPENSES
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Accrued employee compensation | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accrued contracted services and other | ||||||||
| Total accrued expenses | $ | $ | ||||||
NOTE 7 – LEASES
The Company leases space under operating leases for administrative, manufacturing and laboratory facilities in Cleveland, Ohio. The Company also leases office space in New York, New York, that the Company sublets. The Company also leases certain office equipment under operating leases, which have a non-cancelable lease term of less than one year and the Company has elected the practical expedient to exclude these short-term leases from the Company’s right-of-use assets and lease liabilities.
The
Company has entered into two sublease agreements with unrelated third parties to occupy the Company’s administrative offices in
New York, New York. The Company expects to receive $
The following table provides a summary of the Company’s operating lease liabilities (in thousands):
SUMMARY OF OPERATING LEASE LIABILITIES
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Current operating lease liability | $ | $ | ||||||
| Non-current operating lease liability | ||||||||
| Total operating lease liability | $ | $ | ||||||
| 14 |
Lease costs and rent are reflected in general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, as determined by the underlying activities. The following table provides a summary of the components of lease costs and rent (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF COMPONENTS OF LEASE COST
| For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Operating lease cost | $ | $ | ||||||
| Variable lease cost | ||||||||
| Short-term lease cost | ||||||||
| Total operating lease costs | $ | $ | ||||||
Cash
paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities was $
Future minimum lease payments and obligations, which do not include short-term leases, related to the Company’s operating lease liabilities as of March 31, 2024 were as follows (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF MATURITIES OF OPERATING LEASE LIABILITIES
| Future minimum lease payments and obligations | Operating Leases | |||
| 2024, remainder | $ | |||
| 2025 | ||||
| 2026 | ||||
| 2027 | ||||
| 2028 | ||||
| Thereafter | ||||
| Total undiscounted operating lease payments | ||||
| Less: imputed interest | ||||
| Present value of operating lease liabilities | $ | |||
The
weighted-average remaining term of the Company’s operating leases was
The
Company received $
SCHEDULE OF FUTURE CASH RECEIPTS FROM OPERATING SUBLEASE
| Operating | ||||
| Future cash receipts | Subleases | |||
| 2024, remainder | $ | |||
| 2025 | ||||
| Total future cash receipts | $ | |||
| 15 |
NOTE 8 – DEBT
The following table provides a summary of the Company’s debt, net of debt issuance costs and discounts (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF COMPANY DEBT AND NET OF DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||
| Loan Agreement principal | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accreted final payment fee | ||||||||
| Unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts | ( | ) | ||||||
| Total debt | $ | $ | ||||||
Loan and Security Agreement
On
January 8, 2024 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the “Agreement”)
with Avenue Venture Opportunities Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, as administrative agent and collateral agent (“Avenue”
and the “Agent”) and Avenue Venture Opportunities Fund II, L.P. , a Delaware limited partnership (“Avenue 2”
and, together with Avenue, the “Lenders”). Also on January 8, 2024, the Company entered into a Supplement to the Agreement
(collectively with the Agreement, the “Loan Agreement”) with the Agent and the Lenders. The Loan Agreement provides for senior
secured term loans (the “Loans”) in an aggregate principal amount up to $
The
Loan principal is repayable in equal monthly installments beginning on April 8, 2025, with the possibility of deferring principal payments
an additional nine to fifteen months contingent upon (i) the Company obtaining FDA approval of pz-cel in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis
bullosa, with the issuance of a Priority Review Voucher and (ii) the Company raising $
The
Company may, subject to certain parameters, voluntarily prepay the Loans, in whole, at any time. If prepayment occurs on or before the
one-year anniversary of the Closing Date,
The
Company’s obligations under the Loan Agreement are secured by a pledge of substantially all of the Company’s assets. Pursuant
to the Loan Agreement, the Company is subject to a financial covenant requiring the Company to maintain at all times $
