U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-QSB
 
[mark one]
x
QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
For the quarterly period ended: September 30, 2006
 
o
TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
For the transition period from ______________ to ______________
 
Commission File Number 333-119366
 

 
NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)
 
DELAWARE
 
04-3321804
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization
)
 
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

One Gateway Center, Suite 504, Newton, Massachusetts 02458
(Address of principal executive offices)

(617) 244-1616
(Issuer’s telephone number, including area code)

 
(Former name, former address, if changed since last report)

Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes x
No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o 
No x
 
Number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s common stock as of the latest practicable date: 39,235,272 shares of common stock, $.00001 par value per share, as of November 1, 2006.
 
Transitional Small Business Disclosure Format (check one):
Yes o 
No x
 

 
NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
 
10-QSB INDEX
 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION     
         
Item 1.    Financial Statements    3
Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Plan of Operation    16
Item 3.    Controls and Procedures    33
         
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION    
         
Item 1.    Legal Proceedings    34
Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    34
Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities    34
Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    34
Item 5.    Other Information    34
Item 6.    Exhibits    35
 
2

 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Financial Statements
 
NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
 
   
September 30,
2006
 
December 31,
2005
 
 
 
(unaudited)
 
(audited)
 
ASSETS 
         
CURRENT ASSETS:
         
Cash and equivalents
 
$
11,711,402
 
$
4,267,115
 
Restricted cash
   
2,210,768
   
196,908
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
371,183
   
337,902
 
 Total current assets
   
14,293,353
   
4,801,925
 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
   
26,134
   
22,610
 
DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS
   
   
24,612
 
PREPAID EXPENSES
   
   
79,896
 
DEPOSITS
   
10,875
   
9,656
 
TOTAL ASSETS
 
$
14,330,362
 
$
4,938,699
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
             
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
             
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
 
$
1,102,067
 
$
211,456
 
Accrued interest
   
5,700
   
5,700
 
 Total current liabilities
   
1,107,767
   
217,156
 
               
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
             
               
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
             
Preferred stock, $.00001 par value; 7,000 shares authorized:
             
Series A 8% cumulative convertible preferred stock; 3,264 shares issued and outstanding (liquidation preference $3,264,000)
   
   
 
Common stock, $.00001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 39,235,272 and 27,921,199 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively
   
392
   
279
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
34,233,883
   
20,119,820
 
Accumulated deficit
   
(21,011,680
)
 
(15,398,556
)
 Total stockholders' equity
   
13,222,595
   
4,721,543
 
               
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
$
14,330,362
 
$
4,938,699
 

See notes to financial statements.
 
3


NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2006
 
2005
(Restated)
 
2006
 
2005
(Restated)
 
REVENUES:
                 
Sales of samples
 
$
 
$
12,584
 
$
 
$
12,584
 
                           
Total revenue
   
   
12,584
   
   
12,584
 
                           
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
                         
Research and development
   
2,408,658
   
376,461
   
4,200,465
   
927,169
 
General and administrative
   
586,542
   
596,863
   
1,889,182
   
905,224
 
                           
 Total costs and expenses
   
2,995,200
   
973,324
   
6,089,647
   
1,832,393
 
                           
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
                         
Interest income
   
192,017
   
8,077
   
472,023
   
9,693
 
Interest expense
   
   
(3,209
)
 
   
(109,102
)
Miscellaneous
   
1,500
   
1,000
   
4,500
   
4,297
 
Gain on forgiveness of debt
   
   
   
   
2,087,531
 
Restructuring expense
   
   
   
   
(2,521,118
)
                           
 Total other income (expense)
   
193,517
   
5,868
   
476,523
   
(528,699
)
                           
NET LOSS
   
(2,801,683
)
 
(954,872
)
 
(5,613,124
)
 
(2,348,508
)
                       
PREFERRED STOCK DEEMED DIVIDEND 
   
   
(1,943,377
)
 
    (1,943,377
)
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND 
   
(65,280
)
 
   
(195,840
)
 
 
                           
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS  
 
$ 
 (2,866,963
)
$
(2,898,249
)
$
 (5,808,964
)
$
(4,291,885
)
                           
                           
BASIC AND DILUTED NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS PER COMMON SHARE
 
$
(0.07
)
$
(0.11
)
$
(0.16
)
$
(0.22
)
                           
SHARES USED IN COMPUTING BASIC AND DILUTED NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS PER COMMON SHARE
   
39,226,250
   
27,228,700
   
36,487,218
   
19,689,732
 
 
See notes to financial statements.
 
4


NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
 
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
         
Net loss
 
$
(5,613,124
)
$
(2,348,508
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:
             
Depreciation and amortization
   
7,192
   
1,303
 
Stock-based compensation
   
462,492
   
168,186
 
Gain on forgiveness of debt
   
   
(2,087,531
)
Common stock issued for restructuring expense
   
   
2,521,118
 
Increase (decrease) in:
             
Accounts receivable
   
   
12,584
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
46,615
   
(50,556
)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   
890,611
   
(40,325
)
Accrued interest
   
   
51,451
 
Deferred revenue
   
   
(12,584
)
Deferred rent
   
   
250
 
               
Cash used in operating activities
   
(4,206,214
)
 
(1,784,612
)
               
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
             
Purchases of property and equipment
   
(10,716
)
 
(22,963
)
Change in restricted cash
   
(2,013,860
)
 
(195,726
)
Deferred financing costs
   
24,612
   
 
Deposits
   
(1,219
)
 
(4,798
)
               
Cash used in investing activities
   
(2,001,183
)
 
(223,487
)
               
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
             
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock
   
   
2,680,000
 
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
   
13,846,774
   
3,819,034
 
Dividends paid to preferred stockholders
   
(195,840
)
 
 
Proceeds from exercise of stock option
   
750
   
 
Payments of long-term debt
   
   
(1,840
)
Proceeds from issuance of promissory notes
   
   
850,000
 
Payment of promissory notes
   
   
(519,000
)
               
Cash provided by financing activities
   
13,651,684
   
6,828,194
 
               
INCREASE IN CASH AND EQUIVALENTS
   
7,444,287
   
4,820,095
 
               
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR
   
4,267,115
   
10,356
 
               
CASH AND EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
 
$
11,711,402
 
$
4,830,451
 
 
See notes to financial statements
 
5

 
NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
(unaudited)
 
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2006
 
2005
(Restated)
 
           
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
         
Cash paid for:
         
Interest
 
$
 
$
57,461
 
               
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES
             
Common stock issued for services
 
$
144,050
 
$
156,250
 
Deemed dividend for preferred stock conversion feature
 
$
 
$
1,943,377
 
Common stock issued for accrued services
 
$
 
$
216,000
 
Common stock issued on conversion of promissory notes
 
$
 
$
1,727,000
 
Common stock issued in exchange for accounts payable
 
$
 
$
544,221
 
Common stock issued for accrued interest
 
$
 
$
100,000
 
Accounts payable forgiven
 
$
 
$
773,599
 
Accrued compensation forgiven
 
$
 
$
360,357
 
Accrued interest forgiven
 
$
 
$
343,363
 
Accrued liability for amounts included in prepaid expenses
 
$
 
$
372,450
 
 
See notes to financial statements.
 
6


NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
1.    BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
The accompanying unaudited financial statements of Novelos Therapeutics, Inc. (“Novelos” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-QSB and Item 310 of Regulation S-B. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for the fair presentation of the results for the interim periods have been included. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the entire year ending December 31, 2006. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes thereto included in the Company’s latest annual report for the year ended December 31, 2005 on Form 10-KSB/A which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 1, 2006.
 
Cash - Restricted cash consists of $152,438 of cash placed in escrow as contractually required under an employment agreement with an officer and $2,058,330 of cash pledged as security on a letter of credit agreement with a bank. See Note 9.
 
Reclassifications - Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
 
Restatement -  Subsequent to the initial filing of the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 and the Company’s annual report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005 (the “Relevant Periods”) and in connection with an internal review of the terms associated with the Company’s historical financing transactions, the Company determined that the intrinsic value associated with the beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”) of the Company’s Series A 8% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock had not been properly presented as a deemed (non-cash) dividend nor deducted from net loss in determining net loss attributable to common stockholders in the Relevant Periods. As the terms of the Series A 8% Convertible Preferred Stock allowed immediate conversion, the deemed (non-cash) dividend related to the BCF should have been recorded upon issuance. The Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, the Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 (supplemental disclosures of non-cash activities) and the related footnote disclosures included in this Form 10-QSB have been revised to include the deemed dividend of $1,943,377 related to the quarter ended September 30, 2005.

2.    REVERSE MERGER AND RESTRUCTURING
 
In May and June 2005, the Company completed a merger with Common Horizons, Inc. (“Common Horizons”), a Nevada-based developer of web portals. In connection with that transaction, all outstanding shares of Novelos (net of shares of treasury stock) were converted into an equal number of shares of common stock of Common Horizons and all outstanding options and warrants to purchase shares of Novelos common stock were converted into an equal number of options and warrants to purchase shares of Common Horizons with the same terms and conditions as the original options and warrants. In connection with the merger all but 4,500,000 shares of outstanding common stock of Common Horizons were cancelled. Following these transactions, Novelos shareholders owned approximately 83% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis after giving effect to the transaction. Common Horizons changed its state of incorporation, by-laws, certificate of incorporation and fiscal year to that of Novelos and Novelos became the surviving corporation. The business of Common Horizons, which was insignificant, was abandoned and the business of Novelos was adopted. The transaction was therefore accounted for as a reverse acquisition with Novelos as the acquiring party and Common Horizons as the acquired party for accounting purposes. Accordingly, all historical information in these financial statements is that of the Novelos business. The results of operations of Common Horizons prior to the merger were not material for purposes of pro forma presentation. The 4,500,000 remaining shares of Common Horizons outstanding at the completion of the merger, net of cancellations, were deemed, for accounting purposes, to be an issuance by Novelos. Since Common Horizons had no remaining financial assets or liabilities, the merger with Common Horizons did not have any significant effects on the Company’s assets or liabilities or on the Company’s results of operations subsequent to the date of the merger.
 
