govx20181107_424b3.htm

 

Prospectus Supplement No. 3                                   

To Prospectus dated April 3, 2018  

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

Registration Statement No. 333-208549

 

 

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

 

Up to 10,598,662 Shares of Common Stock

 

 

 

We are supplementing the prospectus dated April 3, 2018 covering the sale of up to 10,598,662 shares of our common stock, $0.001 par value, that may be sold from time to time by the selling stockholders named in the prospectus, to add certain information as described below.

 

This prospectus supplement supplements information contained in the prospectus dated April 3, 2018 and should be read in conjunction therewith, including any previous supplements and amendments thereto, which are to be delivered with this prospectus supplement.

 

This prospectus supplement is not complete without, and may not be delivered or utilized except in connection with, the prospectus dated April 3, 2018, including any previous supplements and amendments thereto.

 

Investing in our common stock involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 of the prospectus dated April 3, 2018 for a discussion of these risks.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement in truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

We are supplementing the prospectus to add certain information contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2018, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The date of this Prospectus Supplement is November 8, 2018.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 
 

Item 1

Financial Statements

1

 

Item 2

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

8

 

Item 3

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

13

 

Item 4

Controls and Procedures

13

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Part I -- FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1     Financial Statements

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 
                 
   

September 30,

   

December 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 
   

(unaudited)

         

ASSETS

               

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 511,242     $ 312,727  

Grant funds and other receivables

    14,757       59,758  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    70,188       75,589  

Total current assets

    596,187       448,074  

Property and equipment, net

    16,270       31,151  

Deposits

    11,010       11,010  
                 

Total assets

  $ 623,467     $ 490,235  
                 
                 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)

               

Current liabilities:

               

Accounts payable

  $ 147,947     $ 77,581  

Accrued expenses (Note 6)

    1,149,758       733,711  

Current portion of note payable

    7,294       -  

Total current liabilities

    1,304,999       811,292  

Note payable, net of current portion

    42,706       -  

Total liabilities

    1,347,705       811,292  
                 

Commitments (Note 8)

               
                 

Stockholders’ equity (deficiency):

               

Preferred stock, $.01 par value:

               

Authorized shares – 10,000,000

               

Series B convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value; 100 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017

    76,095       76,095  

Series C convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value; 2,570 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017

    842,990       842,990  

Series D convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value; -0- and 1,000 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017

    -       980,000  

Series E convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value; 1,200 and -0- shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017

    1,190,000       -  

Common stock, $.001 par value:

               

Authorized shares – 600,000,000

               

Issued and outstanding shares – 178,403,476 and 106,736,810 at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017

    178,403       106,737  

Additional paid-in capital

    36,830,813       35,589,911  

Accumulated deficit

    (39,842,539 )     (37,916,790 )

Total stockholders’ equity (deficiency)

    (724,238 )     (321,057 )
                 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficiency)

  $ 623,467     $ 490,235  

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

1

 

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Grant and collaboration revenue

  $ 349,344     $ 247,994     $ 663,908     $ 895,866  
                                 

Operating expenses:

                               

Research and development

    557,696       498,200       1,416,892       1,568,093  

General and administrative

    458,974       340,143       1,175,399       985,001  

Total operating expenses

    1,016,670       838,343       2,592,291       2,553,094  
                                 

Loss from operations

    (667,326 )     (590,349 )     (1,928,383 )     (1,657,228 )
                                 

Other income (expense):

                               

Interest income

    1,058       1,592       4,092       3,249  

Interest expense

    (625 )     -       (1,458 )     -  

Total other income (expense)

    433       1,592       2,634       3,249  
                                 

Net loss

  $ (666,893 )   $ (588,757 )   $ (1,925,749 )   $ (1,653,979 )
                                 

Basic and diluted:

                               

Loss per common share

  $ (0.00 )   $ (0.01 )   $ (0.01 )   $ (0.03 )

Weighted averages shares outstanding

    167,407,100       67,000,857       149,761,230       60,757,109  

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2

 

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

               