| 16 |
Pursuant
to the Supplement to the Loan and Security Agreement, Avenue also has the right to convert up to $
In
addition, subject to applicable law and specified provisions set forth in the Supplement to the Loan and Security Agreement and solely
to the extent permitted under applicable stock exchange rules without requiring stockholder approval, the Lenders may participate in
certain equity financing transactions of the Company in an aggregate amount of up to $
On
the Closing Date and pursuant to the funding of Tranche 1 of the Loan Agreement, the Company issued to each of Avenue and Avenue 2 (collectively,
the “Warrantholders”) warrants to purchase up to $
The future payment obligations of the principal are as follows (in thousands):
SCHEDULE OF FUTURE PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS
| 2024, remainder | $ | |||
| 2025 | ||||
| 2026 | ||||
| 2027 | ||||
| Total principal | $ |
NOTE 9 – EQUITY
Public Offerings
On
December 21, 2021, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of shares of common stock at a public offering price
of $ per share and stock purchase warrants to purchase
As
of March 31, 2024, there were
Open Market Sale Agreement
On
August 17, 2018, the Company entered into an open market sale agreement (as amended, the “ATM Agreement”) with Jefferies
LLC (“Jefferies”) pursuant to which, the Company may sell from time to time, through Jefferies, shares of its common stock
for an aggregate sales price of up to $
| 17 |
Private Placement Offerings
On
November 3, 2022, the Company sold shares of its common stock, and in lieu of shares of common stock, pre-funded warrants exercisable
for shares of common stock and accompanying warrants to purchase
In
the event of certain fundamental transactions involving the Company, the holders of the stock purchase warrants may require the Company
to make a payment based on a Black-Scholes valuation, using specific inputs that are not considered indexed to the Company’s stock
in accordance with ASC 815. Therefore, the Company is accounting for the stock purchase warrants as liabilities. On November 3, 2022,
the stock purchase warrants were recorded at the closing date fair value of $
As
of March 31, 2024, there were
Direct Placement Offering
On
July 6, 2023, the Company sold shares of its common stock, and
in lieu of shares of common stock, pre-funded warrants exercisable for shares of common stock (the
“2023 Pre-Funded Warrants”), to a group of existing institutional investors for an aggregate purchase price of $
Common Stock Warrants related to the Loan and Security Agreement
On
January 8, 2024, in connection with entering into the Loan and Security Agreement, the Company issued to each of Avenue and Avenue 2
(collectively, the “Warrantholders”) warrants to purchase up to $
| 18 |
In
connection with the underwritten common stock financing consummated on May 7, 2024, and pursuant to the term of the January Warrants,
the exercise price of the January Warrants was reduced to the lesser of (i) $
The Warrantholders may exercise the Warrants at any time, or from time to time up to and including the Expiration Date, by making a cash payment equal to the exercise price multiplied by the quantity of shares. The Warrantholders may also exercise the Warrants on a cashless basis by receiving a net number of shares calculated pursuant to the formula set forth in the Warrants. The Warrants are subject to anti-dilution adjustments for stock dividends, stock splits, and reverse stock splits.
The Company previously granted stock options under its 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Incentive Plan”), under which no further grants can be made. In addition, prior to May 17, 2023, the Company had previously granted stock options and stock awards under the Abeona Therapeutics Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Incentive Plan”). As of May 17, 2023, no further grants can be made under the 2015 Incentive Plan. The Company now grants stock options and stock awards under the Abeona Therapeutics Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2023 Incentive Plan”) which was approved by stockholders on May 17, 2023. As of March 31, 2024, there were shares available to be granted under the 2023 Incentive Plan. In addition, in 2023, the Company’s board of directors approved various restricted stock awards granted to certain new hires as inducement grants. On October 10, 2023, the Company’s board of directors approved the Abeona Therapeutics Inc. 2023 Employment Inducement Equity Incentive Plan (the “Inducement Plan”). As of March 31, 2024, there were shares available to be granted under the Inducement Plan.