7

 
On May 26, 2005, indebtedness of Novelos in the amount of $3,139,185 was exchanged for 586,352 shares of common stock of Novelos with an aggregate deemed value of $732,940 and cash in the amount of $318,714, which resulted in forgiveness of debt income of $2,087,531. Also on May 26, 2005, holders of convertible notes of Novelos in the principal amount of $1,100,000 converted their notes into 1,760,000 shares of common stock of Novelos at a price of $0.625 per share. In addition, Novelos amended an arrangement for future royalty payments to a related party (see Note 10), which resulted in the issuance of 2,016,894 shares of its common stock with an aggregate deemed value of $2,521,118. These amounts were reflected in Novelos’ Statements of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 as “Gain on forgiveness of debt” and “Restructuring expense.”
 
3.    STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
The Company’s stock-based compensation plans are summarized below:

2000 Stock Option Plan. The Company's incentive stock option plan established in August 2000 (the “2000 Plan”) provides for grants of options to purchase up to 73,873 post-split shares of common stock. Grants may be in the form of incentive stock options or nonqualified options. The board of directors determines exercise prices and vesting periods on the date of grant. Options generally vest annually over three years and expire on the tenth anniversary of the grant date. No options were granted, exercised or cancelled under the 2000 Plan during 2005 or during the three- and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2006.

2006 Stock Incentive Plan. On May 1, 2006, the Company’s board of directors adopted and on July 21, 2006 the Company’s stockholders approved, the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”). A total of 5,000,000 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance under the 2006 Plan for grants of incentive or nonqualified stock options, rights to purchase restricted and unrestricted shares of common stock, stock appreciation rights and performance share grants. A committee of the board of directors determines exercise prices, vesting periods and any performance requirements on the date of grant, subject to the provisions of the 2006 Plan. Options are granted at or above the fair market value of the common stock at the grant date and expire on the tenth anniversary of the grant date. In the nine months ended September 30, 2006, stock options for the purchase of 210,000 shares of common stock were granted under the 2006 Plan.
 
Other Stock Option Activity. During 2005 and 2004, the Company issued stock options to employees, directors and consultants outside of any formalized plan. These options are exercisable within a ten-year period from the date of grant, and vest at various intervals with all options being fully vested within two-to-three years of the grant date. The options are not transferable except by will or domestic relations order. The option price per share is not less than the fair market value of the shares on the date of the grant. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, options to purchase 75,000 shares were exercised. There have been no other exercises.

Adoption of SFAS No. 123(R)

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair-value recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS 123R”), using the modified-prospective-transition method. SFAS 123R requires all share-based payments to employees including grants of employee stock options to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair values. SFAS 123R did not change the accounting guidance for share-based payments granted to non-employees provided in SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation, as originally issued and Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) No. 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments That Are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services. EITF 96-18 requires that companies recognize compensation expense based on the estimated fair value of options granted to non-employees over their vesting period, which is generally the period during which services are rendered by such non-employees. The fair value of unvested non-employee stock awards is re-measured at each reporting period.
 
8

 
Under the modified prospective transition method, compensation cost recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 includes: (a) compensation cost for all stock-based payments granted, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation, and (b) compensation cost for all stock-based payments granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R. Results for prior periods have not been restated. As a result of the adoption of SFAS 123R, the Company recorded incremental stock-based compensation expense of $70,522 and $191,974, respectively, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006.

The following table summarizes amounts charged to expense for stock-based compensation related to employee and director stock option grants and stock-based compensation recorded in connection with stock options and restricted stock awards granted to non-employee consultants:

   
Three Months
Ended
September 30, 2006
 
Nine Months
Ended
September 30, 2006
 
           
Employee and director stock option grants:
         
           
Research and development
 
$
47,820
 
$
139,050
 
General and administrative
   
22,702
   
52,924
 
     
70,522
   
191,974
 
Non-employee consultants stock option grants and
restricted stock awards:
             
             
Research and development
   
3,969
   
3,969
 
General and administrative
   
47,723
   
266,549
 
     
51,692
   
270,518
 
               
Total stock-based compensation
 
$
122,214
 
$
462,492
 
 
Determining Fair Value

Valuation and amortization method. The fair value of each stock award is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The estimated fair value of employee stock options is amortized to expense using the straight-line method over the vesting period.

Volatility. Volatility is determined based on the Company’s estimate of fluctuation in its common stock price and its review of comparable public company data due to the limited amount of time that the Company’s common stock has been publicly traded.

Risk-free interest rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant commensurate with the expected life assumption.

9

 
Expected term. The expected term of stock options granted is based on the Company’s estimate of when options will be exercised in the future as there have been limited stock option exercises to date. The expected term is generally applied to one group as a whole as the Company does not expect substantially different exercise or post-vesting termination behavior within its employee population. The expected term of options that were granted prior to the Company’s stock becoming publicly traded was generally longer (10 years) than is currently estimated.
 
Forfeitures. As required by SFAS 123R, the Company records share-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest. SFAS 123R requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The term “forfeitures” is distinct from “cancellations” or “expirations” and represents only the unvested portion of the surrendered option. The Company has applied an annual forfeiture rate of 0% to all unvested options as of September 30, 2006 as the Company believes that there is insufficient history to develop an accurate estimate of future forfeitures. This analysis will be re-evaluated quarterly and the forfeiture rate will be adjusted as necessary. Ultimately, the actual expense recognized over the vesting period will be for only those shares that vest.

The following table summarizes weighted average values and assumptions used for options granted to employees, directors and consultants in the three and nine months periods ended September 30:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 
 2006
 
 2005
 
 2006
 
 2005
 
                   
Volatility
   
80
%
 
80
%
 
80
%
 
0-80
%
Weighted-average volatility
   
80
%
 
80
%
 
80
%
 
20.1
%
Risk-free interest rate
   
4.59%-5.05
%
 
3.84%-4.30
%
 
4.59%-5.05
%
 
3.84%-4.81
%
Expected life (years)
   
5-10
   
5-10
   
5-10
   
5-10
 
Dividend
   
0
   
0
   
0
   
0
 
Weighted-average exercise price
 
$
1.23
 
$
3.22
 
$
1.23
 
$
0.66
 
Weighted-average grant-date fair value
 
$
0.56
 
$
2.22
 
$
0.56
 
$
0.45
 
 
Pro Forma Information Under SFAS 123 for Periods Prior to January 1, 2006

The following table illustrates the effect on net loss and net loss per share had the Company applied the fair-value recognition provisions of SFAS 123R in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005. For purposes of this pro-forma disclosure, the value of the options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and amortized to expense over the options’ vesting periods.
 
   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
2005
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2005
 
   
           
Net loss available to common stockholders as reported
 
$
(2,898,249
)
$
(4,291,885
)
Deduct: Stock-based employee compensation expense
determined under fair value based method
   
(45,915
)
 
(50,244
)
Pro forma net loss
 
$
(2,944,164
)
$
(4,342,129
)
               
Basic and diluted net loss per share:
             
As reported
 
$
(0.11
)
$
(0.22
)
Pro forma
 
$
(0.11
)
$
(0.22
)
 
10

 
Stock Option Activity

A summary of stock option activity under the 2000 Plan, the 2006 Plan and outside of any formalized plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 is as follows:
 
 
 
Options
Outstanding
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
 
Weighted Average
Remaining
Contracted Term in
Years
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2005
   
2,727,651
 
$
0.60
   
8.9
 
$
4,294,257
 
Granted
   
210,000
 
$
1.23
         
Exercised
   
(75,000
)
$
0.01
         
Outstanding at September 30, 2006
   
2,862,651
 
$
0.66
   
8.3
 
$
1,836,718
 
Exercisable at September 30, 2006
   
2,230,312
 
$
0.41
   
8.1
 
$
1,700,076
 
 
The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding at September 30, 2006 is calculated based on the positive difference between the closing market price of the Company’s common stock at the end of the respective period and the exercise price of the underlying options. The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $0.56 per share. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the total intrinsic value of options exercised was $134,250 and the total amount of cash received from exercise of these options was $750.
 
The following tables summarize information about stock options outstanding at September 30, 2006:
 
     
Options Outstanding
         
Options Exercisable
 
Exercise Price     
Number of
Shares 
   
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Years)
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   
Number of
Shares
   
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
                                 
$ 0.01
   
2,053,778
   
8.1
 
$
0.01
   
1,900,627
 
$
0.01
 
                                 
$ 0.70 - $1.95
   
255,705
   
9.2
 
$
1.14
   
51,517
 
$
0.88
 
                                 
$ 2.00 - $3.22
   
525,000
   
8.9
 
$
2.63
   
250,000
 
$
2.65
 
                                 
$ 7.01
   
28,168
   
5.8
 
$
7.01
   
28,168
 
$
7.01
 
                             
     
2,862,651
   
8.30
 
$
0.66
   
2,230,312
 
$
0.41
 
 
As of September 30, 2006, there was approximately $462,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.25 years. The Company expects 632,339 in unvested options to vest in the future.

4.    COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
 
The Company had no components of comprehensive income (loss) other than net loss in all of the periods presented.
 
11

 
5.    NET LOSS PER SHARE
 
Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and the dilutive potential common stock equivalents then outstanding. Potential common stock equivalents consist of stock options, warrants and convertible preferred stock. Since the Company has a net loss for all periods presented, the inclusion of stock options and warrants in the computation would be antidilutive. Accordingly, basic and diluted net loss per share are the same.
 
The following potentially dilutive securities have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share since their inclusion would be antidilutive:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 
2006
 
2005
 
2006
 
2005
 
                    
Stock options
   
2,862,651
   
2,627,651
   
2,862,651
   
2,627,651
 
Warrants
   
14,561,449
   
4,768,402
   
14,561,449
   
4.768,402
 
Conversion of preferred stock
   
2,417,774
   
1,818,182
   
2,417,774
   
1,818,182
 
 
6.     INCOME TAXES
 
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (“SFAS 109”). Under SFAS 109, deferred tax assets or liabilities are computed based on the difference between the financial-statement and income-tax basis of assets and liabilities, and net operating loss carryforwards, using the enacted tax rates. Deferred income tax expense or benefit is based on changes in the asset or liability from period to period. The Company did not record a provision for federal, state or foreign income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005, respectively, because the Company has experienced losses since inception. The Company has not recorded a benefit for deferred tax assets as their realizability is uncertain.
 
