UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)

 

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020

 

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from ___________ to ______________.

 

Commission file number: 000-24477

 

DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

30-0645032

(State of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

1317 Carlton Avenue, Suite 200
Charlottesville, VA 22902

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(434) 220-0718

(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes  ☒  No  ☐

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer ☐

Accelerated filer ☐

Non-accelerated filer ☒

Smaller reporting company ☒

 

Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).Yes ☐   No ☒

 

The number of shares of common stock outstanding at August 5, 2020 was 63,998,298 shares.

 

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

 

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

DFFN

NASDAQ Capital Market

 



 

 

 

 

DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

FORM 10-Q

JUNE 30, 2020

 

 

INDEX

 

 

 

Page

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

1

   

ITEM 1.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1
   

ITEM 2.     MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

14
   

ITEM 3.     QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

25
   

ITEM 4.     CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

25
   

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

26

   

ITEM 1.     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

26
   

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS

26
   

ITEM 2.     UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

28
   

ITEM 3.     DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

29
   

ITEM 4.     MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

29
   

ITEM 5.     OTHER INFORMATION

29
   

ITEM 6.     EXHIBITS

29

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, in this report, references to the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” refer to Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. and its subsidiaries, and references to “common stock” refer to the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

 

This report contains the following trademarks, trade names and service marks of ours: Diffusion. All other trade names, trademarks and service marks appearing in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q are the property of their respective owners. We have assumed that the reader understands that all such terms are source-indicating. Accordingly, such terms appear without the trade name, trademark or service mark notice for convenience only and should not be construed as being used in a descriptive or generic sense.

 

i

 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(unaudited)

 

   

June 30,

2020

   

December 31,

2019

 

Assets

               

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 25,561,599     $ 14,177,349  

Prepaid expenses, deposits and other current assets

    1,147,174       472,464  

Total current assets

    26,708,773       14,649,813  

Property and equipment, net

    198,325       252,366  

Intangible asset

    8,639,000       8,639,000  

Right of use asset

    194,879       247,043  

Other assets

    252,149       322,301  

Total assets

  $ 35,993,126     $ 24,110,523  

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

               

Current liabilities:

               

Accounts payable

  $ 1,354,948     $ 1,251,412  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    317,075       358,532  

Current operating lease liability

    109,808       111,477  

Total current liabilities

    1,781,831       1,721,421  

Deferred income taxes

    1,249,569       2,119,274  

Noncurrent operating lease liability

    85,071       135,566  

Total liabilities

    3,116,471       3,976,261  

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 7)

               

Stockholders’ Equity:

               

Common stock, $0.001 par value:

               

1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 63,998,298 and 33,480,365 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively

    63,999       33,481  

Additional paid-in capital

    130,220,772       111,824,859  

Accumulated deficit

    (97,408,116

)

    (91,724,078

)

Total stockholders' equity

    32,876,655       20,134,262  

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

  $ 35,993,126     $ 24,110,523  

 

 See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

 

1

 

 

Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

 

   

Three Months Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2020

   

2019

 

Operating expenses:

                               

Research and development

  $ 2,173,183     $ 1,518,381     $ 3,707,650     $ 3,218,226  

General and administrative

    1,458,257       1,068,452       2,852,065       2,269,180  

Depreciation

    27,021       34,390       54,041       52,662  

Loss from operations

    3,658,461       2,621,223       6,613,756       5,540,068  

Other income:

                               

Interest income

    (25,913

)

    (16,921

)

    (60,013

)

    (37,605

)

Loss from operations before income tax benefit

    (3,632,548

)

    (2,604,302

)

    (6,553,743

)

    (5,502,463

)

Income tax benefit

    (507,325

)

    (108,904

)

    (869,705

)

    (259,256

)

Net loss

  $ (3,125,223

)

  $ (2,495,398

)

  $ (5,684,038

)

  $ (5,243,207

)

Deemed dividend arising from warrant exchange

    (1,950,378

)

          (1,950,378

)

     

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

  $ (5,075,601

)

  $ (2,495,398

)

  $ (7,634,416

)

  $ (5,243,207

)

Per share information:

                               

Net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted

  $ (0.10

)

  $ (0.63

)

  $ (0.18

)

  $ (1.43

)

Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted

    51,978,286       3,940,684       43,242,891       3,658,457  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

 

2

 

 

Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2019

(unaudited)

 

   

Stockholders' Equity

 
   

Common Stock

   

Additional

Paid-in

   

Accumulated

   

Total

Stockholders'

 
   

Shares

   

Amount

    Capital     Deficit     Equity  

Balance at April 1, 2019

    3,376,230     $ 3,377     $ 95,624,085     $ (82,672,508

)

  $ 12,954,954  

Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs

    1,317,060       1,317       5,567,633             5,568,950  

Stock-based compensation expense

                149,080             149,080  

Net loss

                      (2,495,398

)

    (2,495,398

)

Balance at June 30, 2019

    4,693,290     $ 4,694     $ 101,340,798     $ (85,167,906

)

  $ 16,177,586  

 

 

   

Stockholders' Equity

 
   

Common Stock

   

Additional

Paid-in

   

Accumulated

   

Total

Stockholders'

 
   

Shares

   

Amount

    Capital     Deficit     Equity  

Balance at January 1, 2019

    3,376,230     $ 3,377     $ 95,532,881     $ (79,924,699

)

  $ 15,611,559  

Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs

    1,317,060       1,317       5,567,633             5,568,950  

Stock-based compensation expense

                240,284             240,284  

Net loss

                      (5,243,207

)

    (5,243,207

)

Balance at June 30, 2019

    4,693,290     $ 4,694     $ 101,340,798     $ (85,167,906

)

  $ 16,177,586  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

 

3

 

Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity

Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2020

(unaudited)

 

   

Stockholders' Equity

 
   

Common Stock

   

Additional

Paid-in

   

Accumulated

   

Total

Stockholders'

 
   

Shares

   

Amount

    Capital     Deficit     Equity  

Balance at April 1, 2020

    34,604,436     $ 34,605     $ 112,149,913     $ (94,282,893

)

  $ 17,901,625  

Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs

    11,428,572       11,429       10,330,202             10,341,631  

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants

    17,965,290       17,965       7,627,213             7,645,178  

Stock-based compensation expense

                113,444             113,444  

Net loss

                      (3,125,223

)

    (3,125,223

)

Balance at June 30, 2020

    63,998,298     $ 63,999     $ 130,220,772     $ (97,408,116

)

  $ 32,876,655  

  

 

   

Stockholders' Equity

 
   

Common Stock

   

Additional

Paid-in

   

Accumulated

   

Total

Stockholders'

 
   

Shares

   

Amount

    Capital     Deficit     Equity  

Balance at January 1, 2020

    33,480,365     $ 33,481     $ 111,824,859     $ (91,724,078

)

  $ 20,134,262  

Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs

    11,428,572       11,429       10,330,202             10,341,631  

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants

    19,089,361       19,089       7,760,887             7,779,976  

Stock-based compensation expense

                304,824             304,824  

Net loss

                      (5,684,038

)

    (5,684,038

)

Balance at June 30, 2020

    63,998,298     $ 63,999     $ 130,220,772     $ (97,408,116

)

  $ 32,876,655  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

 

4

 

 

Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

 

 

   

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
   

2020

   

2019

 

Operating activities:

               

Net loss

  $ (5,684,038

)

  $ (5,243,207

)

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

               

Depreciation

    54,041       52,662  

Stock-based compensation expense

    304,824       240,284  

Change in deferred income taxes

    (869,705

)

    (259,256

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

               

Prepaid expenses, deposits and other assets

    (604,558

)

    (106,390

)

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

    151,411       48,320  

Net cash used in operating activities

    (6,648,025

)

    (5,267,587

)

                 

Cash flows provided by financing activities:

               

Proceeds from the sale of common stock

    10,827,100       5,731,779  

Proceeds from the exercise of common stock warrants

    8,038,603        

Payment of financing costs

    (833,428

)

    (82,623

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

    18,032,275       5,649,156  
                 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

    11,384,250       381,569  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

    14,177,349       7,991,172  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  $ 25,561,599     $ 8,372,741  
                 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

               

Offering costs in accounts payable

  $ 148,900     $ 80,206  

Operating lease right of use asset and current and noncurrent liability

  $     $ 334,205  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

 

5

 

DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

1.

Organization and Description of Business

 

Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Diffusion” or the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing new treatments for life-threatening conditions by improving the body’s ability to bring oxygen to the areas where it is needed most. The Company is developing its lead product candidate, transcrocetinate sodium, also known as trans sodium crocetinate (“TSC”), for use in those life-threatening conditions in which cellular oxygen deprivation (“hypoxia”) is the basis for significant unmet medical needs. TSC is designed to safely and selectively target and re-oxygenate the micro-environment of hypoxic cells, with potential uses in many indications, including COVID-19, stroke, oncology, and cardiovascular disease.

 

The Company intends to begin first enrollment in Q3 2020 in its planned international TSC/COVID-19 program, designed to test TSC in a total of approximately 424 COVID-19 patients with symptoms of impaired respiratory function and low oxygen levels. Low oxygen levels are a frequent result of damage to the lungs, often leading to organ failure, the leading cause of death in COVID-19 patients. Diffusion believes TSC’s oxygen-enhancing mechanism could provide an important new treatment option.

 

In stroke, TSC helps promote the diffusion of oxygen into those brain cells in which oxygen-deprivation causes neuronal death resulting in patient mortality or morbidity. In cancer, TSC re-oxygenates treatment-resistant cancerous tissue, making the cancer cells up to three times more susceptible to the therapeutic effects of standard-of-care radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

 

In addition to the TSC programs, the Company is exploring alternatives regarding how best to capitalize upon our product candidate RES-529, which may include possible out-licensing and other options. RES-529 is a novel PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway inhibitor which has completed two Phase 1 clinical trials for age-related macular degeneration and is in preclinical development in oncology, specifically GBM. RES-529 has shown activity in both in vitro and in vivo glioblastoma animal models and has been demonstrated to be orally bioavailable and capable of crossing the blood brain barrier.

 

 

 

2.

Liquidity

 

The Company has not generated any revenues from product sales and has funded operations primarily from the proceeds of public and private offerings of equity, convertible debt and convertible preferred stock. Substantial additional financing will be required by the Company to continue to fund its research and development activities. No assurance can be given that any such financing will be available when needed or that the Company’s research and development efforts will be successful.

 

The Company regularly explores alternative means of financing its operations and seeks funding through various sources, including public and private securities offerings, collaborative arrangements with third parties and other strategic alliances and business transactions. The Company currently does not have any commitments to obtain additional funds and may be unable to obtain sufficient funding in the future on acceptable terms, if at all. If the Company cannot obtain the necessary funding, it will need to delay, scale back or eliminate some or all of its research and development programs or enter into collaborations with third parties to commercialize potential products or technologies that it might otherwise seek to develop or commercialize independently; consider other various strategic alternatives, including a merger or sale of the Company; or cease operations. If the Company engages in collaborations, it may receive lower consideration upon commercialization of such products than if it had not entered such arrangements or if it entered into such arrangements at later stages in the product development process.

 

6

 

DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Operations of the Company are subject to certain risks and uncertainties including various internal and external factors that will affect whether and when the Company’s product candidates become approved drugs and how significant their market share will be, some of which are outside of the Company’s control. The length of time and cost of developing and commercializing these product candidates and/or failure of them at any stage of the drug approval process will materially affect the Company’s financial condition and future operations. The Company believes its cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2020 are sufficient to fund operations into the fourth quarter of 2021.

 

 

3.

