Form 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 10, 2008

 

 

MEDICINOVA, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-33185   33-0927979

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

4350 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 950

San Diego, CA 92122

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (858) 373-1500

Not Applicable

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

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On November 10, 2008, MediciNova, Inc. issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The information in this Current Report, including Exhibit 99.1 furnished herewith, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in this Current Report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing to this Current Report.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Number

  

Description

99.1    Press release dated November 10, 2008


SIGNATURE

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

 

    MEDICINOVA, INC.
Dated: November 10, 2008     By:   /s/ Shintaro Asako
        Shintaro Asako
        Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Number

  

Description

99.1    Press release dated November 10, 2008
Press release

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO    CONTACT: Shintaro Asako

Chief Financial Officer

Phone: (858) 373-1500

E-mail: info@medicinova.com

 

Rhonda Chiger

Rx Communications, LLC

Phone: (917) 322-2569

E-mail: rchiger@rxir.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MediciNova Reports Third Quarter 2008 Results

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – November 10, 2008 – MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Market (Trading Symbol: MNOV) and the Hercules Market of the Osaka Securities Exchange (Code Number: 4875), today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008.

A detailed discussion of financial results and product development programs can be found in MediciNova’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 10, 2008 and is available through investors.medicinova.com/sec.cfm.

Financial Results

MediciNova reported a net loss of $4.8 million, or $0.40 per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, compared to a net loss of $10.2 million, or $0.87 per share, for the same period last year. There were no revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. Research and development expenses were $3.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, compared to $8.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007. The decrease in research and development expenses primarily resulted from MediciNova’s strategic business decision to focus on the development of its two prioritized assets, MN-221 for the treatment of acute exacerbations


of asthma and MN-166 for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), and the completion of the two-year Phase II clinical trial for MN-166 for the treatment of MS. General and administrative expenses were $2.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, compared to $2.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2007. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to a decrease in stock-based compensation and fees paid to external consultants.

As of September 30, 2008, the carrying value of MediciNova’s cash, cash equivalents and current marketable securities available-for-sale was $47.5 million, compared to $70.6 million at December 31, 2007. At September 30, 2008, cash and cash equivalents equaled $23.1 million and current marketable securities available-for-sale, consisting of auction rate securities (ARS), equaled $24.4 million. MediciNova’s investments in ARS classified as current marketable securities available-for-sale principally represent interests in government-guaranteed student loans. None of the underlying collateral for MediciNova’s ARS, classified as either current assets or long-term assets, consists of subprime mortgages or collateralized debt obligations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, MediciNova recorded a total impairment charge of $3.3 million to other-than-temporarily write-down the carrying value of its ARS based upon an analysis of the fair value of its entire ARS portfolio. This $3.3 million impairment charge was recorded in the consolidated statements of operations during the first six months of fiscal year 2008, as MediciNova determined that the decline in market value was other-than-temporary at that time. For the three months ended September 30, 2008, there was no further decline in the market value of the ARS classified as current marketable securities available-for-sale, as MediciNova determined that the carrying value of such ARS approximated fair value at September 30, 2008 based upon an analysis of the fair value of such ARS on a security-by-security basis and the ARS Rights Offer and related no-cost loan program announced by the brokerage firm associated with such ARS. For the ARS classified as other long-term assets, MediciNova determined that there was a temporary decline of $0.5 million in the market value of such ARS based on discounted cash flow valuations and management’s underlying assumptions as to when liquidity would return for these securities. As a result, MediciNova believes that it has sufficient capital to fund operations at least through the third quarter of 2009.


Highlights of the Quarter

 

   

Positive preliminary results from a Phase II clinical trial evaluating MN-221 in patients with moderate to severe, stable asthma were reported. This clinical trial provided information on prolonged infusion dosing regiments with MN-221, and the preliminary results demonstrated clinically significant improvements in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1).

 

   

Previously-announced data from the two-year Phase II clinical trial of MN-166 in multiple sclerosis were presented in two poster presentations at the World Congress for Treatment and Research in MS (WCTRIMS). The first presentation reported that MN-166 treatment resulted in positive findings on three independent measures indicative of a potential disease-progression modifying effect. The second presentation reported that the Phase II data demonstrated that MN-166 treatment resulted in positive findings on independent MRI measures indicative of a potential neuroprotective effect.

“Our two prioritized product development programs provide us with an opportunity to progress differentiated products into a marketplace in need of novel therapies,” said Yuichi Iwaki, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of MediciNova, Inc. “We continue to accumulate encouraging data on MN-221 from completed clinical trials, and we are now planning for the initiation of a second, larger Phase IIb clinical trial during the first quarter of 2009. In addition, we continue to actively pursue potential corporate partners for our other prioritized product candidate, MN-166.”