7.    NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS 157”), to define fair value, establish a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expand disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier application allowed. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this standard on its future reported financial position and results of operations.
 
In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instrumentsan amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140 (“SFAS 155”), to simplify and make more consistent the accounting for certain financial instruments. SFAS 155 amends SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, to permit fair-value remeasurement for any hybrid financial instrument with an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation, provided that the whole instrument is accounted for on a fair-value basis. SFAS 155 amends SFAS No. 140, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, to allow a qualifying special-purpose entity to hold a derivative financial instrument that pertains to a beneficial interest other than another derivative financial instrument. SFAS 155 applies to all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entity's first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006, with earlier application allowed. This standard is not expected to have a significant effect on the Company’s future reported financial position or results of operations.

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8.    STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
2005 PIPE - From May 27, 2005 through August 9, 2005, the Company completed a private offering of securities structured as a “PIPE” (Private Investment in Public Equity), exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, in which it sold to accredited investors 4,000,000 shares of common stock and issued 2,000,000 common stock warrants (initially exercisable at $2.25 per share) for net cash proceeds of approximately $3,715,000 (net of issuance costs of approximately $891,000) and conversion of debt of $550,000. In connection with the private placement, the Company also issued 125,000 shares of common stock to placement agents and issued 340,000 common stock warrants to placement agents and finders at an initial exercise price of $2.00 per share. Pursuant to anti-dilution provisions, the number of warrants issued to investors, placement agents and finders was subsequently increased to 3,139,312 and the exercise price of the warrants was reduced to $1.65 per share as a result of the Series A Preferred financing described below. The 2006 PIPE transaction in March 2006 described below resulted in a further adjustment to the warrants, increasing the number of warrants to 3,836,967 and reducing the exercise price of the warrants to $1.35 per share.
 
Series A Preferred - On September 30, 2005 and October 3, 2005, the Company sold, in a private placement, a total of 3,200 shares of its Series A 8% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock and 969,696 common stock warrants for net proceeds of $2,864,000, net of issuance costs of $336,000. The preferred shares were originally convertible at a price of $1.65 per common share into 1,939,393 shares of common stock and the warrants were exercisable at $2.50 per share. The fair value of the 969,696 warrants, determined on a relative fair-value basis, was $786,679, which is included in additional paid-in capital. Since the conversion price of the preferred stock was less than the market value of the Company’s common stock at the time of the closings, the Company determined that there was a beneficial conversion feature. After allocating the value of the warrants, the intrinsic value of the beneficial conversion feature was determined to be $4,344,252. However, there were not sufficient net proceeds remaining to allocate the full intrinsic value to the beneficial conversion feature. Therefore, the remaining net proceeds of $2,077,321 were allocated to the beneficial conversion feature and that amount was recorded as a deemed dividend in the year ended December 31, 2005. The deemed dividend associated with the September 30, 2005 closing of $1,943,377 is reflected as an adjustment to arrive at net loss attributable to common stockholders for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005.
 
Pursuant to anti-dilution provisions, both the conversion price of the preferred stock and the exercise price of the warrants were subsequently adjusted to $1.35 per share on March 7, 2006 in connection with a subsequent offering of common stock described below and the preferred stock became convertible into 2,370,370 shares of common stock. The intrinsic value associated with this contingent beneficial conversion feature was $1,501,686. However, the proceeds had been fully allocated to the warrants and initial beneficial conversion feature as described above and therefore no additional deemed dividend was recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 2006.
 
2006 PIPE - On March 7, 2006, the Company completed a private offering of securities structured as a PIPE, exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, in which it sold to accredited investors 11,154,073 shares of common stock at $1.35 per share and warrants to purchase 8,365,542 common stock warrants exercisable at $2.50 per share for net cash proceeds of approximately $13,847,000 (net of issuance costs of approximately $1,211,000). In connection with the private placement, the Company issued 669,244 common stock warrants (exercisable at $2.50 per share) to the placement agents.
 
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Common Stock Warrants - The following table summarizes information with regard to outstanding warrants issued in connection with equity and debt financings as of September 30, 2006:

 
 
Offering
 
 
Outstanding
(as adjusted)
 
Exercise
Price
(as adjusted)
 
 
 
Expiration Date
 
               
2005 Bridge Loans
   
720,000
 
$
0.625
   
April 1, 2010
 
2005 PIPE
                   
Investors
   
3,333,275
 
$
1.35
   
August 9, 2008
 
Placement Agents/Finders
   
503,692
 
$
1.35
   
August 9, 2010
 
Series A Preferred
                   
Investors - September 30, 2005 closing
   
909,090
 
$
1.35
   
September 30, 2010
 
Investors - October 3, 2005 closing
   
60,606
 
$
1.35
   
October 3, 2010
 
2006 PIPE
                   
Investors
   
8,365,542
 
$
2.50
   
March 7, 2011
 
Placement Agents
   
669,244
 
$
2.50
   
March 7, 2011
 
                     
Total
   
14,561,449
             

None of the above warrants have been exercised as of September 30, 2006.

On April 1, 2005, in connection with the issuance of $450,000 bridge notes payable, the Company issued warrants to purchase 720,000 shares of Novelos stock at $0.625 per share that expire in 5 years.

9.    COMMITMENTS
 
Novelos issued 50,000 shares of common stock to a vendor in connection with the restructuring of debt described in Note 2. Novelos has agreed to reimburse the vendor for the shortfall, if any, between the market value of shares still held at November 18, 2006, plus any proceeds received as of that date on the sale of the shares and $79,000. As of September 30, 2006, $34,000 is included in accrued expenses representing the estimated obligation in connection with this agreement.
 
In July, 2006, the Company entered into a contract with a supplier of pharmaceutical products that will provide chemotherapy drugs to be used in connection with Phase 3 clinical trial activities outside of the United States. Pursuant to the contract, the Company was obligated to purchase a minimum of approximately $2.6 million of chemotherapy drugs at specified intervals through March 2008. As of September 30, 2006, approximately $1.8 million is remaining under that commitment. In connection with that agreement, the Company was required to enter into a standby letter of credit arrangement with a bank. The balance on the standby letter of credit at September 30, 2006 equals the remaining purchase commitment of $1.8 million. In connection with the letter of credit, the Company has pledged cash of approximately $2.1 million to the bank as collateral on the letter of credit. The pledged cash is included in restricted cash at September 30, 2006.
 
10.    RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
Pursuant to a royalty and technology transfer agreement between the Company and ZAO BAM dated April 1, 2005, the Company is required to make royalty payments equal to 1.2% of net sales of oxidized glutathione-based products. The Company is also required to pay ZAO BAM $2 million for each new oxidized glutathione-based drug within eighteen months following FDA approval of such drug. Under this agreement, if the Company licenses any such products to third parties, the Company is required to pay ZAO BAM 3% of all license revenues, as defined, and an additional 9% of such revenue in excess of the Company’s expenditures associated therewith, including but not limited to, preclinical and clinical studies, testing, FDA and other regulatory agency submission and approval costs, general and administrative costs, and patent expenses. The majority shareholder of ZAO BAM was one of the Company’s directors.
 
Pursuant to an agreement that became effective on May 26, 2005, the Company is required to pay Oxford Group, Ltd. a royalty in the amount of 0.8% of the Company’s net sales of oxidized glutathione-based products. One of the Company’s directors and employees is president of Oxford Group, Ltd. As described in Note 2, the Company revised an arrangement for future royalty payments to Oxford Group, Ltd., which resulted in the issuance of 2,016,894 shares of common stock, including 907,602 shares to each of two directors of the Company, with an aggregate deemed value of $2,521,118.
 
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The obligations of ZAO BAM and Oxford Group resulted from their assignment of the exclusive intellectual property and marketing rights to a drug development platform technology, worldwide, excluding Russia and other states of the former Soviet Union. The royalty payments will be recorded as royalty expense when the obligations are incurred.
 
11.    SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
On November 3, 2006, Mark Balazovsky resigned for personal reasons from the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Balazovsky is the majority shareholder of ZAO BAM (See Note 10).
 
On October 24, 2006, the Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K. The report described an error in the financial statements and related notes to financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 and the year ended December 31, 2005 relating to the accounting and disclosure of the beneficial conversion feature of the Company’s Series A 8% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. On November 1, 2006 the Company filed amendments to the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 2005. The related amounts and disclosures have been updated accordingly in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB. Following the filing of the Form 8-K on October 24, 2006, the Company advised the selling stockholders named in two registration statements related to the resale of securities purchased in the 2005 PIPE, the Series A 8% Cumulative Convertible Preferred, and 2006 PIPE financings that the use of the respective prospectuses had been suspended. The Company plans to amend these registration statements as soon as practicable to include the restated financial statements. Pursuant to the registration rights associated with these financings, the Company may become obligated to these selling stockholders in the event that the suspension of the use of the prospectuses exceeds the grace periods specified. The amount of such obligation, if any, will be determined during the fourth quarter of 2006.
 
15


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
This quarterly report on Form 10-QSB includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the Exchange Act. For this purpose, any statements contained herein regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. These important factors include our “critical accounting estimates” and the risk factors set forth below under the caption “Factors That May Affect Future Results.” Although we may elect to update forward-looking statements in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our estimates change, and readers should not rely on those forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this quarterly report.
 
Overview
 
We are a biotechnology company, established in 1996, commercializing oxidized glutathione-based compounds for the treatment of cancer and hepatitis.
 
NOV-002, our lead compound currently in Phase 3 development for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), acts as a chemoprotectant and an immunomodulator. In May 2006, we finalized a Special Protocol Assesment (SPA) with the FDA for a single pivotal Phase 3 trial in advanced NSCLC in combination with first-line chemotherapy, and received Fast Track designation in August 2006. The primary endpoint of this trial will be overall survival and patient enrollment is expected to begin in November 2006. NOV-002 is also in Phase 2 development for chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer and early-stage breast cancer, and is in addition being developed for treatment of acute radiation injury.
 
NOV-205, a second compound, acts as a hepatoprotective agent with immunomodulating and anti-inflammatory properties. Our Investigational New Drug Application for NOV-205 as mono-therapy for chronic hepatitic C has been accepted by the FDA, and a U.S. Phase 1b clinical trial in patients who previously failed treatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin is ongoing.
 