SCHEDULE OF STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| For the three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| Research and development | $ | $ | ||||||
| General and administrative | ||||||||
| Total stock-based compensation expense | $ | $ | ||||||
Stock Options
The Company estimates the fair value of each option award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company then recognize the grant date fair value of each option as compensation expense ratably using the straight-line attribution method over the service period (generally the vesting period). The Black-Scholes model incorporates the following assumptions:
| ● | Expected volatility – the Company estimates the volatility of the share price at the date of grant using a “look-back” period which coincides with the expected term, defined below. The Company believes using a “look-back” period which coincides with the expected term is the most appropriate measure for determining expected volatility. | |
| ● | Expected term – the Company estimates the expected term using the “simplified” method, as outlined in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, “Share-Based Payment.” | |
| ● | Risk-free interest rate – the Company estimates the risk-free interest rate using the U.S. Treasury yield curve for periods equal to the expected term of the options in effect at the time of grant. | |
| ● | Dividends – the Company uses an expected dividend yield of zero because the Company has not declared nor paid a cash dividend, nor are there any plans to declare a dividend. |
| 19 |
The Company did not grant any stock options in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur, which may result in the reversal of compensation costs in subsequent periods as the forfeitures arise.
SCHEDULE OF STOCK OPTION ACTIVITY
Number of Options | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) | Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands) | |||||||||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2023 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Granted | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||
| Cancelled/forfeited | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||
| Exercised | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||||
| Outstanding at March 31, 2024 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Exercisable | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Unvested | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
The aggregate intrinsic value of options is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying options and the fair value of the Company’s common stock for those options that had exercise prices lower than the fair value of the Company’s common stock. As of March 31, 2024, the total compensation cost related to non-vested option awards not yet recognized was approximately $ million with a weighted average remaining vesting period of years.
Restricted Stock
SCHEDULE OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD ACTIVITY
Number of Awards | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Unit | |||||||
| Outstanding at December 31, 2023 | $ | |||||||
| Granted | $ | |||||||
| Cancelled/forfeited | $ | |||||||
| Vested | ( | ) | $ | |||||
| Outstanding at March 31, 2024 | $ | |||||||
As of March 31, 2024, there was $ million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average vesting period of years. The total fair value of restricted stock awards that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $ million.
| 20 |
NOTE 11 – LICENSE/SUPPLIER AGREEMENT
Sublicense and Inventory Purchase Agreements Relating to CLN1 Disease
In August 2020, the Company entered into sublicense and inventory purchase agreements with Taysha Gene Therapies (“Taysha”) relating to a potential gene therapy for CLN1 disease. Under the sublicense agreement, Taysha received worldwide exclusive rights to intellectual property and know-how relating to the research, development, and manufacture of the potential gene therapy, which the Company had referred to as ABO-202. Under the inventory purchase agreement, the Company sold to Taysha certain inventory and other items related to ABO-202. The Company assessed the nature of the promised license to determine whether the license has significant stand-alone functionality and evaluated whether such functionality can be retained without ongoing activities by the Company and determined that the license has significant stand-alone functionality. Furthermore, the Company has no ongoing activities associated with the license to support or maintain the license’s utility. Based on this, the Company determined that the pattern of transfer of control of the license to Taysha was at a point in time.
The
transaction price of the contract includes (i) $
Under
this arrangement, the Company has
Sublicense Agreement Relating to Rett Syndrome
In October 2020, the Company entered into a sublicense agreement with Taysha for a gene therapy for Rett syndrome, including intellectual property related to MECP2 gene constructs and regulation of their expression. The agreement grants Taysha worldwide exclusive rights to intellectual property developed by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Edinburgh and the Company, and the Company’s know-how relating to the research, development, and manufacture of the gene therapy for Rett syndrome and MECP2 gene constructs and regulation of their expression.
The Company assessed the nature of the promised license to determine whether the license has significant stand-alone functionality and evaluated whether such functionality can be retained without ongoing activities by the Company and determined that the license has significant stand-alone functionality. Furthermore, the Company has no ongoing activities associated with the license to support or maintain the license’s utility. Based on this, the Company determined that the pattern of transfer of control of the license to Taysha was at a point in time.
| 21 |
The
transaction price of the contract includes (i) $
Under
this arrangement, the Company recognized
Ultragenyx License Agreement
On
May 16, 2022, the Company and Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (“Ultragenyx”) entered into an exclusive license agreement (the
“License Agreement”) for AAV gene therapy, ABO-102, for the treatment of Sanfilippo syndrome type A (MPS IIIA). Under the
License Agreement, Ultragenyx assumed responsibility for the ABO-102 program from the Company, with the exclusive right to develop, manufacture,
and commercialize ABO-102 worldwide. Also pursuant to the License Agreement, following regulatory approval, the Company is eligible to
receive tiered royalties from mid-single-digit up to 10% on net sales and up to $
Additionally, pursuant to the License Agreement, Ultragenyx will reimburse the Company for certain development and transition costs actually incurred by the Company. These costs are passed through to Ultragenyx without mark-up. The Company has determined that these costs are not incurred for the purpose of satisfying any performance obligation under the License Agreement. Accordingly, the reimbursement of these costs is recognized as a reduction of research and development costs. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company does not have any contract assets or contract liabilities as a result of this transaction.