Net loss

  $ (1,925,749 )   $ (1,653,979 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

               

Depreciation and amortization

    14,881       20,694  

Stock-based compensation expense

    275,425       43,535  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

               

Grant funds receivable

    45,001       (61,821 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    62,544       49,855  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    486,413       361,695  

Total adjustments

    884,264       413,958  

Net cash used in operating activities

    (1,041,485 )     (1,240,021 )
                 

Cash flows from investing activities:

               

Purchase of property and equipment

    -       (4,350 )

Net cash used in investing activities

    -       (4,350 )
                 

Cash flows from financing activities:

               

Net proceeds from sale of preferred stock

    1,190,000       980,000  

Net proceeds from sale of common stock

    -       154,167  

Proceeds from issuance of note payable

    50,000       -  

Net cash provided by financing activities

    1,240,000       1,134,167  
                 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    198,515       (110,204 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

    312,727       454,030  
                 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  $ 511,242     $ 343,826  

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, 1,000 shares of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock were converted into 66,666,666 shares of common stock. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, 178 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock were converted into 11,862,000 shares of common stock (Note 9).

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3

 

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 2018

(unaudited)

 

1.     Description of Business

 

GeoVax Labs, Inc. (“GeoVax” or the “Company”), is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing human vaccines using our novel vaccine platform. Our current development programs are focused on preventive vaccines against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Zika Virus, hemorrhagic fever viruses (Ebola, Sudan, Marburg, Lassa), and malaria, as well as therapeutic vaccines for chronic Hepatitis B infections and cancers. We believe our technology and vaccine development expertise are well-suited for a variety of human infectious diseases and we intend to pursue further expansion of our product pipeline.

 

Certain of our vaccine development activities have been, and continue to be, financially supported by the U.S. government. This support has been both in the form of research grants and contracts awarded directly to us, as well as indirect support for the conduct of preclinical animal studies and human clinical trials.

 

We operate in a highly regulated and competitive environment. The manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products require approval from, and are subject to, ongoing oversight by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in the European Union, and by comparable agencies in other countries. Obtaining approval for a new pharmaceutical product is never certain, may take many years and often involves expenditure of substantial resources. Our goal is to build a profitable company by generating income from products we develop and commercialize, either alone or with one or more potential strategic partners.

 

GeoVax is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and our principal offices are located in Smyrna, Georgia (metropolitan Atlanta area).

 

2.     Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements at September 30, 2018 and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 are unaudited, but include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring entries, which we believe to be necessary for a fair presentation of the dates and periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. We expect our operating results to fluctuate for the foreseeable future; therefore, period-to-period comparisons should not be relied upon as predictive of the results in future periods.

 

Our financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business for the twelve-month period following the date of the financial statements. We are devoting substantially all of our present efforts to research and development of our vaccine candidates. We have funded our activities to date from government grants and clinical trial assistance, and from sales of our equity securities. We will continue to require substantial funds to continue these activities.

 

We believe that our existing cash resources and government funding commitments will be sufficient to continue our planned operations into January 2019. Due to our history of operating losses and our continuing need for capital to conduct our research and development activities, there is substantial doubt concerning our ability to operate as a going concern beyond that date. We are currently exploring sources of capital through additional government grants and corporate collaborations. We also intend to secure additional funds through sales of our equity securities or by other means. Management believes that we will be successful in securing the additional capital required to continue the Company’s planned operations, but that our plans do not fully alleviate the substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to operate as a going concern. Additional funding may not be available on favorable terms or at all. If we fail to obtain additional capital when needed, we will be required to delay, scale back, or eliminate some or all of our research and development programs as well as reduce our general and administrative expenses.

 

3.     Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

We disclosed in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 those accounting policies that we consider significant in determining our results of operations and financial position. Other than as described below, there have been no material changes to, or in the application of, the accounting policies previously identified and described in the Form 10-K.

 

4

 

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09), which creates a new Topic, Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606. The standard is principle-based and provides a five-step model to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle is that an entity should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. We adopted ASU 2014-09 effective January 1, 2018; such adoption had no material impact on our financial statements.