Both compounds have completed clinical trials in humans and have been approved for use in the Russian Federation where they were originally developed. We own all intellectual property rights worldwide (excluding Russia and other states of the former Soviet Union) related to compounds based on oxidized glutathione, including NOV-002 and NOV-205. Our patent portfolio includes 4 U.S. issued patents (plus one notice of allowance), 2 European issued patents and 2 Japanese issued patents.
 
We have devoted substantially all of our efforts towards the research and development of our product candidates. As of September 30, 2006, we have incurred approximately $9.3 million in research and development expense since our inception. We have had no revenue from product sales to date and have funded our operations through the sale of equity securities and debt financings. From our inception through September 30, 2006, we have raised approximately $27.8 million in equity and debt financings. We have never been profitable and have incurred an accumulated deficit of $21.0 million as of September 30, 2006.
 
On May 26, 2005, we restructured certain of our indebtedness. We exchanged indebtedness of $3,139,185 for 586,352 shares of our common stock with an aggregate deemed value of $732,940, $318,714 in cash, and forgiveness of debt of $2,087,531. Also on May 26, 2005, holders of $1,100,000 of convertible notes payable exercised their option to convert their notes into 1,760,000 shares of common stock at a price of $0.625 per share. On May 26, 2005, we also revised certain of our royalty obligations. As a result, we issued 2,016,894 shares of our common stock with an aggregate deemed value of $2,521,118.

16

 
Following the restructuring of debt, the Company completed a reverse merger with Common Horizons, Inc. (“Common Horizons”), a Nevada-based developer of web portals. In connection with that transaction, all outstanding shares of Novelos (net of shares of treasury stock) were converted into an equal number of shares of common stock of Common Horizons and all outstanding options and warrants to purchase shares of Novelos common stock were converted into an equal number of options and warrants to purchase shares of Common Horizons with the same terms and conditions as the original options and warrants. In connection with the merger all but 4,500,000 shares of outstanding common stock of Common Horizons were canceled. Common Horizons changed its state of incorporation, by-laws, certificate of incorporation and fiscal year to that of Novelos and Novelos became the surviving corporation. The business of Common Horizons, which was insignificant, was abandoned and the business of Novelos was adopted. The transaction was therefore treated as a reverse acquisition recapitalization with Novelos as the acquiring party and Common Horizons as the acquired party for accounting purposes. Accordingly, all historical information in these financial statements is that of the Novelos business. The results of operations of Common Horizons prior to the merger were not material for purposes of pro forma presentation. The 4,500,000 remaining shares of Common Horizons outstanding at the completion of the merger, net of cancellations, were deemed, for accounting purposes, to be an issuance by Novelos. Since Common Horizons had no remaining financial assets or liabilities, the merger with Common Horizons did not have any significant effects on the Company’s assets or liabilities or on the Company’s results of operations subsequent to the date of the merger.

During 2005 and 2006 we completed various private placements of securities. In May through August of 2005 we sold an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 2,000,000 shares of common stock for net cash proceeds of $3,714,468 and the conversion of $550,000 of convertible debt. In September and October, 2005, we sold in a private placement 3,200 shares of Series A preferred stock and warrants to purchase 909,090 shares of common stock for aggregate net proceeds of $2,864,000. The preferred stock was initially convertible into 1,939,393, and is currently convertible into 2,370,370, shares of common stock. On March 7, 2006, we sold 11,154,073 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase 8,365,542 shares of our common stock for net proceeds of $13,847,000.
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. These accounting principles require us to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions. We believe that the estimates, judgments and assumptions upon which we rely are reasonable based on information available to us at the time that these estimates, judgments and assumptions are made. These estimates, judgments and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Those estimates and judgments are based on management’s historical experience, the terms of existing agreements, our observation of trends in the industry, and outside sources, and on various other assumptions that management believes to be reasonable and appropriate 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. To the extent there are material differences between these estimates, judgments or assumptions and actual results, our financial statements will be affected.
 
We believe that the following accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.
 
Accrued Expenses. As part of the process of preparing financial statements, we are required to estimate accrued expenses. This process involves identifying services that have been performed on our behalf, and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for such service as of each balance sheet date in our financial statements. Examples of estimated expenses for which we accrue include: contract service fees such as amounts paid to clinical monitors, data management organizations and investigators in conjunction with clinical trials; fees paid to contract manufacturers in conjunction with the production of clinical materials; consulting fees; and professional service fees, such as to lawyers and accountants. In connection with such service fees, our estimates are most affected by our understanding of the status and timing of services provided relative to the actual billings received from such service providers. The majority of our service providers invoice us monthly in arrears for services performed. In the event that we do not identify certain costs that have begun to be incurred, or we over- or underestimate the level of services performed or the costs of such services, our reported expenses for such period would be too low or too high. The date on which certain services commence, the level of services performed on or before a given date and the cost of such services are often determined based on subjective judgments. We make these judgments based on the facts and circumstances known to us in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
17

 
Stock-Based Compensation. Commencing on January 1, 2006 we began applying the provisions of SFAS 123R in accounting for stock-based compensation. SFAS 123R requires measurement of the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. That cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, the requisite service period (usually the vesting period). Prior to January 1, 2006, we followed Accounting Principles Board (APB), Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, or APB 25, and related interpretations, in accounting for our stock-based compensation plans, rather than the alternative fair-value method provided for under SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, or SFAS 123. In the notes to our financial statements, we provide pro-forma disclosures in accordance with SFAS 123. We account for transactions in which services are received from non-employees in exchange for equity instruments based on the fair value of such services received or of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measured, in accordance with SFAS 123 and the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments That Are Issued to Other than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services, or EITF 96-18.
 
Accounting for equity instruments granted or sold by us under APB 25, SFAS 123, SFAS 123R and EITF 96-18 requires fair-value estimates of the equity instrument granted or sold. If our estimates of the fair value of these equity instruments are too high or too low, our expenses may be over- or understated. For equity instruments granted or sold in exchange for the receipt of goods or services, we estimate the fair value of the equity instruments based on consideration of factors that we deem to be relevant at that time. Because shares of our common stock were not publicly traded prior to the corporate restructuring described in Note 2 to the financial statements above, market factors historically considered in valuing stock and stock option grants included corresponding values of comparable public companies discounted for the risk and limited liquidity provided for in the shares we are issuing; pricing of private sales of our convertible preferred stock; prior valuations of stock grants and the effect of events that occurred between the times of such grants; economic trends; and the comparative rights and preferences of the security being granted compared to the rights and preferences of our other outstanding equity.
 
Prior to our corporate restructuring, the fair value of our common stock was determined by our board of directors contemporaneously with the grant. In the absence of a public trading market for our common stock, our board of directors considered numerous objective and subjective factors in determining the fair value of our common stock. At the time of option grants and other stock issuances, our board of directors considered the liquidation preferences, dividend rights, voting control and anti-dilution protection attributable to our then-outstanding convertible preferred stock; the status of private and public financial markets; valuations of comparable private and public companies; the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event such as an initial public offering; our existing financial resources; our anticipated continuing operating losses and increased spending levels required to complete our clinical trials; dilution to common stockholders from anticipated future financings; and a general assessment of future business risks.
 
18

 
Results of Operations
 
Research and Development expense. Research and development expense consists of costs incurred in identifying, developing and testing product candidates, which primarily consist of salaries and related expenses for personnel, fees paid to professional service providers for independent monitoring and analysis of our clinical trials, costs of contract research and manufacturing, and costs to secure intellectual property. We currently have two compounds, NOV-002 and NOV-205. However, to date, most of our research and development costs have been associated with our NOV-002 compound.
 
General and administrative expense. General and administrative expense consists primarily of salaries and other related costs for personnel in executive, finance and administrative functions. Other costs include facility costs, insurance, costs for public and investor relations, directors’ fees and professional fees for legal and accounting services.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

Research and Development. Research and development expense for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was $2,409,000 compared to $376,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The $2,033,000, or 541%, increase in research and development expense was primarily due to increased funding of our clinical, contract manufacturing and non-clinical activities. In particular, progress relating to our pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of NOV-002 for non-small cell lung cancer resulted in increased expenses during the three months ended September 30, 2006, including an increase of $844,000 for contract research and consulting services and an increase of $223,000 in drug packaging and manufacturing costs. We also purchased $864,000 of chemotherapy drugs during the third quarter of 2006 to be used in the Phase 3 clinical trial, specifically for European and Eastern European clinical sites. Since we do not anticipate recovering any of the chemotherapy costs and we do not have a reliable method for tracking the drugs that have been administered to patients or evaluating any losses associated with spoilage, we recorded the entire amount as an expense in the period purchased. As disclosed in Note 9, we have a commitment to purchase an additional $1.8 million of chemotherapy drugs at specified intervals through March 2008. Lastly, as a result of hiring that occurred during the third quarter of 2005, research and development salaries and related costs increased $86,000 in the third quarter of 2006 compared to the third quarter of 2005. These increases were offset by a decrease of $15,000 in non-cash stock-based compensation expense.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expense for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was $587,000 compared to $597,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The $10,000, or 2%, decrease in general and administrative expense was largely due to a $225,000 charge in the third quarter of 2005 that we estimated we would be required to pay in penalties for late registrations. However, waivers from the associated requirements were received from stockholders and the accrual was reduced by $200,000 in the fourth quarter of 2005. This decline was offset by a $94,000 increase in salary and directors fees; a $46,000 increase in overhead costs to support the research activities described above and an increase of $16,000 related to professional and consulting fees and insurance costs. We also incurred an increase of $61,000 in non-cash stock-based compensation expense related to stock option grants principally resulting from the adoption of SFAS 123R in January 2006.

Interest Income. Interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was $192,000 compared to $8,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The increase in interest income during the three months ended September 30, 2006 related to higher average cash balances in 2006, as a result of the financings described in Notes 2 and 8, being placed in interest-bearing accounts.

Interest Expense. Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was $0 compared to $3,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease was due to all interest-bearing debt balances being paid off during 2005.

