XML 42 R9.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
Business and Basis of Presentation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Business and Basis of Presentation
Business and Basis of Presentation

Galena Biopharma, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our,” “Galena” or the “company”) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative, targeted treatments that address major unmet medical needs to advance cancer care.

Galena is developing peptide vaccine (off-the-shelf) cancer immunotherapies, which address patient populations of cancer survivors to prevent disease recurrence by harnessing the patient's own immune system to seek out and attack any residual cancer. In this case, 25% of resectable node-positive breast cancer patients, despite having no evidence of disease following surgery and chemo/radiation therapy, will still relapse within three years. Increased presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) predict Disease Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS) - suggesting a dormancy of isolated micrometastases, which over time, leads to recurrence. Our lead product, NeuVaxTM (nelipepimut-S) elicits a robust, specific and durable killer CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTLs) response to lyse HER2 expressing tumor cells.

NeuVax™ (nelipepimut-S) is the immunodominant nonapeptide derived from the extracellular domain of the HER2 protein, a well-established target for therapeutic intervention in breast carcinoma. The nelipepimut sequence stimulates specific CTLs following binding to HLA-A2/A3 molecules on antigen presenting cells (APC). These activated specific CTLs recognize, neutralize and destroy, through cell lysis, HER2 expressing cancer cells, including occult cancer cells and micrometastatic foci. The nelipepimut immune response can also generate CTLs to other immunogenic peptides through inter- and intra-antigenic epitope spreading. Based on our Phase 2 trial, which achieved its primary endpoint of DFS, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted NeuVax a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) for its Phase 3 PRESENT (Prevention of Recurrence in Early-Stage, Node-Positive Breast Cancer with Low-to-Intermediate HER2 Expression with NeuVax Treatment) study. The PRESENT trial is ongoing and additional information on the study can be found at www.neuvax.com. A randomized, multicenter, investigator-sponsored, 300 patient Phase 2b clinical trial is also enrolling patients to study NeuVax in combination with Herceptin® (trastuzumab; Genentech/Roche).

Our second product candidate, GALE-301 (Folate Binding Protein, or “FBP”), is derived from a protein that is over-expressed (20-80 fold) in more than 90% of ovarian and endometrial cancers. FBP is a highly immunogenic peptide that can stimulate CTLs to recognize and destroy preclinical FBP-expressing cancer cells. The FBP vaccine consists of the FBP peptide(s) combined with the immune adjuvant, recombinant human granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF). Galena’s FBP vaccine is currently in a Phase 1/2 trial in two gynecological cancers: ovarian and endometrial adenocarcinomas.

Our third product candidate, GALE-401 (anagrelide controlled release (CR)) was acquired on January 13, 2014. GALE-401 contains the active ingredient anagrelide, an FDA-approved product, which has been in use since the late 1990s for the treatment of essential thrombocythemia (ET). GALE-401 is a reformulated, controlled release version of anagrelide that is currently only given as an immediate release (IR) version. Multiple Phase 1 studies in an aggregate 90 patients have shown the drug to be effective at lowering platelet levels while reducing side effects that prevent patients from taking their therapy regularly. Based on a regulatory meeting with the FDA, Galena believes a 505(b)(2) regulatory filing is an acceptable paradigm for approval of GALE-401, with the reference drug Agrylin® (anagrelide; Shire Pharmaceuticals). The Phase 1 program has provided the desired PK/PD (pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic) profile to enable the Phase 2 initiation in 2014.

Our first commercial product, Abstral® (fentanyl) Sublingual Tablets, is an important treatment option for inadequately controlled breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) which affects an estimated 40%-80% of all cancer patients. Abstral is approved by the FDA, as a sublingual (under the tongue) tablet for the management of breakthrough pain in patients with cancer, 18 years of age and older, who are already receiving, and who are tolerant to, opioid therapy for their persistent baseline cancer pain. The innovative Abstral formulation delivers the analgesic power and increased bioavailability of micronized fentanyl in a convenient sublingual tablet which is designed to dissolve under the tongue in seconds, provide relief of breakthrough pain within minutes, and match the duration of the pain episode.