NOTE 12 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On
May 7, 2024, the Company closed on an underwritten offering of shares of its common stock and, in lieu of common stock, pre-funded
warrants to purchase
| 22 |
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion and analysis together with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Annual Report”). This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, such as those described under “Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
OVERVIEW
Abeona is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing cell and gene therapies for life-threatening diseases. Our lead clinical program is pz-cel, investigational autologous, COL7A1 gene-corrected epidermal sheets, currently in development for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (“RDEB”). We have announced positive data from the VIITAL™ study evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of pz-cel. The VIITAL™ study met both its two co-primary efficacy endpoints demonstrating statistically significant, clinically meaningful improvements in wound healing and pain reduction in large chronic RDEB wounds. On September 25, 2023, we submitted a Biologics License Application (“BLA”) for pz-cel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”).
In November 2023, the FDA accepted and granted priority review for our BLA for pz-cel, and subsequently, under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (“PDUFA”), the FDA set a target action date of May 25, 2024. In April 2024, the FDA issued a Complete Response Letter (“CRL”) in response to the BLA. The CRL follows the completion of Abeona’s Late Cycle Review Meeting with the FDA in March 2024. At the Late Cycle Review Meeting and in a subsequent information request, the FDA noted that certain additional information needed to satisfy the Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls (“CMC”) requirements of the pz-cel BLA must be satisfactorily resolved before the application can be approved. In response, we submitted plans to the FDA with the commitment to provide certain CMC data prior to BLA approval, and full validation reports after approval in mid-2024. We discussed these plans with the FDA in a subsequent informal meeting. In the CRL, the FDA indicated that the proposed timing of the data submission by us would not have allowed sufficient time for the FDA to complete its review by the May 25, 2024 PDUFA date.
The information needed to satisfy the CMC requests in the CRL pertains to validation requirements for certain manufacturing and release testing methods, including some that were captured in observations made during the FDA’s pre-license inspection (“PLI”). The CRL did not identify any deficiencies related to the clinical efficacy or clinical safety data in the BLA, and the FDA did not request any new clinical trials or clinical data to support the approval of pz-cel.
We have continued to prepare our current Good Manufacturing Practices (“cGMP”) commercial facility in Cleveland, Ohio for manufacturing pz-cel drug product to support our planned commercial launch of pz-cel, if approved. Pz-cel study drug product for all our VIITAL™ study participants has been manufactured at our Cleveland facility. As part of our commercial planning, we continue to engage with stakeholders across the healthcare system, including public and private payors, and healthcare providers to better understand market access and potential pricing for pz-cel. We have also begun discussions with high volume treatment centers of excellence to onboard them for pz-cel application upon potential FDA approval.
Our development portfolio also features adeno-associated virus (“AAV”) based gene therapies designed to treat ophthalmic diseases using the novel AIM™ capsids that we have exclusively licensed from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and internal AAV vector research programs.
| 23 |
Preclinical Pipeline
Our preclinical programs are investigating the use of novel AAV capsids in AAV-based therapies for serious genetic eye diseases, including ABO-504 for Stargardt disease, ABO-503 for X-linked retinoschisis (“XLRS”) and ABO-505 for autosomal dominant optic atrophy (“ADOA”). We completed pre-Investigational New Drug Application (“pre-IND”) meetings with the FDA regarding the preclinical development plans and regulatory requirements to support first-in-human trials.
