Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-266683
PROSPECTUS
PROKIDNEY CORP.
Up to 239,420,000 Class A Ordinary Shares
This prospectus relates to (i) the resale from time to time by certain of the selling securityholders named in this prospectus (the Selling Securityholders) of 6,890,000 Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (Class A ordinary shares) of ProKidney Corp. (formerly known as Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III, SCS or the Company), collectively held by certain holders of the Companys securities (the Holders) party to that certain Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 11, 2022, by and among the Company, SCS Sponsor III LLC (the Sponsor), and the Holders (the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement), their permitted transferees and certain Additional Holders (as defined in the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement); (ii) the resale from time to time of 180,000,000 Class A ordinary shares issued or issuable to the ProKidney Unitholders pursuant to that certain Exchange Agreement, dated as of July 11, 2022, by and among the Company, ProKidney LP, and certain holders of the Companys securities party thereto (the Exchange Agreement); (iii) the resale from time to time by certain of the Selling Securityholders of 52,480,000 Class A ordinary shares, purchased by certain investors at a purchase price of $10.00 per share, pursuant to subscription agreements with the Company; and (iv) the issuance by us and the resale from time to time by certain of the Selling Securityholders of 50,000 Class A ordinary shares reserved for issuance upon the settlement of restricted stock units.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of such securities and the general manner in which the Selling Securityholders may offer or sell the securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of Class A ordinary shares by the Selling Securityholders. However, we will pay the expenses, other than any underwriting discounts and commissions, associated with the sale of securities pursuant to this prospectus.
We are registering the securities for resale pursuant to the Selling Securityholders registration rights under certain agreements between us and the Selling Securityholders. Our registration of the securities covered by this prospectus does not mean that either we or the Selling Securityholders will issue, offer or sell, as applicable, any of the securities. The Selling Securityholders may offer and sell the securities covered by this prospectus in a number of different ways and at varying prices. We provide more information about how the Selling Securityholders may sell the shares in the section entitled Plan of Distribution.
You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or amendment carefully before you invest in our securities.
Our Class A ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol PROK. On August 25, 2022, the closing price of our Class A ordinary shares was $7.50. The ordinary shares held by the Selling Securityholders were purchased at prices no higher than $10.00 per share. In particular, (i) 6,250,000 Class B ordinary shares (which were converted into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis upon the closing of the business combination between the Company and ProKidney LP) collectively held by former holders of Class B ordinary shares were purchased at an effective price of $0.004 per share; (ii) the 52,480,000 Class A ordinary shares purchased pursuant to certain subscription agreements, 5,000,000 Class B ordinary shares acquired by Tolerantia, LLC and Control Empresarial de Capitales, S.A. de C.V. pursuant to their subscription agreements and their subsequent election to receive units in the Company (and a corresponding number of Class B ordinary shares) in lieu of Class A ordinary shares, and 640,000 private placement shares purchased by the Sponsor, registered for resale hereby were purchased at a price of $10.00 per share; (iii) 152,796,613 Class B ordinary shares, which are exchangeable for Class A ordinary shares pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, were purchased from ProKidney LP by certain of its holders at a price per share of $1.22, after adjusting for the recapitalization of Class A and Class B units in ProKidney LP into Class B ordinary shares (including Class B ordinary shares underlying restricted stock rights); (iv) 7,699,927 Class B ordinary shares (including Class B ordinary shares underlying restricted stock rights) were purchased from ProKidney LP by individual holders at a price per share of $1.11, after adjusting for the recapitalization mentioned in clause (iii); (v) 14,503,460 Class B ordinary shares (including Class B ordinary shares underlying restricted stock rights) were granted by ProKidney LP as compensation for services rendered, rather than purchased by individual holders; and (vi) 50,000 Class A ordinary shares were granted by the Company as compensation for services rendered, rather than purchased, in the form of restricted stock units. The sale or the possibility of sale of these securities trading in the public market may negatively impact the market price of our Class A ordinary shares.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See Risk Factors beginning on page 6 of this prospectus and in the other documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is September 8, 2022.
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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
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NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
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MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
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CERTAIN MATERIAL U.S. AND NON-U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS |
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You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. No one has been authorized to provide you with information that is different from that contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is dated as of the date set forth on the cover hereof. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than that date.
For investors outside the United States: We have not done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. You are required to inform yourselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus.
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In this document:
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement means the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 11, 2022, by and among ProKidney, the Sponsor, certain ProKidney Unitholders and the other parties thereto;
BLA means Biologics License Application;
Board means the board of directors of ProKidney;
Business Combination refers to the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement;
Business Combination Agreement means the business combination agreement, dated as of January 18, 2022 by and between SCS and ProKidney LP;
Cayman Islands Companies Act means the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands;;
CBER means Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research;
cGMP means current good manufacturing practices;
Charter means the second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company adopted by special resolution on 11 July 2022;
CKD means chronic kidney disease;
Closing means the closing of the Business Combination;
Closing ProKidney Unitholders means (i) the ProKidney Unitholders (other than PMEL) and (ii) the PMEL Post-Combination Unitholders;
CMS means the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services;
eGFR means the estimated glomerular filtration rate;
EMA means the European Medicines Agency;
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
Exchange Agreement means the exchange agreement, dated as of July 11, 2022, by and among SCS, ProKidney LP and the Closing ProKidney Unitholders;
FCA means the federal False Claims Act;
FCPA means the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act;
FDA means the U.S. Food and Drug Administration;
FTC means the Federal Trade Commission;
GAAP means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America;
GCPs means Good Clinical Practices;
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GP means ProKidney Corp. GP Limited, which replaced Legacy GP as the general partner of ProKidney LP upon the Closing;
GP Board means the board of directors of GP;
HIPAA means the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996;
HITECH means the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act;
Legacy ProKidney Class A Units means the units of ProKidney LP designated as Class A Units pursuant to the ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement;
Legacy ProKidney Class B Units means the units of Prokidney LP designated as Class B Units pursuant to the ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement;
Legacy GP means ProKidney GP Limited, a private limited company incorporated under the laws of Ireland, which acted as the general partner of ProKidney LP prior to the Closing;
Legacy GP Board means the board of directors of Legacy GP;
Paired Interest means one Post-Combination ProKidney Common Unit and one ProKidney Class B ordinary share, which are together exchangeable for one ProKidney Class A ordinary share or the cash equivalent thereunder under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions pursuant to the Exchange Agreement;
PIPE Investment means the purchase of SCS Class A ordinary shares and/or Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units pursuant to the Subscription Agreements;
PIPE Investment Amount means the aggregate gross purchase price received by SCS and ProKidney LP in the PIPE Investment;
PIPE Investors means those certain investors that participated in the PIPE Investment pursuant to the Subscription Agreements;
PIPE Shares means SCS Class A ordinary shares purchased in the PIPE Investment, or in the case of the ProKidney Related PIPE Investors, the Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units (together with a corresponding number of SCS Class B ordinary shares, if applicable) purchased in lieu of SCS Class A ordinary shares in the PIPE Investment;
PMEL means ProKidney Management Equity LLC, a Bermuda limited liability company;
PMEL Existing Holders means certain persons who, as members of PMEL, held an indirect interest in the Legacy Class B Units held by PMEL prior to the Closing;
PMEL Post-Combination Unitholders means the PMEL Existing Holders, as well as their designees, or one or more holding persons or nominated persons who received Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units or PMEL RCUs on behalf of the PMEL Existing Holders in connection with the Business Combination;
PMEL RCUs means the Restricted Common Units of ProKidney designated as PMEL RCUs pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement;
Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units means the units of ProKidney designated as Common Units pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement;
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ProKidney means (unless otherwise indicated) SCS after the Business Combination, including its name change from Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III to ProKidney Corp., as applicable;
ProKidney Bermuda means ProKidney LLC, a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda in December 2018, which is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of ProKidney;
ProKidney Class A ordinary shares means ProKidneys Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share;
ProKidney Class B ordinary shares means ProKidneys Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share;
ProKidney Class B PMEL RSRs or PMEL RSRs means the Restricted Stock Rights of ProKidney designated as Class B PMEL RSRs that were issued pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement;
ProKidney Employee Stock Purchase Plan means the ProKidney Corp. Employee Stock Purchase Plan;
ProKidney Incentive Equity Plan means the ProKidney Corp. 2022 Incentive Equity Plan;
ProKidney-KY means ProKidney (formerly known as RegenMed (Cayman) Ltd. (d/b/a inRegen)), a clinical-stage cellular therapeutics company incorporated under the Cayman Islands Companies Act focused on the treatment of chronic renal disease and acquired by ProKidney in January 2019;
ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement means the First Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement for a Limited Partnership Called ProKidney LP, dated as of January 17, 2022, by and among Tolerantia, LLC, Control Empresarial de Capitales, S.A. de C.V. (formerly Inversora Carso, S.A. de C.V.), PMEL and Legacy GP;
ProKidney LP means ProKidney LP, a limited partnership organized under the laws of Ireland;
ProKidney ordinary shares means the ProKidney Class A ordinary shares and the ProKidney Class B ordinary shares;
ProKidney Promissory Notes means the two promissory notes entered into by ProKidney LP on January 18, 2022, concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, with certain ProKidney Unitholders pursuant to which such ProKidney Unitholders agreed to fund up to $100,000,000 in the aggregate to support the operational and financing needs of ProKidney LP prior to the Closing;
ProKidney Related PIPE Investors means certain existing directors, officers and unitholders of ProKidney LP and/or its affiliates that participated in the PIPE Investment;
ProKidney Unitholders means any person who held units of ProKidney LP immediately prior to the consummation of the Business Combination;
ProKidney-US means ProKidney, LLC (formerly known as Twin City Bio LLC), a Delaware limited liability company that provides contract development and manufacturing service for pharmaceutical and biotech companies focused on cell-based therapies and that was acquired by ProKidney LP in January 2019;
REACT means Renal Autologous Cell Therapy, the lead product candidate of ProKidney;
Restricted Common Units means the units of ProKidney LP designated as Restricted Common Units pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement;
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Restricted Stock Rights means restricted stock rights in respect of ProKidney Class B ordinary shares;
RMAT means regenerative medicine advanced therapy;
Sarbanes-Oxley Act means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended;
SCS means Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (which, after the Closing, is known as ProKidney Corp.);
SCS Class A ordinary shares means Class A ordinary shares in the share capital of SCS, par value $0.0001 per share;
SCS Class B ordinary shares means Class B ordinary shares in the share capital of SCS, par value $0.0001 per share;
SEC means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission;
Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement means the second amended and restated limited partnership agreement of ProKidney LP, which went into effect upon the completion of the Business Combination;
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
Sponsor means SCS Sponsor III LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company;
Sponsor Related PIPE Investor refers to certain existing directors, officers and equityholders of, or investment funds managed by Suvretta Capital Management, LLC, SCS, the Sponsor and/or their respective affiliates that participated in the PIPE Investment (together with their permitted transferees);
SRC means selected renal cell;
Subscription Agreements means the subscription agreements entered into by and between SCS and certain investors;
Tax Receivable Agreement means the Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of July 11, 2022, by and among SCS, the TRA party representative (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) and the Closing ProKidney Unitholders;
Third Party PIPE Investment means any PIPE Investment made by a Third Party PIPE Investor;
Third Party PIPE Investment Amount means the aggregate gross purchase price received by SCS in the Third Party PIPE Investment;
Third Party PIPE Investor means any PIPE Investor who is not (i) a Sponsor Related PIPE Investor or (ii) a ProKidney Related PIPE Investor; and
Voting Agreement means the Deed of Undertaking, dated February 14, 2022, made by Control Empresarial de Capitales, S.A. de C.V. (formerly Inversora Carso, S.A. de C.V.), a Mexican corporation.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus includes forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, our plans, strategies and prospects, both business and financial. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words believes, estimates, expects, projects, forecasts, may, will, should, seeks, plans, scheduled, anticipates or intends or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus include, but are not limited to, statements about:
| the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination; |
| our ability to maintain the listing of our Class A ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market (Nasdaq); |
| our ability to manage our growth effectively; |
| the success, cost and timing of our product development activities; |
| the potential attributes and benefits of our product candidates, and if approved, our products; |
| our ability to manufacture REACT, our lead product candidate; |
| our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our products, and any related restrictions and limitations of any approved product; |
| our ability to identify, in-license or acquire additional technology; |
| our ability to maintain our existing license, manufacturing and supply agreements; |
| our reliance on third parties to conduct, supervise and monitor a certain portion of our research and nonclinical testing and clinical trials for REACT; |
| our ability to compete with other companies currently marketing or engaged in the biologics market and in the area of treatment of kidney disease, many of which have greater financial and marketing resources than us; |
| the size and growth potential of the markets for our products, and the ability of each to serve those markets, either alone or in partnership with others; |
| changes in applicable laws or regulations; |
| our estimates regarding expenses, revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; |
| our ability to raise financing in the future; |
| our financial performance; |
| our intellectual property rights; |
| security breaches with respect to computer systems; |
| economic downturns and political and market conditions beyond our control; |
| the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business; and |
| other factors detailed under the section titled Risk Factors. |
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These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this prospectus, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements such as those contained in documents we have filed with the SEC. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, our actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. For a discussion of the risks involved in our business and investing in our ordinary shares, see the section titled Risk Factors.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
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This summary highlights selected information included in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that may be important to you in making an investment decision. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information included in this prospectus. Before making your investment decision with respect to our securities, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, including the information under Risk Factors, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
The Company
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology business with a transformative proprietary cell therapy platform that is capable of treating multiple chronic diseases of the kidney using a patients own cells. Our approach seeks to redefine the treatment of CKD by restoring kidney function and preventing or delaying the progression of CKD, rather than managing kidney failure. Our lead product candidate, REACT, is designed to stabilize or improve renal, or kidney, function in patients with chronically diseased kidneys. REACT is a product composed of a patients own SRCs, formulated into a product that is reinjected into the kidney by a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that can be repeated if necessary. Because REACT is a personalized treatment composed of a patients own, or autologous, SRCs, there is no need for treatment with immunosuppressive therapies, which are required during a patients lifetime when a patient receives a kidney transplant from another donor, or an allogeneic transplant. We are currently conducting a Phase 3 clinical trial and multiple Phase 2 clinical trials for REACT in patients with moderate to severe CKD caused by diabetes mellitus or congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract.
Recent Developments
Business Combination Agreement
The Company was originally known as Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III. On July 11, 2022, we consummated the Business Combination pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, dated as of January 18, 2022, by and between SCS and ProKidney LP, a limited partnership registered under the laws of Ireland, acting through its general partner ProKidney GP Limited, a private limited company incorporated under the laws of Ireland. In connection with the Business Combination, SCS changed its name to ProKidney Corp.
As a consequence of the Business Combination, each SCS Class B ordinary share that was issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time of the Business Combination was converted, on a one-for-one basis, into ProKidney Class A ordinary shares.
In addition, concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, on January 18, 2022, SCS entered into the Subscription Agreements, pursuant to which the PIPE Investors purchased, immediately prior to the Closing, an aggregate of 52,480,000 Class A ordinary shares at a purchase price of $10.00 per share. Pursuant to their Subscription Agreements and their subsequent election to receive Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units (and a corresponding number of Class B ordinary shares) in lieu of Class A ordinary shares, Tolerantia and CEC purchased an aggregate of 5,000,000 Class B ordinary shares at a purchase price of $10 per share.
In connection with the Business Combination, each issued and outstanding Class B unit (each, a ProKidney Class B Unit) in ProKidney LP that had not vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement was recapitalized into one PMEL RCU, which would, when vested in accordance with the applicable award agreement, automatically convert into a Post-Combination ProKidney Common Unit (and the associated ProKidney Class B PMEL RSR would vest), and all other issued and outstanding Legacy Class A Units and Legacy Class B Units in ProKidney were recapitalized into an aggregate number of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units equal to (x) 175,000,000 minus (y) the number of PMEL RCUs issued as described above.
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At the Closing, (i) ProKidney LP issued to SCS a number of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units equal to the number of fully diluted outstanding SCS ordinary shares as of immediately prior to the Closing (but after giving effect to all redemptions of SCS Class A ordinary shares and the purchase of SCS Class A ordinary shares and/or Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units pursuant to the PIPE Investment), in exchange for (a) (x) ProKidney Class B ordinary shares, which shares have no economic rights but entitle the holders thereof to vote on all matters on which shareholders of ProKidney are entitled to vote generally, and (y) ProKidney Class B PMEL RSRs, which convert into ProKidney Class B ordinary shares upon the vesting of the associated PMEL RCUs, (b) an amount in cash equal to the aggregate proceeds obtained by SCS in the PIPE Investment and (c) an amount in cash equal to the aggregate proceeds available for release to SCS from SCSs trust account (the Trust Account) (after giving effect to all redemptions of SCS Class A ordinary shares and after payment of any deferred underwriting commissions that were held in the Trust Account and payment of certain transaction expenses); (ii) ProKidney distributed to the Closing ProKidney Unitholders the ProKidney Class B ordinary shares and ProKidney Class B PMEL RSRs received pursuant to clause (i)(a) (x) and (y) above; and (iii) holders (the Earnout Participants) of Legacy ProKidney Class A Units received an aggregate of 17,500,000 Restricted Common Units (the Earnout RCUs) and 17,500,000 Restricted Stock Rights (the Earnout RSRs) (collectively, the Earnout Rights), which Earnout Rights will vest in three equal tranches upon the achievement of certain ProKidney share price milestones or certain change of control events. When vested, the Earnout RCUs will automatically convert into Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units and the associated Earnout RSRs will automatically convert into ProKidney Class B ordinary shares, respectively.
Stock Exchange Listing
Our Class A ordinary shares are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbols PROK.
Summary of Risk Factors
Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks described in Risk Factors beginning on page 6 before making a decision to invest in our securities. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations would likely be materially adversely affected. Some of the risks related to our business and industry are summarized below.
| We have incurred significant net losses since inception and we expect to continue to incur significant net losses for the foreseeable future; |
| Having completed the Business Combination, we will continue to require substantial additional capital to finance our operations; |
| We have a limited operating history and have not generated any revenue to date, and may never become profitable; |
| Our business is highly dependent on the success of our lead product candidate, REACT, as well as any other future product candidates that we may advance into clinical development. REACT and our future product candidates will require significant additional clinical development and funding before we may be able to seek regulatory approval for and launch a product commercially; |
| REACT is based on a novel technology, which makes it difficult to predict the time and cost of product development and of subsequently obtaining regulatory approval; |
| Clinical development involves a lengthy, complex and expensive process, with an uncertain outcome, and the results of nonclinical studies, previous clinical trials, or interim results of ongoing clinical trials of REACT and any of our future product candidates may not be predictive of future results. Further, we may encounter substantial delays in completing the development of REACT and any of our future product candidates; |
| Negative public opinion and increased regulatory scrutiny of autologous cell therapy using REACT may adversely impact the development or commercial success of our current and future product candidates; |
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| We are conducting our first Phase 3 clinical trial and may be unable to successfully complete it or any future clinical trials; |
| The design or execution of our ongoing and future clinical trials may not support marketing approval; |
| We may expend our limited resources to pursue a particular product candidate or indication and fail to capitalize on product candidates or indications that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success; |
| Due to our limited resources and access to capital, we must make decisions on the allocation of resources to certain programs and product candidates; |
| Cell therapies are complex and difficult to manufacture, and we could experience manufacturing problems that result in delays in the development or commercialization of REACT, our lead product candidate, or otherwise harm our business; |
| Our autologous cell therapy products are patient-specific, and we need to ensure that the correct product is administered to the correct patient; |
| Delays in obtaining regulatory approval of the manufacturing process and facility to produce REACT or disruptions in the manufacturing process may delay or disrupt our commercialization efforts; |
| Managing an autologous ex vivo cell therapy supply chain is highly complex; |
| Unanticipated changes in effective tax rates or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of our income or other tax returns could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations; |
| Because we are a controlled company within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules, our shareholders may not have certain corporate governance protections that are available to shareholders of companies that are not controlled companies; |
| Required payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement may be substantial, and in certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement may exceed the actual tax benefits that we realize or may be accelerated; and |
| Because we are a Cayman Islands exempted company, the rights of our shareholders may be different from the rights of shareholders governed by the laws of U.S. jurisdictions. |
Corporate Information
SCS was incorporated on February 25, 2021 as a Cayman Islands exempted company. It was formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. As an exempted company, we have received a tax exemption undertaking from the Government of the Cayman Islands to the effect that, in accordance with Section 6 of the Tax Concessions Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands, for a period of 30 years from the date of the undertaking, no law which is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax or duty to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax, will apply to any property comprised in or any income arising under the company, or to the security holders thereof, in respect of any such property or income.
On July 11, 2022, SCS and ProKidney LP completed the Business Combination, and SCSs corporate name was changed to ProKidney Corp.
The combined structure was organized in an umbrella partnership-C corporation (a so called Up-C structure). ProKidney Corp. is a holding company, and our direct assets consist of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units and all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of GP, which became the general partner of ProKidney LP upon the Closing. ProKidney Corp. controls GP, with the rights of management specified in the Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement.
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Our principal executive offices are located at 2000 Frontis Plaza Blvd., Ste 250, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and our telephone number is (336) 999-7028.
Controlled Company
Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, group or another company is a controlled company. Pursuant to the terms of the Voting Agreement, Tolerantia, LLC (Tolerantia) effectively controls a majority of the voting power of all of our outstanding ordinary shares with respect to the election, appointment or removal of any director. As a result, we are a controlled company within the meaning of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. A controlled company may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance standards, including the requirements that (i) a majority of its board of directors consist of independent directors, (ii) subject to the exception pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b)(2), its board of directors have a compensation committee that is composed of at least two members, each of whom is an independent director, with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and responsibilities and (iii) director nominees must be selected, or recommended for the boards selection, either by independent directors constituting a majority of the boards independent directors in a vote in which only independent directors participate, or by a nominating and corporate governance committee comprised solely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and responsibilities. Under the Business Combination Agreement, a majority of the directors on the Board were required to be independent directors for the purposes of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, but for at least some period following the Business Combination, we may utilize the other exemptions described above. If any of these exemptions are used, you may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of these corporate governance requirements. If we cease to be a controlled company and our shares continue to be listed on the Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with these standards and, depending on the Boards independence determination with respect to our then-current directors, we may be required to add additional directors to the Board in order to achieve such compliance within the applicable transition period.
Emerging Growth Company
Section 102(b)(1) of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the JOBS Act) exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a registration statement under the Securities Act declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with those of another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of: (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the Closing of SCSs initial public offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common equity that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of the prior fiscal years second fiscal quarter; and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to emerging growth company have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
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Issuer |
ProKidney Corp. |
Resale of Class A ordinary shares
Class A ordinary shares offered by the Selling Securityholders (representing the PIPE Shares purchased by certain PIPE Investors, shares issued or issuable pursuant to the vesting of restricted stock units, and shares issued or issuable pursuant to the Exchange Agreement) |
239,420,000 shares |
Use of proceeds |
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Class A ordinary shares to be offered by the Selling Securityholders. |
Lock-up agreements |
Certain of our shareholders are subject to certain restrictions on transfer until the termination of applicable lock-up periods. See Plan of Distribution Lock-Up Agreements for further discussion. |
Ticker Symbol |
PROK for the Class A ordinary shares. |
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An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below before making an investment decision. Our business, prospects, financial condition, or operating results could be harmed by any of these risks, as well as other risks not known to us or that we consider immaterial as of the date of this prospectus. The trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these risks, and, as a result, you may lose all or part of your investment.
Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to we, us, our and the Company refer to ProKidney Corp. and its subsidiaries following the Business Combination and to ProKidney LP and its subsidiaries prior to the Business Combination, as the case may be.
Risks Related to Our Financial Position and Need for Additional Capital
We have incurred significant net losses since inception and we expect to continue to incur significant net losses for the foreseeable future.
We have incurred significant net losses since our inception. We continue to incur significant research and development and other expenses related to our ongoing operations. For the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 and for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, we reported a net loss of $22.1 million, $12.7 million, $89.6 million and $24.3 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we reported a net loss of $55.1 million and $26.7 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we had an accumulated deficit of $251.1 million and $161.5 million, respectively. We have devoted substantially all of our resources and efforts to research and development, and we expect that it will be several years, if ever, before we generate revenue from product sales. Even if we receive marketing approval for and commercialize our lead product candidate, Renal Autologous Cell Therapy (REACT), we expect that we will continue to incur substantial research and development and other expenses to develop and market additional potential product candidates. These conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least one year from the date our financial statements are issued, and our independent registered public accounting firm has included an explanatory paragraph relating to our ability to continue as a going concern in its report on our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Our product candidate, REACT, is still in clinical testing. We expect to continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future, and we anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially if, and as, we:
| advance the development of REACT and any other future product candidates through clinical development, and, if successful, later-stage clinical trials; |
| experience delays or interruptions to any future preclinical studies, our current clinical trials, our receipt of services from our third-party service providers on whom we rely, or our supply chain, including delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, other health crises or events or circumstances beyond our control; |
| seek regulatory approvals for any future product candidates that may successfully complete clinical trials; |
| commercialize REACT and any future product candidates, if approved; |
| increase the amount of research and development activities to discover and develop product candidates and line extensions; |
| manufacture the materials needed for clinical trials or, following receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, commercial sales, at our manufacturing facilities; |
| establish and validate commercial-scale cGMP manufacturing facilities and partner with Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs); |
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| establish a commercialization infrastructure and scale up internal and external manufacturing and distribution capabilities to commercialize any product candidates for which we may obtain regulatory approval; |
| hire additional executives in clinical development, regulatory, manufacturing, quality control, quality assurance, scientific, public / investor relations general and administrative and management personnel; |
| expand our operational, financial and management systems and increase personnel, including personnel to support our clinical development and manufacturing efforts, general and administrative functions and our operations as a public company; |
| establish domestic and global sales, marketing, medical affairs and distribution infrastructure to commercialize any products for which we may obtain marketing approval and intend to commercialize on our own or jointly with third parties; |
| maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio; and |
| invest in or in-license other technologies or product candidates. |
To become and remain profitable, we must develop and eventually commercialize products with significant market potential. This will require us to be successful in a range of challenging activities, including completing non-clinical studies and clinical trials, obtaining marketing approval for REACT and any future product candidates, manufacturing, marketing and selling products for which we may obtain marketing approval and satisfying any post-marketing requirements. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with biopharmaceutical product development, we are unable to accurately predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when, or if, we will be able to achieve profitability. We may never succeed in any or all of these activities and, even if we do, we may never generate revenue that is significant enough to achieve profitability. If we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Our failure to become and remain profitable would decrease the value of our company and could impair our ability to raise capital, maintain our research and development efforts, expand our business or continue our operations.
Having completed the Business Combination, we will continue to require substantial additional capital to finance our operations. If we are unable to raise such capital when needed, or on acceptable terms, we may be forced to delay, reduce and/or eliminate one or more of our research and product development programs, future commercialization efforts or other operations.
Developing biopharmaceutical products, including conducting clinical trials, is a very time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes years to complete. Our operations have consumed substantial amounts of cash since inception. We expect our expenses to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we conduct our ongoing and planned clinical trials of REACT and any future product candidates that we may develop, seek regulatory approvals for REACT and our future product candidates, and manufacture, launch and commercialize any products for which we receive regulatory approval. We also expect to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company. Accordingly, we will need to obtain substantial additional funding in order to maintain our continuing operations. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on acceptable terms, we may be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate one or more of our research and product development programs or future commercialization efforts.
As of June 30, 2022, we had approximately $21.9 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. Based on our current operating plan, and having completed the Business Combination and accounting for $574.8 million received in the PIPE Investment, we believe that our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2024. However, our future capital requirements and the period for which our existing resources will support our operations may vary significantly from what we expect, and we will in any event require additional capital to complete clinical development of any of our current programs.
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Our monthly spending levels will vary based on new and ongoing development and corporate activities. Because the length of time and activities associated with development of REACT and any future product candidates is highly uncertain, we are unable to estimate the actual funds we will require for development, marketing and commercialization activities. Our future funding requirements, both near and long-term, will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:
| the initiation, progress, timing, costs and results of clinical trials for REACT and any future product candidates; |
| the clinical development plans we establish for these product candidates; |
| the timelines of our clinical trials and the overall costs to finish the clinical trials due to the COVID-19 pandemic; |
| the number and characteristics of product candidates that we develop; |
| the outcome, timing and cost of meeting regulatory requirements established by the FDA, the EMA and other comparable foreign regulatory authorities; |
| whether we are able to enter into and maintain collaboration agreements, including the terms of and timing of payments under any such agreements; |
| the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing our patent claims and other intellectual property rights; |
| the cost of defending intellectual property disputes, including patent infringement actions brought by third parties against us, REACT or any of our future product candidates; |
| the effect of competing clinical, technological and market developments; |
| the costs of maintaining our own commercial-scale cGMP manufacturing facility; |
| the cost of establishing sales, marketing and distribution capabilities for any product candidates for which we may receive regulatory approval in regions where we choose to commercialize our products on our own; |
| the revenue, if any, received from commercial sales of REACT and any of our future product candidates for which we receive marketing approval; and |
| the costs of operating as a public company. |
Following the Business Combination, we currently do not have any committed external source of funds or other support for our development efforts, and we cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Until we can generate sufficient revenue to finance our cash requirements, which we may never do, we expect to finance our future cash needs through a combination of public or private equity offerings, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances, licensing arrangements and other marketing or distribution arrangements. If we raise additional funds through public or private equity offerings, the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our shareholders. Further, to the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of ordinary shares or securities convertible or exchangeable into ordinary shares, your ownership interest will be diluted. In addition, any debt financing may subject us to fixed payment obligations and 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 capital through marketing and distribution arrangements or other collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish certain valuable intellectual property or other rights to REACT and any future product candidates, technologies, future revenue streams or research programs or grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. We also may be required to seek collaborators for REACT or any of our future product candidates at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable or relinquish our rights to REACT and any future product candidates or technologies that we otherwise would seek to develop or
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commercialize ourselves. Market volatility resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic or other factors could also adversely impact our ability to access capital as and when needed. If we are unable to raise additional capital in sufficient amounts or on terms acceptable to us, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development or commercialization of REACT or any of our future product candidates or one or more of our other research and development initiatives. Any of the above events could significantly harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations and cause the price of our ordinary shares to decline.
Risks Related to Research and Development of REACT and Our Future Product Candidates
We have a limited operating history and have not generated any revenue to date, and may never become profitable.
We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history. We were founded in 2018, have no products approved for commercial sale and have not generated any revenue. Our operations to date have been limited to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital, undertaking non-clinical studies, conducting clinical trials, developing a network of key opinion leaders, and performing research and development of REACT. Our approach to the discovery and development of product candidates is unproven, and we do not know whether we will be able to develop any products of commercial value. REACT and any other product candidates we develop will require substantial additional development and clinical research time and resources before we would be able to apply for or receive regulatory approvals and begin generating revenue from product sales. We have not yet demonstrated the ability to progress any product candidate through later-stage clinical trials leading to successful marketing authorization. We may be unable to obtain regulatory approval, manufacture a commercial scale product, or arrange for a third party to do so on our behalf, achieve market access, and acceptance with insurers and health care providers, or conduct sales and marketing activities necessary for successful product commercialization.
Investment in biopharmaceutical product development is highly speculative because it entails substantial upfront capital expenditures and significant risk that any potential product candidate will fail to demonstrate adequate efficacy or an acceptable safety profile, gain regulatory approval and become commercially viable. If and when one of our product candidates were to receive regulatory approval, we would need to transition from a company with a research and development focus to a company capable of supporting commercial activities. We may not be successful in such a transition. In addition, as a business with a limited operating history, we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other known and unknown factors and risks frequently experienced by early-stage biopharmaceutical companies in rapidly evolving and complex fields. Consequently, we have no meaningful history of operations upon which to evaluate our business, and predictions about our future success or viability may not be as accurate as they could be if we had a longer operating history or a history of successfully developing and commercializing medical products.
Due to the uncertainties and risks associated with these activities, we are unable to accurately and precisely predict the timing and amount of revenues, the extent of any further losses or if or when we might achieve profitability. We may never succeed in these activities and, even if we succeed in commercializing one or more of our product candidates, we may never generate revenue that is significant enough to achieve profitability. If we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis and we will continue to incur substantial research and development and other expenditures to develop and market additional product candidates. Our failure to become and remain profitable could decrease the value of our shares and impair our ability to raise capital, maintain our research and development efforts, expand our business or continue our operations.
The market for biologics and for the treatment of kidney disease is highly competitive. If we fail to effectively compete, our business, financial condition and operating results will suffer.
We face significant competition in the biologics market and in the area of treatment of kidney disease. We face competition from companies that develop and manufacture cell therapies, including major and specialty
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pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, developers of tubular and glomerular cell drug modulators, antifibrosis medications, induced pluripotent cells, other autologous mesenchymal stem cells and mechanical renal assist devices such as implantable and wearable renal dialysis machines, and advances in peritoneal dialysis and home dialysis. Cell-based clinical trials by other companies are underway globally with umbilical, adipose and bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells for CKD. Early-phase human induced pluripotent stem cell therapies for kidney diseases are ongoing in Japan. We believe that our principal competitors include developers of SGLT2 inhibitors and Mineral Receptor Agonists (MRAs), which are small-molecule therapies recently approved to lower risks of CKD progression.
Many of our current competitors may have competitive advantages over us, including significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, pre-clinical testing, clinical trials, manufacturing, and marketing than we do.
We believe that the principal competitive factors in its target markets include:
| accuracy, including sensitivity and specificity, and reproducibility of results; |
| reputation among customers; |
| innovation in offerings or products, if approved; |
| efficacy and safety profile; |
| cost; |
| effectiveness of promotional support; |
| intellectual property protection; |
| the intended patient population; and |
| relative convenience of dosing and administration. |
We cannot assure you that our products, if approved, will compete favorably or that we will be successful in the face of increasing competition from new products and technologies introduced by existing competitors or new companies entering our target markets. In addition, we cannot assure you that our competitors do not have or will not develop products or technologies that currently or in the future will enable them to produce competitive products with greater capabilities or at lower costs than ours. Any failure to compete effectively could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our business is highly dependent on the success of our lead product candidate, REACT, as well as any other future product candidates that we may advance into clinical development. REACT and our future product candidates will require significant additional clinical development and funding before we may be able to seek regulatory approval for and launch a product commercially.
We currently have no products that are approved for commercial sale and may never be able to develop marketable products. REACT, our lead product candidate, is in Phase 3 clinical development. We cannot offer any assurances or predict with any certainty that such Phase 3 clinical development will be successfully completed, that positive clinical data will be obtained from such Phase 3 clinical development efforts or that regulatory authorities will grant marketing approval for REACT, in any such case on the expected timelines. Furthermore, regulatory approvals for REACT, even if obtained, may limit the type of patients in which REACT may be used for CKD or otherwise require specific warning or labeling language, each of which may reduce the commercial potential of REACT. Even if approved, we might not be successful in commercializing REACT. Should we fail to obtain regulatory approvals for REACT or fail to successfully commercialize REACT upon such regulatory approvals, our business and financial condition could be materially harmed and we may be more heavily dependent on the success of our other therapeutic programs.
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As an organization, we have not previously conducted any later stage or pivotal clinical trials, have limited experience in preparing, submitting and pursuing regulatory filings and have not previously submitted a BLA for any product candidate. Before we can generate any revenue from sales of our lead product candidate, REACT, or any of our future product candidates, we must complete clinical development, regulatory review and approval in one or more jurisdictions. We also need to obtain substantial additional funding to support our continuing operations and pursue our growth strategy. In addition, if REACT or any of our future product candidates is approved, we must ensure access to sufficient commercial manufacturing capacity and conduct significant marketing efforts in connection with any commercial launch. These efforts will require substantial investment, and we may not have the financial resources to continue development of REACT or any of our future product candidates.
We may experience setbacks that could delay or prevent regulatory approval of, or our ability to commercialize, REACT and any of our future product candidates, including:
| negative or inconclusive results from our clinical trials or positive results from the clinical trials of others for product candidates similar to ours leading to their approval, leading to a decision or requirement to conduct additional preclinical testing or clinical trials or to abandon a program; |
| product-related side effects experienced by patients or subjects in our clinical trials or by individuals using medicines or therapeutics that we, the FDA, other regulators or others view as relevant to the development of REACT or any of our future product candidates; |
| delays in submitting Investigational New Drug Applications (INDS) or comparable foreign applications or delays or failure in obtaining the necessary approvals from regulators to commence a clinical trial, or a suspension or termination of a clinical trial once commenced; |
| conditions imposed by the FDA or comparable foreign authorities regarding the scope or design of our clinical trials, including our clinical endpoints, and any requirement for additional confirmatory trials; |
| delays in enrolling subjects in clinical trials, including due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and completion of clinical trials, including under the FDAs GCPs, the guidelines from International Conference on Harmonization (ICH Guidelines), Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), and current Good Tissue Practices (cGTPs); |
| inability to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements, including cGMPs, and complying effectively with other procedures; |
| high drop-out rates of subjects from clinical trials; |
| inadequate supply or quality of REACT or our future product candidates or other materials necessary for the conduct of our clinical trials; |
| greater than anticipated clinical trial costs; |
| inability to compete with other therapies; |
| poor efficacy of REACT or our future product candidates during clinical trials; |
| trial results taking longer than anticipated; |
| trials being subjected to fraud or data capture failure or other technical mishaps leading to the invalidation of our trials; |
| the results of our trials not supporting application for conditional approval in the European Union, the Asia-Pacific region, and Latin America; |
| unfavorable FDA or other regulatory agency inspection and review of a clinical trial site; |
| failure of our third-party contractors or investigators to comply with regulatory requirements or otherwise meet their contractual obligations in a timely manner, or at all; |
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| delays related to the impact of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the impact of COVID-19 on the FDAs ability to continue its normal operations; |
| delays and changes in regulatory requirements, policy and guidelines, including the imposition of additional regulatory oversight around clinical development generally or with respect to our technology in particular; |
| varying interpretations of data by the FDA and similar foreign regulatory agencies; |
| the completion of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) procedures with governmental authorities; |
| any policy level review of REACT by CMS; |
| the financing on our other ongoing or future programs; |
| evolving scientific discovery and technology of cell-based therapies and bioprocessing; or |
| obsoleteness of manufacturing automation which could require a re-design of parts or equipment to ensure quality replacement component, the delays of which could cause significant delays in manufacturing and loss of sales. |
We do not have complete control over many of these factors, including certain aspects of clinical development and the regulatory submission process, potential threats to our intellectual property rights and our manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sales efforts or that of any future collaborator.
Our business and operations may be adversely affected by the evolving and ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic.
Our business and operations may be adversely affected by the effects of the evolving COVID-19 virus, which was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in travel and other restrictions to reduce the spread of the disease, including public health directives and orders in the United States and the European Union (EU) that, among other things and for various periods of time, directed individuals to shelter at their places of residence, directed businesses and governmental agencies to cease non-essential operations at physical locations, prohibited certain non-essential gatherings and events and ordered cessation of non-essential travel. Future remote work policies and similar government orders or other restrictions on the conduct of business operations related to the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively impact productivity and may disrupt our ongoing research and development activities and our clinical trials and timelines, the magnitude of which will depend, in part, on the length and severity of the restrictions and other limitations on our ability to conduct our business in the ordinary course. Further, such orders also may impact the availability or cost of materials, which would disrupt our supply chain and manufacturing efforts and could affect our ability to conduct ongoing and planned clinical trials and preparatory activities.
Although we have been able to effectively manage our supply chain and manufacturing capabilities despite the COVID-19 pandemic to date, we may experience related disruptions in the future that could severely impact our clinical trials, including:
| delays or difficulties with patient enrollment in clinical trials; |
| delays, difficulties or a suspension in clinical trial site initiation, including difficulties in recruiting investigators, proceduralists and clinical staff; |
| interruptions in our ability to manufacture and deliver the required supply of REACT or future product candidates for clinical trials; |
| diversion of health care 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; |
| potential cancellation or postponement of elective procedures scheduled at our clinical trial sites and reduction in operating hours at a significant number of our clinical trial sites; |
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| changes in local regulations as part of a response to the COVID-19 outbreak that among other things (i) may interrupt our ability to manufacture REACT and (ii) may require us to change the ways in which our clinical trials are conducted, which may result in unexpected costs, or to discontinue the clinical trials altogether; |
| interruption of key clinical trial activities, such as clinical trial site monitoring, and the ability or willingness of subjects to travel to trial sites for scheduled visits and laboratory testing due to limitations on travel imposed or recommended by federal or state governments, employers and others; |
| limitations in employee resources that would otherwise be focused on the conduct of our clinical trials, including because of sickness of employees or their families or the desire of employees to avoid contact with large groups of people; |
| delays in necessary interactions with local regulators, ethics committees and other important agencies and contractors due to limitations in employee resources or forced furlough of government employees; |
| refusal of the FDA and other regulatory agencies to accept data from clinical trials in these affected geographies; and |
| decreases or shifts of government funding from regulatory agencies, university research and education. |
The spread of COVID-19, which has caused a broad impact globally, may materially affect us economically. While the potential economic impact brought by, and the duration of, COVID-19 may be difficult to assess or predict, a widespread pandemic could result in significant disruption of global financial markets, reducing our ability to access capital, which could in the future negatively affect our liquidity. In addition, a recession or market correction resulting from the spread of COVID-19 could materially affect our business and the value of our securities.
The global COVID-19 pandemic continues to rapidly evolve. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our business and operations, including our clinical development and regulatory efforts, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence at the time of this prospectus, such as the ultimate geographic spread of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, the duration and effect of business disruptions and the short-term effects and ultimate effectiveness of the travel restrictions, quarantines, social distancing requirements and business closures in the United States and other countries to contain and treat the disease. Accordingly, we do not yet know the full extent of potential delays or impacts on our business, our clinical and regulatory activities, health care systems or the global economy as a whole. However, these impacts could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
In addition, to the extent the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects our business and results of operations, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks and uncertainties described in this Risk Factors section.
REACT is based on a novel technology, which makes it difficult to predict the time and cost of product development and of subsequently obtaining regulatory approval.
The clinical trial requirements of the FDA, the EMA, and other regulatory authorities and the criteria these regulators use to determine the safety and efficacy of a product candidate vary substantially according to the type, complexity, novelty, and intended use and market of the potential products. The regulatory approval process for product candidates such as ours can be more expensive and take longer than for other, better known, or more extensively studied pharmaceutical or other product candidates.
Regulatory requirements in the United States and in other countries governing cell therapy products are evolving and the FDA or other regulatory bodies may change the requirements, or identify different regulatory
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pathways, for approval for REACT or any of our future product candidates. For example, the FDA has established the Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies within CBER to consolidate the review of cell therapy and related products, and has established the Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee to advise CBER in its review when called upon. It is possible that over time new or different divisions may be established or be granted the responsibility for regulating cell therapy products, including regenerative cell-based products, such as ours. Further, additional regulatory involvement from FDA advisory bodies, including the Cardio-Renal Advisory Committee, may delay review or make additional recommendations requiring further investigation. As a result, we may be required to change our regulatory strategy or to modify our applications for regulatory approval, which could delay and impair our ability to complete the non-clinical and clinical development and manufacture of, and obtain regulatory approval for, REACT or any future product candidates. Changes in regulatory authorities and advisory groups, or any new requirements or guidelines they promulgate, may lengthen the regulatory review process, require us to perform additional studies, increase our development and manufacturing costs, lead to changes in regulatory pathways, positions and interpretations, delay or prevent approval and commercialization of REACT or any future product candidates or lead to significant post-approval limitations or restrictions.
We have concentrated our research and development efforts on utilizing regenerative renal cell-based therapies. To date, the FDA has approved a relatively small number of cell-based therapies for commercialization and no regenerative renal-based cell therapy has been approved for commercial use by any regulatory authority. The processes and requirements imposed by the FDA or other applicable regulatory authorities may cause delays and additional costs in obtaining approvals for marketing authorization for REACT or any future product candidates. Because our platform is novel, and cell-based therapies are relatively new, regulatory agencies may lack experience in evaluating product candidates like REACT. This novelty may lengthen the regulatory review process, including the time it takes for the FDA to review our IND applications if and when submitted, increase our development costs and delay or prevent commercialization of REACT. Additionally, advancing novel CKD therapies creates significant challenges for us, including:
| educating medical personnel regarding the potential side-effect profile of REACT and, as the clinical development program progresses, on observed side effects with REACT; |
| training medical personnel on the proper use and delivery of REACT; |
| enrolling sufficient numbers of subjects in clinical trials; and |
| continuing to develop a manufacturing process to support the clinical development of REACT. |
We must be able to overcome these challenges in order for us to develop, commercialize and manufacture REACT.
As we advance REACT, we will be required to consult with the FDA and other regulatory authorities, and REACT will likely be reviewed by an FDA advisory committee. We also must comply with applicable requirements, and if we fail to do so, we may be required to delay or discontinue development of REACT. Delays or unexpected costs in obtaining, or the failure to obtain, the regulatory approval necessary to bring a potential product to market could impair our ability to generate sufficient product revenues to maintain our business.
In addition, adverse developments in preclinical studies or clinical trials conducted by others in the field of cell therapy products may cause the FDA, the EMA, and other regulatory bodies to revise the requirements for approval of any product candidates we may develop, and may otherwise negatively affect our ability to develop and commercialize REACT or future product candidates. Similarly, the European Commission may issue new guidelines concerning the development and marketing authorization for cell therapies and require that we comply with these new guidelines, which could require additional studies or clinical trials to support the marketing approval of REACT or any product candidates we may develop in the future or which could make our product candidates unable to successfully obtain approval.
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The regulatory review committees and advisory groups described above and the new guidelines they promulgate may lengthen the regulatory review process, require us to perform additional studies or clinical trials, increase our development costs, lead to changes in regulatory positions and interpretations, delay or prevent approval and commercialization of these treatment candidates, or lead to significant post-approval limitations or restrictions. As we advance our research programs and develop future product candidates, we will be required to consult with these regulatory and advisory groups and to comply with applicable guidelines. If we fail to do so, we may be required to delay or discontinue development of any product candidates we identify and develop.
Clinical development involves a lengthy, complex and expensive process, with an uncertain outcome, and the results of nonclinical studies, previous clinical trials, or interim results of ongoing clinical trials of REACT and any of our future product candidates may not be predictive of future results. Further, we may encounter substantial delays in completing the development of REACT and any of our future product candidates.
Our product candidate, REACT, is in clinical development, and its risk of failure is high. The clinical trials, manufacturing and marketing of REACT or any of our future product candidates, if approved, will be, subject to extensive and rigorous review and regulation by numerous government authorities in the United States and in other countries where we intend to test and market REACT and any of our future product candidates. Before obtaining regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of REACT or any of our future product candidates, we must demonstrate through lengthy, complex and expensive testing and clinical trials that our product candidates are both safe and effective for use in each target indication. In particular, because REACT is subject to regulation as a biological product, we will need to demonstrate that it is safe, pure and potent for use in its target indication and lacks latent untoward cell effects. REACT and any other product candidate we may develop must demonstrate an adequate risk versus benefit profile in its intended patient population and for its intended use. The process of administration of REACT involves taking a small biopsy of tissue from the kidney. The risks associated with a biopsy include bleeding, pain and hematoma, or bruising.
Clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, and its outcome is inherently uncertain. In particular, the general approach for FDA approval of a new therapeutic modality can include dispositive data from two well-controlled, Phase 3 clinical trials of the relevant product in the relevant patient population. Our Phase 3 development program may involve one to two thousand patients, have significant costs and take years to complete. A product candidate can fail at any stage of testing, even after observing promising signals of activity in earlier nonclinical studies or clinical trials. The outcome of nonclinical studies and early clinical trials of REACT and our future product candidates may not be predictive of the success of the Phase 3 registrational development program, and interim results of a clinical trial do not necessarily predict final results. In addition, initial success in clinical trials may not be indicative of results obtained when such trials are completed. There is typically an extremely high rate of attrition from the failure of product candidates proceeding through clinical trials. Product candidates in later stages of clinical trials may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy profile despite having progressed through nonclinical studies and initial clinical trials. A number of companies in the biopharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials due to lack of efficacy or unacceptable safety issues, notwithstanding promising results in earlier trials. Most product candidates that commence clinical trials are never approved as therapeutic products and there can be no assurance that any of our future clinical trials will ultimately be successful or support further clinical development of REACT or any of our future product candidates. Product candidates and delivery methods for cellular therapeutics and tissue engineered products that appear promising in the early phases of development may fail to reach the market for several reasons, including:
| nonclinical or preclinical studies or clinical trials may show the product candidates to be less effective than expected (e.g., a clinical trial could fail to meet its primary endpoint(s)) or to have unacceptable side effects or toxicities associated with the product or delivery method; |
| failure to establish clinical endpoints that applicable regulatory authorities would consider clinically meaningful and relevant; |
| failure to receive the necessary regulatory approvals; |
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| manufacturing costs, formulation issues, pricing or reimbursement issues, mechanism of action, logistical constraints or other factors that make a product candidate uneconomical; and |
| the proprietary rights of others and their competing products and technologies that may prevent one of our product candidates from being commercialized. |
In addition, differences in trial design between early-stage clinical trials and later-stage clinical trials make it difficult to extrapolate the results of earlier clinical trials to later clinical trials. Moreover, clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses, and many companies that have believed their product candidates performed satisfactorily in clinical trials have nonetheless failed to obtain marketing approval of their products. Additionally, our earlier stage trials are open-label studies, where both the subject and investigator know whether the subject is receiving REACT or standard of care therapy. Most typically, open-label clinical trials test only the investigational product candidate and sometimes do so at different dose levels. Open-label clinical trials are subject to various limitations and biases that may exaggerate any therapeutic effect as subjects in open-label clinical trials are aware when they are receiving treatment. In addition, open-label clinical trials may be subject to an investigator bias where those assessing and reviewing the physiological outcomes of the clinical trials are aware of which subjects have received treatment and may interpret the information of the treated group more favorably given this knowledge. Given that our earlier stage trials include an open-label dosing design, while we believe our trials utilize objective assessment measures for measuring our endpoints and therefore are unlikely to be influenced in any manner by subject or investigator bias, it is unknown whether the open-label design may not be predictive of future clinical trial results with this or other product candidates for which we conduct an open-label clinical trial when studied in a controlled environment or with only objective endpoints.
Furthermore, the standards that the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities use when regulating REACT require judgment and may change over time, which makes it difficult to predict with certainty how they will be applied. Any analysis we perform of data from nonclinical and clinical activities is subject to validation and interpretation by regulatory authorities, which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. We may also encounter unexpected delays or increased costs due to new government regulations. Examples of such regulations include future legislation or administrative action, or changes in FDA policy during the period of product development and FDA regulatory review. Specifically, some countries, such as China, have enacted or are considering enacting restrictions on the import and export of human genetic materials, cells and tissues. Such laws and regulations could impair our ability to import and export human cells and cell-based therapies, which could have a material adverse impact on our business. We cannot predict whether legislative changes will be enacted, whether FDA or foreign regulations, guidance or interpretations will be changed, or what the impact of such changes, if any, may be. The FDA may also require a panel of experts, referred to as an Advisory Committee, to deliberate on the adequacy of the safety and efficacy data to support approval. The opinion of the Advisory Committee, although not binding, may have a significant impact on our ability to obtain approval of any product candidates that we develop.
To date, we have not completed any pivotal trials required for the approval of REACT. We may experience delays in conducting any clinical trials, need to be redesigned, recruit and enroll subjects on time or be completed on schedule, or at all. Clinical trials can be delayed suspended or terminated for a variety of reasons, including in connection with:
| delays in sufficiently developing, characterizing, standardizing or controlling a manufacturing process and quality criteria suitable for advanced clinical trials; |
| delays in developing suitable assays for screening patients for eligibility for trials with respect to certain product candidates; |
| delays in reaching agreement with the FDA, EMA or other regulatory authorities as to the design or implementation of our clinical trials; |
| obtaining additional regulatory authorizations to conduct future clinical trials; |
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| reaching agreements on acceptable terms with additional/future clinical trial sites or prospective CROs, the terms of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary significantly among different clinical trial sites; |
| obtaining institutional review board (IRB) or Ethics Committee approval at each additional/future trial site; |
| recruiting suitable patients to participate in a clinical trial; |
| having subjects complete a clinical trial or return for post-treatment follow-up; |
| inspections of clinical trial sites or operations by applicable regulatory authorities, or the imposition of a clinical hold; |
| clinical sites, CROs or other third parties deviating from trial protocol or dropping out of a trial; |
| failure to perform in accordance with the applicable regulatory requirements, including FDAs GCP requirements, or applicable regulatory requirements in other countries; |
| addressing patient safety concerns that arise during the course of a trial, including occurrence of adverse events associated with the product candidate or the delivery procedure that are viewed to outweigh its potential benefits; |
| adding a sufficient number of clinical trial sites; |
| manufacturing sufficient quantities of a product candidate for use in clinical trials; |
| disruptions in our supply chain, which could result in improper storage, transport or development conditions for our product components, whose treatment is time-sensitive and temperature-sensitive and which are patient-specific; or |
| interruption of our manufacturing processes, which could lead to our inability to properly administer treatment. |
We may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, clinical trials that could delay or prevent our ability to receive marketing approval or commercialize REACT or any of our future product candidates or significantly increase the cost of such trials, including:
| changes in regulatory requirements or guidance, or receive feedback from regulatory authorities that requires us to modify the design of our clinical trials; |
| clinical trials of REACT or our future product candidates may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we may decide, or regulators may require us, to conduct additional clinical trials or abandon development programs; |
| the number of subjects required for clinical trials of REACT or our future product candidates may be larger than we anticipate, enrollment in these clinical trials may be slower than we anticipate or subjects may drop out of these clinical trials at a higher rate than we anticipate; |
| our third-party contractors may fail to comply with regulatory requirements or meet their contractual obligations to us in a timely manner, or at all; |
| we or our investigators might have to suspend or terminate clinical trials of REACT or our future product candidates for various reasons, including non-compliance with regulatory requirements, a finding that REACT or our future product candidates have undesirable side effects or other unexpected characteristics, or a finding that the subjects are being exposed to unacceptable health risks; |
| the cost of clinical trials of REACT or our future product candidates may be greater than we anticipate and we may not have funds to cover the costs; |
| the supply or quality of REACT or our future product candidates or other materials necessary to conduct clinical trials of our product candidates may be insufficient or inadequate; |
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| regulators may revise the requirements for approving REACT or our future product candidates, or such requirements may not be as we anticipate; and |
| any future collaborators that conduct clinical trials may face any of the above issues, and may conduct clinical trials in ways they view as advantageous to them but that are suboptimal for us. |
If we are required to conduct additional clinical trials or other testing of REACT or any of our future product candidates beyond those that we currently contemplate, if we are unable to successfully complete clinical trials of REACT or our future product candidates or other testing, if the results of these trials or tests are not positive or are only modestly positive or if there are safety concerns, we may:
| incur unplanned costs; |
| be delayed in obtaining marketing approval for REACT or any of our future product candidates or not obtain marketing approval at all; |
| obtain marketing approval in some countries and not in others; |
| obtain marketing approval for indications or patient populations that are not as broad as intended or desired; |
| obtain marketing approval with labeling that includes significant use or distribution restrictions or safety warnings, including boxed warnings or Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS); |
| be subject to additional post-marketing testing requirements; |
| be subject to changes in the way the product is administered; or |
| have regulatory authorities withdraw or suspend their approval of the product or to impose restrictions on its distribution after obtaining marketing approval. |
We could encounter delays if a clinical trial is suspended or terminated by us, by the IRBs of the institutions in which such trials are being conducted, by the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) for such trial or by the FDA or other regulatory authorities. Such authorities may impose such a suspension or termination due to a number of factors, including failure to conduct the clinical trial in accordance with regulatory requirements or our clinical protocols, inspection of the clinical trial operations or trial site by the FDA or other regulatory authorities resulting in the imposition of a clinical hold, unforeseen safety issues or adverse side effects, failure to demonstrate a benefit from using REACT or one of our future product candidates, changes in governmental regulations or administrative actions or lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial.
REACT, our lead product candidate, will require extensive clinical testing before we are prepared to submit a BLA or MAA for regulatory approval. We cannot predict with any certainty if or when we might complete the clinical development for REACT and submit a BLA or MAA for regulatory approval of REACT or whether any such BLA or MAA will be approved. We may also seek feedback from the FDA, EMA or other regulatory authorities on our clinical development program, and the FDA, EMA or such regulatory authorities may not provide such feedback on a timely basis, or such feedback may not be favorable, which could further delay our development programs.
We are currently conducting clinical trials in foreign countries, as well as in the United States. If we continue to seek to conduct clinical trials in foreign countries or pursue marketing approvals in foreign jurisdictions, we must comply with numerous foreign regulatory requirements governing, among other things, the conduct of clinical trials, manufacturing and marketing authorization, pricing and third-party reimbursement. The foreign regulatory approval process varies among countries and may include all of the risks associated with FDA approval described above as well as risks attributable to the satisfaction of local regulations in foreign jurisdictions. Moreover, the time required to obtain approval from foreign regulatory agencies may differ from that required to obtain FDA approval. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities outside the United States and vice versa.
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Successful completion of clinical trials is a prerequisite to submitting a marketing application to the FDA and similar marketing applications to comparable foreign regulatory authorities, for each product candidate and, consequently, the ultimate approval and commercial marketing of any product candidates. We may experience negative or inconclusive results, which may result in our deciding, or our being required by regulators, to conduct additional clinical studies or trials or abandon some or all of our product development programs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Any topline data or interim analyses from our nonclinical studies and clinical trials that may be announced or published from time to time may change as more data becomes available and will remain subject to audit and verification procedures that could result in material changes in the final data.
We have disclosed interim analyses of certain ongoing clinical trials and may continue to disclose publicly interim or topline data from its nonclinical studies and clinical trials in the future. These interim updates will be based on a preliminary analysis of then-available data, and the results and related findings and conclusions will be subject to change following a more comprehensive review of the data related to the particular study or trial. We will be required to make assumptions, estimations, calculations and conclusions as part of our analyses of data, and we may not have received or had the opportunity to fully and carefully evaluate all data. As a result, the interim or topline results that we may report might differ from future results of the same studies or trials, or different conclusions or considerations may qualify such results, once additional data have been received and fully evaluated. Interim and topline data will remain subject to audit and verification procedures that may result in the final data being materially different from the data we previously published. As a result, any interim or topline data should be viewed with caution until the final data are available. Interim data from clinical trials that we may complete will be subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues and more patient data becomes available.
Further, others, including regulatory agencies, may not accept or agree with our assumptions, estimates, calculations, conclusions or analyses or may interpret or weigh the importance of data differently, which could impact the value of the particular program, the approvability or commercialization of the particular product candidate and us in general. In addition, the information we choose to publicly disclose regarding a particular study or clinical trial is based on what is typically extensive information, investors or others may not agree with what we determine is material or otherwise appropriate information to include in our disclosure, and any information we determine not to disclose may ultimately be deemed significant with respect to future decisions, conclusions, views, activities or otherwise regarding a particular product candidate or our business. If the interim or topline data that we report differ from actual results, or if others, including regulatory authorities, disagree with the conclusions reached, our ability to obtain approval for, and commercialize, our product candidate may be harmed, which could harm our business, operating results, prospects or financial condition.
The regulatory approval processes of the FDA, EMA and comparable foreign authorities are lengthy, time-consuming and inherently unpredictable. If we are not able to obtain required regulatory approval for REACT, our lead product candidate, or any of our future product candidates, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
The time required to obtain approval or other marketing authorizations by the FDA, EMA and comparable foreign authorities is unpredictable, and it typically takes many years following the commencement of clinical trials and depends upon numerous factors, including the substantial discretion of the regulatory authorities. In addition, approval policies, regulations, and the type and amount of clinical data necessary to gain approval may change during the course of a product candidates clinical development and may vary among jurisdictions. We have not obtained regulatory approval for any product candidate, and it is possible that we may never obtain regulatory approval for any product candidates we may seek to develop in the future. Neither we nor any current or future collaborator is permitted to market any biologic product candidates in the United States until we receive regulatory approval of a BLA from the FDA, and we cannot market it in the European Union until we receive approval from the FDA or approval for a MAA from the EMA, or other required regulatory approval in other
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countries. To date, we have had only limited discussions with the regulatory agencies of the United States, the European Union, Argentina, Israel, Canada and Brazil regarding clinical development programs or regulatory approval for any product candidate within such jurisdictions.
Prior to obtaining approval to commercialize any biologic product candidate in the United States or abroad, we must demonstrate with substantial evidence from well-controlled clinical trials, and to the satisfaction of the FDA, EMA or other foreign regulatory agencies, that such product candidates are safe and effective for their intended uses. Results from nonclinical or preclinical studies and clinical trials may be interpreted differently by different regulatory agencies. Even if we believe the nonclinical or clinical data for REACT are promising, such data may be insufficient to support approval by the FDA and other regulatory authorities. The FDA may also require us to conduct additional nonclinical studies or clinical trials for REACT either prior to or after approval, or it may object to elements of our clinical development programs.
REACT could fail to receive regulatory approval for many reasons, including the following:
| the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with the design or implementation of our clinical trials; |
| we may be unable to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities that a product candidate is safe and effective for its proposed indication; |
| the results of our clinical trials may not meet the level of statistical significance required by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities for approval; |
| we may be unable to demonstrate that a product candidates clinical and other benefits outweigh its safety risks; |
| the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may fail to approve our manufacturing processes or facilities of third-party suppliers with which we contract for clinical and commercial supplies; and |
| the approval policies or regulations of the FDA or comparable foreign authorities may significantly change in a manner rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval. |
Of the large number of product candidates developed by biologics manufacturers, only a small percentage successfully complete the FDA or foreign regulatory approval processes and are commercialized. The lengthy approval and marketing authorization process as well as the unpredictability of future clinical trial results may result in our failing to obtain regulatory approval and marketing authorization to market REACT or any of our future product candidates, which would significantly harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
We have invested a significant portion of our time and financial resources in the development of REACT. Our business is dependent on our ability to successfully complete nonclinical and clinical development of, obtain regulatory approval for, and, if approved, successfully commercialize REACT and any future product candidates in a timely manner.
Even if we eventually complete clinical testing and receive approval of a BLA or foreign marketing application for REACT or any future product candidates, the FDA, EMA or the applicable foreign regulatory agency may grant approval or other marketing authorization contingent on the performance of costly additional clinical trials, including post-marketing clinical trials. The FDA, EMA or the applicable foreign regulatory agency also may approve or authorize for marketing a product candidate for a more limited indication or patient population than we originally request, and the FDA, EMA or applicable foreign regulatory agency may not approve or authorize the labeling that we believe is necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of a product candidate. Any delay in obtaining, or inability to obtain, applicable regulatory approval or other marketing authorization would delay or prevent commercialization of that product candidate and would materially adversely impact our business and prospects.
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In addition, the FDA, EMA and other regulatory authorities may change their policies, issue additional regulations or revise existing regulations, or take other actions, which may prevent or delay approval of our future product candidates on a timely basis. Such policy or regulatory changes could impose additional requirements upon us that could delay our ability to obtain approvals, increase the costs of compliance or restrict our ability to maintain any marketing authorizations we may have obtained.
Our nonclinical studies and clinical trials may fail to demonstrate substantial evidence of the safety and efficacy of REACT or our future product candidates, or serious adverse or unacceptable side effects may be identified during the development of REACT or any of our future product candidates, which could prevent, delay or limit the scope of regulatory approval of REACT or any of our future product candidates, limit their commercialization, increase our costs or necessitate the abandonment or limitation of the development of REACT or our future product candidates.
To obtain the requisite regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of REACT and any of our future product candidates, we must demonstrate through lengthy, complex and expensive nonclinical testing and clinical trials that our product candidates are safe, pure and potent for use in each target indication. Nonclinical testing and clinical trials are expensive and time consuming, and their outcomes are inherently uncertain. Failures can occur at any time during the development process. The outcome of nonclinical studies and early clinical trials may not be predictive of the results of later clinical trials, and interim results of a clinical trial do not necessarily predict final results. Moreover, nonclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses. Many companies that have believed their product candidates performed satisfactorily in preclinical studies and clinical trials have nonetheless failed to obtain marketing approval of their product candidates.
We may fail to demonstrate with substantial evidence from adequate and well-controlled trials, and to the satisfaction of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities, that REACT is safe and potent for its intended uses.
Possible adverse side effects that could occur with treatment with autologous cell therapy products include thrombocytopenia, chills, anemia, febrile neutropenia, diarrhea, neutropenia, vomiting, hypotension, dyspnea, cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. Side effects may be unrecognized and mismanaged by medical personnel and considered unrelated due to unfamiliarity with REACT. REACT treatment necessitates a renal biopsy to obtain tissue to manufacture the bioactive component and injections to deposit the REACT into the kidney. Each intervention poses the risk of adverse events from renal bleeding that may require hospitalization, blood transfusion or surgical intervention.
A severe bleed was observed in one patient which led to the adoption of a noncutting needle design for the REACT procedure. Since then, no injection-related adverse events have been observed. If, however, any other adverse events, or other unexpected serious adverse events, occur, our clinical trials could be suspended or terminated. If we cannot demonstrate that any adverse events experienced by subjects enrolled in our current and planned clinical trials were not caused by our product candidate, the FDA, EMA or other foreign regulatory authorities could order us to cease further development of, or deny approval of, our product candidate for any or all targeted indications. Even if we are able to demonstrate that any serious adverse events experienced by subjects enrolled in our current and planned clinical trials are not product-related, such occurrences could affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled subjects to complete the trial. Moreover, if we elect, or are required, to not initiate, delay, suspend or terminate any future clinical trial of any of our product candidates, the commercial prospects of such product candidates may be harmed and our ability to generate product revenues from any of these product candidates may be delayed or eliminated. Any of these occurrences may harm our ability to develop other product candidates, and may harm our business, financial condition and prospects significantly.
Furthermore, if REACT or any of our future product candidates is associated with undesirable effects in nonclinical studies or clinical trials or have characteristics that are unexpected, we may decide or be required to
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perform additional nonclinical studies or to halt or delay further clinical development of our product candidates or to limit their development to more narrow uses or subpopulations in which the undesirable side effects or other characteristics are less prevalent, less severe, or more acceptable from a risk-benefit perspective, which may limit the commercial expectations for the product candidate, if approved. The FDA, EMA, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, an Agency of the German Federal Ministry of Health, Medical Products Agency, the government agency in Sweden, Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency, an IRB, or an independent ethics committee (IEC) may also require that we suspend, discontinue, or limit our clinical trials based on safety information, or that we conduct additional animal or human studies regarding the safety and efficacy of our product candidates which we have not planned or anticipated. Such findings could further result in regulatory authorities failing to provide marketing authorization for our product candidates or limiting the scope of the approved indication, if approved. Many product candidates that initially showed promise in early stage testing have later been found to cause side effects that prevented further development of the product candidate.
Additionally, if REACT or any of our future product candidates receives marketing approval, and we or others identify undesirable side effects caused by such products, a number of potentially significant negative consequences could result, including:
| regulatory authorities may suspend, withdraw or limit approvals of such product, or seek an injunction against its manufacture or distribution; |
| regulatory authorities may require additional warnings on the label; |
| we may be required to create a medication guide outlining the risks of such side effects for distribution to patients or other requirements subject to a REMS; |
| we may be required to change the way the product is administered or conduct additional nonclinical studies or clinical trials; |
| we could be sued and held liable for harm caused to patients; |
| we may decide to remove the product from the market; |
| we may not be able to achieve or maintain third-party payor coverage and adequate reimbursement; |
| we may be subject to fines, injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties; and |
| our reputation and physician or patient acceptance of our products may suffer. |
There can be no assurance that we will resolve any issues related to any product-related adverse events to the satisfaction of the FDA or foreign regulatory agencies in a timely manner or at all. Moreover, any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of the particular product candidate, if approved, and could significantly harm our business, results of operations and prospects.
Negative public opinion and increased regulatory scrutiny of autologous cell therapy using REACT may adversely impact the development or commercial success of our current and future product candidates.
The clinical and commercial success of REACT will depend in part on public acceptance of the use of autologous cell therapy for treatment of kidney disease. Any adverse public attitudes about the use of REACT may adversely impact our ability to enroll clinical trials. Moreover, our success will depend upon physicians prescribing, and their patients being willing to receive, treatments that involve the use of product candidates we may develop in lieu of, or in addition to, existing treatments with which they are already familiar and for which greater clinical data may be available.
More restrictive government regulations or negative public opinion would have a negative effect on our business or financial condition and may delay or impair the development and commercialization of REACT or any of our future product candidates or demand for any products once approved. Adverse events in our or others
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clinical trials, even if not ultimately attributable to our product candidates, and the resulting publicity could result in increased governmental regulation, unfavorable public perception, potential regulatory delays in the testing or approval of REACT or our future product candidates, stricter labeling requirements for those product candidates that are approved and a decrease in demand for any such product candidates, all of which would have a negative impact on our business and operations.
We are conducting our first Phase 3 clinical trial and may be unable to successfully complete it or any future clinical trials.
The conduct of a Phase 3 clinical trial is a complicated process. Although members of our management team have conducted Phase 3 clinical trials in the past while employed at other companies, we as a company are currently conducting our first Phase 3 trial, and as a result may require more time and incur greater costs than we anticipate. Failure to include the correct treatment regimen, complete, or delays in, our Phase 3 clinical trial could prevent us from or delay us in commencing future clinical trials for REACT, obtaining regulatory approval of and commercializing REACT, which would adversely impact our financial performance. In addition, some of our competitors are currently conducting clinical trials for product candidates that treat the same indications as REACT, and patients who are otherwise eligible for our clinical trials may instead enroll in clinical trials of our competitors product candidates.
If we encounter difficulties enrolling patients in our clinical trials, our clinical development activities could be delayed or otherwise adversely affected.
Successful and timely completion of clinical trials will require that we enroll a sufficient number of patients. Patient enrollment, a significant factor in the timing of clinical trials, is affected by many factors, including the size and nature of the patient population and competition for patients eligible for our clinical trials with competitors which may have ongoing clinical trials for product candidates that are under development to treat the same indications as one or more of our product candidates, or approved products for the conditions for which we are developing our product candidates.
Clinical trials may be subject to delays as a result of patient enrollment taking longer than anticipated or greater than anticipated subject withdrawal. We may not be able to initiate or continue clinical trials for REACT or our future product candidates if we are unable to locate and enroll a sufficient number of eligible patients to participate in these trials as required by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities. We cannot predict how successful we will be at enrolling subjects in future clinical trials. The enrollment of patients depends on many factors, including:
| the patient eligibility and exclusion criteria defined in the protocol; |
| the size and demographics of the patient population required for analysis of the clinical trials primary endpoints and the process for identifying patients; |
| potential disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including difficulties in initiating clinical sites, enrolling and retaining subjects, diversion of health care resources away from clinical trials, travel or quarantine policies that may be implemented, and other factors; |
| the proximity of subjects to clinical trial sites; |
| the design of the trial; |
| our ability to recruit clinical trial investigators with the appropriate competencies and experience; |
| clinicians and patients perceptions as to the potential advantages and risks of the product candidate being studied in relation to other available therapies, including any new products that may be approved for the indications we are investigating; |
| the availability of competing commercially available therapies and other competing product candidates clinical trials; |
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| our ability to obtain and maintain clinical trial subject informed consents; and |
| the risk that subjects enrolled in clinical trials will drop out of the trials before completion. |
For example, we are initially developing REACT for the treatment of CKD due to diabetes or congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract. In the United States, CKD is estimated to affect over 38 million adults. We may encounter difficulties enrolling subjects in our clinical trials of REACT due, in part, to the stringent inclusion criteria for subjects, the novelty of the treatment modality and the fact that it involves a physically invasive procedure. In addition, our clinical trials may compete with other clinical trials for product candidates that are in the same therapeutic areas as REACT, and this competition may reduce the number and types of patients available to us, because some patients who might have opted to enroll in our trials may instead opt to enroll in a trial being conducted by one of our competitors. Since the number of qualified clinical investigators is limited, we expect to conduct some of our clinical trials at the same clinical trial sites that some of our competitors use, which may reduce the number of patients who are available for our clinical trials in such clinical trial site.
Our inability to enroll a sufficient number of patients for clinical trials would result in significant delays and could require us to abandon one or more clinical trials altogether. Delays in patient enrollment may result in increased costs or may affect the timing or outcome of our future clinical trials, which could prevent completion of these trials and adversely affect our ability to advance the development of REACT or any of our future product candidates. Furthermore, we expect to rely on CROs and clinical trial sites to ensure the proper and timely conduct of our clinical trials and we will have limited influence over their performance.
Furthermore, due to the follow-up period of at least 24 months and the requirement for on-site visits, subjects may drop out of our clinical trials at a higher rate than we anticipate or may elect to participate in alternative clinical trials sponsored by our competitors with product candidates that treat the same indications as REACT and any future product candidates. Even if we are able to enroll a sufficient number of subjects for our clinical trials, we may have difficulty maintaining enrollment of such subjects in our clinical trials.
The design or execution of our ongoing and future clinical trials may not support marketing approval.
The design or execution of a clinical trial can determine whether its results will support marketing approval, and flaws in the design or execution of a clinical trial may not become apparent until the clinical trial is well advanced. Additionally, in some instances, there can be significant variability in safety or efficacy results between different trials with the same product candidate due to numerous factors, including differences in trial protocols, size and type of the patient populations, variable adherence by investigators and subject to protocol requirements and the rate of dropout among clinical trial subjects. We do not know whether any clinical trials we conduct will demonstrate consistent or adequate efficacy and safety to obtain marketing approval to market REACT or any of our future product candidates.
Further, the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities have substantial discretion in the approval process and in determining when or whether marketing approval will be obtained for REACT or any of our future product candidates. REACT may not be approved even if it achieves its primary endpoints in our Phase 3 clinical trials or registrational trials. The FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our trial designs and our interpretation of data from nonclinical studies or clinical trials. In addition, any of these regulatory authorities may change requirements for the approval of a product candidate even after reviewing and providing comments or advice on a protocol for a pivotal Phase 3 or registrational clinical trial. In addition, any of these regulatory authorities may also approve a product candidate for fewer or more limited indications than we request or may grant approval contingent on the performance of costly post-marketing clinical trials. The FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may not approve the labeling claims that we believe would be necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of REACT or any of our future product candidates, if approved.
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We have obtained RMAT Designation from the FDA for REACT, but this may not lead to a faster development or regulatory review process, and such designation does not increase the likelihood that any of our product candidates will receive marketing approval in the United States and the FDA may withdraw such designation.
We intend to evaluate regulatory strategies that could enable us to take advantage of expedited development pathways for REACT, including the RMAT designation that we have already received, although we cannot be certain that REACT will qualify for any additional expedited development pathways or that regulatory authorities will grant, or allow us to maintain, the relevant designations.
RMAT designation is intended to expedite the development and review of product candidates that are designed to treat serious or life-threatening diseases and unmet need when preliminary clinical evidence indicates that a product candidate may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. The designation of REACT with expedited designation provides potential benefits that include: more frequent meetings with FDA to discuss the development plan for the product candidate and ensure collection of appropriate data needed to support approval; more frequent written correspondence from FDA about such things as the design of the proposed clinical trials and use of biomarkers; intensive guidance on an efficient cell therapy program, beginning as early as Phase 1; organizational commitment involving senior managers; and eligibility for rolling review and priority review if supported by clinical data at the time of the submission of the BLA.