 

In May 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-09, Scope of Modification Accounting (ASU 2017-09), which amends Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. ASU 2017-09 is an attempt to provide clarity and reduce both (1) diversity in practice and (2) cost and complexity when applying the guidance in Topic 718 to a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. We adopted ASU 2017-09 effective January 1, 2018; such adoption had no material impact on our financial statements.

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2018-07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting (ASU 2018-07), that expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim reporting periods within that fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2018-07 on our financial statements.

 

There have been no other recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to the recent accounting pronouncements described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, which we expect to have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

4.     Basic and Diluted Loss Per Common Share

 

Basic net loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares and potentially dilutive common share equivalents outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common share equivalents consist of convertible preferred stock, stock options and stock purchase warrants. Common share equivalents which potentially could dilute basic earnings per share in the future, and which were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share, as the effect would be anti-dilutive, totaled approximately 276.0 million and 277.5 million shares at September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

5.     Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment as shown on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets is composed of the following as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

 

   

September 30,

2018

   

December 31,

2017

 

Laboratory equipment

  $ 530,306     $ 530,306  

Leasehold improvements

    115,605       115,605  

Other furniture, fixtures & equipment

    28,685       28,685  

Total property and equipment

    674,596       674,596  

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

    (658,326 )     (643,445 )

Property and equipment, net

  $ 16,270     $ 31,151  

 

6.     Accrued Expenses

 

Accrued expenses as shown on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets is composed of the following as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

 

   

September 30,

2018

   

December 31,

2017

 

Accrued management salaries

  $ 816,715     $ 532,615  

Accrued directors’ fees

    265,420       182,620  

Other accrued expenses

    67,623       18,476  

Total accrued expenses

  $ 1,149,758     $ 733,711  

 

5

 
 

 

7.     Note Payable

 

On February 28, 2018, we entered into a Senior Note Purchase Agreement with Georgia Research Alliance, Inc. (GRA) pursuant to which we issued a five-year Senior Promissory Note (the “Note”) to GRA in exchange for $50,000. The Note bears an annual interest rate of 5%, payable monthly, with principal repayments beginning in the second year. Principal repayments are expected to be $-0- in 2018, $10,417 in 2019, $12,500 in 2020, 2021 and 2022, and $2,083 in 2023. In connection with the Note, we also issued to GRA a five-year warrant to purchase 178,571 shares of our common stock (see Note 9). Interest expense related to the Note for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 was $625 and $1,458, respectively.

 

8.     Commitments

 

We lease approximately 8,400 square feet of office and laboratory space pursuant to an operating lease which expires on December 31, 2019, with annual extension options through December 31, 2022. As of September 30, 2018, our future minimum lease payments total $200,402, $39,136 of which will be payable during 2018 and $161,266 in 2019. In the normal course of business, we may enter into various firm purchase commitments related to our research-related activities and, as of September 30, 2018, such unrecorded outstanding purchase commitments totaled approximately $209,000, all of which we expect to be reimbursable to us pursuant to our existing government grants.

 

9.     Stockholders’ Equity

 

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

 

As of September 30, 2018, there are 100 shares of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”) outstanding. The Series B Preferred Stock may be converted at any time at the option of the holder into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $0.35 per share, or 285,714 shares. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, there were no conversions or other transactions involving our Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Series C Convertible Preferred Stock

 

As of September 30, 2018, there are 2,570 shares of our Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock”) outstanding. The Series C Preferred Stock may be converted at any time at the option of the holder into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $0.015 per share, or 171,349,733 shares. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, there were no conversions or other transactions involving our Series C Preferred Stock.

 

Series D Convertible Preferred Stock

 

As of September 30, 2018, there are no shares of our Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series D Preferred Stock”) outstanding. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, 1,000 shares our Series D Preferred Stock were converted into 66,666,666 shares of our common stock.