Other Recent Developments
On January 8, 2024, we entered into a $50 million credit facility with the Avenue Venture Opportunities Fund, L.P. The credit agreement, which has a term of three and a half years, includes a first tranche of $20 million at closing, a second tranche of $10 million of committed capital, and an additional accordion option to upsize the credit facility by an additional $20 million upon satisfaction of certain terms and conditions.
On May 7, 2024, we closed on an underwritten offering of 12,285,056 shares of our common stock and, in lieu of common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase 6,142,656 shares of our common stock, at an offering price of $4.07 per share, which is equal to the closing price on Thursday, May 2, 2024, or $4.0699 per pre-funded warrant, which represents the per share offering price for the common stock less the $0.0001 per share exercise price for each pre-funded warrant. The pre-funded warrants will be immediately exercisable at a nominal exercise price of $0.0001 per share and may be exercised at any time until the pre-funded warrants are exercised in full. We estimate that the net proceeds from the Offering will be approximately $70.2 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and paying estimated offering expenses.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Comparison of Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023
| For the three months ended | Change | |||||||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2024 | March 31, 2023 | $ | % | ||||||||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||||||||||
| License and other revenues | $ | — | $ | — | $ — | N/A | ||||||||||
| Expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | 7,207 | 8,041 | (834 | ) | (10 | )% | ||||||||||
| General and administrative | 7,123 | 3,997 | 3,126 | 78 | % | |||||||||||
| Total expenses | 14,330 | 12,038 | 2,292 | 19 | % | |||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (14,330 | ) | (12,038 | ) | (2,292 | ) | 19 | % | ||||||||
| Interest income | 843 | 364 | 479 | 132 | % | |||||||||||
| Interest expense | (952 | ) | (101 | ) | (851 | ) | 843 | % | ||||||||
| Change in fair value of warrant and derivative liabilities | (17,301 | ) | 2,265 | (19,566 | ) | (864 | )% | |||||||||
| Other income | 162 | 403 | (241 | ) | (60 | )% | ||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (31,578 | ) | $ | (9,107 | ) | $ | (22,471 | ) | 247 | % | |||||
N/A – not applicable or not meaningful
Research and development
Research and development expenses include, but are not limited to, payroll and personnel expense, lab supplies, preclinical and development costs, clinical trial costs, manufacturing and manufacturing facility costs, costs associated with regulatory approvals, depreciation on lab supplies and manufacturing facilities, and consultant-related expenses.
Total research and development spending for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $7.2 million, as compared to $8.0 million for the same period of 2023, a decrease of $0.8 million. The decrease in expenses was primarily due to:
| ● | decreased clinical and development work for our cell and gene therapy product candidates and other related costs of $1.9 million which was due to the reduction in number of clinical trials ongoing; | |
| ● | decreased other costs of $0.3 million; partially offset by | |
| ● | increased salary and related costs of $1.2 million; and | |
| ● | increased stock compensation expenses of $0.2 million. |
We expect our research and development activities to continue as we work towards advancing our product candidates towards potential regulatory approval, reflecting costs associated with the following:
| ● | employee and consultant-related expenses; | |
| ● | preclinical and developmental costs; | |
| ● | clinical trial costs; | |
| ● | the cost of acquiring and manufacturing clinical trial materials; and | |
| ● | costs associated with regulatory approvals. |
General and administrative
General and administrative expenses primarily consist of payroll and personnel costs, office facility costs, public reporting company related costs, professional fees (e.g., legal expenses), pre-commercial launch activity costs and other general operating expenses not otherwise included in research and development expenses.
Total general and administrative expenses were $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to $4.0 million for the same period of 2023, an increase of $3.1 million. The increase in expenses was primarily due to:
| ● | increased salary and related costs of $0.9 million; | |
| ● | increased pre-commercial preparation costs of $1.3 million; | |
| ● | increased non-cash stock-based compensation of $0.6 million; and | |
| ● | increased other costs such as professional fees, rent, and recruiting of $0.3 million. |
Interest income
Interest income was $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to $0.4 million in the same period of 2023. The increase resulted from higher earnings on short-term investments driven by higher interest rates and increased average short-term investment balances.
| 24 |
Interest expense
Interest expense was $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to $0.1 million in the same period of 2023. The increase was primarily due to the credit facility entered into by the Company in January 2024, resulting in recognized interest expense of $0.8 million.