19

 
Preferred Stock Dividends and Deemed Dividend. During the three months ended September 30, 2006 we paid dividends to preferred stockholders of $65,280. There were no dividends paid to preferred stockholders in the three months ended September 30, 2005, however, during that period we recorded a non-cash deemed dividend to preferred stockholders of $1,943,377. This amount represents the value attributed to the beneficial conversion feature of the Series A 8% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock issued during September 2005. There were no deemed dividends in the three months ended September 30, 2006. The deemed dividend and cash dividends have been included in the calculation of net loss attributable to common stockholders for the respective periods.
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005

Research and Development. Research and development expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $4,200,000 compared to $927,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The $3,273,000, or 353%, increase in research and development expense was primarily due to increased funding of our clinical, contract manufacturing and non-clinical activities. In particular, activities relating to the commencement of our pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of NOV-002 for non-small cell lung cancer resulted in increased expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, including an increase of $1,522,000 for contract research and consulting services and an increase of $259,000 in drug manufacturing costs. We also purchased $864,000 of chemotherapy drugs during the third quarter of 2006 to be used in the Phase 3 clinical trial, specifically for European and Eastern European clinical sites. Since we do not anticipate recovering any of the costs of the chemotherapy and we do not have a reliable method for tracking the drugs that have been administered to patients or evaluating any losses associated with spoilage, we recorded the entire amount as an expense in the period purchased. As disclosed in Note 9, we have a commitment to purchase an additional $1.8 million of chemotherapy drugs at specified intervals through March 2008. Additionally, as a result of hiring that occurred during the third quarter of 2005, research and development salaries and related costs also increased $487,000 in the first nine months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. Lastly, stock compensation expense increased $76,000 during the first nine months of 2006 compared to the first nine months of 2005 relating to stock option grants principally resulting from the adoption of SFAS 123R in January 2006.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $1,889,000 compared to $905,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The $984,000, or 109%, increase in general and administrative expense was primarily due to increased costs associated with corporate governance and periodic filing requirements as a public company, increased overhead costs to support the research activities described above, as well as expanded investor relations activities,. The total increase includes an increase of $346,000 in compensation and directors’ fees; an increase of $389,000 in public and investor relations costs and public company recordkeeping costs (including a $174,000 increase in non-cash stock compensation related to restricted stock awards); an increase of $190,000 related to professional and consulting fees; and an increase of $30,000 in insurance costs. We also incurred an increase of $171,000 in non-cash stock compensation expense related to stock option grants and an increase of $80,000 in travel and overhead expenses. These increases were offset in 2006 by a $225,000 reduction in accrued registration filing penalties that were recorded in the first nine months of 2005. However, waivers from the associated requirements were received from certain stockholders and the accrual was reduced in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Interest Income. Interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $472,000 compared to $10,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The increase in interest income during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 related to higher average cash balances in 2006, as a result of the financings described in Notes 2 and 8, being placed in interest-bearing accounts.

Interest Expense. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $0 compared to $109,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease was due to all interest-bearing debt balances being paid off during 2005.

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Gain on Forgiveness of Debt. Gain on forgiveness of debt for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $0 compared to $2,087,531 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. On May 26, 2005, we exchanged indebtedness of $3,139,185 for 586,352 shares of our common stock with an aggregate deemed value of $732,940 and $318,714 in cash, which resulted in forgiveness of debt income of $2,087,531.

Restructuring Expense. Restructuring expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $0 compared to $2,521,118 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. On May 26, 2005, we revised an arrangement that requires us to pay future royalties, which resulted in the issuance of 2,016,894 shares of our common stock with an aggregate deemed value of $2,521,118.
 
Preferred Stock Dividends and Deemed Dividend. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006 we paid dividends to preferred stockholders of $195,840. There were no dividends paid to preferred stockholders in the nine months ended September 30, 2005, however, during that period we recorded a deemed dividend to preferred stockholders of $1,943,377. This amount represents the value attributed to the beneficial conversion feature of the Series A 8% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock issued in September 2005. There were no deemed dividends in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. The deemed dividends and cash dividends have been included in the calculation of net loss attributable to common stockholders for the respective periods.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
We have financed our operations since inception through the sale of equity securities and the issuance of debt. As of September 30, 2006, we had $13,922,000 in cash and equivalents, including $2,211,000 of restricted cash that is reserved for research and development activities.
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, cash of approximately $4,206,000 was used in operations, primarily due to a net loss of $5,613,000, offset by non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $462,000, depreciation and amortization of $7,000, a decrease in prepaid expenses of $47,000 and an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $891,000. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, cash of approximately $2,001,000 was used in investing activities primarily due to the outstanding pledge of $2,058,000 in cash and equivalents associated with a letter of credit agreement with a bank as described in Note 9.
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, cash of approximately $13,652,000 was provided by financing activities. The sale of common stock generated net proceeds of $13,847,000 after issuance costs, offset by the payment of $196,000 in dividends on the Series A cumulative convertible preferred stock.
 
We believe that our available cash and equivalents will be sufficient to meet our working capital requirements, including operating losses, and capital expenditure requirements into the third quarter of 2007, assuming that our business plan is implemented successfully.
 
However, we believe that we will need to raise additional capital during 2007 in order to support the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for NOV-002 and other research and development activities. Furthermore, we may license or acquire other compounds that will require capital for development. We may seek additional funding through collaborative arrangements and public or private financings. Additional funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. In addition, the terms of any financing may adversely affect the holdings or the rights of our stockholders. For example, if we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, further dilution to our existing stockholders may result. If we are unable to obtain funding on a timely basis, we may be required to significantly curtail one or more of our research or development programs. We also could be required to seek funds through arrangements with collaborators or others that may require us to relinquish rights to some of our technologies, product candidates, or products which we would otherwise pursue on our own.
 
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Even if we are able to raise additional funds in a timely manner, our future capital requirements may vary from what we expect and will depend on many factors, including the following:
 
·
the resources required to successfully complete our clinical trials;
 
·
the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory approvals;
 
·
continued progress in our research and development programs, as well as the magnitude of these programs;
 
·
the cost of manufacturing activities;
 
·
the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, and enforcing patent claims;
 
·
the timing, receipt, and amount of milestone and other payments, if any, from collaborators; and
 
·
fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
 
Factors That May Affect Future Results
 
Our business involves a high degree of risk. If any of these risks, or other risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are not significant, develops into an actual event, then our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. If that happens, the market price of our common stock could decline.
 
The failure to complete development of the Company’s therapeutic technology, obtain government approvals, including required FDA approvals, or to comply with ongoing governmental regulations could prevent, delay or limit introduction or sale of proposed products and result in failure to achieve revenues or maintain the Company’s ongoing business.
 
The Company’s research and development activities and the manufacture and marketing of the Company’s intended products are subject to extensive regulation for safety, efficacy and quality by numerous government authorities in the United States and abroad. Before receiving FDA clearance to market the Company’s proposed products, the Company will have to demonstrate that the Company’s products are safe and effective on the patient population and for the diseases that are to be treated. Clinical trials, manufacturing and marketing of drugs are subject to the rigorous testing and approval process of the FDA and equivalent foreign regulatory authorities. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and other federal, state and foreign statutes and regulations govern and influence the testing, manufacture, labeling, advertising, distribution and promotion of drugs and medical devices. As a result, clinical trials and regulatory approval can take many years to accomplish and require the expenditure of substantial financial, managerial and other resources.
 
In order to be commercially viable, the Company must successfully research, develop, obtain regulatory approval for, manufacture, introduce, market and distribute the Company’s technologies. For each drug utilizing oxidized glutathione-based compounds, including NOV-002 and NOV-205, the Company must successfully meet a number of critical developmental milestones including:
 
·
demonstrate benefit from delivery of each specific drug for specific medical indications;
 
·
demonstrate through pre-clinical and clinical trials that each drug is safe and effective; and
 
·
demonstrate that the Company has established a viable Good Manufacturing Process capable of potential scale-up.
 
The time-frame necessary to achieve these developmental milestones may be long and uncertain, and the Company may not successfully complete these milestones for any of the Company’s intended products in development.
 
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In addition to the risks previously discussed, the Company’s technology is subject to additional developmental risks that include the following:
 
·
the uncertainties arising from the rapidly growing scientific aspects of drug therapies and potential treatments;
 
·
uncertainties arising as a result of the broad array of alternative potential treatments related to cancer, hepatitis and other diseases; and
 
·
anticipated expense and time believed to be associated with the development and regulatory approval of treatments for cancer, hepatitis and other diseases.
 
In order to conduct clinical trials that are necessary to obtain approval by the FDA to market a product, it is necessary to receive clearance from the FDA to conduct such clinical trials. The FDA can halt clinical trials at any time for safety reasons or because the Company or the Company’s clinical investigators do not follow the FDA’s requirements for conducting clinical trials. If the Company is unable to receive clearance to conduct clinical trials or the trials are halted by the FDA, the Company would not be able to achieve any revenue from such product, as it is illegal to sell any drug or medical device for human consumption without FDA approval.
 
Data obtained from clinical trials is susceptible to varying interpretations, which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory clearances.
 
Data already obtained, or in the future obtained, from pre-clinical studies and clinical trials do not necessarily predict the results that will be obtained from later pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. Moreover, pre-clinical and clinical data are susceptible to varying interpretations, which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. A number of companies in the pharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials, even after promising results in earlier trials. The failure to adequately demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of an intended product under development could delay or prevent regulatory clearance of the potential drug, resulting in delays to commercialization, and could materially harm the Company’s business. The Company’s clinical trials may not demonstrate sufficient levels of safety and efficacy necessary to obtain the requisite regulatory approvals for the Company’s drugs, and thus the Company’s proposed drugs may not be approved for marketing.
 
The Company may encounter delays or rejections based on additional government regulation from future legislation or administrative action or changes in FDA policy during the period of development, clinical trials and FDA regulatory review. The Company may encounter similar delays in foreign countries. Sales of the Company’s products outside the U.S. would be subject to foreign regulatory approvals that vary from country to country. The time required to obtain approvals from foreign countries may be shorter or longer than that required for FDA approval, and requirements for foreign licensing may differ from FDA requirements. The Company may be unable to obtain requisite approvals from the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities, and even if obtained, such approvals may not be on a timely basis, or they may not cover the uses that the Company requests.
 