 

Series E Convertible Preferred Stock

 

In March 2018, we issued 600 shares of our Series E Convertible Preferred Stock, $1,000 stated value (“Series E Preferred Stock”), for net proceeds, after deduction of certain expenses, of $590,000. In September 2018, we issued an additional 600 shares of Series E Preferred Stock for net proceeds of $600,000.

 

Each share of Series E Preferred Stock is entitled to a liquidation preference equal to the initial purchase price, has no voting rights, and is not entitled to a dividend. The Series E Preferred Stock is convertible at any time at the option of the holders into shares of our common stock, with a current conversion price of $0.02544 per share. The Series E Preferred Shares contains price adjustment provisions, which may, under certain circumstances reduce the conversion price to match if we sell or grant options to purchase, including rights to reprice, our common stock or common stock equivalents at a price lower than the then conversion price of the Series E Preferred Stock, or if we announce plans to do so.

 

In connection with the Series E Preferred Stock issuance in September 2018, we also issued the purchasers Series G Warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to 47,169,812 shares of our common stock. The warrants have an exercise price of $0.02544 per share, are exercisable once they have been outstanding for six months and have a term equal to 3 years from the date of issuance. The warrants contain anti-dilution and price adjustment provisions, which may, under certain circumstances reduce the exercise price to match if we sell or grant options to purchase, including rights to reprice, our common stock or common stock equivalents at a price lower than the then exercise price of the warrants, or if we announce plans to do so. The number of shares subject to warrants will not increase due to such reductions in exercise price.

 

6

 

 

We assessed the Series E Preferred Stock under ASC Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”), ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”), and ASC Topic 470, “Debt” (“ASC 470”). The preferred stock contains an embedded feature allowing an optional conversion by the holder into common stock which meets the definition of a derivative. However, we determined that the preferred stock is an “equity host” (as described by ASC 815) for purposes of assessing the embedded derivative for potential bifurcation and that the optional conversion feature is clearly and closely associated to the preferred stock host; therefore, the embedded derivative does not require bifurcation and separate recognition under ASC 815.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, there were no conversions or other transactions involving our Series E Preferred Stock except as described above.

 

Common Stock Transactions

 

As discussed above, during the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we issued 66,666,666 shares of our common stock pursuant to the conversion of 1,000 shares of our Series D Preferred Stock.

 

In February 2018, we issued 5,000,000 shares of our common stock in connection with our entering into a financial advisory and investment banking agreement (see “Stock-Based Compensation Expense” below).

 

Stock Options

 

The following table presents a summary of our stock option transactions during the nine months ended September 30, 2018:

 

   

 

Number of Shares

   

Weighted Average

Exercise Price

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2017

    7,024,275     $ 0.29  

Granted

    3,000,000       0.03  

Exercised

    --       --  

Forfeited or expired

    (169,334 )     2.46  

Outstanding at September 30, 2018

    9,854,941     $ 0.17  

Exercisable at September 30, 2018

    4,890,618     $ 0.29  

 

Stock Purchase Warrants

 

On February 28, 2018, in connection with issuance of the note payable discussed in Note 7, we issued a five-year warrant to purchase 178,571 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $0.042 per share. On September 5, 2018, in connection with issuance of Series E Preferred Stock discussed above, we issued three-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 47,169,812 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $0.02544 per share. We had no other stock purchase warrants outstanding at September 30, 2018.

 

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to our stock option plans was $85,370 and $132,569 for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, respectively, as compared to $14,433 and $43,535 for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense for stock options is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the award and is allocated to research and development expense or general and administrative expense based upon the related employee classification. As of September 30, 2018, there was $145,230 of unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options, which we expect to recognize over a weighted average period of 1.9 years.

 

Additionally, during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 we recorded stock-based compensation expense of $57,143 and $142,856, respectively, associated with common stock issued for financial advisory services. As of September 30, 2018, there was $57,143 of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense associated with this arrangement, which we expect to recognize during the remainder of 2018 and the first half of 2019.