Cell and gene therapies, therapeutic tissue engineered products, human cell and tissue products, and combination products using any such therapies or products that are intended to treat, modify, reverse, or cure a serious or life-threatening disease or condition are eligible for designation by the FDA as RMATs. The RMAT designation is intended to facilitate efficient development and expedite review of regenerative medicine therapies by offering eligibility for priority review or accelerated approval, as well as early interactions with FDA to discuss any potential surrogate or intermediate endpoint to be used to support accelerated approval.
We applied for RMAT designation for REACT, which was granted by the FDA on October 28, 2021. As contemplated by the RMAT designation and as directed by the FDA, we requested a comprehensive, multidisciplinary Type B meeting with the FDA to review the status of preclinical and clinical development and manufacturing of REACT, and to discuss the planned clinical program intended to support approval of the product candidate. The FDA provided detailed written responses to our questions included in the meeting request, and the Type B meeting was held in March 2022. As a result of that meeting, we will continue to advance the USA clinical development program with the benefit of enhanced clarity as to the FDAs expectations and requirements for a registrational program, including the design of the trials needed for approval, manufacturing assays, and comparability studies. The FDAs input is more fully set forth under the heading Phase 3 Clinical Development (REGEN-006 and REGEN-016) in the section titled Business of ProKidney.
Even though we obtained RMAT designation in October 2021, such a designation does not change the standards for product approval, and there is no assurance that this designation will result in expedited review or approval or that the approved indication will not be narrower than the indication covered by RMAT designation. Thus, even though RMAT designation was granted for REACT, we may not experience a faster development process, review or marketing approval compared to conventional FDA procedures. The FDA may withdraw RMAT designation if it believes that the product no longer meets the qualifying criteria. It is also possible that the FDA could provide further input on our trial design, in which case our timelines to completion of the clinical development of REACT could be delayed. Our business may be harmed if we are unable to avail ourselves of these or any other expedited development and regulatory pathways.
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We may expend our limited resources to pursue a particular product candidate or indication and fail to capitalize on product candidates or indications that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.
Because we have limited financial and management resources, we must focus on development programs and product candidates that we identify for specific indications. As such, we are only focused on the development of REACT for the treatment of CKD. As a result, we may forego or delay pursuit of opportunities with other product candidates or for other indications for these product candidates that later prove to have greater commercial potential. Our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities. Our spending on current and future development programs and product candidates for specific indications may not yield any commercially viable products. If we do not accurately evaluate the commercial potential or target market for a particular product candidate, we may relinquish valuable rights to that product candidate through collaboration, licensing or other royalty arrangements in cases in which it would have been more advantageous for us to retain sole development and commercialization rights to such product candidate.
We have conducted and may in the future continue to conduct additional clinical trials for REACT outside the United States, and the FDA and similar foreign regulatory authorities may not accept data from such trials conducted in locations outside of their jurisdiction.
We have conducted additional clinical trials for REACT in the Asia-Pacific region, European Union, and Latin America, and may in the future continue to conduct clinical trials outside the United States, including in South America, Australia, New Zealand, or other foreign jurisdictions. The acceptance of data from clinical trials conducted outside the United States by the FDA may be subject to certain conditions or may be rejected. In cases where data from clinical trials conducted outside the United States are intended to serve as the sole basis for marketing approval in the United States, the FDA will generally not approve the application on the basis of foreign data alone unless: (i) the data are applicable to the United States population and United States medical practice; (ii) the trials were performed by clinical investigators of recognized competence; and (iii) the data may be considered valid without the need for an on-site inspection by the FDA or, if the FDA considers such an inspection to be necessary, the FDA is able to validate the data through an on-site inspection or other appropriate means. Additionally, the FDAs clinical trial requirements, including sufficient size of patient populations and statistical powering, must be met. Many foreign regulatory bodies have similar approval requirements. In addition, such foreign clinical trials would be subject to the applicable local laws of the foreign jurisdictions where the trials are conducted. There can be no assurance that the FDA or any similar foreign regulatory authority will accept data from clinical trials conducted outside of the United States or the applicable jurisdiction. If the FDA or any similar foreign regulatory authority does not accept such data, it would result in the need for additional clinical trials, which would be costly and time-consuming and delay aspects of our business plan, and which may result in REACT not receiving approval or clearance for commercialization in the applicable jurisdiction.
We may not be successful in our efforts to identify or discover additional product candidates in the future.
Our research programs may initially show promise in identifying potential product candidates, yet fail to yield product candidates for clinical development for a number of reasons, including:
| our inability to design such product candidates with the pharmacological properties that we desire or attractive pharmacokinetics; |
| our inability to design and develop a suitable manufacturing process; or |
| potential product candidates may, on further study, be shown to have harmful side effects or other characteristics that indicate that they are unlikely to be medicines that will receive marketing approval and achieve market acceptance. |
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Research programs to identify new product candidates require substantial technical, financial and human resources. If we are unable to identify suitable compounds for clinical development, we will not be able to obtain product revenue in future periods, which likely would result in significant harm to our financial position and adversely impact our share price.
Due to our limited resources and access to capital, we must make decisions on the allocation of resources to certain programs and product candidates; these decisions may prove to be wrong and may adversely affect our business.
We have limited financial and human resources and intend to initially focus on research programs and product candidates for a limited set of indications. As a result, we may forgo or delay pursuit of opportunities with other product candidates or for other indications that later prove to have greater commercial potential or a greater likelihood of success. In addition, we may seek to accelerate our development timelines, including by initiating certain clinical trials of REACT or our future product candidates before earlier-stage studies have been completed. This approach may cause us to commit significant resources to prepare for and conduct later-stage trials for one or more product candidates that subsequently fail earlier-stage clinical testing. Therefore, our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities or expend resources on product candidates that are not viable.
There can be no assurance that we will ever be able to identify additional therapeutic opportunities for REACT or our future product candidates or to develop suitable potential product candidates through internal research programs, which could materially adversely affect our future growth and prospects. We may focus our efforts and resources on potential product candidates or other potential programs that ultimately prove to be unsuccessful.
If we do not achieve our projected development goals in the time frames we announce and expect, the commercialization of our products may be delayed or never achieved.
From time to time, we may estimate the timing of the accomplishment of various scientific, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing and other product development goals, which we sometimes refer to as milestones. These milestones may include the commencement or completion of clinical trials and the submission of regulatory filings, including IND submissions. From time to time, we may publicly announce the expected timing of some of these milestones. All of these milestones are, and will be, based on a variety of assumptions. The actual timing of these milestones can vary significantly compared to our estimates, in some cases for reasons beyond our control. We may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, any future clinical trials that we conduct that could delay or prevent our ability to receive marketing approval or commercialize REACT or any of our future product candidates.
Risks Related to the Manufacturing of REACT and Our Future Product Candidates
Cell therapies are complex and difficult to manufacture, and we could experience manufacturing problems that result in delays in the development or commercialization of REACT, our lead product candidate, or otherwise harm our business.
The manufacture of cell therapy products is technically complex and necessitates substantial expertise and capital investment. Production difficulties caused by unforeseen events may delay the availability of material for our clinical trials. Further, we are not aware of any other cell therapy that has been manufactured for a market of the anticipated size for REACT. If REACT is approved for commercial sale, as to which no assurance can be given, we may be unable to meet market demand for the product in a timely manner due to the complex processes that are involved in its manufacturing.
Additionally, all entities involved in the preparation of therapeutics for clinical trials or commercial sale are subject to extensive cGMP, state and federal regulations, as well as foreign requirements when applicable.
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Components of a finished therapeutic product approved for commercial sale or used in late-stage clinical trials must be manufactured in accordance with cGMP regulations. These regulations govern manufacturing processes and procedures (including record keeping) and the implementation and operation of quality systems to control and assure the quality of investigational products and products approved for sale. Poor control of production processes can lead to the introduction of adventitious agents or other contaminants, or to inadvertent changes in the properties or stability of REACT that may not be detectable in final product testing. We must supply all necessary documentation in support of a BLA or MAA on a timely basis. Our facilities and quality systems, including those of any third parties we contract with to manufacture any critical component of the final product, must pass a pre-approval inspection for compliance with the applicable regulations as a condition of regulatory approval of REACT or any of our other potential products. In addition, the FDA and other regulatory authorities may, at any time, audit or inspect a manufacturing facility involved with the preparation of REACT or our other potential products or the associated quality systems for compliance with the regulations applicable to the activities being conducted at such facilities, and they could put a hold on one or more of our clinical trials if our facilities, or those of our contracted third parties, do not pass such audits or inspections. If such facilities do not pass a pre-approval plant inspection, FDA approval of the products will not be granted. Any failure to adhere to or document compliance with such regulatory requirements could lead to a delay or interruption in the availability of REACT for clinical trials or enforcement action from the FDA, EMA or foreign regulatory authorities. If we or our suppliers were to fail to comply with the requirements of the FDA, EMA or other regulatory authority, it could result in regulatory actions or sanctions being imposed on us, including the issuance of FDA Form 483 notices of inspectional observations, warning letters or untitled letters, clinical holds, fines, injunctions, civil penalties, delays, suspension or withdrawal of approvals, license revocation, seizures or recalls of product candidates or products, operating restrictions and criminal prosecutions, any of which could significantly and adversely affect supplies of REACT. Our potential future dependence upon others for the manufacture of REACT may also adversely affect our future profit margins and our ability to commercialize REACT or any future product candidates that receive regulatory approval on a timely and competitive basis.
Biological products are inherently difficult to manufacture. REACT is manufactured using technically complex processes requiring specialized equipment and facilities, highly specific raw materials, autologous cells collected from patients, and reagents, and the process involves various production constraints. Even though we aim to have backup supplies of raw materials and reagents whenever possible, we cannot be certain they will be sufficient if our primary sources are unavailable. A shortage of a critical raw material or reagent, or a technical issue during manufacturing may lead to delays in clinical development or commercialization plans. Any changes in the manufacturing of components of the raw materials we use could result in unanticipated or unfavorable effects in our manufacturing processes, resulting in delays.
Delays or failures in the manufacture of cell therapies can result in a patient being unable to receive their cell therapy or a requirement to re-manufacture which itself then causes delays in manufacture for other patients. Any delay or failure or inability to manufacture on a timely basis can adversely affect a patients outcomes and delay the timelines for our clinical trials. Such delays or failure or inability to manufacture can result from:
| a failure in the manufacturing process itself, for example by an error in manufacturing equipment or reagent failure, failure in any step of the manufacturing process, failure to maintain a cGMP environment or failure in quality systems applicable to manufacture, sterility failures, or contamination during process; |
| product loss or failure due to logistical issues associated with the collection of a patients autologous cells or other samples, shipping that material to analytical laboratories, and shipping the final cell therapy back to the location using cold chain distribution where it will be administered to the patient, manufacturing issues associated with the differences in patient starting materials, inconsistency in cell growth and variability in product characteristics; |
| a lack of reliability or reproducibility in the manufacturing process itself, leading to variability in end manufacture of the cell therapy, which may lead to regulatory authorities placing a hold on a clinical |
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trial or requesting further information on the process, which could in turn result in delays to the clinical trials; |
| product loss or failure due to logistical issues including issues associated with the differences between patients autologous cells or characteristics, interruptions to process, contamination, failure to supply patient apheresis material within required timescales (for example, as a result of an import or export hold-up) or supplier error; |
| inability to have enough manufacturing slots to manufacture cell therapies for patients as and when those patients require manufacture; |
| inability to procure starting materials or to manufacture starting materials; |
| interruptions in our supply chain, which may require us to find an alternative manufacturer or supplier for one or more components that we need in the manufacture of REACT, which would in turn require such manufacturer or supplier to be qualified through a BLA and/or MAA supplement, could lead the regulatory agencies to require additional studies if a new manufacturer is relied upon for commercial production, and may involve substantial costs and delays related to switching manufacturers; |
| loss of or close-down of any manufacturing facility used in the manufacture of our cell therapies, or the inability to find alternative manufacturing capability in a timely fashion; |
| loss or contamination of patient starting material, requiring the starting material to be obtained again from the patient or the manufacturing process to be re-started; and |
| a requirement to modify or make changes to any manufacturing process, which may also require comparability testing that delays our ability to make the required modifications or perform any required comparability testing in a timely fashion, require further regulatory approval or require successful tech transfer to CMOs to continue manufacturing. |
These factors could cause the delay of clinical trials, regulatory submissions, required approvals or commercialization of REACT, cause us to incur higher costs and prevent us from commercializing REACT successfully, if approved.
Our current costs of manufacturing REACT for use in our ongoing Phase 2 RMCL-002 study are approximately $100,000 per patient. We anticipate that these costs will be lower for our Phase 3 trials and that the costs will continue to decrease by up to 50% from the costs of manufacturing REACT for our Phase 2 RMCL-002 study as we manufacture REACT at commercial scale with implementation of automation, bioprocess developments, formulation improvements and streamlining of the supply chain. We expect to utilize automation in all aspects of manufacturing ranging from tissue processing, cell expansion and renal cell selection to formulation and filling of the final product. We will also extend automation to other manufacturing activities, including warehouse operations and supply chain. In addition, we intend to improve bioprocess development to further reduce manufacturing costs of the commercial REACT product, assuming receipt of necessary regulatory approvals. Culture media represents the highest cost in REACT processing, and we are exploring reduced culture media usage via bioprocess and automation improvements. Further, our final commercial REACT product is planned to be a cryopreserved formulation, which is projected to reduce manufacturing costs compared to our fresh REACT formulation. We expect to leverage bulk purchasing to actively negotiate pricing of materials to further drive cost reductions. However, there can be no assurance that the manufacturing costs for our Phase 3 trials when we manufacture REACT at commercial scale will actually be lower than for our ongoing Phase 2 RMCL-002 study. A number of factors may contribute to an inability to achieve these cost reductions, including any failures to achieve the automation efficiencies that we anticipate, cost overruns or inefficiencies in the supply chain, and any failure to improve the formulation or bioprocessing of REACT in a manner that results in lower costs.
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We have our own manufacturing capabilities, which may result in increased costs being incurred by us.
Our manufacturing facility for REACT is within our Winston-Salem facility in North Carolina, and this facility currently manufactures SRCs for use in our clinical trials. Regulatory authorities, in particular the FDA, might not continue to approve our ability to manufacture SRCs or other cell therapies at the Winston-Salem facility.
Our ability to successfully manufacture our own cell therapies at the Winston-Salem facility within a reasonable period of time and within currently projected costs is dependent on a number of factors, including:
| our ability to recruit the required employees at a suitable level and experience and within required timescales and to maintain employment of such required employees; |
| our ability to obtain regulatory approval for the facility and for the manufacture of cell therapies at the facility and to satisfy regulatory authorities on an ongoing basis; |
| our ability to manufacture cell therapies reliably and reproducibly and to timescales sufficient to support required patient administration; |
| our ability to manufacture cell therapies in compliance with the applicable regulatory requirements, including requirements applicable in both the United States and the European Union, including cGMP, enforced by the FDA and state regulatory authorities; |
| our ability to develop internal quality controls and processes sufficient to enable manufacture and supply of cell therapies at our Winston-Salem facility; |
| our ability to establish comparability with currently used manufacturing processes and for such comparability data to be accepted by the appropriate regulatory authorities; and |
| our ability to fund ongoing development, including equipment requirements necessary for successful manufacture of cell therapies at our facility. |
Any delay or failure in manufacture at our facility could result in delays to the supply of cell therapies for our clinical trials. Should we become unable to produce cell therapies for use in our clinical trials or be unable to produce cell therapies at the required level, then we will be unable to support such clinical trials until alternative manufacturing capability is secured.
Our autologous cell therapy products are patient-specific, and we need to ensure that the correct product is administered to the correct patient.
Administration of autologous cell therapies is patient-specific and personalized medicine. The process requires careful handling of patient-specific products and fail-safe tracking to ensure that the tracking process is without error and that patient samples are tracked from patient collection, through manufacturing and re-administration to the same patient. While such mechanisms are in place, should the tracking process fail, whether at our own facility, a third-party facility or at any point in the manufacturing and supply process, a patient could receive another patients SRCs, resulting in significant toxicity and potentially patient fatality. We will need to invest in enhanced systems, such as bar coding, to further ensure fail-safe tracking. There is always a risk of a failure in any such system. Inability to develop or adopt an acceptable fail-safe tracking methodology and handling regime may delay or prevent us from receiving regulatory approval and/or result in significant toxicity and potentially patient fatality if a patient receives another patients SRCs. This risk may be increased where autologous cell therapies are used in clinical trials that we do not control or sponsor and, should an error be made in the administration of our autologous cell therapies in such clinical trials, this could affect the steps required in our own clinical trials and manufacturing process requiring the addition of further tracking mechanisms to ensure fail-safe tracking. The tracking systems required to further ensure safe patient administration may also require enhanced procedures and administration to satisfy other regulatory requirements, for example, data protection requirements in Europe. The need to ensure tracking systems are adequate and to
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comply with these additional regulatory requirements may result in delay to the start of clinical trials or the need to obtain additional regulatory licenses or consents prior to starting such trials.
Delays in obtaining regulatory approval of the manufacturing process and facility to produce REACT or disruptions in the manufacturing process may delay or disrupt our commercialization efforts. Very few cGMP cell therapy manufacturing facilities in the United States have received approval from the FDA for the manufacture of an approved cell therapy product.
Before we can begin to commercially manufacture REACT or any of our future product candidates, we must obtain regulatory approval from the FDA for our manufacturing processes and for the facility in which manufacturing is performed. A manufacturing authorization must also be obtained from the appropriate EU regulatory authorities prior to commercialization in the European Union. Very few cGMP cell therapy manufacturing facilities in the United States have received approval from the FDA for the manufacture of an approved cell therapy product and, therefore, the timeframe required for us to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates is uncertain. In addition, we must pass a pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facility, including any facilities that produce any component of REACT, by the FDA and other relevant regulatory authorities before REACT or any of our future cell therapy product candidates can obtain marketing approval. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 10, 2020, the FDA announced its intention to postpone most inspections of foreign manufacturing facilities while local, national and international conditions warrant. On March 18, 2020, the FDA announced its intention to temporarily postpone routine surveillance inspections of domestic manufacturing facilities. Subsequently, on July 10, 2020, the FDA announced its intention to resume certain on-site inspections of domestic manufacturing facilities subject to a risk-based prioritization system. The FDA intends to use this risk-based assessment system to identify the categories of regulatory activity that can occur within a given geographic area, ranging from mission critical inspections to resumption of all regulatory activities. Additionally, on April 15, 2021, the FDA issued a guidance document in which the FDA described its plans to conduct voluntary remote interactive evaluations of certain therapeutic manufacturing facilities and clinical research sites. According to the guidance, the FDA intends to request such remote interactive evaluations in situations where an in-person inspection would not be prioritized or deemed mission-critical, or where direct inspection is otherwise limited by travel restrictions, but where the FDA determines that remote evaluation would still be appropriate. However, on December 29, 2021, the FDA announced that due to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 omicron variant, certain inspections, such as domestic and foreign preapproval, surveillance, and for-cause inspections that are not deemed mission-critical, would be postponed through January 19, 2022, and that the agency would reassess plans to resume foreign inspections. Should the FDA determine that an inspection is necessary for approval of a new drug application (NDA) and an inspection cannot be completed during the review cycle due to restrictions on travel, and the FDA does not determine a remote interactive evaluation to be adequate, the FDA has stated that it generally intends to issue a complete response letter or defer action on the application until an inspection can be completed. Regulatory authorities outside the United States may adopt similar restrictions or other policy measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and may experience delays in their regulatory activities. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, or if global health concerns continue to prevent the FDA or other regulatory authorities from conducting their regular inspections, reviews, or other regulatory activities, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, upon completion of this offering and in our operations as a public company, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.
In order to obtain approval, we will need to ensure that all of our processes, quality systems, methods, equipment, policies and procedures are compliant with cGMP and other applicable regulations, and perform extensive audits of vendors, contract laboratories, and suppliers. If any of our vendors, contract laboratories, or suppliers is found to be out of compliance with cGMP or other applicable regulations relating to REACT, we may experience delays or disruptions in manufacturing while we work with such third parties to remedy the violation or while we work to identify suitable replacement vendors. The cGMP requirements govern, among
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other things, quality control of the manufacturing process and documentation policies and procedures. In complying with cGMP regulations, we will be obligated to spend time, money and effort in production, record keeping and quality control to assure that the product meets applicable specifications and other requirements. If we fail to comply with these requirements, we may be subject to regulatory enforcement actions or other legal sanctions and may not be permitted to sell any products that we may develop.
Any problems in our manufacturing process or facilities could make us a less attractive collaborator for potential partners, including larger pharmaceutical companies and academic research institutions, which could limit our access to additional attractive development programs.
We do not have experience as a company managing a complex supply chain or satisfying manufacturing-related regulatory requirements.
The FDA, the EMA and other foreign regulatory authorities may require us to submit samples of any lot of any approved product together with the protocols showing the results of applicable lot release tests at any time. Under some circumstances, the FDA, the EMA or other foreign regulatory authorities may require that we not distribute a product lot until the relevant agency authorizes its release. Slight deviations in the manufacturing process, including those affecting quality attributes and stability, may result in unacceptable changes in a cell therapy product that could lead to lot failures or product recalls. Lot failures or product recalls could cause us to delay product launches or clinical trials, which could be costly to us and otherwise harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Problems in our manufacturing processes could restrict our ability to meet market demand for our products.
Managing an autologous ex vivo cell therapy supply chain is highly complex. We must identify, engage, and coordinate with treatment centers where patients cellular source material must be collected, prepared and transported to the manufacturing facility and the cryopreserved therapeutic product must be returned to the treatment center for administration to the patient using controlled temperature shipping containers.
Once collected from the patient, the cellular source material must be prepared and stored according to specified procedures. While we intend to standardize the processes at treatment centers, if there is a deviation of the processes, the cellular source material from a patient could be adversely impacted and potentially result in manufacturing failures. The patients cellular materials must be transported to the manufacturing facility using a shipping container that maintains the material at a sufficiently cold temperature and must typically be delivered and processed within four days of collection. While we intend to use reputable couriers and agents for the transport of such materials, if the shipping container is opened or damaged such that the appropriate storage/shipping temperature is not maintained, the cellular source material may be adversely impacted and it may not be feasible to manufacture a cell therapy product for the patient. Similarly, if a shipment is delayed due to adverse weather, misrouting, being held up at a customs point, COVID-19 impacts or other events, the cellular source material may not be delivered within a time window that will allow for its use for the successful manufacture of a cell therapy product.
Similarly, the patients autologous cell therapy product must be returned to the clinical site for administration to the patient using a specialized shipping container that maintains the material at a very low temperature. While we intend to use reputable couriers and agents for the transport of our products, if the shipping container is opened or damaged such that the very low temperature is not maintained, the cell therapy product may be adversely impacted and it may not be feasible to administer it to the patient or, if administered, it could cause harm to the patient. Similarly, if a shipment is delayed due to adverse weather, misrouting, being held up at a customs point, COVID-19 impacts or other events, and is not delivered to the clinical site within the time period that the very low temperature is maintained, the cell therapy product may be adversely affected and be unable to be administered or, if administered, could cause harm to the patient.
We may be delayed or unable to identify, engage, successfully coordinate with or qualify treatment centers in the regions we are targeting as part of our commercial launch strategy, which could delay or prevent patients
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from receiving cell therapy treatments, if approved. For example, due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions, some in-person visits to qualify certain potential treatment centers were postponed or required to take place remotely. If our treatment centers fail to perform satisfactorily, we may suffer reputational, operational, and business harm.
Any of the above events, should they happen, could adversely affect our development timelines and our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
We depend on third-party suppliers for materials that are necessary for the conduct of clinical trials of REACT, our lead product candidate, and the loss of these third-party suppliers or their inability to supply us with sufficient quantities of adequate materials, or to do so at acceptable quality levels and on a timely basis, could harm our business.
Manufacturing REACT, our lead product candidate, requires many reagents, which are substances used in our manufacturing processes to bring about chemical or biological reactions, and other specialty materials and equipment, some of which are manufactured or supplied by small companies with limited resources and experience to support commercial biologics production. We currently depend on a limited number of vendors for certain materials and equipment used in the manufacture of REACT. Some of these suppliers may not have the capacity to support clinical trials and commercial products manufactured under cGMP by biopharmaceutical firms or may otherwise be ill-equipped to support our needs. We also do not have supply contracts with many of these suppliers and may not be able to obtain supply contracts with them on acceptable terms or at all. Accordingly, we may experience delays or interruption in receiving key materials and equipment to support clinical or commercial manufacturing. Any significant delay or interruption in the supply of components or sub-assemblies, or our inability to obtain substitute components, sub-assemblies or materials from alternate sources at acceptable prices in a timely manner, could impair our ability to meet the demand of our customers and harm our business.
For some of these reagents, equipment, and materials, we rely and may in the future rely on sole source vendors or a limited number of vendors. The supply of the reagents and other specialty materials and equipment that are necessary to produce REACT could be reduced or interrupted at any time. In such case, identifying and engaging an alternative supplier could result in delay, and we may not be able to find other acceptable suppliers on acceptable terms, or at all. Switching suppliers may involve substantial costs and is likely to result in a delay in our desired clinical and commercial timelines. If we change suppliers for commercial production, applicable regulatory agencies may require us to conduct additional studies or trials. If key suppliers are lost, or if the supply of the materials is diminished or discontinued, we may not be able to develop, manufacture and market REACT in a timely and competitive manner, or at all. An inability to continue to source products from any of these suppliers, which could be due to a number of issues, including regulatory actions or requirements affecting the supplier, adverse financial or other strategic developments experienced by a supplier, labor disputes or shortages, unexpected demands or quality issues, could adversely affect our ability to satisfy demand for REACT, which could adversely and materially affect our product sales and operating results or our ability to conduct clinical trials, either of which could significantly harm our business.
As we continue to develop and scale our manufacturing process, we expect that we will need to obtain rights to and supplies of certain materials and equipment to be used as part of that process. We may not be able to obtain rights to such materials or equipment on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, and if we are unable to alter our process in a commercially viable manner to avoid the use of such materials or equipment or find a suitable substitute, it would have a material adverse effect on our business. Even if we are able to alter our process so as to use other materials or equipment, such a change may lead to a delay in our clinical development and/or commercialization plans. If such a change occurs for product candidate that is already in clinical development, the change may require us to perform both ex vivo comparability studies and to collect additional data from subjects prior to undertaking more advanced clinical trials. These factors could cause the delay of nonclinical studies or clinical trials, regulatory submissions, required approvals or commercialization of REACT
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or future product candidates that we develop, cause us to incur higher costs and prevent us from commercializing our product candidates successfully.
Any microbial contamination in the manufacturing process for our cell-based product, shortages of raw materials or failure of any of our key suppliers to deliver necessary components could result in delays in our clinical development or marketing schedules.
Given the nature of cell product manufacturing, there is a risk of microbial contamination. Any microbial contamination could adversely affect our ability to produce, release or administer our cell therapies on schedule and could, therefore, harm our results of operations and cause reputational damage.
Some of the raw materials required in our manufacturing processes are derived from biologic sources. Such raw materials are difficult to procure and may be subject to contamination or recall. A material shortage, contamination, recall or restriction on the use of biologically derived substances in the manufacture of REACT could adversely impact or disrupt the commercial manufacturing or the production of clinical material, which could adversely affect our development timelines and our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
REACT requires cryopreservation with specific storage, handling and administration at the clinical sites.
REACT requires cryopreservation and must be stored at very low temperatures in specialized freezers or specialized shipping containers until immediately prior to use. For administration, the cryopreserved product container must be carefully removed from storage, rapidly thawed under controlled temperature conditions in an area proximal to the patients bedside and immediately administered to the patient. The handling, thawing and administration of the cryopreserved cell therapy product must be performed according to specific instructions, typically using specific disposables, and some steps must be completed within specific time periods. Failure to correctly handle the product, follow the instructions for thawing and administration and or failure to administer the product within the specified period post-thaw could negatively impact the efficacy and or safety of the product.
Changes in methods of product candidate manufacturing or formulation may result in additional costs or delay.
As product candidates progress through clinical trials to marketing approval and commercialization, various aspects of the development program, such as manufacturing methods and the products formulation, may be altered along the way in an effort to optimize yield, manufacturing batch size, minimize costs and achieve consistent quality and results. These changes carry the risk that they will not achieve their intended objectives. Any of these changes could cause REACT or any of our future product candidates to perform differently and affect the results of planned clinical trials or other future clinical trials conducted with the altered materials. This could delay completion of our ongoing or planned clinical trials, require us to perform bridging clinical trials or repeat one or more clinical trials, increase clinical trial costs, delay any potential approval of REACT or any of our future product candidates and jeopardize our ability to commercialize REACT or any of our future product candidates and generate revenue.
In addition, there are risks associated with process development and large-scale manufacturing for clinical trials or commercial distribution including, among others, cost overruns, potential problems with process scale-up, process reproducibility, stability issues, compliance with cGMP, lot consistency and timely availability of raw materials. Even if we obtain marketing approval for any of our product candidates, there is no assurance that we will be able to manufacture the approved product to specifications acceptable to the FDA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities, to produce it in sufficient quantities to meet the requirements for the potential commercial launch of the product or to meet potential future demand. Additionally, the manufacturing processes for biological products is more complex and expensive than with small-molecule
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products, and additional manufacturing suppliers may be needed to manufacture clinical trial supplies for these development programs. If we are unable to produce sufficient quantities for clinical trials or for commercialization, our development and commercialization efforts would be impaired, which would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Our current operations are concentrated in a number of locations, including a single manufacturing facility in North Carolina. We or the third parties upon whom we depend may be adversely affected by earthquakes, wildfires or other natural disasters, as well as epidemics, pandemics and other incidents, and our business continuity and disaster recovery plans may not adequately protect us from a serious disaster.
Any unplanned event, such as flood, fire, explosion, earthquake, extreme weather condition, medical epidemics or pandemics, power shortage, telecommunication failure or other natural or manmade accidents or incidents that result in us being unable to fully utilize our facilities may have a material and adverse effect on our ability to operate our business, particularly on a daily basis, and have significant negative consequences on our financial and operating conditions. Loss of access to these facilities may result in increased costs, delays in the development of REACT or any of our future product candidates or interruption of our business operations. Earthquakes, wildfires or other natural disasters could further disrupt our operations, and have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. If a natural disaster, power outage or other event prevented us from using all or a significant portion of our manufacturing facilities, or otherwise disrupted operations, it may be difficult or, in certain cases, impossible, for us to continue our business for a substantial period of time. The disaster recovery and business continuity plans we have in place, including use of contract manufacturers and inherent risks associated therewith with respect to technology transfer and quality issues, may prove inadequate in the event of a serious disaster or similar event. We may incur substantial expenses as a result of the limited nature of our disaster recovery and business continuity plans, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. As part of our risk management policy, we maintain insurance coverage at levels that we believe are appropriate for our business. However, in the event of an accident or incident at these facilities, we cannot assure you that the amounts of insurance will be sufficient to satisfy any damages and losses. If our facilities are unable to operate because of an accident or incident or for any other reason, even for a short period of time, any or all of our research and development programs may be harmed. Any business interruption may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Risks Related to the Commercialization of REACT and Our Future Product Candidates
Even if REACT or a future product candidate we develop receives marketing approval, it may fail to achieve the degree of market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors and others in the medical community necessary for commercial success.
Even if REACT or any other product candidates we develop receives marketing approval, it may nonetheless fail to gain sufficient market acceptance by physicians, patients, third-party payors, such as Medicare and Medicaid programs and managed care organizations, and others in the medical community. In addition, the availability of coverage by third-party payors may be affected by existing and future health care reform measures designed to reduce the cost of health care. If the product candidates we develop do not achieve an adequate level of acceptance, we may not generate significant product revenues and we may not become profitable.
The degree of market acceptance of any product candidate, if approved for commercial sale, will depend on a number of factors, including:
| the efficacy and potential advantages of our current or future product candidates compared to alternative treatments; |
| product labeling or product insert requirements of the FDA, EMA or other foreign regulatory authorities, including any limitations or warnings contained in a products approved labeling, including any black box warning or REMS; |
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| the clinical indications for which our current or future product candidates are approved; |
| availability of alternative treatments already approved or commercially launched in the future; |
| the ability to offer our products, if approved, for sale at competitive prices; |
| convenience and ease of administration compared to alternative treatments; |
| the willingness of the target patient population to try new therapies and of physicians to prescribe these therapies, including where there may be a perception that our therapies, if approved, involve an increased risk of adverse events; |
| the recommendations with respect to our product candidates in guidelines published by various scientific organizations applicable to us and our product candidates; |
| the strength of marketing and distribution support; |
| any restrictions on the use of our products together with other medications; |
| our ability to hire and retain a sales force in the United States; |
| the ability to obtain sufficient third-party coverage and adequate reimbursement for our products, including necessary reimbursement codes; |
| the prevalence and severity of any side effects; |
| the ability to obtain Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Codes and Resource-Based Relative Value Scale for appropriate provider reimbursement; |
| the ability to obtain designated International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes from the WHO for disease designation; |
| willingness of provider proceduralists to perform invasive kidney procedures that may cause increased medical liability from procedural-related or cell based adverse events; and |
| the ability to provide advanced procedural training for delivery of product candidates. |
Sales of cell-based products also depend on the willingness of physicians to prescribe the treatment, which is likely to be based on a determination by these physicians that the products are safe, therapeutically effective and cost effective. In addition, the inclusion or exclusion of products from treatment guidelines established by various physician groups and the viewpoints of influential physicians can affect the willingness of other physicians to prescribe the treatment. We cannot predict whether physicians, physicians organizations, hospitals, other health care providers, government agencies or private insurers will determine that our products are safe, therapeutically effective and cost effective as compared with competing treatments. If any product candidate is approved but does not achieve an adequate level of acceptance by such parties, we may not generate or derive sufficient revenue from that product candidate and may not become or remain profitable. If government and other third-party payors do not provide coverage and adequate reimbursement levels for any products we commercialize, market acceptance and commercial success would be reduced. REACT is percutaneously injected into the kidney and requires additional proceduralist technical training with possible ongoing maintenance of certification. Facilities where REACT is delivered may require additional cell-based licensing by state, federal or laboratory certification agencies and require equipment with appropriate technology and inventories.
We currently have no marketing and sales organization and have no experience as a company in commercializing products, and we may have to invest significant resources to develop these capabilities. If we are unable to establish marketing and sales capabilities or enter into agreements with third parties to market and sell any products for which we obtain regulatory approval, we may not be able to generate product revenue.
We have no internal sales, marketing or distribution capabilities, nor have we commercialized a product. If REACT or any of our future product candidates ultimately receives regulatory approval, we expect to establish a
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marketing and sales organization with technical expertise and supporting distribution capabilities to commercialize each such product in major markets, which will be expensive and time consuming. We have no prior experience as a company in the marketing, sale and distribution of biopharmaceutical products and there are significant risks involved in building and managing a sales organization. For example, recruiting and training a sales force is expensive and time consuming and could delay any product launch. If the commercial launch of a product candidate for which we recruit a sales force and establish marketing capabilities is delayed or does not occur for any reason, we would have prematurely or unnecessarily incurred these commercialization expenses. This may be costly, and our investment would be lost if we cannot retain or reposition our sales and marketing personnel.
Factors that may inhibit our efforts to market our products on our own include:
| our inability to recruit, train and retain adequate numbers of effective sales and marketing personnel; |
| the inability of sales personnel to obtain access to physicians in order to educate physicians about our product candidates, including product administration and product delivery, once approved; |
| the lack of complementary products to be offered by sales personnel, which may put us at a competitive disadvantage relative to companies with more extensive product lines; and |
| unforeseen costs and expenses associated with creating an independent sales and marketing organization. |
Any failure or delay in the development of our internal sales, marketing and distribution capabilities would adversely impact the commercialization of these products. We may also choose to collaborate with third parties that have direct sales forces and established distribution systems, either to augment our own sales force and distribution systems or in lieu of our own sales force and distribution systems. We may not be able to enter into collaborations or hire consultants or external service providers to assist us in sales, marketing and distribution functions on acceptable financial terms, or at all. In addition, our product revenues and our profitability, if any, may be lower if we rely on third parties for these functions than if we were to market, sell and distribute any products that we develop and for which we receive regulatory approval ourselves. We likely will have little control over such third parties, and any of them may fail to devote the necessary resources and attention to sell and market our products effectively. If we are not successful in commercializing our products, either on our own or through arrangements with one or more third parties, we may not be able to generate any future product revenue and we would incur significant additional losses.
The affected populations for REACT or any of our future product candidates may be smaller than we or third parties currently project, which may affect the addressable markets for REACT or our future product candidates.
Our projections of the number of people who have the diseases we are seeking to treat, as well as the subset of people with these diseases who have the potential to benefit from treatment with REACT or any of our future product candidates, are estimates based on our knowledge and understanding of these diseases. These estimates may prove to be incorrect, and new studies, medications, or medical practices may further reduce the estimated incidence or prevalence of this disease. The number of patients in the United States, the European Union and elsewhere may turn out to be lower than expected, may not be otherwise amenable to treatment with REACT or any of our future product candidates or patients may become increasingly difficult to identify and access, all of which would adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Further, even if we obtain approval for REACT or any of our future product candidates, the FDA or other regulators may limit their approved indications to more narrow uses or subpopulations within the populations for which we are targeting development of REACT or any of our future product candidates.
The total addressable market opportunity for REACT or any of our future product candidates will ultimately depend upon a number of factors including the diagnosis and treatment criteria included in the final label, if
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approved for sale in specified indications, acceptance by the medical community, patient access and product pricing and reimbursement. Incidence and prevalence estimates are frequently based on information and assumptions that are not exact and may not be appropriate, and the methodology is forward-looking and speculative. The process we have used in developing an estimated incidence and prevalence range for the indications we are targeting has involved collating limited data from multiple sources. Accordingly, the incidence and prevalence estimates included in this prospectus should be viewed with caution. Further, the data and statistical information used in this prospectus, including estimates derived from them, may differ from information and estimates made by our competitors or from current or future studies conducted by independent sources.
Obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval of REACT or any of our future product candidates in one jurisdiction does not mean that we will be successful in obtaining regulatory approval of REACT or future product candidates in other jurisdictions.
Obtaining and maintaining regulatory approval of REACT or any of our future product candidates in one jurisdiction does not guarantee that we will be able to obtain or maintain regulatory approval in any other jurisdiction, while a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one jurisdiction may have a negative effect on the regulatory approval process in others. For example, even if the FDA grants marketing approval of a product candidate, similar foreign regulatory authorities must also approve the manufacturing, marketing and promotion of the product candidate in those countries. Approval and licensure procedures vary among jurisdictions and can involve requirements and administrative review periods different from, and greater than, those in the United States, including additional studies or clinical trials as clinical trials conducted in one jurisdiction may not be accepted by regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions. In many jurisdictions outside the United States, a product candidate must be approved for reimbursement before it can be approved for sale in that jurisdiction. In some cases, the price that we intend to charge for our products is also subject to approval.
We may also submit marketing applications in other countries. Regulatory authorities in jurisdictions outside of the United States have requirements for approval of product candidates with which we must comply prior to marketing in those jurisdictions. Obtaining similar foreign regulatory approvals and compliance with similar foreign regulatory requirements could result in significant delays, difficulties and costs for us and could delay or prevent the introduction of our products in certain countries. We do not have any product candidates approved for sale in any jurisdiction, including international markets, and we do not have experience in obtaining regulatory approval in international markets. If we fail to comply with the regulatory requirements in international markets and/or receive applicable marketing approvals, our target market will be reduced and our ability to realize the full market potential of REACT or any of our future product candidates will be harmed.
Off-label use or misuse of our products may harm our reputation in the marketplace, result in injuries that lead to costly product liability suits, and/or subject us to penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements or experience unanticipated problems with any product.
If we have any product candidate approved, our product labeling, advertising, and promotion will be subject to regulatory requirements and continuing regulatory review. In the United States, the FDA and the FTC strictly regulate the promotional claims that may be made about pharmaceutical products to ensure that any claims about such products are consistent with regulatory approvals, not misleading or false, and adequately substantiated by clinical data. The promotion of a medicine or biologic product in a manner that is false, misleading, unsubstantiated, or for unapproved (or off-label) uses may result in enforcement letters, inquiries and investigations and civil and criminal sanctions by the FDA, FTC, and other regulatory authorities. In particular, a product may not be promoted for uses that are not approved by the FDA as reflected in the products approved labeling. If we receive marketing approval for a product candidate, physicians may nevertheless prescribe it to their patients in a manner that is inconsistent with the approved label. If we are found to have promoted such off-label uses, we may become subject to significant liability. The FDA and other agencies actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses, and a company that is found to have improperly
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promoted off-label uses may be subject to significant sanctions and may result in false claims litigation under federal and state statutes, which can lead to consent decrees, civil monetary penalties, restitution, criminal fines and imprisonment, and exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal and state health care programs. The federal government has levied large civil and criminal fines against companies for alleged improper promotion and has enjoined several companies from engaging in off-label promotion. The government has also required that companies enter into consent decrees and/or imposed permanent injunctions under which specified promotional conduct is changed or curtailed. Any off-label use of REACT or any of our future product candidates could harm our reputation in the marketplace among physicians and patients. There may also be increased risk of injury to patients if physicians attempt to use our products for these uses for which they are not approved, which could lead to product liability suits that might require significant financial and management resources and that could harm our reputation.
Additionally, advertising and promotion of any product candidate that obtains approval outside of the United States will be heavily scrutinized by comparable foreign regulatory authorities and stakeholders.
REACT and our future product candidates for which we intend to seek approval as biologic products may face competition sooner than anticipated, and our operating results will suffer if we fail to compete effectively.
Even if we are successful in achieving regulatory approval to commercialize a product candidate ahead of our competitors, REACT or any of our future product candidates may face competition from biosimilar products. In the United States, REACT is expected to be regulated by the FDA as a biological product, and we intend to seek approval for REACT pursuant to the BLA pathway. The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (the BPCIA) created an abbreviated pathway for FDA approval of biosimilar and interchangeable biological products based on a previously licensed reference product. Under the BPCIA, an application for a biosimilar biological product cannot be approved by the FDA until 12 years after the original reference biological product was approved under a BLA. The law is complex and is still being interpreted and implemented by the FDA. As a result, its ultimate impact, implementation, and meaning are subject to uncertainty. While it is uncertain when such processes intended to implement BPCIA may be fully adopted by the FDA, any such processes could have a material adverse effect on the future commercial prospects for REACT.
We believe that any of our current or future product candidates approved as a biological product under a BLA should qualify for the 12-year period of exclusivity available to reference biological products. However, there is a risk that this exclusivity could be shortened due to congressional action or otherwise, or that the FDA will not consider our product candidates to be reference biological products pursuant to its interpretation of the exclusivity provisions of the BPCIA for competing products, potentially creating the opportunity for generic follow-on biosimilar competition sooner than anticipated. Moreover, the extent to which a biosimilar product, once approved, will be substituted for any one of our reference products in a way that is similar to traditional generic substitution for non-biological products is not yet clear, and will depend on a number of marketplace and regulatory factors that are still developing, including whether a future competitor seeks an interchangeability designation for a biosimilar of one of our products. Under the BPCIA as well as state pharmacy laws, only interchangeable biosimilar products are considered substitutable for the reference biological product without the intervention of the health care provider who prescribed the original biological product. However, as with all prescribing decisions made in the context of a patient-provider relationship and a patients specific medical needs, health care providers are not restricted from prescribing biosimilar products in an off-label manner. In addition, a competitor could decide to forego the abbreviated approval pathway available for biosimilar products and to submit a full BLA for product licensure after completing its own nonclinical studies and clinical trials. In such a situation, any exclusivity to which we may be eligible under the BPCIA would not prevent the competitor from marketing its biological product as soon as it is approved.
In Europe, the European Commission has granted marketing authorizations for several biosimilar products pursuant to a set of general and product class-specific guidelines for biosimilar approvals issued over the past few years. In addition, companies may be developing biosimilar products in other countries that could compete with our products, if approved.
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If competitors are able to obtain marketing approval for biosimilars referencing our product candidates, if approved, our future products may become subject to competition from such biosimilars, whether or not they are designated as interchangeable, with the attendant competitive pressure and potential adverse consequences. Such competitive products may be able to immediately compete with us in each indication for which our product candidates may have received approval.
Competitor companies or hospitals may be able to take advantage of EU rules permitting sales of unlicensed medicines for individual patients to sell competing products without a marketing authorization.
The EU medicines rules allow individual member states to permit the supply of a medicinal product without a marketing authorization to fulfill special needs, where the product is supplied in response to a bona fide unsolicited order, formulated in accordance with the specifications of a health care professional and for use by an individual patient under his direct personal responsibility. This may in certain countries also apply to products manufactured in a country outside the European Union and imported to treat specific patients or small groups of patients. In addition, designated advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) do not need a marketing authorization if they are prepared on a non-routine basis and are used within the same EU member state in a hospital in accordance with a medical prescription for an individual patient.
These exemptions could allow our competitors to make sales in the EU without having obtained a marketing authorization and without undergoing the expense of clinical trials, especially if those competitors have cell processing facilities in the relevant EU member state. Similarly, certain hospitals may be able to compete with us on the basis of these rules. Because any such sales would be made without a marketing authorization, there would be no need for the competitor company or hospital to refer to the clinical data in our marketing authorization dossiers, and so any data exclusivity protection that we may obtain for our products would not prevent such competing sales.
Coverage and reimbursement may be limited or unavailable in certain market segments for REACT or our future product candidates, if approved, which could make it difficult for us to sell any product candidates profitably.
In the United States and in other countries, patients who are prescribed treatment for their conditions generally rely on third-party payors to reimburse all or part of the costs associated with their treatment. Significant uncertainty exists as to the coverage and reimbursement status of any products for which we may obtain regulatory approval. In the United States, sales of any products for which we may receive regulatory marketing approval will depend, in part, on the availability of coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors. Third-party payors include government authorities such as Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and the Veterans Administration, managed care providers, private health insurers, and other organizations. Coverage and adequate reimbursement from governmental health care programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and commercial payors is critical to new product acceptance. Even if any of our products obtains regulatory approval, patients are unlikely to use such products unless coverage is provided and reimbursement is adequate to cover a significant portion of the cost. We cannot be sure that coverage and reimbursement will be available for, or accurately estimate the potential revenue from, any of our products, if approved, or assure that coverage and reimbursement will be available for any product that we may develop. REACT, due to the novel cell therapy and new indication for CKD, may require formulation of CPT codes with resource-based relative value unit appropriation and ICD-10 designation. Each are obtained through different processes and may lead to reimbursement delays of unknown lengths of times.
Government authorities and other third-party payors decide which treatments they will cover and the amount of reimbursement. Coverage and reimbursement by a third-party payor may depend upon a number of factors, including the third-party payors determination that use of a product is:
| a covered benefit under its health plan; |
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| safe, effective and medically necessary; |
| appropriate for the specific patient; |
| supported by peer-reviewed medical journals; |
| included in clinical practice guidelines; |
| cost-effective; and |
| neither experimental nor investigational. |
Our ability to commercialize successfully any of our products for which we obtain regulatory approval will depend in part on the extent to which coverage and adequate reimbursement for these products and related treatments will be available from third-party payors, including government health care programs and private health insurers. Moreover, a payors decision to provide coverage for a biopharmaceutical product does not imply that an adequate reimbursement rate will be approved. If coverage and adequate reimbursement is not available, or is available only to limited levels, we may not be able to successfully commercialize REACT or any of our future product candidates. Even if coverage is provided, the approved reimbursement amount may not be high enough to allow us to establish or maintain pricing sufficient to realize a sufficient return on our investment.
In the United States, no uniform policy of coverage and reimbursement for products exists among third-party payors. Therefore, coverage and reimbursement for our products can differ significantly from payor to payor. As a result, obtaining coverage and reimbursement approval of a product from a government or other third-party payor is a time-consuming and costly process that could require us to provide to each payor supporting scientific, clinical and cost-effectiveness data for the use of our products on a payor-by-payor basis, with no assurance that coverage and adequate reimbursement will be obtained. Even if we obtain coverage for a given product, the resulting reimbursement payment rates might not be adequate for us to achieve or sustain profitability or may require co-payments that patients find unacceptably high. Additionally, third-party payors may not cover, or provide adequate reimbursement for, long-term follow-up evaluations required following the use of product candidates, once approved. It is difficult to predict at this time what third-party payors will decide with respect to the coverage and reimbursement for REACT or any of our future product candidates, if approved.
Changes to current laws and state and federal health care reform measures that may be adopted in the future may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other health care funding and otherwise affect the prices we may obtain for any product candidates for which we may obtain regulatory approval or the frequency with which any such product candidate is prescribed or used.
If product liability lawsuits are brought against us, we may incur substantial financial or other liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of REACT or our future product candidates.
We face an inherent risk of product liability as a result of testing REACT or any of our future product candidates in clinical trials and will face an even greater risk if we commercialize any products. For example, we may be sued if REACT or any of our future product candidates causes or is perceived to cause injury or are found to be otherwise unsuitable during clinical trials, manufacturing, marketing or sale. Any such product liability claims may include allegations of defects in manufacturing, defects in design, a failure to warn of dangers inherent in the product, negligence, strict liability or a breach of warranties. Claims could also be asserted under state consumer protection acts. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against product liability claims, we may incur substantial liabilities or be required to limit commercialization of REACT or any of our future product candidates. Even a successful defense of these claims would require significant financial and management resources. Regardless of the merits or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:
| inability to bring a product candidate to the market; |
| decreased demand for our products; |
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| injury to our reputation; |
| withdrawal of clinical trial subjects and inability to continue clinical trials; |
| initiation of investigations by regulators; |
| significant costs to defend the related litigation; |
| reduced resources of our management to pursue our business strategy; |
| substantial monetary awards to trial subjects; |
| product recalls, withdrawals or labeling, marketing or promotional restrictions; |
| loss of revenue; |
| exhaustion of any available insurance and our capital resources; |
| the inability to commercialize any products that we may develop; and |
| decline in our share price. |
Our inability to obtain sufficient product liability insurance at an acceptable cost to protect against potential product liability claims could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of products we develop. We will need to obtain additional insurance for clinical trials as REACT continues clinical development and as additional product candidates enter the clinic. However, we may be unable to obtain, or may obtain on unfavorable terms, clinical trial insurance in amounts adequate to cover any liabilities from any of our clinical trials. Our insurance policies may also have various exclusions, and we may be subject to a product liability claim for which we have no coverage. We may have to pay any amounts awarded by a court or negotiated in a settlement that exceed our coverage limitations or that are not covered by our insurance, and we may not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient capital to pay such amounts. Even if our agreements with any future corporate collaborators entitle us to indemnification against losses, such indemnification may not be available or adequate should any claim arise.
If we or any contract manufacturers and suppliers we engage, now or in the future, fail to comply with environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations, we could become subject to fines or penalties or incur costs that could substantially harm our business.
We and any CMOs and suppliers we engage, now or in the future, are subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental, health, and safety laws, regulations, and permitting requirements, including those governing laboratory procedures; the generation, handling, use, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous and regulated materials and wastes; the emission and discharge of hazardous materials into the ground, air and water; and employee health and safety. Our operations involve the use of hazardous materials, including chemicals and biological materials. Our operations also produce hazardous waste. We generally contract with third parties for the disposal of these materials and wastes. We cannot eliminate the risk of contamination or injury from these materials. In the event of contamination or injury resulting from our use of hazardous materials, we could be held liable for any resulting damages, and any liability could exceed our resources. Under certain environmental laws, we could be held responsible for costs relating to any contamination at our current or past facilities and at third-party facilities. We also could incur significant costs associated with civil or criminal fines and penalties.
Compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations may be expensive, and current or future environmental laws and regulations may impair our research, product development and manufacturing efforts. In addition, we cannot entirely eliminate the risk of accidental injury or contamination from these materials or wastes. Although we maintain workers compensation insurance to cover us for costs and expenses we may incur due to injuries to our employees resulting from the use of hazardous materials, this insurance may not provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities. We do not carry specific biological or hazardous waste insurance coverage, and our property, casualty, and general liability insurance policies specifically exclude coverage for damages and fines arising from biological or hazardous waste exposure or contamination. Accordingly, in the
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event of contamination or injury, we could be held liable for damages or be penalized with fines in an amount exceeding our resources, and our clinical trials or regulatory approvals could be suspended, which could substantially harm our business.
Risks Related to Our Reliance on Third Parties
We rely on third parties to conduct, supervise and monitor a certain portion of our research and nonclinical testing and clinical trials for REACT, and if those third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, comply with regulatory requirements or otherwise perform satisfactorily, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval or commercialize REACT, or such approval or commercialization may be delayed, and our business may be substantially harmed.
We depend, or may depend in the future, upon third parties to conduct certain aspects of our nonclinical studies and clinical trials, and to monitor and manage data, under agreements with universities, medical institutions, CROs, strategic collaborators and others. We expect to have to negotiate budgets and contracts with such third parties, which may result in delays to our development timelines and increased costs. We expect to continue to rely on third parties, including clinical CROs, medical institutions and clinical investigators, to conduct those clinical trials. If any of our relationships with these third-party CROs or others terminate, we may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative CROs or other third parties or to do so on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. Switching or adding additional CROs involves additional cost and requires management time and focus. In addition, there is a natural transition period when a new CRO begins work. As a result, delays may occur, which can materially impact our ability to meet our desired development timelines. Though we carefully manage our relationships with our CROs, there can be no assurance that we will not encounter similar challenges or delays in the future or that these delays or challenges will not have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and prospects. Further, the performance of our CROs and other third parties conducting our trials may also be interrupted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including due to travel restrictions, quarantine policies, heightened exposure of CRO or clinical site or other vendor staff who are health care providers to COVID-19 or prioritization of resources toward the pandemic.
Any third parties conducting aspects of our nonclinical studies or clinical trials will not be our employees and, except for remedies that may be available to us under our agreements with such third parties, we cannot control whether or not they devote sufficient time and resources to our nonclinical studies and clinical trials. These third parties may also have relationships with other commercial entities, including our competitors, for whom they may also be conducting clinical trials or other product development activities, which could affect their performance on our behalf. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations or meet expected deadlines, if they need to be replaced or if the quality or accuracy of the nonclinical or clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our protocols or regulatory requirements or for other reasons, or if due to federal or state orders or absenteeism due to the COVID-19 pandemic they are unable to meet their contractual and regulatory obligations, our product development timelines, including clinical development timelines, may be extended, delayed or terminated, and we may not be able to complete development of, obtain regulatory approval of or successfully commercialize REACT. As a result, our financial results and the commercial prospects for REACT would be harmed, our costs could increase and our ability to generate revenue could be delayed.
We will rely especially heavily on third parties over the course of our clinical trials and will have limited control over the clinical investigators and limited visibility into their day-to-day activities, including with respect to their compliance with the approved clinical trial protocol. Nevertheless, we are responsible for ensuring that each of our clinical trials is conducted in accordance with the applicable protocol, legal and regulatory requirements and scientific standards, and our reliance on third parties does not relieve us of our regulatory responsibilities. We and these third parties are required to comply with GCP requirements, which are regulations and guidelines enforced by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities for product candidates in clinical development. Regulatory authorities enforce these GCP requirements through periodic inspections of
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trial sponsors, clinical investigators and clinical trial sites. If we or any of these third parties fail to comply with applicable GCP requirements, the clinical data generated in our clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may require us to suspend or terminate these trials or perform additional nonclinical studies or clinical trials before approving our marketing applications. We cannot be certain that, upon inspection, such regulatory authorities will determine that any of our clinical trials comply with the GCP requirements. In addition, our clinical trials must be conducted with biologic product produced under cGMP, and likely cGTP regulations and will require a large number of test subjects. Our failure or any failure by our contracted third parties, including CROs, to comply with these regulations or to recruit a sufficient number of subjects may require us to repeat clinical trials, which would delay the regulatory approval process. Moreover, our business may be implicated if any of these third parties violates federal or state fraud and abuse or false claims laws and regulations or health care privacy and security laws.
We also are required to register certain ongoing clinical trials and post the results of certain completed clinical trials on a government-sponsored database, ClinicalTrials.gov, within specified timeframes. Failure to do so can result in fines, adverse publicity and civil and criminal sanctions.
In addition, principal investigators for our clinical trials may serve as scientific advisors or consultants to us from time to time and receive compensation in connection with such services. Under certain circumstances, we may be required to report some of these relationships to the FDA. The FDA may conclude that a financial relationship between us and a principal investigator has created a conflict of interest or otherwise affected interpretation of the trial. The FDA may therefore question the integrity of the data generated at the applicable clinical trial site and the utility of the clinical trial itself may be jeopardized. This could result in a delay in approval, or rejection, of our marketing applications by the FDA and may ultimately lead to the denial of marketing approval for REACT or any of our future product candidates.
We also expect to rely on other third parties to store and distribute product supplies for our clinical trials. Any performance failure on the part of our distributors could delay clinical development or marketing approval of REACT or any of our future product candidates or commercialization of REACT or any of our future product candidates, producing additional losses and depriving us of potential revenue.
We rely on third parties for materials, including tissue samples, required for our research and development activities, and if we are unable to reach agreements with these third parties our research and development activities would be delayed.
We rely on third parties, primarily hospitals, health clinics and academic institutions, for the provision of tissue samples and other materials required in our research and development activities. Obtaining these materials requires various approvals as well as reaching a commercial agreement on acceptable terms with the hospital or other provider of the materials. While we currently have agreements in place with the institutions from which we receive our tissue samples, we do not have any exclusive arrangements with such sources and there is no guarantee that we will be able to maintain or renew such agreements on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. If we were unable to maintain or renew such agreements we would be forced to seek new arrangements with new hospitals, clinics or health institutions. If so, we may not be able to reach agreements with alternative partners or do so on terms acceptable to us. If we are unable to enter into such agreements, our research and development activities will be delayed and our ability to implement a key part of our development strategy will be compromised.
We may in the future seek to enter into collaborations with third parties for the development and commercialization of REACT and/or our future product candidates, and our future collaborations will be important to our business. If we are unable to enter into collaborations, or if these collaborations are not successful, our business could be adversely affected.
A part of our strategy is to consider partnerships in indications and geographies where we believe partners can add significant commercial and/or development capabilities. Further, we have limited capabilities for product
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development and do not yet have any capability for commercialization. Accordingly, we have entered into and may in the future enter into collaborations with other companies to provide us with important technologies and funding for our programs and technology.
Any future collaborations we enter into may pose a number of risks, including the following:
| collaborators have significant discretion in determining the efforts and resources that they will apply; |
| collaborators may not perform their obligations as expected; |
| collaborators may not pursue development and commercialization of any product candidates that achieve regulatory approval or may elect not to continue or renew development or commercialization programs or license arrangements based on clinical trial results, changes in the collaborators strategic focus or available funding, or external factors, such as a strategic transaction that may divert resources or create competing priorities; |
| collaborators may delay clinical trials, provide insufficient funding for a clinical trial program, stop a clinical trial or abandon a product candidate, repeat or conduct new clinical trials or require a new formulation of a product candidate for clinical testing; |
| collaborators could independently develop, or develop with third parties, products that compete directly or indirectly with our products and product candidates if the collaborators believe that the competitive products are more likely to be successfully developed or can be commercialized under terms that are more economically attractive than ours; |
| product candidates discovered in collaboration with us may be viewed by our collaborators as competitive with their own product candidates or products, which may cause collaborators to cease to devote resources to the commercialization of REACT or our future product candidates; |
| collaborators may fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements regarding the development, manufacture, distribution or marketing of a product candidate or product; |
| collaborators with marketing and distribution rights to REACT or one or more of our future product candidates that achieve regulatory approval may not commit sufficient resources to the marketing and distribution of such product or products; |
| collaborators may not provide us with timely and accurate information regarding development progress and activity under any future license agreement, which could adversely impact our ability to report progress to our investors and otherwise plan development of REACT or our future product candidates; |
| disagreements with collaborators, including disagreements over proprietary rights, contract interpretation or the preferred course of development, might cause delays or terminations of the research, development or commercialization of product candidates, might lead to additional responsibilities for us with respect to product candidates, or might result in litigation or arbitration, any of which would be time-consuming and expensive; |
| collaborators may not properly maintain or defend our intellectual property rights or may use our proprietary information in such a way as to invite litigation that could jeopardize or invalidate our intellectual property or proprietary information or expose us to potential litigation; |
| collaborators may infringe the intellectual property rights of third parties, which may expose us to litigation and potential liability; |
| if a collaborator of ours is involved in a business combination, the collaborator might deemphasize or terminate the development or commercialization of any product candidate licensed to it by us; and |
| collaborations may be terminated by the collaborator, and, if terminated, we could be required to raise additional capital to pursue further development or commercialization of the applicable product candidates. |
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If any future collaborations we enter into do not result in the successful discovery, development and commercialization of product candidates or if one of our collaborators terminates its agreement with us, we may not receive any future research funding or milestone or royalty payments under such collaboration. All of the risks relating to product development, regulatory approval and commercialization described in this prospectus also apply to the activities of our collaborators.
Additionally, if one of our collaborators terminates its agreement with us, we may find it more difficult to attract new collaborators and our perception in the business and financial communities could be adversely affected.
We face significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborators for REACT and future product candidates, and the negotiation process is time-consuming and complex. In order for us to successfully establish a collaboration for REACT or any of our future product candidates, potential collaborators must view these product candidates as economically valuable in markets they determine to be attractive in light of the terms that we are seeking and other available products for licensing by other companies. Collaborations are complex and time-consuming to negotiate and document. In addition, there have been a significant number of recent business combinations among large biopharmaceutical companies that have resulted in a reduced number of potential future collaborators. Our ability to reach a definitive agreement for a collaboration will depend, among other things, upon our assessment of the collaborators resources and expertise, the terms and conditions of the proposed collaboration and the proposed collaborators evaluation of a number of factors. If we are unable to reach agreements with suitable collaborators on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all, we may have to curtail the development of a product candidate, reduce or delay its development program or one or more of our other development programs, delay its potential commercialization or reduce the scope of any sales or marketing activities, or increase our expenditures and undertake development or commercialization activities at our own expense. If we elect to increase our expenditures to fund development or commercialization activities on our own, we may need to obtain additional expertise and additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we fail to enter into future collaborations or do not have sufficient funds or expertise to undertake the necessary development and commercialization activities, we may not be able to further develop REACT or future product candidates, bring them to market and generate revenue from sales of such products or continue to develop our technology, and our business may be materially and adversely affected. Even if we are successful in our efforts to establish new strategic collaborations, the terms that we agree upon may not be favorable to us, and we may not be able to maintain such strategic collaborations if, for example, development or approval of a product candidate is delayed or sales of an approved product are disappointing. Any delay in entering into new strategic collaboration agreements related to REACT or our future product candidates could delay their development and commercialization and reduce their competitiveness even if it reaches the market.
Risks Related to Legal and Regulatory Compliance Matters
Our relationships with customers, health care providers, physicians, prescribers, purchasers, third-party payors, charitable organizations and patients will be subject to applicable anti-kickback, fraud and abuse and other health care laws and regulations, which could expose us to criminal sanctions, civil penalties, contractual damages, reputational harm and diminished profits and future earnings.
Although we do not currently have any products on the market, upon commercialization of REACT or any of our future product candidates, if approved, we will be subject to additional health care statutory and regulatory requirements and oversight by federal and state governments in the United States as well as foreign governments in the jurisdictions in which we conduct our business. Health care providers, including physicians, in the United States and elsewhere play a primary role in the recommendation and prescription of biopharmaceutical products. Arrangements with third-party payors and customers can expose biopharmaceutical manufacturers to broadly applicable fraud and abuse and other health care laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (the AKS) and the FCA, which may constrain the business or financial arrangements and relationships through which such companies sell, market and distribute biopharmaceutical products. In
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particular, the research of REACT or any of our future product candidates, as well as the promotion, sales and marketing of health care items and services, as well as certain business arrangements in the health care industry, are subject to extensive laws designed to prevent fraud, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, structuring and commission(s), certain customer incentive programs and other business arrangements generally. Activities subject to these laws also involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of patient recruitment for clinical trials.
The health care laws that may affect us include: the federal fraud and abuse laws, including the AKS; false claims and civil monetary penalties laws, including the FCA and Civil Monetary Penalties Law; federal data privacy and security laws, including HIPAA, as amended by HITECH; and the federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act related to ownership and investment interests and payments and/or other transfers of value made to or held by physicians (including doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, and chiropractors) and teaching hospitals and, beginning in 2022, information regarding payments and transfers of value provided to other health care professionals, such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners among others, during the previous year. In addition, many states have similar laws and regulations that may differ from each other and federal law in significant ways, thus complicating compliance efforts. Moreover, several states require biopharmaceutical companies to comply with the biopharmaceutical industrys voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government and may require manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and other health care providers or marketing expenditures. Additionally, some state and local laws require the registration of biopharmaceutical sales representatives in the jurisdiction.
The scope and enforcement of each of these laws is uncertain and subject to rapid change in the current environment of health care reform, especially in light of the lack of applicable precedent and regulations. Ensuring business arrangements comply with applicable health care laws, as well as responding to possible investigations by government authorities, can be time- and resource-consuming and can divert a companys attention from other aspects of its business.
It is possible that governmental and enforcement authorities will conclude that our business practices may not comply with current or future statutes, regulations or case law interpreting applicable fraud and abuse or other health care laws and regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, imprisonment, reputational harm, possible exclusion from participation in federal and state funded health care programs, contractual damages and the curtailment or restricting of our operations, as well as additional reporting obligations and oversight if we become subject to a corporate integrity agreement or other agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws. Further, if any of the physicians or other health care providers or entities with whom we expect to do business is found not to be in compliance with applicable laws, they may be subject to significant criminal, civil or administrative sanctions, including exclusions from government funded health care programs. Any action for violation of these laws, even if successfully defended, could cause a biopharmaceutical manufacturer to incur significant legal expenses and divert managements attention from the operation of the business. Therefore, even if we are successful in defending against any such actions that may be brought against us, our business may be impaired. Prohibitions or restrictions on sales or withdrawal of future marketed products could materially affect business in an adverse way.
Even if we receive regulatory approval of any product candidates, we will be subject to ongoing regulatory oversight and continued regulatory review, which may result in significant additional expense and we may be subject to penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements or experience unanticipated problems with REACT or any of our future product candidates.
If REACT or any of our future product candidates is approved, activities such as the manufacturing, labeling, packaging, storage, advertising, promotion, sampling, and record keeping for the products will be
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subject to extensive and ongoing regulatory requirements. These requirements include submissions of safety and other post-marketing information and reports, registration, as well as continued compliance with cGMP and cGTP regulations. Biopharmaceutical manufacturers and any CMOs responsible for any product manufacturing processes are required to comply with extensive FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authority requirements, including ensuring that quality control and manufacturing procedures conform to cGMP and cGTP regulations and any applicable foreign equivalents. As such, we and any CMOs we may employ in the future will be subject to continual review and inspections to assess compliance with cGMP and cGTP and adherence to commitments made in any BLA, other marketing application, and previous responses to inspection observations. Accordingly, we and others with whom we work must continue to expend time, money, and effort in all areas of regulatory compliance, including manufacturing, production and quality control.
The FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority may also impose requirements for costly post-marketing nonclinical studies or clinical trials (often called Phase 4 trials) and post-marketing surveillance to monitor the safety or efficacy of the product. If we or a regulatory authority discover previously unknown problems with a product, such as adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, production problems or issues with the facility where the product is manufactured or processed, such as product contamination or significant noncompliance with applicable cGMP regulations, a regulator may impose restrictions on that product, the manufacturing facility or us. If we or our third-party providers fail to comply fully with applicable regulations, then we may be required to initiate a recall or withdrawal of our products.
Later discovery of previously unknown problems with REACT or any of our future product candidates, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or with our manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in the following, among other things:
| restrictions on the manufacturing of the product, the approved manufacturers or the manufacturing process; |
| restrictions on the labeling or marketing of a product; |
| restrictions on product distribution or use; |
| requirements to conduct post-marketing studies or clinical trials; |
| withdrawal of the product from the market; |
| product recalls; |
| warning or untitled letters from the FDA or comparable notice of violations from foreign regulatory authorities; |
| refusal of the FDA or other applicable regulatory authority to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications; |
| fines, restitution or disgorgement of profits or revenues; |
| suspension or withdrawal of marketing approvals; |
| suspension of any of our ongoing clinical trials; |
| product seizure or detention or refusal to permit the import or export of products; and |
| consent decrees, injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties. |
In addition, regulatory authorities policies (such as those of the FDA or EMA) may change, and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay regulatory approval of REACT or any of our future product candidates. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are otherwise not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing approval that we may have obtained, which would adversely affect our business, prospects and ability to achieve or sustain profitability.
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Non-compliance with EU requirements regarding safety monitoring or pharmacovigilance can also result in significant financial penalties. Similarly, failure to comply with the European Unions requirements regarding the protection of personal information can also lead to significant penalties and sanctions.
The FDAs policies may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay marketing approval of REACT or any of our future product candidates. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing approval that we may have obtained, which would adversely affect our business, prospects and ability to achieve or sustain profitability.
Changes in health care policies, laws and regulations, including legislative measures aimed at reducing health care costs, may impact our ability to obtain approval for, or commercialize REACT or any of our future product candidates, if approved.
In the United States and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been, and continue to be, several legislative and regulatory changes and proposed reforms of the health care system made in an effort to contain costs, improve quality and expand access to care. In the United States, there have been and continue to be a number of health care-related legislative initiatives, as well as executive, judicial and Congressional challenges to existing health care laws that have significantly affected, and could continue to significantly affect, the health care industry. For example, on June 17, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a challenge on procedural grounds that argued the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, together with subsequent amendments and regulations (collectively, the ACA), is unconstitutional in its entirety because the individual mandate was repealed by Congress. Thus, the ACA will remain in effect in its current form. Further, prior to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, on January 28, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order that initiated a special enrollment period for purposes of obtaining health insurance coverage through the ACA marketplace, which began on February 15, 2021 and remained open through August 15, 2021. The executive order also instructed certain governmental agencies to review and reconsider their existing policies and rules that limit access to health care, including, among others, reexamining Medicaid demonstration projects and waiver programs that include work requirements and policies that create unnecessary barriers to obtaining access to health insurance coverage through Medicaid or the ACA. It is possible that the ACA will be subject to judicial or Congressional challenges in the future. In addition, there has recently been heightened governmental scrutiny over the manner in which manufacturers set prices for their marketed products, which has resulted in several U.S. Congressional inquiries and proposed and enacted federal and state legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to medicines pricing, reduce the cost of prescription medicines under government payor programs and review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs. We expect that additional U.S. federal health care reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that the U.S. federal government will pay for health care products and services, which could result in reduced demand for REACT or any of our future product candidates or additional pricing pressures.
Inadequate funding for the FDA, the SEC and other government agencies could hinder their ability to hire and retain key leadership and other personnel, prevent new products and services from being developed or commercialized in a timely manner or otherwise prevent those agencies from performing normal business functions on which the operation of our business may rely, which could negatively impact our business.
The ability of the FDA to review and approve new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and statutory, regulatory, and policy changes. Average review times at the agency have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In addition, government funding of the SEC and other government agencies on which our operations may rely, including those that fund research and development activities, is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable.
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Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may also slow the time necessary for new products to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. For example, over the last several years, the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA and the SEC, have had to furlough critical employees and stop critical activities.
Separately, the FDA has announced its commitment to achieving timely reviews of applications for medical products during the COVID-19 pandemic in line with its user fee performance goals; however, the FDA may not be able to continue its current pace and review timelines could be extended, including where a pre-approval inspection or an inspection of clinical sites is required and due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions FDA is unable to complete such required inspections during the review period. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent waves of infection due to variants of SARS-CoV-2, the FDA postponed most routine inspections of foreign and domestic manufacturing facilities but continued to conduct mission-critical according to a risk-based prioritization system. During this period, the FDA issued a guidance document describing the FDAs plans to conduct voluntary remote interactive assessments of certain drug manufacturing facilities and clinical research sites in situations where an in-person inspection would not be prioritized or deemed mission-critical, or where direct inspection is otherwise limited by travel restrictions, but where the FDA determines that remote evaluation would still be appropriate. After a significant decline in COVID-19 cases across the United States in the beginning of 2022, the FDA resumed domestic surveillance inspections on February 7, 2022 and is conducting inspections of foreign manufacturing facilities for which the foreign country has provided clearance and is within the CDCs Level 1 or 2 COVID-19 travel recommendation. Despite the resumption of normal inspection activities, the FDA continues to employ remote assessments as a tool for evaluating regulatory compliance of foreign and domestic facilities. However, if another rapid rise in COVID-19 cases occurs, the FDA may decide to postpone foreign and domestic inspections again. In such a situation, should the FDA require an inspection for approval of an NDA or BLA, but one cannot be completed during the review cycle due to travel restrictions, and the agency decides a remote interactive evaluation would be inadequate, the FDA has previously stated its general intent to issue a complete response letter or defer action on such applications until an inspection can be completed. Regulatory authorities outside the United States may adopt similar restrictions or other policy measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and may experience delays in their regulatory activities. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, or if global health concerns continue to prevent the FDA or other regulatory authorities from conducting their regular inspections, reviews, or other regulatory activities, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.
EU medicine marketing and reimbursement regulations may materially affect our ability to market and receive coverage for our products in the European member states.
We intend to seek approval to market REACT in both the United States and in selected foreign jurisdictions. If we obtain approval in one or more foreign jurisdictions for REACT, we will be subject to rules and regulations in those jurisdictions. In some foreign countries, particularly those in the European Union, the pricing of medicines and cell based therapeutics is subject to governmental control and other market regulations which could put pressure on the pricing and usage of REACT. In these countries, pricing negotiations with governmental authorities can take considerable time after obtaining marketing approval of a product candidate. In addition, market acceptance and sales of REACT will depend significantly on the availability of adequate coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors for REACT and may be affected by existing and future health care reform measures. Additionally, the international regulatory landscape related to reimbursement is uncertain, and likely will continue to evolve before we are able to commercialize REACT.
Much like the federal AKS prohibition in the United States, the provision of benefits or advantages to physicians to induce or encourage the prescription, recommendation, endorsement, purchase, supply, order or use of medicinal products is also prohibited in the European Union. The provision of benefits or advantages to
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physicians is governed by the national anti-bribery laws of EU Member States, and in respect of the United Kingdom (which is no longer a member of the European Union), the UK Bribery Act 2010. Infringement of these laws could result in substantial fines and imprisonment.
Payments made to physicians in certain EU Member States must be publicly disclosed. Moreover, agreements with physicians often must be the subject of prior notification and approval by the physicians employer, his or her competent professional organization and/or the regulatory authorities of the individual EU Member States. These requirements are provided in the national laws, industry codes or professional codes of conduct, applicable in the EU Member States. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in reputational risk, public reprimands, administrative penalties, fines or imprisonment.
In addition, in most foreign countries, including the European Economic Area (the EEA), the proposed pricing for a medicine must be approved before it may be lawfully marketed. The requirements governing medicine pricing and reimbursement vary widely from country to country. For example, the European Union provides options for its member states to restrict the range of medicinal products for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement and to control the prices of medicinal products for human use. Reference pricing used by various EU member states and parallel distribution, or arbitrage between low-priced and high-priced member states, can further reduce prices. A member state may approve a specific price for the medicinal product or it may instead adopt a system of direct or indirect controls on the profitability of the company placing the medicinal product on the market. In some countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical study or other studies that compare the cost-effectiveness of any of our product candidates to other available therapies in order to obtain or maintain reimbursement or pricing approval. In addition, these regulations are evolving and subject to change, possibly before we are able to commercialize REACT. There can be no assurance that any country that has price controls or reimbursement limitations for biopharmaceutical products will allow favorable reimbursement and pricing arrangements for any of our products. Historically, products launched in the European Union do not follow price structures of the United States and generally prices tend to be significantly lower. Publication of discounts by third-party payors or authorities may lead to further pressure on the prices or reimbursement levels within the country of publication and other countries. If pricing is set at unsatisfactory levels or if reimbursement of our products is unavailable or limited in scope or amount, our revenues from sales and the potential profitability of any of our product candidates in those countries would be negatively affected.