Even if the Company does ultimately receive FDA approval for any of its products, it will be subject to extensive ongoing regulation. This includes regulations governing manufacturing, labeling, packaging, testing, dispensing, prescription and procurement quotas, record keeping, reporting, handling, shipment and disposal of any such drug. Failure to obtain and maintain required registrations or comply with any applicable regulations could further delay or preclude the Company from developing and commercializing its drugs and subject it to enforcement action.
 
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The Company’s drugs or technology may not gain FDA approval in clinical trials or be effective as a therapeutic agent, which could affect the Company’s future profitability and prospects.
 
In order to obtain regulatory approvals, the Company must demonstrate that each drug is safe and effective for use in humans and functions as a therapeutic against the effects of disease or other physiological response. To date, studies conducted in Russia involving the Company’s NOV-002 and NOV-205 products have shown what the Company believes to be promising results. In fact, NOV-002 has been approved for use in Russia for general medicinal use as an immunostimulant in combination with chemotherapy and antimicrobial therapy, and specifically for indications such as tuberculosis and psoraisis, and NOV-205 has been approved in Russia as a mono-therapy agent for the treatment of hepatitis B and C. However, Russian regulatory approval is not equivalent to FDA approval. Pivotal Phase 3 studies with a large number of patients, typically required for FDA approval, were not conducted for NOV-002 and NOV-205 in Russia. Further, all of the Company’s Russian clinical studies were completed prior to 2000 and may not have been conducted in accordance with current guidelines either in Russia or the United States.
 
A U.S.-based Phase 1/2 clinical study involving 44 non-small cell lung cancer patients provided what the Company believes to be a favorable outcome. As a result, the Company anticipates enrolling the first patient in the Phase 3 study of NOV-002 for non-small cell lung cancer in the fourth quarter of 2006. The Company enrolled the first patient in the Phase 2 clinical study for NOV-002 for chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer in July 2006 and anticipates completing that study in 2007. The Company enrolled the first patient in the Phase 1b clinical study for NOV-205 for chronic hepatitis C in September 2006 and anticipates completing that study in 2007. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company can demonstrate that these products are safe or effective in advanced clinical trials. The Company is also not able to give assurances that the results of the tests already conducted can be repeated or that further testing will support its applications for regulatory approval. As a result, the Company’s drug and technology research program may be curtailed, redirected or eliminated at any time.
 
There is no guarantee that the Company will ever generate revenue or become profitable even if one or more of the Company’s drugs are approved for commercialization.
 
The Company expects to incur increasing operating losses over the next several years as it incurs increasing costs for research and development and clinical trials. The Company’s ability to generate revenue and achieve profitability depends upon the Company’s ability, alone or with others, to complete the development of the Company’s proposed products, obtain the required regulatory approvals and manufacture, market and sell the Company’s proposed products. Development is costly and requires significant investment. In addition, if the Company chooses to license or obtain the assignment of rights to additional drugs, the license fees for such drugs may increase the Company’s costs.
 
To date, the Company has not generated any revenue from the commercial sale of its proposed products or any drugs and does not expect to receive such revenue in the near future. The Company’s primary activity to date has been research and development. A substantial portion of the research results and observations on which the Company relies were performed by third-parties at those parties’ sole or shared cost and expense. The Company cannot be certain as to when or whether to anticipate commercializing and marketing the Company’s proposed products in development, and does not expect to generate sufficient revenues from proposed product sales to cover the Company’s expenses or achieve profitability in the near future.
 
The Company relies solely on research and manufacturing facilities at various universities, hospitals, contract research organizations and contract manufacturers for all of its research, development, and manufacturing, which could be materially delayed should the Company lose access to those facilities.
 
At the present time, the Company has no research, development or manufacturing facilities of its own. The Company is entirely dependent on contracting with third parties to use their facilities to conduct research, development and manufacturing. The Company’s inability to have the facilities to conduct research, development and manufacturing may delay or impair the Company’s ability to gain FDA approval and commercialization of the Company’s drug delivery technology and products.
 
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The Company currently maintains a good working relationship with such contractors. Should the situation change and the Company is required to relocate these activities on short notice, the Company does not currently have an alternate facility where the Company could relocate its research, development and/or manufacturing activities. The cost and time to establish or locate an alternative research, development and manufacturing facility to develop the Company’s technology would be substantial and would delay gaining FDA approval and commercializing the Company’s products.
 
The Company is dependent on the Company’s collaborative agreements for the development of the Company’s technologies and business development, which exposes the Company to the risk of reliance on the viability of third parties.
 
In conducting the Company’s research, development and manufacturing activities, the Company relies and expects to continue to rely on numerous collaborative agreements with universities, hospitals, governmental agencies, charitable foundations, manufacturers and others. The loss of or failure to perform under any of these arrangements, by any of these entities, may substantially disrupt or delay the Company’s research, development and manufacturing activities including the Company’s anticipated clinical trials.
 
The Company may rely on third-party contract research organizations, service providers and suppliers to support development and clinical testing of the Company’s products. Failure of any of these contractors to provide the required services in a timely manner or on reasonable commercial terms could materially delay the development and approval of the Company’s products, increase the Company’s expenses and materially harm the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
The Company is exposed to product, clinical and preclinical liability risks that could create a substantial financial burden should the Company be sued.
 
The Company’s business exposes it to potential product liability and other liability risks that are inherent in the testing, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products. The Company cannot assure that such potential claims will not be asserted against it. In addition, the use in the Company’s clinical trials of pharmaceutical products that the Company may develop and then subsequently sell, or the Company’s collaborators may sell, may cause the Company to bear a portion of or all product liability risks. A successful liability claim or series of claims brought against the Company could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Although the Company has not received any product liability claims to date and has an insurance policy of $5,000,000 per occurrence and $5,000,000 in the aggregate to cover such claims should they arise, there can be no assurance that material claims will not arise in the future or that the Company’s insurance will be adequate to cover all situations. Moreover, there can be no assurance that such insurance, or additional insurance, if required, will be available in the future or, if available, will be available on commercially reasonable terms. Any product liability claim, if successful, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, the Company’s current and potential partners with whom it has collaborative agreements or the Company’s future licensees may not be willing to indemnify the Company against these types of liabilities and may not themselves be sufficiently insured or have a net worth sufficient to satisfy any product liability claims. Claims or losses in excess of any product liability insurance coverage that may be obtained by the Company could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
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Acceptance of the Company’s products in the marketplace is uncertain and failure to achieve market acceptance will prevent or delay the Company’s ability to generate revenues.
 
The Company’s future financial performance will depend, at least in part, on the introduction and customer acceptance of the Company’s proposed products. Even if approved for marketing by the necessary regulatory authorities, the Company’s products may not achieve market acceptance. The degree of market acceptance will depend on a number of factors including:
 
·
the receipt of regulatory clearance of marketing claims for the uses that the Company is developing;
 
·
the establishment and demonstration of the advantages, safety and efficacy of the Company’s technologies;
 
·
pricing and reimbursement policies of government and third-party payers such as insurance companies, health maintenance organizations and other health plan administrators;
 
·
the Company’s ability to attract corporate partners, including pharmaceutical companies, to assist in commercializing the Company’s intended products; and
 
·
the Company’s ability to market the Company’s products.
 
Physicians, patients, payers or the medical community in general may be unwilling to accept, utilize or recommend any of the Company’s products. If the Company is unable to obtain regulatory approval or commercialize and market the Company’s proposed products when planned, the Company may not achieve any market acceptance or generate revenue.
 
The Company may face litigation from third parties who claim that the Company’s products infringe on their intellectual property rights, particularly because there is often substantial uncertainty about the validity and breadth of medical patents.
 
The Company may be exposed to future litigation by third parties based on claims that the Company’s technologies, products or activities infringe the intellectual property rights of others or that the Company has misappropriated the trade secrets of others. This risk is exacerbated by the fact that the validity and breadth of claims covered in medical technology patents and the breadth and scope of trade secret protection involve complex legal and factual questions for which important legal principles are unresolved. Any litigation or claims against the Company, whether or not valid, could result in substantial costs, could place a significant strain on the Company’s financial and managerial resources and could harm the Company’s reputation. Most of the Company’s license agreements would likely require that the Company pay the costs associated with defending this type of litigation. In addition, intellectual property litigation or claims could force the Company to do one or more of the following:
 
·
cease selling, incorporating or using any of the Company’s technologies and/or products that incorporate the challenged intellectual property, which would adversely affect the Company’s future revenue;
 
·
obtain a license from the holder of the infringed intellectual property right, which license may be costly or may not be available on reasonable terms, if at all; or
 
·
redesign the Company’s products, which would be costly and time-consuming.
 
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If the Company is unable to adequately protect or enforce the Company’s rights to intellectual property or secure rights to third-party patents, the Company may lose valuable rights, experience reduced market share, assuming any, or incur costly litigation to protect such rights.
 
The Company’s ability to obtain licenses to patents, maintain trade secret protection and operate without infringing the proprietary rights of others will be important to the Company’s commercializing any products under development. Therefore, any disruption in access to the technology could substantially delay the development of the Company’s technology.
 
The patent positions of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including the Company, that involve licensing agreements, are frequently uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions. In addition, the coverage claimed in a patent application can be significantly reduced before the patent is issued or in subsequent legal proceedings. Consequently, the Company’s patent applications and any issued and licensed patents may not provide protection against competitive technologies or may be held invalid if challenged or circumvented. The Company’s competitors may also independently develop products similar to the Company’s or design around or otherwise circumvent patents issued or licensed to the Company. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries may not protect the Company’s proprietary rights to the same extent as U.S. law.
 
The Company also relies on trade secrets, technical know-how and continuing technological innovation to develop and maintain the Company’s competitive position. The Company generally requires the Company’s employees, consultants, advisors and collaborators to execute appropriate confidentiality and assignment-of-inventions agreements. The Company’s competitors may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques, reverse engineer the Company’s information and techniques, or otherwise gain access to the Company’s proprietary technology. The Company may be unable to meaningfully protect the Company’s rights in trade secrets, technical know-how and other non-patented technology.
 
Although the Company’s trade secrets and technical know-how are important, the Company’s continued access to the patents is a significant factor in the development and commercialization of the Company’s products. Aside from the general body of scientific knowledge from other drug delivery processes and technology, these patents, to the best of the Company’s knowledge and based on the Company’s current scientific data, are the only intellectual property necessary to develop the Company’s products, including NOV-002 and NOV-205. The Company does not believe that it is or will be violating any patents in developing its technology.
 