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

The Summary of Significant Accounting Policies included in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2020 have not materially changed, except as set forth below.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information as found in the Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company include all normal and recurring adjustments (which consist primarily of accruals, estimates and assumptions that impact the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements) considered necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of June 30, 2020, its results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019. Operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements presented herein do not contain the required disclosures under GAAP for annual financial statements. The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual audited financial statements and related notes as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on Form 10-K on March 17, 2020.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of assets and liabilities at the date the financial statements and reported amounts of expense during the reporting period. The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will directly or indirectly impact our business, results of operations and financial condition, including sales, expenses, reserves and allowances, clinical trials, research and development costs and employee-related amounts, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain, including as a result of new information that may emerge concerning COVID-19, governmental and business responses to the ongoing pandemic,  further actions taken to contain or treat COVID-19 and the speed of the anticipated recovery, as well as the ongoing economic impact on local, regional, national and international markets. The COVID-19 pandemic had no material impact on our estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020. Due to the uncertainty of factors surrounding these estimates or judgments, actual results may materially vary from our estimates. Estimates and assumptions are periodically reviewed, and the effects of revisions are reflected in the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in the period they are determined.  Our future assessment of the magnitude and duration of COVID-19, as well as other factors, could result in material impacts to our consolidated financial statements in future reporting periods. 

 

7

 

DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Fair value is the price that could be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value determination in accordance with applicable accounting guidance requires that a number of significant judgments be made. Additionally, fair value is used on a nonrecurring basis to evaluate assets for impairment or as required for disclosure purposes by applicable accounting guidance on disclosures about fair value of financial instruments. Depending on the nature of the assets and liabilities, various valuation techniques and assumptions are used when estimating fair value. The carrying amounts of certain of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash equivalents and accounts payable are shown at cost, which approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The Company follows the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, for financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis. The guidance requires fair value measurements be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

 

 

Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

 

 

Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liabilities.

 

 

Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity.

 

The following fair value hierarchy table presents information about the Company’s cash equivalents measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

 

   

March 31, 2020

 
   

(Level 1)

   

(Level 2)

   

(Level 3)

 

Assets

                       

Cash equivalents

  $ 25,383,744     $     $  

 

 

   

December 31, 2019

 
   

(Level 1)

   

(Level 2)

   

(Level 3)

 

Assets

                       

Cash equivalents

  $ 14,006,193     $     $  

 

Intangible Asset

 

The Company's RES-529 intangible asset is assessed for impairment annually on October 1 of the Company’s fiscal year or more frequently if impairment indicators exist. There was no impairment to the Company’s RES-529 intangible asset recognized during the three or six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

 

8

 

DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Net Loss Per Common 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 each period. Diluted net loss per share includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities, such as convertible debt, convertible preferred stock, common stock warrants, stock options and unvested restricted stock that would result in the issuance of incremental shares of common stock. In computing the basic and diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders, the weighted average number of shares remains the same for both calculations due to the fact that when a net loss exists, dilutive shares are not included in the calculation as the impact is anti-dilutive.

 

The following potentially dilutive securities outstanding as of June 30, 2020 and 2019 have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding, as they would be anti-dilutive:

 

   

Six Months Ended June 30,

 
   

2020

   

2019

 

Common stock warrants

    9,117,209       3,469,925  

Stock options

    1,427,829       309,276  

Unvested restricted stock awards

    98,100        
      10,643,138       3,779,201  

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements, which changes the fair value measurement disclosure requirements of ASC 820. The goal of the ASU is to improve the effectiveness of ASC 820's disclosure requirements by providing users of the financial statements with better information about assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the financial statements and notes thereto. The Company adopted ASU No. 2018-13 in the first quarter of 2020 and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

 

 

4.

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following:

 

   

June 30, 2020

   

December 31, 2019

 

Accrued payroll and payroll related expenses

    252,194       182,708  

Accrued professional fees

          48,338  

Accrued clinical studies expenses

    52,705       57,378  

Other accrued expenses

    12,176       70,108  

Total

  $ 317,075     $ 358,532  

 

9

 

DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

5.

Stockholders' Equity and Common Stock Warrants

 

2020 Common Stock Offering

 

In May 2020, the Company completed a public offering (the “May 2020 Offering”) of 11,428,572 shares of its common stock for a purchase price of $1.05 per share for net proceeds of $10.3 million after deducting commissions, discounts and other offering costs. In addition, at the closing of the May 2020 Offering, the Company issued warrants to purchase up to 571,429 shares of common stock to designees of the placement agent for the May 2020 Offering. The placement agent's warrants have an exercise price of $1.3125 per share and a term of five years from the date of issuance.

 

Additionally, in May 2020, the Company entered into a warrant exercise agreement with an investor (the “May 2020 investor warrant exercise”) who held existing warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.35 per share (the “Prior Warrant”). In consideration for the exercise of the the Prior Warrants for cash and an additional $0.125 per each share of common stock in the Prior Warrant being exercised, the exercising investor received new unregistered warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of common stock in a private placement. The warrants are exercisable immediately at an exercise price of $0.5263 per share and exercisable until November 8, 2025. The Company recognized a deemed dividend of $2.0 million to reflect the value as determined by a Black-Scholes option-pricing model of the consideration given above the additional cash received as an inducement for the investor to exercise the warrants. This deemed dividend is recorded in the Company's statement of operations during the three months ended June 30, 2020 as an increase to the net loss attributable to common stockholders for purposes of computing net loss per share, basic and diluted.

 

In connection with the May 2020 investor warrant exercise, the Company issued warrants to purchase up to 250,000 shares of common stock to the placement agent with an exercise price of $0.5938 per share and otherwise have identical terms to the warrants issued to the investor.

 

10

 

DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Common Stock Warrants

 

As of June 30, 2020, the Company had the following warrants outstanding to acquire shares of its common stock:

 

   

Outstanding

 

Range of exercise

price per shar

 

Expiration dates

Common stock warrants issued in 2017 related to Series A convertible preferred stock offering

    903,870       $33.30    

March 2022

Common stock warrants issued in 2018 related to the common stock offering     1,181,375     $12.00 - $15.00   January 2023
Common stock warrants issued related to the May 2019 offering     1,382,913     $5.00 - $6.11875   November 2024
Common stock warrants issued related to the November 2019 offering     514,283     $0.35 - $0.4375   May 2024

Common stock warrants issued related to the December 2019 offering

    313,339       $0.6981    

December 2024

Common stock warrants issued related to the May 2020 offering

    571,429       $1.3125    

May 2025

Common stock warrants issued related to May 2020 investor warrant exercise     4,250,000     $0.5263 - $0.5938   November 2025
      9,117,209              

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2020, no warrants expired, and 19,089,361 warrants were exercised for 19,089,361 shares of common stock resulting in net proceeds of $7.8 million.

 

 

6.

Stock-Based Compensation

 

2015 Equity Plan

 

The Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the "2015 Equity Plan"), provides for increases to the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder each January 1 equal to 4.0% of the total shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding as of the immediately preceding December 31, unless a lesser amount is stipulated by the Compensation Committee of the Company's board of directors. Accordingly, 1,339,215 shares were added to the reserve as of January 1, 2020, which shares may be issued in connection with the grant of stock-based awards, including stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights and other types of awards as deemed appropriate, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the 2015 Equity Plan. As of June 30, 2020, there were 142,302 shares of common stock available for future issuance under the 2015 Equity Plan.

 

11

 

DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense in the following expense categories of its unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated:

 

   

Three Months Ended

June 30,

   

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2020

   

2019

 

Research and development

  $ 91,896     $ 13,577     $ 188,426     $ 27,173  

General and administrative

    21,548       135,503       116,398       213,111  

Total stock-based compensation expense

  $ 113,444     $ 149,080     $ 304,824     $ 240,284  

 

The following table summarizes the activity related to all stock options for the six months ended June 30, 2020:

 

   

Number of

Options

   

Weighted

average

exercise price

per share

   

Weighted

average

remaining

contractual life

(in years)

 

Balance at January 1, 2020

    309,276     $ 55.78          

Granted

    1,118,700       0.58          

Expired

    (147

)

    142.50          

Outstanding at June 30, 2020

    1,427,829     $ 12.53       8.9  

Exercisable at June 30, 2020

    660,504     $ 26.17       8.2  

 

The weighted average grant date fair value of stock option awards granted was $0.46 per share during the six months ended June 30, 2020. No options were exercised during any of the periods presented. At June 30, 2020, there was $0.5 million of unrecognized compensation expense that will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.5 years.

 

Options granted were valued using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the weighted average assumptions used to value the options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2020 were as follows:

 

   

2020

 

Expected term (in years)

    5.59  

Risk-free interest rate

    1.3 %

Expected volatility

    115.1 %

Dividend yield

    %

 

Restricted Stock Awards

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2020, the Company granted 98,100 restricted stock awards to a member of the board of directors of the Company. The grant date fair value of each restricted stock award granted during the six months ended June 30, 2020 was $0.51. The shares begin to vest 18 months after the grant date. The Company recognized approximately $4,000 and $8,000 in expense related to this award during the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively. At June 30, 2020, there was approximately $42,000 of unrecognized compensation cost that will be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.58 years.

 

12

 

DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

7.

Commitments and Contingencies

 

Office Space Rental

 

The Company has a non-cancelable operating lease for office and laboratory space in Charlottesville, Virginia, which began in April 2017 and as of June 30, 2020, has a remaining lease term of approximately 1.8 years. The Company adopted ASC 842 in the first quarter of 2019 and as a result of the adoption, the Company recognized a current operating lease liability of $0.1 million and a noncurrent operating lease liability of $0.2 million with a corresponding ROU asset of the combined amounts, which is based on the present value of the minimum rental payments of the lease. The discount rate used to account for the Company's operating lease under ASC 842 is the Company’s estimated incremental borrowing rate of 10%. The original term of the lease ends in the second quarter of 2022 and the Company has an option to extend for another five (5) years. This option to extend was not recognized as part of the Company's measurement of the ROU asset and operating lease liability as of June 30, 2020.

 

Rent expense related to the Company's operating lease for both the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 was approximately $30,000. Rent expense for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 was approximately $60,000 and $50,000, respectively. Future minimum rental payments under the Company's non-cancelable operating lease at June 30, 2020 was as follows:

 

   

Rental

Commitments

 

2020

    58,575  

2021

    118,519  

2022

    39,735  

Total

    216,829  

Less: imputed interest

    (21,950

)

    $ 194,879  

 

Research and Development Arrangements

 

In the course of normal business operations, the Company enters into agreements with universities and contract research organizations, or CROs, to assist in the performance of research and development activities and contract manufacturers to assist with chemistry, manufacturing, and controls related expenses. Expenditures to CROs represent a significant cost in clinical development for the Company. The Company could also enter into additional collaborative research, contract research, manufacturing, and supplier agreements in the future, which may require upfront payments and long-term commitments of cash.

 

Defined Contribution Retirement Plan

 

The Company has established a 401(k) defined contribution plan (the “401(k) Plan”) that covers all employees who qualify under the terms of the plan. Eligible employees may elect to contribute to the 401(k) Plan up to 90% of their compensation, limited by the IRS-imposed maximum. The Company provides a safe harbor match with a maximum amount of 4% of the participant’s compensation. The Company made matching contributions under the 401(k) Plan of approximately $14,000 and $20,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively and matched approximately $31,000 and $38,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

13

 

DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Legal Proceedings

 

On August 7, 2014, a complaint was filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California by Paul Feller, the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer under the caption Paul Feller v. RestorGenex Corporation, Pro Sports & Entertainment, Inc., ProElite, Inc. and Stratus Media Group, GmbH (Case No. BC553996). The complaint asserts various causes of action, including, among other things, promissory fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of employment agreement, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violations of the California Labor Code and common counts. The plaintiff is seeking, among other things, compensatory damages in an undetermined amount, punitive damages, accrued interest and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs. On December 30, 2014, the Company filed a petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. On April 1, 2015, the plaintiff filed a petition in opposition to the Company’s petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. After a hearing for the petition and motion on April 14, 2015, the Court granted the Company’s petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. On January 8, 2016, the plaintiff filed an arbitration demand with the American Arbitration Association. On November 19, 2018 at an Order to Show Cause Re Dismissal Hearing, the Court found sufficient grounds not to dismiss the case, and an arbitration hearing has been scheduled for November 2020. The Company believes this matter is without merit and intends to defend the arbitration vigorously. Because this matter is in an early stage, the Company is unable to predict its outcome and the possible loss or range of loss, if any, associated with its resolution or any potential effect the matter may have on the Company’s financial position. Depending on the outcome or resolution of this matter, it could have a material effect on the Company’s financial position.