We may incur substantial costs in our efforts to comply with evolving global data protection laws and regulations, and any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with such laws and regulations may harm our business and operations.
The global data protection landscape is rapidly evolving, and we may be or become subject to or affected by numerous federal, state and foreign laws and regulations, as well as regulatory guidance, governing the collection, use, disclosure, transfer, security and processing of personal data, such as information that we collect about subjects and health care providers in connection with clinical trials. Implementation standards and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future, which may create uncertainty in our business, affect our or our service providers ability to operate in certain jurisdictions or to collect, store, transfer use and share personal data, result in liability or impose additional compliance or other costs on us. Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with federal, state, or foreign laws or self-regulatory standards could result in negative publicity, diversion of management time and effort and proceedings against us by governmental entities or others. Recently, California passed the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (the CCPA), which went into effect in January 2020 and provides new data privacy rights for consumers and new operational requirements for companies, which may increase our compliance costs and potential liability. The CCPA gives California residents expanded rights to access and delete their personal information, opt out of certain personal information sharing, and receive detailed information about how their personal information is used. The CCPA provides for civil penalties for violations, as well as a private right of action for data breaches that is expected to increase data breach litigation. While there is currently an exception for protected health
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information that is subject to HIPAA and clinical trial regulations, as currently written, the CCPA may impact certain of our business activities. The CCPA may lead to similar laws in other U.S. states or at a national level, which could increase our potential liability and adversely affect our business.
In addition to our operations in the United States, which may be subject to health care and other laws relating to the privacy and security of health information and other personal information, we are conducting, and we may conduct in the future, clinical trials in EEA and may become subject to additional European data privacy laws, regulations and guidelines. The General Data Protection Regulation, (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) became effective on May 25, 2018, and deals with the collection, use, storage, disclosure, transfer, or other processing of personal data, including personal health data, regarding individuals in the EEA. The GDPR imposes a broad range of strict requirements on companies subject to the GDPR, including requirements relating to having legal bases for processing personal information relating to identifiable individuals and transferring such information outside the EEA, including to the United States, providing details to those individuals regarding the processing of their personal health and other sensitive data, obtaining consent of the individuals to whom the personal data relates, keeping personal information secure, having data processing agreements with third parties who process personal information, responding to individuals requests to exercise their rights in respect of their personal information, reporting security breaches involving personal data to the competent national data protection authority and affected individuals, appointing data protection officers, conducting data protection impact assessments, and record-keeping. The GDPR increases substantially the penalties to which we could be subject in the event of any non-compliance, including fines of up to 10,000,000 or up to 2% of our total worldwide annual turnover for certain comparatively minor offenses, or up to 20,000,000 or up to 4% of our total worldwide annual turnover, whichever is greater, for more serious offenses. The GDPR also confers a private right of action on data subjects and consumer associations to lodge complaints with supervisory authorities, seek judicial remedies, and obtain compensation for damages resulting from violations of the GDPR. In addition, the GDPR includes restrictions on cross-border data transfers.
Further, national laws of member states of the European Union are in the process of being adapted to the requirements under the GDPR, thereby implementing national laws which may partially deviate from the GDPR and impose different obligations from country to country, so that we do not expect to operate in a uniform legal landscape in the EEA. Also, as it relates to processing and transfer of genetic data, the GDPR specifically allows national laws to impose additional and more specific requirements or restrictions, and European laws have historically differed quite substantially in this field, leading to additional uncertainty. The United Kingdoms decision to leave the European Union, often referred to as Brexit, has created uncertainty with regard to data protection regulation in the United Kingdom. In particular, it is unclear how data transfers to and from the United Kingdom will be regulated now that the United Kingdom has left the European Union.
We are conducting clinical trials in the EEA, and the GDPR increases our responsibility and liability in relation to personal data that we process where such processing is subject to the GDPR, and we are required to have in place additional mechanisms and safeguards to ensure compliance with the GDPR, including as implemented by individual countries. Compliance with the GDPR is a rigorous and time-intensive process that increase our cost of doing business or require us to change our business practices, and despite those efforts, there is a risk that we may be subject to fines and penalties, litigation, and reputational harm in connection with our European activities. We expect that we will continue to face uncertainty as to whether our efforts to comply with any obligations under European privacy laws will be sufficient. If we are investigated by a European data protection authority, we may face fines and other penalties. Any such investigation or charges by European data protection authorities could have a negative effect on our existing business and on our ability to attract and retain new clients or biopharmaceutical partners. We may also experience hesitation, reluctance, or refusal by European or multi-national vendors or biopharmaceutical partners to continue to use our products due to the potential risk exposure as a result of the current (and, in particular, future) data protection obligations imposed on them by certain data protection authorities in interpretation of current law, including the GDPR. Such vendors or biopharmaceutical partners may also view any alternative approaches to compliance as being too costly, too
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burdensome, too legally uncertain, or otherwise objectionable and therefore decide not to do business with us. Any of the forgoing could materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Legal, political and economic uncertainty relating to our international operations could negatively impact or restrict our operations.
Following the result of a referendum in 2016, Brexit took effect on January 31, 2020. Pursuant to the formal withdrawal arrangements agreed to by the United Kingdom and the European Union, as of January 1, 2021, the United Kingdom is no longer subject to the transition period during which EU rules continued to apply (the Transition Period). Negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union are expected to continue in relation to the customs and trading relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union following the expiry of the Transition Period.
Since a significant proportion of the regulatory framework in the United Kingdom is applicable to our business, and REACT, our lead product candidate, is derived from EU directives and regulations, Brexit, following the Transition Period, could materially impact the regulatory regime with respect to the development, manufacture, importation, approval and commercialization of REACT in the United Kingdom or the European Union. For example, as a result of the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, the EMA relocated to Amsterdam from London. Following the Transition Period, the United Kingdom will no longer be covered by the centralized procedures for obtaining EU-wide marketing authorizations from the EMA, and unless a specific agreement is entered into, a separate process for authorization of cell-based products will be required in the United Kingdom, the potential process for which is currently unclear. Any delay in obtaining, or an inability to obtain, any marketing approvals, as a result of Brexit or otherwise, would prevent us from commercializing REACT in the United Kingdom or the European Union and limit our ability to generate revenue and achieve and sustain profitability. In addition, we may be required to pay taxes or duties or be subjected to other hurdles in connection with the importation of REACT into the European Union, or we may incur expenses in establishing a manufacturing facility in the European Union in order to circumvent such hurdles. If any of these outcomes occur, we may be forced to restrict or delay efforts to seek regulatory approval in the United Kingdom or the European Union for REACT, or incur significant additional expenses to operate our business, which could significantly and materially harm or delay our ability to generate revenues or achieve profitability of our business. Any further changes in international trade, tariff and import/export regulations as a result of Brexit or otherwise may impose unexpected duty costs or other non-tariff barriers on us. These developments, or the perception that any of them could occur, may significantly reduce global trade and, in particular, trade between the impacted nations and the United Kingdom. It is also possible that Brexit may negatively affect our ability to attract and retain employees, particularly those from the European Union.
Further, we must dedicate additional resources to comply with numerous laws and regulations in each jurisdiction in which we plan to operate. The FCPA prohibits any U.S. individual or business entity from paying, offering, authorizing payment or offering of anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any foreign official, political party or candidate for the purpose of influencing any act or decision of the foreign entity in order to assist the individual or business in obtaining or retaining business.
Compliance with the FCPA is expensive and difficult, particularly in countries in which corruption is a recognized problem. In addition, the FCPA presents particular challenges in the biopharmaceutical industry, because in many countries, hospitals are operated by the government, and doctors and other hospital employees are considered foreign officials. Certain payments to hospitals and health care providers in connection with clinical trials and other work have been deemed to be improper payments to government officials and have led to FCPA enforcement actions.
Various laws, regulations and executive orders also restrict the use and dissemination outside of the United States, or the sharing with certain non-U.S. nationals, of information products classified for national security purposes, as well as certain products, technology and technical data relating to those products. As we expand our
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operations throughout the world, we will be required to dedicate additional resources to comply with these laws, and these laws may preclude us from developing, manufacturing, or selling certain products and product candidates outside of the United States, which could limit our growth potential and increase our development costs.
The failure to comply with laws governing international business practices may result in substantial civil and criminal penalties and suspension or debarment from government contracting. The SEC also may suspend or bar issuers from trading securities on U.S. exchanges for violations of the FCPAs accounting provisions.
We are subject to certain U.S. and foreign anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, export control, sanctions, and other trade laws and regulations. We can face serious consequences for violations.
Among other matters, U.S. and foreign anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, export control, sanctions, and other trade laws and regulations (collectively, the Trade Laws) prohibit companies and their employees, agents, clinical research organizations, legal counsel, accountants, consultants, contractors, and other partners from authorizing, promising, offering, providing, soliciting, or receiving directly or indirectly, corrupt or improper payments or anything else of value to or from recipients in the public or private sector. Violations of Trade Laws can result in substantial criminal fines and civil penalties, imprisonment, the loss of trade privileges, debarment, tax reassessments, breach of contract and fraud litigation, reputational harm, and other consequences. We have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or government-affiliated hospitals, universities, and other organizations. We plan to engage third parties for clinical trials and/or to obtain necessary permits, licenses, patent registrations, and other regulatory approvals and we can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of our personnel, agents, or partners, even if we do not explicitly authorize or have prior knowledge of such activities.
Our executive officers, directors, security holders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.
We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, executive officers, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. Nor do we have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.
Our Charter provides that we renounce, to the maximum extent permitted by law, our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director who is not also an employee of the Company or about which any such director acquires knowledge unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director of the Company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue. In addition, our Charter contains provisions to exculpate and indemnify, to the maximum extent permitted by law, such persons in respect of any liability, obligation or duty to our company that may arise as a consequence of such persons becoming aware of any business opportunity or failing to present such business opportunity.
The personal and financial interests of our directors and officers may result in a conflict of interest and may result in a breach of their fiduciary duties to us as a matter of Cayman Islands law and we or our shareholders might have a claim against such individuals for infringing on our shareholders rights. See the section titled Description of ProKidney SecuritiesCertain Differences in Corporate LawShareholders Suits for further information on the ability to bring such claims. However, we might not ultimately be successful in any claim we may make against them for such reason.
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Because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited.
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon our directors or executive officers, or enforce judgments obtained in the United States courts against our directors or officers.
Our corporate affairs will be governed by our Charter, the Cayman Islands Companies Act and the common law of the Cayman Islands. We will also be subject to the federal securities laws of the United States. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are different from what they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a different body of corporate and securities laws as compared to the United States, and certain states, such as Delaware, may have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a Federal court of the United States.
We have been advised by our Cayman Islands legal counsel that the courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely (i) to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state; and (ii) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. In those circumstances, although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, impeachable on the grounds of fraud or obtained in a manner, or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). A Cayman Islands court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a United States company.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
Our success depends in part on our ability to protect our intellectual property. It is difficult and costly to protect our proprietary rights and technology, and we may not be able to ensure their protection.
Our business will depend in large part on obtaining and maintaining patent, trademark and trade secret protection of our proprietary technologies and REACT, our lead product candidate, its respective components, synthetic intermediates, formulations, combination therapies, methods used to manufacture them and methods of treatment, as well as successfully defending these patents against third-party challenges. Our ability to stop unauthorized third parties from making, using, selling, offering to sell or importing REACT is dependent upon the extent to which we have rights under valid and enforceable patents that cover these activities and whether a
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court would issue an injunctive remedy. If we are unable to secure and maintain patent protection for any product or technology we develop, or if the scope of the patent protection secured is not sufficiently broad, our competitors could develop and commercialize products and technology similar or identical to ours, and our ability to commercialize any product candidates we may develop may be adversely affected.
The patenting process is expensive and time-consuming, and we may not be able to file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. The patenting process is subject to numerous risks and there can be no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining patents for which we have applied. In addition, we may not pursue, obtain, or maintain patent protection in all relevant markets. It is also possible that we will fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development output before it is too late to obtain patent protection. Moreover, in some circumstances, we may not have the right to control the preparation, filing and prosecution of patent applications, or to maintain the patents, covering technology that we license from or license to third parties and are reliant on our licensors or licensees.
The strength of patents in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical field involves complex legal and scientific questions and can be uncertain. The patent applications that we own or in-license may fail to result in issued patents with claims that cover REACT or uses thereof in the United States or in other foreign countries. Even if the patents do successfully issue, third parties may challenge the validity, enforceability or scope thereof, which may result in such patents being narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable. Furthermore, even if they are unchallenged, our patents and patent applications may not adequately protect our technology, including REACT, or prevent others from designing around the claims in our patents. If the breadth or strength of protection provided by the patent applications we hold with respect to REACT is threatened, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us to develop, and threaten our ability to commercialize, REACT. Further, if we encounter delays in our clinical trials, the period of time during which we could market REACT under patent protection would be reduced.
We cannot be certain that we were the first to file any patent application related to our technology, including REACT, and, if we were not, we may be precluded from obtaining patent protection for our technology, including REACT.
We cannot be certain that we are the first to invent the inventions covered by pending patent applications and, if we are not, we may be subject to priority disputes. Furthermore, for United States applications in which all claims are entitled to a priority date before March 16, 2013, an interference proceeding can be provoked by a third party or instituted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the USPTO) to determine who was the first to invent any of the subject matter covered by the patent claims of our applications. Similarly, for United States applications in which at least one claim is not entitled to a priority date before March 16, 2013, derivation proceedings can be instituted to determine whether the subject matter of a patent claim was derived from a prior inventors disclosure.
We may be required to disclaim part or all of the term of certain patents. There may be prior art of which we are not aware that may affect the validity or enforceability of a patent or patent application claim. There also may be prior art of which we are aware, but which we do not believe affects the validity or enforceability of a claim, which may, nonetheless, ultimately be found to affect the validity or enforceability of a claim. No assurance can be given that if challenged, our patents would be declared by a court to be valid or enforceable or that even if found valid and enforceable, would adequately protect REACT, or would be found by a court to be infringed by a competitors technology or product. We may analyze patents or patent applications of our competitors that we believe are relevant to our activities, and consider that we are free to operate in relation to REACT, but our competitors may achieve issued claims, including in patents we consider to be unrelated, which block our efforts or may potentially result in REACT or our activities infringing such claims. The possibility exists that others will develop products which have the same effect as our products on an independent basis which do not infringe our patents or other intellectual property rights, or will design around the claims of patents that may issue that cover our products.
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Recent or future patent reform legislation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents. Under the enacted Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (the America Invents Act) after March 2013, the United States moved from a first-to-invent to a first-to-file system. Under a first-to-file system, assuming the other requirements for patentability are met, the first inventor to file a patent application generally will be entitled to a patent on the invention regardless of whether another inventor had made the invention earlier. The America Invents Act includes a number of other significant changes to U.S. patent law, including provisions that affect the way patent applications are prosecuted, redefine prior art and establish a new post-grant review system. In addition, the courts have yet to address many of these provisions and the applicability of the America Invents Act and new regulations on specific patents discussed herein, for which issues have not been determined and would need to be reviewed. However, the America Invents Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.
The degree of future protection for our proprietary rights is uncertain because legal means afford only limited protection and may not adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or keep our competitive advantage. For example:
| others may be able to make or use compounds that are similar to the compositions of REACT but that are not covered by the claims of our patents or those of our licensors; |
| we or our licensors, as the case may be, may fail to meet our obligations to the U.S. government in regards to any in-licensed patents and patent applications invented or developed using U.S. government funding, leading to the loss of patent rights; |
| we or our licensors, as the case may be, might not have been the first to file patent applications for these inventions; |
| others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies; |
| it is possible that our pending patent applications will not result in issued patents; |
| it is possible that there are prior public disclosures that could invalidate our or our licensors patents, as the case may be, or parts of our or their patents; |
| it is possible that others may circumvent our owned or in-licensed patents; |
| it is possible that there are unpublished applications or patent applications maintained in secrecy that may later issue with claims covering our products or technology similar to ours; |
| the laws of foreign countries may not protect our or our licensors, as the case may be, proprietary rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States; |
| the claims of our owned or in-licensed issued patents or patent applications, if and when issued, may not cover REACT; |
| our owned or in-licensed issued patents may not provide us with any competitive advantages, may be narrowed in scope, or be held invalid or unenforceable as a result of legal challenges by third parties; |
| the inventors of our owned or in-licensed patents or patent applications may become involved with competitors, develop products or processes which design around our patents, or become hostile to us or the patents or patent applications on which they are named as inventors; |
| it is possible that our owned or in-licensed patents or patent applications omit individual(s) that should be listed as inventor(s) or include individual(s) that should not be listed as inventor(s), which may cause these patents or patents issuing from these patent applications to be held invalid or unenforceable; |
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| we have engaged in scientific collaborations in the past, and will continue to do so in the future. Such collaborators may develop adjacent or competing products to ours that are outside the scope of our patents; |
| we may not develop additional proprietary technologies for which we can obtain patent protection; |
| it is possible that product candidates or diagnostic tests we develop may be covered by third parties patents or other exclusive rights; |
| if any of our owned or in-licensed patents or applications were made with U.S. government funds, it is possible that the U.S. government may assert certain march-in rights to force us or our licensor to grant a license to third-parties to allow them to practice the claimed invention; or |
| the patents of others may have an adverse effect on our business. |
We may enter into license or other collaboration agreements in the future that may impose certain obligations on us. If we fail to comply with our obligations under such future agreements with third parties, we could lose license rights that may be important to our future business.
In connection with our efforts to expand our pipeline of product candidates, we may enter into certain licenses or other collaboration agreements in the future pertaining to the in-license of rights to additional candidates. Such agreements may impose various diligence, milestone payment, royalty, insurance or other obligations on us. If we fail to comply with these obligations, our licensor or collaboration partners may have the right to terminate the relevant agreement, in which event we would not be able to develop or market the products covered by such licenses or agreements.
Moreover, disputes may arise regarding intellectual property subject to a licensing agreement, including:
| the scope of rights granted under the license agreement and other interpretation-related issues; |
| the extent to which REACT, our lead product candidate, or any other product candidates technology and processes infringe on intellectual property of the licensor that is not subject to the licensing agreement; |
| the sublicensing of patent and other rights under our collaborative development relationships; |
| our diligence obligations under the license agreement and what activities satisfy those diligence obligations; |
| the inventorship and ownership of inventions and know-how resulting from the joint creation or use of intellectual property by our licensors and us and our partners; and |
| the priority of invention of patented technology. |
In addition, the agreements under which we may license intellectual property or technology from third parties are complex, and certain provisions in such agreements may be susceptible to multiple interpretations. The resolution of any contract interpretation disagreement that may arise could narrow what we believe to be the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or technology, or increase what we believe to be our financial or other obligations under the relevant agreement, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects. Moreover, if disputes over intellectual property that we have licensed prevent or impair our ability to maintain our current licensing arrangements on commercially acceptable terms, we may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize the affected product candidates, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, results of operations, and prospects.
In addition, we may have limited control over the maintenance and prosecution of these in-licensed patents and patent applications, or any other intellectual property that may be related to our in-licensed intellectual
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property. For example, we cannot be certain that such activities by any future licensors have been or will be conducted in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or will result in valid and enforceable patents and other intellectual property rights. We have limited control over the manner in which our licensors initiate an infringement proceeding against a third-party infringer of the intellectual property rights, or defend certain of the intellectual property that is licensed to us. It is possible that the licensors infringement proceeding or defense activities may be less vigorous than had we conducted them ourselves.
If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, the value of our technology could be negatively impacted, and our business and competitive position would be harmed.
In addition to patent protection, we rely heavily upon know-how and trade secret protection, as well as non-disclosure agreements and invention assignment agreements with our employees, consultants and third-parties, to protect our confidential and proprietary information, especially where we do not believe patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. In addition to contractual measures, we try to protect the confidential nature of our proprietary information using physical and technological security measures. Such measures may not, for example, in the case of misappropriation of a trade secret by an employee or third-party with authorized access, provide adequate protection for our proprietary information. Our security measures may not prevent an employee or consultant from misappropriating our trade secrets and providing them to a competitor, and recourse we take against such misconduct may not provide an adequate remedy to protect our interests fully. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated a trade secret can be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, trade secrets may be independently developed by others in a manner that could prevent legal recourse by us. If one or more third parties obtain or are otherwise able to replicate these techniques, an important feature and differentiator of our clinical development strategy will become available to potential competitors. If any of our confidential or proprietary information, such as our trade secrets, were to be disclosed or misappropriated, or if any such information was independently developed by a competitor, our competitive position could be harmed.
In addition, courts outside the United States are sometimes less willing to protect trade secrets. If we choose to go to court to stop a third-party from using any of our trade secrets, we may incur substantial costs. These lawsuits may consume our time and other resources even if we are successful. Although we take steps to protect our proprietary information and trade secrets, including through contractual means with our employees and consultants, third parties may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or disclose our technology.
Thus, we may not be able to meaningfully protect our trade secrets. It is our policy to require our employees, consultants, outside scientific collaborators, sponsored researchers and other advisors to execute confidentiality agreements upon the commencement of employment or consulting relationships with us. These agreements provide that all confidential information concerning our business or financial affairs developed or made known to the individual or entity during the course of the partys relationship with us is to be kept confidential and not disclosed to third parties except in specific circumstances. In the case of employees, the agreements provide that all inventions conceived by the individual, and which are related to our current or planned business or research and development or made during normal working hours, on our premises or using our equipment or proprietary information, are our exclusive property. In addition, we take other appropriate precautions, such as physical and technological security measures, to guard against misappropriation of our proprietary technology by third parties. We also plan to adopt policies and conduct training that provides guidance on our expectations, and our advice for best practices, in protecting our trade secrets.
Third-party claims of intellectual property infringement may be costly and time consuming to defend and could prevent or delay our product discovery, development and commercialization efforts.
Our commercial success depends in part on our ability to develop, manufacture, market and sell REACT, our lead product candidate, and use our proprietary technologies without infringing the proprietary rights of third
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parties. There is a substantial amount of litigation involving patents and other intellectual property rights in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries, as well as administrative proceedings for challenging patents, including interference, derivation, inter partes review, post-grant review, and reexamination proceedings before the USPTO or oppositions and other comparable proceedings in foreign jurisdictions. We may be exposed to, or threatened with, future litigation by third parties having patent or other intellectual property rights alleging that REACT and/or proprietary technologies infringe their intellectual property rights. Numerous U.S. and foreign issued patents and pending patent applications, which are owned by third parties, exist in the fields in which we are developing REACT. As the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries expand and more patents are issued, the risk increases that REACT may give rise to claims of infringement of the patent rights of others.
The Purple Book Continuity Act, enacted in December 2020 under Title II § 325, directs the FDA for the first time to publicly list certain patent information in the Purple Book, a database of approved biological products. Specifically, a reference product sponsor (RPS) is required to provide to FDA the list of patents and corresponding expiry dates (referred to here as the initial list), not later than 30 days after the RPS has provided the initial list to a 351(k) applicant under section 351(l)(3)(A) or (l)(7) of the Public Health Service Act. Accordingly, the RPS must only provide information on its patents to the FDA for listing in the Purple Book after it engages in the patent dance with a follow-on developer or biosimilar. As such, it is not always clear to industry participants, including us, which patents cover various types of medicines, products or their methods of use or manufacture, especially in the earlier stages of product discovery and development. Thus, because of the large number of patents issued and patent applications filed in our fields, there may be a risk that third parties may allege they have patent rights encompassing our product candidate, technologies or methods.
If a third party claims that we infringe its intellectual property rights, we may face a number of issues, including, but not limited to:
| infringement and other intellectual property claims which, regardless of merit, may be expensive and time-consuming to litigate and may divert our managements attention from our core business; |
| substantial damages for infringement, which we may have to pay if a court decides that the product or technology at issue infringes on or violates the third-partys rights, and, if the court finds that the infringement was willful, we could be ordered to pay treble damages and the patent owners attorneys fees; |
| a court prohibiting us from developing, manufacturing, marketing or selling REACT, or from using our proprietary technologies, unless the third-party licenses its product rights to us, which it is not required to do; |
| if a license is available from a third-party, we may have to pay substantial royalties, upfront fees and other amounts, and/or grant cross-licenses to intellectual property rights for our products and any license that is available may be non-exclusive, which could result in our competitors gaining access to the same intellectual property; and |
| redesigning REACT or processes so they do not infringe, which may not be possible or may require substantial monetary expenditures and time. |
In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments, and, if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our securities. This type of litigation or proceeding could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce our resources available for development activities. We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to adequately conduct such litigation or proceedings. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of complex patent litigation more effectively than we can because they have substantially greater resources. In addition, any uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of any litigation could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise the funds necessary to continue our operations or could otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations,
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financial condition and prospects. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation or administrative proceedings, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure.
Third parties may assert that we are employing their proprietary technology without authorization.
There may be third-party patents of which we are currently unaware with claims to compositions of matter, materials, formulations, methods of manufacture or methods for treatment that encompass the composition, use or manufacture of REACT. There may be currently pending patent applications of which we are currently unaware which may later result in issued patents that REACT or their use or manufacture may infringe. In addition, third parties may obtain patents in the future and claim that use of our technologies infringes upon these patents. If any third-party patent were held by a court of competent jurisdiction to cover REACT, intermediates used in the manufacture of REACT or our materials generally, aspects of our formulations or methods of use, the holders of any such patent may be able to block our ability to develop and commercialize the product candidate unless we obtained a license or until such patent expires or is finally determined to be held invalid or unenforceable. In either case, such a license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we are unable to obtain a necessary license to a third-party patent on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, our ability to commercialize REACT may be impaired or delayed, which could in turn significantly harm our business. Even if we obtain a license, it may be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. In addition, if the breadth or strength of protection provided by our patents and patent applications is threatened, it could dissuade companies from collaborating with us to license, develop or commercialize current or future product candidates.
Parties making claims against us may seek and obtain injunctive or other equitable relief, which could effectively block our ability to further develop and commercialize REACT. Defense of these claims, regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation expense and would be a substantial diversion of employee resources from our business. In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us, we may have to pay substantial damages, including treble damages and attorneys fees for willful infringement, obtain one or more licenses from third parties, pay royalties or redesign our infringing products, which may be impossible or require substantial time and monetary expenditure. We cannot predict whether any such license would be available at all or whether it would be available on commercially reasonable terms. Furthermore, even in the absence of litigation, we may need to obtain licenses from third parties to advance our research or allow commercialization of REACT. We may fail to obtain any of these licenses at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms, if at all. In that event, we would be unable to further develop and commercialize REACT, which could harm our business significantly.
Third parties may assert that our employees or consultants have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information or misappropriated trade secrets.
As is common in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries, we employ individuals who were previously employed at universities or other biotechnology or biopharmaceutical companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Although no claims against us are currently pending, and although we try to ensure that our employees and consultants do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or our employees, consultants or independent contractors have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of a former employer or other third parties. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation or other legal proceedings relating to intellectual property claims may cause us to incur significant expenses and could distract our technical and management personnel from their normal responsibilities. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments, and, if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse
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effect on the price of our securities. This type of litigation or proceeding could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce our resources available for development activities. We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to adequately conduct such litigation or proceedings. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of such litigation or proceedings more effectively than we can because of their substantially greater financial resources. Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other intellectual property related proceedings could adversely affect our ability to compete in the marketplace.
We may not identify relevant third-party patents or may incorrectly interpret the relevance, scope or expiration of a third-party patent which might adversely affect our ability to develop and market our products.
We cannot guarantee that any of our patent searches or analyses, including the identification of relevant patents, the scope of patent claims or the expiration of relevant patents, are complete or thorough, nor can we be certain that we have identified each and every third-party patent and pending application in the United States and abroad that may be relevant to or necessary for the commercialization of REACT in any jurisdiction.
The scope of a patent claim is determined by an interpretation of the law, the written disclosure in a patent and the patents prosecution history. Our interpretation of the relevance or the scope of a patent or a pending application may be incorrect, which may negatively impact our ability to market our products. We may incorrectly determine that our products are not covered by a third-party patent or may incorrectly predict whether a third partys pending application will issue with claims of relevant scope. Our determination of the expiration date of any patent in the United States or abroad that we consider relevant may be incorrect, which may negatively impact our ability to develop and market REACT. Our failure to identify and correctly interpret relevant patents may negatively impact our ability to develop and market our products.
We may not be successful in obtaining or maintaining necessary intellectual property rights to develop any future product candidates on acceptable terms.
REACT, our current product candidate, may require specific formulations to work effectively and efficiently and these rights may be held by others. We may develop products containing our compounds and pre-existing biopharmaceutical compounds. We may be unable to acquire or in-license any compositions, methods of use, processes or other third-party intellectual property rights from third parties that we identify as necessary or important to our business operations. We may fail to obtain any of these licenses at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms, if at all, which would harm our business. We may need to cease use of the compositions or methods covered by such third-party intellectual property rights, and may need to seek to develop alternative approaches that do not infringe on such intellectual property rights which may entail additional costs and development delays, even if we were able to develop such alternatives, which may not be feasible. Even if we are able to obtain a license, it may be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. In that event, we may be required to expend significant time and resources to develop or license replacement technology.
The licensing and acquisition of third-party intellectual property rights is a competitive area, and companies, which may be more established, or have greater resources than we do, may also be pursuing strategies to license or acquire third-party intellectual property rights that we may consider necessary or attractive in order to commercialize REACT. More established companies may have a competitive advantage over us due to their size, cash resources and greater clinical development and commercialization capabilities. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully complete such negotiations and ultimately acquire the rights to the intellectual property surrounding the additional product candidates that we may seek to acquire.
We may be involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents or the patents of our licensors, or challenging the patent rights of others, which could be expensive, time-consuming and unsuccessful.
Competitors may infringe our patents or the patents of our current or future licensors. To counter infringement or unauthorized use, we may be required to file infringement claims, which can be expensive and
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time-consuming. In addition, in an infringement proceeding, a court may decide that one or more of our patents is not valid or is unenforceable, or may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our patents do not cover the technology in question or for other reasons. An adverse result in any litigation or defense proceedings could put one or more of our patents at risk of being invalidated, held unenforceable, or interpreted narrowly and could put our patent applications at risk of not issuing. Defense of these claims, regardless of their merit, would involve substantial litigation expense and would be a substantial diversion of employee resources from our business.
We may choose to challenge the patentability of claims in a third-partys U.S. patent by requesting that the USPTO review the patent claims in an ex-parte re-examination, inter partes review or post-grant review proceedings. These proceedings are expensive and may consume our time or other resources. We may choose to challenge a third-partys patent in patent opposition proceedings in the European Patent Office (the EPO) or other foreign patent office. The costs of these opposition proceedings could be substantial, and may consume our time or other resources. If we fail to obtain a favorable result at the USPTO, EPO or other patent office then we may be exposed to litigation by a third-party alleging that the patent may be infringed by REACT or our proprietary technologies.
In addition, because some patent applications in the United States may be maintained in secrecy until the patents are issued, patent applications in the United States and many foreign jurisdictions are typically not published until 18 months after filing, and publications in the scientific literature often lag behind actual discoveries, we cannot be certain that others have not filed patent applications for technology covered by our owned and in-licensed issued patents or our pending applications, or that we or, if applicable, a licensor were the first to invent the technology. Our competitors may have filed, and may in the future file, patent applications covering our products or technology similar to ours. Any such patent application may have priority over our owned and in-licensed patent applications or patents, which could require us to obtain rights to issued patents covering such technologies. If another party has filed a U.S. patent application on inventions similar to those owned by or in-licensed to us, we or, in the case of in-licensed technology, the licensor may have to participate in an interference or derivation proceeding declared by the USPTO to determine priority of invention in the United States. If we or one of our licensors is a party to an interference or derivation proceeding involving a U.S. patent application on inventions owned by or in-licensed to us, we may incur substantial costs, divert managements time and expend other resources, even if we are successful.
Interference or derivation proceedings provoked by third parties or brought by us or declared by the USPTO may be necessary to determine the priority of inventions with respect to our patents or patent applications or those of our licensors. An unfavorable outcome could result in a loss of our current patent rights and could require us to cease using the related technology or to attempt to license rights to it from the prevailing party. Our business could be harmed if the prevailing party does not offer us a license on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or if a non-exclusive license is offered and our competitors gain access to the same technology. Litigation or interference proceedings may result in a decision adverse to our interests and, even if we are successful, may result in substantial costs and distract our management and other employees. We may not be able to prevent, alone or with our licensors, misappropriation of our trade secrets or confidential information, particularly in countries where the laws may not protect those rights as fully as in the United States.
Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments. If securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our securities.
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Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.
Periodic maintenance fees, renewal fees, annuity fees and various other governmental fees on our owned and in-licensed issued patents and patent applications are or will be due to be paid to the USPTO and foreign patent agencies in several stages over the lifetime of the patent. The USPTO and various foreign governmental patent agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payment and other provisions during the patent application process and following the issuance of a patent. While an inadvertent lapse can in many cases be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the applicable rules, there are situations in which noncompliance can result in abandonment or lapse of the patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. Noncompliance events that could result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application include, but are not limited to, failure to respond to official actions within prescribed time limits, non-payment of fees and failure to properly legalize and submit formal documents. In certain circumstances, even inadvertent noncompliance events may permanently and irrevocably jeopardize patent rights. In such an event, our competitors might be able to enter the market, which would have a material adverse effect on our business.
Certain patents covering REACT could be found invalid or unenforceable if challenged in court or the USPTO.
If we or one of our licensors initiate legal proceedings against a third-party to enforce a patent covering REACT, the defendant could counterclaim that the patent covering REACT, as applicable, is invalid and/or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, defendant counterclaims alleging invalidity and/or unenforceability are commonplace, and there are numerous grounds upon which a third party can assert invalidity or unenforceability of a patent. Third parties may also raise similar claims before administrative bodies in the United States or abroad, even outside the context of litigation. Such mechanisms include re-examination, inter partes review, post-grant review, and equivalent proceedings in foreign jurisdictions (e.g., opposition proceedings). Such proceedings could result in revocation or amendment to our patents in such a way that they no longer cover REACT. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is unpredictable. With respect to the validity question, for example, we cannot be certain that there is no invalidating prior art, of which we, our patent counsel and the patent examiner were unaware during prosecution. If a defendant were to prevail on a legal assertion of invalidity and/or unenforceability, or if we are otherwise unable to adequately protect our rights, we would lose at least part, and perhaps all, of the patent protection on REACT. Such a loss of patent protection could have a material adverse impact on our business and our ability to commercialize or license our technology and product candidates.
Our earliest patents may expire before, or soon after, our first product achieves marketing approval in the United States or foreign jurisdictions. Upon the expiration of our current patents, we may lose the right to exclude others from practicing these inventions. The expiration of these patents could have a similar material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Changes in patent law in the United States, changes in the administrations interpretation of the law, or changes in the law in other jurisdictions could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect our products.
Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of the patent laws in the United States or in other jurisdictions could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of patent applications and the enforcement or defense of issued patents. Assuming that other requirements for patentability are met, prior to March 16, 2013, in the United States, the first to invent the claimed invention was entitled to the patent, while outside the United States, the first to file a patent application was entitled to the patent. On March 16, 2013, under the America Invents Act, enacted in September 2011, the United States transitioned to a first inventor to
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file system in which, assuming that other requirements for patentability are met, the first inventor to file a patent application will be entitled to the patent on an invention regardless of whether a third party was the first to invent the claimed invention. A third party that files a patent application in the USPTO on or after March 16, 2013 but before us could therefore be awarded a patent covering an invention of ours even if we had made the invention before it was made by such third party. This will require us to be cognizant of the time from invention to filing of a patent application. Since patent applications in the United States and most other countries are confidential for a period of time after filing or until issuance, we cannot be certain that we or our licensors were the first to either (i) file any patent application related to our product candidates or (ii) invent any of the inventions claimed in our or our licensors patents or patent applications.
The America Invents Act also includes a number of significant changes that affect the way patent applications will be prosecuted and also may affect patent litigation. These include allowing third-party submission of prior art to the USPTO during patent prosecution and additional procedures to attack the validity of a patent by USPTO administered post-grant proceedings, including post-grant review, inter partes review, and derivation proceedings. Because of a lower evidentiary standard in USPTO proceedings compared to the evidentiary standard in U.S. federal courts necessary to invalidate a patent claim, a third party could potentially provide evidence in a USPTO proceeding sufficient for the USPTO to hold a claim invalid even though the same evidence would be insufficient to invalidate the claim if first presented in a district court action. Accordingly, a third party may attempt to use the USPTO procedures to invalidate our patent claims that would not have been invalidated if first challenged by the third party as a defendant in a district court action. Therefore, the America Invents Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our owned or in-licensed patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our owned or in-licensed issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.
In addition, the patent positions of companies in the development and commercialization of biopharmaceuticals are particularly uncertain. Recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings have narrowed the scope of patent protection available in certain circumstances and weakened the rights of patent owners in certain situations. This combination of events has created uncertainty with respect to the validity and enforceability of patents, once obtained. Depending on future actions by the U.S. Congress, the federal courts, and the USPTO, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that could have a material adverse effect on our existing patent portfolio and our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property in the future.
We have limited foreign intellectual property rights and may not be able to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights throughout the world.
Although we have multiple patents in countries outside of the United States, we do not have intellectual property rights in all potential markets outside the United States where CKD is prevalent. Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on product candidates in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and our intellectual property rights in some countries outside the United States can be less extensive than those in the United States. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as federal and state laws in the United States. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions in all countries outside the United States, or from selling or importing products made using our inventions in and into the United States or other jurisdictions. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products and, further, may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent protection but where enforcement is not as strong as that in the United States. These products may compete with our products in jurisdictions where we do not have any issued patents and our patent claims or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.
Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do
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not favor the enforcement of, and may require a compulsory license to, patents, trade secrets and other intellectual property protection, particularly those relating to biopharmaceutical products, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents or marketing of competing products against third parties in violation of our proprietary rights generally. The initiation of proceedings by third parties to challenge the scope or validity of our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial cost and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business. Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly and our patent applications at risk of not issuing and could provoke third parties to assert claims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license.
Patent terms may be inadequate to protect our competitive position on REACT or our future product candidates for an adequate amount of time, and if we do not obtain protection under the Hatch-Waxman Amendments and similar non-United States legislation for extending the term of patents covering REACT or our future product candidates, our business may be materially harmed.
Patents have a limited lifespan. In the United States, if all maintenance fees are timely paid, the natural expiration of a patent is generally 20 years from its earliest claimed U.S. non-provisional filing date. Various extensions such as patent term adjustments and/or extensions, may be available, but the life of a patent, and the protection it affords, is limited. Even if patents covering REACT or any of our future product candidates are obtained, once the patent life has expired, we may be open to competition from competitive products. Given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory review of new product candidates, patents protecting such candidates might expire before or shortly after such candidates are commercialized.
Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of any FDA marketing approval of any product candidates we may develop, one or more of our U.S. patents may be eligible for limited patent term extension under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Action of 1984, also known as the Hatch-Waxman Amendments. The Hatch-Waxman Amendments permit a patent extension term of up to five additional years beyond the expiration date as compensation for patent term lost during the FDA regulatory review process. A patent term extension cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval, only one patent may be extended. However, we may not be granted the full extension because of, for example, failing to exercise due diligence during the testing phase or regulatory review process. Also, we may not be granted any extension because of, for example, failing to apply within applicable deadlines, failing to apply prior to expiration of relevant patents, or otherwise failing to satisfy applicable requirements. Moreover, the applicable time period or the scope of patent protection afforded could be less than we request. If we are unable to obtain patent term extension or the term of any such extension is less than we request, the period during which we can enforce our patent rights for that product will be shortened and our competitors may obtain approval to market competing products sooner. As a result, our revenue from applicable products could be reduced and could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Any trademarks we have obtained or may obtain may be infringed or otherwise violated, or successfully challenged, resulting in harm to our business.
We expect to rely on trademarks as one means to distinguish REACT, if approved for marketing, from the products of our competitors. Once we select new trademarks and apply to register them, our trademark applications may not be approved. Although we would be given an opportunity to respond to those rejections, we may be unable to overcome such rejections. Third parties may oppose or attempt to cancel our trademark applications or trademarks, or otherwise challenge our use of the trademarks. In the event that our trademarks are successfully challenged, we could be forced to rebrand our products, which could result in loss of brand recognition and could require us to devote resources to advertising and marketing new brands. Our competitors
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may infringe or otherwise violate our trademarks and we may not have adequate resources to enforce our trademarks. Any of the foregoing events may have a material adverse effect on our business. Moreover, any name we propose to use with REACT in the United States must be approved by the FDA, regardless of whether we have registered it, or applied to register it, as a trademark. The FDA typically conducts a review of proposed product names, including an evaluation of potential for confusion with other product names. If the FDA objects to any of our proposed proprietary product names, we may be required to expend significant additional resources in an effort to identify a suitable substitute name that would qualify under applicable trademark laws, not infringe the existing rights of third parties and be acceptable to the FDA.
Risks Related to Managing Our Business and Operations
We expect to expand our clinical development and research and regulatory capabilities, our manufacturing and administrative capacities, and potentially implement sales, marketing and distribution capabilities, and as a result, we may encounter difficulties in managing our growth, which could adversely affect our operations.
As of July 31, 2022, we had approximately 77 full-time employees. As our clinical development and commercialization plans and strategies develop, and as we transition into operating as a public company, we will need to expand our managerial, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing, sales, marketing, financial, development and legal capabilities or contract with third parties to provide these capabilities for us. As our operations expand, we expect that we will need to manage additional relationships with various strategic collaborators, suppliers and other third parties. Our future growth would impose significant added responsibilities on members of management, including:
| identifying, recruiting, integrating, maintaining and motivating additional employees; |
| managing our development and commercialization efforts effectively, including the clinical and FDA review process for REACT and any other product candidates, while complying with our contractual obligations to contractors and other third parties; and |
| improving our operational, financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures. |
Our ability to continue to develop and, if approved, commercialize REACT will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage any future growth. Our management may also have to divert a disproportionate amount of its attention away from day-to-day activities in order to devote a substantial amount of time to managing these growth activities.
We currently rely, and for the foreseeable future will continue to rely, in substantial part on certain independent organizations, advisors and consultants to provide certain services. There can be no assurance that the services of independent organizations, advisors and consultants will continue to be available to us on a timely basis when needed, or that we can find qualified replacements. In addition, if we are unable to effectively manage our outsourced activities or if the quality, accuracy or quantity of the services provided is compromised for any reason, our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated, and we may not be able to obtain, or may be substantially delayed in obtaining, regulatory approval of REACT or any of our future product candidates or otherwise advance our business. There can be no assurance that we will be able to manage our existing consultants or find other competent outside contractors and consultants on economically reasonable terms, or at all.
If we are not able to effectively expand our organization by hiring new employees and expanding our groups of consultants and contractors, we may not be able to successfully implement the tasks necessary to further develop and commercialize REACT or any other product candidates and, accordingly, may not achieve our research, development and commercialization goals.
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If we lose key management personnel, or if we fail to recruit additional highly skilled personnel, our ability to continue developing REACT or identify and develop new product candidates will be impaired, which could result in loss of markets or market share and could make us less competitive.
Our ability to compete in the highly competitive biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries depends upon our ability to attract and retain highly qualified managerial, scientific and medical personnel. We are highly dependent on our management, scientific and medical personnel, including Tim Bertram, our Chief Executive Officer; Deepak Jain, our Chief Operating Officer; James Coulston, our Chief Financial Officer; and Joseph Stavas, our SVP Clinical Development. The loss of the services of any of our executive officers, other key employees, and other scientific and medical advisors, and our inability to find suitable replacements could result in delays in product development and harm our business.
We conduct our operations globally from several locations, including the United States and the Cayman Islands. Competition for skilled personnel in our industry is intense and may limit our ability to hire and retain highly qualified personnel on acceptable terms or at all.
To induce valuable employees to remain at our company, in addition to salary and cash incentives, we intend to provide equity awards that vest over time, some of which may be in the form of unregistered shares and may dilute the voting and economic rights of our shareholders. The value to employees of such equity awards that vest over time may be significantly affected by movements in our share price that are beyond our control, and may at any time be insufficient to counteract more lucrative offers from other companies. Despite our efforts to retain valuable employees, members of our management, scientific and development teams may terminate their employment with us on short notice. Our key employees are at-will employees, which means that any of our employees could leave our employment at any time, with or without notice. Our success also depends on our ability to continue to attract, retain and motivate highly skilled junior, mid-level and senior scientific and medical personnel.
Our employees, independent contractors, consultants, collaborators, principal investigators, CROs, suppliers and vendors may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including non-compliance with regulatory standards and requirements.
We are exposed to the risk that our employees, independent contractors, consultants, collaborators, principal investigators, CROs, suppliers and vendors may engage in fraudulent conduct or other illegal activity. Misconduct by these parties could include intentional, reckless and/or negligent conduct that violates FDA regulations, including those laws requiring the reporting of true, complete and accurate information to the FDA, manufacturing standards, federal and state health care laws and regulations, and laws that require the true, complete and accurate reporting of financial information or data. In particular, sales, marketing and business arrangements in the health care industry are subject to extensive laws and regulations intended to prevent fraud, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, customer incentive programs and other business arrangements. Misconduct by these parties could also involve the improper use of individually identifiable information, including, without limitation, information obtained in the course of clinical trials, which could result in regulatory sanctions and serious harm to our reputation. It is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to be in compliance with such laws or regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, including, without limitation, damages, fines, disgorgement, imprisonment, exclusion from participation in government health care programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, additional reporting requirements and oversight if we become subject to a corporate integrity agreement or similar agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws, and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations.
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Our internal computer systems, or those of our collaborators or other contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer security breaches, which could result in a material disruption of our product development programs.
Our internal computer systems and those of any future collaborators and other contractors or consultants are vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. If such an event were to occur and cause interruptions in our operations, it could result in a disruption of our development programs and our business operations, whether due to a loss of our trade secrets or other proprietary information or other similar disruptions. For example, the loss of clinical trial data from future clinical trials could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. To the extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data or applications, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability, our competitive position could be harmed and the further development and commercialization of REACT or any of our future product candidates could be delayed.
We could be subject to risks caused by misappropriation, misuse, leakage, falsification or intentional or accidental release or loss of information maintained in the information systems and networks of our company and our vendors, including personal information of our employees and study subjects, and company and vendor confidential data. In addition, outside parties may attempt to penetrate our systems or those of our vendors or fraudulently induce our personnel or the personnel of our vendors to disclose sensitive information in order to gain access to our data and/or systems. We may experience threats to our data and systems, including malicious codes and viruses, phishing and other cyberattack. The number and complexity of these threats continue to increase over time. If a material breach of, or accidental or intentional loss of data from, our information technology systems or those of our vendors occurs, the market perception of the effectiveness of our security measures could be harmed, and our reputation and credibility could be damaged. We could be required to expend significant amounts of money and other resources to repair or replace information systems or networks. In addition, we could be subject to regulatory actions and/or claims made by individuals and groups in private litigation involving privacy issues related to data collection and use practices and other data privacy laws and regulations, including claims for misuse or inappropriate disclosure of data, as well as unfair or deceptive practices. Although we develop and maintain systems and controls designed to prevent these events from occurring, and we have a process to identify and mitigate threats, the development and maintenance of these systems, controls and processes is costly and requires ongoing monitoring and updating as technologies change and efforts to overcome security measures become increasingly sophisticated. Moreover, despite our efforts, the possibility of these events occurring cannot be eliminated entirely. As we outsource more of our information systems to vendors, engage in more electronic transactions with payors and patients, and rely more on cloud-based information systems, the related security risks will increase and we will need to expend additional resources to protect our technology and information systems. In addition, there can be no assurance that our internal information technology systems or those of our third-party contractors, or our consultants efforts to implement adequate security and control measures, will be sufficient to protect us against breakdowns, service disruption, data deterioration or loss in the event of a system malfunction, or prevent data from being stolen or corrupted in the event of a cyberattack, security breach, industrial espionage attacks or insider threat attacks which could result in financial, legal, business or reputational harm.
Failure to comply with health and data protection laws and regulations could lead to government enforcement actions (which could include civil or criminal penalties), private litigation, and/or adverse publicity and could negatively affect our operating results and business.
We and any potential collaborators may be subject to federal, state and foreign data protection laws and regulations (i.e., laws and regulations that address privacy and data security). In the United States, numerous federal and state laws and regulations, including federal health information privacy laws, state data breach notification laws, state privacy and health information privacy laws and federal and state consumer protection laws (e.g., Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act), that govern the collection, use, disclosure and
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protection of health-related and other personal information could apply to our operations or the operations of our collaborators. In addition, we may obtain health information from third parties (including research institutions from which we obtain clinical trial data) that are subject to privacy and security requirements under HIPAA. Depending on the facts and circumstances, we could be subject to civil or criminal penalties if we obtain, use, or disclose individually identifiable health information maintained by a HIPAA-covered entity in a manner that is not authorized or permitted by HIPAA.
International data protection laws, including GDPR, may also apply to health-related and other personal information obtained outside of the United States. The GDPR will increase our responsibility and liability in relation to personal data that we process, and we may be required to put in place additional mechanisms to ensure compliance with the new EU (which also includes the EEA) data protection rules. Further, the Brexit has created more uncertainty with regard to data protection regulation in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom retained the GDPR in UK law, which sits alongside the amended version of the Data Protection Act 2018. The European Union adopted an adequacy decision so that data can be transferred from the European Union to the United Kingdom. Additionally, there are no new requirements for transfer from the United Kingdom to the European Union. However, going forward, the European Unions and United Kingdoms data protection rules could diverge, and data transfers may not be possible and/or new arrangements may need to be put in place. In particular, it is unclear to what extent the United Kingdom regime will begin diverging from the GDPR and how data transfers to and from the United Kingdom will be regulated.
In addition, California recently enacted the CCPA, which creates new individual privacy rights for California consumers (as defined in the law) and places increased privacy and security obligations on entities handling personal data of consumers or households. The CCPA became effective on January 1, 2020, but the California Privacy Rights Act was recently enacted to strengthen elements of the CCPA effective January 1, 2023. In addition, there are a number of other states that have considered similar privacy proposals, with states like Virginia and Colorado enacting their own privacy laws (also scheduled to come into effect in January 1, 2023 and July 1, 2023, respectively). These privacy laws may impact our business activities and exemplify the vulnerability of our business to the evolving regulatory environment related to personal data.
Compliance with U.S. and international data protection laws and regulations could require us to take on more onerous obligations in our contracts, restrict our ability to collect, use and disclose data, or in some cases, impact our ability to operate in certain jurisdictions. Failure to comply with U.S. and international data protection laws and regulations could result in government enforcement actions (which could include civil or criminal penalties), private litigation and adverse publicity and could negatively affect our operating results and business. Moreover, clinical trial subjects about whom we or our potential collaborators obtain information, as well as the providers who share this information with us, may contractually limit our ability to use and disclose the information. Claims that we have violated individuals privacy rights, failed to comply with data protection laws, or breached our contractual obligations, even if we are not found liable, could be expensive and time-consuming to defend and could result in adverse publicity that could harm our business.
Changes in tax law or policy could increase our effective tax rate and tax liability or the taxes payable by holders of our ordinary shares, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We could be adversely affected by changes in applicable tax laws, regulations, or administrative interpretations thereof. For example, the U.S. federal tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Tax Act), enacted in December 2017, resulted in fundamental changes to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) including, among many other things, a reduction to the federal corporate income tax rate, a partial limitation on the deductibility of business interest expense, a limitation on the deductibility of certain director and officer compensation expense, limitations on net operating loss carrybacks and carryovers and changes relating to the scope and timing of U.S. taxation on earnings from international business operations. Subsequent legislation, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the
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CARES Act) enacted on March 27, 2020, relaxed certain of the limitations imposed by the Tax Act for certain taxable years, including the limitation on the use and carryback of net operating losses and the limitation on the deductibility of business interest expense. The exact impact of the Tax Act and the CARES Act for future years is difficult to quantify, but these changes could materially affect our investors, the companies in which our clients invest, or us. Legislative proposals in the U.S., if adopted, would increase the corporate income tax rate and capital gains tax rate. In addition, other changes could be enacted in the future to limit further the deductibility of interest, subject carried interests to more onerous taxation or effect other changes that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Such changes could also include increases in state taxes and other changes to state tax laws to replenish state and local government finances depleted by costs attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic and the reduction in tax revenues due to the accompanying economic downturn.
Our effective tax rate may fluctuate, and we may incur obligations in tax jurisdictions in excess of accrued amounts.
We are or may become subject to taxation in more than one tax jurisdiction. As a result, our effective tax rate is derived from a combination of applicable tax rates in the various places that we operate. In preparing our financial statements, we estimate the amount of tax that will become payable in each of such places. Nevertheless, our effective tax rate may be different than experienced in the past due to numerous factors, including passage of newly enacted tax legislation, changes in the mix of our profitability from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the results of examinations and audits of our tax filings, our inability to secure or sustain acceptable agreements with tax authorities, changes in accounting for income taxes and changes in tax laws. Any of these factors could cause us to experience an effective tax rate significantly different from previous periods or our current expectations and may result in tax obligations in excess of amounts accrued in our financial statements.
We may be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. investors.
ProKidney believes that it is likely classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. Holder of our Class A ordinary shares, such U.S. Holder may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences and may be subject to additional reporting requirements. There can be no assurances with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any subsequent taxable year. Our actual PFIC status for any taxable year, moreover, will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year. If we determine we are a PFIC for any taxable year (of which there can be no assurance), we will endeavor to provide to a U.S. Holder such information as the IRS may require, including a PFIC Annual Information Statement, upon request, in order to enable a U.S. Holder to make and maintain a qualified electing fund election. There can be no assurance, however, that ProKidney will timely provide such information. For more information, please see the section entitled Certain Material U.S. and Non-Income Tax ConsiderationsU.S. HoldersPFIC Considerations. We urge U.S. investors to consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of the PFIC rules.
Unanticipated changes in effective tax rates or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of our income or other tax returns could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We will be subject, directly or indirectly, to income taxes in various jurisdictions, and our tax liabilities will be subject to the allocation of expenses in differing jurisdictions. Our future effective tax rates could be subject to volatility or adversely affected by a number of factors, including:
| changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities; |
| expected timing and amount of the release of any tax valuation allowances; |
| tax effects of share-based compensation; |
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| costs related to intercompany restructurings; |
| changes in tax laws, regulations or interpretations thereof; or |
| lower-than-anticipated future earnings in jurisdictions where we have lower statutory tax rates and higher-than-anticipated future earnings in jurisdictions where we have higher statutory tax rates. |
In addition, we may be subject to audits of our income, sales and other transaction taxes by taxing authorities. Outcomes from these audits could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our principal shareholders have significant influence over us, including over decisions that require the approval of shareholders, and their interests may conflict with the interests of holders of ProKidney Corp. Class A ordinary shares.
The Voting Agreement provides, with respect to the election, appointment or removal of any director of the Company, that, until the third anniversary of the Closing, CEC will vote all of its voting shares in the capital of the Company in a manner proportionate to the manner in which all other ProKidney Class B ordinary shares not held by CEC are voted. As a result, Tolerantia effectively controls approximately 64.7% (accounting for approximately 23.9% held by CEC) of the combined voting power of ProKidney Corp. with respect to the election, appointment or removal of any director. Additionally, Pablo Legorreta, as Chairperson of the Board, is affiliated with and majority owns and controls Tolerantia. As a result, Tolerantia and its affiliates have significant influence over the management and affairs of the Company, and, acting together, effectively control the election, appointment or removal of any director and have indirect control over the approval of significant corporate transactions, including any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets and the issuance or redemption of equity interests in certain circumstances, to the extent such matters require approval of the Board.
In addition, Tolerantia and CEC together control approximately 64.7% of the combined voting power of the Company. The interests of these shareholders may not always coincide with, and in some cases may conflict with, our interests and the interests of our other shareholders, including the holders of ProKidney Class A ordinary shares. For instance, these shareholders could attempt to delay or prevent a change in control, even if such change in control would benefit our other shareholders, which could deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their ProKidney Class A ordinary shares. This concentration of ownership may also affect the prevailing market price of our ProKidney Class A ordinary shares due to investors perceptions that conflicts of interest may exist or arise. As a result, this concentration of ownership may not be in your best interests.
Further, because these shareholders hold their economic interest in our business through ProKidney LP, rather than through ProKidney Corp., their interests may further conflict with the interests of holders of ProKidney Class A ordinary shares. For example, such holders may have different tax positions from ProKidney Corp., which could influence their decisions regarding whether and when ProKidney Corp. should dispose of assets or incur new or refinance existing indebtedness, and whether and when ProKidney Corp. should undergo certain changes of control within the meaning of the Tax Receivable Agreement or terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement. In addition, the structuring of future transactions may take into consideration these tax or other considerations even where no similar benefit would accrue to ProKidney Corp. These holders significant ownership in ProKidney Corp. and resulting ability, acting together, to effectively control us may discourage someone from making a significant equity investment in ProKidney Corp., or could discourage transactions involving a change in control, including transactions in which a holder of ProKidney Class A ordinary shares might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over the then-current market price.
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Because we are a controlled company within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules, our shareholders may not have certain corporate governance protections that are available to shareholders of companies that are not controlled companies.
So long as more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, a group or another company, we will qualify as a controlled company within the meaning of the Nasdaq corporate governance standards. Pursuant to the terms of the Voting Agreement, Tolerantia effectively controls a majority of the voting power of all outstanding ProKidney Corp. ordinary shares with respect to the election, appointment or removal of any director. As a result, we are a controlled company within the meaning of the Nasdaq corporate governance standards and are not subject to the requirements that would otherwise require us to have: (i) a majority of our board of directors consist of independent directors, (ii) subject to the exception pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b)(2), our board of directors have a compensation committee that is composed of at least two members, each of whom is an independent director, with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and responsibilities and (iii) director nominees must be selected, or recommended for the boards selection, either by independent directors constituting a majority of the boards independent directors in a vote in which only independent directors participate, or by a nominating and corporate governance committee comprised solely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and responsibilities. Pursuant to the requirements under the Business Combination Agreement, a majority of the directors of the Board are independent directors for the purposes of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, but for at least some period following the Business Combination, we may utilize the other exemptions described above.
Tolerantia may have its interest in the Company diluted due to future equity issuances or its own actions in selling shares of the Company, in each case, which could result in a loss of the controlled company exemption under the Nasdaq listing rules. We would then be required to comply with those provisions of the Nasdaq listing requirements.
Antitakeover provisions contained in our Charter, as well as provisions of Cayman Islands law, could impair a takeover attempt.
Our Charter contains provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that shareholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities. These provisions will include, among other things:
| no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which limits the ability of minority shareholders to elect director candidates; |
| a classified board of directors with three-year staggered terms, which could delay the ability of shareholders to change the membership of a majority of the Board; |
| the requirement that directors may only be removed from the Board by special resolution; |
| the right of the Board to elect a director to fill a vacancy of the Board created by the expansion of the Board or the resignation, death, or removal of a director in certain circumstances, which prevents shareholders from being able to fill vacancies on the Board; |
| a prohibition on shareholders calling an extraordinary general meeting and the requirement that a meeting of shareholders may only be called by members of the Board, which may delay the ability of our shareholders to force consideration of a proposal or to take action, including the removal of directors; and |
| the right of the Board to issue and set the voting and other rights of preference shares, which could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of ordinary shares. |
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The JOBS Act permits emerging growth companies like us to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.
We currently qualify as an emerging growth company as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies for as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, including: (i) the exemption from the auditor attestation requirements with respect to internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of SOX; (ii) the exemptions from say-on-pay, say-on-frequency and say-on-golden parachute voting requirements; and (iii) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements. As a result, our shareholders may not have access to certain information they deem important. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year: (a) following July 2, 2026, the fifth (5th) anniversary of our initial public offering; (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion; or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our Class A ordinary shares that is held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our prior second fiscal quarter, and (ii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company that is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company that has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Additionally, we are a smaller reporting company as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (i) the market value of our ordinary shares that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the last business day of the prior fiscal quarter, or (ii) our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year, and the market value of our ordinary shares that is held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of the prior second fiscal quarter.
We cannot predict if investors will find our Class A ordinary shares less attractive because we rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our Class A ordinary shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A ordinary shares, and our share price may be more volatile.
Our internal controls over financial reporting may not be effective and our independent registered public accounting firm may not be able to certify as to their effectiveness, which could have a significant and adverse effect on our business and reputation.
As a public company, we are required to comply with the SECs rules implementing Sections 302 and 404 of SOX, which require management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. To comply with the requirements of being a public company, we will be required to provide attestation on internal
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controls commencing with the annual report for fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and we may need to undertake various actions, such as implementing additional internal controls and procedures and hiring additional accounting or internal audit staff. The standards required for a public company under Section 404 of SOX are significantly more stringent than those that were previously required of us as a privately held company. Further, as an emerging growth company, our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 until the date we are no longer an emerging growth company. At such time, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event that it is not satisfied with the level at which our controls are documented, designed or operating.
Testing and maintaining these controls can divert our managements attention from other matters that are important to the operation of our business. If we identify material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting or are unable to comply with the requirements of Section 404 or assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting when we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, and the market price of our ordinary shares could be negatively affected, and we could become subject to investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.
Risks Related to our Organizational Structure
We are a limited partner of ProKidney LP but may, in certain circumstances, lose the benefit of limited liability.
We are a limited partner of ProKidney LP, a limited partnership registered under the laws of Ireland.
Under the Irish LP Act, limited partners of Irish limited partnerships will not be liable for the debts or obligations of the partnership beyond the amount of capital they have contributed. However, the Irish LP Act also provides that such limited liability may be lost if (i) a limited partner (such as ProKidney Corp.) takes part in the management of the business of the partnership, (ii) there is a failure to register ProKidney LP as a limited partnership or any change to the registration details of ProKidney LP, including changes to the name of ProKidney LP, the general nature of the business of ProKidney LP, the principal place of business of ProKidney LP, the partners or the name of any partner of ProKidney LP, the term of character of ProKidney LP, the sum contributed by any limited partner or the liability of any partner by reason of his becoming a limited instead of a general partner or a general instead of a limited partner; and (iii) a limited partner withdraws some or a part of his, her or its capital, in which circumstance he, she or it will be liable for the debts and obligations of the firm up to the amount so withdrawn.
We are a holding company, and our only material asset is our interest in ProKidney LP, and we are accordingly dependent upon distributions made by our subsidiaries to pay taxes, make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement and pay dividends.
We are a holding company with no material assets other than our ownership of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units. As a result, we have no independent means of generating revenue or cash flow. Our ability to pay taxes, make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement and pay dividends, if any, will depend on the financial results and cash flows of ProKidney LP and its subsidiaries and the distributions we receive from ProKidney LP. Deterioration in the financial condition, earnings or cash flow of ProKidney LP and its subsidiaries, for any reason, could limit or impair our ability to pay such distributions. Additionally, to the extent that we need funds and ProKidney LP and/or any of its subsidiaries are restricted from making such distributions under applicable law or regulation or under the terms of any financing arrangements, or ProKidney LP is otherwise unable to provide such funds, it could materially adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition.
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Subject to the potential risk of being treated as a publicly traded partnership discussed below, ProKidney LP will continue to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as such, generally will not be subject to any entity-level U.S. federal income tax. Instead, the taxable income of ProKidney LP will be allocated to holders of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units, including ProKidney Corp. Accordingly, we may be required to pay income taxes on our allocable share of any net taxable income of ProKidney LP (e.g., U.S. federal income and branch profits tax to the extent such net taxable income is effectively connected to the conduct of a trade or business in the United States). Under the terms of the Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement, ProKidney LP is obligated to make tax distributions to holders of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units (including ProKidney Corp.) calculated at certain assumed tax rates. In addition to tax expenses, we will also incur expenses related to our operations, including payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement (and the cost of administering such payment obligations), which could be significant and some of which may be reimbursed by ProKidney LP (excluding payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement). We intend to cause ProKidney LP to make distributions to holders of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units pro rata, in amounts sufficient to cover all applicable income taxes (calculated at assumed tax rates), relevant operating expenses, payments required to be made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreement and dividends, if any, declared by us. However, as discussed below, ProKidney LPs ability to make such distributions may be subject to various limitations and restrictions including, but not limited to, restrictions on distributions that would either violate any contract or agreement to which ProKidney LP is then a party, including debt agreements, or any applicable law, or that would have the effect of rendering ProKidney LP insolvent. If our cash resources are insufficient to meet our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement and to fund our obligations, we may be required to incur additional indebtedness to provide the liquidity needed to make such payments, which could materially adversely affect its liquidity and financial condition and subject us to various restrictions imposed by any such lenders. To the extent that we are unable to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, such payments will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid; provided, however, that nonpayment for a specified period may constitute a material breach of a material obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement and therefore accelerate payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement, which could be substantial.
Additionally, although ProKidney LP generally will not be subject to any entity-level U.S. federal income tax, it may be liable under federal tax legislation for adjustments to its tax return, absent an election to the contrary. In the event ProKidney LPs calculations of taxable income are incorrect, its members, including ProKidney Corp., in later years may be subject to material liabilities pursuant to this federal legislation and its related guidance.
We anticipate that the distributions we will receive from ProKidney LP may, in certain periods, exceed our actual tax liabilities and obligations to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. The Board, in its sole discretion, may make any determination from time to time with respect to the use of any such excess cash so accumulated, which may include, among other uses, to pay dividends on ProKidney Class A ordinary shares. We will have no obligation to distribute such cash (or other available cash other than any declared dividend) to our shareholders.
Dividends on ProKidney Class A ordinary shares, if any, will be paid at the discretion of the Board, which will consider, among other things, our business, operating results, financial condition, current and expected cash needs, plans for expansion and any legal or contractual limitations on our ability to pay such dividends. Financing arrangements may include restrictive covenants that restrict our ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to our shareholders. Under the Irish LP Act, a limited partner of ProKidney LP may lose its limited liability where such limited partner withdraws some or a part of his, her or its contribution to ProKidney LP, in which circumstance he, she or it will be liable for debts and obligations of ProKidney up to the amount so withdrawn.
ProKidneys subsidiaries are generally subject to similar legal limitations on their ability to make distributions to ProKidney. If ProKidney does not have sufficient funds to make distributions, our ability to declare and pay cash dividends may also be restricted or impaired.
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In certain circumstances, ProKidney LP will be required to make distributions to us and the other holders of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units, and the distributions that ProKidney LP will be required to make may be substantial.
ProKidney LP will generally be required from time to time to make pro rata distributions in cash to us and the other holders of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units at certain assumed tax rates in amounts that are intended to be sufficient to cover the taxes on our and the other holders of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units respective allocable shares of the taxable income of ProKidney LP. As a result of (i) potential differences in the amount of net taxable income allocable to us and the other holders of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units, (ii) the lower tax rate applicable to corporations than individuals, (iii) our status as a non-U.S. person and (iv) the use of an assumed tax rate (the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate prescribed for an individual or corporate resident of New York, New York) in calculating ProKidney LPs distribution obligations, we may receive tax distributions significantly in excess of our tax liabilities and obligations to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We will determine in its sole discretion the appropriate uses for any excess cash so accumulated, which may include, among other uses, dividends, the payment of obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement and the payment of other expenses. We will have no obligation to distribute such excess cash (or other available cash other than any declared dividend) to the holders of ProKidney Class A ordinary shares. No adjustments to the redemption or exchange ratio of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units for ProKidney Class A ordinary shares will be made as a result of either (i) any cash dividend by us or (ii) any cash that we retain and do not distribute to our shareholders. To the extent that we do not distribute such excess cash as dividends on ProKidney Class A ordinary shares and instead, for example, holds such cash balances or lends them to ProKidney LP, holders of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units would benefit from any value attributable to such cash balances as a result of their ownership of ProKidney Class A ordinary shares following a redemption or exchange of their ProKidney Common Units.
Under the Tax Receivable Agreement, we are required to pay 85% of certain tax savings recognized by ProKidney Corp. as a result of the increases in tax basis of ProKidney assets attributable to the exchanges of ProKidney Common Units for ProKidney Class A ordinary shares and certain other tax benefits, and those payments may be substantial.
The Closing ProKidney Unitholders may exchange their Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units for ProKidney Class A ordinary shares or, subject to certain restrictions, cash, pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, subject to certain conditions and transfer restrictions as set forth therein and in the Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement. These exchanges are expected to result in increases in our allocable share of the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of ProKidney LP. These increases in tax basis may increase (for tax purposes) depreciation and amortization deductions and therefore reduce the amount of income or franchise tax that we would otherwise be required to pay in the future had such exchanges never occurred.
In connection with the Business Combination, we entered into the Tax Receivable Agreement, which generally provides for the payment by it of 85% of certain tax savings, if any, that we recognize as a result of these increases in tax basis and certain other tax attributes of ProKidney LP and tax benefits related to entering into the Tax Receivable Agreement. These payments are the obligation of ProKidney Corp. and not of ProKidney LP. The actual increase in our allocable share of ProKidneys tax basis in its assets, as well as the amount and timing of any payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement, will vary depending upon a number of factors, including the timing of exchanges, the market price of the Class A ordinary share at the time of the exchange, the extent to which such exchanges are taxable and the amount and timing of the recognition of our income. Many of the factors that will determine the amount of payments that we will make under the Tax Receivable Agreement are outside of our control and such payments, if any, could be substantial and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. Even assuming, among other things, that there are no material changes in relevant tax law, that ProKidney LPs enterprise value is equal to the enterprise value that was agreed to in the
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Business Combination at the time all Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units are exchanged, and that there are significant future redemptions or exchanges of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement are not expected to be material because ProKidney LP does not currently (i) plan to migrate business operations to the United States, or (ii) otherwise anticipate tax benefits outside of the United States from redemptions or exchanges of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units that would trigger obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement based upon the intended operations of ProKidney LP outside the United States. In addition, because ProKidney LP does not currently have business operations in the United States and does not expect to generate significant operating revenues in the near future, if at all, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement in the near future, if any, are not expected to be material. If, contrary to current intended business operations and strategy, the business operations are migrated to the United States, the business operations outside of the United States change, or there are material changes in relevant tax law, then payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement could be material. Any payments made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally reduce the amount of overall cash flow that might have otherwise been available to us. To the extent that we are unable to make timely payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, the unpaid amounts will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid. Furthermore, our future obligation to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement could make it a less attractive target for an acquisition, particularly in the case of an acquirer that cannot use some or all of the tax benefits that may be deemed realized under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement may exceed the actual tax benefits we realize or may be accelerated.
Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will be based on the tax reporting positions that we determine, and the IRS or any other taxing authorities may challenge all or any part of the tax basis increases, as well as other tax positions that we take, and a court may sustain such a challenge. In the event any tax benefits initially claimed by us are disallowed, the current Closing ProKidney Unitholders will not be required to reimburse us for any excess payments that may previously have been made under the Tax Receivable Agreement, for example, due to adjustments resulting from examinations by taxing authorities. Rather, excess payments made to such holders will be netted against any future cash payments otherwise required to be made by us, if any, after the determination of such excess. However, a challenge to any tax benefits initially claimed by us may not arise for a number of years following the initial time of such payment or, even if challenged early, such excess cash payment may be greater than the amount of future cash payments that we might otherwise be required to make under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement and, as a result, there might not be future cash payments from which to net against. As a result, in certain circumstances we could make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement in excess of our actual income or franchise tax savings, which could materially impair our financial condition.
Moreover, the Tax Receivable Agreement provides that, in the event that (i) we exercise our early termination rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement, (ii) the Tax Receivable Agreement is rejected by operation of law in a bankruptcy case, (iii) certain changes of control of ProKidney Corp. occur (as described in the Tax Receivable Agreement) or (iv) we are more than three months late in making a payment due under the Tax Receivable Agreement (unless we in good faith determine that we have insufficient funds to make such payment) or otherwise materially breach any of our material obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement, our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement will accelerate, and we will be required to make an immediate lump-sum cash payment to the Closing ProKidney Unitholders equal to the present value of all forecasted future payments that would have otherwise been made under the Tax Receivable Agreement, which lump-sum payment would be based on certain assumptions, including those relating to our future taxable income. The lump-sum payment to the Closing ProKidney Unitholders could be substantial and could exceed the actual tax benefits that we realize subsequent to such payment because such payment would be calculated assuming, among other things, that we would be able to use the assumed potential tax benefits in future years, and that tax rates applicable to us would be the same as they were in the year of the termination.
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There may be a material negative effect on our liquidity if the payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement exceed the actual income or franchise tax savings that we realize. Furthermore, our obligations to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement could also have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control. We may need to incur additional indebtedness to finance payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement to the extent our cash resources are insufficient to meet our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement as a result of timing discrepancies or otherwise. Such indebtedness may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
Finally, because we are a holding company with no operations of our own, our ability to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement depends on the ability of ProKidney LP to make distributions to us. To the extent that we are unable to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, such payments will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid, which could negatively impact our results of operations and could also affect our liquidity in periods in which such payments are made.
If ProKidney LP were to become a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we and ProKidney LP might be subject to potentially significant tax inefficiencies, and we would not be able to recover payments previously made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreement even if the corresponding tax benefits were subsequently determined to have been unavailable due to such status.
We intend to operate such that ProKidney LP does not become a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A publicly traded partnership is a partnership the interests of which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. Under certain circumstances, exchanges of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units pursuant to the Exchange Agreement or other transfers of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units could cause ProKidney LP to be treated as a publicly traded partnership. Applicable Treasury Regulations provide for certain safe harbors from treatment as a publicly traded partnership, and we intend to operate such that exchanges or other transfers of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units qualify for one or more such safe harbors. For example, the Exchange Agreement and the Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement, which were entered into in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, provide for limitations on the ability of ProKidney Unitholders to transfer their Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units and provide us with the right to cause the imposition of limitations and restrictions (in addition to those already in place) on the ability of ProKidney Unitholders to exchange their Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units, including pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, to the extent we believe it is necessary to ensure that ProKidney LP will continue to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
If ProKidney LP were to become a publicly traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, significant tax inefficiencies might result for us and ProKidney LP. For example, we may not be able to realize tax benefits covered under the Tax Receivable Agreement, and we would not be able to recover any payments previously made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreement, even if the corresponding tax benefits (including any claimed increase in the tax basis of ProKidneys assets) were subsequently determined to have been unavailable.
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company. The rights of our shareholders may be different from the rights of shareholders governed by the laws of U.S. jurisdictions.
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company. Our corporate affairs will continue to be governed by our Charter and by the laws of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders and the responsibilities of members of the Board may be different from the rights of shareholders and responsibilities of directors in companies governed by the laws of U.S. jurisdictions. In the performance of its duties, the board of directors of a solvent Cayman Islands exempted company is required to consider that companys best interests, which may differ from the interests of one or more of its individual shareholders.
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Risks Related to our Securities
If the Selling Securityholders sell all or a substantial portion of their securities, this may negatively impact the market price of our Class A ordinary shares, and such holders still may receive significant proceeds from the sales of their shares.