The Company may have to resort to litigation to protect its rights for certain intellectual property, or to determine their scope, validity or enforceability. Enforcing or defending the Company’s rights is expensive, could cause diversion of the Company’s resources and may not prove successful. Any failure to enforce or protect the Company’s rights could cause it to lose the ability to exclude others from using the Company’s technology to develop or sell competing products.
 
The Company has limited manufacturing experience and if the Company’s products are approved the Company may not be able to manufacture sufficient quantities at an acceptable cost, or may be subject to risk that contract manufacturers could experience shut-downs or delays.
 
The Company remains in the research, development and clinical and pre-clinical trial Phase of product commercialization. Accordingly, if the Company’s products are approved for commercial sale, the Company will need to establish the capability to commercially manufacture the Company’s product(s) in accordance with FDA and other regulatory requirements. The Company has limited experience in establishing, supervising and conducting commercial manufacturing. If the Company fails to adequately establish, supervise and conduct all aspects of the manufacturing processes, the Company may not be able to commercialize its products.
 
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The Company presently plans to rely on third-party contractors to manufacture its products. This may expose the Company to the risk of not being able to directly oversee the production and quality of the manufacturing process. Furthermore, these contractors, whether foreign or domestic, may experience regulatory compliance difficulties, mechanical shutdowns, employee strikes or other unforeseeable acts that may delay production.
 
Due to the Company’s limited marketing, sales and distribution experience, the Company may be unsuccessful in its efforts to sell its products, enter into relationships with third parties or develop a direct sales organization.
 
The Company has not yet had to establish marketing, sales or distribution capabilities for its proposed products. Until such time as the Company’s products are further along in the regulatory process, the Company will not devote any meaningful time and resources to this effort. At the appropriate time, the Company intends to enter into agreements with third parties to sell its products or the Company may develop its own sales and marketing force. The Company may be unable to establish or maintain third-party relationships on a commercially reasonable basis, if at all. In addition, these third parties may have similar or more established relationships with the Company’s competitors.
 
If the Company does not enter into relationships with third parties for the sale and marketing of the Company’s products, the Company will need to develop the Company’s own sales and marketing capabilities. The Company has limited experience in developing, training or managing a sales force. If the Company chooses to establish a direct sales force, the Company may incur substantial additional expenses in developing, training and managing such an organization. The Company may be unable to build a sales force on a cost-effective basis or at all. Any such direct marketing and sales efforts may prove to be unsuccessful. In addition, the Company will compete with many other companies that currently have extensive marketing and sales operations. The Company’s marketing and sales efforts may be unable to compete against these other companies. The Company may be unable to establish a sufficient sales and marketing organization on a timely basis, if at all.
 
The Company may be unable to engage qualified distributors. Even if engaged, these distributors may:
 
·
fail to satisfy financial or contractual obligations to the Company;
 
·
fail to adequately market the Company’s products;
 
·
cease operations with little or no notice; or
 
·
offer, design, manufacture or promote competing products.
 
If the Company fails to develop sales, marketing and distribution channels, the Company would experience delays in product sales and incur increased costs, which would harm the Company’s financial results.
 
If the Company is unable to convince physicians as to the benefits of the Company’s intended products, the Company may incur delays or additional expense in the Company’s attempt to establish market acceptance.
 
Broad use of the Company’s products may require physicians to be informed regarding these products and their intended benefits. The time and cost of such an educational process may be substantial. Inability to successfully carry out this physician education process may adversely affect market acceptance of the Company’s products. The Company may be unable to timely educate physicians regarding the Company’s intended products in sufficient numbers to achieve the Company’s marketing plans or to achieve product acceptance. Any delay in physician education may materially delay or reduce demand for the Company’s products. In addition, the Company may expend significant funds towards physician education before any acceptance or demand for the Company’s products is created, if at all.
 
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The Company may have difficulty raising needed capital in the future because of market risks or business risks associated with the Company.
 
The Company currently generates no revenue from its proposed products or otherwise. The Company does not know when this will change. The Company has expended and will continue to expend substantial funds in the research, development and clinical and pre-clinical testing of its drug compounds. The Company will require additional funds to conduct research and development, establish and conduct clinical and pre-clinical trials, establish commercial-scale manufacturing arrangements and provide for the marketing and distribution of its products. Additional funds may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. In particular, secondary sales of shares of registered common stock and shares of unregistered stock as restrictions lapse or pursuant to Rule 144 could adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common stock and thereby make it less attractive to sell additional equity to provide financing for the Company’s operations. If adequate funds are unavailable from any available source, the Company may have to delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate one or more of the Company’s research or development programs or product launches or marketing efforts, which may materially harm the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
The Company’s long-term capital requirements and our ability to raise capital are expected to depend on many factors, including:
 
·
the number of potential products and technologies in development;
 
·
continued progress and cost of the Company’s research and development programs;
 
·
progress with pre-clinical studies and clinical trials;
 
·
the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory clearance;
 
·
costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and enforcing patent claims;
 
·
costs of developing sales, marketing and distribution channels and the Company’s ability to sell the Company’s drugs;
 
·
costs involved in establishing manufacturing capabilities for clinical trial and commercial quantities of the Company’s drugs;
 
·
competing technological and market developments;
 
·
market acceptance of the Company’s products;
 
·
costs for recruiting and retaining management, employees and consultants;
 
·
costs for training physicians;
 
·
our status as a bulletin board listed company and the prospects for our stock to be listed on a national exchange; and
 
·
uncertainty and economic instability resulting from terrorist acts and other acts of violence or war.
 
The Company may consume available resources more rapidly than currently anticipated, resulting in the need for additional funding. The Company may seek to raise any necessary additional funds through the exercising of warrants, equity or debt financings, collaborative arrangements with corporate partners or other sources, which may be dilutive to existing stockholders or otherwise have a material effect on the Company’s current or future business prospects. In addition, in the event that additional funds are obtained through arrangements with collaborative partners or other sources, the Company may have to relinquish economic and/or proprietary rights to some of the Company’s technologies or products under development that the Company would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize by itself. If adequate funds are not available, the Company may be required to significantly reduce or refocus its development efforts with regard to its drug compounds.
 
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Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates could increase costs to complete international clinical trial activities.
 
The Company has initiated a portion of its clinical trial activities in Europe. Significant depreciation in the value of the U.S. Dollar against principally the EURO could adversely affect our ability to complete the trials, particularly if we are unable to redirect funding or raise additional funds. Since the timing and amount of foreign denominated payments are uncertain and dependent on a number of factors, it is difficult to cost-effectively hedge the potential exposure. Therefore, to date, we have not entered into any foreign currency hedges to mitigate the potential exposure.
 
The market for the Company’s products is rapidly changing and competitive, and new therapeutics, new drugs and new treatments that may be developed by others could impair the Company’s ability to maintain and grow the Company’s business and remain competitive.
 
The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are subject to rapid and substantial technological change. Developments by others may render the Company’s technologies and intended products noncompetitive or obsolete, or the Company may be unable to keep pace with technological developments or other market factors. Technological competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, universities, governmental entities and others diversifying into the field is intense and is expected to increase. Many of these entities have significantly greater research and development capabilities and budgets than the Company does, as well as substantially more marketing, manufacturing, financial and managerial resources. These entities represent significant competition for the Company. Acquisitions of, or investments in, competing pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies by large corporations could increase such competitors’ financial, marketing, manufacturing and other resources.
 
The Company is an early-stage enterprise that has heretofore operated with limited day-to-day business management, operating as a vehicle to hold certain technology for possible future exploration, and has been and will continue to be engaged in the development of new drugs and therapeutic technologies. As a result, the Company’s resources are limited and the Company may experience management, operational or technical challenges inherent in such activities and novel technologies. Competitors have developed or are in the process of developing technologies that are, or in the future may be, the basis for competition. Some of these technologies may have an entirely different approach or means of accomplishing similar therapeutic effects compared to the Company’s technology. The Company’s competitors may develop drug delivery technologies and drugs that are more effective than the Company’s intended products and, therefore, present a serious competitive threat to the Company.
 
The potential widespread acceptance of therapies that are alternatives to the Company’s may limit market acceptance of the Company’s products even if commercialized. Many of the Company’s targeted diseases and conditions can also be treated by other medication or drug delivery technologies. These treatments may be widely accepted in medical communities and have a longer history of use. The established use of these competitive drugs may limit the potential for the Company’s technologies and products to receive widespread acceptance if commercialized.
 
If users of the Company’s products are unable to obtain adequate reimbursement from third-party payers, or if new restrictive legislation is adopted, market acceptance of the Company’s products may be limited and the Company may not achieve anticipated revenues.
 
The continuing efforts of government and insurance companies, health maintenance organizations and other payers of healthcare costs to contain or reduce costs of health care may affect the Company’s future revenues and profitability, and the future revenues and profitability of the Company’s potential customers, suppliers and collaborative partners and the availability of capital. For example, in certain foreign markets, pricing or profitability of prescription pharmaceuticals is subject to government control. In the United States, given recent federal and state government initiatives directed at lowering the total cost of health care, the U.S. Congress and state legislatures will likely continue to focus on healthcare reform, the cost of prescription pharmaceuticals and on the reform of the Medicare and Medicaid systems. While the Company cannot predict whether any such legislative or regulatory proposals will be adopted, the announcement or adoption of such proposals could materially harm the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
30

 
The Company’s ability to commercialize its products will depend in part on the extent to which appropriate reimbursement levels for the cost of its products and related treatment are obtained by governmental authorities, private health insurers and other organizations, such as health maintenance organizations (“HMO’s”). Third-party payers are increasingly challenging the prices charged for medical drugs and services. Also, the trend toward managed health care in the United States and the concurrent growth of organizations such as HMO’s, which could control or significantly influence the purchase of healthcare services and drugs, as well as legislative proposals to reform health care or reduce government insurance programs, may all result in lower prices for or rejection of the Company’s drugs. The cost containment measures that healthcare payers and providers are instituting and the effect of any healthcare reform could materially harm the Company’s ability to operate profitably.
 