 

 

 

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations together with the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this report and other financial information included in this report. The following discussion may contain predictions, estimates and other forward looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under “Part I — Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements” in this report and under “Part I — Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. These risks could cause our actual results to differ materially from any future performance suggested below.

 

Business Overview

 

We are a clinical stage biotechnology company developing new treatments for life-threatening conditions by improving the body’s ability to bring oxygen to the areas where it is needed most. We are developing our lead product candidate, transcrocetinate sodium, also known as trans sodium crocetinate (“TSC”), for use in those life-threatening conditions in which cellular oxygen deprivation (“hypoxia”) is the basis for significant unmet medical needs. TSC is designed to safely and selectively target and re-oxygenate the micro-environment of hypoxic cells, with potential uses in many indications, including COVID-19, stroke, oncology, and cardiovascular disease.

 

14

 

In stroke, TSC helps promote the diffusion of oxygen into those brain cells in which oxygen-deprivation causes neuronal death resulting in patient mortality or morbidity. In cancer, TSC re-oxygenates treatment-resistant cancerous tissue, making the cancer cells up to three times more susceptible to the therapeutic effects of standard-of-care radiation therapy and chemotherapy. A range of tissue types, including both normal and cancerous cells, have been shown to be safely re-oxygenated in our preclinical and clinical studies using TSC’s novel mechanism of action.

 

We believe TSC’s ability to re-oxygenate normal (i.e. non-cancerous) tissue that has become oxygen-deprived provides opportunities for new therapeutic approaches to conditions ranging from stroke and emergency medicine - including COVID-19 where multiple organ failure associated with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is the leading cause of death - to cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. In the treatment of cancerous tissue, we believe TSC’s therapeutic potential to lessen the tumor's treatment resistance to radiation and chemo-therapy is not limited to one specific tumor type, thereby making it potentially useful to improve standard-of-care treatments in many life-threatening cancers. Given TSC's safety profile and animal data, we could, with appropriate funding, move directly into Phase 2 studies for TSC in other cancers. The successful completion of trials for TSC or any other potential product candidate in these or any other indication is dependent upon our ability to further raise necessary capital.

 

We believe that TSC has potential applications in stroke and emergency medicine. In stroke, a Phase 2 trial in cooperation with the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Virginia (UVA) to test TSC in the treatment of acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke is currently enrolling patients. Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the U.S. and the No. 1 cause of adult disability. Our stroke trial, which features in-ambulance dosing of TSC, is named the “PreHospital Acute Stroke Therapy - TSC” (PHAST - TSC) study, and is expected to enroll 160 patients, with 80 in the treatment arm and 80 in the control arm. We believe in-ambulance dosing of TSC will significantly cut the time in which the stroke-related oxygen deprivation to brain cells goes untreated, potentially leading to a better outcome for stroke victims treated in this manner. Near term enrollment in this trial is expected to be minimal for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Patients with COVID-19 infections are at risk for developing ARDS, which can lead to death from systemic hypoxemia (general lack of oxygen to body tissue and vital organs) and we believe that TSC’s oxygen-enhancing mechanism could provide an important new treatment option. Our TSC/Covid-19 clinical development program will begin with an open-label Phase 1b lead-in trial which, if successful, will be followed by one or more randomized double-blinded clinical trials powered for statistical significance. The lead-in will test TSC in 24 hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the Romanian National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID). We expect to begin dosing in this trial in the 3rd quarter of 2020 with data read-out in the fourth quarter of 2020. In addition to safety, the lead-in trial will collect data on possible increased oxygenation, thereby helping determine TSC dosing for follow-on studies.

 

Assuming positive results for the lead-in trial and following regulatory approvals, we plan to begin a clinical trial program in the U.S. and Europe to study the safety and efficacy of TSC compared to placebo in a total of approximately 400 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. This clinical trial program will reflect the guidance received from both the US FDA and European regulatory agencies, with data availability presently targeted in about 18 months.

 

Our oncology program targets TSC against treatment-resistant brain cancer. A Phase 2 clinical program, completed in the second quarter of 2015, evaluated 59 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (“GBM”), a particularly deadly form of primary brain cancer. GBM affects approximately 12,000 patients annually in the United States and approximately 35,000 patients annually worldwide. This open label, historically controlled study demonstrated a favorable safety and efficacy profile for TSC when combined with GBM’s standard of care, including a 37% improvement in overall survival over the control group at two years. A particularly strong efficacy signal was seen in the inoperable patients, where survival of TSC-treated patients at two years was increased by almost four-fold over the controls. In December 2017, we initiated the INvestigation of TSC Against Cancerous Tumors (INTACT) Phase 3 trial in the newly diagnosed inoperable GBM patient population. The trial is designed to enroll 236 patients in total, with 118 in the treatment arm and 118 in the control arm.

 

15

 

The trial began with an FDA-mandated open label 8 patient safety run-in for which enrollment has completed and is now closed. With the FDA’s permission, a total of 19 patients were enrolled to ensure that at least 8 complete data sets meeting the FDA’s specified 4-month exposure period would be available for review. The INTACT Trial Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) met in the third quarter of 2019 and, based on their analysis, recommended that the study be continued. The DSMB concluded that no adverse safety signal had been observed, and unanimously recommended continuing the study as planned using the highest tested dose of TSC - 1.5 mg/kg - during the adjuvant treatment chemotherapy period with temozolomide. We believe that a preliminary efficacy signal was also received. A total of 10 patients were enrolled into the higher dose cohorts and 9 in the lower dose cohorts. In the higher dose patients, where the best results were expected, 3 discontinued treatment before meeting the FDA exposure period criteria. Of the 7 patients who met the criteria, 4 remain alive as of July 30, 2020. Commencement of enrollment in the randomization portion of the INTACT Phase 3 Trial is contingent upon our entering into a strategic partnership providing the necessary resources to undertake the full trial.

 

In addition to the TSC programs, we are exploring alternatives regarding how best to capitalize upon our product candidate RES-529, which may include possible out-licensing and other options. RES-529 is a novel PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway inhibitor which has completed two Phase 1 clinical trials for age-related macular degeneration and was in preclinical development in oncology, specifically GBM. RES-529 has shown activity in both in vitro and in vivo glioblastoma animal models and has been demonstrated to be orally bioavailable and capable of crossing the blood brain barrier.

 

 

COVID-19 Pandemic

 

The spread of COVID-19 during the first half of 2020 has caused an economic downturn on a global scale, as well as significant volatility in the financial markets. In March 2020 the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. We have experienced some disruptions to clinical operations, including with respect to patient enrollment in our clinical trials, specifically related to our stroke trial. In this time of uncertainty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken precautionary measures and adjusted our operational needs. We are continuing to conduct trials at certain clinical trial sites while taking precautions to provide a safe work environment for our trial participants and employees. However, some in-person visits are currently on hold and other activities are being conducted remotely to the extent possible. We have also made internal resource allocation decisions in order to deliver on key business objectives and to increase our financial flexibility, including, for example, pausing the development of certain preclinical research programs, delaying the start of certain longer-term clinical studies, limiting staff hiring and reducing the number of contract workers, and delaying or limiting information technology and facilities infrastructure projects. We may have to take further actions that we determine are in the best interests of our trial participants and employees or as required by federal, state, or local authorities.

 

These changes will be reviewed based on future operating conditions and we will continue to take appropriate measures to address our changing needs. As the pandemic continues to unfold, the extent of the pandemic’s effect on our operational and financial performance will depend in large part on future developments, which cannot be predicted with confidence at this time. Future developments include changes in the duration, scope and severity of the pandemic, the actions taken to contain or mitigate its impact, the impact on governmental programs and budgets, the development of treatments or vaccines, and the resumption of widespread economic activity. Any prolonged material disruption on recruiting or retaining patients in our clinical trials, the ability of our suppliers to provide materials for our product candidates, or the regulatory review process could cause additional delays with respect to product development activities and could negatively impact our consolidated financial position, consolidated results of operations and consolidated cash flows.

 

16

 

Financial Summary

 

In May 2020, we completed an offering (the “May 2020 Offering”) of 11,428,572 shares of our common stock for a purchase price of $1.05 per share for net proceeds of $10.3 million after deducting commissions, discounts and other offering costs.  In addition, at the closing of the May 2020 Offering, we issued warrants to purchase up to 571,429 shares of common stock to designees of the placement agent. The placement agent's warrants have an exercise price of $1.3125 per share and a term of five years from the date of issuance.

 

Additionally, in May 2020, we entered into a warrant exercise agreement with an investor (the “May 2020 investor warrant exercise”) who held an existing warrant to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 of our shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.35 per share (the “Prior Warrant”). In consideration for the exercise of the Prior Warrants for cash and an additional $0.125 per each share of common stock underlying the Prior Warrant being exercised, the exercising investor received a new unregistered warrant to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of common stock in a private placement. The warrant is exercisable immediately at an exercise price of $0.5263 per share and exercisable until November 8, 2025. In connection with the May 2020 investor warrant exercise, the Company issued 250,000 warrants to purchase shares of common stock to the placement agent with an exercise price of $0.5938 per share and which otherwise have identical terms to the warrants issued to the investor.

 

At June 30, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents of $25.6 million. We have incurred operating losses since inception, have not generated any product revenue and have not achieved profitable operations. We incurred net losses of $3.1 million and $5.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, respectively. Our accumulated deficit as of June 30, 2020 was $97.4 million, and we expect to continue to incur substantial losses in future periods. We anticipate that our operating expenses will increase substantially as we continue to advance our lead, clinical-stage product candidate, TSC. We anticipate that our expenses will substantially increase as we:

 

 

ramp up our clinical programs using TSC in COVID-19 patients;

 

 

continue our Phase 2 clinical trial for TSC in stroke;

 

 

continue the research, development and scale-up manufacturing capabilities to optimize products and dose forms for which we may obtain regulatory approval;

 

 

conduct other preclinical and clinical studies to support the filing of any New Drug Application (“NDA”) with the FDA;

 

 

maintain, expand and protect our global intellectual property portfolio;

 

 

hire additional clinical, manufacturing, and scientific personnel; and

 

 

add, acquire or develop operational, financial and management information systems and personnel, including personnel to support our drug development and potential future commercialization efforts.

 

17

 

We intend to use our existing cash and cash equivalents for working capital and to fund the research and development of TSC. We believe that our cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2020, will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the fourth quarter of 2021.

 

Financial Operations Overview

 

Revenues

 

We have not yet generated any revenue from product sales. We do not expect to generate revenue from product sales for the foreseeable future.

 

Research and Development Expense

 

Research and development costs include, but are not limited to, third-party contract research arrangements, employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, stock-based compensation and travel expense reimbursement. Research and development activities are central to our business model. Product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials. As we advance our product candidates, we expect the amount of research and development costs will continue to increase for the foreseeable future. Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred.

 

General and Administrative Expense

 

General and administrative expenses consist principally of salaries and related costs for executive and other personnel, including stock-based compensation, expenses associated with investment bank and other financial advisory services, and travel expenses. Other general and administrative expenses include professional fees, facility-related costs, communication expenses and professional fees for legal, patent prosecution and maintenance, and consulting and accounting services.

 

Interest Income

 

Interest income consists of interest earned from our cash and cash equivalents.

 

Income Tax Benefit

 

We recognize income tax benefit to utilize indefinite deferred tax liabilities as a source of income against indefinite lived portions of our deferred tax assets.