Change in fair value of warrant and derivative liabilities
The change in fair value of warrant and derivative liabilities was a loss of $17.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to a gain of $2.3 million for the same period in 2023.
We issued stock purchase warrants that are required to be classified as a liability and valued at fair market value at each reporting period. In addition, the conversion feature in our loan agreement is required to be classified as a liability and valued at fair market value at each reporting period. The change in the fair value of warrant and derivative liabilities was primarily due to the increase in our stock price year over the year and a shorter term.
Other income
Other income was $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to $0.4 million in the same period of 2023. The change was primarily a result of other income related to a refund of overpayment of franchise taxes that was received in 2023.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
| For the three months ended | ||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | March 31, 2024 | March 31, 2023 | ||||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (used in) provided by: | ||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | (14,538 | ) | $ | (11,744 | ) | ||
| Investing activities | (7,817 | ) | 2,211 | |||||
| Financing activities | 25,440 | (4 | ) | |||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | 3,085 | $ | (9,537 | ) | |||
Operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $14.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily comprised of our net loss of $31.6 million and decreases in operating assets and liabilities of $2.8 million and net non-cash charges of $19.9 million. Non-cash charges consisted primarily of $17.3 million of the change in fair value of warrant and derivative liabilities, $1.5 million of stock-based compensation and $0.5 million of depreciation and amortization.
Net cash used in operating activities was $11.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily comprised of our net loss of $9.1 million and decreases in operating assets and liabilities of $2.0 million and net non-cash charges of $0.6 million.
Investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily comprised of proceeds from maturities of short-term investments of $22.3 million, offset by purchases of short-term investments of $29.3 million and capital expenditures of $0.7 million.
Net cash provided by investing activities was $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily comprised of proceeds from maturities of short-term investments of $10.4 million, partially offset by purchases of short-term investments of $8.0 million and capital expenditures of $0.2 million.
Financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $25.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily comprised of proceeds of $6.4 million from open market sales of common stock pursuant to the ATM Agreement (as defined below) and net proceeds of $19.0 million from our January 2024 Loan Agreement.
Net cash used in financing activities was $4,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily comprised of the net settlement of restricted share awards.
We have historically funded our operations primarily through sales of common stock.
| 25 |
Our principal source of liquidity is cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments, collectively referred to as our cash resources. As of March 31, 2024, our cash resources were $62.7 million. We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments and accounting for the gross proceeds from our $75.0 million underwritten offering that closed on May 7, 2024, are sufficient to fund operations through at least the next 12 months from the date of this report on Form 10-Q. We may need to secure additional funding to carry out all of our planned research and development and potential commercialization activities. If we are unable to obtain additional financing or generate license or product revenue, the lack of liquidity and sufficient capital resources could have a material adverse effect on our future prospects.
We have an open market sale agreement with Jefferies LLC (as amended, the “ATM Agreement”) pursuant to which, we may sell from time to time, through Jefferies LLC, shares of our common stock for an aggregate sales price of up to $150.0 million. Any sales of shares pursuant to this agreement are made under our effective “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 that is on file with and has been declared effective by the SEC. We sold 889,315 shares of our common stock under the ATM Agreement and received $6.4 million of net proceeds during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Since our inception, we have incurred negative cash flows from operations and have expended, and expect to continue to expend, substantial funds to complete our planned product development and potential commercialization efforts. We have not been profitable since inception and to date have received limited revenues from the sale of products or licenses. We expect to incur losses for the next several years as we continue to invest in commercialization, product research and development, preclinical studies, clinical trials, and regulatory compliance and cannot provide assurance that we will ever be able to generate sufficient product sales or royalty revenue to achieve profitability on a sustained basis, or at all.
If we raise additional funds by selling additional equity securities, the relative equity ownership of our existing investors will be diluted, and the new investors could obtain terms more favorable than previous investors. If we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances, or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams, research programs, or product candidates or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financing when needed, we may be required to delay, limit, or terminate our product development programs or any future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market product candidates to third parties that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.