 

10.     Income Taxes

 

Because of our historically significant net operating losses, we have not paid income taxes since inception. We maintain deferred tax assets that reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. These deferred tax assets are comprised primarily of net operating loss carryforwards and also include amounts relating to nonqualified stock options and research and development credits. The net deferred tax asset has been fully offset by a valuation allowance because of the uncertainty of our future profitability and our ability to utilize the deferred tax assets. Utilization of operating losses and credits will be subject to substantial annual limitations due to ownership change provisions of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. The annual limitation will result in the expiration of net operating losses and credits before utilization.

 

7

 

 

11.     Grants and Collaboration Revenue

 

We receive payments from government entities under our grants from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and from the U.S. Department of Defense in support of our vaccine research and development efforts. We record revenue associated with government grants as the reimbursable costs are incurred. During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, we recorded $340,716 and $650,280, respectively, of revenues associated with these grants, as compared to $247,994 and $800,866, respectively, for the comparable periods of 2017. As of September 30, 2018, there is an aggregate of $2,873,542 in approved grant and contract funds available for use.

 

During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, we recorded $8,628 and $13,628, respectively, of revenues associated with research collaboration agreements with several third parties, as compared to $-0- and $95,000, respectively, for the comparable periods of 2017.

 

12.     Subsequent Events

 

In October 2018, we issued 5,000,000 shares of our common stock related to an agreement for capital market and business advisory services. In connection with the issuance we will recognize stock-based compensation expense of $129,750 over the six-month term of the engagement.

 

In October 2018, we issued 7,500,000 shares of our common stock related to an amendment to a financial advisory and investment banking agreement. In connection with the amendment, we eliminated $56,250 of cash retainer fees accrued as of September 30, 2018. In connection with the common stock issuance, we will recognize stock-based compensation expense of $127,500 over the term of the agreement through June 30, 2019.

 

During October 2018, 90 shares our Series C Preferred Stock were converted into 6,000,000 shares of our common stock.

 

 

Item 2     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition And Results of Operations

 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

In addition to historical information, the information included in this Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the risk factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and should not be relied upon as predictions of future events. Certain such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ‘‘believes,’’ ‘‘expects,’’ ‘‘may,’’ ‘‘will,’’ ‘‘should,’’ ‘‘seeks,’’ ‘‘approximately,” ‘‘intends,’’ ‘‘plans,’’ ‘‘pro forma,’’ ‘‘estimates,’’ or ‘‘anticipates’’ or other variations thereof or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, or intentions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily dependent on assumptions, data, or methods that may be incorrect or imprecise and may be incapable of being realized. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements:

 

 

whether we can raise additional capital as and when we need it;

 

whether we are successful in developing our products;

 

whether we are able to obtain regulatory approvals in the United States and other countries for sale of our products;

 

whether we can compete successfully with others in our market; and

 

whether we are adversely affected in our efforts to raise cash by the volatility and disruption of local and national economic, credit and capital markets and the economy in general.

 

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect our management’s analysis only. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

 

Overview

 

GeoVax is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing human vaccines against infectious diseases and cancer using a novel patented Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Virus Like Particle (MVA-VLP) vaccine platform. In this platform, MVA, a large virus capable of carrying several vaccine antigens, expresses proteins that assemble into highly effective VLP immunogens in the person being vaccinated. The MVA-VLP derived vaccines elicit durable immune responses in the host similar to a live-attenuated virus, while providing the safety characteristics of a replication-defective vector.

 

Our current development programs are focused on preventive vaccines against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Zika Virus, hemorrhagic fever viruses (Ebola, Sudan, Marburg, and Lassa), and malaria, as well as therapeutic vaccines for chronic Hepatitis B infections and cancers. Our most advanced vaccine program is focused on the clade B subtype of HIV prevalent in the larger commercial markets of the Americas, Western Europe, Japan and Australia; this program is currently undergoing human clinical trials.