Even if the price of our Class A ordinary shares falls below $10.00 per share, which was the price per share sold in our initial public offering and the per-share price of the PIPE Shares, certain Selling Securityholders who received our ordinary shares (or restricted stock rights convertible into ordinary shares upon vesting) at the Closing and who have registration rights pursuant to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement would be able to sell the securities registered hereby at a positive return because they purchased or were issued such securities at prices significantly less than $10.00 per share.
While the 52,480,000 PIPE Shares, the 5,000,000 Class B ordinary shares acquired by Tolerantia and CEC pursuant to their Subscription Agreements and subsequent election to receive Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units (and a corresponding number of Class B ordinary shares) in lieu of Class A ordinary shares, and the 640,000 Private Placement Shares registered for resale hereby were purchased at a price of $10.00 per share, (i) the 6,250,000 Class B ordinary shares (which were converted into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis upon the closing of the Business Combination) collectively held by former holders of Class B ordinary shares were purchased at an effective price of $0.004 per share; (ii) 152,796,613 Class B ordinary shares held by Tolerantia and CEC, which are exchangeable for Class A ordinary shares pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, were purchased from ProKidney LP at a price per share of $1.22, after adjusting for the recapitalization of Class A and Class B units in ProKidney LP into Class B ordinary shares (including Class B ordinary shares underlying restricted stock rights); (iii) 7,699,927 Class B ordinary shares (including Class B ordinary shares underlying restricted stock rights) held by PMEL were purchased by individual holders at a price per share of $1.11, after adjusting for the recapitalization mentioned in clause (ii); (iv) 14,503,460 Class B ordinary shares (including Class B ordinary shares underlying restricted stock rights) held by PMEL were granted to, rather than purchased by, individual holders; and (v) 50,000 Class A ordinary shares held by directors and advisors of SCS prior to the Closing that were granted in the form of RSUs that vested at Closing as compensation for services rendered prior to the Closing.
As a result of these nominal prices compared with the market prices of our Class A ordinary shares which, as of August 25, 2022, was $7.50 per share, certain Selling Securityholders, such as the purchasers of the Founder Shares, the holders of the Class B ordinary shares and the directors and advisors that were granted RSUs that vested at Closing, are likely to earn a positive return on their investment even if other holders of our Class A ordinary shares, including our public shareholders, experience a negative return on their investment in the Companys securities. Based on the closing price of our Class A ordinary shares on August 25, 2022 of $7.50 per share (and notwithstanding any lock-up restrictions with and/or vesting provisions), those Selling Securityholders that were granted their shares or that purchased their shares at a price per share below the current market price of our Class A ordinary shares (or that was a transferee of shares that were purchased at a price per share below the current market price of our Class A ordinary shares) would have a potential unrealized gain of approximately $1.2 billion in the aggregate. As a result, these Selling Securityholders may be incentivized to sell their securities when others are not.
The registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, has been filed to discharge our obligations under the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement and Subscription Agreements. In the aggregate, the number of shares registered for resale hereby equals 99.1% of the number of our ordinary shares outstanding, on a fully diluted basis, as of August 26, 2022, approximately 65.3% of which is held collectively by Tolerantia (and effectively by Pablo Legorreta) and CEC. Tolerantia and CEC may exchange their Class B ordinary shares for Class A ordinary shares and sell all of their shares for so long as the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is available for use. The sale or possibility of sale of all or a significant portion of these securities trading in the public market may negatively impact the market price of our Class A ordinary shares.
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All of the Class A ordinary shares offered by the Selling Securityholders pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the Selling Securityholders for their respective accounts. We will not receive any of the proceeds from these sales.
The Selling Securityholders will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by the Selling Securityholders for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses incurred by the Selling Securityholders in disposing of the securities. We will bear the costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the securities covered by this prospectus, including all registration and filing fees, Nasdaq listing fees and fees and expenses of our counsel and our independent registered public accounting firm.
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MARKET PRICE, TICKER SYMBOL AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION
Market Price and Ticker Symbol
Our Class A ordinary shares are currently listed on Nasdaq under the symbol PROK.
The closing price of the Class A ordinary shares on August 25, 2022, was $7.50.
Holders
As of July 31, 2022, there were 61 holders of record of our Class A ordinary shares and 3 holders of record of our Class B ordinary shares.
Such numbers do not include beneficial owners holding our securities through nominee names. There is no public market for our Class B ordinary shares.
Dividend Policy
We have not paid any cash dividends on our Class A ordinary shares or Class B ordinary shares to date. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition. The payment of any cash dividends will be within the discretion of the Board at such time.
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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
In this section, unless the context otherwise requires, the combined company or ProKidney refer to ProKidney Corp. (formerly Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III) and its subsidiaries after the Closing, SCS refers to SCS prior to the Closing, and Legacy ProKidney refers to ProKidney LP and its subsidiaries prior to the Closing.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and for the year ended December 31, 2021 combines the historical statement of operations of SCS and the historical consolidated statement of operations of Legacy ProKidney, giving effect to the Business Combination as if it had occurred on January 1, 2021. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2022 combines the historical balance sheet of SCS and Legacy ProKidney, giving effect to the Business Combination as if it had occurred on June 30, 2022, and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of December 31, 2021 combines the historical balance sheet of SCS and Legacy ProKidney, giving effect to the Business Combination as if it had occurred on December 31, 2021.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presents the combination of the financial information of SCS and Legacy ProKidney, adjusted to give effect to the Business Combination and other events contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement. The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release 33-10786 Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared to illustrate the effect of the Business Combination and has been prepared for informational purposes only. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations is not necessarily indicative of what the actual results of operations would have been had the Business Combination taken place on the date indicated, nor is it indicative of the future consolidated results of operations of the combined company. The pro forma adjustments were based on the information available as of the date of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements and are subject to change as additional information becomes available and analyses are performed. Actual results may differ materially from the assumptions within the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.
On July 11, 2022, SCS and Legacy ProKidney consummated the Business Combination pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement. The historical financial information has been adjusted to give pro forma effect to the following events that are related and/or directly attributable to the Business Combination. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information The following pro forma condensed combined financial statements presented herein reflect the actual redemption of 22,829,769 Class A ordinary shares in conjunction with the shareholder vote on the Business Combination contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement at the extraordinary general meeting held on July 11, 2022.
The following summarizes the pro forma share ownership of the combined companys Class A ordinary shares after giving effect to the Business Combination.
New ProKidney Ordinary Shares |
Ownership | |||||||
Public Shareholders |
2,170,231 | 0.9 | % | |||||
Sponsor |
6,890,000 | 2.9 | % | |||||
Third Party PIPE Investors |
36,840,000 | 15.2 | % | |||||
Sponsor Related PIPE Investors |
15,640,000 | 6.5 | % | |||||
ProKidney Unitholders (including the ProKidney Related PIPE Investors) |
180,000,000 | 74.5 | % | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Shares Outstanding |
241,540,231 | 100.00 | % |
83
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is based on and should be read in conjunction with:
| the accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information; |
| the historical unaudited condensed financial statements of SCS as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2022, the historical audited condensed financial statements for SCS as of December 31, 2021 and for the period from February 25, 2021 (date of inception) through December 31, 2021, and the related notes, in each case, included elsewhere in this prospectus; |
| the historical unaudited consolidated financial statements of Legacy ProKidney as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2022, the historical audited consolidated financial statements of Legacy ProKidney as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes, in each case, included elsewhere in this prospectus; and |
| other information relating to SCS and Legacy ProKidney contained in this prospectus, including the Business Combination Agreement and the description of certain terms thereof set forth under Summary of the ProspectusRecent DevelopmentsBusiness Combination Agreement, as well as the disclosures contained in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. |
84
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS JUNE 30, 2022
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
SCS Historical | ProKidney Historical |
Transaction Accounting Adjustments (Note 3) |
Note | Proforma Combined |
||||||||||||||||
Current assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 108 | $ | 21,882 | $ | 516,204 | (a | ) | $ | 538,194 | ||||||||||
Prepaid assets |
525 | 682 | | 1,207 | ||||||||||||||||
Prepaid clinical |
| 11,350 | | 11,350 | ||||||||||||||||
Other current assets |
| | | | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total current assets |
633 | 33,914 | 516,204 | 550,751 | ||||||||||||||||
Investments held in Trust Account |
250,371 | | (250,371 | ) | (b | ) | | |||||||||||||
Fixed assets, net |
| 10,857 | | 10,857 | ||||||||||||||||
Right of use assets, net |
| 1,962 | | 1,962 | ||||||||||||||||
Deferred offering costs |
| 6,905 | (6,905 | ) | (c | ) | | |||||||||||||
Intangible assets, net |
| 320 | | 320 | ||||||||||||||||
Other long term assets |
| | | | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 251,004 | $ | 53,958 | $ | 258,928 | $ | 563,890 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | | $ | 2,513 | $ | | $ | 2,513 | ||||||||||||
Lease liabilities |
| 377 | | 377 | ||||||||||||||||
Accrued expenses and other |
7,603 | 6,184 | | 13,787 | ||||||||||||||||
Related party notes payable |
250 | 35,000 | (35,250 | ) | (d | ) | | |||||||||||||
Income taxes payable |
| 1,730 | | 1,730 | ||||||||||||||||
Advances from related party |
81 | | (81 | ) | (e | ) | | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
7,934 | 45,804 | (35,331 | ) | 18,407 | |||||||||||||||
Long term liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred underwriting fee payable |
7,700 | | (7,700 | ) | (f | ) | | |||||||||||||
Lease liabilities, net of current portion |
| 1,617 | | 1,617 | ||||||||||||||||
Tax Receivable Agreement liability |
| | | (g | ) | | ||||||||||||||
Temporary equity: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption |
250,371 | | (250,371 | ) | (h | ) | | |||||||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interest |
| | 410,388 | (i | ) | 410,388 | ||||||||||||||
ProKidney Corp. |
||||||||||||||||||||
ProKidney Corp. Class A ordinary shares |
| | 58 | (j | ),(h),(o) | 58 | ||||||||||||||
ProKidney Corp. Class B ordinary shares |
| | 18 | (k | ) | 18 | ||||||||||||||
SCS: |
||||||||||||||||||||
SCS Preference shares, $0.0001 par value |
| | | | ||||||||||||||||
SCS Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value |
| | | | ||||||||||||||||
SCS Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value |
1 | | (1 | ) | (o | ) | | |||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
ProKidney: |
||||||||||||||||||||
ProKidneyClass A Units |
| 186,500 | (186,500 | ) | (k | ) | | |||||||||||||
ProKidneyClass B Units |
| 71,164 | (71,164 | ) | (k | ) | | |||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
141,867 | (k | ),(l) | 141,867 | ||||||||||||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(15,002 | ) | (251,127 | ) | 257,664 | (k | ) | (8,465 | ) | |||||||||||
Total equity |
(15,001 | ) | 6,537 | 141,942 | 133,478 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity |
$ | 251,004 | $ | 53,958 | $ | 258,928 | $ | 563,890 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
85
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS DECEMBER 31, 2021
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
SCS Historical | ProKidney Historical |
Transaction Accounting Adjustments (Note 3) |
Note | Proforma Combined |
||||||||||||||||
Current assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 440 | $ | 20,558 | $ | 551,493 | (a | ) | $ | 572,491 | ||||||||||
Prepaid assets |
505 | 588 | | 1,093 | ||||||||||||||||
Prepaid clinical |
| 6,100 | | 6,100 | ||||||||||||||||
Other current assets |
| 25 | | 25 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total current assets |
945 | 27,271 | 551,493 | 579,709 | ||||||||||||||||
Investments held in Trust Account |
250,008 | | (250,008 | ) | (b | ) | | |||||||||||||
Fixed assets, net |
| 11,358 | | 11,358 | ||||||||||||||||
Right of Use assets, net |
| 1,241 | | 1,241 | ||||||||||||||||
Intangible assets, net |
| 428 | | 428 | ||||||||||||||||
Other long term assets |
248 | | | 248 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 251,201 | $ | 40,298 | $ | 301,485 | $ | 592,984 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 1,870 | $ | 2,834 | $ | | $ | 4,704 | ||||||||||||
Lease liabilities |
| 267 | | 267 | ||||||||||||||||
Accrued expenses and other |
| 9,213 | | 9,213 | ||||||||||||||||
Advances from related party |
10 | | (10 | ) | (c | ) | | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
1,880 | 12,314 | (10 | ) | 14,184 | |||||||||||||||
Long term liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||
Deferred underwriting fee payable |
7,700 | | (7,700 | ) | (d | ) | | |||||||||||||
Lease liabilities, net of current portion |
| 1,067 | | 1,067 | ||||||||||||||||
Tax Receivable Agreement liability |
| | | (m | ) | | ||||||||||||||
Temporary equity: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption |
250,008 | | (250,008 | ) | (e | ) | | |||||||||||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interest |
| | 430,480 | (f | ) | 430,480 | ||||||||||||||
New ProKidney: |
||||||||||||||||||||
New ProKidney Class A ordinary shares |
| | 58 | (g | ),(e),(l) | 58 | ||||||||||||||
New ProKidney Class B ordinary shares |
| | 18 | (h | ) | 18 | ||||||||||||||
SCS: |
||||||||||||||||||||
SCS Preference shares, $0.0001 par value |
| | | | ||||||||||||||||
SCS Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value |
| | | | ||||||||||||||||
SCS Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value |
1 | | | (1) | (l | ) | | |||||||||||||
ProKidney: |
||||||||||||||||||||
ProKidney - Class A Units |
| 186,500 | (186,500 | ) | (h | ) | | |||||||||||||
ProKidney - Class B Units |
| 1,927 | (1,927 | ) | (h | ) | | |||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
| | 128,648 | (h | ),(i) | 128,648 | ||||||||||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(8,388 | ) | (161,510 | ) | 188,427 | (h | ) | 18,529 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total equity |
(8,387 | ) | 26,917 | 128,723 | 147,253 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest and equity |
$ | 251,201 | $ | 40,298 | $ | 301,485 | $ | 592,984 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
86
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2022
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
SCS Historical | ProKidney Historical |
Transaction Accounting Adjustments (Note 3) |
Note | Proforma Combined |
||||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Research and development |
$ | | $ | 40,048 | $ | | $ | 40,048 | ||||||||||||||||
Operation and formation costs |
6,614 | | | 6,614 | ||||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
| 47,152 | | 47,152 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
6,614 | 87,200 | | 93,814 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Operating loss |
(6,614 | ) | (87,200 | ) | | (93,814 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Other income |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
| (184 | ) | | (184 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest income |
363 | | (363 | ) | (aa | ) | | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total other income |
363 | (184 | ) | (363 | ) | (184 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Net loss before income taxes |
(6,251 | ) | (87,384 | ) | (363 | ) | (93,998 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
| 2,233 | | (bb | ) | 2,233 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
(6,251 | ) | (89,617 | ) | (363 | ) | (96,231 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest |
| | (71,713 | ) | (cc | ) | (71,713 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net loss available to Class A ordinary shares |
$ | (6,251 | ) | $ | (89,617 | ) | $ | 71,350 | $ | (24,518 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Weighted average Class A ordinary shares, basic and diluted |
61,540,231 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss per share attributable to Class A ordinary shares, basic and diluted |
$ | (0.40 | ) | (dd | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
87
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
SCS Historical | ProKidney Historical |
Transaction Accounting Adjustments (Note 3) |
Note | Proforma Combined |
||||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Research and development |
$ | | $ | 46,255 | $ | | $ | 46,255 | ||||||||||||||||
Operation and formation costs |
2,333 | | 2,333 | |||||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
| 8,855 | | 8,855 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total operating expenses |
2,333 | 55,110 | | 57,443 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Operating loss |
(2,333 | ) | (55,110 | ) | | (57,443 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Other income |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest income |
8 | 2 | (8 | ) | (aa | ) | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total other income |
8 | 2 | (8 | ) | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
Net loss before income taxes |
(2,325 | ) | (55,108 | ) | (8 | ) | (57,441 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
| 38 | | (bb | ) | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
(2,325 | ) | (55,146 | ) | (8 | ) | (57,479 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest |
| | (42,834 | ) | (cc | ) | (42,834 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Net loss available to Class A ordinary shares |
$ | (2,325 | ) | $ | (55,146 | ) | $ | 42,826 | $ | (14,645 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Weighted average Class A ordinary shares, basic and diluted |
61,540,231 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss per share attributable to Class A ordinary shares, basic and diluted |
$ | (0.24 | ) | (dd | ) |
88
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
1. | Description of Transaction |
On July 11, 2022, SCS and Legacy ProKidney consummated the Business Combination contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.
Following the Closing, the combined company was organized in an umbrella partnership-C corporation (or Up-C) structure, and the combined companys direct assets consisted of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units and all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of GP, which replaced Legacy GP as the general partner of Legacy ProKidney upon the Closing, and substantially all of the operating assets and business of the combined company is held indirectly through Legacy ProKidney, as described further below. ProKidney is domiciled in the Cayman Islands.
Pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, the following transactions occurred:
| prior to the Closing: (i) Legacy ProKidney amended and restated the ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement to be in the form of the Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement, which became effective upon the completion of the Business Combination; (ii) GP amended and restated its constitution, which became effective upon the completion of the Business Combination; (iii) SCS amended and restated the memorandum and articles of association then in effect to be in the form of the Charter, which became effective upon the completion of the Business Combination; (iv) (A) each issued and outstanding Legacy ProKidney Class B Unit that was not vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement with the PMEL Existing Holder as of such time was recapitalized into one PMEL RCU, which would, when vested in accordance with the applicable award agreement, automatically convert into a Post-Combination ProKidney Common Unit (and the associated Legacy ProKidney Class B PMEL RSR would vest) and (B) all other issued and outstanding Legacy ProKidney Class A Units and ProKidney Class B Units were recapitalized into an aggregate number of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units equal to (x) 175,000,000 minus (y) the number of PMEL RCUs issued pursuant to the foregoing clause (A); (v) Legacy ProKidney completed a restructuring of PMEL; and (vi) Legacy ProKidney issued 5,000,000 Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units pursuant to certain Subscription Agreements in connection with the exercise of election by certain holders to purchase Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units in lieu of SCS Class A ordinary shares; and |
| at the Closing: (i) Legacy ProKidney issued to SCS a number of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units equal to the number of fully diluted outstanding SCS ordinary shares as of immediately prior to the Closing (but after giving effect to all redemptions of SCS Class A ordinary shares and the purchase of SCS Class A ordinary shares and/or Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units pursuant to the PIPE Investment), in exchange for (a) (x) ProKidney Class B ordinary shares, which shares have no economic rights but entitle the holders thereof to vote on all matters on which shareholders of the combined company are entitled to vote generally, and (y) ProKidney Class B PMEL RSRs, which shall convert into ProKidney Class B ordinary shares upon the vesting of the associated PMEL RCUs (as described above), (b) an amount in cash equal to the aggregate proceeds obtained by SCS in the PIPE Investment and (c) an amount in cash equal to the aggregate proceeds available for release to SCS from the Trust Account (after giving effect to all redemptions of SCS Class A ordinary shares and after payment of any deferred underwriting commissions being held in the Trust Account and payment of certain transaction expenses); (ii) Legacy GP resigned as the general partner of Legacy ProKidney and GP was be admitted as the general partner of Legacy ProKidney; (iii) Legacy ProKidney distributed to the Closing ProKidney Unitholders the ProKidney Class B ordinary shares and ProKidney Class B PMEL RSRs received pursuant to clause (i)(a) (x) and (y) above; and (iv) the Earnout Participants received the Earnout Rights, which Earnout Rights will vest in three equal tranches upon the achievement of certain ProKidney share price milestones or certain change of control events. When |
89
vested, the Earnout RCUs will automatically convert into Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units and the associated Earnout RSRs will automatically convert into ProKidney Class B ordinary shares, respectively. |
Pursuant to the Exchange Agreement as described elsewhere in this prospectus, each Post-Combination ProKidney Common Unit, together with one Class B ordinary share, is generally exchangeable for one Class A ordinary share, subject to certain procedures and restrictions.
Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been adjusted to include transaction accounting adjustments related to the Business Combination in accordance with GAAP.
We determined that the Business Combination qualified as a common control transaction and, therefore, was accounted for akin to a reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with GAAP. Legacy ProKidney is considered the accounting acquirer primarily based on the evaluation of the following facts and circumstances:
Under the guidance in ASC 805 for transactions between entities under common control, the assets, liabilities, and noncontrolling interests of Legacy ProKidney and SCS were recognized at their carrying amounts on the date of the Business Combination. Under this method of accounting, SCS was treated as the acquired company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Business Combination was treated as the equivalent of Legacy ProKidney issuing shares for the net assets of SCS, accompanied by a recapitalization. The net assets of SCS were stated at their historical value within the pro formas with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded.
| The individual controlling Legacy ProKidney prior to the Business Combination also controls the combined company as a result of the Voting Agreement, which provides Tolerantia with the majority of the votes related to the appointment and removal of the majority of the Board; |
| The Legacy ProKidney unitholders prior to the Closing comprise a majority of the voting power of the combined company following the Closing; |
| Senior management of Legacy ProKidney prior to the Closing comprise the senior management of the combined company following the Closing; and |
| The operations of Legacy ProKidney prior to the Closing comprise the ongoing operations of the combined company following the Closing. |
Upon completion of the Business Combination, GP became the sole general partner of Legacy ProKidney. Giving effect to the redemption of 22,829,769 Class A ordinary shares, ProKidney has the sole voting interest in Legacy ProKidney through its ownership of GP. As a result, ProKidney consolidated the financial results of Legacy ProKidney and reports a non-controlling interest related to the Post-Combination ProKidney Units held by Legacy ProKidneys investors prior to the Closing on ProKidneys consolidated balance sheet. The computation of the non-controlling interest following the Closing is as follows:
Units | Percentage | |||||||
Interest in ProKidney LP held by the Issuer |
61,540,231 | 25.5 | % | |||||
Noncontrolling interest in the Issuer |
180,000,000 | 74.5 | % | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
241,540,231 | 100.0 | % |
Proposed Accounting Treatment of the Earnout Rights
As discussed in this Note 1, the Earnout Participants received 17,500,000 Earnout Rights upon Closing. Upon satisfaction, during the five-year period after the Closing, of certain volume weighted average price
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(VWAP) thresholds, or a change in control with a per share price exceeding the VWAP thresholds within a five-year period immediately following the Closing, the Earnout Rights will automatically vest and convert into Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units and ProKidney Class B ordinary shares. As the Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, the issuance of the Earnout Rights to the Legacy ProKidney unitholders was accounted for as an equity transaction. Since the Earnout Rights were payable to the Legacy ProKidney unitholders (i.e., the accounting acquirer in the business combination), the accounting for the Earnout Rights arrangement did not fall under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 805, Business Combinations nor Topic 718, Stock Compensation.
The accounting for the Earnout Rights was also evaluated under ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, to determine if the arrangement should be classified as a liability. As part of that preliminary analysis, it was determined that the Earnout Rights did not meet the criteria to be accounted for as a liability. Additionally, the Earnout Rights were evaluated under ASC Topic 815, Derivatives. As part of that preliminary analysis, it was determined that the Earnout Rights met the definition of a derivative; however, they meet the scope exception criteria as they were clearly and closely related to the entitys own shares, and met the criteria for equity treatment. Therefore, an adjustment to recognize the Earnout Rights would have no net impact on any financial statement line item as it would simultaneously increase and decrease additional paid-in capital. Thus, no adjustment has been applied to the unaudited pro forma combined financial information related to the Earnout Rights.
2. | Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information |
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X. The adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information have been identified and presented to provide relevant information necessary for an illustrative understanding of the combined company upon consummation of the Business Combination in accordance with GAAP.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results and financial position that would have been achieved had the Business Combination occurred on the dates indicated. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not purport to project the future operating results or financial position of ProKidney following the completion of the Business Combination. The unaudited pro forma adjustments represent managements estimates based on information available as of the date of this unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and are subject to change as additional information becomes available and analyses are performed. SCS and Legacy ProKidney did not have any historical relationship prior to the transactions. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustments were required to eliminate activities between the companies.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements give effect to the redemption of 22,829,769 Class A ordinary shares.
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3. | Transaction Adjustments |
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2022
(a) | Represents pro forma adjustments to cash and cash equivalents to reflect the following: |
(in thousands) |
Note | |||||||
SCS cash held in Trust Account |
(1 | ) | $ | 250,371 | ||||
Payment of deferred underwriting fees |
(2 | ) | (7,700 | ) | ||||
PIPE Financing |
(3 | ) | 574,800 | |||||
Payment to redeeming Public Stockholders |
(4 | ) | (228,636 | ) | ||||
Payment of other transaction costs |
(5 | ) | (37,300 | ) | ||||
Repayment of related party notes payable |
(6 | ) | (35,250 | ) | ||||
Repayment of related party advance |
(7 | ) | (81 | ) | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Excess cash to balance sheet from Business Combination |
$ | 516,204 | ||||||
|
|
(1) | Reflects the liquidation and reclassification of investments held in the Trust Account to cash and cash equivalents. |
(2) | Reflects the payment of $7.7 million of underwriters fees deferred by SCS and which were paid at the Closing. |
(3) | Reflects the gross proceeds of $574.8 million from the issuance and sale of 52,480,000 ProKidney Class A ordinary shares and 5,000,000 ProKidney Class B ordinary shares at $10.00 per share pursuant to the Subscription Agreements (and, in the case of Tolerantia and CEC, their subsequent election to receive Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units (and a corresponding number of Class B ordinary shares) in lieu of Class A ordinary shares) entered into with PIPE Investors in connection with the PIPE Investment. |
(4) | Represents the payments made to the holders of SCS Class A ordinary shares in connection with the redemption of 22,829,769 SCS Class A ordinary shares. |
(5) | Represents transaction costs of $37.3 million incurred by Legacy ProKidney prior to, or concurrent with, the Closing that were cash settled upon Closing in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement. Of that amount, approximately $17.5 million related to investment transaction fees; $11.9 million related to equity financing fees associated with the PIPE Investment, and the remaining $7.9 million related to direct and incremental costs such as legal, tax, accounting, third-party advisory and other miscellaneous fees. This amount excluded the $7.7 million of deferred underwriting fees related to the SCS initial public offering as described in note (2) above, any amounts relating to the ProKidney Promissory Notes, which were repaid at the Closing, and other SCS transaction costs. |
(6) | Represents repayment of amounts drawn on ProKidney Promissory Notes as well as SCS unsecured promissory note with the Sponsor. |
(7) | Repayment of related party advance. |
(b) | Reflects the liquidation and reclassification of investments held in the Trust Account to cash and cash equivalents. |
(c) | Represents reclassification of Legacy ProKidney deferred offering costs incurred through June 30, 2022 to additional paid in capital as an offset to the proceeds from the transaction. |
(d) | Reflects repayment of amounts drawn on the ProKidney Promissory Notes as well as SCS unsecured promissory note with the Sponsor. |
(e) | Repayment of related party advance. |
(f) | Reflects the payment of $7.7 million of underwriters fees deferred by SCS for which payment is due upon the Closing. |
(g) | Upon the completion of the Business Combination, the combined company became a party to the Tax Receivable Agreement. Under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement, the combined company is required to pay to certain parties to the agreement 85% of the tax savings that it is deemed to realize in certain circumstances as a result of certain tax attributes that exist following the Transaction and that are created thereafter, including as a result of payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. The combined company does not expect to record net deferred tax assets related to the tax basis adjustments associated with the exchange of Paired Interests as those deferred tax assets are not more |
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likely than not expected to be realized in accordance with ASC 740Income Taxes. Accordingly, the combined company has not recorded a liability related to the Tax Receivable Agreement as of June 30, 2022, as the liability is not considered to be probable in accordance with ASC 450Contingencies. |
(h) | Reflects the reclassification of SCS Class A ordinary shares, giving effect to the redemption of 22,829,769 SCS Class A ordinary shares. |
(i) | As discussed in Note 1 to these unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements, the combined company will consolidate ProKidney, but does not own 100% of the economic interest in ProKidney. The noncontrolling interest reflecting actual redemptions is 74.5%. |
(j) | Reflects the gross proceeds of $574.8 million, net of an adjustment for the associated par value, from the issuance and sale of 52,480,000 ProKidney Class A ordinary shares and 5,000,000 ProKidney Class B ordinary shares at $10.00 per share pursuant to the Subscription Agreements (and, in the case of Tolerantia and CEC, their subsequent election to receive Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units (and a corresponding number of Class B ordinary shares) in lieu of Class A ordinary shares) entered into with PIPE Investors in connection with the PIPE Investment. |
(k) | Represents the recapitalization of the Legacy ProKidney Class A and Class B Units upon issuance of ProKidney Class B ordinary shares and Class B PMEL RSRs to Closing ProKidney Unitholders. |
(l) | Represents pro forma adjustments to additional paid in capital to reflect the following: |
(in thousands) |
Note | |||||||
PIPE Financing |
(j | ) | $ | 574,743 | ||||
Reclassification of ordinary shares subject to redemption to permanent equity |
(h | ) | 21,735 | |||||
Issuance of Class B ordinary shares to existing ProKidney owners |
(k | ) | (18 | ) | ||||
Transaction related fees |
(m | ) | (37,300 | ) | ||||
Issuance of Earnout Shares |
(n | ) | | |||||
Reclassification of ProKidney deferred offering costs to equity upon close |
(c | ) | (6,905 | ) | ||||
Noncontrolling interest |
(i | ) | (410,388 | ) | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Adjusted additional paid in capital |
$ | 141,867 | ||||||
|
|
(m) | Represents transaction costs of $37.3 million incurred by Legacy ProKidney prior to, or concurrent with, the Closing that were cash settled upon Closing in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement. Of that amount, approximately $17.5 million related to investment transaction fees; $11.9 million related to equity financing fees associated with the PIPE financing and the remaining $7.9 million related to direct and incremental costs such as legal, tax, accounting, third-party advisory and other miscellaneous fees. This amount excluded the $7.7 million of deferred underwriting fees related to the SCS initial public offering as described in note (2) above, any amounts relating to the ProKidney Promissory Notes, which were repaid at the Closing, and other SCS transaction costs. |
(n) | Represents the issuance of 17,500,000 Earnout Rights to Earnout Participants upon Closing. As discussed in Note 2 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the adjustment to recognize the Earnout Rights would have no net impact on any financial statement line item as it would simultaneously increase and decrease additional paid-in capital. |
(o) | Represents the exchange of SCS Class A ordinary shares, SCS Class B ordinary shares and related director restricted stock units held by the Sponsor and an independent director of SCS for ProKidney Class A ordinary shares. |
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Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2022
(aa) | Represents the adjustment to eliminate interest income related to the investment held in Trust Account. |
(bb) | Does not reflect a pro forma adjustment to income tax expense as Legacy ProKidney has historically been in a net loss position. Legacy ProKidney files as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes. As such, each partner is responsible for reporting income or loss to the extent required by federal and state income tax regulations, based upon their respective share of Legacy ProKidney income and expenses. ProKidney-US is a limited liability company and has elected to be treated as a C corporation, therefore, a provision for federal and state taxes has been recorded. Income tax expense of the combined company may differ from historical results due to the change in structure of ProKidney. |
(cc) | Represents the adjustment for the net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest. The noncontrolling interest, giving effect to redemptions, is 74.5%. |
(dd) | Represents the income per share calculated using the historical weighted average shares outstanding, and the issuance of additional shares in connection with the Business Combination, assuming the shares were outstanding since January 1, 2021. As the Business Combination and related equity transactions are being reflected as if they had occurred at the beginning of the period presented, the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted net income per share assumes that the shares issuable relating to the Business Combination were outstanding for the entirety of the period presented. |
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2021
(a) | Represents pro forma adjustments to cash and cash equivalents to reflect the following: |
(in thousands) |
Note | |||||||
SCS cash held in Trust Account |
(1 | ) | $ | 250,008 | ||||
Payment of deferred underwriting fees |
(2 | ) | (7,700 | ) | ||||
PIPE Financing |
(3 | ) | 574,800 | |||||
Payment to redeeming Public Shareholders |
(4 | ) | (228,305 | ) | ||||
Payment of other transaction costs |
(5 | ) | (37,300 | ) | ||||
Repayment of related party advance |
(6 | ) | (10 | ) | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Excess cash to balance sheet from Business Combination |
$ | 551,493 | ||||||
|
|
(1) | Reflects the liquidation and reclassification of investments held in the Trust Account to cash and cash equivalents. |
(2) | Reflects the payment of $7.7 million of underwriters fees deferred by SCS and which were paid at the Closing. |
(3) | Reflects the gross proceeds of $574.8 million from the issuance and sale of 52,480,000 ProKidney Class A ordinary shares and 5,000,000 Class B ordinary shares at $10.00 per share pursuant to the Subscription Agreements (and, in the case of Tolerantia and CEC, their subsequent election to receive Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units (and a corresponding number of Class B ordinary shares) in lieu of Class A ordinary shares) entered into with PIPE Investors in connection with the PIPE Investment. |
(4) | Represents the payments made to the holders of SCS Class A ordinary shares in connection with the redemption of 22,829,769 SCS Class A ordinary shares. |
(5) | Represents transaction costs of $37.3 million incurred by Legacy ProKidney prior to, or concurrent with, the Closing that were cash settled upon Closing in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement. Of that amount, approximately $17.5 million related to investment transaction fees; $11.9 million related to equity financing fees associated with the PIPE financing and the remaining $7.9 million related to direct and |
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incremental costs such as legal, tax, accounting, third-party advisory and other miscellaneous fees. This amount excludes the $7.7 million of deferred underwriting fees related to the SCS initial public offering as described in note (2) above, any amounts relating to the ProKidney Promissory Notes, which were repaid at the Closing, and other SCS transaction costs. |
(6) | Repayment of related party advance. |
(b) | Reflects the liquidation and reclassification of investments held in the Trust Account to cash and cash equivalents. |
(c) | Repayment of related party advance. |
(d) | Reflects the payment of $7.7 million of underwriters fees deferred by SCS and which were paid at the Closing. |
(e) | Reflects the reclassification of SCS Class A ordinary shares, giving effect to the redemption of 22,829,769 SCS Class A ordinary shares. |
(f) | As discussed in Note 1 to these unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements, the combined company will consolidate ProKidney but does not own 100% of the economic interest in Legacy ProKidney. The noncontrolling interest reflecting actual redemptions is 74.5%. |
(g) | Reflects the gross proceeds of $574.8 million, net of an adjustment for the associated par value, from the issuance and sale of 52,480,000 ProKidney Class A ordinary shares and 5,000,000 Class B ordinary shares at $10.00 per share pursuant to the Subscription Agreements (and, in the case of Tolerantia and CEC, their subsequent election to receive Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units (and a corresponding number of Class B ordinary shares) in lieu of Class A ordinary shares) entered into with PIPE Investors in connection with the PIPE Investment. |
(h) | Represents the recapitalization of the Legacy ProKidney Class A and Class B Units upon issuance of ProKidney Class B ordinary shares and Class B PMEL RSRs to Closing ProKidney Unitholders. |
(i) | Represents pro forma adjustments to additional paid in capital to reflect the following: |
(in thousands) |
Note | |||||||
PIPE Financing |
(g | ) | $ | 574,743 | ||||
Reclassification of ordinary shares subject to redemption to permanent equity |
(e | ) | 21,703 | |||||
Issuance of Class B ordinary shares to existing ProKidney owners |
(h | ) | (18 | ) | ||||
Transaction related fees |
(j | ) | (37,300 | ) | ||||
Issuance of Earnout Shares |
(k | ) | | |||||
Noncontrolling interest |
(f | ) | (430,480 | ) | ||||
|
|
|||||||
Adjusted additional paid in capital |
$ | 128,648 | ||||||
|
|
(j) | Represents transaction costs of $37.3 million incurred by Legacy ProKidney prior to, or concurrent with, the Closing that were cash settled upon Closing in accordance with the Business Combination Agreement. Of that amount, approximately $17.5 million related to investment transaction fees; $11.9 million related to equity financing fees associated with the PIPE financing and the remaining $7.9 million related to direct and incremental costs such as legal, tax, accounting, third-party advisory and other miscellaneous fees. This amount excluded the $7.7 million of deferred underwriting fees related to the SCS initial public offering as described in note (2) above, any amounts relating to the ProKidney Promissory Notes, which were repaid at the Closing, and other SCS transaction costs. |
(k) | Represents the issuance of 17,500,000 Earnout Rights to Earnout Participants upon Closing. As discussed in Note 2 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the adjustment to recognize the Earnout Rights would have no net impact on any financial statement line item as it would simultaneously increase and decrease additional paid-in capital. |
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(l) | Represents the exchange of SCS Class A ordinary shares, SCS Class B ordinary shares and related director restricted stock units held by the Sponsor and an independent director of SCS for ProKidney Class A ordinary shares. |
(m) | Upon the completion of the Business Combination, the combined company became a party to the Tax Receivable Agreement. Under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement, the combined company is required to pay to certain parties to the agreement 85% of the tax savings that it is deemed to realize in certain circumstances as a result of certain tax attributes that exist following the Transaction and that are created thereafter, including as a result of payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. The combined company does not expect to record net deferred tax assets related to the tax basis adjustments associated with the exchange of Paired Interests as those deferred tax assets are not more likely than not expected to be realized in accordance with ASC 740Income Taxes. Accordingly, the combined company has not recorded a liability related to the Tax Receivable Agreement as of December 31, 2021, as the liability is not considered to be probable in accordance with ASC 450Contingencies. |
Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2021
(aa) | Represents the adjustment to eliminate interest income related to the investment held in Trust Account. |
(bb) | Does not reflect a pro forma adjustment to income tax expense as Legacy ProKidney has historically been in a net loss position. Legacy ProKidney files as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes. As such, each partner is responsible for reporting income or loss to the extent required by federal and state income tax regulations, based upon their respective share of Legacy ProKidney income and expenses. ProKidney-US is a limited liability company and has elected to be treated as a C corporation, therefore, a provision for federal and state taxes has been recorded. Income tax expense of the combined company may differ from historical results due to the change in structure of ProKidney. |
(cc) | Represents the adjustment for the net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest. The noncontrolling interest, giving effect to actual redemptions, is 74.5%. |
(dd) | Represents the loss per share calculated using the historical weighted average shares outstanding, and the issuance of additional shares in connection with the Business Combination, assuming the shares were outstanding since January 1, 2021. As the Business Combination and related equity transactions are being reflected as if they had occurred at the beginning of the period presented, the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted net income per share assumes that the shares issuable relating to the Business Combination were outstanding for the entirety of the period presented. |
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The following discussion reflects the business of ProKidney and its subsidiaries. In this section, unless context suggests otherwise, we, us and our generally refer to ProKidney LP and its subsidiaries prior to the Business Combination, and to ProKidney Corp. and its subsidiaries following the Business Combination.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a transformative proprietary cell therapy platform capable of treating multiple chronic kidney diseases using a patients own cells isolated from the patient intended for treatment. Our approach seeks to redefine the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD), shifting the emphasis away from management of kidney failure, to the restoration or improvement of kidney function to stop or delay progression of CKD. Our lead product candidate, which we refer to as REACT, is designed to stabilize or improve kidney function in a CKD patients diseased kidneys. REACT is a product that includes SRCs prepared from a patients own, autologous, renal cells. SRCs are formulated into a product for reinjection into the patients kidney using a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that can be repeated if necessary. Because REACT is a personalized treatment composed of cells prepared from a patients kidney, there is no need for treatment with immunosuppressive therapies, which are required during a patients lifetime when a patient receives a kidney transplant from another, allogeneic donor.
We are currently conducting a Phase 3 development program and multiple Phase 2 clinical trials for REACT in subjects with moderate to severe diabetic kidney disease. We are also conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial for REACT in subjects with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). REACT has been well tolerated by subjects with moderate to severe diabetic kidney disease in Phase 1 and 2 clinical testing to date. It has also been shown to stabilize renal function in subjects based on measurements of iohexol renal clearance and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). REACT has received Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation from the FDA.
Our patented technology includes multiple breakthroughs in the manufacturing and medical delivery of cellular therapy products. While it has long been held that the body contains cells with regenerative power, our technology is able to prepare key progenitor cells, SRCs, from expanded patient kidney cells for reinjection into patients and restore their lost kidney function due to chronic diseases. Our process begins when a small biopsy of a patients diseased kidney is sent to our cGMP manufacturing facility. We are able to process cells taken from the biopsy and select those with a regenerative capacity. The selected cells, SRCs, are formulated into a personalized product for reinjection into the damaged kidney. To date, clinical studies suggest that REACT can positively impact renal function by stabilizing eGFR or attenuating the rate of eGFR decline in patients with type 2 diabetic CKD. Other improvements observed with REACT treatment include stabilization in UACR, increased kidney cortical thickness, and improved hemoglobin levels, suggestive of a reduced risk of anemia.
We are initially pursuing the development of REACT for use in moderate to severe CKD patients in the United States with diabetes as the primary cause and may include hypertension as potential label expansion indication. We estimate that approximately 38-39 million adults, representing approximately 15% of the U.S. adult population, currently suffer from CKD, of which approximately 17-18 million patients have stage 3 or 4 CKD, and approximately 13.4 million patients have stage 3 or 4 CKD that is caused by diabetes (approximately 8.3 million) or hypertension (approximately 5.1 million). With respect to those patients with CKD caused primarily by diabetes, we estimate that approximately 4-5 million patients would be eligible to be treated with REACT.
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Our Pipeline
We are leveraging our cell therapy technology to develop product candidates designed to stop or delay renal failure in CKD from diabetes and CAKUT. The following table summarizes our current pipeline:
Multiple Potential Therapeutic Targets for Treatment of CKD
* | Plan to launch an additional phase 3 trial REGEN-016 in the first quarter of 2023. |
Biopsy tissue of a patients diseased kidney is obtained, and from that sample we prepare and select for SRCs, progenitor cells, by enzymatically dissociating tissue, expanding the dissociated cells and separating the expanded cells via density gradient centrifugation. Clinical studies suggest that REACT can positively impact renal function by stabilizing eGFR or attenuating the rate of eGFR decline in type 2 diabetic CKD patients. We have developed a cryopreserved version of REACT that allows for long-term product preservation to be used in our Phase 3 trials of REACT (called REGEN-006 and REGEN-016), and our Phase 2 trial of REACT (called REGEN-007), treating diabetes patients with CKD. In addition to the cryopreserved formulation of REACT, we are using a gelatin-based hydrogel formulation in our ongoing Phase 2 trials (called RMCL-002 and REGEN-003) and Phase 1 trial (called REGEN-004). We have two preclinical programs (called REACT/Gen and REACT/Universal) where we plan to use genetically modified bioactive renal cell populations to provide regenerative effects to a diseased kidney. The preclinical programs aim to effectively obtain universal donor immune-privileged renal cell populations, where gene editing is used to generate allogeneic renal cell populations, to be administered to patients without immunosuppression.
Our Team and Corporate History
We have an experienced internal research and development team focused on utilizing our deep understanding of kidney disease pathways to discover and develop novel cell-based therapies with a multi-modal mechanism targeting various pathways. Since our founding, we have expanded our team to incorporate additional expertise as needed to pursue our goal of becoming a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company. We have assembled key management team members with expertise in kidney disease, cell therapy, development, regulatory affairs, medical affairs, operations, quality, and manufacturing. Our Chief Executive Officer, Tim Bertram, has more than 38 years of pharmaceutical development expertise and has led innovations in cellular therapeutics for over 18 years. Our Chief Operating Officer, Deepak Jain, Ph.D., has over 36 years of experience in the development of biologics, tissue engineered and cell therapy products. Our technology is being developed based on work that has been conducted for the past 20 years at different institutions.
ProKidney Bermuda was formed in December 2018 as a Bermuda limited liability company and was founded by a group of investors in the pharmaceutical industry. ProKidney Bermuda was initially capitalized with $75 million.
In January 2019, ProKidney Bermuda acquired all of the equity interests in ProKidney-KY and ProKidney-US. ProKidney-KY was duly incorporated under the Cayman Islands Companies Act on
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December 21, 2015 as an exempted company. In 2020, ProKidney-KYs name was changed from RegenMed (Cayman) Ltd. to ProKidney, and ProKidney US name was changed from Twin City Bio LLC to ProKidney, LLC. ProKidney-US is a Delaware limited liability company formed on December 18, 2015. On August 5, 2021, ProKidney LP was organized as a limited partnership under the Irish LP Act, and, as applicable, the Partnership Act 1890, of Ireland, with ProKidney Bermuda becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of ProKidney LP. References to ProKidney or the Company generally refer to ProKidney LP after this reorganization and to ProKidney Corp. following the Closing.
ProKidney Bermuda acquired the equity interests in ProKidney-KY to develop its renal advanced cell therapy, which has the potential to stabilize or improve renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease or delay or eliminate the need for dialysis and organ transplantation. ProKidney acquired ProKidney-US to provide contractual development and manufacturing services to ProKidney-KY, which is ProKidney-USs only customer.
Our Strategy
Our goal is to become a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company pioneering treatments for CKD. Key components of our business strategy include the following:
| Obtain regulatory approval for and successfully commercialize REACT, initially as a treatment for patients with chronic kidney disease caused by diabetes. We intend to continue to pursue the clinical development of REACT through a world-wide Phase 3 clinical development program that has been reviewed by both the EMA and the FDA. We activated the first site for our first Phase 3 clinical trial, REGEN-006, in the fourth quarter of 2021 with the first Informed Consent Form signed and the first subject randomized into the trial in the first quarter of 2022. Our second Phase 3 trial, REGEN-016, is planned to randomize, or launch, in the first quarter of 2023 outside the United States. A long term follow up trial, REGEN-008, is expected to launch in late 2023, for subjects who received REACT as part of our trials REGEN-006, REGEN-007 and REGEN-016. |
| Expand the clinical development of REACT for the treatment of additional indications, including CKD caused by Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract and hypertension. CAKUT is the cause of more than 50% of pediatric cases of renal failure, with long-term complications of CKD which may progress into adulthood. We are currently enrolling patients in REGEN-004, a Phase 1 clinical trial that is designed to assess the ability of REACT to prevent, stop, or delay the negative effects of CAKUT. We aim to complete the enrollment and obtain additional interim data by the end of 2022. Results from interim data may not be indicative of results from future data as patient enrollment continues and more patient data becomes available and will be viewed with caution until the final data are available. Hypertension related CKD is the second most common cause of CKD in adults. Future trials may address CKD in this population. |
| Discover and develop additional product candidates for the treatment of kidney diseases utilizing our cell therapy approach. Our team has extensive experience in discovery research, deep expertise in kidney disease and a strong record of publication in high-impact peer reviewed journals. The team is focused on understanding additional disease pathways associated with kidney disease, identifying key targets for intervention and generating product candidates against these targets. We may also in-license from or collaborate with third parties to develop product candidates that, based on our understanding of kidney diseases and pathways, we believe are promising therapeutics. |
| Maintain and continually refine our sophisticated internal expertise in manufacturing our products. We have developed and built a cGMP manufacturing facility in which we manufacture REACT for clinical trials, which we intend to continue to develop for purposes of the eventual commercial manufacturing process, assuming receipt of necessary regulatory approvals. Our current cGMP manufacturing facility is capable of manufacturing product for our Phase 3 clinical trials and could serve as our commercial launch facility. We anticipate construction of automated manufacturing facilities to meet demand for REACT upon commercialization. |
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Kidney Disease Overview
CKD is highly prevalent in the United States and European Union. Based on available U.S. data from the 2018 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, we expect the aggregate CKD population in the United States to reach approximately 74.4 million in 2020, approximately 82.2 million in 2030 and approximately 90.9 million in 2040. The estimated aggregate CKD population in the European Union can reach approximately 93% of the expected CKD population in the United States. We believe that the prevalence in the United States is approximately 15% of the adult population. The most common causes of CKD among adults are diabetes, hypertension, and glomerular disease, and in the pediatric population, CAKUT. In the United States, it is believed that approximately 18 million patients per year suffer stage 3 or 4 from CKD.
Our Approach: Working to Restore Kidney Function through Autologous Cell Therapy
Autologous cell therapy refers to the prevention or treatment of human disease by the administration of a persons own cells that have been selected, multiplied and formulated for delivery outside the body. We believe that our technology has the potential to restore kidney function by using a patients own SRCs to restore natural healing processes. By contrast, organ transplantation from other donors, or allogeneic transplants, can be associated with surgical complications, organ rejection and failure. Further, organ transplantation patients live with the adverse effects of immunosuppressive therapies and ongoing therapeutic maintenance that are required in order to reduce the risk of rejection of transplanted organs.
Our kidney restoration process begins when a small biopsy of the diseased kidney is sent to our laboratory. We are able to identify the patients own healthy progenitor cells and formulate them into a personalized product that can be re-injected into the damaged kidney for repair and restoration of function. Due to one severe bleed that occurred during an early REACT injection procedure, we changed to a noncutting needle design for the REACT procedure, and there have been no injection-related serious adverse events since then. Based on preclinical studies, when the manufactured REACT product candidate is injected into the diseased kidney, the progenitor cells it comprises rapidly distribute throughout the kidney and integrate into the damaged nephrons and interstitium. To date, clinical studies suggest that treatment with REACT in patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD can positively impact renal function by stabilizing eGFR or attenuating the rate of eGFR decline. Other improvements observed with REACT treatment include stabilization and/or reduction in UACR, increased kidney cortical thickness, and improved hemoglobin levels, suggestive of a reduced risk of anemia.
REACT, an autologous homologous cell admixture, is made from expanded autologous SRCs, obtained from each individual subjects kidney biopsy. To manufacture REACT, biopsy tissue from each enrolled subject will be sent to ProKidney, in whose facilities renal cells will be expanded and SRCs selected. SRCs are then formulated into the cryopreserved or gelatin-based hydrogel product at a concentration of 100 x 106 cells/mL, and shipped to the clinical site.
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Our Product Candidates
REACT is currently in a Phase 3 development program, as well as ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials, for the treatment of moderate to severe diabetic kidney disease and a Phase 1 clinical trial for REACT in patients with CAKUT. These trials are being or will be conducted at over 150 clinical sites throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. REACT has been well tolerated in clinical trials to date involving patients with moderate to severe diabetic kidney disease. For example, in the RMCL-002 Phase 2 clinical trial, the interim analysis as of September 2021 demonstrates there is a statistically significant improvement in a measurement of kidney function, referred to as eGFR, between treatment arms in the trial, measured at six months after the second injection of REACT (p-value=0.032), nine months after the second injection of REACT (p-value=0.018), and 12 months after the second injection of REACT (p-value=0.019). The procedure appeared to be well tolerated, consistent with renal biopsy. Adverse events reported are generally associated with co-morbidities of Type 2 diabetes. The ongoing clinical development program utilizes a newly developed percutaneous injection method into the kidney that is conducted using conscious sedation in an outpatient same-day procedure. We cannot assure you that the improvements in eGFR that we have observed as of September 2021 in our RMCL-002 Phase 2 clinical trial will be observed in any future clinical trials. Likewise, promising results in interim analyses or other preliminary analyses may not ensure that the clinical trial as a whole will be successful.
Background and Unmet Need
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
CKD is characterized by progressive nephropathy that, without therapeutic intervention, will worsen until the subject reaches end stage renal disease (ESRD). CKD patients suffer from reduced kidney function, demonstrated by decreased eGFR, or evidence of kidney damage, such as increased excretion of urinary albumin as shown in physician office laboratory testing. The global prevalence of CKD is estimated at 10% with ranges of 8-16% in various high populations. CKD is associated with considerable morbidity, such as diabetes mellitus, and is often accompanied by adverse outcomes due to underlying disease states and/or risk factors such as renovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes, causing an increased risk of mortality. 97% of patients with moderate to severe CKD have asymptomatic Stage 3 disease, but even this stage of CKD is associated with a
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two- to four-fold rise in cardiovascular disease risk, along with a significant increase in all-cause mortality. Only a small proportion of CKD patients progress to ESRD (i.e., Stage 5 disease), but the increasing life expectancy of humans has led to growing numbers of patients with chronic diseases and end-stage organ failure. Even with costly treatments, subjects with ESRD experience substantial morbidity and mortality. To survive, ESRD subjects require renal replacement therapy through peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis or kidney transplantation. Preventing or delaying the onset of adverse outcomes of CKD via early intervention is the primary strategy for CKD management. Nevertheless, early treatments have been less than optimal, resulting in a significant unmet medical need for improved interventional strategies to manage CKD and delay the regression to ESRD.
The major causes of CKD in adults are diabetes and hypertension. Nearly half of all CKD cases arise from diabetes, with or without hypertension. The incidence of CKD continues to increase, primarily due to the increased worldwide incidence of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Staging and grading of kidney function are most often quantified by estimated glomerular filtration rate, which is defined as the volume of plasma from which a given substance is completely cleared by glomerular filtration per unit time. KDIGO 2012 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease provided guidelines intended to aid general practitioners and nephrologists in the evaluation, classification, and management of CKD in both adults and children. As set forth below, Figure 1 categorizes the risk of ESRD from low to very high based on both eGFR measurements, ranging from >90 mL/min/1.73m2 to <30 mL/min/1.73m2, and albuminuria classifications ranging from <30 mg/g to >300 mg/g. When the kidneys cease to function entirely, which constitutes ESRD, renal replacement therapy in the form of dialysis or transplantation is generally required.
Summary of Classification Estimates for CKD
All-cause mortality rates were shown to increase as GFR declined; mortality rates were highest at Stages 4-5 of CKD. Populations defined as having an eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2 consistently exhibited a higher mortality rate than comparator groups where there was no evidence of CKD.
Treatment of patients with CKD is focused on slowing progression and preparing for kidney failure or replacement. For many patients, CKD occurs as part of a complex comorbidity cluster, especially with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
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Increased risk of cardiovascular disease can be a complication of CKD or an independent comorbidity associated with type 2 diabetes. The goals in the treatment of CKD are to lower cardiovascular risk and prevent or slow the progression of kidney failure via administration of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and/or angiotensin receptor blockers to decrease proteinuria and control hypertension, insulin and anti-diabetic agents for glycemic control (e.g., reduced serum hemoglobin A1c), and statin therapy to counter dyslipidemia.
When a patient reaches ESRD, renal replacement therapy in the form of kidney dialysis or transplantation is generally required. The vast majority of Stage 5 CKD patients in the United States and certain other developed countries receive hemodialysis. Dialysis replaces about 5-15% of kidney function, depending on the intensity and frequency of use; dialysis also helps to restore fluid and electrolyte balance when kidneys fail. However, the life expectancy of an ESRD patient initiating hemodialysis is < 10 years. Additionally, hemodialysis has been associated with multiple, serious complications as well as interference with quality of life, due to the need for frequent dialysis and vascular access maintenance. Although kidney transplantation remains the most effective form of therapy for CKD currently, there is a chronic shortage of organs. If a patient can secure a kidney for transplantation, long-term immunosuppressive therapy is required to prevent rejection. Use of these regimens results in a higher incidence of infection and, over the long term, some types of cancer. And while xenotransplantation might be a promising alternative approach to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of human organs, tissues, and cells, immunological barriers are also limiting factors in clinical xenotransplantation.
While patients continue to lose kidney function on existing therapies, the cost of CKD treatment is high and the rates of CKD and ESRD along with the associated expenditures are expected to continue to rise. As a large source of healthcare expenditure in the United States, the Medicare spend on beneficiaries with CKD is $80 billion. Medicare spend on beneficiaries with ESRD can reach $50 billion, with $93,000 Medicare annual cost per patient for dialysis. Additionally, the estimated ESRD cost per patient with commercial insurance, assuming a five-year dialysis period, is up to $2 million.
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* | Based on ProKidney management estimates and analysis |
We estimate that there are approximately 4 to 5 million REACT eligible patients. Assuming that we obtain requisite regulatory approvals and that the REACT market penetration rate is 1% in the United States alone, the expected size of the overall market in the United States for REACT could reach up to $16 billion based on the average cost of recently launched novel targeted therapies. Taken together, there is a critical medical and market need for improved therapies for CKD which could stop or dramatically slow the progression of disease and significantly delay the need for renal transplantation.
Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract (CAKUT)
CAKUT is a group of abnormalities affecting the kidneys or other structures of the urinary tract. CAKUT results from abnormal development of the urinary tract system and is present at birth (i.e., it is congenital), although the abnormality may not become apparent until later in life. CAKUT is the most common kind of congenital birth defect, affecting roughly 1 in 500 babies born.
Individuals with CAKUT have one or more kidney or urinary tract abnormalities. The parts of the urinary tract that may be affected include the bladder, the tubes that carry urine from each kidney to the bladder (the ureters), and the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body (the urethra). For paired structures, like the kidneys and ureters, one or both may be affected.
There are various types of CAKUT. Many different developmental abnormalities are classified as CAKUT, including underdevelopment or absence of a kidney and nephrons, a kidney formed of fluid-filled sacs called cysts, buildup of urine in the kidneys, an extra ureter leading to the kidney, a blockage in a ureter where it joins the kidney, an abnormally wide ureter, backflow of urine from the bladder into the ureter, and an abnormal membrane in the prostatic urethra that blocks the flow of urine out of the bladder.
The causes of CAKUT are complex, and much remains to be uncovered about the genetic and environmental regulators of kidney and outflow tract development. It is likely that a combination of genetic and environmental factors contribute to the formation of kidney and urinary tract abnormalities. The genetic factors involved in most cases of CAKUT are unknown. Syndromic CAKUT is caused by changes in the genes associated with the particular syndrome. Variations in these same genes can also underlie some cases of isolated CAKUT. In addition, environmental factors may influence development of CAKUT. The risk of CAKUT is higher in babies whose mothers had diabetes, took certain medications that are harmful to the kidneys, such as some anti-seizure medicines, or lacked certain vitamins and minerals, such as folate and iron, during pregnancy.
Most cases of CAKUT are diagnosed from antenatal ultrasound imaging, and the remaining cases of CAKUT are usually only diagnosed after an infant or child develops a urinary tract infection, prompting ultrasound and/or other imaging studies to examine the kidneys and outflow tracts.
CAKUT is often one of several features of a condition that affects multiple body systems, and it varies in severity. The abnormalities can result in recurrent urinary tract infections or a buildup of urine in the urinary tract, which may damage the kidneys or other structures. Severe CAKUT can lead to life-threatening kidney failure and ESRD. Children with severe CAKUT may require dialysis and transplantation as infants, and they may experience long-term effects on their ability to lead independent lives as adults.
There is currently a need for greater understanding of the pathogenesis of CAKUT, as well as an unmet need for means for providing proper treatment of those affected by this condition.
Clinical Development
Our completed clinical trials and currently ongoing clinical trials of REACT are summarized below; the name of the product candidate tested in the trials was changed from Neo-Kidney Augment (NKA) to REACT after completion of some of the trials.
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The summary below also includes interim results which are based on a preliminary analysis of then- available data, and the results and related findings and conclusions are subject to change following a more comprehensive review of the data related to the particular trial. In particular, we have announced interim results from our ongoing RMCL-002 Phase 2 clinical trial and REGEN-004 Phase 1 clinical trial and plan to evaluate interim results from our ongoing REGEN-006 Phase 3 clinical trial in early 2025 and REGEN-016 Phase 3 clinical trial in mid-2025. Interim results from clinical trials that we may complete are not necessarily indicative of results from future data and are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues and more patient data become available. Preliminary or topline results also remain subject to audit and verification procedures that may result in the final data being materially different from the preliminary data we previously published. As a result, interim and preliminary data should be viewed with caution until the final data are available.
Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD)
Phase 1 Clinical Development (TNG-CL010 and TNG-CL011)
TNG-CL010 was an open-label safety and delivery optimization study of REACT (formerly known as NKA) in subjects with CKD conducted in Sweden. TNG-CL010 commenced in April 2013 and terminated in December 2014. TNG-CL011 was also an open-label safety and delivery optimization study of REACT in subjects with type 2 diabetes and CKD conducted in the United States. TNG-CL011 commenced with first subject enrolled in February 2014 and terminated in December 2014.
The primary objective of these trials was to assess the safety and delivery of REACT injected into one kidney. Six subjects from Sweden (TNG-CL010) and one from the United States with Diabetes Type 2 CKD, ranging in age from 53-70 years, eGFR levels between 19-34 (average 25 +/- 2, Cystatin C) and iohexol clearance of 15-39, average 26 +/- 3, were enrolled. One subject with Type 2 DKD was enrolled in TNG-CL011.
The results from the Phase 1 trials indicated that REACT was well tolerated when administered to the kidney, with no adverse events from the autologous SRC. When the decline of renal function pre- and post- injection were compared, the subjects receiving REACT in this Phase 1 trial had an imputed delay in dialysis of approximately 1.5 years beyond the standard of care because of slowing in the rate of reduction in eGFR from pre-injection baseline. Cortical thickness increased in the injected kidney from an average of 14 mm at time of injection to approximately 16 mm after one year. Renal function was stabilized following the REACT injection by iohexol clearance and based on the subjects ACRs. Subjects with a baseline anemia (n = 3 of 7) showed improved hemoglobin levels after REACT injection, and the remaining subjects maintained normal levels during the study. Antihypertensive medication was reduced in three of six subjects during the first six months following injection with REACT.
Phase 2 Clinical Development (RMCL-001, RMCL-002, REGEN-003, and REGEN-007) RMCL-001:
RMCL-001 was a Phase 2, open-label safety and efficacy study of REACT in subjects with type 2 diabetes and CKD. The study commenced in May 2016 and was ended in May 2017.
The primary objective of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a second REACT injection using a minimally invasive percutaneous procedure that was done under conscious sedation as a same-day outpatient procedure. A single subject with an eGFR of 14ml/min/1.73m2 was enrolled from the Phase 1 study (TNG-CL011) described above. The second dose of REACT was manufactured from cryopreserved renal cells obtained from the Phase 1 renal biopsy. The subject was administered a dose of 3x106 cells/g-KWest. The subjects eGFR increased to approximately 20 ml/min/1.73m2 for a period of eight months, after which the subject experienced a precipitous drop in renal function and began hemodialysis. The study was terminated by the sponsor of the clinical trial after this subject went onto dialysis and resources diverted to study RMCL-002.
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RMCL-002:
RMCL-002 is an ongoing Phase 2, prospective, randomized, double-arm, deferred treatment, open-label, repeat dose, safety and efficacy study of REACT in subjects with type 2 diabetes and CKD. The first subject was enrolled in this study in February 2017, and subjects are now undergoing follow-up.
The primary objective of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of up to two REACT injections given six months (up to four weeks after target date) apart in Type 2 Diabetic Disease patients with eGFRs between 20 and 50 ml/min/1.73m2, with both doses delivered into the biopsied kidney using an outpatient, minimally invasive, percutaneous approach under conscious sedation in less than 90 minutes. Patients will receive two doses of REACT of 3x106 cells/g-KWest.
Patients were randomized (1:1) to the active treatment group and the deferred treatment group (i.e., the control group) following renal biopsy. Subjects in the active treatment group receive their first REACT injection as soon as the REACT product is manufactured and shipped to the clinical site. After six months (up to four weeks after target date), a second injection is given, as appropriate. In contrast, subjects in the deferred treatment group will undergo a 12-month period of observation after renal biopsy. The deferred treatment group allows assessment of the rate of change in kidney function and co-morbidities in a nonexposed group compared to the active treated arm. During this time, they will receive contemporaneous, standard-of-care therapy for CKD while undergoing follow-up evaluations every three months, similar to subjects in the active treatment group. After 12 months, subjects from the deferred treatment group will receive a series of up to two REACT injections given six months (+/- four weeks of the target date) apart, as appropriate. Consequently, the study design includes a randomized control group receiving standard-of-care treatment for the first 12 months and a randomized, active treatment group receiving up to two REACT injections and follow-up evaluations during the same period of time. In addition, each subjects baseline rate of renal decline, based on adequate historical and clinical data obtained 18 months prior to REACT injection, will serve as a comparator for monitoring the rate of progression of renal insufficiency over time.
The aggregate number of subjects enrolled for the Phase 2 clinical trial was 83. Upon withdrawal and/or replacement of 2 subjects, 81 subjects were enrolled as of December 2020, of which 39 subjects were enrolled into the active treatment group and 42 subjects were enrolled into the deferred treatment group. As of March 31, 2022, 39 subjects enrolled in the active group received their first injection, and 34 have received their second. No further injections will occur in the active group. 33 subjects in the deferred group have crossed over into the active group, with 33 subjects having received their first injection and 21 having received their second injection as of March 31, 2022.
The rate of progression of renal function for the active treatment group, assessed via pre-randomized serial measurements of eGFR over 24 months after the last REACT injection, will be compared against that of the deferred treatment group. In addition, each subjects baseline rate of eGFR decline, derived from historical and clinical data, will be compared against the individual subjects rate of eGFR decline through 24 months following the final REACT injection. The rate of progression of renal function of subjects, if any, who received a single REACT injection may be compared against that of subjects who received two REACT injections. Patients will be followed through 24 months after their last REACT injection in part 1 of the trial. An open label extension portion of the study (part 2) was added in February 2021 to follow all subjects for an additional 3 years. Visits will be conducted at 3-month intervals to give a total of 5 years (part 1 + part 2) of follow-up after the last REACT injection.
Subjects in this trial will complete the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) survey, which is a subjective kidney-specific measure of health-related quality of life, and the EQ-5D-5L survey, which is a health- related quality of life questionnaire. Scores from the active treatment group will be compared against scores from the deferred treatment group. Subjects from the deferred treatment group will comprise the control group for the analysis of KDQOL scores. In addition, each subjects baseline score will be compared against his or her
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KDQOL scores obtained over the 24-month period after the last REACT injection. KDQOL scores from subjects who received a single REACT injection may be compared against scores from subjects who received two injections.
Results as of the September 2021 interim analysis demonstrate that renal function has stabilized or improved in the subjects who have received a full course (2 injections) of REACT and has steadily declined in the deferred treatment group. The overall mean total slope for the active treatment group is a positive (+5.0 ml/ min/1.73m2/year), whereas the overall mean total slope for the deferred treatment group is a decline (-3.9 ml/ min/1.73m2/year). This shows an effect difference of +8.9 ml/min/1.73m2/year in annualized change in renal function between the active treatment group and the deferred treatment group. Each slope is calculated using a simple linear regression between the average eGFR measurements on the first injection day and three, six, nine and 12 months following the last injection day, where the averages are assumed to be equally spaced.
The interim analysis as of September 2021 demonstrates there is a statistically significant difference in the average eGFR between treatment arms (subjects who received a full course of REACT compared to the standard of care) at six months post 2nd injection (p-value=0.032), nine months post 2nd injection (p-value=0.018) and 12 months post 2nd injection (p-value=0.019). The outpatient kidney biopsy and REACT injections procedures are minimally invasive and well tolerated and complications are commensurate with standard of care and published cohort trials and meta-analysis studies. Other adverse events reported are commonly associated with the co-morbidities of Type 2 diabetes and similar to those seen in other small molecule CKD trials.
We aim to have all deferred subjects dosed in 2022, obtain additional interim data and complete all active subjects follow-up in November 2023, complete all deferred subjects follow-up in 2024, and expect the clinical study report to be available in early 2025. Results from interim data may not be indicative of results from future data.
REGEN-003:
REGEN-003 is a Phase 2, prospective open-label, single-arm, safety and tolerability study of REACT in subjects with type 2 diabetes and CKD. This study commenced in March 2018 with first subject enrolled.
The primary objective of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of up to two REACT injections given six months (up to four weeks after target date) apart in Type 2 Diabetic Kidney Disease patients with eGFRs between 14 and 20 ml/min/1.73m2 and delivered into the biopsied kidney using a minimally invasive percutaneous approach that can be delivered under conscious sedation in less than 90 minutes. Subjects have an eGFR of between 1420 ml/min/1.73m2. Subjects receive up to two doses of REACT of 3x106 cells/ g-KWest.
This study has completed enrollment and dosing has commenced for all 10 subjects, with nine subjects having received both doses.
We completed the enrollment of 10 subjects in February 2020. As of March 31, 2022, seven subjects had initiated dialysis, one of which died due to complications related to COVID. An additional subject died due to cardiovascular complications. For the seven subjects that initiated dialysis (baseline average eGFR of 17.5 ml/ min/1.73m2), the time between the first REACT injection and the initiation of dialysis averaged 76 weeks, ranging from 34 weeks to 121 weeks. Of the 10 subjects, two responding and receiving a second dose of REACT had a positive annualized eGFR slope of +1.1 ml/min/1.73m2/year, while the other eight subjects are continuing to progress with an average decline in annualized eGFR of -3.9 ml/min/1.73m2/year.
We aim to continue to follow-up until late 2022 and expect the clinical study report to be available in 2023.
REGEN-007:
REGEN-007 is an ongoing Phase 2, prospective, randomized, open-label, repeat dose, double-arm, controlled safety and efficacy study of REACT in subjects with type 1 or 2 diabetes and CKD.
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The primary objective of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of up to two REACT injections given three months apart (up to 60 days after target date) in Type 1 and 2 Diabetic Kidney Disease with eGFRs between 20 and 50 ml/min/1.73m2) and delivered into biopsied and non-biopsied contralateral kidneys using a minimally invasive percutaneous approach, as compared to a single REACT injection followed by monitoring and a potential second injection delivered into the non-biopsied contralateral kidney using a minimally invasive percutaneous approach triggered by a 20% decrease in eGFR and/or a 30% increase in UACR, that is delivered within 60 days of trigger being met. In previous Phase 2 studies, we injected the same kidney twice to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of REACT using a minimally invasive injection procedure. Based on an observed favorable safety profile in previous studies, we are proceeding with the injection of REACT into both kidneys in REGEN-007, which we expect will result in increased therapeutic effect as compared to injecting a single kidney, as the systemic effects of Type-2 diabetes mellitus impact both kidneys. By injecting both kidneys, patients have maximal exposure to REACT cells, with the potential to impact a greater proportion of renal mass. Further, the number of glomeruli (the filtering units of the kidney) that are amenable to regenerative therapy is effectively doubled when injecting both kidneys, thereby allowing both kidneys to initiate healing and repair to improve function. The main goal of REGEN-007 is to evaluate whether REACT injections in both kidneys as opposed to two injections in the same kidney will: (a) increase the improvement of kidney function over and above the mean eGFR improvement observed in REGEN-002, or (b) increase the number of patients in which kidney function stabilizes or improves as compared to the number of patients in which this was observed in REGEN-002, or both.
Subjects will receive up to two doses of REACT of 3x106 cells/ g-KWest. The study will enroll subjects between the ages of 30 and 80 with an eGFR >20 and ≤50 mL/min/1.73m2. Subjects will be randomized (1:1) before renal biopsy into two cohorts. Cohort 1 will receive the two REACT injections three months apart. Cohort 2 will receive the first REACT injection, and a trigger, as described below, must be met to qualify for the second REACT injection > 3 months after the first dose. This will allow a comparison of the effects of a specified amount of time between dosing, as compared to a biologic trigger between dosing.
Each of the subjects in cohort 1 will receive the first REACT injection as soon as the REACT product is manufactured and shipped to the clinical site. After three months, subjects will receive a second injection, as appropriate. Subjects in cohort 2 will also receive one REACT injection as soon as the REACT product is manufactured and shipped to the clinical site. For cohort 2, a second REACT injection will only be administered if a subject meets one or more clinical surrogate marker criteria. The second REACT injection will be administered to subjects in cohort 2 no less than three months after the first injection, within 30 days (up to four weeks after target date) of meeting the re-dose trigger. The re-dose triggers include (1) a 30-day sustained decline in eGFR by at least 20% from baseline and (2) an increase in the baseline UACR of at least 30% greater than 30mg/gram, measured thirty days after the baseline measurement is taken. For all subjects who receive a second injection, the second injection will be administered in the non-biopsied contralateral kidney.
During this time, subjects in cohort 2 will receive contemporaneous, standard-of-care therapy for CKD while undergoing follow-up evaluations at one, 14 (up to 7 days after target date) and 28 days (up to 7 days after target date) following the first injection, and then at three months (up to 10 days after target date) following the first injection, similar to subjects in cohort 1. All subjects will continue with long-term follow-up visits at three- month intervals for a period of 24 months following the last injection. In addition, each subjects baseline rate of renal decline, based on adequate historical, clinical data obtained 24 months prior to the first REACT injection, will serve as a comparator for monitoring the rate of progression of renal insufficiency over time. The primary efficacy endpoint of REGEN-007 is improvement in the rate of renal function decline as indicated by the change from pre-injection baseline value in total (acute + chronic) slope of eGFR over 24 months. The primary safety endpoint is treatment-emergent adverse events through 24 months following the last REACT injection. REGEN-007 is an unblinded study in which cohort 1 patients will receive the same treatment regimen as the patients in our Phase 3 program that are randomized to the active arms. Therefore, REGEN-007 may provide some insights regarding the magnitude of clinical benefit that could be observed in our Phase 3 program.
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We commenced enrollment for REGEN-007 in the third quarter of 2021 and has expanded target enrollment from 30 to up to 50 subjects, as a result of strong investigator interest. As of June 1, 2022, 24 subjects were enrolled with 12 subjects randomized to cohort 1 and 12 subjects randomized to cohort 2. As of that date, four subjects in cohort 1 had received their first dose of REACT, two of whom received a second dose into the contralateral kidney, and five subjects in cohort 2 received their first dose of REACT.
We anticipate initial evaluation data from this study from a limited number of patients in the first half of 2023, with topline data expected in 2025.
Phase 3 Clinical Development (REGEN-006 and REGEN-016):
We applied for RMAT designation for REACT, which was granted by the FDA on October 28, 2021. As contemplated by the RMAT designation and as directed by the FDA, we requested a comprehensive, multidisciplinary Type B meeting with the FDA to review the status of preclinical and clinical development and manufacturing of REACT, and to discuss the planned clinical program intended to support approval of the product candidate. The FDA provided detailed written responses to our questions included in the meeting request, and the Type B meeting was held in March 2022. As a result of that meeting, we made some modifications to the Phase 3 trial designs, including the following:
| increased the planned sample size from 500 to 600 subjects in both REGEN-006 and REGEN-016; |
| removed the increase in UACR of at least 30% and of at least 30 mg/g, using the random urine microalbumin/urine creatinine ratio sustained for 90 days, from the primary composite endpoint for both REGEN-006 and REGEN-016; and |
| added a sham control arm and single blind component to the design of REGEN-016. |
We will continue to advance the USA clinical development program with the benefit of enhanced clarity as to the FDAs expectations and requirements for a registrational program, including the design of the trials needed for approval, manufacturing assays, and comparability studies, as set forth below.
REGEN-006:
REGEN-006 is a Phase 3, randomized, single-blinded, bi-lateral kidney dose, sham control arm, controlled efficacy study of REACT in subjects with type 2 diabetes and CKD Stages 3a-4 with moderate to severe albuminuria. Albuminuria refers to the presence of an excess of the protein albumin in urine, which is a sign of kidney disease.
The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of up to two REACT injections given three months apart and delivered into biopsied and non-biopsied contralateral kidneys using a minimally invasive percutaneous approach. The total planned enrollment is 600 subjects. Subjects in the treatment group will receive two doses of REACT of 3x106 cells/ g-KWest. The study will enroll subjects between the ages of 30 and 80 years of age with an eGFR >20 and <50 mL/min/1.73m2.
The primary composite endpoint is the time from first injection to the earliest of:
| at least 40% reduction in eGFR, using the 2009 CKD-EPI serum creatinine equation, sustained for 30 days; |
| eGFR <15 mL/min/1.73m² using the 2009 CKD-EPI serum creatinine equation, sustained for 30 days and/or chronic dialysis, and/or renal transplant; or |
| renal or cardiovascular death. |
Subjects will be randomized (1:1) to the treatment group and the masked sham control group prior to renal biopsy.