 

18

 

Results of Operations for Three Months Ended June 30, 2020 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2019

 

The following table sets forth our results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

 

   

Three Months Ended June 30

         
   

2020

   

2019

   

Change

 

Operating expenses:

                       

Research and development

  $ 2,173,183     $ 1,518,381     $ 654,802  

General and administrative

    1,458,257       1,068,452       389,805  

Depreciation

    27,021       34,390       (7,369

)

Loss from operations

    3,658,461       2,621,223       1,037,238  

Other income:

                       

Interest income

    (25,913

)

    (16,921

)

    (8,992

)

Loss from operations before income tax benefit

    (3,632,548

)

    (2,604,302

)

    (1,028,246

)

Income tax benefit

    (507,325

)

    (108,904

)

    (398,421

)

Net loss

  $ (3,125,223

)

  $ (2,495,398

)

  $ (629,825

)

 

We recognized $2.2 million in research and development expenses during the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $1.5 million during the three months ended June 30, 2019. The increase was attributable to a $0.6 million increase in costs associated with follow on work for our 19 patient run-in Phase 3 trial for GBM, a $0.3 million increase in expense related to our open-label Phase 1b lead-in trial for TSC in COVID-19 patients, and a $0.3 million increase in associated manufacturing costs as we ramp up the trial. These increases were offset in part by a $0.5 million decrease in costs associated with the delay in our Phase 2 stroke trial due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

General and administrative expenses were $1.5 million during the three months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $1.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2019. The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily due to a $0.3 million increase in professional fees and a $0.1 million increase in salaries, wages and other costs.

 

We recognized income tax benefit of $0.5 million and $0.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, to reflect the utilization of indefinite deferred tax liabilities as a source of income against indefinite lived portions of our deferred tax assets.

 

19

 

Results of Operations for Six Months Ended June 30, 2020 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2019

 

The following table sets forth our results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019.

 

   

Six Months Ended
June 30,

         
   

2020

   

2019

   

Change

 

Operating expenses:

                       

Research and development

  $ 3,707,650     $ 3,218,226     $ 489,424  

General and administrative

    2,852,065       2,269,180       582,885  

Depreciation

    54,041       52,662       1,379  

Loss from operations

    6,613,756       5,540,068       1,073,688  

Other income:

                       

Interest income

    (60,013

)

    (37,605

)

    (22,408

)

Loss from operations before income tax benefit

    (6,553,743

)

    (5,502,463

)

    (1,051,280

)

Income tax benefit

    (869,705

)

    (259,256

)

    (610,449

)

Net loss

  $ (5,684,038

)

  $ (5,243,207

)

  $ (440,831

)

 

We recognized $3.7 million in research and development expenses during the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $3.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2019. The increase was attributable to $0.3 million in expense related to our open-label Phase 1b lead-in trial for TSC in COVID-19 patients, a $0.4 million increase in associated manufacturing expense as we ramp up the trial, and a $0.2 million increase in costs associated with follow on work for our 19-patient Phase 3 trial for GBM. These increases were offset in part by a $0.4 million decrease in costs associated with the delay in our Phase 2 stroke trial due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

General and administrative expenses were $2.9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $2.3 million during the six months ended June 30, 2019. The increase in general and administrative expense was primarily due to a $0.5 million increase in professional fees.

 

We recognized income tax benefit of $0.9 million and $0.3 million during the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, to reflect the utilization of indefinite deferred tax liabilities as a source of income against indefinite lived portions of our deferred tax assets.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Working Capital

 

To date, we have funded our operations primarily through the issuance and sale of common stock and warrants, convertible debt and convertible preferred stock. In May 2020, we completed an offering of 11,428,572 shares of our common stock for a purchase price of $1.05 per share for net proceeds of $10.3 million after deducting commissions, discounts and other offering costs. Additionally, during the six months ended June 30, 2020, investors exercised warrants to purchase 17,965,290 shares of our common stock for net proceeds of $7.8 million.

 

20

 

As of June 30, 2020, we had $25.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, working capital of $24.9 million and an accumulated deficit of $97.4 million. We expect to continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future. We intend to use our existing cash and cash equivalents to fund our working capital and research and development of our product candidates.

 

 Cash Flows

 

The following table sets forth our cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019:

 

   

Six Months Ended June 30,

 

Net cash (used in) provided by:

 

2020

   

2019

 

Operating activities

  $ (6,648,025

)

  $ (5,267,587

)

Financing activities

    18,032,275       5,649,156  

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

  $ 11,384,250     $ 381,569  

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities of $6.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2020 was primarily attributable to our net loss of $5.7 million, our change in deferred income taxes of $0.9 million and our net change in operating assets and liabilities of $0.5 million. These amounts were offset by $0.3 million in stock-based compensation expense, and $0.1 million in depreciation expense. The net change in our operating assets and liabilities is primarily attributable to an increase in our prepaid expenses, deposits and other current assets, which was slightly offset by an increase in accounts payable.

 

Net cash used in operating activities of $5.3 million during the six months ended June 30, 2019 was primarily attributable to our net loss of $5.2 million and our change in deferred income taxes of $0.3 million and our net change in operating assets and liabilities of $0.1 million. This amount was offset by $0.2 million in stock-based compensation expense and $0.1 million in depreciation expense.

 

Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $18.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2020, which was attributable to the $10.8 million in gross proceeds received upon the sale of our common stock and warrants plus $8.0 million in gross proceeds received from the exercise of common stock warrants. These cash inflows were offset in part by the payment of $0.8 million in financing costs.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $5.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2019, which was attributable to the $5.7 million in proceeds received upon the sale of our Common Stock and warrants, offset in part by approximately $0.1 million in payments for related financing costs.

 

Capital Requirements

 

We expect to continue to incur substantial expenses and generate significant operating losses as we continue to pursue our business strategy of developing our lead product candidate, TSC, for use in the treatment of hypoxia related indications. Our operations have consumed substantial amounts of cash since inception. We expect to continue to spend substantial amounts of cash to advance the clinical development of our product candidates. At the current time, the bulk of our cash resources for clinical development is dedicated to the open-label Phase 1b lead-in trial for TSC in COVID-19 patients, and, to a lesser extent, the Phase 2 trial for TSC in acute stroke. While we believe we have adequate cash resources to continue operations into the fourth quarter of 2021, we will need to raise additional funds in order to complete these trials. We do not expect to commence any clinical trials beyond these trials unless we are able to raise additional capital, enter into strategic collaborations, or make alternative financing arrangements for any such trials. To date, we have funded our ongoing business operations and short-term liquidity needs, primarily through the sale and issuance of preferred stock, common stock and convertible debt. We expect to continue this practice for the foreseeable future, however, we may enter into strategic partnerships or transactions in order to fund our ongoing capital requirements.

 

21

 

As of June 30, 2020, we did not have credit facilities under which we could borrow funds or any other sources of committed capital. We may seek to raise additional funds through various sources, such as equity and debt financings, or through strategic collaborations and license agreements. We can give no assurances that we will be able to secure additional sources of funds to support our operations, or if such funds are available to us, that such additional financing will be sufficient to meet our needs or be on terms acceptable to us or that potential delays in clinical trials due to the impact of COVID-19 could increase the anticipated cost of completing our clinical trials. This risk may increase if economic and market conditions deteriorate. If we are unable to obtain additional financing when needed, we may need to terminate, significantly modify or delay the development of our product candidates and our operations, or we may need to obtain funds through collaborators that may require us to relinquish rights to our technologies or product candidates that we might otherwise seek to develop or commercialize independently. If we are unable to raise any additional capital in the near-term and/or we cannot significantly reduce our expenses and are forced to terminate our operations, investors may experience a complete loss of their investment.

 

To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of our common stock, the interests of our current stockholders may be diluted. Also, the Company’s outstanding warrants to purchase common stock, if exercised, will dilute the interests of our current stockholders. If we issue additional preferred stock or convertible debt securities, it could affect the rights of our common stockholders or reduce the value of our common stock or any outstanding classes of preferred stock. In particular, specific rights granted to future holders of preferred stock or convertible debt securities may include voting rights, preferences as to dividends and liquidation, conversion and redemption rights, sinking fund provisions, and restrictions on our ability to merge with or sell our assets to a third party. Debt financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we raise additional funds through strategic collaborations in the future, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams or product candidates or grant licenses.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined by the rules and regulations of the SEC that have or are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenue or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources. As a result, we are not materially exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in these arrangements.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The Critical Accounting Policies included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) under the Securities Act on March 17, 2020 have not changed.

 

22

 

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This report includes forward-looking statements. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “approximately” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places throughout this Quarterly Report and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things, our ongoing and planned preclinical development and clinical trials, the timing of and our ability to make regulatory filings and obtain and maintain regulatory and other approvals for our product candidates, our intellectual property position, our ability to maintain our Nasdaq listing, the degree of clinical utility of our products, particularly in specific patient populations, general business and market conditions, our ability to develop commercial functions, expectations regarding clinical trial data, our results of operations, the sufficiency of the Company’s cash, the Company’s need for and ability to obtain additional financing or partnering arrangements, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth and strategies, the industry in which we operate and the trends that may affect the industry or us.

 

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events, competitive dynamics and industry change, and depend on the economic circumstances that may or may not occur in the future or may occur on longer or shorter timelines than anticipated. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this Quarterly Report or incorporated by reference, we caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report or incorporated by reference. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report or incorporated by reference, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods.

 

Actual results could differ materially from our forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including risks related to:

 

 

our ability to obtain additional financing;

     
 

our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and needs for additional financing;

     
 

our ability to enroll subjects in our clinical trials at anticipated rates;

     
 

the success and timing of our preclinical studies and clinical trials;

     
 

the difficulties in obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval;

     
 

our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our products and product candidates, including the labeling under any approval we may obtain;

     
 

our plans and ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates;

     
 

our failure to recruit or retain key scientific or management personnel or to retain our executive officers;

     
 

the accuracy of our estimates of the size and characteristics of the potential markets for our product candidates and our ability to serve those markets;

     
 

regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries;

 

23

 

 

the rate and degree of market acceptance of any of our product candidates;

     
 

obtaining and maintaining intellectual property protection for our product candidates and our proprietary technology;

     
 

our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others;

     
 

recently enacted and future legislation regarding the healthcare system;

     
 

our ability to satisfy the continued listing requirements of the NASDAQ Capital Market or any other exchange on which our securities may trade in the future;

     
 

the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern.

     
 

the success of competing products that are or may become available; and

     
 

the performance of third parties, including contract research organizations and manufacturers.

 

You should also read carefully the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 17, 2020, as amended, and elsewhere in our public filings to better understand the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business and underlying any forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all.

 

Any forward-looking statements that we make in this Quarterly Report speak only as of the date of such statement, and, except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Quarterly Report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.

 

24

 

ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

This Item 3 is not applicable to us as a smaller reporting company and has been omitted.

 

ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, we recognize that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and we are required to apply our judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible internal controls. Our management evaluated, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered in this report. Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of such period to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

 

 

Change in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that occurred during the quarter ended June 30, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

25

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

For this item, please refer to Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies to the Notes to the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A - “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results.

 

Events outside of our control, including public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, could negatively affect our business and our operating results.

 

The novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic has resulted in significant financial market volatility, and its impact on the global economy and our operations remains uncertain. While we have business continuity plans in place to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19[kcannavo1] , a continuation or worsening of the pandemic could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition and on the market price of our common stock.

 

On March 12, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. In an effort to contain and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, many countries worldwide have imposed quarantines, business closures and unprecedented restrictions on travel. The outbreak and government measures taken in response, have had a significant impact, both direct and indirect, on economic activity, as worker shortages have occurred, supply chains have been disrupted, facilities and production have been suspended and demand for certain goods and services, such as medical services and supplies, has spiked, while demand for other goods and services has fallen.