 

8

 

 

Our corporate strategy is to advance and protect our vaccine platform and use its unique capabilities to design and develop an array of products. We aim to advance products through to human clinical testing, and to seek partnership or licensing arrangements for commercialization. We will also leverage third party resources through collaborations and partnerships for preclinical and clinical testing. Our collaborators and partners include the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the HIV Vaccines Trial Network (HVTN), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States Army Research Institute of Infectious Disease (USAMRIID), U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (USNRL), Emory University, University of Pittsburgh, Georgia State University Research Foundation, Peking University, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) at the University of Maryland, the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), Burnet Institute in Australia, American Gene Technologies, Inc. (AGT), ViaMune, Inc., Vaxeal Holding SA, and CaroGen Corporation.

 

We have not generated any revenues from the sale of any such products, and we do not expect to generate any such revenues for at least the next several years. Our product candidates will require significant additional research and development efforts, including extensive preclinical and clinical testing. All product candidates that we advance to clinical testing will require regulatory approval prior to commercial use and will require significant costs for commercialization. We may not be successful in our research and development efforts, and we may never generate sufficient product revenue to be profitable.

 

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates make adjustments as necessary. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

For a description of critical accounting policies that affect our significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements, refer to Item 7 in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies from those disclosed in our 2017 Annual Report.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Information regarding recent accounting pronouncements is contained in Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, included in this Quarterly Report.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our principal uses of cash are to finance our research and development activities. Since inception, we have funded these activities primarily from government grants and clinical trial assistance, and from sales of our equity securities. At September 30, 2018, we had cash and cash equivalents of $511,242 and total assets of $623,467, as compared to $312,727 and $490,235, respectively, at December 31, 2017. At September 30, 2018, we had a working capital deficit of $708,812, compared to a deficit of $363,218 at December 31, 2017. Our current liabilities at September 30, 2018 include $1,082,135 of accrued management salaries and director fees, payment of which is continuing to be deferred as discussed further below.

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $1,041,485 and $1,240,021 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The variances between periods are due to fluctuations in our net losses, offset by non-cash charges such as depreciation and stock-based compensation expense, and by net changes in our assets and liabilities. Our net losses generally fluctuate based on expenditures for our research activities, partially offset by government grant revenues. As of September 30, 2018, there is $2,881,638 in approved grant funds available for use. See “Results of Operations – Grant and Collaboration Revenues” below for additional details concerning our government grants.

 

9

 

 

Members of our executive management team and our board of directors have deferred receipt of portions of their salaries and fees in order to help conserve the Company’s cash resources. As of September 30, 2018, the accumulated deferrals totaled $1,082,135. We expect the ongoing deferrals of approximately $36,200 per month for the management salaries to continue until such time as a significant financing event (as determined by the board of directors) is consummated.

 

NIAID has funded the costs of conducting all of our human clinical trials (Phase 1 and Phase 2a) to date for our preventive HIV vaccines, with GeoVax incurring certain costs associated with manufacturing the clinical vaccine supplies and other study support. NIAID is also currently funding the cost of an ongoing Phase 1 trial (HVTN 114), which is investigating the effect of adding a “protein boost” component to our vaccine, GOVX-B11. Planning is also underway for an additional Phase 1 trial to further evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of these proteins, together with GOVX-B11, in humans, which we expect to begin in the first half of 2019. Based on the results from these studies, we expect NIAID may then be ready to support a large phase 2b efficacy trial.

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $-0- and $4,350 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Our investing activities have consisted predominantly of capital expenditures.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $1,240,000 and $1,134,167 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. During February 2018, we entered into a Senior Note Purchase Agreement with Georgia Research Alliance, Inc. pursuant to which we issued a five-year Senior Promissory Note (the “Note”) for $50,000. The Note bears an annual interest rate of 5%, payable monthly, with principal repayments beginning in the second year. During March and September 2018, we sold shares of our Series E convertible preferred stock for total net proceeds of $1,190,000. During March and April 2017, warrants to purchase shares of our common stock were exercised for total net proceeds of $154,167. During May 2017, we sold shares of our Series D convertible preferred stock to certain institutional investors for net proceeds of $980,000.