Our future capital requirements and adequacy of available funds depend on many factors, including:
| ● | the successful development, regulatory approval and commercialization of our cell and gene therapy and other product candidates; | |
| ● | the ability to establish and maintain collaborative arrangements with corporate partners for the research, development, and commercialization of products; | |
| ● | continued scientific progress in our research and development programs; | |
| ● | the magnitude, scope and results of preclinical testing and clinical trials; | |
| ● | the costs involved in filing, prosecuting, and enforcing patent claims; | |
| ● | the costs involved in conducting clinical trials; | |
| ● | competing technological developments; | |
| ● | the cost of manufacturing and scale-up; | |
| ● | the ability to establish and maintain effective commercialization arrangements and activities; and | |
| ● | the successful outcome of our regulatory filings. |
Due to uncertainties and certain of the risks described above, our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates, our ability to obtain applicable regulatory approval to market our product candidates, our ability to obtain necessary additional capital to fund operations in the future, our ability to successfully manufacture our products and our product candidates in clinical quantities or for commercial purposes, government regulation to which we are subject, the uncertainty associated with preclinical and clinical testing, intense competition that we face, the potential necessity of licensing technology from third parties and protection of our intellectual property, it is not possible to reliably predict future spending or time to completion by project or product category or the period in which material net cash inflows from significant projects are expected to commence. If we are unable to timely complete a particular project, our research and development efforts could be delayed or reduced, our business could suffer depending on the significance of the project and we might need to raise additional capital to fund operations, as discussed in the risks above.
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We plan to continue our policy of investing any available funds in suitable certificates of deposit, money market funds, government securities and investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. We do not invest in derivative financial instruments.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures in the financial statements. Management considers an accounting estimate to be critical if:
| ● | it requires assumptions to be made that were uncertain at the time the estimate was made, and | |
| ● | changes in the estimate or different estimates that could have been selected could have a material impact in our results of operations or financial condition. |
While we base our estimates and judgments on our experience and on various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, actual results could differ from those estimates and the differences could be material. For a discussion of the critical accounting estimates that affect the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, see “Critical Accounting Estimates” included in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report as well as the discussion below related to our derivative liability.
See Note 1 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for a discussion of our significant accounting policies.
Derivative Liability
We account for the fair value of the conversion right embedded within the loan agreement in accordance with the guidance in ASC 815, which requires us to bifurcate and separately account for the conversion feature as an embedded derivative contained in our loan agreement. Accordingly, we account for the conversion feature as a derivative liability in our condensed consolidated balance sheet. Derivatives are measured at their fair value on the balance sheet. In determining the appropriate fair value, we use a Monte Carlo simulation model, which incorporated assumptions and estimates to value the derivatives. The derivative liability is remeasured at each reporting period with the change in fair value recorded to change in fair value of warrant and derivative liabilities in the condensed consolidated statement of operations until the derivative is exercised, expired, reclassified, or otherwise settled.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Effective or Adopted
See Note 1 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for a discussion of recently issued accounting standards not yet effective or adopted.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management and consultants, including the Chief Executive Officer (our principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (our principal financial officer), we have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (“Disclosure Controls and Procedures”), as of March 31, 2024, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15I and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
Conclusion of Evaluation — Based on this Disclosure Controls and Procedures evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of March 31, 2024 were effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting – There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Our business and financial results are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. As a result, the risks and uncertainties discussed in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 should be carefully considered.
In addition, on April 16, 2024 we received a Complete Response Letter (a “CRL”) related to our Biologics License Application (BLA) for pz-cel for the treatment of patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB). In the CRL, the FDA noted that certain additional information needed to satisfy Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls (“CMC”) requirements must be satisfactorily resolved before the application can be approved. In response, the Company submitted plans to the FDA with the commitment to provide CMC data prior to BLA approval, and full validation reports after approval in mid-2024. There can be no assurance that we will be able to satisfy the requirements of the CRL or the timeline on which we will be able to do so. A delay in receiving approval of the BLA could shorten any periods during which we may have the exclusive right to commercialize our pz-cel or allow our competitors to bring products to market before we do. This may impair our ability to successfully commercialize pz-cel. If any of the foregoing were to occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects will be materially harmed.