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

The accompanying consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Galena pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Unless the context otherwise indicates, references in this these notes to the “company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer (i) to Galena, our wholly owned subsidiary, Apthera, Inc., or “Apthera,” and our former subsidiary, RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation, or “RXi,” collectively, prior to our partial spin-off of RXi in April 2012; and (ii) to Galena and Apthera, together, after the partial spin-off.

Based on the product launch of Abstral and the significant commercial operations during the second half of 2013, Galena is no longer a development stage entity in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 915, "Development Stage Entities," and the financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2013 will no longer reflect financial information since inception.

Uses of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements — The preparation of these consolidated 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 of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Principles of Consolidation — The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Galena and its wholly owned subsidiary. All material intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

Reclassifications — Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net loss per share.

Cash and Cash Equivalents — The company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of amounts invested in money market accounts and demand deposits.

Restricted Cash — Restricted cash consists of certificates of deposit on hand with the company’s financial institutions as collateral for its corporate credit cards.

Marketable Securities — Marketable securities consist of shares of common stock of our former subsidiary, RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a publicly traded company, and are classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value on the balance sheet. Changes in the fair value of marketable securities are recorded as other comprehensive income (loss).

Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash equivalents, marketable securities, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and capital leases approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature and market rates of interest.

Accounts Receivable - The company maintains credit limits for all customers based upon several factors, including but not limited to financial condition and stability, payment history, published credit reports and use of credit references. Management performs analysis to evaluate accounts receivables to ensure recorded amounts reflect estimate net realizable value.

Inventories — Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value and are determined using the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method. Inventories consist of Abstral work-in-process and finished goods. The company has entered into manufacturing and supply agreements for the manufacture and packing of Abstral finished goods. As of December 31, 2013, the company had inventories of $386,000, consisting of $270,000 of work-in-process and $116,000 of finished goods. The company had no inventory as of December 31, 2012.

Equipment and Furnishings — Equipment and furnishings are stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives (generally three to five years for equipment and furniture) of the related assets.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets — Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but are tested annually for impairment at the reporting unit level, or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. Factors the company considers important that could trigger an interim review for impairment include, but are not limited to, the following:
Significant changes in the manner of its use of acquired assets or the strategy for its overall business;
Significant negative industry or economic trends;
Significant decline in stock price for a sustained period; and
Significant decline in market capitalization relative to net book value.

Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are evaluated for impairment first by a qualitative assessment to determine the likelihood of impairment. If it is determined that impairment is more likely than not, the company will then proceed to the two step impairment test. The first step is to compare the fair value of the reporting unit to the carrying amount of the reporting unit (the “First Step”). If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, a second step must be followed to calculate impairment (the “Second Step”). Otherwise, if the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying amount, the goodwill is not considered to be impaired as of the measurement date. In its review of the carrying value of the goodwill for its single reporting unit and its indefinite-lived intangible assets, the company determines fair values of its goodwill using the market approach, and its indefinite-lived intangible assets using the income approach.

Intangible assets not considered indefinite-lived are reviewed for impairment when facts or circumstances suggest that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable. The company’s policy is to identify and record impairment losses, if necessary, on intangible product rights when events and circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amounts of those assets.

The company performed its review for impairment using the qualitative assessment for both goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, and has determined that there has been no impairment to these assets as of December 31, 2013.

Revenue Recognition - The company recognizes revenue from the sale of Abstral. Revenue is recognized when (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred and title has passed, (iii) the price is fixed or determinable and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

We sell Abstral product in the United States to wholesale pharmaceutical distributors and retail pharmacies, or collectively, our "customers," subject to rights of return. During the year ended December 31, 2013, we began recognizing Abstral product sales at the time title transfers to our customer, and providing for an estimate of future product returns. Revenue from product sales is recorded net of provisions for estimated returns, prompt pay discounts, wholesaler discounts, rebates, chargebacks, patient assistance program rebates and other deductions as needed.