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Each of the subjects in the treatment group will receive the first REACT injection 12 weeks following renal biopsy. After three months, a second injection will be given, as appropriate, into the contralateral kidney. In contrast, subjects in the control group will receive two sham injections, the first of which will be administered 12 weeks following sham biopsy, and the second of which will be administered three months after the first sham injection. During this time, subjects in the control (sham) group will receive contemporaneous, standard-of-care therapy for CKD while undergoing follow-up evaluations at one, 14 and 28 days (+7 days) following the first injection, and then at three months (+10 days) following the first injection, similar to subjects in the treatment group. All subjects will continue in the study until they experience a qualifying event under the primary composite endpoint or reach the end of the study.
Subjects will complete the KDQOL and EQ-5D-5L surveys. Scores from the treatment group will be compared against scores from the control group. In addition, each subjects baseline score will be compared against his or her KDQOL scores obtained over the 24-month period after the last REACT injection. Additionally, KDQOL scores from subjects who received a single REACT injection may be compared against scores from subjects who received two injections.
This study began enrollment in the first quarter of 2022. As of March 31, 2022, 20 subjects had signed informed consent forms, and two were awaiting treatment assignment.
We aim to evaluate interim data for REGEN-006 in early 2025. Results from interim data may not be indicative of results from future data.
REGEN-016:
REGEN-016 is a planned Phase 3, randomized, single-blinded, sham control arm, bi-lateral kidney dose, controlled efficacy study of REACT in subjects with type 2 diabetes and CKD Stages 3a-4 with moderate to severe albuminuria.
The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of up to two REACT injections given three months apart and delivered into biopsied and non-biopsied contralateral kidneys using a minimally invasive percutaneous approach. The total planned enrollment is 600 subjects. Subjects in the treatment group will receive two doses of REACT of 3x106 cells/ g-KWest. The study will enroll subjects between the ages of 30 and 80 years of age with an eGFR >20 and <50 mL/min/1.73m2.
Subjects will be randomized (1:1) to the treatment group and the masked sham control group prior to renal biopsy.
Each of the subjects in the treatment group will receive the first REACT injection 12 weeks following renal biopsy. After three months, a second injection will be given, as appropriate, into the contralateral kidney. In contrast, subjects in the control group will receive two sham injections, the first of which will be administered 12 weeks following sham biopsy, and the second of which will be administered three months after the first sham injection. During this time, subjects in the control group will receive contemporaneous, standard-of-care therapy for CKD while undergoing follow-up evaluations at the same time intervals as subjects in the treatment group. All subjects will continue in the study until they experience a qualifying event under the primary composite endpoint or reach the end of the study.
The primary composite endpoint is the time from first injection to the earliest of:
| at least 40% reduction in eGFR, using the 2009 CKD-EPI serum creatinine equation, sustained for 30 days; |
| eGFR <15 mL/min/1.73m² using the 2009 CKD-EPI serum creatinine equation, sustained for 30 days and/or chronic dialysis, and/or renal transplant; or |
| renal or cardiovascular death. |
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Subjects will complete the KDQOL and EQ-5D-5L surveys. Scores from the treatment group will be compared against scores from the control group. In addition, each subjects baseline score will be compared against his or her KDQOL scores obtained over the 24-month period after the last REACT injection. Additionally, KDQOL scores from subjects who received a single REACT injection may be compared against scores from subjects who received two injections.
Enrollment for this study is planned to begin in the first quarter of 2023.
We aim to evaluate data for REGEN-016 in mid-2025, with the potential for conditional FDA approval anticipated in 2026.
Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract (CAKUT)
Phase 1 (REGEN-004):
REGEN-004 is a Phase 1, prospective, open-label, single-arm, safety, tolerability, and early efficacy study of REACT in subjects with CKD from CAKUT.
The primary objective of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of up to two REACT injections given six months (up to four weeks after target date) apart and delivered into the biopsied kidney using a minimally invasive percutaneous approach that can be delivered under conscious sedation in less than 90 minutes in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease with eGFRs between 14 and 50 ml/min/1.73m2 due to Congenital Anomalies of the Kidneys and Urinary Tract. The planned enrollment is 15 subjects. Subjects will receive two doses of REACT of 3x106 cells/ g-KWest.
As of March 31, 2021, five subjects were enrolled, all had received their first injection, and four subjects had received both injections.
Early interim results as of August 2021 demonstrated that in three of the five subjects currently enrolled, renal function had improved to an annualized eGFR slope of 3.38 ml/min/1.73m2/year compared to their pre-dose slope of negative -4.19 ml/min/1.73m2/year. No adverse events have been associated with REACT. The minimally invasive percutaneous procedure has a well-tolerated safety profile consistent with renal biopsy. No adverse events have been reported to date.
We aim to complete the enrollment by the end of 2022 and obtain additional interim data in mid-2022. Results from interim data may not be indicative of results from future data.
Planned Studies
Phase 2 (REGEN-017)
REGEN-017 is a planned Phase 2 study of REACT in subjects with diabetes and CKD who were previously enrolled in the sham control arm of either REGEN-006 or REGEN-016. Subjects will be enrolled in REGEN-017, either when a Phase 3 event is triggered or following completion of study visits in Phase 3 protocols.
Each of the subjects will receive the first REACT injection 12 weeks following renal biopsy. After three months, a second injection will be given, as appropriate, into the contralateral kidney. Subjects will continue for follow-up observation visits for a duration of 12 months following their second REACT injection before continuing into REGEN-008.
Phase 4 Clinical Development (REGEN-008)
REGEN-008 is a Phase 4, prospective, open-label, observational extension study of REACT in subjects with diabetes and CKD who were previously enrolled and treated with cryopreserved REACT in the REGEN-006,
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REGEN-007, REGEN-016 and REGEN-017 studies. The total planned enrollment is approximately 600 subjects with no control arm.
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the long term safety of up to two REACT injections given three months apart and delivered percutaneously into biopsied and non-biopsied contralateral kidneys on renal function in participants with diabetes and CKD.
Subjects who had participated in REGEN-006, REGEN-007, and REGEN-016 with exposure to REACT will continue for long-term follow-up observation visits every three months (+ 10 days) alternating between clinic and telephone visits after enrollment for a duration of five years following their completion in the previous studies. Visits will include physical examinations, laboratory draws, documentation of vitals and assessment of any concomitant medical changes. Once a year, subjects will also be asked to complete KDQOL and EQ-5D-5L surveys.
We aim to continue REGEN-008 long-term follow-up to 2030.
Phase 4 Clinical Development (REGEN-009)
REGEN-009 will be a prospective, open-label, observational extension study of REACT in subjects with CAKUT who were previously enrolled and treated with REACT in the REGEN-004, REGEN-005 and REGEN-011 studies. We plan to launch the REGEN-009 in late 2022.
The primary objective of this study is to assess the long-term safety and efficacy (including durability) of REACT on renal function in subjects with CAKUT.
Subjects who participate in a CAKUT trial will continue for long-term follow-up observation visits every three months after enrollment for a duration of five years following their completion in the previous studies. Visits will include physical examinations, laboratory draws, documentation of vitals, and assessment of any concomitant medical changes. Once a year, subjects will also be asked to complete KDQOL and EQ-5D-5L surveys.
Competition
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are characterized by rapid technological advancement, significant competition, and an emphasis on intellectual property. We face potential competition from many different sources, including major and specialty pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including developers of tubular and glomerular cell drug modulators, e.g., SGLT2 inhibitors, antifibrosis medications, e.g., Mineralocorticoid Receptor AntagonistsMRAs, induced pluripotent cells, other autologous mesenchymal stem cells and mechanical renal assist devices such as implantable and wearable renal dialysis machines, and advances in peritoneal dialysis and home dialysis. Cell-based clinical trials by other companies are underway globally with umbilical, adipose and bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells for CKD. Early-phase human induced pluripotent stem cell therapies for kidney diseases are ongoing in Japan.
Any product candidates that we successfully develop and commercialize will compete with current therapies and new therapies that may become available in the future. We believe that the key competitive factors affecting the success of any of our product candidates will include efficacy, safety profile, dosing, cost, effectiveness of promotional support and intellectual property protection. With respect specifically to REACT, we expect the key competitive factors affecting its success, if approved, will include the intended patient population, the relative convenience of dosing and administration, and efficacy.
Many other companies working on medications for controlling chronic kidney disease, either alone or with their collaboration partners, have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and
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development, pre-clinical testing, clinical trials, manufacturing, and marketing than we do. We believe that our principal competitors include developers of SGLT2 inhibitors, including canagliflozin (marketed as Invokana® by companies including Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), dapagliflozin (marketed under the brand names Farxiga® and Forxiga® by companies including AstraZeneca plc and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company), empagliflozin (marketed as Jardiance® by companies including Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company) and finerenone (marketed as Kerendia® by companies including Bayer AG), and MRAs, which are small-molecule therapies recently approved to lower risks of CKD progression. Future collaborations and merger and acquisitions may result in further resource concentration among a smaller number of competitors.
Our commercial potential could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize products that are safer, more effective, have fewer or less severe side effects, are more convenient or are less expensive than products that we may develop. Our competitors also may obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we are able to enter the market or make our development more complicated. These competitors may also vie for a similar pool of qualified scientific and management talent, sites and patient populations for clinical trials, as well as for technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs.
Supply and Manufacturing
With support from high level manufacturing and regulatory expertise, our internal manufacturing capabilities have enabled us to progress rapidly through our clinical trials. We believe that our current manufacturing capacities enable us to provide sufficient quantities of clinical trial material to supply the clinical trials. As we continue to develop our product candidates, we may need to expand our manufacturing capacities. The manufacturing facilities located in Winston Salem, North Carolina and the quality systems are fully compliant with cGMP and meet EU and FDA regulations. It usually takes approximately 12 weeks to produce the clinical REACT products. As of the date hereof, our manufacturing team, facilities, and bioprocess capacity have produced over 200 cell therapies. During our clinical trials, we have had a greater-than-95% success rate in creating a REACT product from a patients biopsy material.
Our facility design and quality systems have been audited by European Qualified Persons (QP) and certified as compliant with EU cGMP requirements for phase 2/3 manufacturing. Our bioprocesses have been reviewed by the FDA and EMA and validation activities are ongoing in anticipation of being commercial-ready for the potential launch of REACT. We plan to build additional manufacturing capacity to meet the expanding demand.
Our commercial strategy focuses on process automation to scale up to meet the projected market for REACT, if we obtain the necessary regulatory approvals. We are collaborating with engineering companies such as DEKA Research & Development Corp. to develop automated manufacturing processes for the potential commercial production of REACT, including a REACT launch facility after we complete the Phase 3 patient enrollment and dosing in 2026, and two commercial manufacturing facilities after we launch REACT.
Our current costs of manufacturing REACT for use in our ongoing Phase 2 RMCL-002 study are approximately $100,000 per patient. We anticipate that these costs will be lower for our Phase 3 trials and that the costs will continue to decrease by up to 50% from the costs of manufacturing REACT for our Phase 2 RMCL-002 study as we manufacture REACT at commercial scale with implementation of automation, bioprocess developments, formulation improvements, and streamlining of the supply chain. We expect to utilize automation in all aspects of manufacturing ranging from tissue processing, cell expansion and renal cell selection to formulation and filling of the final product. We will also extend automation to other manufacturing activities, including warehouse operations and supply chain. In addition, we intend to improve bioprocess development to further reduce manufacturing costs of the commercial REACT product, assuming receipt of necessary regulatory approvals. Culture media represents the highest cost in REACT processing, and we are exploring reduced culture media usage via bioprocess and automation improvements. Further, our final commercial REACT product is
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planned to be a cryopreserved formulation, which is projected to reduce manufacturing costs compared to our fresh REACT formulation. We expect to leverage bulk purchasing to actively negotiate pricing of materials to further drive cost reductions. However, there can be no assurance that the manufacturing costs for our Phase 3 trials when we manufacture REACT at commercial scale will actually be lower than for our ongoing Phase 2 RMCL-002 study. A number of factors may contribute to an inability to achieve these cost reductions, including any failures to achieve the automation efficiencies that we anticipate, cost overruns or inefficiencies in the supply chain and any failure to improve the formulation or bioprocessing of REACT in a manner that results in lower costs.
Key Agreements
Master Services Agreement, dated February 15, 2021, by and between George Clinical PTY Limited and ProKidney-KY
ProKidney-KY entered into a Master Services Agreement dated February 15, 2021 (the George Clinical MSA) with George Clinical PTY Limited (George Clinical), upon which George Clinical agreed to provide ProKidney-KY with certain clinical research services pursuant to work orders, including the setup and management of an Endpoint Adjudication Committee for ProKidney-KYs protocol REGEN-006 and verification process for ProKidney-KYs protocol REGEN-007, as well as a Data Safety Monitoring Board and a Steering Board Committee for ProKidney-KYs development programs.
ProKidney-KY and George Clinical agreed to indemnify each other against certain third-party claims. The George Clinical MSA will continue until February 15, 2026, unless terminated earlier by either party. ProKidney-KY may terminate the George Clinical MSA upon 30 days prior written notice to George Clinical for any reason. Either party may terminate the George Clinical MSA (i) for material breach by the other party if, upon 30 days prior written notice by the non-breaching party, the breach has not been cured, or (ii) upon the insolvency or declaration of bankruptcy of the other party. ProKidney-KY may terminate any work order immediately if (i) the relevant study is terminated, or (ii) George Clinical breaches a material term of the George Clinical MSA or does not perform the services to ProKidney-KYs reasonable satisfaction and does not remedy the breach or perform satisfactorily within 30 days of receiving a notice from ProKidney-KY specifying the nature of the breach or non-performance. George Clinical may terminate any work order upon written notice if it believes on reasonable grounds that continued performance of the services poses an unacceptable risk to patient safety or may violate regulatory or scientific standards.
Research, Development, Engineering Services and License Memorandum and Agreement, dated January 16, 2022, by and between ProKidney-KY and DEKA Products Limited Partnership
ProKidney-KY entered into a Research, Development, Engineering Services and License Memorandum and Agreement dated January 16, 2022 (the RDELA) with DEKA Products Limited Partnership and its general partner DEKA Research & Development Corp. (collectively, DEKA) under which DEKA will work with ProKidney-KY to develop certain technology to enhance the Companys manufacturing and delivery capabilities for REACT. Under the RDELA, ProKidney-KY pays DEKA for its work on these research and development projects on a cost-plus model. DEKA owns the resulting IP and grants ProKidney-KY an exclusive, royalty-free, world-wide license to the resulting IP for purposes related to the provisions of cell therapy for the treatment of renal insufficiency.
Under the terms of the RDELA, ProKidney-KY agrees to indemnify DEKA for claims arising out of the use of the technology licensed to ProKidney-KY (including losses related to IP infringement claims and personal injury or products liability claims) and DEKA agrees to indemnify ProKidney-KY for claims arising out of the use of the technologies developed and licensed to third parties.
The term of the RDELA extends through the commercial life of any licensed technology developed thereunder subject to termination for breach and for ProKidney-KYs convenience.
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The initial payment for DEKAs work under the RDELA was made through the issuance of 2,750,000 Class B-1 Units of ProKidney Management Equity LLC. All subsequent payments have been and will be made by ProKidney- KY in cash.
Master Services Agreement, dated April 20, 2020, by and between IQVIA RDS Inc. and ProKidney-KY
ProKidney-KY entered into a Master Services Agreement dated April 20, 2020 (the IQVIA MSA) with IQVIA RDS, Inc. (IQVIA), under which IQVIA agreed to provide services for individual studies or projects of ProKidney-KY pursuant to work orders covering strategic planning, expert consultation, clinical trial services, statistical programming and analysis, data processing, data management, regulatory services, project management, pharmacovigilance, central laboratory services, clinical pharmacology services, electrocardiogram services and other services.
ProKidney-KY and IQVIA agreed to indemnify each other against certain third-party claims. The IQVIA MSA has an initial term of five years, or until terminated by either party, and will automatically renew each year for one-year periods, unless either party notifies the other party in writing at least 90 days prior to the renewal date that the notifying party wishes to terminate the IQVIA MSA. ProKidney-KY may terminate the IQVIA MSA without cause upon 60 days prior written notice to IQVIA. Either party may terminate the IQVIA MSA, or any work order thereunder, (i) for material breach by the other party if, upon 30 days prior written notice by the non-breaching party, the breach has not been cured, or (ii) upon the insolvency or declaration of bankruptcy of the other party. IQVIA may suspend services under if IQVIA reasonably determines that IQVIAs performance under the IQVIA MSA, or a work order thereunder, would constitute a potential or actual violation of regulatory, scientific, or ethical standards.
Master Agreement for Clinical Trials Services, dated April 2, 2020, by and between ProKidney-KY and Frenova, LLC
ProKidney-KY entered into a Master Agreement for Clinical Trials Services, dated April 2, 2020 (the Frenova MSA) with Frenova, LLC d/b/a Frenova Renal Research (Frenova), under which Frenova agreed to provide ProKidney-KY with certain services related to the implementation and management of clinical development programs pursuant to statements of work (SOWs) encompassing such services for ProKidney-KYs protocols RMCL-002, REGEN-006 and REGEN-007.
The Frenova MSA has an initial term of five years, or until terminated by either party, and will automatically renew each year for one-year periods, unless either party notifies the other party in writing at least 60 days prior to the renewal date that the notifying party wishes to terminate the Frenova MSA. ProKidney-KY may terminate the Frenova MSA or any SOW thereunder upon 60 days prior written notice to Frenova for any reason. Frenova may terminate the Frenova MSA for material breach under the Frenova MSA by ProKidney-KY if, upon 60 days prior written notice, the breach has not been cured. Additionally, Frenova may terminate any SOW upon 30 days prior written notice if (i) ProKidney-KY cancels or materially delays the requested services; (ii) unanticipated material changes to the project assumptions cannot be addressed to both parties satisfaction; (iii) changes to the study protocol cause enrollment targets to become commercially unreasonable; or (iv) ProKidney-KY is unable to make timely payments to Frenova resulting in Frenova lacking funds to process payments to the trial sites. Either party may terminate the Frenova MSA or any SOW thereunder (i) upon the insolvency or declaration of bankruptcy of the other party, (ii) if the other party is excluded, suspended, sanctioned or otherwise restricted from participating in federal health care programs, or (iii) the performance of the service would constitute a potential or actual violation of legal, regulatory, scientific, or ethical standards. ProKidney-KY and Frenova also agreed to indemnify each other against certain third-party claims.
Master Services Agreement, dated May 1, 2019, by and between PPD Development, LP and ProKidney-KY
ProKidney-KY entered into a Master Services Agreement dated May 1, 2019 (the PPD MSA) with PPD Development, L.P. (PPD), under which PPD agreed to perform clinical development services in connection
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with ProKidney-KYs clinical research programs, and ProKidney-KY agreed to pay PPD in accordance with rates for such services, as set forth in the project addenda.
The PPD MSA has an initial term of five years and may be extended by mutual written agreement of the parties. ProKidney-KY may terminate any project addendum under the PPD MSA without cause upon 30 days prior written notice. Either party may terminate any project addendum under the PPD MSA upon the other partys breach of the PPD MSA or project addendum upon 30 days prior written notice, provided that the breach is not cured within such 30-day period. Either party may terminate the PPD MSA or any project addendum thereunder upon the occurrence of certain insolvency events. ProKidney-KY and PPD also agreed to indemnify each other against certain third-party claims.
Master Services Agreement, dated August 14, 2015, by and between CTI Clinical Trial Services Inc. and RegenMedTX, LLC
RegenMedTX, LLC (RegenMedTX), a subsidiary of ProKidney-KY, entered into a Master Services Agreement dated August 14, 2015 (the CTI MSA) with CTI Clinical Trial Services, Inc. & CTI Clinical Consulting Services, Inc. (CTI), under which CTI agreed to provide RegenMedTX with certain clinical research or design and development services in connection with ProKidney-KYs clinical trials pursuant to work orders.
RegenMedTX will own all materials, documents and information obtained by, developed by or provided to CTI by or on behalf of RegenMedTX as a part of CTIs services or any work order thereunder. The CTI MSA will continue unless terminated by the parties. Either party may terminate the CTI MSA or a work order for any reason upon 90 days prior written notice to the other party or for material breach by the other party upon 30 days written notice, provided that the material breach has not been cured within the 30-day period. RegenMedTX may immediately terminate the CTI MSA, or a work order thereunder, if (i) the FDA withdraws authorization and approval to conduct a study or (ii) RegenMedTX reasonably determines that for medical, clinical or patient safety reasons, a study should terminate immediately.
Laboratory Service Agreements with LabCorp
Laboratory Service Agreement, dated August 16, 2016, by and among Covance Central Laboratory Services LP, Covance Central Laboratory Services SA` RL and ProKidney-KY
In August 2016, ProKidney-KY entered into a Laboratory Service Agreement with Covance Central Laboratory Services LP and Covance Central Laboratory Services SA` RL (now known as Labcorp, as described further below) (the 2016 LSA), under which Labcorp agreed to perform certain services for ProKidney-KYs protocol RMCL-002.
The initial term of the 2016 LSA was 42 months, subject to automatic renewal for successive one-year periods unless a party provides the other party with written notice of its intention to not renew at least 60 days prior to the commencement of a renewal term. Either party may terminate the 2016 LSA upon written notice to the other party, effective immediately, if (i) the other party commits a material breach of any term of the 2016 LSA and fails to remedy such breach within a 30-day period, (ii) the other party repeatedly breaches any term of the 2016 LSA, (iii) anyone commences bankruptcy proceedings against the other party, which proceedings are not dismissed within 60 days, (iv) a court of competent jurisdiction appoints a custodian for the other party or substantially all of its assets, (v) the other party fails to pay its debts as they fall due, or (vi) any event occurs or proceeding is initiated having a similar effect to the events mentioned above. ProKidney-KY may terminate the 2016 LSA for any reason upon 90 days prior written notice to Labcorp. ProKidney-KY granted Labcorp an unrestricted, royalty-free license to aggregate and use any system data produced by or for Labcorp as part of the services with other system data owned or licensed by Labcorp provided Labcorp does not identify such data as belonging to ProKidney-KY.
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Laboratory Service Agreement, dated August 1, 2017, by and among Covance Central Laboratory Services LP, Covance Central Laboratory Services SA` RL and ProKidney-KY
In August 2017, ProKidney-KY entered into a Laboratory Service Agreement with Labcorp (the 2017 LSA). Under the terms of the 2017 LSA, Labcorp agreed to perform certain services for ProKidneys protocol REGEN-003. The 2017 LSA has substantially similar terms and termination provisions to the 2016 LSA.
Laboratory Service Agreement, dated June 21, 2019, by and among Covance Central Laboratory Services LP, Covance Central Laboratory Services SA` RL and ProKidney-KY
In June 2019, ProKidney-KY entered into a Laboratory Service Agreement with Labcorp (the 2019 LSA). Under the terms of the 2019 LSA, Labcorp agreed to perform certain services for ProKidney-KYs protocol REGEN-004. The 2019 LSA has an initial term of 50 months and will renew automatically for successive one- year periods unless a party provides the other party with written notice of its intention to not renew at least 60 days prior to the commencement of a renewal term. The parties may terminate the 2019 LSA under terms that are substantially similar to the termination provisions of the 2016 LSA and 2017 LSA.
Laboratory Service Agreement, dated September 16, 2021, by and among Labcorp Central Laboratory Services LP, Labcorp Central Laboratory Services SA` RL and ProKidney-KY
ProKidney-KY and Labcorp Central Laboratory Services LP (formerly known as Covance Central Laboratory Services LP) and Labcorp Central Laboratory Services SA` RL (formerly known as Covance Central Laboratory Services SA` RL) (Collectively, Labcorp) entered into a Laboratory Service Agreement dated September 16, 2021 (the Labcorp LSA), under which Labcorp agreed to perform certain services for ProKidney-KYs protocol REGEN-006.
The term of the Labcorp LSA will continue until the conclusion of the REGEN-006 study. Either party may terminate the Labcorp LSA under terms that are substantially similar to the termination provisions of the 2016 LSA, the 2017 LSA and the 2019 LSA, as well as pursuant to certain insolvency events. ProKidney-KY and Labcorp also agreed to indemnify each other against certain third-party claims. ProKidney-KY granted Labcorp an unrestricted, royalty-free license to aggregate and use any system data produced by or for Labcorp as part of the services with other system data owned or licensed by Labcorp provided Labcorp does not identify such data as belonging to ProKidney-KY.
Intellectual Property
Our success depends in part on our ability to obtain and maintain proprietary protection for our product candidates, technology and know-how, to operate without infringing the proprietary rights of others and to prevent others from infringing our proprietary rights. Our policy is to seek to protect our proprietary position by, among other methods, pursuing and obtaining patent protection in the United States and in jurisdictions outside of the United States related to our proprietary technology, inventions, improvements, and product candidates that are important to the development and implementation of our business. For example, we have or are pursuing patents covering the composition of matter for each of our product candidates and we generally pursue patent protection covering methods-of-use for each clinical trial. We also rely on trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological innovation and potential in-licensing opportunities to develop and maintain our proprietary position. Additionally, we expect to benefit, where appropriate, from statutory frameworks in the United States, Europe and other countries that provide a period of clinical data exclusivity to compensate for the time required for regulatory approval of our products.
We continually assess and refine our intellectual property strategy as we develop new technologies and product candidates. We plan to file additional patent applications based on our intellectual property strategies where appropriate, including where we seek to adapt to competition or to improve business opportunities. Further, we plan to file patent applications, as we consider appropriate under the circumstances, to protect new technologies that we develop.
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To cover our proprietary technologies, proprietary cell-based REACT product and related methods, such as methods of use, we have filed patent applications representing 15 patent families. As of July 31, 2022, our patent estate, which is solely owned, included 286 total issued patents or pending patent applications with nine issued U.S. patents, nine pending U.S. non-provisional patent applications, five pending U.S. provisional patent applications, two pending Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications, 168 issued foreign patents and 93 pending foreign patent applications in various foreign jurisdictions.
Specifically, our patent family with claims directed to cells formulated in REACT, implantable constructs, and methods of using the same to, for example, improve kidney function or treat kidney disease, includes 30 issued patents and 10 pending patent applications. Patents in this family have been issued in nine jurisdictions, including the United States (three issued patents), Europe (two issued patents, each separately validated in seven countries), China, Japan, and South Korea. Issued patents and any further patents that may be issued from this familys 10 pending applications are expected to expire in 2029 absent any patent term adjustments or extensions.
We also own two patent families directed to our REACT formulations and methods of preparing the formulations. Across these families, we have 13 issued patents in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, and Canada. We also have 13 patent applications that are pending in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, Europe, China, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Patents across these two patent families, including any patents that may be issued from the pending applications, are expected to expire between 2031 and 2038, depending upon their respective filing dates and absent any patent term adjustments or extensions.
Additionally, we own two patent families with claims directed to quality control methods for ensuring that renal cells for formulation in REACT, prepared by our proprietary methods, have phenotypic and functional profiles indicative of therapeutic activity. Within the first patent family, we have 58 issued patents in various jurisdictions, including the United States (two issued patents), Europe (two issued patents, one of which has been validated in 21 countries and the other has been validated in 20 countries), China, Japan (two issued patents), South Korea (two issued patents), Hong Kong, Australia (two issued patents), and New Zealand (two issued patents) and are expected to expire in 2033 absent any patent term adjustments or extensions. We also have nine patent applications that are pending in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, Europe, Australia, China, and South Korea, and are expected to expire in 2033 absent any patent term adjustments or extensions. Our second patent family includes a PCT stage application. Any patents that issue from a national or regional stage application filed from this PCT application are expected to expire in 2041 absent any patent term adjustments or extensions.
We further own three patent families directed to methods of improving kidney function and/or in treating kidney disease, e.g., diabetic kidney disease or kidney disease resulting from a congenital anomaly. Across these families, we have three issued patents, including one U.S. patent and 28 pending patent applications filed in 15 jurisdictions, including the United States, Europe, Hong Kong, China, Korea, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Israel, Canada, and Mexico. Our issued U.S. patent is expected to expire in 2037 absent any patent term adjustments or extensions. Patents across all three patent families, if issued, are expected to expire between 2036 and 2042, depending upon their respective filing dates and absent any patent term adjustments or extensions.
In addition, we plan to file additional applications on aspects of our innovations that may have patent terms that extend beyond these dates.
The term of individual patents depends upon the laws of the countries in which they are obtained. In the countries in which we currently file, the patent term is 20 years from the earliest date of filing of a non-provisional patent application, which serves as a priority application. However, the term of a U.S. patent may be extended to compensate for the time required to obtain regulatory approval to sell a medicine (a patent term extension) or by delays encountered during patent prosecution that are caused by the USPTO (referred to as
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patent term adjustment). For example, the Hatch-Waxman Act permits a patent term extension for FDA-approved medicines of up to five years beyond the expiration of the patent. The length of the patent term extension is related to the length of time the medicine is under regulatory review and diligence during the review process. Patent term extensions cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval and only one patent covering an approved medicine or its method of use may be extended. A similar kind of patent extension, referred to as a Supplementary Protection Certificate, is available in Europe. Legal frameworks are also available in certain other jurisdictions to extend the term of a patent. We currently intend to seek patent term extensions on any of our issued patents in any jurisdiction where we have a qualifying patent and the extension is available; however there is no guarantee that the applicable regulatory authorities, including the FDA in the United States, will agree with our assessment of whether such extensions should be granted, and even if granted, the length of such extensions. Further, even if our patent is extended, the patent, including the extended portion of the patent, may be held invalid or unenforceable by a court of final jurisdiction in the United States or a foreign country.
As with other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, our ability to obtain and maintain a proprietary position on our product candidates and technologies will depend on our success in obtaining effective patent claims on these pending patents and enforcing those claims if granted. However, our pending patent applications, and any patent applications that we may in the future file or license from third parties, may not result in the issuance of patents. We also cannot predict the breadth of claims that may be allowed or enforced in our patents. Furthermore, our competitors may be able to independently develop and commercialize products with similar mechanisms of action and duplicate our methods of treatments or strategies without infringing our patents. Because of the extensive time required for clinical development and regulatory review of a therapeutic product we may develop, it is possible that, before any of our products can be commercialized, any related patent may expire or remain in force for only a short period following commercialization, thereby reducing any advantage of any such patent. Moreover, even our issued patents do not guarantee us the right to practice our technology in relation to the commercialization of our clinical candidates. The area of patent and other intellectual property rights in pharmaceuticals is an evolving one with many risks and uncertainties, and third parties may have blocking patents that could be used to prevent us from commercializing our clinical candidates.
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are characterized by extensive litigation regarding patents and other intellectual property rights. Our ability to obtain and maintain our proprietary position for our product candidates and technology will depend on our success in enforcing the claims that have been granted or may grant. However, any of our patents, including patents that we may rely on to protect our market for approved therapeutics, may be held invalid or unenforceable by a court of final jurisdiction. Alternatively, we may decide that it is in our interest to settle a litigation in a manner that affects the term or enforceability of our patent. Changes in either the patent laws or in interpretations of patent laws in the United States and other countries may diminish our ability to protect our inventions and enforce our intellectual property rights. Accordingly, we cannot predict the breadth or enforceability of claims that have been or may be granted in our patents or in third-party patents.
Trade secrets
In addition to patents, we rely upon unpatented trade secrets and know-how and continuing technological innovation to develop and maintain our competitive position. We seek to protect our proprietary information, in part, using confidentiality agreements with our commercial partners, collaborators, employees, and consultants, and invention assignment agreements with our employees. These agreements are designed to protect our proprietary information and, in the case of the invention assignment agreements, to grant us ownership of technologies that are developed through a relationship with a third party. These agreements may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any breach. In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors. To the extent that our commercial partners, collaborators, employees, and consultants use intellectual property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may arise as to the rights in related or resulting know-how and inventions.
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Government regulation
In the United States, biological products, including cell-based regenerative therapy products, are subject to regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act), the Public Health Service Act (the PHS Act) and other federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations. Both the FD&C Act and the PHS Act and their corresponding regulations govern, among other things, the research, development, clinical trial, testing, manufacturing, safety, efficacy, labeling, packaging, storage, record keeping, distribution, reporting, advertising and other promotional practices involving biological products. Each clinical trial protocol for a cell- based therapy product must be reviewed by the FDA. FDA approval must be obtained before the marketing of any biological product. The process of obtaining regulatory approvals and the subsequent compliance with appropriate federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations requires the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources and we may not be able to obtain the required regulatory approvals.
Ethical, social and legal concerns about gene or cell-based therapies, genetic testing and genetic research could result in additional laws and regulations restricting or prohibiting the processes we may use. Federal and state legislatures, agencies, congressional committees and foreign governments have expressed interest in further regulating biotechnology. More restrictive laws and regulations or interpretations of existing laws or regulations, or claims that our product candidates are unsafe or pose a hazard, could prevent us from commercializing any products. New government requirements may be established that could delay or prevent regulatory approval of our product candidates under development. It is impossible to predict whether legislative changes will be enacted, regulations, policies or guidance changed, or interpretations by agencies or courts changed, or what the impact of such changes, if any, may be.
U.S. biological products development process
The process required by the FDA before a biological product may be marketed in the United States generally involves the following:
| completion of nonclinical laboratory tests and animal studies according to GLP, and applicable requirements for the humane use of laboratory animals or other applicable regulations; |
| submission to the FDA of an application for an IND which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin; |
| approval of the protocol and related documentation by an IRB, or ethics committee at each clinical trial site before each clinical trial may be initiated; |
| performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials according to applicable IND regulations, good clinical practices, or GCPs and other clinical-trial related regulation, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the investigational biological product for each proposed indication; |
| submission to the FDA of a BLA for marketing approval that includes sufficient evidence of establishing the safety, purity, and potency of the proposed biological product for each proposed indication, including from results of nonclinical testing and clinical trials; |
| satisfactory completion of an FDA inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities where the biological product is produced to assess compliance with cGMP to assure that the facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the biological products identity, strength, quality and purity and, if applicable, compliance with the FDAs cGTPs for the use of human cellular and tissue products; |
| potential FDA audit of the nonclinical study and clinical trial sites to assure compliance with GLP and GCP and the integrity of the clinical data submitted in support of the BLA; |
| review of the product candidate by an FDA advisory committee, where appropriate or if applicable; |
| payment of user fees for FDA review of the BLA (unless a fee waiver applies); and |
| FDA review and approval, or licensure, of the BLA. |
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Preclinical Studies
Before testing any biological product candidate, including a cell-based regenerative therapy product, in humans, the product candidate enters the preclinical testing stage. Preclinical tests, also referred to as nonclinical studies, include laboratory evaluations of a product candidates biological characteristics, chemistry, toxicity, stability and formulation, as well as animal studies to assess the potential safety and activity of the product candidate. The sponsor must submit the results of the preclinical studies, together with manufacturing information, analytical data, any available clinical data or literature and a proposed clinical protocol, to the FDA as part of the IND. An IND is a request for authorization from the FDA to administer an investigational product to humans and must become effective before human clinical trials may begin.
The conduct of the preclinical tests must comply with federal regulations and requirements including GLP. Some long-term preclinical testing, such as animal tests of reproductive adverse events and carcinogenicity, may continue after an IND for an investigational drug candidate is submitted to the FDA and human clinical trials have been initiated.
Human clinical trials in support of a BLA
All clinical trials must be conducted under the supervision of qualified investigators. Clinical trials are conducted under protocols detailing the objectives of the study, the parameters to be used in monitoring the safety and effectiveness criteria to be evaluated. Each protocol must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND. Study subjects must sign an informed consent form before participating in a clinical trial. There are also requirements governing the reporting of on-going clinical trials and clinical trial results to public registries.
An IND is an exemption from the FD&C Act that allows an unapproved product candidate to be shipped in interstate commerce for use in an investigational clinical trial and a request for FDA authorization to administer such investigational product to humans. Such authorization must be secured prior to interstate shipment and administration of any biologic product candidate that is not the subject of an approved BLA. In support of a request for an IND, applicants must submit a protocol for each clinical trial and any subsequent protocol amendments must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND. In addition, the results of the preclinical tests, together with manufacturing information, analytical data, any available clinical data or literature and plans for clinical trials, among other things, must be submitted to the FDA as part of an IND. The FDA requires a 30-day waiting period after the filing of each IND before clinical trials may begin. This waiting period is designed to allow the FDA to review the IND to determine whether human research subjects will be exposed to unreasonable health risks. An IND automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless before that time the FDA raises concerns or questions related to one or more proposed clinical trials and places the clinical trial on a clinical hold. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before clinical trials can begin.
As a result, submission of an IND may not result in the FDA allowing clinical trials to commence.
Following commencement of a clinical trial, the FDA may also place a clinical hold or partial clinical hold on that trial. A clinical hold is an order issued by the FDA to the sponsor to delay a proposed clinical investigation or to suspend an ongoing investigation. A partial clinical hold is a delay or suspension of only part of the clinical work requested under the IND. No more than 30 days after imposition of a clinical hold or partial clinical hold, the FDA will provide the sponsor a written explanation of the basis for the hold. Following issuance of a clinical hold or partial clinical hold, an investigation may only resume after the FDA has notified the sponsor that the investigation may proceed.
A sponsor may choose, but is not required, to conduct a foreign clinical trial under an IND. When a foreign clinical trial is conducted under an IND, all FDA IND requirements must be met unless waived. When a foreign clinical trial is not conducted under an IND, the sponsor must ensure that the study complies with certain
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regulatory requirements of the FDA in order to use the study as support for an IND or application for marketing approval or licensing. In particular, such studies must be conducted in accordance with GCP, including review and approval by an IEC and informed consent from subjects and must meet other clinical trial requirements, such as sufficient patient population size and statistical powering. The FDA must be able to validate the data through an onsite inspection, if deemed necessary by the FDA.
An IRB representing each institution participating in the clinical trial must review and approve the plan for any clinical trial before it commences at that institution, and the IRB must conduct continuing review and reapprove the study at least annually. The IRB must review and approve, among other things, the study protocol and informed consent information to be provided to study subjects. An IRB must operate in compliance with FDA regulations. An IRB can suspend or terminate approval of a clinical trial at its institution, or an institution it represents, if the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance with the IRBs requirements or if the product candidate has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients.
Some trials are overseen by an independent group of qualified experts organized by the trial sponsor, known as a DSMB. This group provides authorization as to whether or not a trial may move forward at designated check points based on access that only the group maintains to available data from the study.
Information about certain clinical trials, including details of the protocol and eventually study results, also must be submitted within specific timeframes to the National Institutes of Health for public dissemination on the ClinicalTrials.gov data registry. Information related to the product, patient population, phase of investigation, study sites and investigators and other aspects of the clinical trial is made public as part of the registration of the clinical trial. Sponsors are also obligated to disclose the results of their clinical trials after completion. Disclosure of the results of these trials can be delayed in some cases for up to two years after the date of completion of the trial. Failure to timely register a covered clinical study or to submit study results as provided for in the law can give rise to civil monetary penalties and also prevent the non-compliant party from receiving future grant funds from the federal government. The National Institutes of Healths (NIH) Final Rule on ClinicalTrials.gov registration and reporting requirements became effective in 2017, and both NIH and FDA have recently begun enforcing those requirements against non-compliant clinical trial sponsors.
Clinical trials typically are conducted in three sequential phases that may overlap or be combined:
| Phase 1. The product candidate is initially introduced into healthy human subjects and tested for safety, dosage tolerance, absorption, metabolism, distribution and excretion. In the case of some product candidates for severe or life-threatening diseases, especially when the product candidate may be too inherently toxic to ethically administer to healthy volunteers, the initial human testing is often conducted in patients. |
| Phase 2. The product candidate is evaluated in a limited patient population to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks, to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of the product candidate for specific targeted diseases and to determine dosage tolerance, optimal dosage and dosing schedule. |
| Phase 3. Clinical trials are undertaken to further evaluate dosage, clinical efficacy, potency, and safety in an expanded patient population at geographically dispersed clinical trial sites. These clinical trials are intended to establish the overall risk/benefit ratio of the product candidate and provide, if appropriate, an adequate basis for approval and product labeling. These trials may include comparisons with placebo and/or other comparator treatments. The duration of treatment is often extended to mimic the actual use of a product during marketing. |
Post-approval clinical trials, sometimes referred to as Phase 4 clinical trials, may be conducted after initial marketing approval. These clinical trials are used to gain additional experience from the treatment of patients in the intended therapeutic indication, particularly for long-term safety follow-up. In certain instances, the FDA may mandate the performance of Phase 4 clinical trials as a condition of approval of a BLA.
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During all phases of clinical development, regulatory agencies require extensive monitoring and auditing of all clinical activities, clinical data, and clinical trial investigators. Annual progress reports detailing the results of the clinical trials must be submitted to the FDA. Written IND safety reports must be promptly submitted to the FDA, the NIH and the investigators for serious and unexpected adverse events, any findings from other studies, tests in laboratory animals or in vitro testing that suggest a significant risk for human subjects, or any clinically important increase in the rate of a serious suspected adverse reaction over that listed in the protocol or investigator brochure. The sponsor must submit an IND safety report within 15 calendar days after the sponsor determines that the information qualifies for reporting. The sponsor also must notify the FDA of any unexpected fatal or life-threatening suspected adverse reaction within seven calendar days after the sponsors initial receipt of such information. Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials may not be completed successfully within any specified period, if at all.
Human cell-based products administered directly into kidney tissue are a new category of therapeutics. Because this is a relatively new and expanding area of novel therapeutic interventions, there can be no assurance as to the length of the study period, the number of patients the FDA will require to be enrolled in the studies in order to establish the safety, purity and potency of human cell-based therapy products, or that the data generated in these studies will be acceptable to the FDA to support marketing approval.
Concurrent with clinical trials, companies usually complete additional animal studies and also must develop additional information about the physical characteristics of the biological product as well as finalize a process for manufacturing the product in commercial quantities in accordance with cGMP requirements. To help reduce the risk of the introduction of adventitious agents with use of biological products, the PHS Act emphasizes the importance of manufacturing control for products whose attributes cannot be precisely defined. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing quality batches of the product candidate and, among other things, the sponsor must develop methods for testing the identity, strength, quality, potency and purity of the final biological product. Additionally, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the biological product candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf life.
U.S. review and approval processes
After the completion of clinical trials of a biological product candidate, FDA approval of a BLA must be obtained before commercial marketing of the biological product. The BLA must include results of product development, laboratory and animal studies, human studies, information on the manufacture and composition of the product, proposed labeling and other relevant information. To support marketing approval, the data submitted must be sufficient in quality and quantity to establish the safety, purity, potency and efficacy of the investigational product for its proposed indication or indications to the satisfaction of the FDA. The testing and approval processes require substantial time and effort and there can be no assurance that the FDA will accept the BLA for filing and, even if filed, that any approval will be granted on a timely basis, if at all.
Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, as amended (PDUFA), each BLA must be accompanied by a significant user fee (for example, for fiscal year 2022, this application fee exceeds $3.1 million). The FDA adjusts the PDUFA user fees on an annual basis. PDUFA also imposes an annual program fee for registered biologic product manufacturers, currently more than $300,000 per program. Fee waivers or reductions are available in certain circumstances, including a waiver of the application fee for the first application filed by a small business.
Within 60 days following submission of the application, the FDA reviews a BLA submitted to determine if it is substantially complete before the FDA accepts it for filing. The FDA may refuse to file any BLA that it deems incomplete or not properly reviewable at the time of submission and may request additional information. In this event, the BLA must be resubmitted with the additional information. The resubmitted application also is subject to review before the FDA accepts it for filing. Once the submission is accepted for filing, the FDA begins
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an in-depth substantive review of the BLA. The FDA reviews the BLA to determine, among other things, whether the proposed product is safe, pure, potent and effective for its proposed indication or indications and whether the product is being manufactured in accordance with cGMP to ensure the continued safety, purity and potency of such product.
Under the performance goals and policies implemented by the FDA under PDUFA, for original BLAs, the FDA targets ten months from the filing date in which to complete its initial review of a standard application and respond to the applicant, and six months from the filing date for an application with priority review. The FDA does not always meet its PDUFA goal dates, and the review process is often significantly extended due to FDA requests for additional information or clarification. The review process and the PDUFA goal date may be extended by the FDA for three additional months to consider new information or in the case of a clarification provided by the applicant to address an outstanding deficiency identified by the FDA following the original submission.
Before approving a BLA, the FDA typically will inspect the facilities at which the product is manufactured. The FDA will not approve the product unless it determines that the manufacturing processes and facilities are in compliance with cGMP requirements and adequate to assure consistent production of the product within required specifications. For a cell-based therapy product, the FDA also will not approve the product if the manufacturer is not in compliance with the cGTPs. These are FDA regulations that govern the methods used in, and the facilities and controls used for, the manufacture of human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/ Ps), which are human cells or tissue intended for implantation, transplant, infusion, or transfer into a human recipient. The primary intent of the cGTP requirements is to ensure that cell and tissue-based products are manufactured in a manner designed to prevent the introduction, transmission and spread of communicable disease. FDA regulations also require tissue establishments to register and list their HCT/Ps with the FDA and, when applicable, to evaluate donors through appropriate screening and testing. Additionally, before approving a BLA, the FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical sites to assure that the clinical trials were conducted in compliance with IND study requirements and GCP requirements. To assure cGMP, cGTP and GCP compliance, an applicant must incur significant expenditure of time, money and effort in the areas of training, record keeping, production and quality control.
Additionally, the FDA may refer any BLA, including applications for novel biologic candidates which present difficult questions of safety or efficacy, to an advisory committee. Typically, an advisory committee is a panel of independent experts, including clinicians and other scientific experts that reviews, evaluates and provides a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved and under what conditions. The FDA is not bound by the recommendation of an advisory committee, but it considers such recommendations when making final decisions on approval. The FDA likely will re-analyze the clinical trial data, which could result in extensive discussions between the FDA and the applicant during the review process. The FDA also may require submission of a REMS if it determines that a REMS is necessary to ensure that the benefits of the medicine outweigh its risks and to assure the safe use of the medicine or biological product. The REMS could include medication guides, physician communication plans, assessment plans and/or elements to assure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries or other risk minimization tools. The FDA determines the requirement for a REMS, as well as the specific REMS provisions, on a case-by-case basis. If the FDA concludes a REMS is needed, the sponsor of the BLA must submit a proposed REMS. The FDA will not approve a BLA without a REMS, if required.
Under the Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA), a BLA or supplement to a BLA for a novel product (e.g., new active ingredient, new indication, etc.) must contain data to assess the safety and effectiveness of the biological product candidate for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations and to support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the product is safe and effective. The FDA may grant deferrals for submission of data or full or partial waivers. The PREA requires a sponsor who is planning to submit a marketing application for a product that includes a new active ingredient, new indication, new dosage form, new dosing regimen or new route of administration to submit an initial Pediatric Study Plan
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(PSP), within sixty days of an end-of-Phase 2 meeting or, if there is no such meeting, as early as practicable before the initiation of the Phase 3 or Phase 2/3 clinical trial. The initial PSP must include an outline of the pediatric study or studies that the sponsor plans to conduct, including trial objectives and design, age groups, relevant endpoints and statistical approach, or a justification for not including such detailed information, and any request for a deferral of pediatric assessments or a full or partial waiver of the requirement to provide data from pediatric studies along with supporting information. The FDA and the sponsor must reach an agreement on the PSP. A sponsor can submit amendments to an agreed upon initial PSP at any time if changes to the pediatric plan need to be considered based on data collected from pre-clinical studies, early phase clinical trials or other clinical development programs.
The FDA reviews a BLA to determine, among other things whether the product is safe, pure and potent and the facility in which it is manufactured, processed, packed or held meets standards designed to assure the products continued safety, purity and potency. The approval process is lengthy and often difficult, and the FDA may refuse to approve a BLA if the applicable regulatory criteria are not satisfied or may require additional clinical or other data and information. On the basis of the FDAs evaluation of the BLA and accompanying information, including the results of the inspection of the manufacturing facilities, the FDA may issue either an approval letter or a Complete Response Letter (CRL). An approval letter authorizes commercial marketing of the product with specific prescribing information for specific indications. A CRL indicates that the review cycle of the application is complete and the application will not be approved in its present form. A CRL generally outlines the deficiencies in the submission and may require substantial additional testing or information in order for the FDA to reconsider the application. The CRL may require additional clinical or other data, additional pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial(s) and/or other significant and time-consuming requirements related to clinical trials, preclinical studies or manufacturing. If a CRL is issued, the applicant may choose to either resubmit the BLA addressing all of the deficiencies identified in the letter, or withdraw the application. If and when those deficiencies have been addressed to the FDAs satisfaction in a resubmission of the BLA, the FDA will issue an approval letter. The FDA has committed to reviewing such resubmissions in response to an issued CRL in either two or six months depending on the type of information included. Even with the submission of this additional information, however, the FDA ultimately may decide that the application does not satisfy the regulatory criteria for approval.
If a product receives regulatory approval from the FDA, the approval is limited to the conditions of use (e.g., patient population, indication) described in the application. Further, depending on the specific risk(s) to be addressed, the FDA may require that contraindications, warnings or precautions be included in the product labeling, require that post-approval trials, including Phase 4 clinical trials, be conducted to further assess a products safety after approval, require testing and surveillance programs to monitor the product after commercialization, or impose other conditions, including distribution and use restrictions or other risk management mechanisms under a REMS, which can materially affect the potential market and profitability of the product. The FDA may prevent or limit further marketing of a product based on the results of post-marketing trials or surveillance programs. After approval, some types of changes to the approved product, such as adding new indications, manufacturing changes and additional labeling claims, are subject to further testing requirements and FDA review and approval.
Fast Track, RMAT and Priority Review Designations
The FDA has various programs, including Fast Track designation, RMAT designation and priority review, that are intended to expedite or simplify the process for the development or FDA review of medicines and biologics that are intended for the treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions. These programs do not change the standards for approval but may help expedite the development or approval process.
To be eligible for fast-track designation, the FDA must determine, based on the request of a sponsor, that a new medicine or biological product is intended to treat a serious or life-threatening condition and demonstrates the potential to address an unmet medical need by providing a therapy where none exists or a therapy that may be
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potentially superior to existing therapy based on efficacy or safety factors. Fast track designation provides opportunities for more frequent interactions with the FDA review team to expedite development and review of the product. The FDA may also review sections of the NDA or BLA for a fast track product on a rolling basis before the complete application is submitted, if the sponsor and the FDA agree on a schedule for the submission of the application sections and the sponsor pays any required user fees upon submission of the first section of the NDA or BLA. In addition, fast track designation may be withdrawn by the sponsor or rescinded by the FDA if the designation is no longer supported by data emerging from the clinical trial process.
As part of the 21st Century Cures Act (the Cures Act), enacted in December 2016, Congress amended the FD&C Act to facilitate an efficient development program for, and expedite review of regenerative medicine advanced therapies, or RMATs, which include cell and gene therapies, therapeutic tissue engineered products, human cell and tissue products, and combination products using any such therapies or products. REACT has received RMAT designation from the FDA. RMAT designation does not include HCT/Ps regulated solely under section 361 of the PHS Act and 21 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1271. This program is intended to facilitate efficient development and expedite review of regenerative medicine therapies that are intended to treat, modify, reverse, or cure a serious or life-threatening disease or condition. A sponsor may request that FDA designate a medicine as a RMAT concurrently with or at any time after submission of an IND. The FDA has 60 calendar days to determine whether the medicine meets the criteria, including whether there is preliminary clinical evidence indicating that the medicine has the potential to address unmet medical needs for a serious or life- threatening disease or condition. A BLA for a regenerative medicine therapy that has received RMAT designation may be eligible for priority review or accelerated approval through use of surrogate or intermediate endpoints reasonably likely to predict long-term clinical benefit, or reliance upon data obtained from a meaningful number of sites. Benefits of RMAT designation also include early interactions with FDA to discuss any potential surrogate or intermediate endpoint to be used to support accelerated approval. A regenerative medicine therapy with RMAT designation that is granted accelerated approval and is subject to post-approval requirements may fulfill such requirements through the submission of clinical evidence from clinical trials, patient registries, or other sources of real-world evidence, such as electronic health records; the collection of larger confirmatory data sets; or post-approval monitoring of all patients treated with such therapy prior to its approval.
Finally, the FDA may designate a product for priority review if it is a medicine or biologic that treats a serious condition and, if approved, would provide a significant improvement in safety or effectiveness. The FDA determines at the time that the marketing application is submitted, on a case-by-case basis, whether the proposed medicine represents a significant improvement in treatment, prevention or diagnosis of disease when compared with other available therapies. Significant improvement may be illustrated by evidence of increased effectiveness in the treatment of a condition, elimination or substantial reduction of a treatment-limiting reaction, documented enhancement of patient compliance that may lead to improvement in serious outcomes, or evidence of safety and effectiveness in a new subpopulation. A priority review designation is intended to direct overall attention and resources to the evaluation of such applications, and to shorten the FDAs goal for taking action on a marketing application from ten months to six months for an original BLA or for a New Molecular Entity NDA from the date of filing.
Even if a product qualifies for one or more of these programs, the FDA may later decide that the product no longer meets the conditions for qualification or decide that the time period for FDA review or approval will not be shortened. Furthermore, fast track designation, RMAT therapy designation and priority review do not change the standards for approval and may not ultimately expedite the development or approval process.
Accelerated approval pathway
In addition, products studied for their safety and effectiveness in treating serious or life-threatening illnesses and that provide meaningful therapeutic benefit over existing treatments may receive accelerated approval from the FDA and may be approved on the basis of adequate and well-controlled clinical trials establishing that the
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product has an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. The FDA may also grant accelerated approval for such a medicine or biologic when the product has an effect on an intermediate clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality (IMM), and that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on IMM or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity, rarity, or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments. As a condition of approval, the FDA may require that a sponsor of a medicine receiving accelerated approval perform post- marketing clinical trials to verify and describe the predicted effect on IMM or other clinical endpoint, and the product may be subject to expedited withdrawal procedures. Drugs and biologics granted accelerated approval must meet the same statutory standards for safety and effectiveness as those granted traditional approval.
For the purposes of accelerated approval, a surrogate endpoint is a marker, such as a laboratory measurement, radiographic image, physical sign, or other measure that is thought to predict clinical benefit, but is not itself a measure of clinical benefit. Surrogate endpoints can often be measured more easily or more rapidly than clinical endpoints. An intermediate clinical endpoint is a measurement of a therapeutic effect that is considered reasonably likely to predict the clinical benefit of a medicine, such as an effect on IMM. The FDA has limited experience with accelerated approvals based on intermediate clinical endpoints, but has indicated that such endpoints generally may support accelerated approval when the therapeutic effect measured by the endpoint is not itself a clinical benefit and basis for traditional approval, if there is a basis for concluding that the therapeutic effect is reasonably likely to predict the ultimate long-term clinical benefit of a medicine.
The accelerated approval pathway is most often used in settings in which the course of a disease is long and an extended period of time is required to measure the intended clinical benefit of a medicine, even if the effect on the surrogate or intermediate clinical endpoint occurs rapidly. For example, accelerated approval has been used extensively in the development and approval of medicines for treatment of a variety of cancers in which the goal of therapy is generally to improve survival or decrease morbidity and the duration of the typical disease course requires lengthy and sometimes large clinical trials to demonstrate a clinical or survival benefit.
The accelerated approval pathway is usually contingent on a sponsors agreement to conduct, in a diligent manner, additional post-approval confirmatory studies to verify and describe the medicines clinical benefit. As a result, a product candidate approved on this basis is subject to rigorous post-marketing compliance requirements, including the completion of Phase 4 or post-approval clinical trials to confirm the effect on the clinical endpoint. Failure to conduct required post-approval studies, or to confirm the predicted clinical benefit of the product during post-marketing studies, would allow the FDA to withdraw approval of the medicine. All promotional materials for product candidates being considered and approved under the accelerated approval program are subject to prior review by the FDA.
Post-approval requirements
Maintaining substantial compliance with applicable federal, state, and local statutes and regulations requires the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources. Following approval of a new product, the manufacturer and the approved product are subject to pervasive and continuing regulation by the FDA, including, among other things, monitoring and recordkeeping activities, reporting of adverse experiences with the product, product sampling and distribution restrictions, complying with promotion and advertising requirements.
FDA regulations require that products be manufactured in specific approved facilities and in accordance with cGMP. The cGMP regulations include requirements relating to organization of personnel, buildings and facilities, equipment, control of components and product containers and closures, production and process controls, packaging and labeling controls, holding and distribution, laboratory controls, records and reports and returned or salvaged products. We must comply with applicable requirements in the cGMP and cGTP regulations, including quality control and quality assurance and maintenance of records and documentation. Entities involved in the manufacture and distribution of approved biologics and HCT/Ps are required to register their establishments with the FDA and certain state agencies, as well as applicable foreign counterparts, and are
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subject to periodic unannounced inspections by such governmental authorities for compliance with cGMP, cGTP and other laws. Accordingly, we must continue to expend time, money and effort in the area of production and quality control to maintain cGMP compliance. Future inspections by governmental authorities may identify compliance issues at our facilities that may disrupt production or distribution or require substantial resources to correct. In addition, the discovery of conditions that violate these rules, including failure to conform to cGMP or cGTP, could result in enforcement actions, and the discovery of problems with a product after approval may result in restrictions on a product, manufacturer or holder of an approved BLA, including voluntary recall and regulatory sanctions as described below.
Other post-approval requirements applicable to biological products, include reporting of cGMP deviations that may affect the identity, potency, purity and overall safety of a distributed product, record-keeping requirements, reporting of adverse effects, reporting updated safety and efficacy information, and complying with electronic record and signature requirements. After a BLA is approved, the product also may be subject to official lot release. As part of the manufacturing process, the manufacturer is required to perform certain tests on each lot of the product before it is released for distribution. If the product is subject to official release by the FDA, the manufacturer submits samples of each lot of product to the FDA together with a release protocol showing a summary of the history of manufacture of the lot and the results of all of the manufacturers tests performed on the lot. The FDA also may perform certain confirmatory tests on lots of some products, such as viral vaccines, before releasing the lots for distribution by the manufacturer. In addition, the FDA conducts laboratory research related to the regulatory standards on the safety, purity, potency, and effectiveness of biological products.
We also must comply with the FDAs advertising and promotion requirements, such as those related to direct-to-consumer advertising, industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities, and promotional activities involving the internet, as well as the prohibition on promoting products for uses or in patient populations that are not described in the products approved labeling (known as off-label use). Although physicians may prescribe legally available products for off-label uses, manufacturers may not market or promote such uses. The FDA and other agencies actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses, and a company that is found to have improperly promoted off-label uses may be subject to significant liability.
If there are any modifications to the product, including changes in indications, labeling or manufacturing processes or facilities, the applicant may be required to submit and obtain FDA approval of a new BLA or a BLA supplement, which may require the applicant to develop additional data or conduct additional pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. The FDA may also place other conditions on approvals including the requirement for a REMS to assure the safe use of the product. A REMS could include medication guides, physician communication plans or elements to assure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries and other risk minimization tools. Any of these limitations on approval or marketing could restrict the commercial promotion, distribution, prescription or dispensing of products. Product approvals may be withdrawn for non-compliance with regulatory standards or if problems occur following initial marketing.
Once an approval or clearance of a medicine is granted, the FDA may withdraw the approval if compliance with regulatory requirements and standards is not maintained or if problems occur after the product reaches the market. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or with manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in mandatory revisions to the approved labeling to add new safety information, imposition of post-market or clinical trials to assess new safety risks, or imposition of distribution or other restrictions under a REMS program. Other potential consequences include, among other things:
| restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of the product, complete withdrawal of the product from the market or product recalls; |
| fines, warning letters or other enforcement-related letters or clinical holds on post-approval clinical trials; |
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| refusal of the FDA to approve pending NDAs/BLAs or supplements to approved NDAs/BLAs, or suspension or revocation of product approvals; |
| product seizure or detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of products; |
| injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties; and |
| consent decrees, corporate integrity agreements, debarment, or exclusion from federal health care programs; or mandated modification of promotional materials and labeling and the issuance of corrective information. |
In addition, the distribution of prescription pharmaceutical products is subject to the Prescription Drug Marketing Act, or PDMA, which regulates the distribution of medicine and medicine samples at the federal level, and sets minimum standards for the registration and regulation of pharmaceutical distributors by the states. Both the PDMA and state laws limit the distribution of prescription pharmaceutical product samples and impose requirements to ensure accountability in distribution. Furthermore, the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) was enacted with the aim of building an electronic system to identify and trace certain prescription medicines distributed in the United States, including most biological products. The DSCSA mandates phased-in and resource-intensive obligations for pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesale distributors, and dispensers over a 10-year period that is expected to culminate in November 2023. From time to time, new legislation and regulations may be implemented that could significantly change the statutory provisions governing the approval, manufacturing and marketing of products regulated by the FDA. It is impossible to predict whether further legislative or regulatory changes will be enacted, or FDA regulations, guidance or interpretations changed or what the impact of such changes, if any, may be.
U.S. patent term restoration and marketing exclusivity
Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of the FDA approval of the use of our product candidates, some of our U.S. patents may be eligible for limited patent term extension under the Hatch-Waxman Amendments. The Hatch-Waxman Amendments permit a patent restoration term of up to five years as compensation for patent term lost during product development and the FDA regulatory review process. However, patent term restoration cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the products approval date. The patent term restoration period is generally one-half the time between the effective date of an IND and the submission date of a BLA plus the time between the submission date of a BLA and the approval of that application. Only one patent applicable to an approved biological product is eligible for the extension and the application for the extension must be submitted prior to the expiration of the patent. In addition, a patent can only be extended once and only for a single product. The USPTO, in consultation with the FDA, reviews and approves the application for any patent term extension or restoration. In the future, we may intend to apply for restoration of patent term for one of our patents, if and as applicable, to add patent life beyond its current expiration date, depending on the expected length of the clinical trials and other factors involved in the filing of the relevant BLA.
A biological product may also obtain pediatric market exclusivity in the United States. Pediatric exclusivity is a type of non-patent marketing exclusivity available in the United States and, if granted, it provides for the attachment of an additional six months of marketing protection to the term of any existing regulatory exclusivity or listed patents. This six-month exclusivity may be granted if an NDA sponsor submits pediatric data that fairly respond to a Written Request from the FDA for such data. The data do not need to show the product to be effective in the pediatric population studied; rather, if the clinical trial is deemed to fairly respond to the FDAs request, the additional protection is granted. If reports of requested pediatric studies are submitted to and accepted by the FDA within the statutory time limits, whatever statutory or regulatory periods of exclusivity or patent protection cover the product are extended by six months. This is not a patent term extension, but it effectively extends the regulatory period during which the FDA cannot approve another application. The issuance of a Written Request does not require the sponsor to undertake the described studies.
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Reference product exclusivity for biological products
In March 2010, the ACA was enacted in the United States and included the BPCIA. The BPCIA amended the PHSA to create an abbreviated approval pathway for biological products that are biosimilar to or interchangeable with an FDA-licensed reference biological product. To date, the FDA has approved a number of biosimilars, and numerous biosimilars have been approved in Europe. The FDA has also issued several guidance documents outlining its approach to reviewing and approving biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars.
A biosimilar product is defined as one that is highly similar to a reference product notwithstanding minor differences in clinically inactive components and for which there are no clinically meaningful differences between the biological product and the reference product in terms of the safety, purity and potency of the product. An interchangeable product is a biosimilar product that can be expected to produce the same clinical results as the reference product in any given patient and, for products administered multiple times to an individual, that the product and the reference product may be alternated or switched after one has been previously administered without increasing safety risks or risks of diminished efficacy relative to exclusive use of the reference biological product without such alternation or switch. Upon licensure by the FDA, an interchangeable biosimilar may be substituted for the reference product without the intervention of the health care provider who prescribed the reference product. The FDA approved the first interchangeable biosimilars, including an interchangeable monoclonal antibody biosimilar, in 2021.
The biosimilar applicant must demonstrate that the product is biosimilar based on data from (1) analytical studies showing that the biosimilar product is highly similar to the reference product; (2) animal studies (including toxicity); and (3) one or more clinical studies to demonstrate safety, purity and potency in one or more appropriate conditions of use for which the reference product is approved. In addition, the applicant must show that the biosimilar and reference products have the same mechanism of action for the conditions of use on the label, route of administration, dosage and strength, and the production facility must meet standards designed to assure product safety, purity and potency.
A reference biological product is granted 12 years of data exclusivity from the time of first licensure of the product, and the first approved interchangeable biologic product will be granted an exclusivity period of up to one year after it is first commercially marketed. If pediatric studies are performed and accepted by the FDA as responsive to a Written Request, the 12-year exclusivity period will be extended for an additional six months. In addition, the FDA will not accept an application for a biosimilar or interchangeable product based on the reference biological product until four years after the date of first licensure of the reference product. First licensure typically means the initial date the particular product at issue was licensed in the United States. Date of first licensure does not include the date of licensure of (and a new period of exclusivity is not available for) a supplement for the reference product for a subsequent application filed by the same sponsor or manufacturer of the reference product (or licensor, predecessor in interest or other related entity) for a change (not including a modification to the structure of the biological product) that results in a new indication, route of administration, dosing schedule, dosage form, delivery system, delivery device or strength or for a modification to the structure of the biological product that does not result in a change in safety, purity or potency. Therefore, one must determine whether a new product includes a modification to the structure of a previously licensed product that results in a change in safety, purity or potency to assess whether the licensure of the new product is a first licensure that triggers its own period of exclusivity. Whether a subsequent application, if approved, warrants exclusivity as the first licensure of a biological product is determined on a case-by-case basis with data submitted by the sponsor.
The BPCIA is complex and is still being interpreted and implemented by the FDA. In addition, recent government proposals have sought to reduce the 12-year reference product exclusivity period. Other aspects of the BPCIA, some of which may impact the BPCIA exclusivity provisions, have also been the subject of recent litigation. As a result, the ultimate impact, implementation and meaning of the BPCIA is subject to significant uncertainty.
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Additional regulation
In addition to the foregoing, state and federal laws regarding environmental protection and hazardous substances, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Resource Conservancy and Recovery Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act, affect our business. These and other laws govern our use, handling and disposal of various biological, chemical and radioactive substances used in, and wastes generated by, our operations. If our operations result in contamination of the environment or expose individuals to hazardous substances, we could be liable for damages and governmental fines. We believe that we are in material compliance with applicable environmental laws and that continued compliance therewith will not have a material adverse effect on our business. We cannot predict, however, how changes in these laws may affect our future operations.
Furthermore, some countries have enacted or are considering enacting legal restrictions on the import or export of human genetic materials, cells or tissues. For example, in China, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the former Ministry of Health in June 1998 jointly established the Interim Measures for the Administration of Human Genetic Resources in China. In July 2015, the MOST issued the Service Guide for the Examination and Approval of Sampling, Collecting, Trading, Exporting Human Genetic Resources, which provides that foreign entities that collect and use patients human genetic resources in clinical trials shall be required to file for an advance approval with the Human Genetic Resources Administration Office (HGRAO) through its online system.
In October 2017, the MOST issued the Circular on Optimizing the Administrative Examination and Approval of Human Genetic Resources, which simplified the approval process for collecting and using human genetic resources for the purpose of seeking marketing authorization of medicines in China.
In May 2019, the State Council of China issued the Regulation on the Administration of Human Genetic Resources (the HGR Regulation), which stipulates the approval requirements pertinent to research collaborations between Chinese and foreign-owned entities. Pursuant to this new rule, a new filing system (as opposed to the advance approval approach originally in place) is put in place for international clinical trials using Chinese patients biospecimens at clinical study sites without involving the export of such biospecimens outside of China. A notification filing that specifies the type, quantity and usage of the biospecimens, among others, with the HGRAO is required before conducting such clinical trials. The collection, use, and outbound transfer of Chinese patients biospecimens in international collaboration for basic scientific research involving export are still subject to the advance approval of the HGRAO.
In October 2020, the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress promulgated the China Biosecurity Law, which became effective on April 15, 2021. The China Biosecurity Law reaffirms the regulatory requirements stipulated by the HGR Regulation while potentially increasing the administrative fines significantly in cases in which foreign entities are alleged to have collected, preserved or exported Chinese human genetic resources.
U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
The FCPA, to which we are subject, prohibits corporations and individuals from engaging in certain activities to obtain or retain business or to influence a person working in an official capacity. It is illegal to pay, offer to pay or authorize the payment of anything of value to any foreign government official, government staff member, political party or political candidate in an attempt to obtain or retain business or to otherwise influence a person working in an official capacity.
Government regulation outside of the United States
In addition to regulations in the United States, we are subject to a variety of regulations in other jurisdictions governing, among other things, research and development, clinical trials, testing, manufacturing, safety, efficacy,
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labeling, packaging, storage, record keeping, distribution, reporting, advertising and other promotional practices involving biological products as well as authorization and approval of our products. Because biologically sourced raw materials are subject to unique contamination risks, their use may be restricted in some countries.
The requirements and process governing the conduct of clinical trials, product licensing, pricing and reimbursement vary from country to country. In all cases, the clinical trials must be conducted in accordance with GCP and the applicable regulatory requirements and the ethical principles that have their origin in the Declaration of Helsinki. If we fail to comply with applicable foreign regulatory requirements, we may be subject to, among other things, fines, suspension of clinical trials, suspension or withdrawal of regulatory approvals, product recalls, seizure of products, operating restrictions and criminal prosecution.
European Union clinical trials regulation
Whether or not we obtain FDA approval for a product, we must obtain the requisite approvals from regulatory authorities in foreign countries prior to the commencement of clinical trials or marketing of the product in those countries. Certain countries outside of the United States have a similar process that requires the submission of a clinical trial application much like the IND prior to the commencement of human clinical trials. In the European Union, for example, a Clinical Trial Application (CTA) must be submitted for each clinical trial to each countrys National Competent Authority (NCA) and at least one IEC, much like the FDA and an IRB, respectively. Once the CTA is approved in accordance with a countrys requirements, the corresponding clinical trial may proceed. Under the current regime (the EU Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC and corresponding national laws) all suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions to the investigated medicine that occur during the clinical trial have to be reported to the NCA and ECs of the Member State where they occurred.
Under the Clinical Trials Regulation (EU) No 536/2014, which came into effect on January 31, 2022, there is a centralized application procedure where one EU Member States competent authority takes the lead in reviewing part I of the application, which contains scientific and medicinal product documentation, and the other national authorities only have limited involvement. Part II, which contains the national and patient-level documentation, is assessed individually by each EU Member State. Any substantial changes to the trial protocol or other information submitted with the CTA must be notified to or approved by the relevant competent authorities and ethics committees. Medicines used in clinical trials must be manufactured in accordance with good manufacturing practices. Other national and EU-wide regulatory requirements may also apply.
Medicinal product review and approval in the EEA
In the EEA (comprised of the EU Member States plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), medicinal products, including ATMPs, are subject to extensive pre- and post-market regulation by regulatory authorities at both the EEA and national levels. Regulated in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1394/2007 (the ATMP Regulation), ATMPs comprise gene therapy products, somatic cell therapy products and tissue engineered products. The CAT (as defined below) designated REACT as a tissue engineered product. Gene therapy products deliver genes into the body that lead to a therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic effect. We anticipate that REACT will be regulated as an ATMP in the EEA.
To obtain regulatory approval of an ATMP under EEA regulatory systems, we must submit a marketing authorization application (MAA) under the centralized procedure administered by the EMA. The application used to submit the BLA in the United States is similar to the required application process in the European Union, with the exception of, among other things, certain specific requirements set out in the ATMP Regulation, for example certain additional product characteristic information that must be included in the MAA. The centralized procedure provides for the grant of a single marketing authorization by the European Commission that is valid across all of the EEA. As provided for in the ATMP Regulation, the scientific evaluation of MAAs for ATMPs is primarily performed by a specialized scientific committee called the Committee for Advanced Therapies (the CAT). The CAT prepares a draft opinion on the quality, safety and efficacy of the ATMP which is the subject
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of the MAA, which is sent for final approval to the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (the CHMP). The CHMP recommendation is then sent to the European Commission, which adopts a decision binding in all EEA Member States. The maximum timeframe for the evaluation of a MAA for an ATMP is 210 days from receipt of a valid MAA, excluding clock stops when additional information or written or oral explanation is to be provided by the applicant in response to questions of the CAT and/or CHMP. Clock stops may extend the timeframe of evaluation of a MAA considerably beyond 210 days. Where the CHMP gives a positive opinion, the EMA provides the opinion together with supporting documentation to the European Commission, which makes and issues the final decision to grant a marketing authorization within 67 days of receipt of the EMAs recommendation. Accelerated assessment may be granted by the CHMP in exceptional cases, when a medicinal product is of major interest from the point of view of public health and, in particular, from the viewpoint of therapeutic innovation. If the CHMP accepts such a request, the timeframe of 210 days for assessment will be reduced to 150 days (excluding clock stops), but it is possible that the CHMP may revert to the standard time limit for the centralized procedure if it determines that the application is no longer appropriate to conduct an accelerated assessment.
Now that the United Kingdom (which comprises Great Britain and Northern Ireland) has left the European Union, Great Britain will no longer be covered by centralized marketing authorizations (under the Northern Ireland Protocol, centralized marketing authorizations will continue to be recognized in Northern Ireland). All medicinal products with a current centralized marketing authorization were automatically converted to Great Britain marketing authorizations on January, 1 2021. For a period of two years from January 1, 2021, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (the MHRA), the United Kingdom medicines regulator, may rely on a decision taken by the European Commission on the approval of a new marketing authorization in the centralized procedure, in order to more quickly grant a new Great Britain marketing authorization. A separate application will, however, still be required.
Data and marketing exclusivity
The EEA also provides opportunities for market exclusivity. Upon receiving marketing authorization in the EEA, innovative medicinal products generally receive eight years of data exclusivity and an additional two years of market exclusivity. If granted, data exclusivity prevents generic or biosimilar applicants from referencing the innovators preclinical and clinical trial data contained in the dossier of the reference product when applying for a generic or biosimilar marketing authorization during a period of eight years from the date on which the reference product was first authorized in the EEA. During the additional two-year period of market exclusivity, a generic or biosimilar marketing authorization can be submitted, and the innovators data may be referenced, but no generic or biosimilar product can be marketed until the expiration of the market exclusivity period. The overall ten-year period will be extended to a maximum of eleven years if, during the first eight years of those ten years, the marketing authorization holder obtains an authorization for one or more new therapeutic indications which, during the scientific evaluation prior to authorization, is held to bring a significant clinical benefit in comparison with existing therapies. Even if an innovative medicinal product gains the prescribed period of data exclusivity, another company may market another version of the product if such company obtained marketing authorization based on a MAA with a complete independent data package of pharmaceutical tests, preclinical tests and clinical trials. There is, however, no guarantee that a product will be considered by the European Unions regulatory authorities to be an innovative medicinal product, and products may therefore not qualify for data exclusivity.