 

As the pandemic continues, and if conditions worsen, [we expect to experience additional adverse effects on our operational activities and our financial condition. It is unclear which adverse effects may be material, and it remains uncertain the degree to which these adverse effects would impact our future operational activities and financial condition even if conditions begin to improve.] With the recent relaxation of restrictions on business operations and in-person gatherings there has been a resurgence in COVID-19 infections in numerous jurisdictions, resulting in the reinstatement of stricter restrictions and shutdowns. It is expected that there will be an ebb and flow to the pandemic with different jurisdictions having higher levels of infections than others over the course of the pandemic. In addition to existing travel restrictions, jurisdictions may continue or reinstate border closures, impose or reimpose prolonged quarantines and further restrict travel and business activity,

 

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we [have experienced and may continue to experience] disruptions that could severely impact our business and clinical trials, including:

 

 

delays or difficulties in enrolling patients in our clinical trials;

 

 

delays or difficulties in clinical trial site activities, including difficulties in recruiting clinical trial staff;

 

 

diversion of healthcare resources away from the conduct of clinical trials, including the diversion of hospitals serving as our clinical trial sites and hospital staff supporting the conduct of our clinical trials;

 

 

interruption of key clinical trial activities, such as clinical trial site data monitoring, due to limitations on travel imposed or recommended by federal or state governments, employers and others or interruption of clinical trial subject visits and study procedures (i.e., those that are deemed non-essential), which may impact the integrity of subject data and clinical study endpoints;

 

 

interruption or delays in the operations of the FDA or other regulatory authorities, which may impact review and approval timelines;

 

 

 

 

interruption of, or delays in receiving, supplies for productions of our product candidates from our third party suppliers due to staffing shortages, production slowdowns or stoppages and disruptions in delivery systems;

 

26

 

 

interruptions in preclinical studies due to restricted or limited operations at laboratory facilities; and

 

 

interruption or delays to our clinical activities.

 

Any negative impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had or will continue to have on recruiting or retaining patients in our clinical trials, the ability of our suppliers to provide materials for our product candidates, or the regulatory review process could cause additional delays with respect to product development activities, which could materially and adversely affect our ability to obtain regulatory approval for and to commercialize our product candidates, increase our operating expenses, affect our ability to raise additional capital, and have a material adverse effect on our financial results. In addition, our clinical trial patients who contract COVID-19 may have adverse health outcomes that could impact the results of our clinical trials[kcannavo2] .

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant financial market volatility and uncertainty and continues to rapidly evolve. The extent to which the outbreak impacts our business and clinical trials will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the outbreak, new information that may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. A continuation or worsening of the levels of market disruption and volatility seen in the recent past could have an adverse effect on our ability to access capital, on our business, results of operations and financial condition, and on the market price of our common stock.

 
We face risks related to the planned clinical program to test TSC as a treatment for COVID-19which has not been approved by the FDA or any other regulatory authority.

 

In response to the recent global outbreak of COVID-19, on April 24, 2020, we submitted a Pre-IND to the FDA related to a planned clinical program using TSC in COVID-19 patients displaying severe respiratory symptoms and low oxygen levels, which received an accelerated review by the FDA under its Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program. We submitted our IND application for the COVID-19 clinical program on July 7, 2020, which incorporates pre-IND regulatory guidance from the FDA. Clinical trial start-up preparations are continuing as our IND submission is under review. The estimated timing of regulatory approval is based on factors beyond our control, including but not limited to, unforeseen scheduling difficulties and unfavorable results at various stages in the pre-market application process. This FDA approval or clearance process may be time-consuming and costly. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the IND submission will ultimately be acceptable to the FDA. Even if the IND is approved by the FDA, there can be no assurance as to when the FDA might provide such approved or when the program might be able to commence, if at all. We intend to work closely with the FDA to determine the best path forward to obtain approval, but we cannot guarantee that these efforts will be successful. Even if FDA approval for trials evaluating TSC for the treatment of ARDS is ultimately granted and we are able to move forward with clinical trials, such trials may entail significant additional time, effort and expense, particularly in light of the difficulty of doing business during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, there is no assurance of favorable results from any clinical trials, or that one or more of such trials will be completed in the currently anticipated timelines or at all. Further, we may make a strategic decision to discontinue clinical testing of TSC in COVID-19 patients, including in the event that other parties are successful in developing a more effective treatment for COVID-19.

 

We have committed significant capital and resources to begin funding and supplying the clinical trials for the COVID-19 program. If we are unable to obtain regulatory approvals, or if clinical trials fail to demonstrate the clinical safety profile or the efficacy of TSC for the treatment of ARDS in COVID-19 patients, or if we make a strategic decision to discontinue testing TSC as a treatment for COVID-19 patients, we will be unable to recoup our significant expenses incurred to date and in the future related to the clinical program and the FDA approval process.

 

27

 

The Bylaws of the Company include a forum selection clause, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents.

 

Our Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) require that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or agents to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our Certificate of Incorporation or our Bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein.

 

This exclusive forum provision will not apply to claims under the Exchange Act, but will apply to other state and federal law claims including actions arising under the Securities Act (although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder).  Section 22 of the Securities Act, however, creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.  Accordingly, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such a forum selection provision as written in connection with claims arising under the Securities Act. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock is deemed to have notice of and consented to the foregoing provisions. This forum selection provision in our Bylaws may limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may discourage lawsuits against us and such persons. It is also possible that, notwithstanding the forum selection clause included in our Bylaws, a court could rule that such a provision is inapplicable or unenforceable.

 

ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

 

In May 2020, the Company entered into a warrant exercise agreement with an investor (the “May 2020 investor warrant exercise”) who held existing warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.35 per share (the “Prior Warrant”). In consideration for the exercise of the Prior Warrant for cash and an additional $0.125 per each share of common stock underlying the Prior Warrant being exercised, the exercising investor received a new unregistered warrant to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of common stock in a private placement. The warrants are exercisable immediately at an exercise price of $0.5263 per share and exercisable until November 8, 2025.

 

In connection with the May 2020 investor warrant exercise, the Company issued warrants to purchase up to 250,000 shares of common stock to the placement agent with an exercise price of $0.5938 per share and which otherwise have identical terms to the warrants issued to the investor.

 

 

 Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

None.

 

28

 

ITEM 3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

 

See attached Exhibit Index.

 

29

 

DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

Exhibit

No.

 

Description

 

Method of Filing

4.1

Form of May 2020 exercise Warrant

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed on May 8, 2020

4.2

Form of May 2020 Placement Agent’s Exercise Warrant

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed on May 8, 2020

4.3

Form of May 2020 Placement Agent’s Public Offering Warrant

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed on May 20, 2020

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and SEC Rule 13a-14(a)

Filed herewith

31.2

Certification of principal financial officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and SEC Rule 13a-14(a)

Filed herewith

32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Furnished herewith

32.2

Certification of principal financial officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Furnished herewith

101

The following materials from Diffusion’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit), (iv) the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

Filed herewith

 

30

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: August 7, 2020

 

   

DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

       
       
       
 

By:

/s/ David G. Kalergis

 
   

David G. Kalergis

 
   

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 
   

(Principal Executive Officer)

 
       
       
 

By:

/s/ William Hornung

 
   

William Hornung

 
   

Chief Financial Officer

 
   

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

31
ex_197103.htm

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES OXLEY ACT OF 2002 AND SEC RULE 13a-14(a)

 

I, David G. Kalergis, certify that:

 

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.;

 

2.     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.     The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)     Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)     Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)     Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)     Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.     The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)     All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)     Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:

 August 7, 2020

  /s/ David G. Kalergis

   

  David G. Kalergis

   

  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

   

  (Principal Executive Officer)

 

 
ex_197104.htm

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES OXLEY ACT OF 2002 AND SEC RULE 13a-14(a)

 

I, William Hornung, certify that:

 

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.;

 

2.     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.     The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)     Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)     Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)     Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)     Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.     The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)     All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)     Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:

 August 7, 2020

  /s/ William Hornung

   

  William Hornung

   

  Chief Financial Officer

   

  (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 
ex_197105.htm

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS

ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the “Company”) for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, David G. Kalergis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

 

 

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

 

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

 

  /s/ David G. Kalergis

 

  David G. Kalergis

 

  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

  August 7, 2020

 

 
ex_197106.htm

Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS

ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the “Company”) for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, William Hornung, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

 

 

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

 

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

 

  /s/ William Hornung

 

  William Hornung

 

  Chief Financial Officer

 

  August 7, 2020

 

 
v3.20.2
Document And Entity Information - shares
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Aug. 05, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]    
Entity Registrant Name Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.  
Entity Central Index Key 0001053691  
Trading Symbol dffn  
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31  
Entity Filer Category Non-accelerated Filer  
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes  
Entity Emerging Growth Company false  
Entity Small Business true  
Entity Interactive Data Current Yes  
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)   63,998,298
Entity Shell Company false  
Document Type 10-Q  
Document Period End Date Jun. 30, 2020  
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2020  
Document Fiscal Period Focus Q2  
Amendment Flag false  
Title of 12(b) Security Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share  
v3.20.2
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) - USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2020
Dec. 31, 2019
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $ 25,561,599 $ 14,177,349
Prepaid expenses, deposits and other current assets 1,147,174 472,464
Total current assets 26,708,773 14,649,813
Property and equipment, net 198,325 252,366
Intangible asset 8,639,000 8,639,000
Right of use asset 194,879 247,043
Other assets 252,149 322,301
Total assets 35,993,126 24,110,523
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable 1,354,948 1,251,412
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 317,075 358,532
Current operating lease liability 109,808 111,477
Total current liabilities 1,781,831 1,721,421
Deferred income taxes 1,249,569 2,119,274
Noncurrent operating lease liability 85,071 135,566
Total liabilities 3,116,471 3,976,261
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 7)
Stockholders’ Equity:    
Common stock, $0.001 par value: 1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 63,998,298 and 33,480,365 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively 63,999 33,481
Additional paid-in capital 130,220,772 111,824,859
Accumulated deficit (97,408,116) (91,724,078)
Total stockholders' equity 32,876,655 20,134,262
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 35,993,126 $ 24,110,523
v3.20.2
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) (Parentheticals) - $ / shares
Jun. 30, 2020
Dec. 31, 2019
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) $ 0.001 $ 0.001
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) 1,000,000,000 1,000,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares) 63,998,298 33,480,365
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) 63,998,298 33,480,365
v3.20.2
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($)
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Operating expenses:        
Research and development $ 2,173,183 $ 1,518,381 $ 3,707,650 $ 3,218,226
General and administrative 1,458,257 1,068,452 2,852,065 2,269,180
Depreciation 27,021 34,390 54,041 52,662
Loss from operations 3,658,461 2,621,223 6,613,756 5,540,068
Other income:        
Interest income (25,913) (16,921) (60,013) (37,605)
Loss from operations before income tax benefit (3,632,548) (2,604,302) (6,553,743) (5,502,463)
Income tax benefit (507,325) (108,904) (869,705) (259,256)
Net loss (3,125,223) (2,495,398) (5,684,038) (5,243,207)
Deemed dividend arising from warrant exchange (1,950,378) (1,950,378)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders $ (5,075,601) $ (2,495,398) $ (7,634,416) $ (5,243,207)
Per share information:        
Net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted (in dollars per share) $ (0.10) $ (0.63) $ (0.18) $ (1.43)
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted (in dollars per share) $ 51,978,286 $ 3,940,684 $ 43,242,891 $ 3,658,457
v3.20.2
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($)
Common Stock [Member]
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Retained Earnings [Member]
Total
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018 3,376,230      
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018 $ 3,377 $ 95,532,881 $ (79,924,699) $ 15,611,559
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs (in shares) 1,317,060      
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs $ 1,317 5,567,633 5,568,950
Stock-based compensation expense   240,284   240,284
Net loss   (5,243,207) (5,243,207)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019 4,693,290      
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019 $ 4,694 101,340,798 (85,167,906) 16,177,586
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019 3,376,230      
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019 $ 3,377 95,624,085 (82,672,508) 12,954,954
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs (in shares) 1,317,060      
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs $ 1,317 5,567,633 5,568,950
Stock-based compensation expense   149,080   149,080
Net loss   (2,495,398) (2,495,398)
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019 4,693,290      
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019 $ 4,694 101,340,798 (85,167,906) 16,177,586
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019 33,480,365      
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019 $ 33,481 111,824,859 (91,724,078) 20,134,262
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs (in shares) 11,428,572      
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs $ 11,429 10,330,202 10,341,631
Stock-based compensation expense   304,824   304,824
Net loss   (5,684,038) (5,684,038)
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants (in shares) 19,089,361      
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants $ 19,089 7,760,887 7,779,976
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020 63,998,298      
Balance at Jun. 30, 2020 $ 63,999 130,220,772 (97,408,116) 32,876,655
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020 34,604,436      
Balance at Mar. 31, 2020 $ 34,605 112,149,913 (94,282,893) 17,901,625
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs (in shares) 11,428,572      
Issuance of common stock and warrants, net of issuance costs $ 11,429 10,330,202 10,341,631
Stock-based compensation expense   113,444   113,444
Net loss   (3,125,223) (3,125,223)
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants (in shares) 17,965,290      
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants $ 17,965 7,627,213 7,645,178
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020 63,998,298      
Balance at Jun. 30, 2020 $ 63,999 $ 130,220,772 $ (97,408,116) $ 32,876,655
v3.20.2
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Operating activities:    
Net loss $ (5,684,038) $ (5,243,207)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:    
Depreciation 54,041 52,662
Stock-based compensation expense 304,824 240,284
Change in deferred income taxes (869,705) (259,256)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:    
Prepaid expenses, deposits and other assets (604,558) (106,390)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities 151,411 48,320
Net cash used in operating activities (6,648,025) (5,267,587)
Cash flows provided by financing activities:    
Proceeds from the sale of common stock 10,827,100 5,731,779
Proceeds from the exercise of common stock warrants 8,038,603
Payment of financing costs (833,428) (82,623)
Net cash provided by financing activities 18,032,275 5,649,156
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 11,384,250 381,569
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 14,177,349 7,991,172
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 25,561,599 8,372,741
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:    
Offering costs in accounts payable 148,900 80,206
Operating lease right of use asset and current and noncurrent liability $ 334,205
v3.20.2
Note 1 - Organization and Description of Business
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements  
Nature of Operations [Text Block]
1.
Organization and Description of Business
 
Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Diffusion” or the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing new treatments for life-threatening conditions by improving the body's ability to bring oxygen to the areas where it is needed most. The Company is developing its lead product candidate, transcrocetinate sodium, also known as trans sodium crocetinate (“TSC”), for use in those life-threatening conditions in which cellular oxygen deprivation (“hypoxia”) is the basis for significant unmet medical needs. TSC is designed to safely and selectively target and re-oxygenate the micro-environment of hypoxic cells, with potential uses in many indications, including COVID-
19,
stroke, oncology, and cardiovascular disease.
 
The Company intends to begin
first
enrollment in
Q3
2020
in its planned international TSC/COVID-
19
program, designed to test TSC in a total of approximately
424
COVID-
19
patients with symptoms of impaired respiratory function and low oxygen levels. Low oxygen levels are a frequent result of damage to the lungs, often leading to organ failure, the leading cause of death in COVID-
19
patients. Diffusion believes TSC's oxygen-enhancing mechanism could provide an important new treatment option.
 
In stroke, TSC helps promote the diffusion of oxygen into those brain cells in which oxygen-deprivation causes neuronal death resulting in patient mortality or morbidity. In cancer, TSC re-oxygenates treatment-resistant cancerous tissue, making the cancer cells up to
three
times more susceptible to the therapeutic effects of standard-of-care radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
 
In addition to the TSC programs, the Company is exploring alternatives regarding how best to capitalize upon our product candidate RES-
529,
which
may
include possible out-licensing and other options. RES-
529
is a novel
PI3K/Akt/mTOR
pathway inhibitor which has completed
two
Phase
1
clinical trials for age-related macular degeneration and is in preclinical development in oncology, specifically GBM. RES-
529
has shown activity in both in vitro and in vivo glioblastoma animal models and has been demonstrated to be orally bioavailable and capable of crossing the blood brain barrier.
v3.20.2
Note 2 - Liquidity
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements  
Liquidity Disclosure [Text Block]
2.
Liquidity
 
The Company has
not
generated any revenues from product sales and has funded operations primarily from the proceeds of public and private offerings of equity, convertible debt and convertible preferred stock. Substantial additional financing will be required by the Company to continue to fund its research and development activities.
No
assurance can be given that any such financing will be available when needed or that the Company's research and development efforts will be successful.
 
The Company regularly explores alternative means of financing its operations and seeks funding through various sources, including public and private securities offerings, collaborative arrangements with
third
parties and other strategic alliances and business transactions. The Company currently does
not
have any commitments to obtain additional funds and
may
be unable to obtain sufficient funding in the future on acceptable terms, if at all. If the Company cannot obtain the necessary funding, it will need to delay, scale back or eliminate some or all of its research and development programs or enter into collaborations with
third
parties to commercialize potential products or technologies that it might otherwise seek to develop or commercialize independently; consider other various strategic alternatives, including a merger or sale of the Company; or cease operations. If the Company engages in collaborations, it
may
receive lower consideration upon commercialization of such products than if it had
not
entered such arrangements or if it entered into such arrangements at later stages in the product development process.
 
Operations of the Company are subject to certain risks and uncertainties including various internal and external factors that will affect whether and when the Company's product candidates become approved drugs and how significant their market share will be, some of which are outside of the Company's control. The length of time and cost of developing and commercializing these product candidates and/or failure of them at any stage of the drug approval process will materially affect the Company's financial condition and future operations. The Company believes its cash and cash equivalents as of
June 30, 2020
are sufficient to fund operations into the
fourth
quarter of
2021.
v3.20.2
Note 3 - Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
3.
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
The Summary of Significant Accounting Policies included in the Company's Form
10
-K for the year ended
December 
31,
2019,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 17, 2020
have
not
materially changed, except as set forth below.
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information as found in the Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), and with the instructions to Form
10
-Q and Article
10
of Regulation S-
X
of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company include all normal and recurring adjustments (which consist primarily of accruals, estimates and assumptions that impact the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements) considered necessary to present fairly the Company's financial position as of 
June 
30,
2020,
its results of operations for the
three
and
six
months ended
June 
30,
2020
and
2019
and cash flows for the
six
months ended
June 
30,
2020
and
2019.
Operating results for the
six
months ended 
June 
30,
2020
are
not
necessarily indicative of the results that
may
be expected for the year ending
December 
31,
2020.
The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements presented herein do
not
contain the required disclosures under GAAP for annual financial statements. The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual audited financial statements and related notes as of and for the year ended
December 
31,
2019
filed with the SEC on Form
10
-K on
March 17, 2020.
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of assets and liabilities at the date the financial statements and reported amounts of expense during the reporting period. The full extent to which the COVID-
19
pandemic will directly or indirectly impact our business, results of operations and financial condition, including sales, expenses, reserves and allowances, clinical trials, research and development costs and employee-related amounts, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain, including as a result of new information that
may
emerge concerning COVID-
19,
governmental and business responses to the ongoing pandemic,  further actions taken to contain or treat COVID-
19
and the speed of the anticipated recovery, as well as the ongoing economic impact on local, regional, national and international markets. The COVID-
19
pandemic had
no
material impact on our estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the quarterly period ended
June 30, 2020.
Due to the uncertainty of factors surrounding these estimates or judgments, actual results
may
materially vary from our estimates. Estimates and assumptions are periodically reviewed, and the effects of revisions are reflected in the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in the period they are determined.  Our future assessment of the magnitude and duration of COVID-
19,
as well as other factors, could result in material impacts to our consolidated financial statements in future reporting periods. 
 
DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
 
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
Fair value is the price that could be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value determination in accordance with applicable accounting guidance requires that a number of significant judgments be made. Additionally, fair value is used on a nonrecurring basis to evaluate assets for impairment or as required for disclosure purposes by applicable accounting guidance on disclosures about fair value of financial instruments. Depending on the nature of the assets and liabilities, various valuation techniques and assumptions are used when estimating fair value. The carrying amounts of certain of the Company's financial instruments, including cash equivalents and accounts payable are shown at cost, which approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The Company follows the provisions of FASB ASC Topic
820,
Fair Value Measurement
, for financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis. The guidance requires fair value measurements be classified and disclosed in
one
of the following
three
categories:
 
 
Level
1:
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
 
 
Level
2:
Quoted prices in markets that are
not
active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liabilities.
 
 
Level
3:
Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or
no
market activity.
 
The following fair value hierarchy table presents information about the Company's cash equivalents measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
   
March 31, 2020
 
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
  $
25,383,744
    $
    $
 
 
 
   
December 31, 2019
 
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
  $
14,006,193
    $
    $
 
 
Intangible Asset
 
The Company's RES-
529
intangible asset is assessed for impairment annually on
October 1
of the Company's fiscal year or more frequently if impairment indicators exist. There was
no
impairment to the Company's RES-
529
intangible asset recognized during the
three
or
six
months ended
June 
30,
2020
and
2019.
 
DIFFUSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
 
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
Net Loss Per Common 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 each period. Diluted net loss per share includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities, such as convertible debt, convertible preferred stock, common stock warrants, stock options and unvested restricted stock that would result in the issuance of incremental shares of common stock. In computing the basic and diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders, the weighted average number of shares remains the same for both calculations due to the fact that when a net loss exists, dilutive shares are
not
included in the calculation as the impact is anti-dilutive.
 
The following potentially dilutive securities outstanding as of
June 
30,
2020
and
2019
have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding, as they would be anti-dilutive:
 
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2020
   
2019
 
Common stock warrants
   
9,117,209
     
3,469,925
 
Stock options
   
1,427,829
     
309,276
 
Unvested restricted stock awards
   
98,100
     
 
     
10,643,138
     
3,779,201
 
 
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
 
In
August 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
13,
 
Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements, 
which changes the fair value measurement disclosure requirements of ASC
820.
The goal of the ASU is to improve the effectiveness of ASC
820's
disclosure requirements by providing users of the financial statements with better information about assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the financial statements and notes thereto. The Company adopted ASU
No.
2018
-
13
 in the
first
quarter of
2020
and the adoption did
not
have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
v3.20.2
Note 4 - Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements  
Accounts Payable, Accrued Liabilities, and Other Liabilities Disclosure, Current [Text Block]
4.
Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following:
 
   
June 30, 2020
   
December 31, 2019
 
Accrued payroll and payroll related expenses
   
252,194
     
182,708
 
Accrued professional fees
   
     
48,338
 
Accrued clinical studies expenses
   
52,705
     
57,378
 
Other accrued expenses
   
12,176
     
70,108
 
Total
  $
317,075
    $
358,532
 
v3.20.2
Note 5 - Stockholders' Equity and Common Stock Warrants
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements  
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]
5.
Stockholders' Equity and Common Stock Warrants
 
2020
Common Stock Offering
 
In
May 2020,
the Company completed a public offering (the
“May 2020
Offering”) of
11,428,572
shares of its common stock for a purchase price of
$1.05
per share for net proceeds of
$10.3
million after deducting commissions, discounts and other offering costs. In addition, at the closing of the
May 2020
Offering, the Company issued warrants to purchase up to
571,429
shares of common stock to designees of the placement agent for the
May 2020
Offering. The placement agent's warrants have an exercise price of
$1.3125
per share and a term of
five
years from the date of issuance.
 
Additionally, in
May 2020,
the Company entered into a warrant exercise agreement with an investor (the
“May 2020
investor warrant exercise”) who held existing warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of
5,000,000
shares of our common stock at an exercise price of
$0.35
per share (the “Prior Warrant”). In consideration for the exercise of the the Prior Warrants for cash and an additional
$0.125
per each share of common stock in the Prior Warrant being exercised, the exercising investor received new unregistered warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of
5,000,000
shares of common stock in a private placement. The warrants are exercisable immediately at an exercise price of
$0.5263
per share and exercisable until
November 8, 2025.
The Company recognized a deemed dividend of
$2.0
million to reflect the value as determined by a Black-Scholes option-pricing model of the consideration given above the additional cash received as an inducement for the investor to exercise the warrants. This deemed dividend is recorded in the Company's statement of operations during the
three
months ended
June 30, 2020
as an increase to the net loss attributable to common stockholders for purposes of computing net loss per share, basic and diluted.
 