 

As of September 30, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of $39.8 million. We expect for the foreseeable future we will continue to operate at a loss. The amount of the accumulated deficit will continue to increase, as it will be expensive to continue our research and development efforts. We will continue to require substantial funds to continue our activities and cannot predict the outcome of our efforts. We believe that our existing cash resources, combined with funding from existing NIH grants and clinical trial support will be sufficient to fund our planned operations to mid-January 2019. We will require additional funds to continue our planned operations beyond that date. We are currently seeking sources of capital through additional government grant programs and clinical trial support, and we may also conduct additional offerings of our equity securities. However, additional funding may not be available on favorable terms or at all and if we fail to obtain additional capital when needed, we may be required to delay, scale back, or eliminate some or all of our research and development programs as well as reduce our general and administrative expenses.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that are likely or reasonably likely to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

As of September 30, 2018, we had noncancelable lease obligations and other firm purchase obligations totaling approximately $409,000, as compared to approximately $235,000 at December 31, 2017. We have no committed lines of credit and no other committed funding or long-term debt, with the exception of the $50,000 note payable to GRA. We have employment agreements with our senior management team, each of which may be terminated with 30 days advance notice. There have been no other material changes to the table presented in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Results of Operations

 

Net Loss

 

We recorded a net loss of $666,893 for the three months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to $588,757 for the three months ended September 30, 2017. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a net loss of $1,925,749, as compared to $1,653,979 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Our net losses will typically fluctuate due to the timing of activities and related costs associated with our vaccine research and development activities and our general and administrative costs, as described in more detail below.

 

Grant and Collaboration Revenues

 

During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, we recorded grant and collaboration revenues of $349,344 and $663,908, respectively, as compared to $247,994 and $895,866, respectively, during the comparable periods of 2017. Additional detail concerning our grant revenues and the remaining funds available for use as of September 30, 2018 is presented in the table below. Grant revenues relate to grants and contracts from agencies of the U.S. government in support of our vaccine development activities. We record revenue associated with these grants as the related costs and expenses are incurred. The difference in our grant revenues from period to period is dependent upon our expenditures for activities supported by the grants and fluctuates based on the timing of the expenditures.

 

10

 

 

   

Grant Revenues Recorded During the Periods

   

Unused Funds

 
   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

   

Available at

September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

 

Zika – SBIR Grant

  $ 251,523     $ 38,150     $ 305,657     $ 38,150     $ 219,988  

Lassa Fever – SBIR Grant

    41,582       -       73,816       -       226,004  

Lassa Fever – U.S Army Grant

    14,757       -       14,757       -       2,427,550  

HIV – SBIR Grant

    32,854       185,909       256,050       493,132       -  

HIV – SBIR Grant

    -       -       -       158,972       -  

HIV – Vaccine Development Contract

    -       23,935       -       110,612       -  

Total Grant Revenues

  $ 340,716     $ 247,994     $ 650,280     $ 800,866     $ 2,873,542  

 

In addition to the grant revenues above, during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, we recorded $8,628 and $13,628, respectfully, of revenue associated with several research collaborations with third parties. These amounts primarily represent amounts paid to us by the other parties for materials and other costs associated with joint studies.

 

In March 2017, we entered into a collaboration with American Gene Technologies International, Inc. (AGT) whereby AGT intends to conduct a Phase 1 human clinical trial with our combined technologies, with the goal of developing a functional cure for HIV infection. The cost of the clinical trial (expected to begin in early 2019) will be borne by AGT. The primary objectives of the trial will be to assess the safety and efficacy of the therapy, with secondary objectives to assess the immune responses as a measure of efficacy. In exchange for use of our vaccine product in the clinical trial, AGT paid us a fee of $95,000 which we received during the second quarter of 2017 and which we recorded as revenue during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017. No commercial rights or licenses have yet been granted to AGT.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, we recorded research and development expense of $557,696 and $1,416,892, respectively, as compared to $498,200 and $1,568,093, respectively, during the comparable periods of 2017. Research and development expense for the three-month and nine-month periods of 2018 includes stock-based compensation expense of $10,759 and $32,221 respectively, as compared to $6,513 and $19,775, respectively, for the comparable periods of 2017 (see discussion under “Stock-Based Compensation Expense” below).