Post-approval controls
Following approval, the holder of the marketing authorization is required to comply with a range of requirements applicable to the manufacturing, marketing, promotion and sale of the medicinal product. These include the following:
| The holder of a marketing authorization must establish and maintain a pharmacovigilance system and appoint an individual qualified person for pharmacovigilance, who is responsible for oversight of that |
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system. Key obligations include expedited reporting of suspected serious adverse reactions and submission of periodic safety update reports (PSURs). |
| All new MAAs must include a risk management plan (RMP), describing the risk management system that the company will put in place and documenting measures to prevent or minimize the risks associated with the product. The regulatory authorities may also impose specific obligations as a condition of the marketing authorization. Such risk-minimization measures or post-authorization obligations may include additional safety monitoring, more frequent submission of PSURs, or the conduct of additional clinical trials or post-authorization safety studies. RMPs and PSURs are routinely available to third parties requesting access, subject to limited redactions. |
| All advertising and promotional activities for the product must be consistent with the approved Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), and therefore all off-label promotion is prohibited. Direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines is also prohibited in the European Union. Although general requirements for advertising and promotion of medicinal products are established under EU directives, the details are governed by regulations in each EU Member State and can differ from one country to another. |
Failure to comply with European Union and EU Member State laws that apply to the conduct of clinical trials, manufacturing approval, marketing authorization of medicinal products and marketing of such products (both before and after grant of the marketing authorization), manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, statutory health insurance, bribery and anti-corruption or with other applicable regulatory requirements may result in administrative, civil or criminal penalties. Such penalties could include delays or refusal to authorize the conduct of clinical trials or to grant the marketing authorization, product withdrawals and recalls, product seizures, suspension, withdrawal or variation of the marketing authorization, total or partial suspension of production, distribution, manufacturing or clinical trials, operating restrictions, injunctions, suspension of licenses, fines and criminal penalties.
Brexit and the Regulatory Framework in the United Kingdom
In June 2016, the electorate in the United Kingdom voted in favor of leaving the European Union (commonly referred to as Brexit). Thereafter, in March 2017, the country formally notified the European Union of its intention to withdraw pursuant to Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. The United Kingdom formally left the European Union on January 31, 2020. A transition period began on February 1, 2020, during which EU pharmaceutical law remained applicable to the United Kingdom. This transition period ended on December 31, 2020. Since the regulatory framework in the United Kingdom covering quality, safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products, clinical trials, marketing authorization, commercial sales and distribution of pharmaceutical products is derived from EU Directives and Regulations, Brexit could materially impact the future regulatory regime which applies to products and the approval of product candidates in the United Kingdom as United Kingdom legislation now has the potential to diverge from EU legislation. It remains to be seen how Brexit will impact regulatory requirements for product candidates and products in the United Kingdom in the long-term. The MHRA, the United Kingdom medicines and medical devices regulator, has recently published detailed guidance for industry and organizations to follow from January 1, 2021 now that the transition period is over, which will be updated as the United Kingdoms regulatory position on medicinal products evolves over time. On June 28, 2021, the European Commission issued a decision that the United Kingdom ensures an adequate level of protection for personal data transferred under the GDPR from the European Union to the United Kingdom.
Other health care laws and compliance requirements
If our product candidates are approved in the United States, we will have to comply with various U.S. federal and state laws, rules and regulations pertaining to health care fraud and abuse, including anti-kickback laws and false claims laws, rules and regulations. Violations of the fraud and abuse laws are punishable by
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criminal and civil sanctions, including, in some instances, exclusion from participation in federal and state health care programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. These laws include:
| the AKS, which prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving, offering or paying any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe, or rebate), directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, to induce, or in return for, either the referral of an individual, or the purchase, lease, order, arrangement or recommendation of any good, facility, item or service for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under a federal health care program, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs; a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the AKS or specific intent to violate it to have committed a violation. In addition, the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the AKS constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the FCA or federal civil money penalties statute; |
| the federal civil and criminal false claims laws and civil monetary penalty laws, including the FCA, which prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, false or fraudulent claims for payment to, or approval by Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal health care programs, knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim or an obligation to pay or transmit money to the federal government, or knowingly concealing or knowingly and improperly avoiding or decreasing or concealing an obligation to pay money to the federal government. Manufacturers can be held liable under the FCA even when they do not submit claims directly to government payers if they are deemed to cause the submission of false or fraudulent claims. The FCA also permits a private individual acting as a whistleblower to bring actions on behalf of the federal government alleging violations of the FCA and to share in any monetary recovery; |
| the Civil Monetary Penalties Law (beneficiary inducement law), which prohibits, among other things, the offering or giving of remuneration, which includes, without limitation, any transfer of items or services for free or for less than fair market value (with limited exceptions), to a Medicare or Medicaid beneficiary that the person knows or should know is likely to influence the beneficiarys selection of a particular supplier of items or services reimbursable by a federal or state governmental program; |
| HIPAA, which created new federal criminal statutes that prohibit knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any health care benefit program or obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, any of the money or property owned by, or under the custody or control of, any health care benefit program, regardless of the payor (e.g., public or private) and knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up by any trick or device a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations in connection with the delivery of, or payment for, health care benefits, items or services relating to health care matters; similar to the AKS, a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation; |
| the federal transparency requirements under the ACA, including the provision commonly referred to as the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, and its implementing regulations, which requires applicable manufacturers of medicines, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program to report annually to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) information related to payments or other transfers of value made to physicians (defined to include doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and chiropractors), physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, anesthesiologist assistants, certified nurse midwives and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by the providers described above and their immediate family; and |
| the FCPA and other anti-corruption laws and regulations pertaining to our financial relationships and interactions with foreign government officials, which prohibit U.S. companies and their employees, officers, and representatives from paying, offering to pay, promising, or authorizing the payment of |
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anything of value to any foreign government official (including, potentially, healthcare professionals in countries in which we operate or may sell our products), government staff member, political party, or political candidate to obtain or retain business or to otherwise seek favorable treatment. |
In November 2020, the DHHS finalized significant changes to the regulations implementing the AKS, as well as the civil monetary penalty rules regarding beneficiary inducements, with the goal of offering the healthcare industry more flexibility and reducing the regulatory burden associated with those fraud and abuse laws, particularly with respect to value-based arrangements among industry participants.
Additionally, we are subject to state and foreign equivalents of each of the health care laws and regulations described above, among others, some of which may be broader in scope and may apply regardless of the payor. Many U.S. states have adopted laws similar to the AKS and FCA, and may apply to our business practices, including, but not limited to, research, distribution, sales or marketing arrangements and claims involving health care items or services reimbursed by non-governmental payors, including private insurers. In addition, some states have passed laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the April 2003 Office of Inspector General Compliance Program Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and/or the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of Americas Code on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. Several states also impose other marketing restrictions or require pharmaceutical companies to make marketing or price disclosures to the state. There are ambiguities as to what is required to comply with these state requirements and if we fail to comply with an applicable state law requirement, we could be subject to penalties.
Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and safe harbors available, it is possible that some of our business activities could be subject to challenge under one or more of such laws.
Violations of fraud and abuse laws may be punishable by criminal and/or civil sanctions, including penalties, fines, imprisonment and/or exclusion or suspension from federal and state health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid and debarment from contracting with the U.S. government. In addition, private individuals have the ability to bring actions on behalf of the U.S. government under the FCA as well as under the false claims laws of several states.
Law enforcement authorities are increasingly focused on enforcing health care fraud and abuse laws, and it is possible that some of our practices may be challenged under these laws. Efforts to ensure that our current and future business arrangements with third parties, and our business generally, will comply with applicable health care laws and regulations will involve substantial costs. If our operations, including our arrangements with physicians and other health care providers are found to be in violation of any of such laws or any other governmental regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including, without limitation, administrative, civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings, the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, exclusion from participation in federal and state health care programs (such as Medicare and Medicaid), and imprisonment, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our financial results. The approval and commercialization of any of our product candidates outside the United States will also subject us to foreign equivalents of the health care laws mentioned above, among other foreign laws.
If any of the physicians or other health care providers or entities with whom we expect to do business are found to be not in compliance with applicable laws, they may be subject to criminal, civil or administrative sanctions, including exclusions from government-funded health care programs, which may also adversely affect our business.
The risk of our being found in violation of these laws is increased by the fact that many of these laws have not been fully interpreted by the regulatory authorities or the courts, and their provisions are open to a variety of interpretations. Any action against us for violation of these laws, even if we successfully defend against it, could
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cause us to incur significant legal expenses and divert our managements attention from the operation of our business. The shifting compliance environment and the need to build and maintain a robust system to comply with multiple jurisdictions with different compliance and reporting requirements increases the possibility that a health care company may violate one or more of the requirements. Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements with third parties will comply with applicable health care laws and regulations will involve substantial cost.
Data Privacy and Security
There are federal, state and foreign laws governing the privacy and security of health information and personal information, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and apply simultaneously, thus complicating compliance efforts.
HIPAA, as amended by HITECH, and its implementing regulations, strengthens and expands requirements relating to the privacy, security, and transmission of individually identifiable health information; and requires notification to affected individuals and regulatory authorities of certain breaches of security of individually identifiable health information.
HITECH strengthened and expanded HIPAA and increased penalties for violations. Under HITECH, regulated entities are subject to enforcement by the federal government and by state Attorneys General, who were given authority to enforce HIPAA under HITECH. Some state laws impose privacy protections more stringent than HIPAA and data security requirements applicable to information beyond health care information (for example, the CCPA). These state laws create an additional level of enforcement and may require additional reporting in the event of breach. Most of the health care providers in the United States with whom we collaborate to develop and test our products must comply with HIPAA and applicable state law. We may not be directly subject to these laws, however, we must structure our activities in compliance with these laws to ensure that we can access and use health information to support our research, development and other activities. Our failure to comply with these privacy and security laws or a breach of health information or personal data could prompt enforcement against our health care provider partners, create third party liability for our company and/or cause significant financial or reputational harm to our company.
We may also be subject to additional privacy restrictions. The collection, use, storage, disclosure, transfer, or other processing of personal data regarding individuals in the EEA, including personal health data, is subject to the GDPR, which became effective on May 25, 2018. The GDPR is wide-ranging in scope and imposes numerous requirements on companies that process personal data, including requirements relating to processing health and other sensitive data, obtaining consent of the individuals to whom the personal data relates, providing information to individuals regarding data processing activities, implementing safeguards to protect the security and confidentiality of personal data, providing notification of data breaches, and taking certain measures when engaging third-party processors. The GDPR also imposes strict rules on the transfer of personal data to countries outside the European Union, including the United States, and permits data protection authorities to impose large penalties for violations of the GDPR, including potential fines of up to 20 million or 4% of annual global revenues, whichever is greater. The GDPR also confers a private right of action on data subjects and consumer associations to lodge complaints with supervisory authorities, seek judicial remedies, and obtain compensation for damages resulting from violations of the GDPR. In addition, the GDPR includes restrictions on cross-border data transfers. Compliance with the GDPR will be a rigorous and time-intensive process that may increase our cost of doing business or require us to change our business practices, and despite those efforts, there is a risk that we may be subject to fines and penalties, litigation, and reputational harm in connection with our European activities.
Health care reform
The FDAs and other regulatory authorities policies may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay regulatory approval of our product candidates. For example, in
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December 2016, the Cures Act was signed into law. The Cures Act, among other things, was intended to modernize the regulation of pharmaceuticals and devices and to spur innovation, but its ultimate implementation is uncertain. Legislative proposals continue to be discussed in the U.S. Congress as potentially leading to a future Cures 2.0 bill that is expected to have bipartisan support. In addition, in August 2017, the FDA Reauthorization Act was signed into law, which reauthorized the FDAs user fee programs and included additional medicine and biological product provisions. The next legislative reauthorization must be completed in 2022, which has the potential to make further changes to FDA authorities or policies pertaining to biopharmaceutical products. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing approval that we otherwise may have obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability, which would adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, the containment of healthcare costs has become a priority of federal and state governments and the prices of therapeutics have been a focus in this effort. The U.S. government, state legislatures and foreign governments also have shown significant interest in implementing cost-containment programs to limit the growth of government-paid healthcare costs, including price controls, restrictions on reimbursement, and requirements for substitution of generic and biosimilar products for branded prescription medicines and biologics, respectively. In recent years, the U.S. Congress has considered reductions in Medicare reimbursement levels for medicines and biologics administered by physicians. CMS, the agency that administers the Medicare and Medicaid programs, also has authority to revise reimbursement rates and to implement coverage restrictions for some medicines and biologics. Cost reduction initiatives and changes in coverage implemented through legislation or regulation could decrease utilization of and reimbursement for any approved products we may market in the future. While Medicare regulations apply only to pharmaceutical benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payors often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates. Therefore, any reduction in reimbursement that results from federal legislation or regulation may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors.
The ACA, as amended by the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, was enacted in 2010 and substantially changed the way healthcare is financed by both governmental and private insurers in the United States, and significantly impacted the pharmaceutical industry. The ACA was intended to broaden access to health insurance, reduce or constrain the growth of healthcare spending, enhance remedies against healthcare fraud and abuse, add new transparency requirements for healthcare and health insurance industries, impose new taxes and fees on pharmaceutical manufacturers, and impose additional health policy reforms. With regard to biopharmaceutical products, the ACA, among other things, addressed a new methodology by which rebates owed by manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program are calculated for therapeutics that are inhaled, infused, instilled, implanted or injected, increased the minimum Medicaid rebates owed by manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and extended the rebate program to individuals enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations, established annual fees on manufacturers of certain branded prescription medicines, created a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, and expanded the 340B drug discount program. As another example, the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act signed into law on December 27, 2020 incorporated extensive healthcare provisions and amendments to existing laws, including a requirement that all manufacturers of medicines and biological products covered under Medicare Part B report the products average sales price, to the DHHS beginning on January 1, 2022, subject to enforcement via civil money penalties.
There have been executive, judicial and Congressional challenges to certain aspects of the ACA since its enactment, and it is possible that there will be additional challenges and amendments to the ACA in the future.
Other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since passage of the ACA that affect health care expenditures. These changes include aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of up to 2% per fiscal year pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011, which began in 2013 and will remain in effect through 2030 unless additional Congressional action is taken. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic relief legislation and subsequent legislation, the 2% Medicare sequester reductions were suspended from May 1, 2020 through
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June 30, 2021 (a 1% sequester applied from April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022), and the sequester was extended in order to offset the added expense of the 2020 suspension. Further legislative and regulatory changes under the ACA remain possible, although the new administration under President Biden has signaled that it plans to build on the ACA and expand the number of people who are eligible for health insurance subsidies under it. President Biden indicated that he intends to use executive orders to undo changes to the ACA made by the former administration and would advocate for legislation to build on the ACA. It is unknown what form any such changes or any law would take, and how or whether it may affect the biopharmaceutical industry as a whole or our business in the future. We expect that changes or additions to the ACA, the Medicare and Medicaid programs, changes allowing the federal government to directly negotiate medicine prices, and changes stemming from other healthcare reform measures, especially with regard to healthcare access, financing or other legislation in individual states, could have a material adverse effect on the healthcare industry in the United States.
In recent years, there has been heightened governmental scrutiny over the manner in which biopharmaceutical manufacturers set prices for their marketed products. Such scrutiny has resulted in several recent U.S. Congressional inquiries and proposed and enacted federal and state legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to medicine pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs, reduce the cost of medicines under Medicare, and reform government program reimbursement methodologies for pharmaceutical products. Congress and the executive branch have each indicated that it will continue to seek new legislative and/or administrative measures to control the costs of medicines, making this area subject to ongoing uncertainty.
At the state level in the United States, legislatures have also increasingly passed legislation and implemented regulations designed to control pharmaceutical product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access, and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing. In December 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court held unanimously that federal law does not preempt the states ability to regulate pharmaceutical benefit managers and other members of the healthcare and pharmaceutical supply chain, an important decision that may lead to further and more aggressive efforts by states in this area.
We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative or executive action, either in the United States or abroad. We expect that additional federal, state, and foreign healthcare reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for healthcare products and services, which could result in limited coverage and reimbursement and reduced demand for our products, once approved, or additional pricing pressures.
Coverage and reimbursement
Significant uncertainty exists as to the coverage and reimbursement status of any cell-based regenerative therapies for which we may obtain regulatory approval. In the United States and markets in other countries, sales of any cell-based therapies for which we receive regulatory approval for commercial sale will depend, in part, on the availability of coverage and reimbursement from payors. Payors include government authorities, managed care providers, private health insurers and other organizations. Patients who are prescribed treatments for their conditions and providers who prescribe such treatments generally rely on these third-party payors to reimburse all or part of the treatment and other associated health care costs. The process for determining whether a payor will provide coverage for a medicine, device or biologic product may be separate from the process for setting the reimbursement rate that the payor will pay for the product. Payors may limit coverage to specific products on an approved list, or formulary, which might not include all of the FDA-approved products for a particular indication. A decision by a payor not to cover our cell-based therapies could reduce physician utilization of our products, if they are approved, and have a material adverse effect on our sales, results of operations and financial condition. Moreover, a payors decision to provide coverage for a product does not imply that an adequate
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reimbursement rate will be approved. Adequate third-party reimbursement may not be available to enable us to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on our investment in product development and manufacturing costs. Further, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of individuals have lost or may lose employer-based insurance coverage, which may adversely affect our ability to commercialize our products in certain jurisdictions.
In addition, coverage and reimbursement for products can differ significantly from payor to payor. One payors decision to cover a particular medical product or service does not ensure that other payors will also provide coverage for the medical product or service, or will provide coverage at an adequate reimbursement rate. In the United States, the principal decisions about reimbursement for new medicines are typically made by CMS. CMS decides whether and to what extent a new medicine will be covered and reimbursed under Medicare and private payors tend to follow CMS to a substantial degree.
Additionally, the coverage determination process will require us to provide scientific and clinical support for the use of our products to each payor separately and will be a time-consuming process.
Payors are increasingly challenging the price and examining the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of medical products and services, in addition to their safety and efficacy. In order to obtain and maintain coverage and reimbursement for any product, we may need to conduct expensive evidence generation studies in order to demonstrate the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of such a product, in addition to the costs required to obtain regulatory approvals. If payors do not consider a product to be cost-effective compared to current standards of care, they may not cover the product as a benefit under their plans or, if they do, the level of payment may not be sufficient to allow a company to cover its costs or make a profit.
Outside of the United States, the pricing of pharmaceutical products is subject to governmental control in many countries. For example, in the European Union, pricing and reimbursement schemes vary widely from country to country. Some countries provide that products may be marketed only after a reimbursement price has been agreed with the government authority. Furthermore, some countries may require the completion of additional studies that compare the effectiveness and/or cost-effectiveness of a particular therapy to current standards of care as part of so-called health technology assessments in order to obtain reimbursement or pricing approval. Additionally, there may be a need for activities to secure reimbursement for procedures associated with products administered in a hospital setting under the diagnosis-related group system, whereby a billing code may not exist or may be currently insufficient to cover the cost of the procedure. In other instances, countries may monitor and control product volumes and issue guidance to physicians to limit prescriptions in the form of treatment policies. Efforts to control prices and utilization of pharmaceutical products and medical devices will likely continue as countries attempt to manage health care expenditures.
Human Capital Resources
As of July 31, 2022, ProKidney had 77 full-time employees. This included 26 in research and development, 41 in manufacturing, operations, quality control and quality assurance, and 10 in general and administrative functions. We have no collective bargaining agreements with our employees, and we have not experienced any work stoppages. We consider our relations with our employees to be good.
Facilities
Our headquarters are located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where we lease approximately 38,400 square feet of office, manufacturing and research space, under a lease that expires on September 30, 2026. We have leased approximately 2,700 square feet of additional office space in Winston-Salem, which we plan to use as our new principal executive offices. This lease commenced in April 2022 and is expected to expire in April 2027. There is an additional office located in Raleigh, North Carolina where we lease approximately 2,200 square feet, under a lease that expires February 28, 2025. There was an amendment to the original lease for the
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Raleigh office. The amended lease is for approximately 5,700 square feet that will expire on January 31, 2027. Further, there has been an additional amendment to the original lease for the Raleigh office, which increases the total space to approximately 7,900 square feet and will expire on July 31, 2027. We believe our facilities are adequate for our current needs and that suitable additional substitute space would be available if needed.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may become involved in litigation or other legal proceedings. We are not currently a party to any litigation or legal proceedings that, in the opinion of our management, are likely to have a material adverse effect on our business. Regardless of outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.
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MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the financial statements and the related notes to those statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The discussion and analysis should also be read together with the pro forma financial information as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021 included in this prospectus. See Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Financial Information. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this prospectus, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward- looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the section entitled Risk Factors, our actual results could differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis. In this section, unless the context otherwise requires, references to we, us, our, the Company and ProKidney refer to ProKidney LP and its subsidiaries prior to the Closing and to ProKidney Corp. and its subsidiaries after the Closing, and SCS refers to SCS prior to the Closing.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology business with a transformative proprietary cell therapy platform capable of treating multiple chronic kidney diseases using a patients own cells isolated from the patient intended for treatment. Our approach seeks to redefine the treatment of CKD, shifting the emphasis away from management of kidney failure, to the restoration or improvement of kidney function to stop or delay progression of CKD. Our lead product candidate, which we refer to as REACT, is designed to stabilize or improve kidney function in a CKD patients diseased kidneys. REACT is a product that includes SRCs prepared from a patients own, autologous, renal cells. SRCs are formulated into a product for reinjection into the patients kidney using a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that can be repeated if necessary. Because REACT is a personalized treatment composed of cells prepared from a patients kidney, there is no need for treatment with immunosuppressive therapies, which are required during a patients lifetime when a patient receives a kidney transplant from another, allogeneic donor.
We are currently conducting a Phase 3 development program and multiple Phase 2 clinical trials for REACT in subjects with moderate to severe diabetic kidney disease. We are also conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial for REACT in subjects with CAKUT. REACT has been well tolerated by subjects with moderate to severe diabetic kidney disease in Phase 1 and 2 clinical testing to date. It has also been shown, in Phase 1 and 2 clinical testing, to stabilize renal function in subjects based on measurements of iohexol renal clearance and UACR. REACT has received RMAT designation from the FDA.
ProKidney Bermuda was incorporated under the laws of Bermuda in December 2018, and it was initially capitalized with $75.0 million to finance the purchase of ProKidney-KY and ProKidney-US, and to fund the clinical development of REACT. In December 2014, Tengion, whose assets were purchased in March 2015 by RegenMedTX, LLC, a predecessor to ProKidney, commenced a Chapter 7 Case by filing a voluntary petition for relief under the provisions of chapter 7 of title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq. in the Bankruptcy Court. As a result of the filing of the Chapter 7 Case, a Chapter 7 trustee was appointed by the Bankruptcy Court to assume control of Tengion.
On August 5, 2021, ProKidney LP was formed as a limited partnership under the laws of Ireland, with ProKidney Bermuda becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of ProKidney LP. Since inception, ProKidney and its subsidiaries have devoted substantially all of their resources to raising capital, organizing and staffing, business and scientific planning, conducting discovery and research activities, acquiring or discovering product candidates, establishing and protecting their intellectual property portfolio, developing and progressing REACT and preparing for clinical trials, establishing arrangements with third parties for the manufacture of component
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materials, and providing general and administrative support for these operations. We do not have any product candidates approved for sale and have not generated any revenue from product sales.
On July 11, 2022, SCS and ProKidney LP completed the Business Combination, and SCSs corporate name was changed to ProKidney Corp.
The combined company was organized in an umbrella partnership-C corporation (a so called Up-C structure). ProKidney Corp. is a holding company, and our direct assets consist of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units and all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of GP, which became the general partner of ProKidney LP upon the Closing. ProKidney Corp. controls GP, with the rights of management specified in the Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement.
From inception through June 30, 2022, ProKidney and its subsidiaries funded their operations primarily through capital contributions and promissory notes issued to certain ProKidney unitholders and have received aggregate net proceeds from these transactions of $186.5 million and $35.0 million, respectively. The $35.0 million received under the promissory notes was repaid at the Closing.
We incurred significant operating losses since inception, including net losses of $22.1 million and $12.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively; $89.6 million and $24.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively; and $55.1 million and $26.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we had an accumulated deficit of $251.1 million and $161.5 million, respectively. We expect to continue to incur significant and increasing expenses and operating losses for the foreseeable future, particularly if and as we continue to invest in our research and development activities, expand our product pipeline, hire additional personnel, invest in and grow our business, maintain, expand and protect our intellectual property portfolio, and seek regulatory approvals for and commercialize any approved product candidates. In addition, we expect to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company, including significant legal, audit, accounting, regulatory, tax-related, director and officer insurance, investor relations and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. As a result, we will need substantial additional funding to support our continuing operations and pursue our growth strategy. Until such time as we can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to finance our operations through the public or private sale of equity, government or private party grants, debt financings or other capital sources, including potential collaborations with other companies or other strategic transactions. If we are unable to obtain additional funding, we could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate some, or all, of our research and development programs, product portfolio expansion or any commercialization efforts, which could adversely affect our business prospects, or we may be unable to continue operations. If we raise funds through strategic collaborations or other similar arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our platform technology, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or may have to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us and/or may reduce the value of our units. Our ability to raise additional funds may be adversely impacted by potential worsening global economic conditions and disruptions to and volatility in the credit and financial markets in the United States and worldwide resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or other events. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we cannot predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when or if we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability.
As of June 30, 2022, we had cash and cash equivalents of $21.9 million. Additionally, we have remaining availability of $65.0 million under the ProKidney Promissory Notes. We expect that, having completed the Business Combination and accounting for $574.8 million received in the PIPE Investment, our cash and cash equivalents will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2024. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong and we could exhaust our capital resources sooner than we expect. If and to the extent we determine to raise additional capital in the future, there can be no assurance that such additional capital would be available on attractive terms, if at all. Further, if all of the Selling Securityholders were to sell all or a significant portion of their Class A ordinary shares registered for resale in
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this prospectus, it could have a significant negative impact on the trading price of our Class A ordinary shares, which may make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate. See the risk factor entitled If the Selling Securityholders sell all or a substantial portion of their securities, this may negatively impact the market price of our Class A ordinary shares, and such holders still may receive significant proceeds for more information.
The Business Combination
The Business Combination will be accounted for as a common control transaction in accordance with GAAP. Under the guidance in ASC 805, SCS will be treated as the acquired company for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the Business Combination will be reflected as the equivalent of ProKidney issuing shares for the net assets of SCS, accompanied by a recapitalization whereby no goodwill or other intangible assets are recorded. Operations following the Business Combination are those of ProKidney Corp. The Business Combination will have a significant impact on our future reported financial position and results as a consequence of the reverse capitalization.
The Business Combination resulted in gross proceeds of approximately $596,537,000. This amount reflects a contribution of $21,737,000 of cash held in SCSs trust account, net of redemptions, and a $574,800,000 concurrent private placement of Class A ordinary shares of the combined company, priced at $10.00 per share (the PIPE Placement). At the Closing, these proceeds were used to repay the outstanding balance of $35,000,000 under the Companys two promissory note agreements with certain holders of its Class A Units (the Promissory Notes) and related accrued interest. Additionally, the proceeds were used to pay those expenses previously incurred by SCS related to the business combination of approximately $21,029,000 as well as advisory and placement fees of approximately $29,389,000 incurred in connection with the PIPE Placement.
Business Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The global COVID-19 pandemic continues to rapidly evolve, and we will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely. To date, our financial condition and operations have not been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we cannot, at this time, predict the specific extent, duration or full impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our financial condition and operations, including our ongoing and planned clinical trials. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on our business, operations and clinical development timelines and plans remains uncertain and will depend on certain developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak and its impact on our clinical trial enrollment, trial sites, contract research organizations (CROs), and other third parties with whom we do business, as well as its impact on regulatory authorities and our key scientific and management personnel. To the extent possible, we are conducting business as usual, with necessary or advisable modifications to employee travel as some of our employees are working remotely. We will continue to actively monitor the rapidly evolving situation related to COVID-19 and may take further actions that alter our operations, including those that may be required by federal, state or local authorities, or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees and other third parties with whom we do business. The development of our product candidates could be disrupted and materially adversely affected in the future by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our planned clinical trials also could be delayed due to government orders and site policies on account of the pandemic, and some patients may be unwilling or unable to travel to study sites, enroll in our trials or be unable to comply with clinical trial protocols if quarantines impede patient movement or interrupt healthcare services, which would delay our ability to conduct clinical trials or release clinical trial results and could delay our ability to obtain regulatory approval and commercialize REACT or any future product candidates. Furthermore, COVID-19 could affect our employees or the employees of research sites and service providers on whom we rely, including CROs, as well as those of companies with which we do business, including our suppliers, thereby disrupting our business operations. Quarantines and travel restrictions imposed by governments in the jurisdictions in which we and the companies with which we do business operate could materially impact the ability of employees to access clinical sites, laboratories, manufacturing sites and offices. These and other events resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic could disrupt, delay, or otherwise adversely impact our business.
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Financial Operations Overview
Revenue
We have not generated any revenue since inception, and we do not expect to generate any revenue from the sale of products in the near future, if at all. If our development efforts for REACT or any other product candidates are successful and result in marketing approval, or if we enter into collaboration or license agreements with third parties, we may generate revenue in the future from a combination of product sales or payments from such agreements.
Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred in connection with our research and development activities, including the development of REACT.
Research and development costs include:
| external research and development expenses incurred under agreements with CROs and other scientific development services; |
| costs of other outside consultants, including their fees and related travel expenses; |
| costs related to compliance with quality and regulatory requirements; |
| costs of laboratory supplies and acquiring and developing clinical trial materials; |
| payments made under third-party licensing agreements; |
| personnel-related expenses, including salaries, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation expenses, for individuals involved in research and development activities; and |
| facilities, depreciation and other allocated expenses, which include direct and allocated expenses for rent, insurance and other internal operating costs. |
We expense research and development costs as incurred. We recognize external development costs based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using information provided to us by our vendors. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of the individual agreements, which may differ from the pattern of costs incurred, and are reflected in our consolidated balance sheets as prepaid clinical or as a component of total accrued expenses and other. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services to be received in the future for use in research and development activities are deferred and capitalized, even when there is no alternative future use for the research and development. The capitalized amounts are recorded as prepaid clinical and are expensed as the related goods are delivered or the services are performed.
Research and development activities are central to our business model. We expect that our research and development expenses will increase significantly for the foreseeable future as REACT moves into later stages of clinical development.
The successful development of REACT and any product candidates we may develop in the future is highly uncertain. Therefore, we cannot reasonably estimate or know the nature, timing and estimated costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the development and commercialization of any of our product candidates. We are also unable to predict when, if ever, material net cash inflows will commence from the sale of REACT or potential future product candidates, if approved. This is due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with developing product candidates, many of which are outside of our control, including the uncertainty of:
| the timing and progress of non-clinical and clinical development activities; |
| the number and scope of non-clinical and clinical programs we decide to pursue; |
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| our ability to maintain our current research and development programs and to establish new ones; |
| establishing an appropriate safety profile; |
| the number of sites and patients including clinical trials; |
| the countries in which the clinical trials are conducted; |
| per patient trial costs; |
| successful patient enrollment in, and the initiation of, clinical trials, as well as drop out or discontinuation rates, particularly in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic environment; |
| the successful completion of clinical trials with safety, tolerability and efficacy profiles that are satisfactory to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and comparable foreign regulatory authorities; |
| the number of trials required for regulatory approval; |
| the timing, receipt and terms of any regulatory approvals from applicable regulatory authorities; |
| our ability to establish new licensing or collaboration arrangements; |
| the performance of our future collaborators, if any; |
| establishing commercial manufacturing capabilities or making arrangements with third-party manufacturers; |
| significant and changing government regulation and regulatory guidance; |
| the impact of any business interruptions to our operations or to those of the third parties with whom we work, particularly in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic environment; |
| obtaining, maintaining, defending and enforcing patient claims or other intellectual property rights; |
| the potential benefits of REACT over other therapies; |
| launching commercial sales of REACT, if approved, whether alone or in collaboration with others; and |
| maintaining a continued acceptable safety profile of REACT, should it obtain regulatory approval. |
Any changes in the outcome of any of these variables could mean a significant change in the costs and timing associated with the development of our product candidates. For example, if the FDA or another regulatory authority were to require us to conduct clinical trials beyond those that we anticipate will be required for the completion of clinical development of a product candidate, or if we experience significant delays in our clinical trials due to patient enrollment or other reasons, we would be required to expend significant additional financial resources and time on the completion of clinical development. We may never obtain regulatory approval for any of our product candidates.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs, including salaries, bonuses, benefits and equity-based compensation expenses for individuals involved in our executive, finance, corporate and administrative functions, as well as expenses for outside professional services, including legal, audit, accounting and tax-related services and other consulting fees, facility-related expenses, which include depreciation costs and other allocated expenses for rent and maintenance of facilities, insurance costs, recruiting costs, travel expenses and other general administrative expenses.
We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase significantly for the foreseeable future as our business expands and we hire additional personnel to support our operations. We also anticipate increased expenses associated with being a public company, including costs for legal, audit, accounting, investor and public relations, tax-related services, director and officer insurance, and regulatory costs related to compliance with the rules and regulations of the SEC as well as listing standards applicable to companies listed on a national securities exchange.
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Other Income (Expense)
Other income consists of interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents held in financial institutions. We expect our interest income to increase following the completion of the Business Combination as we invest the net proceeds from the Business Combination pending their use in our operations.
Income Tax (Expense) Benefit
Income tax expense reflects federal and state taxes on income earned by our subsidiary that is organized as a C corporation for U.S. income tax purposes.
Results of Operations
Comparison of Three Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands):
Three Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
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Research and development |
$ | 11,558 | $ | 10,969 | $ | 589 | ||||||
General and administrative |
9,180 | 1,748 | 7,432 | |||||||||
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|
|
|
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Total operating expense |
20,738 | 12,717 | 8,021 | |||||||||
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Loss from operations |
(20,738 | ) | (12,717 | ) | (8,021 | ) | ||||||
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Interest income |
| 2 | (2 | ) | ||||||||
Interest expense |
(170 | ) | | (170 | ) | |||||||
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Net loss before taxes |
(20,908 | ) | (12,715 | ) | (8,193 | ) | ||||||
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Income tax expense |
1,223 | 10 | 1,213 | |||||||||
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Net loss |
$ | (22,131 | ) | $ | (12,725 | ) | $ | (9,406 | ) | |||
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|
|
|
|
|
Research and development expenses
The increase in research and development expenses of approximately $0.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2021, was primarily driven by a $1.3 million increase in cost related to equity-based compensation related to awards granted during 2022. Further, cash-based compensation costs increased by $1.1 million, driven primarily by the hiring of additional personnel. Other research and development costs related to professional fees, quality control, manufacturing improvements and depreciation have also increased by approximately $1.9 million. These costs were offset by decreases in clinical trial cost of approximately $3.9 million related primarily to decreased costs for the Phase 3 trials which were incurring start-up costs during the three-month period ended June 30, 2021.
General and administrative expenses
The increase in general and administrative expenses of approximately $7.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2021, was primarily driven by a $6.5 million increase in equity-based compensation relating to the expense for awards granted in 2022 as well as the sale of Class B-1 Units to service providers at less than their fair value. Additionally, there was a $0.7 million increase in cash-based compensation expense which was driven by the hiring of additional personnel.
Income tax expense
The increase in income tax expense of approximately $1.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2021, was driven primarily by the impact of a provision of the
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Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the TCJA) which became effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2021. This provision requires specified research and development expenses to be capitalized and amortized ratably over a five-year period and is the primary driver of the income tax expense recognized during the three months ended June 30, 2022.
Comparison of Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands):
Six Months Ended June 30, |
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2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
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Research and development |
$ | 40,048 | $ | 20,828 | $ | 19,220 | ||||||
General and administrative |
47,152 | 3,492 | 43,660 | |||||||||
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Total operating expense |
87,200 | 24,320 | 62,880 | |||||||||
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Loss from operations |
(87,200 | ) | (24,320 | ) | (62,880 | ) | ||||||
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Interest income |
| 2 | (2 | ) | ||||||||
Interest expense |
(184 | ) | | (184 | ) | |||||||
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Net loss before taxes |
(87,384 | ) | (24,318 | ) | (63,066 | ) | ||||||
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Income tax expense |
2,233 | 16 | 2,217 | |||||||||
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Net loss |
$ | (89,617 | ) | $ | (24,334 | ) | $ | (65,283 | ) | |||
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|
|
Research and development expenses
The increase in research and development expenses of approximately $19.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021, was primarily driven by a $14.1 million increase in cost related to equity-based payments for services rendered by a third-party in prior periods, as the cost of those payments was adjusted to the fair value of the awards issued upon their grant date in the six months ended June 30, 2022. Additionally, equity-based compensation costs increased approximately $4.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, due to additional awards granted to employees during the period and the modification of existing awards. Further, cash-based compensation costs increased by $2.0 million, driven primarily by the hiring of additional personnel. Other research and development costs related to professional fees, quality control, manufacturing improvements and depreciation have also increased by approximately $3.5 million. These costs were offset by decreases in clinical trial cost of approximately $5.0 million related primarily to decreased costs for the Phase 3 trials which were incurring start-up costs in the six-month period ended June 30, 2021 and decreases in spending for the Phase 2 trials.
General and administrative expenses
The increase in general and administrative expenses of approximately $43.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021, was primarily driven by a $33.0 million increase in equity-based compensation for Class B-1 Units sold at less than their fair value to employees, board members and other service providers of the Company. Additionally, there was a $8.6 million increase in equity-based compensation expense which was driven by a modification to the existing awards as well as the grant of additional awards during the six months ended June 30, 2022. Cash-based compensation has also increased by approximately $1.5 million driven by the hiring of additional personnel.
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Income tax expense
The increase in income tax expense of approximately $2.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021, was driven primarily by the impact of a provision of the TCJA which became effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2021. This provision requires specified research and development expenses to be capitalized and amortized ratably over a five-year period and is the primary driver of the income tax expense recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2022.
Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, |
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2021 | 2020 | Change | ||||||||||
Operating expenses: |
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Research and development |
$ | 46,255 | $ | 21,042 | $ | 25,213 | ||||||
General and administrative |
8,855 | 5,982 | 2,873 | |||||||||
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Total operating expense |
55,110 | 27,024 | 28,086 | |||||||||
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Loss from operations |
(55,110 | ) | (27,024 | ) | (28,086 | ) | ||||||
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Other income |
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Interest income |
2 | 43 | (41 | ) | ||||||||
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Net loss before taxes |
(55,108 | ) | (26,981 | ) | (28,127 | ) | ||||||
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Income tax expense (benefit) |
38 | (232 | ) | 270 | ||||||||
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Net loss |
$ | (55,146 | ) | $ | (26,749 | ) | $ | (28,397 | ) | |||
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Research and development expenses
Research and development expenses increased primarily due to the startup costs incurred in 2021 in connection with the launch of our Phase 3 clinical study REGEN-006 in 2022. As a Phase 3 trial, REGEN-006 is planned to be much larger in scope than the clinical trials ongoing in 2020. In addition to the impact of spending on REGEN-006, we also began enrollment in our Phase 2 study REGEN-007 in the latter part of 2021.
General and administrative expenses
The increase in general and administrative expenses of approximately $2.9 million was primarily driven by services performed in anticipation of a going-public transaction and our reorganization pursuant to our organization as an Irish limited partnership.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources of liquidity
Since inception, we have not recognized any revenue and have incurred operating losses and negative cash flows from our operations. We have not yet commercialized any product and we do not expect to generate revenue from sales of any products for several years, if at all. From inception through June 30, 2022, we have funded our operations primarily through capital contributions and the ProKidney Promissory Notes and have received aggregate net proceeds from these transactions of $186.5 million and $20.0 million, respectively. The $20.0 million received under the promissory notes was repaid at the Closing.
We expect that the net proceeds from the Business Combination, together with our cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2022 will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements
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through 2024. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong and we could exhaust our capital resources sooner than we expect.
We expect our expenses to increase substantially if, and as, we:
| initiate and continue research and clinical development of our product candidates, including in particular our clinical trials for REACT; |
| incur third-party manufacturing costs to support our non-clinical studies and clinical trials of our product candidate and, if approved, its commercialization; |
| seek to identify and develop additional product candidates; |
| make investment in developing internal manufacturing capabilities; and |
| seek regulatory and marketing approvals for our product candidates. |
In addition, we expect to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company, including significant legal, audit, accounting, investor and public relations, regulatory, tax-related, director and officer insurance premiums and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. Developing pharmaceutical products, including conducting clinical trials, is a time-consuming, expensive and uncertain process that takes years to complete, and we may never generate the necessary data or results required to obtain marketing approval for any product candidates or generate revenue from the sale of any product candidate for which we may obtain marketing approval. In addition, our product candidates, if approved, may not achieve commercial success. Our commercial revenues, if any, will be derived from sales of product that we do not expect to be commercially available for at least several years, if ever.
As a result, we will need substantial additional funding to support our continuing operations and pursue our growth strategy. Until such time as we can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to finance our operations through the public or private sale of equity, government or private party grants, debt financings or other capital sources, including potential collaborations with other companies or other strategic transactions. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our shareholders will be or could be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our unitholders. Debt financing and equity 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 are unable to obtain additional funding, we could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate some or all of our research and development programs, product portfolio expansion or any commercialization efforts, which could adversely affect our business prospects, or we may be unable to continue operations. If we raise funds through strategic collaborations or other similar arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technology, future revenue streams, research programs or product candidates or may have to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us and/or may reduce the value of our units. Our ability to raise additional funds may be adversely impacted by potential worsening global economic conditions and disruptions to and volatility in the credit and financial markets in the United States and worldwide resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we cannot predict the timing or amount of increased expenses, and there is no assurance that we will ever be profitable or generate positive cash flow from operating activities.
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Cash Flows
Cash Flows for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021
The following table provides information regarding our cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands):
Six Months Ended June 30, |
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2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Net cash flows used in operating activities |
$ | (38,485 | ) | $ | (19,095 | ) | ||
Net cash flows used in investing activities |
(1,225 | ) | (3,393 | ) | ||||
Net cash flows provided by financing activities |
41,034 | 29,985 | ||||||
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Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 1,324 | $ | 7,497 | ||||
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Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
The following table provides information regarding our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31, |
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2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
$ | (50,299 | ) | $ | (25,181 | ) | ||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(5,191 | ) | (5,456 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
71,470 | 19,989 | ||||||
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Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 15,980 | $ | (10,648 | ) | |||
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Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $38.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, reflecting a net loss of approximately $89.6 million and uses driven by changes in working capital of approximately $11.0 million. Such uses were partially offset by non-cash charges of $62.1 million. The non-cash charges primarily consisted of equity-based compensation expense of $60.7 million and depreciation and amortization expense of $1.5 million. The changes in working capital primarily relate to the timing of payments made to our vendors for services performed particularly as significant prepayments were made during the six months ended June 30, 2022.
Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $19.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, reflecting a net loss of $24.3 million, partially offset by non-cash charges of $1.2 million and a net change of $4.0 million in our net working capital. The non-cash charges primarily consisted of depreciation and amortization of $0.9 million and equity-based compensation expense of $0.4 million.
The approximately $19.4 million increase in cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily driven by the increased use of cash related to the timing of payments to our vendors and the net loss incurred during the period, after adjusting for the non-cash charges.
Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $50.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, reflecting a net loss of approximately $55.1 million, partially offset by non-cash charges of $2.7 million, and changes in working capital of $2.2 million. The non-cash charges primarily consisted of depreciation and amortization expense of $2.0 million and equity-based compensation expense of $0.7 million. The changes in working capital primarily relate to the timing of payments made to our vendors for services performed.
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Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $25.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, reflecting a net loss of $26.7 million, partially offset by non-cash charges of $1.7 million and a net change of $0.1 million in our net operating assets. The non-cash charges primarily consisted of depreciation and amortization of $1.0 million and equity-based compensation expense of $0.7 million.
The approximately $25.1 million increase in cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to a $28.4 million increase in our net loss which was driven by increased spending related to the planned launch of our Phase 3 clinical study, REGEN-006. The impact of the increased net loss was offset by higher non-cash charges for depreciation, amortization and equity compensation as well as changes in net working capital.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities were approximately $1.2 million and $3.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, which was due to purchases of equipment and facility expansion.
Net cash used in investing activities were approximately $5.2 million and $5.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which was due to purchases of equipment and facility expansion.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $41.0 million and $30.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, which was due to the borrowing of funds under the Promissory Notes and sales of Legacy Class B-1 Units in the 2022 period and due to proceeds received from the issuance of the Legacy Class A Units in the 2021 period.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $71.5 million and $20.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which was due to proceeds received from the issuance of the Legacy Class A Units.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
Our managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, costs and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience, known trends and events and various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
A description of recently issued accounting pronouncements that may potentially impact our financial position and results of operations is disclosed in Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We did not have during the periods presented, and we do not currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC.
JOBS Act Accounting Election
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies, allowing them to delay the adoption of those standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period under the JOBS Act. As a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements of companies that are required to comply with the effective dates for new or revised accounting standards that are applicable to public companies, which may make our ordinary shares less attractive to investors.
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DESCRIPTION OF PROKIDNEY SECURITIES
The following summary of the material terms of our securities is not intended to be a complete summary of the rights and preferences of such securities and is qualified by reference to our Charter, which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We urge you to read our Charter described herein in its entirety for a complete description of the rights and preferences of our securities. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to we, us, our, the Company and ProKidney in this section refer solely to ProKidney Corp. and not to our subsidiaries.
Authorized and Outstanding Shares
We are authorized to issue 1,005,000,000 shares, consisting of (x) 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, (y) 500,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share and (z) 5,000,000 preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share.
Class A Ordinary Shares
Voting Rights
Each holder of Class A ordinary shares is entitled to one vote for each Class A ordinary shares held of record by such holder on all matters on which shareholders generally are entitled to vote. The holders of the Class A ordinary shares do not have cumulative voting rights in the appointment of directors. Generally, all matters to be voted on by shareholders must be approved by a resolution passed by the holders of not less than a simple majority of ordinary shares entitled to vote in person or represented by proxy, with Class A shareholders and Class B shareholders voting together as a single class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of the outstanding Class A ordinary shares are entitled to vote separately upon any amendment to the Charter (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event) that would alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of such Class A ordinary shares in a manner that has an adverse effect upon such rights.
Dividend Rights
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preference shares, the holders of Class A ordinary shares are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Board out of funds legally available therefor. All dividends are subject to certain restrictions under Cayman Islands law, namely that we may only pay dividends out of profits or share premium account, and provided always that, in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in us being unable to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.
Rights upon Liquidation, Dissolution and Winding-Up
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the holders of our Class A ordinary shares are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of our debts and other liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of preference shares or any class or series of shares having a preference over our Class A ordinary shares, then outstanding, if any.
Preemptive or Other Rights
The holders of our Class A ordinary shares have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights (other than in connection with certain issuances of common units under the Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement). There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our Class A ordinary shares. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our Class A ordinary shares will be subject to those of the holders of any preference shares we may issue in the future.
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Class B Ordinary Shares
Voting Rights
Each holder of our Class B ordinary shares is entitled to one vote for each Class B ordinary share held of record by such holder on all matters on which shareholders generally are entitled to vote. The holders of our Class B ordinary shares do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Generally, all matters to be voted on by shareholders must be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all shareholders present in person or represented by proxy, with Class A shareholders and Class B shareholders voting together as a single class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of our outstanding Class B ordinary shares are entitled to vote separately upon any amendment to the Charter (including by merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event) that would alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of such Class B ordinary shares in a manner that has an adverse effect upon such rights.
Dividend Rights
The holders of our Class B ordinary shares will not participate in any dividends declared by our board of directors.
Rights upon Liquidation, Dissolution and Winding-Up
In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the holders of our Class B ordinary shares are entitled to a ratable amount equal to the capital paid up on such Class B ordinary shares of all assets remaining after payment of our debts and other liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of preference shares or any class or series of shares having a preference over our Class B ordinary shares, then outstanding, if any. Our Class B ordinary shares shall not carry any other right to participate in our profits or assets.
Preemptive or Other Rights
The holders of our Class B ordinary shares do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our Class B ordinary shares.
Issuance and Forfeiture of Class B Ordinary Shares
In the event that any of our outstanding Class B ordinary shares cease to be held directly or indirectly by a holder of an equal amount of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units, such share will automatically be transferred to us for no consideration and thereupon will be retired. We will not issue additional Class B ordinary shares other than in connection with the valid issuance or transfer of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units in accordance with our governing documents.
Preference Shares
Our Charter provides that the Board has the authority, without further action by the holders of our ordinary shares, to establish one or more series of preference shares where issue of such series of preference shares is considered by the Board not to have an adverse effect upon rights attached to our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Preference shares may be issued from time to time in one or more series of any number of shares, provided that the aggregate number of shares issued shall not exceed the total number of preference shares authorized, and with such powers, including voting powers, if any, and the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, all as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the designation and issue of such preference shares from time to time adopted by the Board pursuant to authority so to do which is
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expressly vested in the Board. The powers, including voting powers, if any, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of preference shares, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.
The issuance of preference shares may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of ProKidney without further action by the shareholders. Additionally, the issuance of preference shares may adversely affect the holders of our ordinary shares by restricting dividends on our Class A ordinary shares, diluting the voting power of our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares or subordinating the liquidation rights of our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. As a result of these or other factors, the issuance of preference shares could have an adverse impact on the market price of our Class A ordinary shares. At present, we have no plans to issue any preference shares.
Register of Members
Under Cayman Islands law, the Company must keep a register of members and there will be entered therein:
| the names and addresses of the members, a statement of the shares held by each member, and of the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each member and the voting rights of shares; |
| the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and |
| the date on which any person ceased to be a member. |
Under Cayman Islands law, the register of members of our company is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (i.e., the register of members will raise a presumption of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a member registered in the register of members will be deemed as a matter of Cayman Islands law to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the register of members. Upon the closing of this offering, the register of members will be immediately updated to reflect the issue of shares by us. Once our register of members has been updated, the shareholders recorded in the register of members will be deemed to have legal title to the shares set against their name. However, there are certain limited circumstances where an application may be made to a Cayman Islands court for a determination on whether the register of members reflects the correct legal position. Further, the Cayman Islands court has the power to order that the register of members maintained by a company should be rectified where it considers that the register of members does not reflect the correct legal position. If an application for an order for rectification of the register of members were made in respect of our ordinary shares, then the validity of such shares may be subject to re-examination by a Cayman Islands court.
Earnout Rights
The Earnout Participants received an additional aggregate amount of 17,500,000 Earnout RCUs and 17,500,000 Earnout RSRs which will convert, in the case of Earnout RCUs, into Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units and, in the case of Earnout RSRs, into our Class B ordinary shares to vest in three equal tranches upon our ordinary shares satisfying certain VWAP thresholds of $15.00, $20.00, $25.00, respectively, for any 20 trading days within any 30 consecutive trading day period commencing on or after the Closing and ending on or prior to the fifth anniversary of the Closing; provided that (i) if one or all of the VWAP thresholds has not been achieved prior to the end of the five-year period following the Closing and (ii) we consummate a transaction that results in a change of control with a per share price exceeding the VWAP thresholds, then the applicable share price trigger that has not been satisfied will be deemed to have been satisfied, and, at the closing of such transaction, we shall issue the applicable portion of the Class B ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting of the Earnout Rights as if such share price trigger has been achieved.
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Earnout RCUs
We issued to the Earnout Participants the Earnout RCUs, denoted as Series 1 RCUs, Series 2 RCUs and Series 3 RCUs, in each case, equal to the earnout series amount for such Earnout Participant. Upon the achievement of certain of our share price milestones, the Earnout RCUs held by such participant will be converted into Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units. Any Earnout RCUs that have not vested by the fifth anniversary of the Closing will be forfeited and cancelled for no consideration.
Earnout RSRs
We issued to Earnout Participants the Earnout RSRs, denoted as Class B Series 1 RSRs, Class B Series 2 RSRs and Class B Series 3 RSRs, in each case, equal to the earnout series amount for such Earnout Participant. Upon the achievement of certain of our share price milestones, such Earnout RSRs held by such Earnout Participant will be converted into our Class B ordinary shares. Any such Earnout RSRs that have not vested by the fifth anniversary of the Closing will be forfeited and cancelled for no consideration.
PMEL Post-Combination Issuance
In connection with the Business Combination, PMEL Post-Combination Unitholders received an additional aggregate amount of each of PMEL RCUs and PMEL RSRs equal to the amount of such unitholders pro rata interest in the unvested Legacy ProKidney Class B Units held by PMEL prior to the Closing, which will convert, in the case of PMEL RCUs, into Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units and, in the case of PMEL RSRs, into our Class B ordinary shares when vested in accordance with the terms of the applicable award agreement.
PMEL RCUs
At the Closing, we issued to PMEL Post-Combination Unitholders a number of PMEL RCUs equal to the amount of such unitholders pro rata interest in the unvested Legacy ProKidney Class B Units held by PMEL prior to the Closing. Upon the vesting of a PMEL RCU in accordance with the terms of the applicable award agreement, if any, such RCUs held by such PMEL Post-Combination Unitholder will be converted into Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units.
PMEL RSRs
At the Closing, we issued to PMEL Post-Combination Unitholders a number of PMEL RSRs equal to the amount of such unitholders pro rata interest in the unvested Legacy Class B Units held by PMEL prior to the Closing. Upon the vesting of a PMEL RCU in accordance with the terms of the applicable award agreement, if any, such PMEL RSRs held by such PMEL Post-Combination Unitholder will be converted into our Class B ordinary shares.
Dividends
The payment of any cash dividends is within the discretion of the Board.
The Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement provides that pro rata cash distributions be made to holders of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units at certain assumed tax rates, which we refer to as tax distributions.
Any financing arrangements that we enter into in the future may include restrictive covenants that limit our ability to pay dividends. All dividends are subject to certain restrictions under Cayman Islands law, namely that we may only pay dividends out of profits or share premium account, and provided always that, in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in the Company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.
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Our subsidiaries are generally subject to similar legal limitations on their ability to make distributions to ProKidney.
Registration Rights
At the Closing, we entered into the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement with the Sponsor and certain Holders. Under the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, Class A ordinary shares held by the Holders party thereto (as well as their permitted transferees) and by parties to the Exchange Agreement are entitled to registration rights. The Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement provides for us to, within 30 days after the Closing Date, submit or file with the SEC a shelf registration statement registering the resale of our ordinary shares held by the Holders and use our commercially reasonable efforts to have such registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the submission or filing thereof, but in no event later than (a) 90 days following the submission or filing deadline, if the SEC notifies us that it will review the Registration Statement and (b) the 10th business day after the date we are notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that the registration statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review. In addition, the Holders have certain piggy-back registration rights.
Lock-Up Restrictions
At the closing of the Business Combination, we, the Sponsor and certain Closing ProKidney Unitholders entered into the Lock-Up Agreement. The Lock-Up Agreement contains certain restrictions on transfer with respect to the Sponsor and the ProKidney Unitholders party thereto (including their permitted transferees). Such restrictions begin at the Closing and end on the earlier of (i) the date that is 180 days after the Closing and (ii)(a) for 33% of the Lock-Up Shares (other than the Earnout Shares and the Private Placement Shares)(as each such term is defined in the Lock-Up Agreement), the date on which the last reported sale price of our Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $12.50 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 30 days after the Closing and (b) for an additional 50% of the Lock-Up Shares (other than the Earnout Shares and the Private Placement Shares), the date on which the last reported sale price of our Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $15.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 30 days after the Closing. Notwithstanding the above, (i) the lock-up period for any Earnout Shares will expire not earlier than 180 days after such Earnout Shares are issued; (ii) 50% of the Lock-Up Shares held by certain Closing ProKidney Unitholders and their affiliates will remain locked up until the earlier of four years following the Closing and the date that we receive notice of any regulatory market authorization, including full or conditional authorization, to market REACT (but, in any event, not earlier than 180 days following the Closing or (in the case of Earnout Shares) the date of issuance); and (iii) the lock-up period for the Private Placement Shares will expire 30 days after the Closing. The restrictions on transfer set forth in the Lock-Up Agreement are subject to customary exceptions.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for our ordinary shares is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Stock Exchange Listing
Our Class A ordinary shares is listed for traing on Nasdaq under the symbol PROK.
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of the Charter
Our Charter contains provisions that could have the effect of rendering more difficult, delaying, or preventing an acquisition deemed undesirable by the Board. These provisions could also make it difficult for shareholders to take certain actions, including appointing directors who are not nominated by the members of the Board or taking other corporate actions, including effecting changes in our management. For instance, our
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Charter does not provide for cumulative voting in the appointment of directors and does provide for a classified board of directors with three-year staggered terms, which could delay the ability of shareholders to change the membership of a majority of the Board. The Board is empowered to appoint a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the Board or the resignation, death, or removal of a director in certain circumstances; and our advance notice provisions in our Charter requires that shareholders must comply with certain procedures in order to nominate candidates to the Board or to propose matters to be acted upon at a shareholders meeting.
Our authorized but unissued ordinary shares and preference shares are available for future issuances without shareholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved ordinary shares and preference shares could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of ProKidney by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Certain Differences in Corporate Law
Cayman Islands companies are governed by the Cayman Islands Companies Act. The Cayman Islands Companies Act is modeled on English Law but does not follow recent English Law statutory enactments, and differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the material differences between the provisions of the Cayman Islands Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements
In certain circumstances, the Cayman Islands Companies Act allows for mergers or consolidations between two Cayman Islands companies, or between a Cayman Islands exempted company and a company incorporated in another jurisdiction (provided that is facilitated by the laws of that other jurisdiction).
Where the merger or consolidation is between two Cayman Islands companies, the directors of each company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation containing certain prescribed information. That plan or merger or consolidation must then be authorized by either (a) a special resolution (usually a majority of 66 2/3% in value of the voting shares voted at a shareholder meeting) of the shareholders of each company; or (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent companys memorandum and articles of association. No shareholder resolution is required for a merger between a parent company (i.e., a company that owns at least 90% of the issued shares of each class in a subsidiary company) and its subsidiary company. The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent company must be obtained, unless the court waives such requirement. If the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies is satisfied that the requirements of the Cayman Islands Companies Act (which includes certain other formalities) have been complied with, the Registrar of Companies will register the plan of merger or consolidation.
Where the merger or consolidation involves a foreign company, the procedure is similar, save that with respect to the foreign company, the directors of the Cayman Islands exempted company are required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, they are of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the merger or consolidation is permitted or not prohibited by the constitutional documents of the foreign company and by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign company is incorporated, and that those laws and any requirements of those constitutional documents have been or will be complied with; (ii) that no petition or other similar proceeding has been filed and remains outstanding or order made or resolution adopted to wind up or liquidate the foreign company in any jurisdictions; (iii) that no receiver, trustee, administrator or other similar person has been appointed in any jurisdiction and is acting in respect of the foreign company, its affairs or its property or any part thereof; and (iv) that no scheme, order, compromise or other similar arrangement has been entered into or made in any jurisdiction whereby the rights of creditors of the foreign company are and continue to be suspended or restricted.
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Where the surviving company is the Cayman Islands exempted company, the directors of the Cayman Islands exempted company are further required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, they are of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the foreign company is able to pay its debts as they fall due and that the merger or consolidation is bona fide and not intended to defraud unsecured creditors of the foreign company; (ii) that in respect of the transfer of any security interest granted by the foreign company to the surviving or consolidated company (a) consent or approval to the transfer has been obtained, released or waived; (b) the transfer is permitted by and has been approved in accordance with the constitutional documents of the foreign company; and (c) the laws of the jurisdiction of the foreign company with respect to the transfer have been or will be complied with; (iii) that the foreign company will, upon the merger or consolidation becoming effective, cease to be incorporated, registered or exist under the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction; and (iv) that there is no other reason why it would be against the public interest to permit the merger or consolidation.
Where the above procedures are adopted, the Cayman Islands Companies Act provides for a right of dissenting shareholders to be paid a payment of the fair value of their shares upon their dissenting to the merger or consolidation if they follow a prescribed procedure. In essence, that procedure is as follows: (a) the shareholder must give their written objection to the merger or consolidation to the constituent company before the vote on the merger or consolidation, including a statement that the shareholder proposes to demand payment for their shares if the merger or consolidation is authorized by the vote; (b) within 20 days following the date on which the merger or consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the constituent company must give written notice to each shareholder who made a written objection; (c) a shareholder must within 20 days following receipt of such notice from the constituent company, give the constituent company a written notice of their intention to dissent including, among other details, a demand for payment of the fair value of their shares; (d) within seven days following the date of the expiration of the period set out in paragraph (b) above or seven days following the date on which the plan of merger or consolidation is filed, whichever is later, the constituent company, the surviving company or the consolidated company must make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase their shares at a price that the company determines is the fair value and if the company and the shareholder agree the price within 30 days following the date on which the offer was made, the company must pay the shareholder such amount; and (e) if the company and the shareholder fail to agree a price within such 30 day period, within 20 days following the date on which such 30 day period expires, the company (and any dissenting shareholder) must file a petition with the Cayman Islands Grand Court to determine the fair value and such petition must be accompanied by a list of the names and addresses of the dissenting shareholders with whom agreements as to the fair value of their shares have not been reached by the company. At the hearing of that petition, the court has the power to determine the fair value of the shares together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid by the company upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Any dissenting shareholder whose name appears on the list filed by the company may participate fully in all proceedings until the determination of fair value is reached. These rights of a dissenting shareholder are not available in certain circumstances, for example, to dissenters holding shares of any class in respect of which an open market exists on a recognized stock exchange or recognized interdealer quotation system at the relevant date and the consideration paid for such shares meets certain requirements under the Cayman Islands Companies Act or where the consideration for such shares to be contributed are shares of any company listed on a national securities exchange or shares of the surviving or consolidated company.
Moreover, Cayman Islands law has separate statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction or amalgamation of companies in certain circumstances, schemes of arrangement will generally be more suited for complex mergers or other transactions involving widely held companies, commonly referred to in the Cayman Islands as a scheme of arrangement which may be tantamount to a merger. In the event that a merger was sought pursuant to a scheme of arrangement (the procedures for which are more rigorous and take longer to complete than the procedures typically required to consummate a merger in the United States), the arrangement in question must be approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a
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meeting, or meeting summoned for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the terms of the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder would have the right to express to the court the view that the transaction should not be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it satisfies itself that:
| we are not proposing to act illegally or beyond the scope of our corporate authority and the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been complied with; |
| the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question; |
| the arrangement is such as a businessman would reasonably approve; and |
| the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Cayman Islands Companies Act or that would amount to a fraud on the minority. |
If a scheme of arrangement or takeover offer (as described below) is approved, any dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights (providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares), which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations.
Squeeze-out Provisions
When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares to whom the offer relates within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith, collusion or inequitable treatment of the shareholders.
Further, transactions similar to a merger, reconstruction and/or an amalgamation may in some circumstances be achieved through means other than these statutory provisions, such as a share capital exchange, asset acquisition or control, or through contractual arrangements of an operating business.
Shareholders Suits
Our Cayman Islands counsel is not aware of any reported class action having been brought in a Cayman Islands court. Derivative actions have been brought in the Cayman Islands courts, and the Cayman Islands courts have confirmed the availability for such actions. In most cases, we will be the proper plaintiff in any claim based on a breach of duty owed to us, and a claim against (for example) our officers or directors usually may not be brought by a shareholder. However, based both on Cayman Islands authorities and on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority and be applied by a court in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in circumstances in which:
| a company is acting, or proposing to act, illegally or beyond the scope of its authority; |
| the act complained of, although not beyond the scope of the authority, could be effected if duly authorized by more than the number of votes which have actually been obtained; or |
| those who control the company are perpetrating a fraud on the minority. |
A shareholder may have a direct right of action against us where the individual rights of that shareholder have been infringed or are about to be infringed.
Enforcement of Civil Liabilities
The Cayman Islands has a different body of corporate and securities laws as compared to the United States and provides less protection to investors. Additionally, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the Federal courts of the United States.
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We have been advised by our Cayman Islands legal counsel that the courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely (i) to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state; and (ii) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. In those circumstances, although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, impeachable on the grounds of fraud or obtained in a manner, and or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). A Cayman Islands court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
Special Considerations for Exempted Companies
We are an exempted company with limited liability (meaning our public shareholders have no liability, as members of the company, for liabilities of the company over and above the amount paid for their shares) under the Cayman Islands Companies Act. The Cayman Islands Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:
| annual reporting requirements are minimal and consist mainly of a statement that the company has conducted its operations mainly outside of the Cayman Islands and has complied with the provisions of the Cayman Islands Companies Act; |
| an exempted companys register of members is not open to inspection; |
| an exempted company does not have to hold an annual shareholder meeting; |
| an exempted company may issue negotiable or bearer shares or shares with no par value; |
| an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 30 years in the first instance); |
| an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands; |
| an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and |
| an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company. |
Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing, Prevention of Proliferation Financing and Financial Sanctions Compliance Cayman Islands
In order to comply with legislation or regulations aimed at the prevention of money laundering, terrorist financing, proliferation financing and compliance with financial sanctions, we are required to adopt and maintain certain procedures, and may require purchasers to provide evidence to verify their identity and source of funds. Where permitted, and subject to certain conditions, we may also delegate the maintenance of our anti-money laundering, terrorist financing, prevention of proliferation financing and financial sanctions compliance procedures (including the acquisition of due diligence information) to a suitable person.
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We reserve the right to request such information as is necessary to verify the identity of a purchaser. In some cases the directors may be satisfied that no further information is required since an exemption applies under the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations (as amended) of the Cayman Islands (the Regulations). Depending on the circumstances of each application, a detailed verification of identity might not be required where:
a) | the purchaser is a relevant financial business required to comply with the Regulations or is a majority-owned subsidiary of such a business; or |
b) | assessed as having a low degree of risk of money laundering and terrorist financing in accordance with the Regulations (each a Low Risk Country) or is a majority-owned subsidiary of such subscriber; or |
c) | the purchaser is a central or local government organization, statutory body or agency of government in the Cayman Islands or a Low Risk Country; or |
d) | the purchaser is a company that is listed on a recognized stock exchange and subject to disclosure requirements which impose requirements to ensure adequate transparency of beneficial ownership, or is a majority-owned subsidiary of such a company; or |
e) | the purchaser is a pension fund for a professional association, trade union or is acting on behalf of employees of an entity referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d); or |
f) | the application is made through a nominee or the applicant is relying on an introduction from an introducer, which nominee or introducer, as applicable, falls within one of sub-paragraphs (a) to (e). In this situation the company may rely on a written assurance from the nominee or the introducer (as applicable) which confirms (i) that the requisite identification and verification procedures on the applicant for business and (for introducers only) its beneficial owners have been carried out; (ii) the nature and intended purpose of the business relationship; (iii) that the nominee or the introducer has identified the source of funds of the applicant for business; (iv) (for introducers only) that the introducer is supervised or monitored by an overseas regulatory authority and has measures in place to comply with customer due diligence and record keeping requirements; and (v) that the nominee or introducer shall make available on request and without delay copies of any identification and verification data or information and relevant documents. |
For the purposes of these exceptions, recognition of a financial institution, regulatory authority or jurisdiction will be determined in accordance with the Regulations by reference to the Equivalent Jurisdiction definition.
In the event of delay or failure on the part of the subscriber in producing any information required for verification purposes, we may refuse to accept the application, in which case any funds received will be returned without interest to the account from which they were originally debited.
We also reserve the right to refuse to make any payment to a shareholder if our directors or officers suspect or are advised that the payment to such shareholder might result in a breach of applicable anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, prevention of proliferation financing and financial sanctions or other laws or regulations by any person in any relevant jurisdiction, or if such refusal is considered necessary or appropriate to ensure our compliance with any such laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction.
If any person resident in the Cayman Islands knows or suspects, or has reasonable grounds for knowing or suspecting, that another person is engaged in criminal conduct, is involved with terrorism or terrorist property or proliferation financing or is the target of a financial sanction and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of business in the regulated sector or other trade, profession, business or employment, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion to (i) the Financial Reporting Authority of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct, money laundering or proliferation financing or is the target of a financial sanction or (ii) a police officer of the rank of constable or higher, or the Financial Reporting Authority,
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pursuant to the Terrorism Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands, if the disclosure relates to involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing and property. Such a report will not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed by any enactment or otherwise.
Data Protection Cayman Islands
We have certain duties under the Data Protection Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands (the DPA) based on internationally accepted principles of data privacy.
Privacy Notice
Introduction
This privacy notice puts our shareholders on notice that through your investment in the Company you will provide us with certain personal information which constitutes personal data within the meaning of the DPA (personal data). In the following discussion, the company refers to us and our affiliates and/or delegates, except where the context requires otherwise.
Investor Data
We will collect, use, disclose, retain and secure personal data to the extent reasonably required only and within the parameters that could be reasonably expected during the normal course of business. We will only process, disclose, transfer or retain personal data to the extent legitimately required to conduct our activities of on an ongoing basis or to comply with legal and regulatory obligations to which we are subject. We will only transfer personal data in accordance with the requirements of the DPA, and will apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of the personal data and against the accidental loss, destruction or damage to the personal data.
In our use of this personal data, we will be characterized as a data controller for the purposes of the DPA, while our affiliates and service providers who may receive this personal data from us in the conduct of our activities may either act as our data processors for the purposes of the DPA or may process personal information for their own lawful purposes in connection with services provided to us.
We may also obtain personal data from other public sources. Personal data includes, without limitation, the following information relating to a shareholder and/or any individuals connected with a shareholder as an investor: name, residential address, email address, contact details, corporate contact information, signature, nationality, place of birth, date of birth, tax identification, credit history, correspondence records, passport number, bank account details, source of funds details and details relating to the shareholders investment activity.
Who this Affects
If you are a natural person, this will affect you directly. If you are a corporate investor (including, for these purposes, legal arrangements such as trusts or exempted limited partnerships) that provides us with personal data on individuals connected to you for any reason in relation your investment in the company, this will be relevant for those individuals and you should transmit the content of this Privacy Notice to such individuals or otherwise advise them of its content.
How the Company May Use a Shareholders Personal Data
The company, as the data controller, may collect, store and use personal data for lawful purposes, including, in particular:
| where this is necessary for the performance of our rights and obligations under any purchase agreements; |
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| where this is necessary for compliance with a legal and regulatory obligation to which we are subject (such as compliance with anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, prevention of proliferation financing, financial sanctions and FATCA/CRS requirements); and/or |
| where this is necessary for the purposes of our legitimate interests and such interests are not overridden by your interests, fundamental rights or freedoms. |
Should we wish to use personal data for other specific purposes (including, if applicable, any purpose that requires your consent), we will contact you.
Why We May Transfer Your Personal Data
In certain circumstances we may be legally obliged to share personal data and other information with respect to your shareholding with the relevant regulatory authorities such as the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority or the Tax Information Authority. They, in turn, may exchange this information with foreign authorities, including tax authorities.
We anticipates disclosing personal data to persons who provide services to us and their respective affiliates (which may include certain entities located outside the United States, the Cayman Islands or the European Economic Area), who will process your personal data on our behalf.
The Data Protection Measures We Take
Any transfer of personal data by us or our duly authorized affiliates and/or delegates outside of the Cayman Islands shall be in accordance with the requirements of the DPA.
We and our duly authorized affiliates and/or delegates shall apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of personal data, and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data.
We shall notify you of any personal data breach that is reasonably likely to result in a risk to your interests, fundamental rights or freedoms or those data subjects to whom the relevant personal data relates.
Rights of Individual Data Subjects
Individual data subjects have certain data protection rights, including the right to:
| be informed about the purposes for which your personal data are processed; |
| access your personal data; |
| stop direct marketing; |
| restrict the processing of your personal data; |
| have incomplete or inaccurate personal data corrected; |
| ask us to stop processing your personal data; |
| be informed of a personal data breach (unless the breach is unlikely to be prejudicial to you); |
| complain to the Data Protection Ombudsman; and |
| require us to delete your personal data in some limited circumstances. |
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SECURITIES ACT RESTRICTIONS ON RESALE OF SECURITIES
Rule 144
Pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (Rule 144), a person who has beneficially owned restricted Class A ordinary shares of ProKidney for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities; provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and (ii) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale and have filed all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the 12 months (or such shorter period as we were required to file reports) preceding the sale.
Persons who have beneficially owned restricted ordinary shares for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of:
| 1% of the total number of ordinary shares then outstanding; or |
| the average weekly reported trading volume of ordinary shares during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale. |
Sales by our affiliates under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and by the availability of current public information about us.
Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies
Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business- combination related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company. However, Rule 144 also includes an important exception to this prohibition if the following conditions are met:
| the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company; |
| the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the |
| Exchange Act; |
| the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials) other than Form 8-K reports; and |
| at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company. |
Following the Closing, we are no longer a shell company, and so, once the conditions listed above are satisfied, Rule 144 will become available for the resale of the above-noted restricted securities.
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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
The following table sets forth information known to the Company regarding the beneficial ownership of the Companys ordinary shares as of July 31, 2022 by:
| each person known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding Company ordinary shares; |
| each of Companys executive officers and directors; and |
| all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group. |
Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security, including options and warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days. Except as described in the footnotes below and subject to applicable community property laws and similar laws, we believe that each person listed below has sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares.
The beneficial ownership of the Company ordinary shares is based on 61,540,231 Class A ordinary shares and 170,723,961 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of July 31, 2022.