In connection with the
May 2020
investor warrant exercise, the Company issued warrants to purchase up to
250,000
shares of common stock to the placement agent with an exercise price of
$0.5938
per share and otherwise have identical terms to the warrants issued to the investor.
 
Common Stock Warrants
 
As of
June 
30,
2020,
the Company had the following warrants outstanding to acquire shares of its common stock:
 
   
Outstanding
 
Range of exercise
price per shar
 
Expiration dates
Common stock warrants issued in 2017 related to Series A convertible preferred stock offering
   
903,870
   
 
$33.30
 
 
March 2022
Common stock warrants issued in 2018 related to the common stock offering    
1,181,375
   
$12.00
-
$15.00
 
January 2023
Common stock warrants issued related to the May 2019 offering    
1,382,913
   
$5.00
-
$6.11875
 
November 2024
Common stock warrants issued related to the November 2019 offering    
514,283
   
$0.35
-
$0.4375
 
May 2024
Common stock warrants issued related to the December 2019 offering
   
313,339
   
 
$0.6981
 
 
December 2024
Common stock warrants issued related to the May 2020 offering
   
571,429
   
 
$1.3125
 
 
May 2025
Common stock warrants issued related to May 2020 investor warrant exercise    
4,250,000
   
$0.5263
-
$0.5938
 
November 2025
     
9,117,209
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
During the
six
months ended
June 30, 2020,
no
warrants expired, and
19,089,361
warrants were exercised for
19,089,361
shares of common stock resulting in net proceeds of
$7.8
million.
v3.20.2
Note 6 - Stock-based Compensation
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements  
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]
6.
Stock-Based Compensation
 
2015
Equity Plan
 
The Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
2015
Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the
"2015
Equity Plan"), provides for increases to the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder each
January 1
equal to
4.0%
of the total shares of the Company's common stock outstanding as of the immediately preceding
December 31,
unless a lesser amount is stipulated by the Compensation Committee of the Company's board of directors. Accordingly,
1,339,215
shares were added to the reserve as of
January 1, 2020,
which shares
may
be issued in connection with the grant of stock-based awards, including stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights and other types of awards as deemed appropriate, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the
2015
Equity Plan. As of
June 30, 2020,
there were
142,302
shares of common stock available for future issuance under the
2015
Equity Plan.
 
The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense in the following expense categories of its unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated:
 
   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2020
   
2019
   
2020
   
2019
 
Research and development
  $
91,896
    $
13,577
    $
188,426
    $
27,173
 
General and administrative
   
21,548
     
135,503
     
116,398
     
213,111
 
Total stock-based compensation expense
  $
113,444
    $
149,080
    $
304,824
    $
240,284
 
 
The following table summarizes the activity related to all stock options for the
six
months ended
June 
30,
2020:
 
   
Number of
Options
   
Weighted
average
exercise price
per share
   
Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
(in years)
 
Balance at January 1, 2020
   
309,276
    $
55.78
     
 
 
Granted
   
1,118,700
     
0.58
     
 
 
Expired
   
(147
)
   
142.50
     
 
 
Outstanding at June 30, 2020
   
1,427,829
    $
12.53
     
8.9
 
Exercisable at June 30, 2020
   
660,504
    $
26.17
     
8.2
 
 
The weighted average grant date fair value of stock option awards granted was
$0.46
per share during the
six
months ended
June 
30,
2020.
No
options were exercised during any of the periods presented. At
June 
30,
2020,
there was
$0.5
million of unrecognized compensation expense that will be recognized over a weighted-average period of
1.5
years.
 
Options granted were valued using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the weighted average assumptions used to value the options granted during the
six
months ended
June 
30,
2020
were as follows:
 
   
2020
 
Expected term (in years)
   
5.59
 
Risk-free interest rate
   
1.3
%
Expected volatility
   
115.1
%
Dividend yield
   
%
 
Restricted Stock Awards
 
During the
six
months ended
June 
30,
2020,
the Company granted
98,100
restricted stock awards to a member of the board of directors of the Company. The grant date fair value of each restricted stock award granted during the
six
months ended
June 
30,
2020
was
$0.51.
The shares begin to vest
18
months after the grant date. The Company recognized approximately
$4,000
and
$8,000
in expense related to this award during the
three
and
six
months ended
June 
30,
2020,
respectively. At
June 
30,
2020,
there was approximately
$42,000
of unrecognized compensation cost that will be recognized over a weighted average period of
2.58
years.
v3.20.2
Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Notes to Financial Statements  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]
7.
Commitments and Contingencies
 
Office Space Rental
 
The Company has a non-cancelable operating lease for office and laboratory space in Charlottesville, Virginia, which began in
April 2017
and as of
June 
30,
2020,
has a remaining lease term of approximately
1.8
years. The Company adopted ASC
842
in the
first
quarter of
2019
and as a result of the adoption, the Company recognized a current operating lease liability of
$0.1
million and a noncurrent operating lease liability of
$0.2
million with a corresponding ROU asset of the combined amounts, which is based on the present value of the minimum rental payments of the lease. The discount rate used to account for the Company's operating lease under ASC
842
is the Company's estimated incremental borrowing rate of
10%.
The original term of the lease ends in the
second
quarter of
2022
and the Company has an option to extend for another
five
(
5
) years. This option to extend was
not
recognized as part of the Company's measurement of the ROU asset and operating lease liability as of
June 
30,
2020.
 
Rent expense related to the Company's operating lease for both the
three
months ended
June 
30,
2020
and
2019
was approximately
$30,000
.
Rent expense for the
six
months ended
June 
30,
2020
and
2019
was approximately
$60,000
and
$50,000,
respectively. Future minimum rental payments under the Company's non-cancelable operating lease at
June 
30,
2020
was as follows:
 
   
Rental
Commitments
 
2020
   
58,575
 
2021
   
118,519
 
2022
   
39,735
 
Total
   
216,829
 
Less: imputed interest
   
(21,950
)
    $
194,879
 
 
Research and Development Arrangements
 
In the course of normal business operations, the Company enters into agreements with universities and contract research organizations, or CROs, to assist in the performance of research and development activities and contract manufacturers to assist with chemistry, manufacturing, and controls related expenses. Expenditures to CROs represent a significant cost in clinical development for the Company. The Company could also enter into additional collaborative research, contract research, manufacturing, and supplier agreements in the future, which
may
require upfront payments and long-term commitments of cash.
 
Defined Contribution Retirement Plan
 
The Company has established a
401
(k) defined contribution plan (the
“401
(k) Plan”) that covers all employees who qualify under the terms of the plan. Eligible employees
may
elect to contribute to the
401
(k) Plan up to
90%
of their compensation, limited by the IRS-imposed maximum. The Company provides a safe harbor match with a maximum amount of
4%
of the participant's compensation. The Company made matching contributions under the
401
(k) Plan of approximately
$14,000
and
$20,000
for the
three
months ended
June 30, 2020
and
2019,
respectively and matched approximately
$31,000
and
$38,000
during the
six
months ended
June 30, 2020
and
2019,
respectively.
 
Legal Proceedings
 
On
August 7, 2014,
a complaint was filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California by Paul Feller, the Company's former Chief Executive Officer under the caption 
Paul Feller v. RestorGenex Corporation, Pro Sports & Entertainment, Inc., ProElite, Inc. and Stratus Media Group, GmbH 
(Case
No.
BC553996
). The complaint asserts various causes of action, including, among other things, promissory fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of employment agreement, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violations of the California Labor Code and common counts. The plaintiff is seeking, among other things, compensatory damages in an undetermined amount, punitive damages, accrued interest and an award of attorneys' fees and costs. On
December 30, 2014,
the Company filed a petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. On
April 1, 2015,
the plaintiff filed a petition in opposition to the Company's petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. After a hearing for the petition and motion on
April 14, 2015,
the Court granted the Company's petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. On
January 8, 2016,
the plaintiff filed an arbitration demand with the American Arbitration Association. On
November 19, 2018
at an Order to Show Cause Re Dismissal Hearing, the Court found sufficient grounds
not
to dismiss the case, and an arbitration hearing has been scheduled for
November 2020.
The Company believes this matter is without merit and intends to defend the arbitration vigorously. Because this matter is in an early stage, the Company is unable to predict its outcome and the possible loss or range of loss, if any, associated with its resolution or any potential effect the matter
may
have on the Company's financial position. Depending on the outcome or resolution of this matter, it could have a material effect on the Company's financial position.
v3.20.2
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information as found in the Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), and with the instructions to Form
10
-Q and Article
10
of Regulation S-
X
of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company include all normal and recurring adjustments (which consist primarily of accruals, estimates and assumptions that impact the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements) considered necessary to present fairly the Company's financial position as of 
June 
30,
2020,
its results of operations for the
three
and
six
months ended
June 
30,
2020
and
2019
and cash flows for the
six
months ended
June 
30,
2020
and
2019.
Operating results for the
six
months ended 
June 
30,
2020
are
not
necessarily indicative of the results that
may
be expected for the year ending
December 
31,
2020.
The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements presented herein do
not
contain the required disclosures under GAAP for annual financial statements. The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual audited financial statements and related notes as of and for the year ended
December 
31,
2019
filed with the SEC on Form
10
-K on
March 17, 2020.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of assets and liabilities at the date the financial statements and reported amounts of expense during the reporting period. The full extent to which the COVID-
19
pandemic will directly or indirectly impact our business, results of operations and financial condition, including sales, expenses, reserves and allowances, clinical trials, research and development costs and employee-related amounts, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain, including as a result of new information that
may
emerge concerning COVID-
19,
governmental and business responses to the ongoing pandemic,  further actions taken to contain or treat COVID-
19
and the speed of the anticipated recovery, as well as the ongoing economic impact on local, regional, national and international markets. The COVID-
19
pandemic had
no
material impact on our estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the quarterly period ended
June 30, 2020.
Due to the uncertainty of factors surrounding these estimates or judgments, actual results
may
materially vary from our estimates. Estimates and assumptions are periodically reviewed, and the effects of revisions are reflected in the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in the period they are determined.  Our future assessment of the magnitude and duration of COVID-
19,
as well as other factors, could result in material impacts to our consolidated financial statements in future reporting periods. 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
Fair value is the price that could be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value determination in accordance with applicable accounting guidance requires that a number of significant judgments be made. Additionally, fair value is used on a nonrecurring basis to evaluate assets for impairment or as required for disclosure purposes by applicable accounting guidance on disclosures about fair value of financial instruments. Depending on the nature of the assets and liabilities, various valuation techniques and assumptions are used when estimating fair value. The carrying amounts of certain of the Company's financial instruments, including cash equivalents and accounts payable are shown at cost, which approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The Company follows the provisions of FASB ASC Topic
820,
Fair Value Measurement
, for financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis. The guidance requires fair value measurements be classified and disclosed in
one
of the following
three
categories:
 
 
Level
1:
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
 
 
Level
2:
Quoted prices in markets that are
not
active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liabilities.
 
 
Level
3:
Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or
no
market activity.
 
The following fair value hierarchy table presents information about the Company's cash equivalents measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
   
March 31, 2020
 
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
  $
25,383,744
    $
    $
 
 
 
   
December 31, 2019
 
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
  $
14,006,193
    $
    $
 
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Intangible Asset
 
The Company's RES-
529
intangible asset is assessed for impairment annually on
October 1
of the Company's fiscal year or more frequently if impairment indicators exist. There was
no
impairment to the Company's RES-
529
intangible asset recognized during the
three
or
six
months ended
June 
30,
2020
and
2019.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Net Loss Per Common 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 each period. Diluted net loss per share includes the effect, if any, from the potential exercise or conversion of securities, such as convertible debt, convertible preferred stock, common stock warrants, stock options and unvested restricted stock that would result in the issuance of incremental shares of common stock. In computing the basic and diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders, the weighted average number of shares remains the same for both calculations due to the fact that when a net loss exists, dilutive shares are
not
included in the calculation as the impact is anti-dilutive.
 