Other than as set forth above, there have been no material changes in the assessment of our risk factors from those set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
(c) The following table provides information about purchases of equity securities that are registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act for the quarter ended March 31, 2024:
| Total number of shares (or units) purchased (a) | Average price paid per share (or unit) | |||||||
| Shares delivered or withheld pursuant to restricted stock awards | ||||||||
| January 1, 2024 - January 31, 2024 | — | $ | — | |||||
| February 1, 2024 - February 29, 2024 | — | $ | — | |||||
| March 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024 | — | $ | — | |||||
| — | $ | — | ||||||
| (a) | Reflects shares of common stock surrendered to the Company for payment of tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock. |
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
Securities Trading Arrangements of Directors and Executive Officers
During the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024, the following officers, as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act, as amended, adopted a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” as defined in Regulation S-K Item 408, as follows:
On February 9, 2024, Vishwas Seshadri, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Company’s board of directors, adopted a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement providing for the sale from time to time of an aggregate of (i) up to 20,000 shares of our common stock and (ii) up to (a) 100% of the shares of our common stock issued upon the settlement of 2,700 outstanding restricted stock units, (b) up to 21% of the shares of our common stock issued upon the settlement of 23,280 outstanding restricted stock units and (c) up to 30% of the shares of our common stock issued upon the settlement of 134,730 outstanding restricted stock units, in each case, less the number of shares traded to cover tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting and settlement of such restricted stock units. The duration of the trading arrangement is until October 30, 2025, or earlier if all transactions under the trading arrangement are completed.
Joseph Vazzano, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, adopted two Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements on February 9, 2024 and February 12, 2024:
| ● | The arrangement adopted on February 9, 2024 provides for the sale from time to time of an aggregate of (i) up to 14,979 shares of our common stock and (ii) up to 47,302 of the shares of our common stock issued upon the settlement of 141,908 outstanding restricted stock units, less the number of shares traded to cover tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting and settlement of such restricted stock units. The duration of the trading arrangement is until December 31, 2024, or earlier if all transactions under the trading arrangement are completed. | |
| ● | The arrangement adopted on February 12, 2024 provides for the sale from time to time of an aggregate of up to 5,500 shares of our common stock. The duration of the trading arrangement is until December 31, 2024, or earlier if all transactions under the trading arrangement are completed. |
Each trading arrangement described is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense in Rule 10b5-1(c).
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
See Exhibit Index below, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Exhibit Index
| Exhibits: |
* Pursuant to Item 601(b)(32)(ii) of Regulation S-K, this exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any filing.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| ABEONA THERAPEUTICS INC. | |||
| Date: | May 15, 2024 | By: | /s/ Vishwas Seshadri |
| Vishwas Seshadri | |||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
| Date: | May 15, 2024 | By: | /s/ Joseph Vazzano |
| Joseph Vazzano | |||
| Chief Financial Officer | |||
| (Principal Financial Officer) | |||
| 30 |
EXHIBIT 31.1
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C.
SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Vishwas Seshadri, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024, of Abeona Therapeutics Inc.; |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
| 4. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
| a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; | |
| b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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; | |
| c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and | |
| d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
| 5. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and | |
| b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
| Date: | May 15, 2024 | By: | /s/ Vishwas Seshadri |
| Vishwas Seshadri | |||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
| (Principal Executive Officer) |
EXHIBIT 31.2
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C.
SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Joseph Vazzano, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024, of Abeona Therapeutics Inc.; |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
| 4. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
| a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; | |
| b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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; | |
| c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and | |
| d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
| 5. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
| a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and | |
| b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
| Date: | May 15, 2024 | By: | /s/ Joseph Vazzano |
| Joseph Vazzano | |||
| Chief Financial Officer | |||
| (Principal Financial Officer) |
EXHIBIT 32
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C.
SECTION 1350 AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Abeona Therapeutics Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), we, Vishwas Seshadri, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Joseph Vazzano, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
| (1) | The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
| (2) | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
| Date: | May 15, 2024 | By: | /s/ Vishwas Seshadri |
| Vishwas Seshadri | |||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
| Date: | May 15, 2024 | By: | /s/ Joseph Vazzano |
| Joseph Vazzano | |||
| Chief Financial Officer | |||
| (Principal Financial Officer) |