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all ordinary shares beneficially owned by them.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) |
Class A Ordinary Shares |
Class B Ordinary Shares |
% of Total Voting Power |
|||||||||
Directors and Named Executive Officers |
||||||||||||
Tim Bertram, Ph.D.(2) |
| 2,696,468 | 1.2 | % | ||||||||
Pablo Legorreta(3)(11) |
| 94,677,968 | 40.8 | % | ||||||||
William F. Doyle(4) |
| 1,350,469 | * | |||||||||
Jennifer Fox |
| | | |||||||||
José Ignacio Jiménez Santos |
| | | |||||||||
Alan M. Lotvin(5) |
| 1,350,469 | * | |||||||||
John M. Maraganore, Ph.D.(6) |
| 450,156 | * | |||||||||
Brian J.G. Pereira, M.D(7) |
| 1,350,469 | * | |||||||||
Uma Sinha, Ph.D. |
30,000 | | * | |||||||||
Deepak Jain, Ph.D.(8) |
| 937,836 | * | |||||||||
Joseph Stavas, M.D., MPH(9) |
| 735,391 | * | |||||||||
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (14 persons) |
30,000 | 103,453,062 | 44.6 | % | ||||||||
Greater-than-Five Percent Holders: |
||||||||||||
Tolerantia, LLC(3)(11) |
| 94,677,968 | 40.8 | % | ||||||||
Control Empresarial de Capitales, S.A. de C.V. (formerly Inversora Carso, S.A. de C.V.)(10)(11) |
| 63,118,645 | 27.2 | % | ||||||||
Chamath Palihapitiya(12) |
16,273,000 | | 5.5 | % | ||||||||
Banco Invex, S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple, Invex Grupo Financiero, as Trustee of Trust I14165(13) |
5,000,000 | | 2.2 | % | ||||||||
IHCI Investments LP(14) |
5,000,000 | | 2.2 | % | ||||||||
Jupiter CAN LP(15) |
5,000,000 | | 2.2 | % | ||||||||
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.(16) |
10,000,000 | | 4.3 | % | ||||||||
Aaron Cowen(17) |
6,227,000 | | 2.7 | % |
* | Indicated beneficial ownership of less than 1%. |
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(1) | Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o ProKidney Corp., 2000 Frontis Plaza Blvd., Ste 250, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27103. |
(2) | Represents 2,696,468 Class B ordinary shares issued as consideration in the Business Combination and does not include 2,248,469 Class B ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting of PMEL RCUs. |
(3) | Represents 94,677,968 Class B ordinary shares held by Tolerantia, LLC (Tolerantia), a Delaware limited liability company, which is an affiliate controlled and majority-owned by Mr. Pablo Legorreta. Mr. Legorreta controls the voting and disposition of the shares held by Tolerantia. Mr. Legorreta disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by Tolerantia except to the extent of his indirect pecuniary interest therein. The business address of Tolerantia is 110, East 59th Street, Suite 3300, New York, New York, 10022. |
(4) | Represents 1,350,469 Class B ordinary shares issued as consideration in the Business Combination and does not include 163,857 Class B ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting of PMEL RCUs. |
(5) | Represents 1,350,469 Class B ordinary shares issued as consideration in the Business Combination and does not include 163,857 Class B ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting of PMEL RCUs. |
(6) | Represents 450,156 Class B ordinary shares issued as consideration in the Business Combination and does not include 163,857 Class B ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting of PMEL RCUs. |
(7) | Represents 1,350,469 Class B ordinary shares issued as consideration in the Business Combination and does not include 163,857 Class B ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting of PMEL RCUs. |
(8) | Represents 937,836 Class B ordinary shares issued as consideration in the Business Combination and does not include 630,103 Class B ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting of PMEL RCUs. |
(9) | Represents 735,391 Class B ordinary shares issued as consideration in the Business Combination and does not include 315,650 Class B ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting of PMEL RCUs. |
(10) | Information in the table and footnote is based upon information provided to us by the direct shareholder, Control Empresarial de Capitales S.A. de C.V., acting as successor of Inversora Carso S.A. de C.V. by virtue of a merger (CEC). Represents 63,118,645 Class B ordinary shares held by CEC. Members of the Slim family, directly or indirectly, own all of the issued and outstanding voting equity securities of CEC. Therefore, the Slim family may be deemed to beneficially own indirectly the Class B ordinary shares held by CEC. CEC is a sociedad anónima de capital variable organized under the laws of the United Mexican States (Mexico). The Slim family has an address of Paseo de las Palmas 736, Colonia Lomas de Chapultepec, 11000 Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico and Control Empresarial has an address of Paseo de las Palmas 781, Piso 3, Colonia Lomas de Chapultepec, Seccion III, Migual Hidalgo, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico, 11000. |
(11) | The Voting Agreement provides that from the Closing until the third anniversary of the Closing, CEC shall vote all ordinary shares beneficially held by it in a manner proportionate to the manner in which all other Class B ordinary shares not held by CEC, including the Class B ordinary shares beneficially held by Tolerantia, are voted, with respect to the election, appointment, or removal of any director to the Board. As a result, Tolerantia may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of CECs ordinary shares. |
(12) | Consists of 16,273,000 Class A ordinary shares. SC PIPE Holdings LLC (SC PIPE Holdings) is the record holder of 9,500,000 of the Class A ordinary shares reported herein. SC PIPE Holdings is controlled by Mr. Palihapitiya, the former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SCS. SC Master Holdings, LLC (SC Master Holdings) is the sole member of SC PIPE Holdings. Mr. Palihapitiya and SC Master Holdings may be deemed to beneficially own Class A ordinary shares held directly by SC PIPE Holdings by virtue of their indirect or direct interests in SC PIPE Holdings or their control over SC PIPE Holdings, as the case may be. SC Master Holdings is the record holder of 3,773,000 of the Class A ordinary shares reported herein. SC Master Holdings is controlled by Mr. Palihapitiya. Mr. Palihapitiya may be deemed to beneficially own Class A ordinary shares held directly by SC Master Holdings by virtue of his indirect interests in SC Master Holdings or his control over SC Master Holdings, as the case may be. A trust for the benefit of members of Mr. Palihapitiyas immediate family (the Family Trust), is the record holder of 3,000,000 of the Class A ordinary shares reported herein. Mr. Palihapitiya may be deemed to beneficially own Class A ordinary shares held directly by the Family Trust. The address of each of Mr. Palihapitiya, SC Master Holdings and SC PIPE Holdings is c/o SC Master Holdings, LLC, 506 Santa Cruz Avenue, Suite 300, Menlo Park, California 94025. |
(13) | Consists of 5,000,000 Class A ordinary shares held of record by Banco Invex, S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple, Invex Grupo Financiero, acting solely and exclusively in its capacity as trustee of the trustee of |
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Trust I14165 (the Trust), whose record holders are the Trust Beneficiaries (as defined below), issued in connection with, and, upon the closing of, the PIPE Placement. Each of (i) Bertha Paula Michel Gonzalez, (ii) Maria Magdalena Michel Gonzalez and (iii) Maximino Jose Michel Gonzalez (collectively, the Trust Beneficiaries), has voting and dispositive power over, one-third of the total number of Class A ordinary shares held by the Trust. The address of the Trust is Boulevard Manuel Avila Camacho No. 40, Piso 7, Lomas De Chapultepec, Ciudad De México 11000. The address of each of the Trust Beneficiaries is Bosque De Radiatas 6-602, Bosques De Las Lomas, Cuajimalpa 05120, Mexico. |
(14) | Consists of 5,000,000 Class A ordinary shares held of record by IHCI Investments LP issued in connection with, and, upon the closing of, the PIPE Placement. The address of IHCI Investments LP is 1188 Union, Montreal QC H3B 0E5, Canada. |
(15) | Consists of 5,000,000 Class A ordinary shares held of record by Jupiter CAN LP issued in connection with, and, upon the closing of, the PIPE Placement. The address of Jupiter CAN LP is 5930 Royal Lane, Suite E, #117, Dallas TX 75230-3896. |
(16) | Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. is the adviser or sub-adviser, as the case may be, of each of (i) Brighthouse Funds Trust I: Morgan Stanley Discovery Portfolio, holding 497,653 Class A ordinary shares, (ii) ERAFP Actions Mid Cap USA I holding 12,443 Class A ordinary shares, (iii) Growth Trust holding 245,905 Class A ordinary shares, (iv) Inception Trust holding, 166,790 Class A ordinary shares, (v) Johnson & Johnson Pension and Savings Master Trust (JJ9L) holding 15,421 Class A ordinary shares, (vi) Johnson & Johnson Pension and Savings Master Trust (JJ9LDB) holding 136,426 Class A ordinary shares, (vii) Kinstead Global Equity Pool holding 16,039 Class A ordinary shares, (viii) Lawrencium Atoll Investments Ltd. holding 34,707 Class A ordinary shares, (ix) Master Trust for Defined Contribution Plans of American Airlines, Inc. and Affiliates holding 109,253 Class A ordinary shares, (x) Morgan Stanley Funds (UK)Global Insight Fund holding 7,231 Class A ordinary shares, (xi) Morgan Stanley Insight Fund holding 1,421,688 Class A ordinary shares, (xii) Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund TrustDiscovery Portfolio holding 800,384 Class A ordinary shares, (xiii) Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.Inception Portfolio holding 332,167 Class A ordinary shares, (xiv) Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.Counterpoint Global Portfolio holding 3,802 Class A ordinary shares, (xv) Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.Global Endurance Portfolio holding 19,748 Class A ordinary shares, (xvi) Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.Global Insight Portfolio holding 67,622 Class A ordinary shares, (xvii) Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.Growth Portfolio holding 3,865,953 Class A ordinary shares, (xviii) Morgan Stanley Investment FundsCounterpoint Global Fund holding 1,657 Class A ordinary shares, (xiv) Morgan Stanley Investment FundsGlobal Endurance Fund holding 34,186 Class A ordinary shares, (xx) Morgan Stanley Investment FundsGlobal Insight Fund holding 293,852 Class A ordinary shares, (xxi) Morgan Stanley Investment FundsUS Growth Fund holding 1,549,102 Class A ordinary shares, (xxii) Morgan Stanley Investment FundsUS Insight Fund holding 46,844 Class A ordinary shares, (xxiii) Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc.Discovery Portfolio holding 79,084 Class A ordinary shares, (xxiv) Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc.Growth Portfolio holding 242,043 Class A ordinary shares (collectively, the MS Accounts) and holds voting and dispositive power with respect to shares of record held by each of the MS Accounts. Each of the MS accounts received their respective Class A ordinary shares in connection with the issuance of, and, upon the closing of, the PIPE Placement. The address of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., acting as adviser or sub-adviser, as the case may be, of each of the MS Accounts is 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036. |
(17) | Consists of 6,227,000 Class A ordinary shares. Averill Master Fund, Ltd. (Averill Fund) is the record holder of 3,140,000 Class A ordinary shares reported herein. Mr. Cowen may be deemed to control Suvretta Capital Management, LLC, the investment manager of the Averill Fund, and therefore may be deemed to beneficially own the Class A ordinary shares held by the Averill Fund. SVAV Sponsor III, LLC (SVAV) is the record holder of 3,087,000 Class A ordinary shares reported herein. Mr. Cowen may be deemed to control SVAV and therefore may be deemed to beneficially own the Class A ordinary shares held by SVAV. Mr. Cowen disclaims beneficial ownership of the Class A ordinary shares reported herein except to the extent of any indirect pecuniary interest therein. The address of Mr. Cowen is c/o Suvretta Capital Management, LLC, 540 Madison Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022. |
169
This prospectus relates to the possible resale by the Selling Securityholders of up to 239,420,000 Class A ordinary shares. The Selling Securityholders may from time to time offer and sell any or all of the Class A ordinary shares set forth below pursuant to this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. When we refer to the Selling Securityholders in this prospectus, we mean the persons listed in the table below, and the pledgees, donees, transferees, assignees, successors, designees and others who later come to hold any of the Selling Securityholders interest in the Class A ordinary shares other than through a public sale. We cannot advise you as to whether the Selling Securityholders will in fact sell any or all of such Class A ordinary shares. In addition, the Selling Securityholders may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, at any time and from time to time, Class A ordinary shares in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act after the date of this prospectus. For purposes of this table, we have assumed that the Selling Securityholders will have sold all of the securities covered by this prospectus upon the completion of the offering.
The following table is prepared based on information provided to us by the Selling Securityholders. It sets forth the name and address of the Selling Securityholders, the aggregate number of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares or restricted stock rights underlying Class B ordinary shares (issuable upon the vesting of the restricted stock rights), which Class B ordinary shares are exchangeable, pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, to for Class A ordinary Shares that the Selling Securityholders may offer pursuant to this prospectus, and the beneficial ownership of the Selling Securityholders both before and after the offering. We have based the percentage ownership prior to this offering on a total of 232,314,192 shares outstanding, which includes 61,540,231 Class A ordinary shares and 170,723,961 Class B ordinary shares outstanding, in each case as of July 31, 2022.
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, the persons and entities named in the tables have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all securities that they beneficially own, subject to community property laws where applicable.
Selling Securityholder information for each additional Selling Securityholder, if any, will be set forth by prospectus supplement to the extent required prior to the time of any offer or sale of such Selling Securityholders shares pursuant to this prospectus. Any prospectus supplement may add, update, substitute, or change the information contained in this prospectus, including the identity of each Selling Securityholder and the number of shares registered on its behalf. A Selling Securityholder may sell or otherwise transfer all, some or none of such shares in this offering. See Plan of Distribution.
Name of Selling Securityholder |
Class A Ordinary Shares |
Class B Ordinary Shares (or Securities Convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares) |
Percentage Voting Power |
Number of Ordinary Shares Offered |
Number of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned After the Offered Shares are Sold |
Percentage Voting Power |
||||||||||||||||||
Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, Inc.(1) |
1,000,000 | * | 1,000,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Averill Master Fund, Ltd.(2) |
3,140,000 | 1.4 | % | 3,140,000 | | | % | |||||||||||||||||
Banco Invex, S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple, Invex Grupo Financiero, as Trustee of Trust I14165(3) |
5,000,000 | 2.2 | % | 5,000,000 | | | % | |||||||||||||||||
Brighthouse Funds Trust I: Morgan Stanley Discover y Portfolio(4) |
497,653 | * | 497,653 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Brown University(5) |
1,000,000 | * | 1,000,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Carlos X. Del Rio(6) |
27,500 | * | 27,500 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Chamath Palihapitiya (7) |
13,273,000 | 5.7 | % | 13,273,000 | | | % | |||||||||||||||||
Control Empresarial de Capitales, S.A. de C.V. (formerly Inversora Carso, S.A. de C.V.)(8) |
|
63,118,645 |
|
|
27.2 |
% |
63,118,645 | | | % |
170
Name of Selling Securityholder |
Class A Ordinary Shares |
Class B Ordinary Shares (or Securities Convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares) |
Percentage Voting Power |
Number of Ordinary Shares Offered |
Number of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned After the Offered Shares are Sold |
Percentage Voting Power |
||||||||||||||||||
CP WY REMAINDER INTEREST TRUST U/A/D DATED DECEMBER 22, 2021(9) |
3,000,000 |
|
1.3 |
% |
3,000,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||
David Spiegel, M.D., Ph.D.(10) |
10,000 | * | 10,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation, Inc.(11) |
100,000 | * | 100,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
DJG Associated, LLC(12) |
600,000 | * | 600,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Donald P. Spencer and Vickie Riccardo JTWROS(13) |
50,000 | * | 50,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
ERAFP Actions Mid Cap USA I(4) |
12,443 | * | 12,443 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Fourteen Plus Twelve Partners, LLC(14) |
200,000 | * | 200,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
George W. Siguler Family Trust (15) |
125,000 | * | 125,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Growth Trust(4) |
245,905 | * | 245,905 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Hill Family Alternative Investments LLC(16) |
500,000 | * | 500,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Hottinger AG(17) |
100,000 | * | 100,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
IHCI Investments LP(18) |
5,000,000 | 2.2 | % | 5,000,000 | | | % | |||||||||||||||||
Inception Trust(4) |
166,790 | * | 166,790 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Johnson & Johnson Pension and Savings Master Trust (JJ9L)(4) |
15,421 | * | 15,421 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Johnson & Johnson Pension and Savings Master Trust (JJ9LDB)(4) |
136,426 |
|
* |
|
136,426 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||
Juan Maria Pedro David Michel(19) |
800,000 | * | 800,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Jupiter CAN(20) |
5,000,000 | 2.2 | % | 5,000,000 | | | % | |||||||||||||||||
Kinstead Global Equity Pool(4) |
16,039 | * | 16,039 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
KJB Associated LLC(21) |
200,000 | * | 200,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Lawrencium Atoll Investments Ltd.(4) |
34,707 | * | 34,707 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Leman Management Nominees Limited(22) |
2,000,000 | * | 2,000,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Luis Felipe Mancera de Arrigunaga(23) |
80,000 | * | 80,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Marc Semigran(24) |
30,000 | * | 30,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Marina Kellen French Foundation(25) |
100,000 | * | 100,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Master Trust for Defined Contribution Plans of American Airlines, Inc. and Affiliates(4) |
109,253 |
|
* |
|
109,253 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||
Max Pierre David Michel(26) |
800,000 | * | 800,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
MGG Strategic SICAF SIF, for and on behalf of its compartment, MGG Strategic(27) |
1,000,000 |
|
* |
|
1,000,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||
Mikel Andoni Arriola Peñalosa (28) |
15,000 | * | 15,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Monique Berthe Michele Madeleine David Michel(29) |
800,000 | * | 800,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Funds (UK)Global Insight Fund(4) |
7,231 | * | 7,231 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Insight Fund(4) |
1,421,688 | * | 1,421,688 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund TrustDiscovery Portfolio(4) |
800,384 |
|
* |
|
800,384 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.Counterpoint Global Portfolio(4) |
3,802 |
|
* |
|
3,802 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.Global Endurance Portfolio(4) |
19,748 |
|
* |
|
19,748 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.Global Insight Portfolio(4) |
67,622 |
|
* |
|
67,622 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.Growth Portfolio(4) |
3,865,953 | 1.7 | % | 3,865,953 | | | % | |||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.Inception Portfolio(4) |
332,167 | * | 332,167 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Investment FundsCounterpoint Global Fund(4) |
1,657 |
|
* |
|
1,657 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Investment FundsGlobal Endurance Fund(4) |
34,186 | * | 34,186 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Investment FundsGlobal Insight Fund(4) |
293,852 | * | 293,852 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Investment FundsUS Growth Fund(4) |
1,549,102 | * | 1,549,102 | | | % |
171
Name of Selling Securityholder |
Class A Ordinary Shares |
Class B Ordinary Shares (or Securities Convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares) |
Percentage Voting Power |
Number of Ordinary Shares Offered |
Number of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned After the Offered Shares are Sold |
Percentage Voting Power |
||||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Investment FundsUS Insight Fund(4) |
46,844 | * | 46,844 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc.Discovery Portfolio(4) |
79,084 |
|
* |
|
79,084 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||
Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc.Growth Portfolio(4) |
242,043 |
|
* |
|
242,043 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||
Nogra Group SICAF-SIF, for and on behalf of its compartment, Nogra Group SICAFSIFGG Strategic (the Investor)(30) |
1,200,000 |
|
* |
|
1,200,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||
Pamela Mallon Siguler Family Trust(31) |
125,000 | * | 125,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Paul Mower(32) |
7,500 | * | 7,500 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
ProKidney Management Equity LLC(33) |
22,203,387 | 5.6 | % | 22,203,387 | | | % | |||||||||||||||||
iPrime Participations LLC(34) |
300,000 | * | 300,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Regina Mancera Bustamante(35) |
100,000 | * | 100,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Ricardo José Garza Bustamante(36) |
50,000 | * | 50,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Stephen M. Kellen 2004 Trust FBO Annabelle Garrett(37) |
75,000 | * | 75,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Stephen M. Kellen 2004 Trust FBO Andrew Gundlach(38) |
75,000 | * | 75,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Stephen M. Kellen 2004 Trust FBO Caroline L. Kellen(39) |
75,000 | * | 75,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Stephen M. Kellen 2004 Trust FBO Christopher N. Kellen(40) |
75,000 | * | 75,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Sukumar Nagendran(41) |
10,000 | * | 10,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
SVAV Sponsor III, LLC(42) |
3,087,000 | 1.3 | % | 3,087,000 | | | % | |||||||||||||||||
Tensleep Group LLC(43) |
10,000 | * | 10,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Tolerantia, LLC(44) |
94,677,968 | 40.8 | % | 94,677,968 | | | % | |||||||||||||||||
WECMA Family, LLC(45) |
250,000 | * | 250,000 | | | % | ||||||||||||||||||
Uma Sinha, Ph.D.(46) |
30,000 | * | 30,000 | | | % |
** | Less than 1%. |
(1) | Consists of 1,000,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, Inc. is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 47th Floor, New York, NY 10105. |
(2) | Consists of 3,140,000 Class A ordinary shares held by Averill Fund issued in the PIPE Investment. Suvretta Capital Management, LLC, the investment manager of Averill Fund, may be deemed to beneficially own the Class A ordinary shares held by Averill Fund. Aaron Cowen may be deemed to control Suvretta Capital Management, LLC, and therefore may be deemed to beneficially own the Class A ordinary shares held by Averill Fund. The address of Averill Fund, is 540 Madison Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022. |
(3) | Consists of 5,000,000 Class A ordinary shares held of record by Banco Invex, S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple, Invex Grupo Financiero, acting solely and exclusively in its capacity as trustee of the trustee of Trust, whose record holders are the Trust Beneficiaries. Each of (i) Bertha Paula Michel Gonzalez, (ii) Maria Magdalena Michel Gonzalez and (iii) Maximino Jose Michel Gonzalez has voting and dispositive power over, one-third of the total number of Class A ordinary shares held by the Trust. The address of the Trust is Boulevard Manuel Avila Camacho No. 40, Piso 7, Lomas De Chapultepec, Ciudad De México 11000. The address of each of the Trust Beneficiaries is Bosque De Radiatas 6-602, Bosques De Las Lomas, Cuajimalpa 05120, Mexico. |
(4) | Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. is the adviser or sub-adviser, as the case may be, of each of (i) Brighthouse Funds Trust I: Morgan Stanley Discovery Portfolio, holding 497,653 Class A ordinary shares, (ii) ERAFP Actions Mid Cap USA I holding 12,443 Class A ordinary shares, (iii) Growth Trust holding 245,905 Class A ordinary shares, (iv) Inception Trust holding, 166,790 Class A ordinary shares, (v) Johnson & Johnson Pension and Savings Master Trust (JJ9L) holding 15,421 Class A ordinary shares, (vi) Johnson & Johnson Pension and Savings Master Trust (JJ9LDB) holding 136,426 Class A ordinary shares, (vii) Kinstead Global Equity Pool holding 16,039 Class A ordinary shares, (viii) Lawrencium Atoll Investments Ltd. holding 34,707 Class A ordinary shares, (ix) Master Trust for Defined Contribution Plans of American Airlines, Inc. and Affiliates holding 109,253 Class A ordinary shares, (x) Morgan Stanley Funds (UK)Global Insight Fund holding 7,231 Class A ordinary shares, (xi) Morgan Stanley Insight Fund holding 1,421,688 Class A ordinary shares, (xii) Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund TrustDiscovery Portfolio holding 800,384 Class A ordinary shares, (xiii) Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.Inception Portfolio holding 332,167 Class A ordinary shares, (xiv) Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.Counterpoint Global Portfolio holding 3,802 Class A ordinary shares, (xv) Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.Global Endurance Portfolio holding 19,748 Class A ordinary shares, (xvi) Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.Global Insight Portfolio holding 67,622 Class A ordinary shares, (xvii) Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, |
172
Inc.Growth Portfolio holding 3,865,953 Class A ordinary shares, (xviii) Morgan Stanley Investment FundsCounterpoint Global Fund holding 1,657 Class A ordinary shares, (xiv) Morgan Stanley Investment FundsGlobal Endurance Fund holding 34,186 Class A ordinary shares, (xx) Morgan Stanley Investment FundsGlobal Insight Fund holding 293,852 Class A ordinary shares, (xxi) Morgan Stanley Investment FundsUS Growth Fund holding 1,549,102 Class A ordinary shares, (xxii) Morgan Stanley Investment FundsUS Insight Fund holding 46,844 Class A ordinary shares, (xxiii) Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc.Discovery Portfolio holding 79,084 Class A ordinary shares, (xxiv) Morgan Stanley Variable Insurance Fund, Inc.Growth Portfolio holding 242,043 Class A ordinary shares and holds voting and dispositive power with respect to shares of record held by each of the MS Accounts. The address of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., acting as adviser or sub-adviser, as the case may be, of each of the MS Accounts is 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036. |
(5) | Consists of 1,000,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Brown University is 121 South Main Street, 9th floor, Providence RI, 02903. |
(6) | Consists of 27,500 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Carlos X. Del Rio is Monte Everest 440, Col. Lomas de Chapultepec, Ciudad de México, 11000, Mexico. |
(7) | Consists of 13,273,000 Class A ordinary shares, including 9,500,000 Class A ordinary shares held of record by SC PIPE Holdings and 3,773,000 Class A ordinary shares held of record by SC Master Holdings. SC PIPE Holdings is controlled by Mr. Palihapitiya, the former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SCS. SC Master Holdings is the sole member of SC PIPE Holdings. Mr. Palihapitiya and SC Master Holdings may be deemed to beneficially own Class A ordinary shares held directly by SC PIPE Holdings by virtue of their indirect or direct interests in SC PIPE Holdings or their control over SC PIPE Holdings, as the case may be. SC Master Holdings is controlled by Mr. Palihapitiya. Mr. Palihapitiya may be deemed to beneficially own Class A ordinary shares held directly by SC Master Holdings by virtue of his indirect interests in SC Master Holdings or his control over SC Master Holdings, as the case may be. The Class A ordinary shares reported herein do not include 3,000,000 Class A ordinary shares held directly by the Family Trust, which are otherwise reported in this table. Mr. Palihapitiya may be deemed to beneficially own Class A ordinary shares held directly by the Family Trust. The address of each of Mr. Palihapitiya, SC Master Holdings and SC PIPE Holdings is c/o SC Master Holdings, LLC, 506 Santa Cruz Avenue, Suite 300, Menlo Park, California 94025. |
(8) | Information in the table and footnote is based upon information provided to us by the direct shareholder, CEC. Consists of 63,118,645 Class B ordinary shares held by CEC, which may be exchanged, together with a corresponding number of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units, pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, for 63,118,645 Class A ordinary shares. Members of the Slim family, directly or indirectly, own all of the issued and outstanding voting equity securities of CEC. Therefore, the Slim family may be deemed to beneficially own indirectly the Class B ordinary shares held by CEC. CEC is a sociedad anónima de capital variable organized under the laws of the United Mexican States (Mexico). The Slim family has an address of Paseo de las Palmas 736, Colonia Lomas de Chapultepec, 11000 Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico and Control Empresarial has an address of Paseo de las Palmas 781, Piso 3, Colonia Lomas de Chapultepec, Seccion III, Migual Hidalgo, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico, 11000. |
(9) | Consists of 3,000,000 Class A ordinary shares. Mr. Palihapitiya, the former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SCS, may be deemed to beneficially own Class A ordinary shares held directly by CP WY REMAINDER INTEREST TRUST U/A/D DATED DECEMBER 22, 2021. The address of CP WY REMAINDER INTEREST TRUST U/A/D DATED DECEMBER 22, 2021 is 415 W. 17th Street STE B2, Cheyenne, WY 82001. |
(10) | Consists of 10,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying the RSUs held by David Spiegel, M.D., Ph.D. that vested at Closing and are issuable on January 7, 2023. |
(11) | Consists of 100,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation, Inc. is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 47th Floor, New York, NY 10105. |
(12) | Consists of 600,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of DJG Associated, LLC is 62 Vineyard Lane, Greenwich, CT 06831. |
(13) | Consists of 50,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Donald P. Spencer and Vickie Riccardo JTWROS is 370 Palmetto Road, St. Augustine, FL 32080. |
(14) | Consists of 200,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Fourteen Plus Twelve Partners, LLC is 62 Vineyard Lane, Greenwich, CT 06831. |
(15) | Consists of 125,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of George W. Siguler Family Trust is 893 Ponte Vedra Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082. |
(16) | Consists of 500,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Hill Family Alternative Investments LLC is 834 Fifth Avenue, 10B, New York, NY 10065. |
(17) | Consists of 100,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Hottinger AG is 60 Rue du Stand, Geneva 1204, Switzerland. |
(18) | Consists of 5,000,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of IHCI Investments LP is 1188 Union, Montreal QC H3B 0E5, Canada. |
(19) | Consists of 800,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Juan María Pedro David Michel is Bosque de Radiatas 6-602, Bosques de las Lomas, Cuajimalpa 05120, Mexico. |
(20) | Consists of 5,000,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Jupiter CAN LP is 5930 Royal Lane, Suite E, #117, Dallas, TX 75230. |
(21) | Consists of 200,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of KJB Associated LLC is 860 United Nations Plz Apt #33D, New York, NY 10017. |
(22) | Consists of 2,000,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Leman Management Nominees Limited is Wessex House 2nd Floor, 45 Reid Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda. |
(23) | Consists of 80,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Luis Felipe Mancera de Arrigunaga is Colina 52 Lomas de Bezarcs 11910, Mexico City, Mexico. |
(24) | Consists of 30,000 Class A ordinary shares. |
173
(25) | Consists of 100,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Marina Kellen French Foundation is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 47th Floor, New York, NY 10105. |
(26) | Consists of 800,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Max Pierre David Michel is Bosque de Radiatas 6-602-103, Bosques de las Lomas, Cuajimalpa 05120, Mexico. |
(27) | Consists of 1,000,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of MGG Strategic SICAF SIF, for and on behalf of its compartment, MGG Strategic is 18 Avenue de la Porte Neuve, Luxembourg 2227, Luxembourg. |
(28) | Consists of 15,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Mikel Andoni Arriola Peñalosa is Av. Paseo de la Reforma 2693, 401-C, Lomas de Bezares, Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City 11910, Mexico. |
(29) | Consists of 800,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Monique Berthe Michele Madeleine David Michel is Bosque de Radiatas 6-602-103, Bosques de las Lomas, Cuajimalpa 05120, Mexico. |
(30) | Consists of 1,200,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of GG 1978 SICAF SIF, for and on behalf of its compartment, GG Strategic (the Investor) is 18 Avenue de la Porte Neuve, Luxembourg 2227, Luxembourg. |
(31) | Consists of 125,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Pamela Mallon Siguler Family Trust is 893 Ponte Vedra Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082. |
(32) | Consists of 7,500 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Paul Mower is 614 Lakota Lane (PO Box 4112), Jackson, WY 83001. |
(33) | Consists of (i) 12,927,348 13,045,190 Class B ordinary shares, (ii) 117,842 Class B ordinary shares issuable upon the vesting of PMEL RCUs within 60 days of July 31, 2022 and (iii) 9,158,197 PMEL RCUs held by ProKidney Management Equity LLC on behalf of individual unitholders. Upon vesting of the PMEL RCUS, the aggregate of 22,203,387 Class B ordinary shares may be exchanged, together with a corresponding number of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units, pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, for a total of 22,203,387 Class A ordinary shares. |
(34) | Consists of 300,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Prime Participations LLC is 110 East 59th Street, 33rd Fl, New York, NY 10022. |
(35) | Consists of 100,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Regina Mancera Bustamante is Bosque de Tulipanes 14, Col. Bosques de las Lomas, Cuajimalpa 05120, Mexico. |
(36) | Consists of 50,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Ricardo José Garza Bustamante is Av de Los Poetas 100, RCA 901, Col. Cumbres de Santa Fe, Mexico City 05600, Mexico. |
(37) | Consists of 75,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Stephen M. Kellen 2004 Trust FBO Annabelle Garrett is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 47th Floor, New York, NY 10105. |
(38) | Consists of 75,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Stephen M. Kellen 2004 Trust FBO Andrew Gundlach is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 47th Floor, New York, NY 10105. |
(39) | Consists of 75,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Stephen M. Kellen 2004 Trust FBO Caroline L. Kellen is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 47th Floor, New York, NY 10105. |
(40) | Consists of 75,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address Stephen M. Kellen 2004 Trust FBO Christopher N. Kellen is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 47th Floor, New York, NY 10105. |
(41) | Consists of 10,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying the RSUs held by Sukumar Nagendran that vested at Closing and are issuable on January 7, 2023. |
(42) | Consists of 3,087,000 Class A ordinary shares. Aaron Cowen and Kishan Mehta may be deemed to control SVAV, and therefore may be deemed to beneficially own the Class A ordinary shares held by SVAV. Kishan Mehta was the president and on the board of directors of SCS. The address of SVAV is 540 Madison Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022. |
(43) | Consists of 10,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of Tensleep Group LLC is 140 S. Cache St. (PO Box 4112), Jackson, WY 83001. |
(44) | Consists of 94,677,968 Class B ordinary shares held by Tolerantia, which may be exchanged, together with a corresponding number of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units, pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, for 94,677,968 Class A ordinary shares. Tolerantia is an affiliate controlled and majority-owned by Mr. Pablo Legorreta. Mr. Legorreta controls the voting and disposition of the shares held by Tolerantia. Mr. Legorreta disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by Tolerantia except to the extent of his indirect pecuniary interest therein. The business address of Tolerantia is 110, East 59th Street, Suite 3300, New York, New York, 10022. |
(45) | Consists of 250,000 Class A ordinary shares. The address of WECMA Family, LLC is 893 Ponte Vedra Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082. |
(46) | Consists of 30,000 Class A ordinary shares underlying the RSUs held by Uma Sinha, Ph.D. that vested at Closing and are issuable on January 7, 2023. The address of Uma Sinha, Ph.D. is c/o ProKidney Corp., 2000 Frontis Plaza Blvd., Ste 250, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27103. |
On August 25, 2022, the closing price of our Class A ordinary shares was $7.50 per share. The ordinary shares held by the Selling Securityholders were purchased at prices no higher than $10.00 per share. In particular, (i) the 6,250,000 Class B ordinary shares (which were converted into Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis upon the closing of the Business Combination) held by former holders of Class B ordinary shares were purchased at an effective price of $0.004 per share; (ii) the 52,480,000 PIPE Shares, 5,000,000 Class B ordinary shares acquired by Tolerantia and CEC pursuant to their Subscription Agreements and subsequent election to receive Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units (and a corresponding number of Class B ordinary shares) in lieu of Class A ordinary shares, and the 640,000 Private Placement Shares registered for resale hereby were purchased at a price of $10.00 per share; (iii) 152,796,613 Class B ordinary shares held by Tolerantia and CEC, which are exchangeable for Class A ordinary shares pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, were purchased from ProKidney LP at a price per share of $1.22, after adjusting for the recapitalization of Class A and Class B units in
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ProKidney LP into Class B ordinary shares (including Class B ordinary shares underlying restricted stock rights); (iv) 7,699,927 Class B ordinary shares (including Class B ordinary shares underlying restricted stock rights) held by PMEL were purchased by individual holders at a price per share of $1.11, after adjusting for the recapitalization mentioned in clause (iii); (v) 14,503,460 Class B ordinary shares (including Class B ordinary shares underlying restricted stock rights) held by PMEL were granted to, rather than purchased by, individual holders; and (vi) 50,000 Class A ordinary shares held by directors and advisors of SCS prior to the Closing that were granted in the form of RSUs that vested at Closing as compensation for services rendered prior to the Closing.
Based on the closing price of our Class A ordinary shares on August 25, 2022 of $7.50 per share (and notwithstanding any lock-up restrictions with and/or vesting provisions), those Selling Securityholders that were granted their shares or that purchased their shares at a price per share below the current market price of our Class A ordinary shares (or that was a transferee of shares that were purchased at a price per share below the current market price of our Class A ordinary shares) would have a potential unrealized gain of approximately $1.2 billion in the aggregate. Moreover, even if the price of our Class A ordinary shares falls below $10.00 per share, which was the price per share sold in our initial public offering and the per-share price of the PIPE Shares, certain of the Selling Securityholders may still have an incentive to sell the securities registered hereby in light of the prices such securityholders paid for such securities.
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ProKidney Executive Officers and Directors
The following table provides certain information concerning the persons who serve as directors and executive officers of ProKidney following the consummation of the Business Combination and their ages as of July 31, 2022 and positions following the Business Combination:
Name |
Age | Position | ||||
Executive Officers: |
||||||
Tim Bertram, Ph.D. |
67 | Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||||
James Coulston, CPA |
47 | Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Deepak Jain, Ph.D. |
69 | Chief Operating Officer | ||||
Darin J. Weber, Ph.D. |
54 | Senior Vice President of Regulatory Development | ||||
Todd C. Girolamo |
57 | Chief Legal Officer | ||||
Libbie P. McKenzie, M.D. |
49 | Chief Medical Officer | ||||
Non-Employee Directors: |
||||||
Pablo Legorreta |
58 | Chairman of the Board, Director | ||||
William F. Doyle |
60 | Director | ||||
Alan M. Lotvin, M.D. |
60 | Director | ||||
Brian J.G. Pereira, M.D. |
63 | Director | ||||
Uma Sinha, Ph.D. |
65 | Director | ||||
John M. Maraganore, Ph.D. |
59 | Director | ||||
José Ignacio Jimenez Santos |
47 | Director | ||||
Jennifer Fox |
51 | Director |
Information about the Executive Officers and Directors
Executive Officers
James Coulston, CPA
Mr. Coulston has served as our Chief Financial Officer since the Closing, having served as ProKidney-USs Chief Financial Officer since January 2022. Prior to that, Mr. Coulston served as ProKidney-USs Senior Vice President, Finance from January 2021 to December 2021 and ProKidney-USs Vice President, Finance from February 2019 to December 2020. Before joining ProKidney, from August 2015 to January 2019, Mr. Coulston served as the Executive Director, Finance of Banner Life Sciences LLC, a privately held clinical-stage pharmaceutical company combining a proven history of formulation expertise with proprietary technologies to create specialty pharmaceuticals that solve real unmet clinical needs, where Mr. Coulston oversaw the financial, human resources, and IT activities. From 2007 to 2015, Mr. Coulston held finance roles of increasing responsibility at Targacept Inc. (Nasdaq: TRGT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel NNR Therapeutics before it merged with and into Catalyst Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on creating and developing novel medicines to address serious medical conditions, including Senior Director, Finance and Controller. Mr. Coulston earned his B.S. and master degree in Accounting from North Carolina State University and is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina.
Deepak Jain, Ph.D.
Dr. Jain has served as our Chief Operating Officer since the Closing, having served as ProKidney-USs Chief Operating Officer since March 2016. Dr. Jain brings over 36 years of experience in the development of tissue-engineered and cell therapy products. Previously, Dr. Jain held management roles of increasing responsibility at Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and Merck (NYSE: MRK) and was involved in the
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development of four marketed products including Johnson & Johnsons erythropoietin-based drug Eprex (epoetin alfa). Dr. Jain has served as Chairman of the American Society for Testing and Materials Task Group on Preservation of Cells and Tissue Engineered Medical Products with Cells, and has served as Chairman of the USP Tissue and Tissue-based Products Ad hoc Advisory Panel and was member of the USP Biologics and Biotechnology Cell, Gene and Tissue Therapy Expert Committee. Dr. Jain received his B. Tech and M. Tech in Chemical Engineering and his Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, India.
Darin J. Weber, Ph.D.
Dr. Weber has served as our Senior Vice President of Regulatory Development since the Closing, having served as ProKidney-USs Senior Vice President of Regulatory Development since September 2020, where he is responsible for leading the development and implementation of ProKidneys regulatory strategy in all markets, worldwide, and interfacing with regulatory authorities. Dr. Weber has over 25 years of experience in cellular and tissue-based regenerative medicine products, with previous roles as Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Quality at Medeor Therapeutics, from February 2016 to December 2019; Executive Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs and Quality Management at Mesoblast, from June 2011 to February 2016; Senior Consultant for Cell and Gene Therapies at Biologics Consulting Group from February 2004 to May 2011, and positions of increasing responsibility at the FDAs CBER, including as Chief of Cellular Therapies Branch in the Office of Cellular, Tissues and Gene Therapies, (now known as the Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies) from September 1996 to January 2004. He is a long-serving member of United States Pharmacopeia (USP) expert committees for human tissues and advanced therapies. Dr. Weber received his B.S. in Molecular Biology from The Evergreen State College and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Oregon State University.
Todd C. Girolamo
Mr. Girolamo has served as our Chief Legal Officer since July 2022. Mr. Girolamo joined ProKidney as General Counsel in March 2022. Prior to that, he spent 11 years at Caladrius Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLBS), where he served as Chief Legal Officer, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Corporate Secretary. He began his legal career at Cahill Gordon & Reindel in 1990 and later at Reid & Priest, practicing in the areas of securities law, intellectual property, employment law and general commercial litigation. After private practice, Mr. Girolamo spent 12 years on Wall Street in institutional equities as a series 24, 7 and 63 licensed principal at Oppenheimer & Co., CIBC World Markets, Leerink Swann (now SVB Securities LLC) and Summer Street Research Partners where he specialized in equity research, sales, and trading of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical technology market sectors. Mr. Girolamo then served as an analyst and portfolio manager at Lions Path Capital managing a long-short portfolio of biopharma and med-tech equities. Mr. Girolamo received an A.B. with honors from Harvard College, a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Libbie P. McKenzie, M.D.
Dr. McKenzie has served as our Chief Medical Officer since the Closing, having served as ProKidney-USs Chief Medical Officer since April 2022. Prior to that, she held roles of increasing responsibility at IQVIA / Quintiles since June 2007. Most recently, Dr. McKenzie served as Vice President, Medical, Global Head of Lifecycle Safety Project Leadership and Strategic Solutions from November 2019 to March 2022, and as Vice President, Medical, Global Head of Marketed Product Safety and Medical Information from March 2015 to November 2018, and as Executive Director, Medical, Global Head of Safety Aggregate Reporting and Analytics from January 2013 to March 2015, and as Executive Director, Medical, Global Head of Medical Safety from January 2009 to January 2013, and as Associate Medical Director from June 2007 to January 2009. Prior to joining IQVIA / Quintiles, Dr. McKenzie was Medical Director and Medical Safety Officer at Ashfield / Drug Safety Alliance from October 2005 to May 2007. Dr. McKenzie has expertise in clinical, pharmacovigilance and regulatory affairs, with over fifteen years of industry experience. In addition to her corporate roles, Dr. McKenzie
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was Dialysis Unit Medical Director at NaphCare in Raleigh, NC, from 2006 to 2020, making her intimately familiar with the challenges faced by patients undergoing dialysis. She holds a B.S. in Biology and Psychology from Duke University and an M.D. from Duke University School of Medicine. She completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in nephrology at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. McKenzie is a Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology and an Associate of the American College of Physicians.
Directors
Tim Bertram, Ph.D.
Dr. Bertram has served on the Board, as our Chief Executive Officer, and as a director on the GP Board since the Closing. Dr. Bertram has served as Chief Executive Officer of ProKidney-US and ProKidney-KY since January 2019. and served on the Legacy GP Board from January 2022 until the Closing. Dr. Bertram has also served as a member of the board of directors of ProKidney-KY (the ProKidney-KY Board) since January 2022. Since February 2017, Dr. Bertram has served on the board of directors of NexImmune, Inc. (Nasdaq: NEXI), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a novel approach to immunotherapy designed to orchestrate a targeted immune response by directing the function of antigen-specific T cells. Dr. Bertram served as Chief Scientific Officer of Tengion Inc. from 2004 to 2014 after serving as President of Research and Development, where he brought four cell-based therapeutic products from discovery through Phase 2 clinical development. Dr. Bertram was also involved in the development and registration of eight medical products while serving as a senior executive at Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, and The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) from 1985 to 2004. He was a faculty member at the University of Illinois, and a visiting scientist at the National Institutes of Health. Tengion Inc. filed a voluntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in December 2014. Dr. Bertram received his D.V.M. in Biology and Veterinary Medicine and his Ph.D. in Cellular Pathology from Iowa State University and was board certified in Veterinary Pathology in 1984. Dr. Bertrams qualifications to serve on the Board include his leadership experience in the healthcare industry, as well as his knowledge of ProKidneys business.
Pablo Legorreta
Mr. Legorreta has served as Chairman of the Board and a director on the GP Board since the Closing. Mr. Legorreta served on the Legacy GP Board from August 2021 until the Closing, as a director of the ProKidney-KY Board since January 2019, and as a manager of ProKidney Bermuda since January 2019. Mr. Legorreta is the founder and has served as Chief Executive Officer of Royalty Pharma plc (Nasdaq: RPRX), a rapidly growing biopharma company and one of the largest dedicated life sciences investors in the world, since September 1996. Mr. Legorreta has also served as the Chairman of the board of directors of Royalty Pharma plc since April 2020. Mr. Legorreta has over 25 years of experience building and managing Royalty Pharma plc. Additionally, Mr. Legorreta is a co-founder of Pharmakon Advisors, LP, a leading provider of debt capital to the life sciences industry, where he has served as a managing member, since April 2009. Mr. Legorreta has served as a director of Epizyme, Inc. (Nasdaq: EPZM), a fully integrated, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing and delivering novel epigenetic therapies, since November 2019. Additionally, Mr. Legorreta is a co-founder of Pharmakon Advisors, LP, a leading provider of debt capital to the life sciences industry, where he has served as a managing member since April 2009. Mr. Legorreta has served on the Board of Governors of the New York Academy of Sciences since January 2015, the Board of Trustees of Rockefeller University since March 2017, and the Board of Trustees and Compensation, Research and Innovation and Development Committees of the Hospital for Special Surgery since January 2015. Mr. Legorreta has also served on the boards of Brown University; Pasteur Foundation (French: Institut Pasteur), a French non-profit private foundation dedicated to the study of biology, micro-organisms, diseases, and vaccines; Open Medical Institute, an international initiative for medical professionals, which through education and research, aims to improve healthcare on a global scale; and The Park Avenue Armory, a nonprofit cultural institution within the historic Seventh Regiment Armory. Mr. Legorreta is the founder and Chairman of Alianza Me´dica para la Salud, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of health care in Latin America by providing doctors
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and healthcare providers with continued education opportunities. Since its foundation in December 2010, AMSA has provided over 500 scholarships to Mexican and Latin American doctors and healthcare providers to study abroad. Mr. Legorreta is also a founding member of Mount Sinais new Institute for Health Equity Research, which is created in May 2020 in part as a response to the health inequities made apparent by COVID-19. Mr. Legorreta received his B.A. degree in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. We believe that Mr. Legorretas experience in investing in pharmaceutical royalties and managing a growing life sciences investment company, as well as significant background in investment banking and debt financing provide him with the qualifications and skills to serve as the Chairman and a member of the Board.
William F. Doyle
Mr. Doyle has served on the Board and on the GP Board since the Closing. Mr. Doyle was a member of the Legacy GP Board from January 2022 until the Closing and has served on the ProKidney KY-Board since January 2022. Mr. Doyle is a recognized expert in medical devices commercialization with over 20 years experience in the advanced technology and healthcare industries as an entrepreneur, executive, management consultant and investor. He has served as Executive Chairman of NovoCure Limited (Nasdaq: NVCR), a commercial-stage oncology company which is currently developing Tumor Treating Fields, a new therapy for solid tumor cancers (NovoCure), since May 2016 and a member of the board of directors of NovoCure since Feburary, 2004. Mr. Doyle has been a managing director of WFD Ventures LLC, a private venture capital firm he co-founded, since June 2002. Prior to that, Mr. Doyle was a member of Johnson & Johnsons Medical Devices and Diagnostics Group Operating Committee and was the Vice President, Licensing and Acquisitions from 1994 to 1999. While at Johnson & Johnson, Mr. Doyle was also the Worldwide President of Biosense-Webster, Inc. and a member of the board of directors of Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, Johnson & Johnsons venture capital subsidiary. Mr. Doyle has served as a member of the board of directors of Elanco Animal Health, Inc. (NYSE: ELAN), a global leader in animal health dedicated to innovating and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets, creating value for farmers, pet owners, veterinarians, stakeholders, and society as a whole, since October 2020 and a member of the board of directors of Minerva Neurosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: NERV), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapies to treat central nervous system disorders, since November 2017. Previously, Mr. Doyle served as a member of the board of directors of OptiNose, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPTN), a pharmaceutical company focused on patients treated by ear, nose and throat (ENT) and allergy specialists, from June 2004 to October 2020, and Zoetis, Inc. (NYSE: ZTS), a leading animal health company, dedicated to supporting its customers and their businesses, from February 2015 to March 2016. Mr. Doyle earned his B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. We believe Mr. Doyle is qualified to serve on the Board due to his business and investment experience and his extensive knowledge of ProKidney and the healthcare industry.
Jennifer Fox
Jennifer Fox has served on the Board and on the GP Board since July 2022. Ms. Fox has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Nuvation Bio Inc. since October 2020. Prior to this role, Ms. Fox served as Managing Director, Co-Head of North America Healthcare Corporate and Investment Banking Group at Citigroup from June 2015 to October 2020. From February 2006 to June 2015, Ms. Fox served as Managing Director at Deutsche Bank, most recently also as Co-Head of Life Sciences Investment Banking Group. Prior to that, Ms. Fox served as Senior Managing Director Healthcare Investment Banking at Bear Stearns, Vice President Healthcare Investment Banking at Bank of America and Financial Analyst, Investment Banking Analyst, Associate, Vice President, Health Care Investment Banking at Prudential Vector Healthcare Group and Prudential Securities Incorporated. Ms. Fox received B.S. degrees in Finance and Marketing from Manhattan College. We believe that Ms. Fox is qualified to serve on the Board because she has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare investment banking industry and has been a lead advisor to life sciences companies on over 200 financing and strategic transactions.
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José Ignacio Jiménez Santos
Mr. Jiménez Santos has served on the Board and on the GP Board since the Closing and was a member of the Legacy GP Board from August 2021 until the Closing. Mr. Jiménez Santos has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Afore Inbursa since August 2015 and the Chief Investment Officer of Grupo Financiero Inbursa, SAB de C.V., a public company registered on the Mexican Stock Exchange, since August 2013. Mr. Jiménez Santos served on the board of directors of Procesar SA de C.V., a private company that provides data processing services, from May 2019 to May 2022. Mr. Jiménez Santos also serves on the board of directors of Glycosyn, a private biotechnology company developing products based on unique bioactive sugars found in human milk. Mr. Jiménez Santos received his bachelors degree in economics and finance from the Instituto Tecnológico Autonomo de México. We believe that Mr. Jiménez Santos combined experience in finance, international investments and the biotechnology industry provide him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of the Board.
Alan M. Lotvin, M.D.
Dr. Lotvin has served on the Board and on the GP Board since the Closing. Dr. Lotvin was a member of the Legacy GP Board from January 2022 until the Closing and has served on the ProKidney KY-Board since January 2022. Dr. Lotvin has served as the Executive Vice President at CVS Health Corp (NYSE: CVS), a leading health solutions company, since November 2012, and the President of CVS Caremark since March 2020. Prior to that, Dr. Lotvin served as the Executive Vice PresidentTransformation at CVS Health Corporation from June 2018 to February 2020 and the Executive Vice PresidentSpecialty Pharmacy at CVS Caremark from November 2012 to May 2018. Dr. Lotvin has extensive experience in the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) and specialty pharmacy industries. Before joining CVS Health Corp, Dr. Lotvin was the President and Chief Executive Officer of ICORE Healthcare, a Magellan Health Services company, and prior to that, Dr. Lotvin held senior positions in the PBM industry. Dr. Lotvin earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from Stony Brook University, his M.D. in Medicine from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, and his M.A. in Medical Informatics from Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. We believe Dr. Lotvin is qualified to serve on the Board due to his extensive knowledge of ProKidney and the healthcare industry.
John M. Maraganore, Ph.D.
Dr. Maraganore has served on the Board and on the GP Board since the Closing. Dr. Maraganore was a member of Legacy GP Board from May 2022 until the Closing and has been a member of the ProKidney KY-Board since May 2022. Dr. Maraganore is the owner of JMM Consulting, LLC and is a venture partner at ARCH Venture Partners, a venture advisor at Atlas Venture, an executive advisor at RTW Investments and a senior advisor at Blackstone Life Sciences, each of which are investment funds. Previously, Dr. Maraganore served as the founding chief executive officer and as a director of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Alnylam) (Nasdaq: ALNY), a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company, from 2002 until the end of 2021. From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Maraganore also served as president of Alnylam. From 1997 to 2002, Dr. Maraganore served in a number of leadership roles including as senior vice president, strategic product development with Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company (now Takeda Oncology) (Millennium). Before Millennium, he served as director of molecular biology and director of market and business development at Biogen. Prior to Biogen, Dr. Maraganore was a scientist at ZymoGenetics, Inc., a biotechnology company, and The Upjohn Company, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company. Dr. Maraganore currently serves on the board of directors of publicly traded biotechnology companies Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGIO), Beam Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: BEAM) and Kymera Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: KYMR), and on the board of directors of private biotechnology companies, including Hemab Therapeutics ApS, TranSend Therapeutics, Inc., Versanis Bio, Inc. and Aerium Therapeutics, Inc. Dr. Maraganore was formerly a director of bluebird bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLUE). In addition, he was formerly a venture partner at Third Rock Ventures, L.P., and was formerly chairman of the board of directors of Regulus Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RGLS), a publicly traded biotechnology company. Dr. Maraganore serves as a strategic advisor and investor to Brii Biosciences, a private
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biotechnology company, and also serves in an advisory role with Pictet & Cie, an investment firm. He also serves as a strategic advisor for a number of private and public biotechnology companies. He is the former Chair and current member of the Executive Committee, the Emerging Companies Section Governing Board and the Health Section Governing Board of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), where he serves as Chair Emeritus. Dr. Maraganore holds an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Chicago and a B.S. in Biological Sciences also from the University of Chicago. We believe that Dr. Maraganore is qualified to serve on the Board because he has over 35 years of experience in the biotechnology industry, bringing to the Board critical scientific, research and development, international and general management expertise.
Brian J. G. Pereira, M.D.
Dr. Pereira has served on the Board and on the GP Board since the Closing and was a member of the Legacy GP Board from January 2022 until the Closing. Dr. Pereira has served as the Chief Executive Officer at Visterra Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to developing innovative antibody-based therapies for the treatment of patients with kidney diseases and other hard-to-treat diseases and a subsidiary of Otsuka America Inc., a global healthcare company listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange, since July 2013. Dr. Pereira has also served on the board of directors of Visterra Inc. since July, 2013. Dr. Pereira is a nationally recognized expert on kidney disease and nephrology, is the former Editor of the widely read textbook Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis and Transplantation, and has over 200 scientific papers to his credit. He currently serves on the board of directors of Africa Healthcare Network, Ltd, a dialysis provider, as the Chairman of the Board, the board of directors of KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: KALV), a pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecule protease inhibitors for diseases with significant unmet need, the board of directors of Cullinan Pearl Corp, a privately held biotechnology company and a subsidiary of Cullinan Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: CGEM), an oncology company. He was the former Executive Chairman of the board of directors of Abeona Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: ABEO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing gene and cell therapies for serious diseases. Dr. Pereira is a graduate of St. Johns Medical College, Bangalore, India and has an MBA from the Kellogg Business School, Northwestern University. Dr. Pereira obtained his D.M. in Nephrology and M.D. in Internal Medicine from Post Graduate Institute, Chandigarh, India. We believe Dr. Pereiras qualifications to serve on the Board include his extensive experience with pharmaceutical companies, and his years of experience providing services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations, including evaluating business plans involving clinical trials.
Uma Sinha, Ph.D.
Dr. Sinha has served on the Board and on the GP Board since the Closing. Dr. Sinha was a member of the SCS Board from September 2021 until the Closing. In April, 2016, Dr. Sinha was appointed the Chief Scientific Officer of BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. (BridgeBio) and serves as the Chief Scientific Officer of other BridgeBio subsidiaries, including Eidos Therapeutics. Prior to that, Dr. Sinha served as Chief Scientific Officer of Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, from 2014 to 2015 and as Senior Vice President of research from 2013 to 2014. She was Vice President, head of biology at Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, from 2010 to 2012 and was the Vice President of translational biology from 2004 to 2010. Previously, Dr. Sinha held senior research positions at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, and COR Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. Dr. Sinha received her Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Georgia and her B.Sc. with honors in chemistry from Presidency College. We believe Dr. Sinhas qualifications to serve on the Board include her significant scientific experience in the biopharmaceutical industry.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among any of ProKidneys directors or executive officers.
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Corporate Governance
Composition of the Board of Directors
ProKidneys business and affairs is organized under the direction of the Board. Mr. Legorreta serves as the Chairperson of the Board. The primary responsibilities of Board are to provide oversight, strategic guidance, counseling and direction to ProKidneys management. The Board meets on a regular basis and additionally as required.
In accordance with the terms of the Charter, the Board may establish the authorized number of directors from time to time by resolution. The Board consists of nine members and is divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. At each annual general meeting of shareholders, the successors to directors whose terms then expire will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual general meeting following election. ProKidneys directors is divided among the three classes as follows:
| the Class I directors are William F. Doyle, Alan M. Lotvin, M.D., Brian J. G. Pereira, M.D., and their terms will expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2023; |
| the Class II directors are Jennifer Fox, John M. Maraganore, Ph.D. and José Ignacio Jiménez Santos, and their terms will expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2024; and |
| the Class III directors are Tim Bertram, Ph.D., Pablo Legorreta and Uma Sinha, Ph.D., and their terms will expire at the annual general meeting of shareholders to be held in 2025. |
The division of the Board into three classes with staggered three-year terms may delay or prevent a change of our management or a change in control.
Board Leadership Structure
ProKidney believes that all members of the Board should have a voice in the affairs and the management of ProKidney. The Board believes that ProKidneys shareholders are best served at this time by having Mr. Legorreta, who plays an integral part of the board of director leadership structure and a critical aspect of effective corporate governance, serves as the Chairperson. The active involvement of the independent directors, combined with the qualifications and significant responsibilities of ProKidneys Chairperson, provide balance and promote strong oversight of ProKidneys management and affairs. ProKidney intends to evaluate its Board leadership structure on a periodic basis, commencing with the first meeting of the Board following the Closing, which evaluations will include, among other things, whether it is appropriate to appoint a lead independent director.
Controlled Company Exemption
Pursuant to the terms of the Voting Agreement, Tolerantia effectively controls a majority of the voting power of all outstanding ProKidney ordinary shares with respect to the election, appointment or removal of any ProKidney director. As a result, ProKidney is a controlled company within the meaning of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held by an individual, group or another company is a controlled company and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance standards, including the requirements that (i) a majority of its board of directors consist of independent directors, (ii) subject to the exception pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b)(2), its board of directors have a compensation committee that is composed of at least two members, each of whom is an independent director, with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and responsibilities and (iii) director nominees must be selected, or recommended for the boards selection, either by independent directors constituting a majority of the boards independent directors in a vote in which only independent directors participate, or by a nominating and corporate governance committee comprised solely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committees purpose and responsibilities. Under the
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Business Combination Agreement, immediately following the Closing, a majority of the directors of the Board were required to be independent directors for the purposes of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, but for at least some period following the Business Combination, ProKidney could utilize the other exemptions described above. If any of these exemptions are used, you may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of these corporate governance requirements. If ProKidney ceases to be a controlled company and its shares continue to be listed on the Nasdaq, ProKidney will be required to comply with these standards and, depending on the Boards independence determination with respect to its then-current directors, ProKidney may be required to add additional directors to its board in order to achieve such compliance within the applicable transition period.
Director Independence
An independent director is defined generally as a person who has no material relationship with the listed company (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the company). The Board has determined that each of William F. Doyle, Alan M. Lotvin, M.D., Brian J. G. Pereira, M.D., John M. Maraganore, Ph.D., Uma Sinha, Ph.D, José Ignacio Jiménez Santos and Jennifer Fox is an independent director under applicable SEC and Nasdaq rules. The independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Role of the Board in Risk Oversight
One of the key functions of the Board is to oversee ProKidneys risk management process. The Board does not have a standing risk management committee, but rather administers this oversight function directly through the Board as a whole, as well as through various standing committees of the Board that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. In particular, the Board is responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure and ProKidneys audit committee has the responsibility to consider and discuss ProKidneys major financial risk exposures and the steps its management will take to monitor and control such exposures, including guidelines and policies to govern the process by which risk assessment and management is undertaken. The audit committee also monitors compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. ProKidneys compensation committee also assesses and monitors whether ProKidneys compensation plans, policies and programs comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The standing committees of Board consist of an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. The Board may establish other committees as it deems necessary or appropriate from time to time.
Audit Committee
Our audit committee consists of William F. Doyle, who serves as the chairperson, Brian J. G. Pereira, M.D., Jennifer Fox and Alan M. Lotvin, M.D. Each member of the audit committee qualifies as an independent director under the Nasdaq Listing Rules and the independence requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The Board has determined that Mr. Doyle qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K and possesses financial sophistication, as defined under the rules of the Nasdaq.
The primary purpose of the audit committee is to discharge the responsibilities of the Board with respect to corporate accounting and financial reporting processes, systems of internal control and financial statement audits, and to oversee ProKidneys independent registered public accounting firm. Specific responsibilities of the audit committee include:
| helping the Board oversee corporate accounting and financial reporting processes; |
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| managing the selection, engagement, qualifications, independence and performance of a qualified firm to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit ProKidneys consolidated financial statements; |
| discussing the scope and results of the audit with the independent registered public accounting firm, and reviewing, with management and the independent accountants, ProKidneys interim and year-end operating results; |
| developing procedures for employees to submit concerns anonymously about questionable accounting or audit matters; |
| reviewing related person transactions; |
| obtaining and reviewing a report by the independent registered public accounting firm at least annually that describes ProKidneys internal quality control procedures, any material issues with such procedures, and any steps taken to deal with such issues when required by applicable law; and |
| approving or, as permitted, pre-approving, audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm. |
The Board has adopted a written charter for the audit committee, which is available on ProKidneys website at https://www.prokidney.com under InvestorsCorporate GovernanceGovernance Overview.
Compensation Committee
Our compensation committee consists of Alan M. Lotvin, M.D., who serves as the chairperson, William F. Doyle, John M. Maraganore, Ph.D. and Uma Sinha, Ph.D.
The primary purpose of the compensation committee is to discharge the responsibilities of the Board in overseeing the compensation policies, plans and programs and to review and determine the compensation to be paid to executive officers, directors and other senior management, as appropriate. Specific responsibilities of the compensation committee include:
| reviewing and approving the compensation of the chief executive officer, other executive officers and senior management; |
| reviewing and recommending to the Board the compensation of directors; |
| administering the ProKidney Incentive Equity Plan and other benefit programs; |
| reviewing, adopting, amending and terminating incentive compensation and equity plans, severance agreements, profit sharing plans, bonus plans, change-of-control protections and any other compensatory arrangements for the executive officers and other senior management; and |
| reviewing and establishing general policies relating to compensation and benefits of the employees, including the overall compensation philosophy. |
The Board has adopted a written charter for the compensation committee, which is available on ProKidneys website at https://www.prokidney.com under InvestorsCorporate GovernanceGovernance Overview.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our nominating and corporate governance committee consists of John M. Maraganore, Ph.D., who serves as the chairperson, Brian J.G. Pereira, M.D., Uma Sinha, Ph.D., and José Ignacio Jiménez Santos. The purpose of the nominating and corporate governance committee is to assist the Board in discharging its responsibilities relating to:
| identifying and evaluating candidates, including the nomination of incumbent directors for re-election and nominees recommended by shareholders, to serve on the ProKidney Board; |
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| considering and making recommendations to the Board regarding the composition and chairmanship of the committees of the ProKidney Board; |
| developing and making recommendations to the Board regarding corporate governance guidelines and matters, including in relation to corporate social responsibility; and |
| overseeing periodic evaluations of the performance of the Board, including its individual directors and committees. |
The Board has adopted a written charter for the nominating and corporate governance committee, which is available on ProKidneys website at https://www.prokidney.com under InvestorsCorporate GovernanceGovernance Overview.
Code of Ethics
ProKidney has adopted a code of business conduct that applies to all of its directors, officers and employees, including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, which is available on ProKidneys website at https://www.prokidney.com under InvestorsCorporate GovernanceGovernance Overview. ProKidneys code of business conduct is a code of ethics as defined in Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K. ProKidney will make any legally required disclosures regarding amendments to, or waivers of, provisions of its code of ethics on its Internet website.
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
Overview
ProKidneys executive compensation program is designed to:
| attract, retain and motivate senior management leaders who are capable of advancing ProKidneys mission and strategy and, ultimately, creating and maintaining its long-term equity value. Such leaders must engage in a collaborative approach and possess the ability to execute its business strategy in an industry characterized by competitiveness and growth; |
| reward senior management in a manner aligned with ProKidneys financial performance; and |
| align senior managements interests with ProKidneys equity owners long-term interests through equity participation and ownership. |
Decisions with respect to the compensation of ProKidneys executive officers, including its named executive officers, are made by the compensation committee of the Board. Compensation for ProKidneys executive officers has the following components: base salary, cash bonus opportunities, long-term incentive compensation, broad-based employee benefits, and severance benefits. Base salaries, broad-based employee benefits, supplemental executive perquisites and severance benefits are designed to attract and retain senior management talent. ProKidney also uses cash bonuses and long-term equity awards to promote performance-based pay that aligns the interests of its named executive officers with the long-term interests of its equity owners and to enhance executive retention.
See the section entitled Executive and Director Compensation below for additional information regarding the compensation paid to ProKidneys named executive officers and non-employee directors.
Base Salary
The base salaries for ProKidneys named executive officers were in effect prior to the Business Combination and are subject to adjustments made by the compensation committee, including in connection with ProKidneys annual review of its named executive officers base salaries.
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Annual Bonuses
ProKidney uses annual cash incentive bonuses for the named executive officers to motivate their achievement of short-term performance goals and tie a portion of their cash compensation to performance. Near the beginning of each year, the compensation committee will select the performance targets, target amounts, target award opportunities and other terms and conditions of annual cash bonuses for the named executive officers, subject to the terms of their employment agreements. Following the end of each year, the compensation committee will determine the extent to which the performance targets were achieved and the amount of the award that is payable to the named executive officers.
Share-Based Awards
ProKidney uses share-based awards to promote its interests by providing the executives with the opportunity to acquire equity interests as an incentive for their remaining in its service and aligning the executives interests with those of ProKidney. Share-based awards will be awarded under the ProKidney Incentive Equity Plan.
Other Compensation
ProKidney maintains various broad-based employee benefit plans, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance and 401(k) plans, paid vacation, sick leave and holidays and employee assistance program benefits in which the named executive officers will participate.
Director Compensation
ProKidney plans to adopt a director compensation program that is designed to align compensation with the Companys business objectives and the creation of shareholder value, while enabling ProKidney to attract, retain, incentivize and reward directors who contribute to the long-term success of ProKidney.
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EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The following discusses the material components of the executive compensation program for the named executive officers of ProKidney (the NEOs) who are identified in the 2021 Summary Compensation Table below. This discussion may contain forward-looking statements that are based on our current plans, considerations, expectations and determinations regarding future compensation programs. In this section, unless context requires otherwise, references to we, us our, ProKidney or the Company generally refer to ProKidney Corp. and its subsidiaries following the Closing and to ProKidney LP and its subsidiaries prior to the Closing.
Summary Compensation Table
We have opted to comply with the executive compensation disclosure rules applicable to emerging growth companies, as ProKidney is an emerging growth company. The scaled disclosure rules are those applicable to smaller reporting companies, as such term is defined in the rules promulgated under the Securities Act, which require compensation disclosure for ProKidneys principal executive officer(s), its two most highly compensated executive officers other than the principal executive officer whose total compensation for 2021 exceeded $100,000 and who were serving as executive officers as of December 31, 2021 and up to two additional individuals for whom disclosure would have been required for the fact that they were not serving as executive officers as of December 31, 2021. We refer to these individuals as named executive officers or NEOs. For the year ended December 31, 2021, ProKidneys NEOs were:
| Tim Bertram, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer; |
| Deepak Jain, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer; and |
| Joseph Stavas, M.D., MPH, Senior Vice President of Clinical Development. |
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to compensation for the year ended December 31, 2021 earned by, awarded to or paid to ProKidneys NEOs.
Name and Principal Position |
Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($)(1) | Non- Incentive Equity Plan ($) |
All Other Compensation ($)(2) |
Total ($) | ||||||||||||||||||
Tim Bertram, Ph.D. |
2021 | $ | 489,258 | $ | 360,000 | $ | | $ | 24,503 | $ | 873,761 | |||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer |
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Deepak Jain, Ph.D. |
2021 | $ | 401,694 | $ | 216,000 | $ | | $ | 14,522 | $ | 632,216 | |||||||||||||
Chief Operating Officer |
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Joseph Stavas, M.D., MPH |
2021 | $ | 530,110 | $ | 145,000 | $ | | $ | 14,522 | $ | 689,632 | |||||||||||||
Senior Vice President of Clinical Development |
(1) | Reflects bonuses actually paid for the 12-month period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and excludes payments made in 2021 for 2020 bonuses, for each executive officer. |
(2) | Reflects the amounts of all other compensation paid to the named individuals for the year ended December 31, 2021, which comprise of (1) the matching contributions to the 401(k) plan; (2) allowance paid to Dr. Bertram, and (3) insurance premiums with respect to a group life insurance policy, a group short- term disability policy, a group long-term disability policy, an accidental death and dismemberment policy, and flexible spending accounts paid on behalf of each of Dr. Bertram, Dr. Jain and Dr. Stavas. |
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Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table
Employment Agreements
Below are descriptions of the employment agreements with each of our NEOs setting forth the terms and conditions of such executives employment with ProKidney-US and ProKidney-KY, respectively. It is expected that each of our NEOs will enter into a new employment agreement with the Company that sets forth new terms and conditions of such executives employment with the Company which reflect the Companys executive compensation philosophy as a new public company.
Tim Bertram, Ph.D.
On September 17, 2019, ProKidney-KY entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Bertram, pursuant to which Dr. Bertram was employed as ProKidney-KYs Chief Executive Officer, effective as of January 7, 2019. The agreement entitles Dr. Bertram to an initial base salary of $237,885 and eligibility for ProKidney-KYs annual discretionary bonus program. Dr. Bertram is also eligible to participate in ProKidney-KYs benefit plans and programs, including its retirement plan and medical insurance coverage. Under the terms of this agreement, ProKidney-KY or Dr. Bertram may terminate Dr. Bertrams employment at any time for any or no reason upon three months written notice. In the event that Dr. Bertram is terminated without Cause (as defined in the agreement and including due to disability or death), Dr. Bertram is entitled to receive any earned but unpaid base salary, payment for any unused vacation days, and any benefits to which he may be entitled under applicable law or ProKidney-KYs employee benefit plans. Unless previously terminated or extended, Dr. Bertrams employment will automatically cease at the end of the month in which he attains 70 years of age.
On the same day, ProKidney-US entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Bertram, pursuant to which Dr. Bertram assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of ProKidney-US, effective as of January 7, 2019. The agreement entitles Dr. Bertram to an initial base salary of $237,885 and eligibility in ProKidney-USs annual discretionary bonus program. Dr. Bertram is also eligible to participate in ProKidney-USs benefit plans and programs, including its 401K plan. The agreement further provides that PMEL would grant Dr. Bertram a profits interest, which would indirectly represent 4.5% of the future profits of ProKidney LP measured as of the date of the agreement and as further discussed below, on September 30, 2019, PMEL granted Dr. Bertram 3,698,631 Profits Interests. Under the terms of this agreement, ProKidney-US or Dr. Bertram may terminate his employment at any time for any or no reason upon written notice at any time. In the event that Dr. Bertram is terminated for any or no reason (including due to disability or death), Dr. Bertram is entitled to receive any earned but unpaid base salary, payment for any unused vacation days, and any benefits to which he may be entitled under applicable law or ProKidney-USs employee benefit plans.
Deepak Jain, Ph.D.
ProKidney-US entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Jain on September 17, 2019, pursuant to which Dr. Jain assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer of ProKidney-US effective as of January 7, 2019. The agreement entitles Dr. Jain to an initial base salary of $378,525 and eligibility in ProKidney-USs annual discretionary bonus program. Dr. Jain is also eligible to participate in ProKidney-USs benefit plans and programs, including its 401K plan. The agreement further provides that PMEL would grant Dr. Jain a profits interest, which would indirectly represent 1.5% of the future profits of ProKidney LP measured as of the date of Dr. Jains employment agreement and, as further discussed below, on September 30, 2019, PMEL granted Dr. Jain 1,232,877 Profits Interests. Under the terms of this agreement, ProKidney-US or Dr. Jain may terminate his employment at any time for any or no reason upon written notice at any time. In the event that Dr. Jain is terminated for any or no reason (including due to disability or death), Dr. Jain is entitled to receive any earned but unpaid base salary, payment for any unused vacation days, and any benefits to which he may be entitled under applicable law or ProKidney-USs employee benefit plans.
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Joseph Stavas, M.D., MPH
ProKidney-US entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Stavas on September 17, 2019, pursuant to which Dr. Stavas assumed the role of Senior Vice President of Clinical Development of ProKidney-US beginning October 1, 2019. The agreement entitles Dr. Stavas to an initial base salary of $500,000 and eligibility in ProKidney-USs annual discretionary bonus program. Dr. Stavas is also eligible to participate in ProKidney-USs benefit plans and programs, including its 401K plan. The agreement further provides that PMEL would grant Dr. Stavas a profits interest, which would indirectly represent 1.5% of the future profits of ProKidney measured as of the date of Dr. Stavass employment agreement and, as further discussed below, on November 1, 2019, PMEL granted Dr. Stavas 1,232,877 Profits Interests. Under the terms of this agreement, ProKidney-US or Dr. Stavas may terminate his employment at any time for any or no reason upon written notice at any time. In the event that Dr. Stavas is terminated for any or no reason (including due to disability or death), Dr. Stavas is entitled to receive any earned but unpaid base salary, payment for any unused vacation days, and any benefits to which he may be entitled under applicable law or ProKidney-USs employee benefit plans.
2021 Base Salaries
Each NEOs base salary was a fixed component of annual compensation for performing specific duties and functions, and was established by the Legacy GP Board taking into account each individuals role, responsibilities, skills and expertise. Base salaries are reviewed annually, typically in connection with our annual performance review process, and, going forward, will be approved by the compensation committee and adjusted from time to time to realign salaries with market levels after taking into account individual responsibilities, performance and experience. During 2021, the annual base salaries for Dr. Bertram, Dr. Jain and Dr. Stavas, were $489,258, $401,694 and $530,110, respectively.
2021 Bonuses
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, each of ProKidneys NEOs was eligible to earn an annual bonus based on the achievement of certain predetermined corporate performance objectives. During 2021, the annual bonuses awarded to Dr. Bertram, Dr. Jain, and Dr. Stavas, were $360,000, $216,000, and $145,000, respectively. The annual bonus earned by each NEO with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 is reported under the Bonus column in the Summary Compensation Table above and were determined by the Legacy GP Board on a discretionary basis based on ProKidneys overall performance for the year, as well as each individuals performance, subject to each NEOs continued employment through the payment date.
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2021
The outstanding equity incentive awards held by the NEOs as of December 31, 2021, prior to the Business Combination, consisted of Profits Interests issued in 2019 (as detailed in the table below) (the 2019 Profits Interests). No Profits Interests were granted to the NEOs in 2020 or 2021. On January 17, 2022, PMEL issued Profits Interests, some of which were granted subject to vesting and some of which were purchased fully-vested, to employees, directors and other service providers, including to each of the NEOs and certain independent directors of the Legacy GP Board and the ProKidney-KY Board, under the ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement and the related Limited Liability Company Agreement of PMEL then in effect (the 2022 Profits Interests). Dr. Bertram, Dr. Jain and Dr. Stavas were issued 2,337,045, 680,913 and 50,000 2022 Profits Interests, respectively, and, each of Mr. Doyle, Dr. Lotvin and Dr. Pereira were issued 1,848,352 2022 Profits Interests. In addition, on June 1, 2022, Mr. Maraganore was issued 200,000 Profits Interests.
The purpose of awarding the Profits Interests was to promote the interests of ProKidney by attracting and retaining key employees, managers, independent contractors or other service providers of ProKidney and its subsidiaries and to enable such individuals to acquire an equity interest in and participate in the long-term growth and financial success of ProKidney. The Profit Interests represented an indirect partnership interest in ProKidney
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LP and generally entitled the holder to receive distributions from PMEL (which PMEL received from ProKidney LP once a specified threshold equity value of ProKidney was reached, in each case as provided in the ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement and the related Limited Liability Company Agreement of PMEL then in effect). Under these agreements, the Closing qualified as an Extraordinary Event, pursuant to which the holders of Profits Interests were also entitled to receive disproportionate distributions in ProKidney until each of their threshold equity value had been reduced to zero in order to catch up each such holders distributions to its pro rata share of aggregate cumulative distributions.
ProKidney measured compensation expense for Profits Interests based on estimated fair values at the time of grant and estimates the fair value of Profits Interests using generally accepted valuation procedures. ProKidney recognized compensation expense, on a straight-line basis, for the portion of the Profit Interests value that was expected to vest over the requisite period of service provided by the recipient of the Profits Interests. ProKidney also recorded forfeitures of Profits Interest as they occurred.
In general, awards of Profits Interests were 25% vested on the first anniversary of the recipients employment, in the case of Dr. Bertram and Dr. Jain, and the first anniversary of the date of award of the Profits Interests, in the case of Dr. Stavas, with the remainder of each award to vest in increments of 6.25% each calendar quarter following the first anniversary of the grant date, subject generally to the holders continuous employment with ProKidney-US or its affiliates on each vesting date. The 2022 Profits Interests generally vest in increments of 25% on each anniversary following the grant date, subject generally to the holders continuous employment with ProKidney-US or its affiliates on each vesting date. With respect to those 2022 Profits Interests that are subject to vesting conditions, in the event that an NEOs employment is terminated without Cause (as defined in the NEOs employment agreement) prior to January 17, 2023, the tranche of 2022 Profits Interests that would have vested on January 17, 2023 will immediately vest subject to, among other things, the NEO signing and not revoking a release of claims. All of the 2022 Profits Interests issued to Dr. Stavas were purchased fully vested, and a portion of the 2022 Profits Interests issued to Dr. Bertram and Dr. Jain were purchased fully vested, in each case, subject to certain transfer restrictions as provided in the applicable award agreement and the Limited Liability Company Agreement of PMEL. A portion of the 2022 Profits Interests granted to the independent directors of the Legacy GP Board (who have since gone on to serve as members of the GP Board) and ProKidney-KY Board vest in increments of 33.33% on each anniversary following the grant date, subject generally to the directors continuous service on the board on each vesting date. A portion of the 2022 Profits Interests issued to such directors were purchased fully vested, subject to certain transfer restrictions as provided in the applicable award agreement and the Limited Liability Company Agreement of PMEL.