The following potentially dilutive securities outstanding as of
June 
30,
2020
and
2019
have been excluded from the computation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding, as they would be anti-dilutive:
 
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2020
   
2019
 
Common stock warrants
   
9,117,209
     
3,469,925
 
Stock options
   
1,427,829
     
309,276
 
Unvested restricted stock awards
   
98,100
     
 
     
10,643,138
     
3,779,201
 
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
 
In
August 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
13,
 
Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements, 
which changes the fair value measurement disclosure requirements of ASC
820.
The goal of the ASU is to improve the effectiveness of ASC
820's
disclosure requirements by providing users of the financial statements with better information about assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the financial statements and notes thereto. The Company adopted ASU
No.
2018
-
13
 in the
first
quarter of
2020
and the adoption did
not
have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
v3.20.2
Note 3 - Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Notes Tables  
Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table Text Block]
   
March 31, 2020
 
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
  $
25,383,744
    $
    $
 
   
December 31, 2019
 
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
  $
14,006,193
    $
    $
 
Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2020
   
2019
 
Common stock warrants
   
9,117,209
     
3,469,925
 
Stock options
   
1,427,829
     
309,276
 
Unvested restricted stock awards
   
98,100
     
 
     
10,643,138
     
3,779,201
 
v3.20.2
Note 4 - Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Notes Tables  
Other Current Liabilities [Table Text Block]
   
June 30, 2020
   
December 31, 2019
 
Accrued payroll and payroll related expenses
   
252,194
     
182,708
 
Accrued professional fees
   
     
48,338
 
Accrued clinical studies expenses
   
52,705
     
57,378
 
Other accrued expenses
   
12,176
     
70,108
 
Total
  $
317,075
    $
358,532
 
v3.20.2
Note 5 - Stockholders' Equity and Common Stock Warrants (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Notes Tables  
Schedule of Stockholders' Equity Note, Warrants or Rights [Table Text Block]
   
Outstanding
 
Range of exercise
price per shar
 
Expiration dates
Common stock warrants issued in 2017 related to Series A convertible preferred stock offering
   
903,870
   
 
$33.30
 
 
March 2022
Common stock warrants issued in 2018 related to the common stock offering    
1,181,375
   
$12.00
-
$15.00
 
January 2023
Common stock warrants issued related to the May 2019 offering    
1,382,913
   
$5.00
-
$6.11875
 
November 2024
Common stock warrants issued related to the November 2019 offering    
514,283
   
$0.35
-
$0.4375
 
May 2024
Common stock warrants issued related to the December 2019 offering
   
313,339
   
 
$0.6981
 
 
December 2024
Common stock warrants issued related to the May 2020 offering
   
571,429
   
 
$1.3125
 
 
May 2025
Common stock warrants issued related to May 2020 investor warrant exercise    
4,250,000
   
$0.5263
-
$0.5938
 
November 2025
     
9,117,209
   
 
 
 
 
 
v3.20.2
Note 6 - Stock-based Compensation (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Notes Tables  
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expensed and Capitalized, Amount [Table Text Block]
   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2020
   
2019
   
2020
   
2019
 
Research and development
  $
91,896
    $
13,577
    $
188,426
    $
27,173
 
General and administrative
   
21,548
     
135,503
     
116,398
     
213,111
 
Total stock-based compensation expense
  $
113,444
    $
149,080
    $
304,824
    $
240,284
 
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Activity [Table Text Block]
   
Number of
Options
   
Weighted
average
exercise price
per share
   
Weighted
average
remaining
contractual life
(in years)
 
Balance at January 1, 2020
   
309,276
    $
55.78
     
 
 
Granted
   
1,118,700
     
0.58
     
 
 
Expired
   
(147
)
   
142.50
     
 
 
Outstanding at June 30, 2020
   
1,427,829
    $
12.53
     
8.9
 
Exercisable at June 30, 2020
   
660,504
    $
26.17
     
8.2
 
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]
   
2020
 
Expected term (in years)
   
5.59
 
Risk-free interest rate
   
1.3
%
Expected volatility
   
115.1
%
Dividend yield
   
%
v3.20.2
Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Notes Tables  
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Maturity [Table Text Block]
   
Rental
Commitments
 
2020
   
58,575
 
2021
   
118,519
 
2022
   
39,735
 
Total
   
216,829
 
Less: imputed interest
   
(21,950
)
    $
194,879
 
v3.20.2
Note 3 - Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Details) - Fair Value, Recurring [Member] - USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2020
Dec. 31, 2019
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]    
Cash equivalents $ 25,383,744 $ 14,006,193
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]    
Cash equivalents
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]    
Cash equivalents
v3.20.2
Note 3 - Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Outstanding Dilutive Securities (Details) - shares
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares) 10,643,138 3,779,201
Warrant [Member]    
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares) 9,117,209 3,469,925
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member]    
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares) 1,427,829 309,276
Restricted Stock [Member]    
Anti-dilutive securities (in shares) 98,100
v3.20.2
Note 4 - Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities - Summary of Accrued Expenses (Details) - USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2020
Dec. 31, 2019
Accrued payroll and payroll related expenses $ 252,194 $ 182,708
Accrued professional fees 48,338
Accrued clinical studies expenses 52,705 57,378
Other accrued expenses 12,176 70,108
Total $ 317,075 $ 358,532
v3.20.2
Note 5 - Stockholders' Equity and Common Stock Warrants (Details Textual) - USD ($)
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
May 31, 2020
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Deemed Dividend From Warrant Exchange   $ 1,950,378 $ 1,950,378
Class of Warrant or Rights, Expired (in shares)       0  
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercised During Period (in shares)       19,089,361  
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Exercise Of Warrants (in shares)       19,089,361  
Proceeds From Warrant Exercises, Net       $ 7,800,000  
The May 2020 Offering Warrants [Member]          
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights (in shares) 571,429        
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) $ 1.3125 $ 1.3125   $ 1.3125  
Warrants and Rights Outstanding, Term (Year) 5 years        
Prior Warrant [Member]          
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights (in shares) 5,000,000        
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) $ 0.35        
Class of Warrant or Right, Exchange, Additional Consideration Per Share (in dollars per share) $ 0.125        
New Warrants Issued May 8, 2020 [Member]          
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights (in shares) 5,000,000        
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) $ 0.5263        
The May 2020 PA Warrants [Member] | H.C Wainwright & Co., LLC [Member]          
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights (in shares) 250,000        
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) $ 0.5938        
The May 2020 Offering [Member]          
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in shares) 11,428,572        
Shares Issued, Price Per Share (in dollars per share) $ 1.05        
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock $ 10,300,000        
v3.20.2
Note 5 - Stockholders' Equity and Common Stock Warrants - Warrants Outstanding to Acquire Shares of Its Common Stock (Details) - $ / shares
Jun. 30, 2020
May 31, 2020
Common stock warrants, outstanding (in shares) 9,117,209  
Warrants Attached to Series A Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]    
Common stock warrants, outstanding (in shares) 903,870  
Range of exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 33.30  
Warrants Issued in Connection with the January 2018 Offering [Member]    
Common stock warrants, outstanding (in shares) 1,181,375  
Warrants Issued in Connection with the January 2018 Offering [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Range of exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 12  
Warrants Issued in Connection with the January 2018 Offering [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Range of exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 15  
Warrants Issued in Connection with May 2019 Public Offering [Member]    
Common stock warrants, outstanding (in shares) 1,382,913  
Warrants Issued in Connection with May 2019 Public Offering [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Range of exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 5  
Warrants Issued in Connection with May 2019 Public Offering [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Range of exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 6.11875  
Warrants Issued in Connection with the November 2019 Offering [Member]    
Common stock warrants, outstanding (in shares) 514,283  
Warrants Issued in Connection with the November 2019 Offering [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Range of exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 0.35  
Warrants Issued in Connection with the November 2019 Offering [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Range of exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 0.4375  
Warrants Issued in Connection with the December 2019 Offering [Member]    
Common stock warrants, outstanding (in shares) 313,339  
Range of exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 0.6981  
The May 2020 Offering Warrants [Member]    
Common stock warrants, outstanding (in shares) 571,429  
Range of exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 1.3125 $ 1.3125
The May 2020 Investor Warrant Exercise [Member]    
Common stock warrants, outstanding (in shares) 4,250,000  
The May 2020 Investor Warrant Exercise [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Range of exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 0.5263  
The May 2020 Investor Warrant Exercise [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Range of exercise price (in dollars per share) $ 0.5938  
v3.20.2
Note 6 - Stock-based Compensation (Details Textual) - USD ($)
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jan. 01, 2020
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in dollars per share)       $ 0.46  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period (in shares)       0 0
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense   $ 113,444 $ 149,080 $ 304,824 $ 240,284
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member]          
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount, Total   500,000   $ 500,000  
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition (Year)       1 year 182 days  
Restricted Stock [Member] | Director [Member]          
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount, Total   42,000   $ 42,000  
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition (Year)       2 years 211 days  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in shares)       98,100  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value (in dollars per share)       $ 0.51  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Month)       1 year 180 days  
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense   $ 4,000   $ 8,000  
Equity Incentive Plan 2015 [Member]          
Percentage of Total Shares Eligible for Plan Reserve, On an Annual Basis       4.00%  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Additional Shares Authorized (in shares) 1,339,215        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant (in shares)   142,302   142,302  
v3.20.2
Note 6 - Stock-based Compensation - Stock-based Compensation Expense (Details) - USD ($)
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Stock-based compensation expense $ 113,444 $ 149,080 $ 304,824 $ 240,284
Research and Development Expense [Member]        
Stock-based compensation expense 91,896 13,577 188,426 27,173
General and Administrative Expense [Member]        
Stock-based compensation expense $ 21,548 $ 135,503 $ 116,398 $ 213,111
v3.20.2
Note 6 - Stock-based Compensation - Stock Option Activity (Details)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
$ / shares
shares
Options outstanding, number (in shares) | shares 309,276
Options outstanding, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 55.78
Granted (in shares) | shares 1,118,700
Granted, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 0.58
Expired (in shares) | shares (147)
Expired, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 142.50
Options outstanding, number (in shares) | shares 1,427,829
Options outstanding, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 12.53
Options outstanding, weighted-average remaining contractual life (Year) 8 years 328 days
Exercisable (in shares) | shares 660,504
Exercisable, weighted-average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 26.17
Exercisable, weighted-average remaining contractual life (Year) 8 years 73 days
v3.20.2
Note 6 - Stock-based Compensation - Fair Value Assumptions (Details)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Expected term (Year) 5 years 215 days
Risk-free interest rate 1.30%
Expected volatility 115.10%
Dividend yield
v3.20.2
Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) - USD ($)
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Dec. 31, 2019
Jan. 01, 2019
Lessee, Operating Lease, Remaining Lease Term (Year) 1 year 292 days   1 year 292 days      
Operating Lease, Liability, Current $ 109,808   $ 109,808   $ 111,477 $ 100,000
Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent $ 85,071   $ 85,071   $ 135,566 $ 200,000
Lessee, Operating Lease, Discount Rate 10.00%   10.00%      
Lessee, Operating Lease, Renewal Term (Year) 5 years   5 years      
Operating Lease, Expense $ 30,000 $ 30,000 $ 60,000 $ 50,000    
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee, Percent     90.00%      
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay     4.00%      
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount $ 14,000 $ 20,000 $ 31,000 $ 38,000    
v3.20.2
Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies - Future Minimum Rental Payments (Details)
Jun. 30, 2020
USD ($)
2020 $ 58,575
2021 118,519
2022 39,735
Total 216,829
Less: imputed interest (21,950)
Operating Lease, Liability, Total $ 194,879