 

Our research and development expenses can fluctuate considerably on a period-to-period basis, depending on our need for vaccine manufacturing by third parties, the timing of expenditures related to our government grants, the timing of costs associated with any clinical trials being funding directly by us, and other factors. Research and development expenses increased by $59,496, or 11.9%, during the three-month period ended September 30, 2018 as compared to 2017, but decreased by $151,201, or 9.6%, during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018 as compared to 2017. These fluctuations are primarily due to the timing of expenditures related to our government grants. Our research and development costs do not include costs incurred by the HVTN in conducting clinical trials of our preventive HIV vaccines; those costs are funded directly to the HVTN by NIAID.

 

We do not disclose our research and development expenses by project, since our employees’ time is spread across multiple programs and our laboratory facility is used for multiple vaccine candidates. We track the direct cost of research and development expenses related to government grant revenue by the percentage of assigned employees’ time spent on each grant and other direct costs associated with each grant. Indirect costs associated with grants are not tracked separately but are applied based on a contracted overhead rate negotiated with the NIH. Therefore, the recorded revenues associated with government grants approximates the costs incurred.

 

We do not provide forward-looking estimates of costs and time to complete our research programs due to the many uncertainties associated with vaccine development. Due to these uncertainties, our future expenditures are likely to be highly volatile in future periods depending on the outcomes of the trials and studies. As we obtain data from pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, we may elect to discontinue or delay vaccine development programs to focus our resources on more promising vaccine candidates. Completion of preclinical studies and human clinical trials may take several years or more, but the length of time can vary substantially depending upon several factors. The duration and the cost of future clinical trials may vary significantly over the life of the project because of differences arising during development of the human clinical trial protocols, including the number of patients that ultimately participate in the clinical trial; the duration of patient follow-up that seems appropriate in view of the results; the number of clinical sites included in the clinical trials; and the length of time required to enroll suitable patient subjects.

 

11

 

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

During the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, we recorded general and administrative expense of $458,974 and $1,175,399, respectively, as compared to $340,143 and $985,001, respectively, during the comparable periods of 2017. General and administrative costs include officers’ salaries, legal and accounting costs, patent costs, and other general corporate expenses. General and administrative expense for the three-month and nine-month periods of 2018 include stock-based compensation expense of $131,754 and $243,204, respectively; as compared to $7,920 and $23,760, respectively, for the comparable periods of 2017 (see discussion under “Stock-Based Compensation Expense” below). Excluding stock-based compensation expense, general and administrative expenses were $327,220 and $932,195 during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, respectively, as compared to $332,223 and $961,241, respectively during the comparable periods of 2017. We expect that our general and administrative costs may increase in the future in support of expanded research and development activities and other general corporate activities.

 

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

 

For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the components of stock-based compensation expense were as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Stock option expense

  $ 85,370     $ 14,433     $ 132,569     $ 43,535  

Stock issued for services

    57,143       -       142,856       -  

Total stock-based compensation expense

  $ 142,513     $ 14,433     $ 275,425     $ 43,535  

 

In general, stock-based compensation expense is allocated to research and development expense or general and administrative expense according to the classification of cash compensation paid to the employee, consultant or director to whom the stock compensation was granted. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 stock-based compensation expense was allocated as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

Expense Allocated to:

 

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

General and administrative expense

  $ 131,754     $ 7,920     $ 243,204     $ 23,760  

Research and development expense

    10,759       6,513       32,221       19,775  

Total stock-based compensation expense

  $ 142,513     $ 14,433     $ 275,425     $ 43,535  

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

Interest income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 was $1,058 and $4,092, respectively, as compared to $1,592 and $3,249, respectively, for comparable periods of 2017. The variances between periods are primarily attributable to cash available for investment and interest rate fluctuations. Interest expense for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 was $625 and $1,458, respectively, related to the note payable issued to the GRA in February 2018; there was no interest expense during the comparable periods in 2017.

 

12

 

 

Item 3

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 4

Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

 

Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), is (1) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Our management has carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and our Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

 

Changes in internal control over financial reporting

 

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2018 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

13