Returns - The company estimates future returns based on historical return information, as well as information regarding prescription information and sell-through trends, in relation to the estimated amount of product in the sales channels and product expiration dates. No reserve for future returns was deemed necessary at December 31, 2013.

Product Sales Discounts and Allowances - The company recognizes revenue at the point of sale to its wholesale pharmaceutical distributors and retail pharmacies and the allowances for product returns, rebates and allowances are recognized at the point of sale. The company is required to make significant judgments and estimates in determining some of these allowances. If actual results differ from its estimates, the company will be required to make adjustments to these allowances in the future.

Prompt Pay Discounts - As an incentive for prompt payment, the company offers a cash discount to customers, generally 2% of gross sales. The company expects that all customers will comply with the contractual terms to earn the discount. The company records the discount as an allowance against accounts receivable and a reduction of revenue.

Wholesaler Discounts - The company offers discounts to certain wholesalers and distributors based on contractually determined rates. The company accrues the discount as a reduction of receivables due from the wholesalers upon shipment to the respective wholesale distributors and retail pharmacies and recognizes the discount as a reduction of revenue in the same period the related revenue is recognized.

Rebates - The company participates in certain rebate programs, which provide discounted prescriptions to members of group purchasing organization and specialty pharmacies. Under these rebate programs, the company pays a rebate to the third-party administrator of the program, generally two to the three months after the quarter in which prescriptions subject to the rebate are filled. The company estimates and accrues these rebates based on current contract prices, historical and estimated future percentages of product sold to qualifying member pharmacies and estimated levels of inventory in the distribution channel. Rebates are recognized as a reduction in the period that the related revenue is recognized.

Chargebacks - The company provides discounts primarily to authorized users of the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) of the General Services Administration under an FSS contract negotiated by the Department of Veterans Affairs and various organizations under Medicaid or Medicare contracts and regulations. These entities purchase products from the wholesale distributors at a discounted price, and the wholesale distributors then charge back to the company the difference between the current retail price and the price the entity paid for the product. The company estimates and accrues chargebacks based on estimated wholesaler inventory levels, current contract prices and historic chargeback activity. Chargebacks are recognized as a reduction of revenue in the period the related revenue is recognized.

Patient Assistance Programs - The company offers discount card programs to patients for Abstral in which patients receive discounts on their Abstral prescriptions that are reimbursed by the company. The company estimates the total amount that will be recognized based on a percentage of actual redemption applied to inventory in the distribution and retail channel and recognizes the discount as a reduction of revenue and as an other current liability (see Note 6) in the same period the related revenue is recognized.

Acquisitions and In-Licensing — For all in-licensed products and technologies, we perform an analysis to determine whether we hold a variable interest or a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity. On the basis of our interpretations and conclusions, we determine whether the acquisition falls under the purview of variable interest entity accounting and if so, consider the necessity to consolidate the acquisition. As of December 31, 2013, we determined there were no variable interest entities required to be consolidated.

We also perform an analysis to determine if the assets and liabilities acquired in an acquisition qualify as a "business." The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired can only be recognized as goodwill in a business combination.

The acquisition of the Abstral U.S. rights has been accounted for as an asset acquisition and not a business combination. The purchase price, including transaction costs, was recorded as an intangible asset related to the license and distribution rights acquired in the transaction. No other significant assets or liabilities were acquired or assumed in the transaction. The license and distribution rights will be amortized over ten years in a pattern based on our Abstral sales projections. Amortization expense, related to the Abstral rights, of $131,000 was recorded in amortization of certain acquired intangible assess in the statement of comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2013. There was no amortization recorded prior to the year ended December 31, 2013. Refer to Note 15 for further information regarding the acquisition of Abstral U.S. rights.
 