About MediciNova

MediciNova, Inc. is a publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring and developing novel, small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of diseases with unmet need with a specific focus on the U.S. market. Through strategic alliances primarily with Japanese pharmaceutical companies, MediciNova holds rights to a diversified portfolio of clinical and preclinical product candidates, each of which MediciNova believes has a well-characterized and differentiated therapeutic profile, attractive commercial potential and patent assets having claims of commercially adequate scope. MediciNova’s pipeline includes six clinical-stage compounds for the treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma, multiple sclerosis, asthma, interstitial cystitis, solid tumor cancers, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, preterm labor and urinary incontinence and two preclinical-stage compounds for the treatment of thrombotic disorders. MediciNova’s current strategy is to focus its resources on its two prioritized product candidates, MN-221 for the treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma and MN-166 for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, and either pursue development independently, in the case of MN-221, or establish a strategic collaboration to support further development, in the case of MN-166. MediciNova will seek to monetize its other product candidates at key value inflection points. For more information on MediciNova, Inc., please visit www.medicinova.com.

Statements in this press release that are not historical in nature constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding MediciNova’s clinical trials supporting efficacy of product candidates and the potential novelty of such product candidates as treatments for disease, plans and objectives for present and future clinical trials and product development, strategies, future performance, expectations, assumptions, financial condition, liquidity and capital resources. These forward-looking statements may be preceded by, followed by or otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “projects,” “plans,” “will,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “would,” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties inherent in clinical trials and product development and commercialization, such as the uncertainty in results of clinical trials for product candidates, the uncertainty of whether the results of clinical trials will be predictive of results in later stages of product development, MediciNova’s reliance on third parties and the timing, cost and design of future clinical trials and research activities, the failure to execute strategic plans or strategies successfully, MediciNova’s collaborations with third parties, failure to obtain or maintain FDA approval, market factors (including whether uncertainties in the credit and capital markets or a further deterioration of these markets will lead to future impairments to MediciNova’s investment portfolio), economic conditions such as interest rate and currency fluctuations, intellectual property rights or contract rights, and the other risks and uncertainties described in MediciNova’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and its subsequent periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. MediciNova disclaims any intent or obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements.

###


MEDICINOVA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

     September 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 
     (Unaudited)        

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 23,078,732     $ 18,778,938  

Marketable securities available-for-sale

     24,372,280       51,856,571  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1,114,660       2,443,612  
                

Total current assets

     48,565,672       73,079,121  

Property and equipment, net

     427,067       673,317  

Other long-term assets

     2,886,187       —    
                

Total assets

   $ 51,878,926     $ 73,752,438  
                

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 369,502     $ 2,880,462  

Accrued expenses

     2,605,071       3,619,861  

Income taxes payable

     —         20,000  

Accrued compensation and related expenses

     798,768       620,604  
                

Total current liabilities

     3,773,341       7,140,927  

Deferred rent

     —         3,310  

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2008 and 20,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2007; 12,072,027 shares issued at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007

     12,072       12,072  

Additional paid-in capital

     275,570,859       273,189,063  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (592,603 )     (131,466 )

Treasury stock, at cost; 87,314 shares at September 30, 2008 and 124,581 shares at December 31, 2007

     (1,317,361 )     (1,404,088 )

Deficit accumulated during the development stage

     (225,567,382 )     (205,057,380 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     48,105,858       66,608,201  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 51,878,926     $ 73,752,438  
                


MEDICINOVA, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

     Three months ended
September 30,
    Nine months ended
September 30,
    Period from
September 26,
2000 (inception)
to September 30,
2008
 
   2008     2007     2008     2007    

Revenues

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 1,558,227  

Operating expenses:

          

Cost of revenues

     —         —         —         —         1,258,421  

Research and development

     3,500,876       8,668,763       11,823,065       40,729,374       131,668,112  

General and administrative

     2,195,787       2,672,630       6,993,195       8,732,144       76,880,207  
                                        

Total operating expenses

     5,696,663       11,341,393       18,816,260       49,461,518       209,806,740  
                                        

Operating loss

     (5,696,663 )     (11,341,393 )     (18,816,260 )     (49,461,518 )     (208,248,513 )

Impairment charge on marketable securities

     —         —         (3,295,621 )     —         (3,295,621 )

Foreign exchange loss

     532,392       —         (90,997 )     —         (90,997 )

Interest income, net

     352,768       1,113,210       1,696,687       3,549,957       17,454,682  

Income taxes

     (3,664 )     —         (3,811 )     —         (23,811 )
                                        

Net loss

     (4,815,167 )     (10,228,183 )     (20,510,002 )     (45,911,561 )     (194,204,260 )

Accretion to redemption value of redeemable convertible preferred stock

     —         —         —         —         (98,445 )

Deemed dividend resulting from beneficial conversion feature on Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock

     —         —         —         —         (31,264,677 )
                                        

Net loss applicable to common stockholders

   $ (4,815,167 )   $ (10,228,183 )   $ (20,510,002 )   $ (45,911,561 )   $ (225,567,382 )
                                        

Basic and diluted net loss per common share

   $ (0.40 )   $ (0.87 )   $ (1.70 )   $ (3.94 )  
                                  

Shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per common share

     12,072,027       11,768,001       12,072,027       11,640,405