The Company depends upon key personnel who may terminate their employment with the Company at any time, and the Company would need to hire additional qualified personnel.
 
The Company’s success will depend to a significant degree on the continued services of key management and advisors of the Company. There can be no assurance that these individuals will continue to provide service to the Company. In addition, the Company’s success will depend on its ability to attract and retain other highly skilled personnel. The Company may be unable to recruit such personnel on a timely basis, if at all. The Company’s management and other employees may voluntarily terminate their employment with the Company at any time. The loss of services of key personnel, or the inability to attract and retain additional qualified personnel, could result in delays in development or approval of the Company’s products, loss of sales and diversion of management resources.
 
Compliance with changing corporate governance and public disclosure regulations may result in additional expense.
 
Keeping abreast of, and in compliance with, changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance, public disclosure and internal controls, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, new SEC regulations and, in the event the Company seeks and is approved for listing on a registered national securities exchange, the stock exchange rules will require an increased amount of management attention and external resources. The Company intends to continue to invest all reasonably necessary resources to comply with evolving standards, which may result in increased general and administrative expense and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities.
 
The Company’s executive officers, directors and principal stockholders have substantial holdings, which could delay or prevent a change in corporate control favored by the Company’s other stockholders.
 
The Company’s directors, officers and owners of more than 5% of our common stock beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately 34% of the Company’s outstanding voting stock. As a result, they may have the ability to determine the Company’s direction and decisions. The interests of the Company’s current officers and directors may differ from the interests of other stockholders. Further, the Company’s current officers and directors may have the ability to significantly affect the outcome of all corporate actions requiring stockholder approval, including the following actions:
 
31

 
·
the election of directors;
 
·
the amendment of charter documents;
 
·
issuance of blank-check preferred or convertible stock, notes or instruments of indebtedness which may have conversion, liquidation and similar features, or effecting other financing arrangements; or
 
·
the approval of certain mergers and other significant corporate transactions, including a sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets, or merger with a publicly-traded shell or other company.
 
The Company’s common stock could be further diluted as the result of the issuance of additional shares of common stock, convertible securities, warrants or options.
 
In the past, the Company has issued common stock, convertible securities, such as its Series A preferred stock, and warrants in order to raise money. The Company has also issued options and warrants as compensation for services and incentive compensation for its employees and directors. The Company has a substantial number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance on the conversion and exercise of these securities. The Company’s issuance of additional common stock, convertible securities, options and warrants could affect the rights of the Company’s stockholders, and could reduce the market price of the Company’s common stock.
 
The Company sold shares of its Series A preferred stock and common stock purchase warrants in violation of certain provisions of the securities purchase agreement and registration rights agreement executed in connection with the Company’s private placement of units. While the Company has received waivers from such investors representing approximately 96% of the outstanding units as of September 30, 2006, other investors who do not waive such rights could sue the Company seeking damages arising from the breach of such agreements.
 
On May 27, 2005, June 29, 2005, July 29, 2005 and August 9, 2005, the Company sold units, consisting of shares of its common stock and common stock purchase warrants pursuant to a securities purchase agreement and registration rights agreement.
 
The registration rights agreement required that the Company file a registration statement on Form SB-2 with the SEC to register the shares of common stock and the shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants on or before October 8, 2005. The Company filed the registration statement with the SEC on November 16, 2005, which became effective on December 15, 2005. The Company recorded an accrued liability of $8,000 as of September 30, 2006 for payments in connection with this late filing.
 
The securities purchase agreement also prohibited the Company from effecting or entering into an agreement to effect any financing involving a variable rate transaction for two years.
 
The use of the prospectus included in the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (previously declared effective on April 3, 2006) and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (previously declared effective on April 19, 2006) were suspended on October 24, 2006.
 
On October 24, 2006, the Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K. The report described an error in the financial statements and related notes to financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 and the year ended December 31, 2005 relating to the accounting and disclosure of the beneficial conversion feature of the Company’s Series A 8% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. On November 1, 2006 the Company filed amendments to the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 2005. Following the filing of the Form 8-K on October 24, 2006, the Company advised the selling stockholders named in two registration statements related to the resale of securities purchased in the 2005 PIPE, the Series A 8% Cumulative Convertible Preferred, and 2006 PIPE financings that the use of the respective prospectuses had been suspended. The Company plans to amend these registration statements as soon as practicable to include the restated financial statements. Pursuant to the registration rights associated with these financings, the Company may become obligated to these selling stockholders in the event that the suspension of the use of the prospectuses exceeds the grace periods specified. The amount of such obligation, if any, will be determined during the fourth quarter of 2006.
 
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Item 3. Controls and Procedures
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2006. Disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, are controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted 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 and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and financial officers, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2006, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were operating effectively.
 
Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
In the fourth quarter of 2005 we identified the need to establish the full-time position of Director of Finance. At that time, we began discussions regarding permanent employment with a consultant who had provided part-time finance and accounting services to us for several years. Over the course of the next two months, this individual worked to complete outstanding consulting engagements with a view to becoming a full-time Novelos employee during the first quarter of 2006. In February 2006 it became apparent to us that this individual would be unable to accept this full-time role. We then renewed our search and upgraded the required qualifications for a suitable candidate. In April 2006 we identified a candidate who is a CPA with extensive experience at a “big four” public accounting firm as well as substantial public company experience at the management level in the areas of finance and accounting, including the accounting for and reporting of complex financial transactions. In May 2006, the candidate began performing consulting services for us on a part-time basis and in June 2006 the candidate accepted the position of Director of Finance and Controller. Shortly after beginning employment, this individual began an internal review of our historical financing transactions. Based on the results of this internal review, on October 18, 2006, our management concluded that our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005 and our unaudited financial statements and financial information for the quarter ended September 30, 2005 should be restated in order to reflect a deemed (non-cash) dividend associated with the beneficial conversion feature of the Series A 8% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. The restated financial statements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2006.
 
The Director of Finance and Controller is performing a major role in ensuring the accuracy and completeness of our financial reporting and the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. We have identified the addition of this individual in this key position as a change in internal control over the financial reporting process that occurred during the Company’s third fiscal quarter of 2006 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls

In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognizes that any system of controls, however well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the system are met. In addition, the design of any control system is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events. Because of these and other inherent limitations of control systems, there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions, regardless of how remote.

33


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 
None.
 
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
None.
 
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
None.
 
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
We held our Annual Meeting of Stockholders at the offices of Foley Hoag LLP, 155 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts on July 21, 2006.
 
(i)    The stockholders elected seven directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The stockholders present in person or by proxy cast the following numbers of votes in connection with the election of directors, resulting in the election of all nominees:
 
Nominee
 
Votes For
 
 Votes Withheld
Simyon Palmin
 
 
25,565,313
 
 
62,675
Harry S. Palmin
 
 
25,565,113
 
 
62,875
Mark Balazovsky
 
 
25,565,313
 
 
62,675
Michael J. Doyle
   
25,565,313
 
 
62,675
Sim Fass
   
25,565,313
 
 
62,675
David B. McWilliams
 
 
25,565,313
 
 
62,675
Howard M. Schneider
 
 
25,560,313
 
 
67,675
 
(ii)    The stockholders ratified and approved our 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. There were 24,972,867 votes cast for the proposal; 414,397 votes were cast against the proposal; 240,724 votes abstained; and there were no broker non-votes.
 
(iii)    The stockholders ratified the appointment of Stowe & Degon as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2006 fiscal year. There were 25,587,488 votes cast for the proposal; 39,000 votes were cast against the proposal; 1,500 votes abstained; and there were no broker non-votes.

Item 5. Other Information
 
None.
 
34

 
Item 6. Exhibits 
 
           
Incorporated by Reference 
Exhibit No.   
Description
 
Filed with this
Form
10-QSB
 
 
Form
 
Filing Date
 
Exhibit No.
                     
2.1
 
Agreement and plan of merger among Common Horizons, Inc., Nove Acquisition, Inc. and Novelos Therapeutics, Inc. dated May 26, 2005
   
8-K
 
June 2, 2005
 
99.2
2.2
 
Agreement and plan of merger between Common Horizons and Novelos Therapeutics, Inc. dated June 7, 2005
   
10-QSB
 
August 15, 2005
 
2.2
3.1
 
Certificate of Incorporation
   
8-K
 
June 17, 2005
 
1
3.2
 
Certificate of Designations of Series A cumulative convertible preferred stock
   
8-K
 
October 3, 2005
 
99.2
3.3
 
 
By-Laws
   
8-K
 
June 17, 2005
 
2
10.1
 
2006 Stock Incentive Plan
 
X
           
31.1
 
Certification of the chief executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
X
           
31.2
 
Certification of the chief financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
X
           
32.1
 
Certificate pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 of the chief executive officer
 
X
           
32.2
 
Certificate pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 of the chief financial officer
 
X
           
 
35


SIGNATURES
 
In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
     
  NOVELOS THERAPEUTICS, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: November 6, 2006 By:   /s/ Harry S. Palmin
 
Harry S. Palmin
  President, Chief Executive Officer
 
36


EXHIBIT INDEX
 
           
Incorporated by Reference 
Exhibit No.   
Description
 
Filed with this
Form
10-QSB
 
 
Form
 
Filing Date
 
Exhibit No.
                     
2.1
 
Agreement and plan of merger among Common Horizons, Inc., Nove Acquisition, Inc. and Novelos Therapeutics, Inc. dated May 26, 2005
   
8-K
 
June 2, 2005
 
99.2
2.2
 
Agreement and plan of merger between Common Horizons and Novelos Therapeutics, Inc. dated June 7, 2005
   
10-QSB
 
August 15, 2005
 
2.2
3.1
 
Certificate of Incorporation
   
8-K
 
June 17, 2005
 
1
3.2
 
Certificate of Designations of Series A cumulative convertible preferred stock
   
8-K
 
October 3, 2005
 
99.2
3.3
 
 
By-Laws
   
8-K
 
June 17, 2005
 
2
10.1
 
2006 Stock Incentive Plan
 
X
           
31.1
 
Certification of the chief executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
X
           
31.2
 
Certification of the chief financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
X
           
32.1
 
Certificate pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 of the chief executive officer
 
X
           
32.2
 
Certificate pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 of the chief financial officer
 
X
           
 
37