Contingent Purchase Price Consideration — Contingent consideration is recorded at the estimated fair value as of the acquisition date. The fair value of the contingent consideration is remeasured at each reporting period with any adjustments in fair value included in our consolidated statement of comprehensive loss.

Patents and Patent Application Costs — Although the company believes that its patents and underlying technology have continuing value, the amount of future benefits to be derived from the patents is uncertain. Patent costs are, therefore, expensed as incurred.

Share-based Compensation — The company follows the provisions of the FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”), which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock-based payment awards made to employees, non-employee directors, and consultants, including stock options and warrants. Stock compensation expense based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718 is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period.

For stock options and warrants granted as consideration for services rendered by non-employees, the company recognizes compensation expense in accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC Topic 505-50 (“ASC 505-50”), “ Equity Based Payments to Non- Employees.” Non-employee option and warrant grants that do not vest immediately upon grant are recorded as an expense over the vesting period. At the end of each financial reporting period prior to vesting, the value of these options and warrants, as calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, will be re-measured using the fair value of the company’s common stock and the non-cash compensation recognized during the period will be adjusted accordingly. Since the fair market value of options and warrants granted to non-employees is subject to change in the future, the amount of the future compensation expense will include fair value re-measurements until the stock options are fully vested.

Research and Development Expenses — Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Included in research and development costs are wages, benefits and other operating costs, facilities, supplies, external services and overhead related to our research and development departments, and clinical trial expenses.

Clinical trial expenses include direct costs associated with contract research organizations ("CROs"), as well as well as patient-related costs at sites at which our trials are being conducted.

Direct costs associated with our CROs are generally payable on a time and materials basis, or when certain enrollment and monitoring milestones are achieved. Expense related to a milestone is recognized in the period in which the milestone is achieved or in which we determine that it is more likely than not that it will be achieved.

The invoicing from clinical trial sites can lag several months. We accrue these site costs based on our estimate of upfront set-up costs upon the screening of the first patient at each site, and the patient related costs based on our knowledge of patient enrollment status at each site.

Income Taxes — The company recognizes liabilities or assets for the deferred tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets or liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements in accordance with FASB ASC 740-10, “Accounting for Income Taxes” (“ASC 740-10”). These temporary differences will result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years when the reported amounts of the assets or liabilities are recovered or settled. ASC 740-10 requires that a valuation allowance be established when management determines that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred asset will not be realized. The company evaluates the realizability of its net deferred income tax assets and valuation allowances as necessary, at least on an annual basis. During this evaluation, the company reviews its forecasts of income in conjunction with other positive and negative evidence surrounding the realizability of its deferred income tax assets to determine if a valuation allowance is required. Adjustments to the valuation allowance will increase or decrease the company’s income tax provision or benefit. The recognition and measurement of benefits related to the company’s tax positions requires significant judgment, as uncertainties often exist with respect to new laws, new interpretations of existing laws, and rulings by taxing authorities. Differences between actual results and the company’s assumptions or changes in the company’s assumptions in future periods are recorded in the period they become known.

For the year ended December 31, 2013, we recognized an income tax expense of $1,052,000, which offsets the tax impact related to the unrealized gain on our marketable securities that were reclassified to realized gain on the sale of marketable securities during the year. We continue to maintain a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets.

Concentrations of Credit Risk — Financial instruments that potentially subject the company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents. The company maintains cash balances in several accounts with two banks, which at times are in excess of federally insured limits. As of December 31, 2013, the company’s cash equivalents were invested in money market mutual funds. The company’s investment policy does not allow investment in any debt securities rated less than “investment grade” by national ratings services. The company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash and cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2013, we had approximately $47,240,000 in interest-bearing accounts above federally insured limits.
Comprehensive Loss — Comprehensive loss consists of our net loss and other comprehensive income related to the unrealized gain (loss), net of tax, on our marketable securities, which are classified as available-for-sale.