The following table summarizes the number of outstanding Profits Interests held by each of the NEOs as of December 31, 2021. Such NEOs do not hold any outstanding equity awards other than the Profits Interests.
Equity Awards(1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Grant Date | Number of Profits Interest that Have Vested (#) |
Market Value of Profits Interest Units that Have Vested ($) |
Number of Profits Interest that Have Not Vested (#) |
Market Value of Profits Interest Units that Have Not Vested ($)(3) |
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Tim Bertram, Ph.D. |
9/30/2019 | (2) | 2,773,973 | $ | 998,630 | 924,658 | $ | 332,877 | ||||||||||||
Deepak Jain, Ph.D. |
9/30/2019 | (3) | 924,657 | $ | 332,877 | 308,220 | $ | 110,959 | ||||||||||||
Joseph Stavas, M.D., MPH |
11/1/2019 | (4) | 693,493 | $ | 249,657 | 539,384 | $ | 194,178 |
(1) | There was no public market for the Profits Interests. For purposes of this disclosure, the equity value of the Profits Interests was determined using contemporaneous valuations using methodologies consistent with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, as of December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, the weighted average grant date fair value of the Profits Interests granted was $0.36 per Class B Unit. |
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(2) | Represents 3,698,631 Profits Interests granted on September 30, 2019, with the first 25% of such Profits Interests vested on January 7, 2020, and the remaining 75% vested in increments of 6.25% each calendar quarter thereafter, subject to continued employment of the NEO on each vesting date. |
(3) | Represents 1,232,877 Profits Interests granted on September 30, 2019, with the first 25% of such Profits Interests vested on January 7, 2020, and the remaining 75% vested in increments of 6.25% each calendar quarter thereafter, subject to continued employment of the NEO on each vesting date. |
(4) | Represents 1,232,877 Profits Interests granted on November 1, 2019, with the first 25% of such Profits Interests vested on November 1, 2020, and the remaining 75% vested in increments of 6.25% each calendar quarter thereafter, subject to continued employment of the NEO on each vesting date. |
Actions Taken in Connection with this Business Combination
Effective as of January 17, 2022, the ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement was amended to provide that, if, as a result of a De-SPAC Transaction or Qualified IPO (each as defined in the ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement), a Profits Interest holder was allocated aggregate cumulative distributions in an amount at least equal to his or her pro rata share of the applicable threshold equity value, then such holders Profits Interests would immediately and automatically be converted into ProKidney Class B Units. In connection with and by virtue of the Business Combination and immediately prior to the Closing, ProKidney converted all outstanding Profits Interests into Class B Units of ProKidney (the Converted Profits Interests) in accordance with the foregoing. As contemplated by and pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement and the Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement, each Converted Profits Interest that was not vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement with the applicable holder as of immediately prior to the Closing was recapitalized into a PMEL RCU and each Converted Profits Interest that was vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreement with the applicable holder as of immediately prior to the Closing was recapitalized into a Post-Combination ProKidney Common Unit. Each PMEL RCU will remain subject to vesting and forfeiture terms provided under the applicable existing award agreement with the holder and each Post-Combination ProKidney Common Unit will remain subject to the forfeiture terms of the applicable existing award agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement and our Charter, upon the vesting of a PMEL RCU, such PMEL RCU and the corresponding ProKidney Class B PMEL RSR will automatically vest and each PMEL RCU will immediately and automatically convert, in accordance with the terms of the Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement, into one Post-Combination ProKidney Common Unit and, as promptly as reasonably practicable following such vesting event, the Company will settle such ProKidney Class B PMEL RSR by issuing to the holder thereof one ProKidney Class B ordinary share.
ProKidney Incentive Equity Plan
In connection with the Business Combination, the SCS Board adopted, and the SCS shareholders approved, the ProKidney Incentive Equity Plan, under which New ProKidney employees, non-employee directors, individual consultants, advisors and other service providers are eligible to receive awards based on the compensation committees determination, in its sole discretion, that an award to such individual will further the ProKidney Incentive Equity Plans stated purpose of promoting the long-term success of ProKidney by motivating employees and other individuals to perform at the highest level and contributing significantly to the success of ProKidney, thereby furthering the best interests of ProKidney and its shareholders. The ProKidney Incentive Equity Plan is administered by the compensation committee and is the primary means by which ProKidney will provide equity-based compensation to its employees and other servie providers. As of the date hereof, no grants have been made or awarded under the ProKidney Incentive Equity Plan.
The ProKidney Incentive Equity Plan provides for the issuance of 24,154,023 ProKidney Class A ordinary shares, which equals 10% of the number of ProKidney Class A ordinary shares outstanding immediately after the completion of the Business Combination on a fully diluted basis. In addition, the ProKidney Incentive Equity Plan provides for an annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year during the period beginning with fiscal
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year 2023 and ending on the second day of fiscal year 2032 equal to the lesser of (a) 5% of the number of outstanding ProKidney Class A ordinary shares on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year on a fully diluted basis, and (b) an amount determined by the compensation committee. The number of ProKidney Class A ordinary shares that may be subject to incentive stock options granted under the ProKidney Incentive Equity Plan is 75,567,000.
In the event of a change in control, as defined in the ProKidney Incentive Equity Plan, the compensation committee may take certain actions with respect to outstanding awards, including the continuation or assumption of awards, substitution or replacement of awards by a successor entity, acceleration of vesting and lapse of restrictions, determination of the attainment of performance conditions for performance awards or cancellation of awards in consideration of a payment.
ProKidney Employee Stock Purchase Plan
In connection with the completion of the Business Combination, the SCS Board adopted, and the SCS shareholders approved, the ProKidney Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The ProKidney Employee Stock Purchase Plan is administered by the compensation committee and provides our employees and employees of participating subsidiaries with an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in ProKidney through the purchase of Class A ordinary shares. Initially, the ProKidney Employee Stock Purchase Plan is not intended to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Code. However, from and after such date as the compensation committee determines that the ProKidney Employee Stock Purchase Plan is able to satisfy the requirements under Section 423 of the Code, the ProKidney Employee Stock Purchase Plan will be intended to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 and the ProKidney Employee Stock Purchase Plan will be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with that intent.
The maximum number of our ProKidney Class A ordinary shares that may be issued pursuant to rights granted under the ProKidney Employee Stock Purchase Plan is 4,830,806 ProKidney Class A ordinary shares, which equals 2% of the number of ProKidney Class A ordinary shares outstanding immediately after the Closing on a fully diluted basis. The number of ProKidney ordinary shares reserved for issuance under the ProKidney Employee Stock Purchase Plan will automatically increase on the first day of each calendar year during the term of the ProKidney Employee Stock Purchase Plan, commencing on January 1, 2023 through January 1, 2032, by the least of (i) 5,037,800 ProKidney Class A ordinary shares, (ii) 1% of the total number of ProKidney Class A ordinary shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis on December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year or (iii) such smaller number of our ProKidney Class A ordinary shares as determined by the Board.
Other Compensation
All of ProKidneys NEOs are eligible to participate in its employee benefit plans, including its medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance plans, in each case on the same basis as all of ProKidneys other employees. ProKidney generally provides perquisites or personal benefits to its NEOs in limited circumstances.
401(k) Plan
ProKidney maintains a 401(k) plan for its ProKidney-US employees. The 401(k) plan is intended to qualify under Section 401(k) of the Code, so that contributions to the 401(k) plan by ProKidney-US employees or by ProKidney, and the investment earnings thereon, are not taxable to the employees until withdrawn from the 401(k) plan, and so that contributions by ProKidney, if any, will be deductible by ProKidney when made. Full- time employees are eligible to participate in the ProKidney-US plan. Under the 401(k) plan, ProKidney-US employees may elect to reduce their current compensation by up to the statutorily prescribed annual limit and to have the amount of such reduction contributed to the 401(k) plan. The 401(k) plan permits ProKidney to make contributions up to the limits allowed by law on behalf of all eligible ProKidney-US employees. As of December 31, 2021, ProKidney matched 50% of participating ProKidney-US employees contribution up to 8% of salary to the ProKidney 401(k) plan.
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Defined Contribution Plan
ProKidney maintains a defined contribution plan for its ProKidney-KY employees within the Cayman Islands as required by the National Pensions Act (2012 Revision). The plan is administered by an approved provider. All of ProKidney-KYs employees between the ages of 18 and 65 are eligible to participate in the plan, other than domestic helpers or employees who have been working in the Cayman Islands for a continuous period of less than 9 months. Under the plan, ProKidney-KY employees may contribute on earnings up to CI$87,000 (approximately US$107,000, above which level earnings are not pensionable), which contributions are matched by ProKidney-KY. The basic contribution rate (and the maximum mandatory contribution for employees) is 5%, but ProKidney-KY may choose to contribute in excess of this percentage and reduce the employee contribution commensurately. As of December 31, 2021, ProKidney contributed 7% of ProKidney-KY employees salaries to the ProKidney-KY defined contribution plan.
Board Compensation
In the year ended December 31, 2021, no member of the Legacy GP Board received cash, equity or other compensation for service on the Legacy GP Board. In January 2022, Legacy GP and ProKidney-KY each entered into separate letter agreements with each of Mr. Doyle, Dr. Lotvin and Dr. Pereira (collectively, the Director Agreements) that provided for Mr. Doyle, Dr. Lotvin and Dr. Pereira to serve on the Legacy GP Board and ProKidney-KY Board, effective as of January 15, 2022. The Director Agreements with Legacy GP provided that each of Mr. Doyle, Dr. Lotvin and Dr. Pereira would be paid, as compensation for their services as a member of the board of directors of Legacy GP, a $50,000 annual retainer (payable in arrears on a quarterly basis). The Director Agreements provided that PMEL would issue, subject to the terms of the Director Agreement and the Limited Liability Company Agreement of PMEL, 1,848,352 2022 Profits Interests in the aggregate to each such director, some of which were granted subject to vesting and some of which were purchased fully vested. In addition, on June 1, 2022, Mr. Maraganore was issued 200,000 Profits Interests. Dr. Bertram did not receive additional compensation for his services as a member of Legacy GP Board. Effective as of the Closing, Legacy GP resigned as the general partner of ProKidney LP, and each of the directors of Legacy GP has served on the GP Board.
ProKidney intends to develop a board of directors compensation program that is designed to align compensation with ProKidneys business objectives and the creation of shareholder value, while enabling ProKidney to attract, retain, incentivize and reward directors who contribute to the long-term success of ProKidney.
ProKidneys compensation committee will determine the annual compensation to be paid to the members of the Board. Directors fees after the Business Combination have yet to be determined, but are expected to consist of two components: a cash payment and the issuance of equity or equity-based awards under the ProKidney Incentive Equity Plan. Pursuant to the Director Agreements with Legacy GP, it is anticipated that the following non-employee directors Alan M. Lotvin, M.D., Brian J.G. Pereria, M.D., William F. Doyle and John M. Maraganore, Ph.D. will hold at least five times his annual retainer in the form of ProKidney equity within five years of the completion of the Business Combination.
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification Matters
The Charter provides that, subject to certain limitations, ProKidney shall indemnify its directors and officers, including former directors and officers (each an indemnified person) against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default. No person shall be found to have committed actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default under the Charter unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect. The termination of any proceedings by any judgment, order, settlement, conviction or the entering of a nolle prosequi does not, by itself, create a presumption that the liability was incurred by reason of their own actual fraud, wilful neglect or wilful default.
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ProKidney entered into agreements with its officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in the Charter. The Charter also permits ProKidney to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any officer or director of ProKidney against any liability which, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach to such person in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such person may be guilty in relation to ProKidney, whether or not ProKidney has or would have had the power to indemnify the person against the liability as provided in the Charter. ProKidney purchased a policy of directors and officers liability insurance that insures its officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures ProKidney against its obligations to indemnify its officers and directors.
These provisions may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against ProKidneys directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit ProKidney and its shareholders. Furthermore, a shareholders investment may be adversely affected to the extent ProKidney pays the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We believe that these provisions, and the insurance and the indemnity agreements, are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
In this section, unless the context otherwise requires, references to we, us, our, and the Company refer to ProKidney Corp. and its subsidiaries after the Closing;ProKidney refers to ProKidney LP and its subsidiaries prior to the Closing and to ProKidney Corp. following the Closing; and SCS refers to SCS prior to the Closing.
SCS Related Party Transaction
Founder Shares
On March 2, 2021, the Sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain offering and formation costs of SCS in consideration for which the Sponsor received 5,750,000 SCS Class B ordinary shares (the Founder Shares). On June 29, 2021, SCS effected a share capitalization with respect to its SCS Class B ordinary shares of 575,000 shares thereof, resulting in the Sponsor holding an aggregate of 6,325,000 Founder Shares. The Founder Shares included an aggregate of up to 825,000 shares that were subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters over-allotment option was exercised. As a result of the underwriters election to partially exercise their over-allotment option, a total of 750,000 Founder Shares were no longer subject to forfeiture and 75,000 Founder Shares were forfeited, resulting in an aggregate of 6,250,000 Founder Shares then outstanding. In June 2021, the Sponsor transferred 30,000 Founder Shares to Marc Semigran, M.D., an independent director of SCS.
The Sponsor and the SCSs directors and officers agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares until the earlier of: (A) one year after the completion of the Business Combination and (B) commencing at least 150 days after the Business Combination, the day on which the last reported sale price of the Class A ordinary shares has equaled or exceeded $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, rights issuances, consolidations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and other similar transactions) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period. At the Closing, the Founder Shares became ProKidney Class A ordinary shares, and ProKidney, the Sponsor and certain Closing ProKidney Unitholders entered into new lock-up agreements as described under Lock-Up Agreements.
Registration Rights
SCS, the Sponsor and certain other security holders entered into a registration rights agreement on June 29, 2021 (the SCS Registration Rights Agreement). The SCS Registration Rights Agreement granted these holders certain demand and piggy back registration rights with SCS obligated to bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
At the Closing, ProKidney entered into the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, which replaced the SCS Registration Rights Agreement. See Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement below.
Subscription Agreements with SCS Related PIPE Investors
Concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, SCS entered into Subscription Agreements with the certain sponsor-related PIPE Investors (the Sponsor Related PIPE Investors) pursuant to which the Sponsor Related PIPE Investors subscribed for SCS Class A ordinary shares. The Sponsor Related PIPE Investors funded $156,400,000 of the PIPE Investment, for which they will received 15,640,000 SCS Class A ordinary shares. Specifically, (i) SC Master Holdings, LLC, an entity affiliated with Mr. Chamath Palihapitiya, SCSs Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of its board of directors, subscribed for 12,500,000 SCS Class A ordinary shares and (ii) Averill Master Fund, Ltd., an entity affiliated with Mr. Kishan Mehta, director and President of SCSs, subscribed for 3,140,000 SCS Class A ordinary shares. The PIPE Investment was consummated concurrently with the Closing, and the SCS Class A ordinary shares purchased by the PIPE Investors became ProKidney Class A ordinary shares.
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Administrative Services Agreement
SCS entered into an agreement, pursuant to which it paid an affiliate of the Sponsor $10,000 per month, commencing on June 30, 2021 and remaining in effect until the Closing, for office space, administrative and support services. For the period from February 25, 2021 (inception) through the Closing, SCS paid $120,000 for these services.
SCS Promissory NotesRelated Party
On March 2, 2021, SCS issued an unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor (the Pre-IPO SCS Promissory Note), pursuant to which SCS could borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000. The Pre-IPO SCS Promissory Note was non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of December 31, 2021 and the completion of the initial public offering. The outstanding balance under the Pre-IPO SCS Promissory Note of $300,000 was repaid at the closing of the initial public offering on July 2, 2021.
On April 20, 2022, SCS issued the SCS Promissory Note to the Sponsor, pursuant to which SCS could borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000. The SCS Promissory Note was non-interest bearing, unsecured and payable upon the earlier of July 2, 2023 and the Closing. The SCS Promissory Note was subject to customary events of default. On April 26, 2022, SCS drew $250,000 under the SCS Promissory Note. At the Closing, SCS repaid the balance under the SCS Promissory Note.
ProKidney Related Party Transactions
Consulting Services Agreement between ProKidney-KY and Nefro Health
On January 1, 2020, ProKidney-KY (formerly known as inRegen) entered into a consulting services agreement with Nefro Health (Nefro), an Irish partnership controlled and majority-owned by Mr. Pablo Legorreta, a director of Legacy GP and a holder of over 5% of ProKidney Class A Units, pursuant to which Nefro provides consulting services for the research and development of ProKidneys product candidates, including the conduct of clinical trials in North America and the European Union, the design and manufacturing of ProKidneys product candidates as well as pre-commercialization activities, which are primarily performed by Mr. Pablo Legorreta. Under the agreement, Nefro receives $25,000 per quarter and is reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities Nefro conducted under the agreement. ProKidney-KY has paid Nefro an aggregate of $100,000 and $100,000, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021. The initial term of the consulting services agreement continued through December 31, 2020 and was renewed pursuant to the provision allowing for automatic renewals for additional periods of one year each unless terminated by either party by providing written notice to the other party at least ninety (90) days prior to the scheduled termination date. Either party may terminate this agreement upon the occurrence of a material breach by the other party in the performance of its obligations under the agreement or in respect of any provision, representation, warranty or covenant if such breach has not been cured within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice from the non-breaching party. Additionally, either of the parties may terminate the consulting services agreement for any reason upon giving thirty (30) days advance notice of such termination to the other party. In the event of such termination, ProKidney-KY will be obligated to pay Nefro any earned but unpaid consulting fee as of the termination date.
Consulting Services Agreement between ProKidney-US and Nefro Health
On January 1, 2020, ProKidney-US (formerly known as Twin City Bio, LLC) entered into a consulting services agreement with Nefro, pursuant to which Nefro provides consulting services for the research and development of ProKidneys product candidates, including the conduct of clinical trials in North America and the European Union, the design and manufacturing of ProKidneys product candidates as well as pre-commercialization activities, which are primarily performed by Mr. Pablo Legorreta, a director of Legacy
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GP. Under the agreement, Nefro receives $25,000 per quarter and is reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities Nefro conducted under the agreement. ProKidney-US has paid Nefro an aggregate of $100,000 and $100,000, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021. The initial term of the consulting services agreement continued through December 31, 2020 and was renewed pursuant to the provision allowing for automatic renewals for additional periods of one year each unless terminated by either party by providing written notice to the other party at least ninety (90) days prior to the scheduled termination date. Either party may terminate this agreement upon the occurrence of a material breach by the other party in the performance of its obligations under the agreement or in respect of any provision, representation, warranty or covenant if such breach has not been cured within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice from the non-breaching party. Additionally, either of the parties may terminate the consulting services agreement for any reason upon giving thirty (30) days advance notice of such termination to the other party. In the event of such termination, ProKidney-US will be obligated to pay Nefro any earned but unpaid consulting fee as of the termination date.
Contributions to ProKidney Bermuda and ProKidney by Pablo Legorreta and entities controlled by Pablo Legorreta
Pursuant to the Limited Liability Company Agreement of ProKidney Bermuda by and between ProKidney Bermuda and Mr. Pablo Legorreta, dated as of December 12, 2018 (as amended, the ProKidney Bermuda Agreement), ProKidney Bermuda issued Mr. Pablo Legorreta 45,000,000 Class A Units (as defined in the ProKidney Bermuda Agreement) in exchange for a capital contribution of $45,000,000. Mr. Legorreta was admitted as the sole member of ProKidney Bermuda. The ProKidney Bermuda Agreement was amended and restated on December 31, 2018 to admit an additional member that contributed to ProKidney Bermuda an aggregate of $30,000,000 as consideration for 30,000,000 Class A Units of ProKidney Bermuda. On or around October 23, 2019, ProKidney Bermuda issued additional Class A Units to its members, including Mr. Legorreta, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the ProKidney Bermuda Agreement, in exchange for an aggregate of $20,000,000 in capital contributions (the 2019 Contribution). Mr. Legorreta made a capital contribution of $12,000,000 to ProKidney Bermuda in exchange for 12,000,000 Class A Units in the 2019 Contribution. Given the effect of the 2019 Contribution, Mr. Legorreta held an aggregate of 57,000,000 Class A Units of ProKidney Bermuda.
Effective as of January 1, 2020, Mr. Legorreta transferred 100% of his equity interests in ProKidney Bermuda to Nefro pursuant to a certain contribution, assignment and assumption agreement by and between Mr. Legorreta and Nefro, and in accordance with the terms of the ProKidney Bermuda Agreement. As a result, Mr. Legorreta ceased to be a member of ProKidney Bermuda, and Nefro became a substituted member of ProKidney Bermuda. On or around August 12, 2020, ProKidney Bermuda issued additional Class A Units to its members, including Nefro, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the ProKidney Bermuda Agreement, in exchange for an aggregate of $20,000,000 in capital contributions (the 2020 Contribution). Nefro made a capital contribution of $15,000,000 to ProKidney Bermuda in exchange for 15,000,000 Class A Units in the 2020 Contribution. As a result of the 2020 Contribution, Nefro held an aggregate of 72,000,000 Class A Units of ProKidney Bermuda.
Effective as of February 1, 2021, Nefro transferred 100% of its equity interests in ProKidney Bermuda to Tolerantia, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nefro, pursuant to a certain contribution, assignment and assumption agreement by and between Mr. Legorreta and Nefro, dated as of Febraury 1, 2020, and in accordance with the terms of the ProKidney Bermuda Agreement. As a result, Nefro ceased to be a member of ProKidney Bermuda, and Tolerantia became a substituted member of ProKidney Bermuda. Between February 2021 and May 2021, ProKidney Bermuda issued additional Class A Units to its members, including Tolerantia, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the ProKidney Bermuda Agreement, in exchange for an aggregate of $30,000,000 in capital contributions (the First 2021 Contribution). Tolerantia made a capital contribution in an aggregate amount of $15,000,000 to ProKidney Bermuda in exchange for 15,000,000 Class A Units in the First 2021 Contribution. Given the effect of the First 2021
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Contribution, Tolerantia held an aggregate of 87,000,000 Class A Units of ProKidney Bermuda. On June 29, 2021, ProKidney Bermuda issued additional Class A Units to its members, including Tolerantia, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the ProKidney Bermuda Agreement, in exchange for an aggregate of $11,500,000 in capital contributions (the Second 2021 Contribution). Tolerantia made a capital contribution of $6,900,000 to ProKidney Bermuda in exchange for 6,900,000 Class A Units in the Second 2021 Contribution. Given the effect of the Second 2021 Contribution, Tolerantia held an aggregate of 93,900,000 Class A Units of ProKidney Bermuda.
On August 5, 2021, ProKidney was formed as a limited partnership under the laws of Ireland. The members of ProKidney Bermuda, including Tolerantia, contributed all of their holdings in ProKidney Bermuda as a contribution in specie to ProKidney. As a result, ProKidney Bermuda became a wholly owned subsidiary of ProKidney and Tolerantia became one of the partners of ProKidney, holding an aggregate of 93,900,000 Legacy Class A Units. On October 15, 2021, ProKidney issued additional Legacy Class A Units to its partners, including Tolerantia, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement, in exchange for an aggregate contribution of $30,000,000 (the Third 2021 Contribution). Tolerantia, as one of the partners of ProKidney, made a contribution of $18,000,000 to ProKidney in exchange for 18,000,000 Legacy Class A Units pursuant to the ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement. Given the effect of the Third 2021 Contribution, Tolerantia held an aggregate of 111,900,000 Class A Units of ProKidney. At the Closing, the ProKidney Class A Units held by Tolerantia were recapitalized into Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units and ProKidney Class B ordinary shares pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement.
Contributions to ProKidney Bermuda and ProKidney by CEC and entities controlled by CEC
On December 12, 2018, ProKidney Bermuda entered into the ProKidney Bermuda Agreement with Mr. Pablo Legorreta, which was amended and restated on December 31, 2018 to admit Inversora Carso, S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation (INCA), as an additional member. INCA contributed to ProKidney Bermuda an aggregate of $30,000,000 as consideration for 30,000,000 Class A Units of ProKidney Bermuda. In the 2019 Contribution, INCA made an additional capital contribution of $8,000,000 to ProKidney Bermuda in exchange for 8,000,000 Class A Units. Given the effect of the 2019 Contribution, INCA held an aggregate of 38,000,000 Class A Units of ProKidney Bermuda.
On June 30, 2020, INCA merged with and into CEC, with CEC surviving the merger. In accordance with the terms of the ProKidney Bermuda Agreement, INCA ceased to be a member of ProKidney Bermuda and CEC became a substituted member of ProKidney Bermuda. In the 2020 Contribution, CEC made another capital contribution of $5,000,000 to ProKidney Bermuda in exchange for 5,000,000 Class A Units. As a result of the 2020 Contribution, CEC held an aggregate of 43,000,000 Class A Units of ProKidney Bermuda.
In the First 2021 Contribution, CEC made a capital contribution in an aggregate amount of $15,000,000 to ProKidney Bermuda in exchange for 15,000,000 Class A Units. Given the effect of the First 2021 Contribution, CEC held an aggregate of 58,000,000 Class A Units of ProKidney Bermuda. In the Second 2021 Contribution, CEC made a capital contribution of $4,600,000 to ProKidney Bermuda in exchange for 4,600,000 Class A Units. Given the effect of the Second 2021 Contribution, CEC held an aggregate of 62,600,000 Class A Units of ProKidney Bermuda.
On August 5, 2021, ProKidney was formed as a limited partnership under the laws of Ireland. The members of ProKidney Bermuda, including CEC, contributed all of their holdings in ProKidney Bermuda as a contribution in specie to ProKidney. As a result, ProKidney Bermuda became a wholly owned subsidiary of ProKidney, and CEC became one of the partners of ProKidney, holding an aggregate of 62,600,000 Legacy Class A Units. In the Third 2021 Contribution, CEC, as one of the partners of ProKidney, made a capital contribution of $12,000,000 to ProKidney in exchange for 12,000,000 Legacy Class A Units pursuant to the ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement. Given the effect of the Third 2021 Contribution, CEC held an aggregate of 74,600,000 Class A Units
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of ProKidney. At the Closing, the ProKidney Class A Units held by CEC were recapitalized into Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units and ProKidney Class B ordinary shares pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement.
Promissory Notes with Tolerantia and CEC
On January 18, 2022, in connection with the Business Combination Agreement, ProKidney entered into promissory note agreements with (a) Tolerantia, pursuant to which ProKidney may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $60,000,000, and (b) CEC, pursuant to which ProKidney may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $40,000,000 (collectively, the ProKidney Promissory Notes). The ProKidney Promissory Notes bear interest at a rate of 3% per annum and are payable on the earlier of the Closing Date and January 17, 2023. Pursuant to the ProKidney Promissory Notes, on March 24, 2022, ProKidney submitted a drawdown request to each of Tolerantia and CEC for $12,000,000 and $8,000,000, respectively, and on March 25, 2022, each of Tolerantia and CEC delivered the requested amount to ProKidney. In June 2022, ProKidney submitted a drawdown request to each of Tolerantia and CEC for $9,000,000 and $6,000,000, respectively, and each of Tolerantia and CEC delivered the requested amounts to ProKidney. At the Closing, ProKidney repaid the amounts outstanding under the ProKidney Promissory Notes.
Subscription Agreements with ProKidney Related PIPE Investors
Concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, ProKidney entered into Subscription Agreements with the ProKidney Related PIPE Investors, pursuant to which the ProKidney Related PIPE Investors have subscribed for SCS Class A ordinary shares. The ProKidney Related PIPE Investors funded $50,000,000 of the PIPE Investment, for which they received 5,000,000 Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units in lieu of SCS Class A ordinary shares. Specifically, (i) Tolerantia, a member of ProKidney affiliated with Mr. Pablo Legorreta, subscribed for 3,000,000 SCS Class A ordinary shares and elected to purchase 3,000,000 Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units in lieu thereof, and (ii) CEC, an entity affiliated with Mr. Carlos Slim, subscribed for 2,000,000 SCS Class A ordinary shares and elected purchase 2,000,000 Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units in lieu thereof. The PIPE Investment was consummated substantially concurrently with the Closing.
Voting Agreement by CEC
On February 14, 2022, CEC executed the Voting Agreement, pursuant to which CEC agreed, (1) subject to the constitution of Legacy GP, from February 14, 2022 until the Closing, to vote all of its voting shares in the capital of Legacy GP to exercise its rights of nomination and approval under the constitution of Legacy GP as directed by Tolerantia, solely with respect to (a) the appointment of any director to Legacy GP Board; and (b) the removal of any director from the Legacy GP Board; and (2) subject to the organizational documents of ProKidney, from the Closing until the third anniversary of the Closing, to vote all of its voting shares in the capital of ProKidney in a manner proportionate to the manner in which all other ProKidney Class B ordinary shares not held by CEC are voted, solely with respect to (a) the election of any director to the Board at any meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected; (b) the appointment of any director to fill any vacancy created by the failure of any director to complete a term on the Board; and (c) any removal of a director from the Board.
Tax Receivable Agreement
At the Closing, ProKidney entered into the Tax Receivable Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, ProKidney is required to pay the Closing ProKidney Unitholders party thereto 85% of certain tax savings recognized by ProKidney, as a result of the increases in tax basis attributable to exchanges by the Closing ProKidney Unitholders of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units for ProKidney Class A ordinary shares or, subject to certain restrictions, cash, pursuant to the Exchange Agreement and certain other tax attributes of ProKidney and tax benefits related to entering into the Tax Receivable Agreement.
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Exchange Agreement
At the Closing, ProKidney entered into the Exchange Agreement with certain Closing ProKidney Unitholders pursuant to which, subject to the procedures and restrictions therein, from and after the waiver or expiration of any contractual lock-up period (including pursuant to the Lock-Up Agreements, described below), the holders of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units (or certain permitted transferees thereof) acquired the right from time to time at and after 180 days following the Closing to exchange their Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units and an equal number of ProKidney Class B ordinary shares (referred to herein as Paired Interests) on a one-for-one basis for ProKidney Class A ordinary shares (the Exchange); provided, that, subject to certain exceptions, ProKidney, at its sole election, subject to certain restrictions, may, other than in the case of certain secondary offerings, instead settle all or a portion of the Exchange in cash based on a volume weighted average price of a ProKidney Class A ordinary share. The Exchange Agreement provides that, as a general matter, a holder of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units do not have the right to exchange Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units if ProKidney determines that such exchange would be prohibited by law or regulation or would violate other agreements with ProKidney and its subsidiaries to which the holder of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units may be subject, including the Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement and the Exchange Agreement. Additionally, the Exchange Agreement contains restrictions on redemptions and exchanges intended to prevent ProKidney from being treated as a publicly traded partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. These restrictions are modeled on certain safe harbors provided for under applicable U.S. federal income tax law. ProKidney may impose additional restrictions on exchanges that it determines to be necessary or advisable so that ProKidney is not treated as a publicly traded partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement
At the Closing, ProKidney entered into the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement with the Sponsor and certain Closing ProKidney Unitholders. The Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement replaced the SCS Registration Rights Agreement. Under the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, Class A ordinary shares held by the Holders party thereto (as well as their permitted transferees) and by parties to the Exchange Agreement are entitled to registration rights. The Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement provides for ProKidney to, within 30 days after the Closing Date, submit or file with the SEC a shelf registration statement registering the resale of the ProKidney ordinary shares held by the Holders and use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the submission or filing thereof, but in no event later than (a) 90 days following the submission or filing deadline, if the SEC notifies ProKidney that it will review the Registration Statement and (b) the tenth (10th) business day after the date ProKidney is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that the registration statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review. In addition, the Holders have certain piggy-back registration rights. ProKidney will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any registration statements filed pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement.
Lock-Up Agreement
At the closing of the Business Combination, ProKidney, the Sponsor and certain Closing ProKidney Unitholders entered into lock-up agreements (collectively referred to herein as the Lock-Up Agreement). The Lock-Up Agreement contains certain restrictions on transfer with respect to the Sponsor and the ProKidney Unitholders party thereto (including their permitted transferees). Such restrictions begin at the Closing and end on the earlier of (i) the date that is 180 days after the Closing and (ii)(a) for 33% of the Lock-Up Shares (other than the Earnout Shares and the Private Placement Shares)(as each such term is defined in the Lock-Up Agreement), the date on which the last reported sale price of a ProKidney Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $12.50 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 30 days after the Closing and (b) for an additional 50% of the Lock-Up Shares (other than the Earnout Shares and the
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Private Placement Shares), the date on which the last reported sale price of a ProKidney Class A ordinary share equals or exceeds $15.00 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 30 days after the Closing. Notwithstanding the above, (i) the lock-up period for any Earnout Shares will expire not earlier than 180 days after such Earnout Shares are issued; (ii) 50% of the Lock-Up Shares held by certain Closing ProKidney Unitholders and their affiliates will remain locked up until the earlier of four years following the Closing and the date that ProKidney receives notice of any regulatory market authorization, including full or conditional authorization, to market REACT (but, in any event, not earlier than 180 days following the Closing or (in the case of Earnout Shares) the date of issuance); and (iii) the lock-up period for the Private Placement Shares will expire 30 days after the Closing. The restrictions on transfer set forth in the Lock-Up Agreement are subject to customary exceptions.
Executive Officer and Director Compensation Arrangements
Please see the section entitled Executive Compensation for information regarding compensation arrangements with the executive officers and directors of ProKidney, which include, among other things, employment, termination of employment and change in control arrangements, equity awards and certain other benefits.
Indemnification Agreements with Officers and Directors and Directors and Officers Liability Insurance
The Second Amended and Restated ProKidney Limited Partnership Agreement provides for indemnification for, among others, its partners and its partners directors, officers and employees to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. In connection with this Business Combination, ProKidney entered into indemnification agreements with each of ProKidneys executive officers and directors. The indemnification agreements and Charter require that ProKidney indemnify its directors to the fullest extent not prohibited by Cayman Islands law. ProKidney also maintains a general liability insurance policy, which covers certain liabilities of its directors and officers arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.
Policies and Procedures for Related Person Transactions
Upon consummation of the Business Combination, ProKidney adopted a written related person transaction policy that sets forth the following policies and procedures for the review and approval or ratification of related person transactions. A Related Person Transaction is a transaction, arrangement or relationship in which ProKidney or any of its subsidiaries was, is or will be a participant, the amount of which involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 per year or 1% of the average of ProKidneys total assets for the last two completed fiscal years, and in which any Related Person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. A Related Person means:
| any person who is, or at any time during the applicable period was, one of ProKidneys officers or one of ProKidneys directors; |
| any person who is known by ProKidney to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of its voting shares; or |
| any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law of a director, executive officer or a beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of its voting shares, and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director, executive officer or beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of its voting shares. |
ProKidney has policies and procedures designed to minimize potential conflicts of interest arising from any dealings it may have with its affiliates and to provide appropriate procedures for the disclosure of any real or potential conflicts of interest that may exist from time to time. Specifically, pursuant to its charter, the audit committee has the responsibility to review related party transactions.
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CERTAIN MATERIAL U.S. AND NON-U.S. INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of shares of Class A ordinary shares. This discussion is limited to certain U.S. federal income tax considerations to beneficial owners of the Class A ordinary shares who are initial purchasers of such ordinary shares pursuant to this offering and hold the Class A ordinary shares as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. This discussion assumes that any distributions made by ProKidney on the Class A ordinary shares and any consideration received by a holder in consideration for the sale or other disposition of the Class A ordinary shares will be in U.S. dollars.
This summary is based upon U.S. federal income tax laws as of the date of this prospectus, which is subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion is a summary only and does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances, including but not limited to the alternative minimum tax, the Medicare tax on certain net investment income and the different consequences that may apply if you are subject to special rules that apply to certain types of investors, including but not limited to:
| financial institutions or financial services entities; |
| broker-dealers; |
| governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof; |
| regulated investment companies; |
| real estate investment trusts; |
| expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States; |
| persons that actually or constructively own five percent or more (by vote or value) of our shares; |
| persons that acquired our Class A ordinary shares pursuant to an exercise of employee share options, in connection with employee share incentive plans or otherwise as compensation; |
| insurance companies; |
| dealers or traders subject to a mark-to-market method of accounting with respect to our Class A ordinary shares; |
| persons holding our Class A ordinary shares as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedge, conversion or other integrated or similar transaction; |
| U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; |
| partnerships (or entities or arrangements classified as partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and any beneficial owners of such partnerships; |
| tax-exempt entities; |
| controlled foreign corporations; and |
| passive foreign investment companies. |
If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership or other pass-thru entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our Class A ordinary shares, the tax treatment of a partner, member or other beneficial owner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner, member or other beneficial owner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner, member or other beneficial owner level. If you are a partner, member or other beneficial owner of a partnership holding our Class A ordinary shares you are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our Class A ordinary shares.
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This discussion is based on the Code, and administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations as of the date hereof, which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis, and changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this prospectus may affect the tax consequences described herein. This discussion does not address any aspect of state, local or non-U.S. taxation, or any U.S. federal taxes other than income taxes (such as gift and estate taxes).
We have not sought, and do not expect to seek, a ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) as to any U.S. federal income tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the discussion herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will not adversely affect the accuracy of the statements in this discussion. You are urged to consult your tax advisor with respect to the application of U.S. federal tax laws to your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction.
THIS DISCUSSION IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IN OUR CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH INVESTOR OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL NON-INCOME, STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS.
U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a U.S. Holder. A U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of our Class A ordinary shares who or that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
| a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation) organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or |
| a trust, if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons (as defined in the Code) have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) it has a valid election in effect under Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person. |
You should consult your own tax advisors about the consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Class A ordinary shares, including the relevance to your particular situation of the considerations discussed below and any consequences arising under non-U.S., state, local or other tax laws.
Taxation of Distributions
Subject to the discussion below under PFIC Considerations, if we pay distributions in cash or other property (other than certain distributions of our shares or rights to acquire our shares) to U.S. Holders of shares of our Class A ordinary shares, such distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles, which will generally be includible in your taxable income as ordinary dividend income on the day on which you receive the dividend and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to U.S. corporations under the Code. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in our Class A ordinary shares. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain
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realized on the sale or other disposition of the Class A ordinary shares. Because we believe it is likely that ProKidney will be a PFIC for its current taxable year (as discussed below under PFIC ConsiderationsPFIC Status of ProKidney) dividends ProKidney pays to a non-corporate U.S. Holder generally will not constitute qualified dividends that would be taxable at a reduced rate.
Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Ordinary Shares
Subject to the discussion below under PFIC Considerations, upon a sale or other taxable disposition of our Class A ordinary shares, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in the Class A ordinary shares. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holders holding period for the Class A ordinary shares so disposed of exceeds one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders may be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Generally, the amount of gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder is an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition and (ii) the U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in its ordinary shares so disposed of. A U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in its ordinary shares generally will equal the U.S. Holders acquisition cost less any prior distributions treated as a return of capital.
PFIC Considerations
Definition of a PFIC
A foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) corporation will be classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes if either (i) at least 75% of its gross income in a taxable year, including its pro rata share of the gross income of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, is passive income or (ii) at least 50% of its assets in a taxable year (generally determined based on fair market value and averaged quarterly over the year), including its pro rata share of the assets of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, are held for the production of, or produce, passive income. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business) and gains from the disposition of passive assets.
PFIC Status of ProKidney
Based upon the composition of its income and assets, and upon a review of its financial statements, ProKidney believes that it likely was a PFIC for its most recent taxable year ended on December 31, 2021 and will likely be considered a PFIC for its current taxable year.
In the event that we are classified as a PFIC in any year during which a U.S. Holder holds our Class A ordinary shares and the U.S. Holder has not timely made (a) a QEF Election (as defined below) for the first taxable year in which the U.S. Holder owned such Class A ordinary shares or in which ProKidney was a PFIC, whichever is later (or a QEF Election along with a purging election), or (b) a mark-to-market election (as defined below) with respect to such Class A ordinary shares, then the tax on any gain recognized by such U.S. Holder would be imposed based on a complex set of computational rules designed to offset the tax deferral with respect to the undistributed earnings of ProKidney. Under these rules:
| the U.S. Holders gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holders holding period for such U.S. Holders Class A ordinary shares; |
| the amount of gain allocated to the U.S. Holders taxable year in which the U.S. Holder recognized the gain, or to the period in the U.S. Holders holding period before the first day of the first taxable year in which ProKidney was a PFIC, will be taxed as ordinary income; |
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| the amount of gain allocated to other taxable years (or portions thereof) of the U.S. Holder and included in such U.S. Holders holding period would be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and applicable to the U.S. Holder; and |
| an additional tax equal to the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the U.S. Holder in respect of the tax attributable to each such other taxable year of such U.S. Holder. |
ALL U.S. HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE EFFECTS OF THE PFIC RULES ON THE EXERCISE OF REDEMPTION RIGHTS.
QEF Election and Mark-to-Market Election
The impact of the PFIC rules on a U.S. Holder of Class A ordinary shares will depend on whether the U.S. Holder has made a timely and effective election to treat ProKidney as a qualified electing fund under Section 1295 of the Code for the taxable year that is the first year in the U.S. Holders holding period of Class A ordinary shares during which ProKidney qualified as a PFIC (a QEF Election) or, if in a later taxable year, the U.S. Holder made a QEF Election along with a purging election. A purging election creates a deemed sale of the U.S. Holders Class A ordinary shares at their then fair market value and requires the U.S. Holder to recognize gain pursuant to the purging election subject to the special PFIC tax and interest charge rules described above. As a result of any such purging election, the U.S. Holder would have a new basis and holding period in its Class A ordinary shares. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the application of the rules governing purging elections to their particular circumstances.
A U.S. Holders ability to make a QEF Election (or a QEF Election along with a purging election) with respect to ProKidney is contingent upon, among other things, the provision by ProKidney of a PFIC Annual Information Statement (within the meaning of the applicable Treasury Regulations) to such U.S. Holder. ProKidney provided PFIC Annual Information Statements to U.S. Holders of ProKidney Class A ordinary shares, upon request, with respect to its taxable year that ended on December 31, 2021 and will endeavor to continue to provide to a U.S. Holder such information upon request. There is no assurance, however, that ProKidney will continue to timely provide such information. A U.S. Holder that made a QEF Election (or a QEF Election along with a purging election) may be referred to as an Electing Shareholder and a U.S. Holder that did not make a QEF Election may be referred to as a Non-Electing Shareholder.
The impact of the PFIC rules on a U.S. Holder of Class A ordinary shares may also depend on whether the U.S. Holder has made an election under Section 1296 of the Code. U.S. Holders who hold (actually or constructively) stock of a foreign corporation that is classified as a PFIC may annually elect to mark such stock to its market value if such stock is marketable stock (within the meaning of the applicable Treasury Regulations), generally, stock that is regularly traded on a national securities exchange that is registered with the SEC, including Nasdaq, or on a foreign exchange or market that the IRS determines has rules sufficient to ensure that the market price represents a legitimate and sound fair market value (a mark-to-market election). No assurance can be given that the Class A ordinary shares are considered to be marketable stock for purposes of the mark-to-market election or whether the other requirements of this election are satisfied. If such an election is available and has been made, such U.S. Holders will generally not be subject to the special taxation rules discussed herein. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a mark-to-market election with respect to Class A ordinary shares under their particular circumstances.
THE RULES DEALING WITH PFICS ARE VERY COMPLEX AND ARE IMPACTED BY VARIOUS FACTORS IN ADDITION TO THOSE DESCRIBED ABOVE. ALL U.S. HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PFIC RULES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WHETHER A QEF ELECTION (OR A QEF ELECTION ALONG WITH A PURGING ELECTION), A MARK-TO-MARKET ELECTION OR ANY OTHER ELECTION IS AVAILABLE.
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Foreign Financial Asset Reporting
Certain U.S. Holders who are individuals that own specified foreign financial assets with an aggregate value in excess of $50,000 are generally required to file an information statement along with their tax returns, currently on IRS Form 8938, with respect to such assets. Specified foreign financial assets include any financial accounts held at a non-U.S. financial institution, as well as securities issued by a non-U.S. issuer (which would include the Class A ordinary shares) that are not held in accounts maintained by financial institutions. Higher reporting thresholds apply to certain individuals living abroad and to certain married individuals. Regulations extend this reporting requirement to certain entities that are treated as formed or availed of to hold direct or indirect interests in specified foreign financial assets based on certain objective criteria. U.S. Holders that fail to report the required information could be subject to substantial penalties. In addition, the statute of limitations for assessment of tax would be suspended, in whole or part. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of these rules to their investment in the Class A ordinary shares, including the application of the rules to their particular circumstances.
Information Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding
Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments of dividends on and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of Class A ordinary shares and backup withholding may also apply. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes other required certifications, or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding and establishes such exempt status. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a U.S. Holder will generally be allowed as a credit against such U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished by such U.S. Holder to the IRS in a timely manner.
EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IN OUR CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH INVESTOR OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR CLASS A ORDINARY SHARES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL NON-INCOME, STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS.
Cayman Islands Tax Considerations
The following is a discussion on certain Cayman Islands income tax consequences of an investment in the securities of the Company. The discussion is a general summary of present law, which is subject to prospective and retroactive change. It is not intended as tax advice, does not consider any investors particular circumstances, and does not consider tax consequences other than those arising under Cayman Islands law. Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our securities will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of the securities nor will gains derived from the disposal of the securities be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax. The Cayman Islands currently have no income, corporation or capital gains tax and no estate duty, inheritance tax or gift tax.
No stamp duty is payable in respect of the issue of the warrants. An instrument of transfer in respect of a warrant is stampable if executed in or brought into the Cayman Islands.
No stamp duty is payable in respect of the issue of our Class A ordinary shares or on an instrument of transfer in respect of such shares. An instrument of transfer in respect of Class A ordinary shares is stampable if executed in or brought into the Cayman Islands.
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The Company has been incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability and, as such, has obtained an undertaking from the Government of the Cayman Islands in the following form:
The Tax Concessions Act
(as amended)
Undertaking as to Tax Concessions
In accordance with the provision of Section 6 of The Tax Concessions Act (as amended), the following undertaking is hereby given to ProKidney Corp. (the Company):
1. | That no law which is hereafter enacted in the Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations shall apply to the Company or its operations; and |
2. | In addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax shall be payable: |
2.1 | On or in respect of the shares, debentures or other obligations of the Company; or |
2.2 | by way of the withholding in whole or part, of any relevant payment as defined in Section 6(3) of the Tax Concessions Act (as amended). |
These concessions shall be for a period of 30 years from the date hereof.
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We are registering the resale by the Selling Securityholders of up to 239,420,000 our Class A ordinary shares.
The Selling Securityholders may offer and sell, from time to time, their Class A ordinary shares covered by this prospectus. The Selling Securityholders will act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each sale. Such sales may be made on one or more exchanges or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise, at prices and under terms then prevailing or at prices related to the then current market price or in negotiated transactions. The Selling Securityholders may sell their securities by one or more of, or a combination of, the following methods:
| purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by such broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus; |
| ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers; |
| block trades in which the broker-dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| an over-the-counter distribution in accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq; |
| through trading plans entered into by a Selling Securityholder pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act that are in place at the time of an offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement hereto that provide for periodic sales of their securities on the basis of parameters described in such trading plans; |
| short sales; |
| distribution to employees, members, limited partners or stockholders of the Selling Securityholders; |
| through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transaction, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; |
| by pledge to secured debts and other obligations; |
| delayed delivery arrangements; |
| to or through underwriters or agents; |
| in at the market offerings, as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, at negotiated prices, at prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, including sales made directly on a national securities exchange or sales made through a market maker other than on an exchange or other similar offerings through sales agents; |
| in privately negotiated transactions; |
| in options transactions; and |
| through a combination of any of the above methods of sale, as described below, or any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
In addition, any securities that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. In connection with distributions of the securities or otherwise, the Selling Securityholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions. In
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connection with such transactions, broker-dealers or other financial institutions may engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume with Selling Securityholders. The Selling Securityholders may also sell the securities short and redeliver the securities to close out such short positions. The Selling Securityholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction). The Selling Securityholders may also pledge securities to a broker-dealer or other financial institution, and, upon a default, such broker- dealer or other financial institution, may effect sales of the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
In effecting sales, broker-dealers or agents engaged by the Selling Securityholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate. Broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions, discounts or concessions from the Selling Securityholders in amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to the sale.
In offering the securities covered by this prospectus, the Selling Securityholders and any broker-dealers who execute sales for the Selling Securityholders may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. Any profits realized by the Selling Securityholders and the compensation of any broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. Certain of our shareholders have entered into lock-up agreements.
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities must be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Securityholders for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The Selling Securityholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
At the time a particular offer of securities is made, if required, a prospectus supplement will be distributed that will set forth the number of securities being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name of any underwriter, dealer or agent, the purchase price paid by any underwriter, any discount, commission and other item constituting compensation, any discount, commission or concession allowed or reallowed or paid to any dealer, and the proposed selling price to the public.
We have agreed to indemnify certain of the Selling Securityholders against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state law.
We have agreed with certain Selling Securityholders pursuant to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement to use our commercially reasonable efforts to keep the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part effective until such time as all securities covered by this prospectus have been sold or otherwise cease to be registrable securities.
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement
At the Closing, ProKidney, the Sponsor and certain Closing ProKidney Unitholders entered into the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor, Closing Company Unitholders and their affiliates and permitted transferees were granted certain registration rights with respect to their respective Class A ordinary shares on the terms and subject to the conditions therein.
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The financial statements of SCS as of December 31, 2021 and for the period from February 25, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021 included in this prospectus have been audited by Marcum LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of ProKidney LP at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, appearing in this Prospectus and Registration Statement have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon (which contains an explanatory paragraph describing conditions that raise substantial doubt about the Companys ability to continue as a going concern as described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements) appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-1, including exhibits, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the ordinary shares offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information pertaining to us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and our exhibits.
In addition, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public on a website maintained by the SEC located at www.sec.gov. We also maintain a website at www.prokidney.com. Through our website, we make available, free of charge, annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus.
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INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FS-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III (the Company) as of December 31, 2021, the related statements of operations, changes in temporary equity and permanent deficit and cash flows for the period from February 25, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from February 25, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Explanatory ParagraphGoing Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Companys business plan is dependent on the completion of a business combination and the Companys cash and working capital as of December 31, 2021 are not sufficient to complete its planned activities. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Companys ability to continue as a going concern. Managements plans with regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Marcum LLP
Marcum LLP
We have served as the Companys auditor since 2021.
New York, NY
March 23, 2022
FS-2
SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III
BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 31, 2021
ASSETS |
||||
Current Assets |
||||
Cash |
$ | 440,488 | ||
Prepaid expenses |
504,189 | |||
|
|
|||
Total Current Assets |
944,677 | |||
Non-current prepaid insurance |
247,500 | |||
Marketable Securities held in Trust Account |
250,008,324 | |||
|
|
|||
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ | 251,200,501 | ||
|
|
|||
LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND PERMANENT DEFICIT |
||||
Current liabilities |
||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 5,000 | ||
Accrued expense |
1,864,796 | |||
Advances from related party |
10,000 | |||
|
|
|||
Total Current Liabilities |
1,879,796 | |||
Deferred underwriting fee payable |
7,700,000 | |||
|
|
|||
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
9,579,796 | |||
|
|
|||
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) |
||||
Temporary Equity |
||||
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, 25,000,000 shares at redemption value |
250,008,324 | |||
|
|
|||
Permanent Deficit |
||||
Preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding |
| |||
Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 640,000 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 25,000,000 shares subject to possible redemption) |
64 | |||
Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 6,250,000 shares issued and outstanding |
625 | |||
Additional paid-in capital |
| |||
Accumulated deficit |
(8,388,308 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Total Permanent Deficit |
(8,387,619 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
TOTAL LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND PERMANENT DEFICIT |
$ | 251,200,501 | ||
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
FS-3
SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE PERIOD FROM FEBRUARY 25, 2021 (INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021
Operating and formation costs |
$ | 2,332,953 | ||
|
|
|||
Loss from operations |
(2,332,953 | ) | ||
Other income: |
||||
Interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account |
8,324 | |||
|
|
|||
Net loss |
$ | (2,324,629 | ) | |
|
|
|||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class A ordinary shares |
15,101,877 | |||
|
|
|||
Basic and diluted net loss per share, Class A ordinary shares |
$ | (0.11 | ) | |
|
|
|||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class B ordinary shares |
5,852,751 | |||
|
|
|||
Basic and diluted net loss per share, Class B ordinary shares |
$ | (0.11 | ) | |
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
FS-4
SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN TEMPORARY EQUITY AND PERMANENT DEFICIT
FOR THE PERIOD FROM FEBRUARY 25, 2021 (INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021
Temporary Equity | Class A Ordinary Shares |
Class B Ordinary Shares |
Additional Paid-in Capital |
Accumulated Deficit |
Total Permanent Deficit |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BalanceFebruary 25, 2021 (inception) |
| $ | | | $ | | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Class B ordinary shares to Sponsor |
| | | | 6,325,000 | 633 | 24,367 | | 25,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sale of 25,000,000 Public Shares, net of underwriting discounts and offering expenses |
25,000,000 | 237,520,334 | | | | | | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Remeasurement of Class A ordinary shares to redemption value |
| 12,487,990 | | | | | (6,424,311 | ) | (6,063,679 | ) | (12,487,990 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sale of 640,000 Private Placement Shares |
| | 640,000 | 64 | | | 6,399,936 | | 6,400,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forfeiture of Founder Shares |
| | | | (75,000 | ) | (8 | ) | 8 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | | | | | (2,324,629 | ) | (2,324,629 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
BalanceDecember 31, 2021 |
25,000,000 | $ | 250,008,324 | 640,000 | $ | 64 | 6,250,000 | $ | 625 | $ | | $ | (8,388,308 | ) | $ | (8,387,619 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
FS-5
SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE PERIOD FROM FEBRUARY 25, 2021 (INCEPTION) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2021
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |
||||
Net loss |
$ | (2,324,629 | ) | |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
||||
Formation costs paid by Sponsor in exchange for issuance of Founder Shares |
5,000 | |||
Interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account |
(8,324 | ) | ||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||
Prepaid expenses |
(751,689 | ) | ||
Accounts payable |
5,000 | |||
Accrued expenses |
1,864,796 | |||
|
|
|||
Net cash used in operating activities |
(1,209,846 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: |
||||
Investment of cash into Trust Account |
(250,000,000 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(250,000,000 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: |
||||
Proceeds from sale of Public Shares, net of underwriting discounts paid |
245,600,000 | |||
Proceeds from sale of Private Placement Shares |
6,400,000 | |||
Advances from related party |
97,319 | |||
Repayment of advances from related party |
(87,319 | ) | ||
Proceeds from promissory noterelated party |
300,000 | |||
Repayment of promissory noterelated party |
(300,000 | ) | ||
Payment of offering costs |
(359,666 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
251,650,334 | |||
|
|
|||
Net Change in Cash |
440,488 | |||
CashBeginning of period (inception) |
| |||
|
|
|||
CashEnd of period |
$ | 440,488 | ||
|
|
|||
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities: |
||||
Offering costs paid by Sponsor in exchange for issuance of Founder Shares |
$ | 20,000 | ||
|
|
|||
Remeasurement of Class A ordinary share subject to possible redemption |
$ | 12,487,990 | ||
|
|
|||
Deferred underwriting fee payable |
$ | 7,700,000 | ||
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
FS-6
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND GOING CONCERN
Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III (the Company) is a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on February 25, 2021. The Company was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (a Business Combination).
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from February 25, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021 relates to the Companys formation, the initial public offering (the Initial Public Offering), described below, and, subsequent to the Initial Public Offering, identifying a target company for a Business Combination and activities in connection with the proposed acquisition of ProKidney LP (see Note 9). The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company generates non-operating income in the form of interest income from the marketable securities held in the Trust Account (as defined below).
The registration statements for the Companys Initial Public Offering became effective on June 29, 2021 and June 30, 2021. On July 2, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 25,000,000 Class A ordinary shares (the Public Shares), which includes the partial exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option in the amount of 3,000,000 Public Shares, at $10.00 per Public Share, generating gross proceeds of $250,000,000, which is described in Note 3. The fair value attributable to the unexercised portion of the over-allotment option was deemed to be immaterial to the financial statements.
Substantially concurrently with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 640,000 Class A ordinary shares (the Private Placement Shares) at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Share in a private placement to SCS Sponsor III LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (the Sponsor), generating gross proceeds of $6,400,000, which is described in Note 4.
Transaction costs amounted to $12,479,666, consisting of $4,400,000 of underwriting fees, $7,700,000 of deferred underwriting fees and $379,666 of other offering costs.
In connection with the closing of the Initial Public Offering on July 2, 2021, an amount of $250,000,000 ($10.00 per Public Share) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Public Shares in the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Shares was placed in a trust account (the Trust Account), and invested in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. Treasuries and meeting certain conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Investment Company Act). Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to the Company to pay its taxes, if any, the funds held in the Trust Account will not be released from the Trust Account until the earliest of: (a) the completion of a Business Combination, and then only in connection with those Public Shares that such shareholder properly elected to redeem, subject to certain limitations; (b) the redemption of any Public Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Companys Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Companys obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period (as defined below) or (ii) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders rights or pre-Business Combination activity; and (c) the redemption of the Public Shares if the Company has not completed a Business Combination within the Combination Period or during any applicable extension period. The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could become subject to the claims of the Companys creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of the holders of the Public Shares (the Public Shareholders).
The Companys management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Shares, although substantially all of
FS-7
the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. The Company must complete one or more Business Combinations having an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the Company signing a definitive agreement in connection with the Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the issued and outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target business sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to complete a Business Combination successfully.
The Company will provide the Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of the Business Combination, either (a) in connection with a general meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (b) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company. The Public Shareholders will be entitled to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public Shares, subject to the limitations described below.
In accordance with the Companys Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, in no event will the Company redeem the Public Shares in an amount that would cause the Companys net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 following such redemptions. Redemptions of the Public Shares may also be subject to a higher net tangible asset test or cash requirement pursuant to an agreement relating to the Business Combination.
If a shareholder vote is not required in connection with a Business Combination and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, shareholder approval of the transaction is required by applicable law or stock exchange listing requirement, or the Company decides to obtain shareholder approval for business or other reasons, the Company will conduct the redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules and will file proxy materials with the SEC. If the Company seeks shareholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Company will complete such Business Combination only if the Company receives an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands law, which requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of ordinary shares who attend and vote at a general meeting of the Company. The Public Shareholders may elect to redeem their Public Shares without voting and, if they do vote, irrespective of whether they vote for or against a Business Combination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if the Company seeks shareholder approval of the Business Combination and the Company does not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Companys Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that a Public Shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a group (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)), will be restricted from redeeming its Public Shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the Public Shares without the Companys prior written consent.
The Sponsor and the Companys directors and officers have agreed to waive: (a) their redemption rights with respect to any Founder Shares, Private Placement Shares and Public Shares held by them, as applicable, in connection with the completion of a Business Combination; (b) their redemption rights with respect to any Founder Shares, Private Placement Shares and Public Shares held by them in connection with a shareholder vote
FS-8
to amend the Companys Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (i) to modify the substance or timing of the Companys obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, or (ii) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders rights or pre-Business Combination activity; and (c) their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Founder Shares and Private Placement Shares they hold if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period or during any applicable extension period (although such persons will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Public Shares they hold if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the prescribed time frame). If the Company submits the Business Combination to the Public Shareholders for a vote, the Sponsor and the Companys directors and officers have also agreed to vote any Founder Shares, Private Placement Shares and Public Shares held by them in favor of the Business Combination.
The Company will have until July 2, 2023 to complete a Business Combination (the Combination Period), or such longer period as a result of a shareholder vote to amend such time period pursuant to the Companys Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. However, if the Company has not completed a Business Combination within such Combination Period or during any applicable extension period, the Company will: (a) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up; (b) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and which interest shall be net of taxes payable) divided by the number of then issued and outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the Public Shareholders rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any); and (c) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Companys remaining shareholders and its board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to the Companys obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
The Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party (other than the Companys independent auditors) for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (1) $10.00 per Public Share or (2) such lesser amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, except as to any claims by a third party that executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under the Companys indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company has not independently verified whether the Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believes that the Sponsors only assets are securities of the Company and, therefore, the Sponsor may not be able to satisfy those obligations. The Company has not asked the Sponsor to reserve for such obligations. None of the Companys directors or officers will indemnify the Company for claims by third parties, including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Risks and Uncertainties
Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the pandemic could have a negative effect on the Companys business, financial position, results of operations and/or the search for a target company, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
FS-9
Liquidity and Going Concern
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $440,488 in its operating bank accounts and working capital deficit of $935,119.
Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will be using the funds not held in the Trust Account for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, selecting the target business to acquire, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Business Combination.
The Company may need to raise additional capital through loans or additional investments from its Sponsor, shareholders, officers, directors, or third parties. The Companys officers, directors and Sponsor may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion, to meet the Companys working capital needs. Accordingly, the Company may not be able to obtain additional financing. If the Company is unable to raise additional capital, it may be required to take additional measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, curtailing operations, suspending the pursuit of a potential transaction, and reducing overhead expenses. The Company cannot provide any assurance that new financing will be available to it on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Companys ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the issuance date of the financial statements. These financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recovery of the recorded assets or the classification of the liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an emerging growth company, as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the JOBS Act), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Companys financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
FS-10
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the 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 contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Significant accounting estimates include the determination of the fair value of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption and the fair value of Founder Shares transferred to directors. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of December 31, 2021.
Marketable Securities Held in Trust Account
At December 31, 2021, substantially all of the assets held in the Trust Account were held in money market funds which are invested primarily in U.S. Treasury securities.
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company accounts for its Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity. Class A ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption are classified as a liability instrument and are measured at redemption value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary shares (including ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Companys control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, ordinary shares are classified as shareholders equity. The Companys Class A ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Companys control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the permanent deficit section of the Companys balance sheet.
The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable ordinary shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying value of redeemable ordinary shares are affected by charges against additional paid-in capital (to the extent available) and accumulated deficit.
At December 31, 2021, the Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption reflected in the balance sheet are reconciled in the following table:
Gross proceeds |
$ | 250,000,000 | ||
Less: |
||||
Class A ordinary shares issuance costs |
(12,479,666 | ) | ||
Plus: |
||||
Increase of carrying value to redemption value |
12,487,990 | |||
|
|
|||
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption |
$ | 250,008,324 | ||
|
|
FS-11
Offering Costs
The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99-1. Offering costs consisted of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the Initial Public Offering that were directly related to the Initial Public Offering. The Company incurred offering costs amounting to $12,479,666 as a result of the Initial Public Offering, consisting of $4,400,000 of underwriting commissions, $7,700,000 of deferred underwriting commissions, and $379,666 of other offering costs. The offering costs were charged to temporary equity and additional paid-in capital upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering. Immediately thereafter, temporary equity was remeasured and an adjustment was recognized through additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit to adjust temporary equity to the redemption value.
Share-Based Payment Arrangements
The Company accounts for stock awards in accordance with ASC 718, CompensationStock Compensation, which requires that all equity awards be accounted for at their fair value. Fair value is measured on the grant date and is equal to the underlying value of the stock.
Costs equal to these fair values are recognized ratably over the requisite service period based on the number of awards that are expected to vest, in the period of grant for awards that vest immediately and have no future service condition, or in the period the awards vest immediately after meeting a performance condition becomes probable (i.e., the occurrence of a Business Combination). For awards that vest over time, cumulative adjustments in later periods are recorded to the extent actual forfeitures differ from the Companys initial estimates; previously recognized compensation cost is reversed if the service or performance conditions are not satisfied and the award is forfeited.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carry forwards. ASC 740 additionally requires a valuation allowance to be established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized.
ASC 740 also clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprises financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement process for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Companys management has determined that the Cayman Islands is the Companys major tax jurisdiction. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of December 31, 2021. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
The Company is considered to be an exempted Cayman Islands company and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands or the United States. As such, the Companys tax provision was zero for the period presented.
Net Loss Per Ordinary Share
Net loss per ordinary share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. The Company has two classes of shares, which are referred to as Class A
FS-12
ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. Charges associated with the redeemable Class A ordinary shares are excluded from net loss per ordinary share as the redemption value approximates fair value.
As of December 31, 2021, the Company did not have any dilutive securities or other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into ordinary shares and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted net loss per ordinary share is the same as basic net loss per ordinary share for the periods presented.
The following table reflects the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share (in dollars, except per share amounts):
For the Period from February 25, 2021 (Inception) Through December 31, 2021 |
||||||||
Class A | Class B | |||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share |
||||||||
Numerator: |
||||||||
Allocation of net loss |
$ | (1,675,346 | ) | $ | (649,283 | ) | ||
Denominator: |
||||||||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding |
15,101,877 | 5,852,751 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share |
$ | (0.11 | ) | $ | (0.11 | ) |
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution which, at times may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $250,000. The Company has not experienced losses on these accounts.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Companys assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature.
Recent Accounting Standards
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, DebtDebt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and HedgingContracts in Entitys Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entitys Own Equity (ASU 2020-06), which simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current GAAP. ASU 2020-06 removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception and it also simplifies the diluted earnings per share calculation in certain areas. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We adopted ASU 2020-06 effective as of January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2020-06 did not have an impact on our financial statements.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Companys financial statements.
FS-13
Accrued Expense
Accrued expenses includes $1,506,528 of accrued legal expense, $5,000 of accrued printing expense, $282,500 of accrued due diligence expense, $70,000 of accrued regulatory filing fee and $770 of accrued accounting expense.
NOTE 3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
Pursuant to the Initial Public Offering, the Company sold 25,000,000 Public Shares, which includes a partial exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option in the amount of 3,000,000 Public Shares, at a price of $10.00 per Public Share. Unlike some other initial public offerings of special purpose acquisition companies, investors in the Initial Public Offering did not receive any warrants (which would typically become exercisable following completion of the Business Combination). The fair value attributable to the unexercised portion of the over-allotment option was deemed to be immaterial to the financial statements.
NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Substantially concurrently with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Sponsor purchased 640,000 Private Placement Shares at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Share, for an aggregate purchase price of $6,400,000. Each Private Placement Share is identical to the Class A ordinary shares sold in the Initial Public Offering, subject to certain limited exceptions as described in Note 7. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Shares was added to the net proceeds from the Initial Public Offering held in the Trust Account. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period or during any applicable extension period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Shares held in the Trust Account will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the Private Placement Shares will be worthless.
NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
On March 2, 2021, the Sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain offering and formation costs of the Company in consideration for which the Sponsor received 5,750,000 Class B ordinary shares (the Founder Shares). On June 29, 2021, the Company effected a share capitalization with respect to its Class B ordinary shares of 575,000 shares thereof, resulting in the Companys initial shareholders holding an aggregate of 6,325,000 Founder Shares. All share and per-share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the share capitalization. The Founder Shares included an aggregate of up to 825,000 shares that were subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters over-allotment option was exercised. As a result of the underwriters election to partially exercise their over-allotment option, a total of 750,000 Founder Shares are no longer subject to forfeiture and 75,000 Founder Shares were forfeited, resulting in an aggregate of 6,250,000 Founder Shares outstanding.
In June 2021, the Sponsor transferred 30,000 Founder Shares to Marc Semigran, an independent director of the Company. The sale of the Founders Shares to the Companys director is in the scope of FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (ASC 718). Under ASC 718, stock-based compensation associated with equity-classified awards is measured at fair value upon the grant date. The fair value of the 30,000 shares granted to the Companys director was $214,160 or approximately $7.14 per share. The Founders Shares were effectively sold subject to a performance condition (i.e., the occurrence of a Business Combination). Compensation expense related to the Founders Shares is recognized only when the performance condition is probable of occurrence. As of December 31, 2021, the Company determined that a Business Combination is not considered probable, and, therefore, no stock-based compensation expense has been recognized. Stock-based compensation would be recognized at the date a Business Combination is considered probable (i.e., upon consummation of a Business Combination) in an amount equal to the number of Founders Shares times the grant date fair value per share (unless subsequently modified) less the amount initially received for the purchase of the Founders Shares.
FS-14
The Sponsor and the Companys directors and officers have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares until the earlier of: (A) one year after the completion of a Business Combination and (B) subsequent to a Business Combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, rights issuances, consolidations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and other similar transactions) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after a Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, amalgamation, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Public Shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property.
Administrative Services Agreement
The Company entered into an agreement in which it will pay an affiliate of the Sponsor $10,000 per month, commencing on June 30, 2021, for office space, administrative and support services. Upon completion of a Business Combination or its liquidation, the Company will cease paying these monthly fees. For the period from February 25, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021, the Company incurred $60,000 in fees for these services, of which such amount was recognized in Operating and Formation Costs in the accompanying statement of operations.
Advances from Related Party
As of December 31, 2021, the Sponsor had advanced the Company $97,319 for working capital purposes, inclusive of the administrative services agreement noted above, of which $87,319 was repaid during the period ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, the outstanding balance was $10,000.
Promissory NoteRelated Party
On March 2, 2021, the Sponsor issued an unsecured promissory note to the Company (the Promissory Note), pursuant to which the Company could borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000. The Promissory Note was non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of December 31, 2021 and the completion of the Initial Public Offering. The outstanding balance under the Promissory Note of $300,000 was repaid at the closing of the Initial Public Offering on July 2, 2021. Borrowings are no longer available under the Promissory Note.
Related Party Loans
In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Companys officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (Working Capital Loans). If the Company completes a Business Combination, it may repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the Trust Account. In the event that the Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from the Trust Account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. As of December 31, 2021, there were no outstanding amounts under the Working Capital Loans.
NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Registration Rights
Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into on June 29, 2021, the holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Shares and any Private Placement Shares that may be issued on conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the conversion of the Founder Shares) are entitled
FS-15
to registration rights requiring the Company to register such securities for resale (in the case of the Founder Shares, only after conversion to the Class A ordinary shares). The holders of these securities will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain piggy-back registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The underwriters are entitled to a deferred underwriting commission of $7,700,000 in the aggregate. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Restricted Stock Unit Award
In September 2021, pursuant to a Director Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, dated September 24, 2021, between the Company and Uma Sinha, Ph.D., the Company agreed to grant 30,000 restricted stock units (RSUs) to Dr. Sinha, which grant is contingent on both the consummation of a Business Combination and a shareholder approved equity plan. The RSUs will vest upon the consummation of such Business Combination and represent 30,000 Class A ordinary shares of the Company that will settle on a date determined in the sole discretion of the Company that shall occur between the vesting date and March 15 of the year following the year in which vesting occurs.
The RSUs to be granted by the Company are in the scope of ASC 718. Under ASC 718, stock-based compensation associated with equity-classified awards is measured at fair value upon the grant date. The RSUs to be granted are subject to a performance condition (i.e., the occurrence of a Business Combination). Compensation expense related to the RSUs is recognized only when the performance condition is probable of occurrence under the applicable accounting literature in this circumstance. As of December 31, 2021, the Company did not have a shareholder approved equity plan and also determined that a Business Combination is not considered probable, therefore, no stock-based compensation expense has been recognized. Stock-based compensation would be recognized at the date a Business Combination is considered probable (i.e., upon consummation of a Business Combination) in an amount equal to the number of RSUs times the grant date fair value per share (unless subsequently modified).
NOTE 7. TEMPORARY EQUITY AND PERMANENT DEFICIT
Preference SharesThe Company is authorized to issue 5,000,000 preference shares, with a par value of $0.0001 per share. The Companys board of directors will be authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other special rights and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series. The Companys board of directors will be able to, without shareholder approval, issue preference shares with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the Companys ordinary shares and could have anti-takeover effects. At December 31, 2021, there were no preference shares issued or outstanding.
Class A Ordinary SharesThe Company is authorized to issue 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, with a par value of $0.0001 per share. At December 31, 2021, there were 640,000 Class A ordinary shares issued and outstanding, excluding 25,000,000 Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption which are presented as temporary equity.
Class B Ordinary SharesThe Company is authorized to issue 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, with a par value of $0.0001 per share. At December 31, 2021, there were 6,250,000 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding.
FS-16
Holders of record of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders and vote together as a single class, except as required by law; provided that prior to a Business Combination, holders of Class B ordinary shares will have the right to appoint all of the Companys directors and remove members of its board of directors for any reason, and holders of Class A ordinary shares will not be entitled to vote on the appointment of directors during such time.
The Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares at the time of the Business Combination, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for share sub-divisions, share dividends, rights issuances, consolidations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like. Additionally, in the event that additional (in excess of the amounts issued in the Initial Public Offering) Class A ordinary shares, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in connection with the closing of the Business Combination, the ratio at which the Class B ordinary shares will convert into Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding Class B ordinary shares agree to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B ordinary shares will equal, in the aggregate, 20% of the sum of the total number of Class A ordinary shares outstanding after such conversion (after giving effect to any redemptions of Class A ordinary shares by Public Shareholders, and excluding the Private Placement Shares), including any Class A ordinary shares issued or deemed issued, or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with the Business Combination, excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the Business Combination and any private placement shares issued to the Sponsor or its affiliates upon conversion of Working Capital Loans; provided that such conversion of Class B ordinary shares will never occur on a less than one-for-one-basis.
Private Placement SharesThe Private Placement Shares are not transferable, assignable, or salable until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination (except, among other limited exceptions, to the Companys directors and officers and other persons or entities affiliated with the Sponsor). Holders of the Private Placement Shares are entitled to certain registration rights. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period or during any applicable extension period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Shares held in the Trust Account will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the Private Placement Shares will be worthless.
NOTE 8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Company follows the guidance in ASC Topic 820 for its financial assets and liabilities that are re-measured and reported at fair value at each reporting period, and non-financial assets and liabilities that are re-measured and reported at fair value at least annually.
The fair value of the Companys financial assets and liabilities reflects managements estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1: |
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. |
FS-17
Level 2: |
Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active. |
Level 3: |
Unobservable inputs based on our assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. |
The following table presents information about the Companys assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2021, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value:
Description |
Level | December 31, 2021 | ||||||
Assets: |
||||||||
Marketable securities held in Trust Account |
1 | $ | 250,008,324 |
NOTE 9. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, other than as described below, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements, except as follows:
Proposed ProKidney Business Combination
On January 18, 2022, the Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the ProKidney Business Combination Agreement) with ProKidney LP, a limited partnership registered under the laws of Ireland (ProKidney), acting through its general partner ProKidney GP Limited, a private limited company incorporated under the laws of Ireland (Legacy GP).
The ProKidney Business Combination Agreement provides that, among other things and upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, prior to or at the closing of the ProKidney Business Combination Agreement (the Closing), the following transactions will occur (together with the other transactions contemplated by the ProKidney Business Combination Agreement, the ProKidney Business Combination): (1) ProKidney will issue to the Company a number of common units of ProKidney (Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units) equal to the number of fully diluted outstanding ordinary shares of the Company as of immediately prior to the Closing (but after giving effect to all redemptions of Public Shares and the purchase of Class A ordinary shares pursuant to one or more subscription agreements (the PIPE Investment)), in exchange for (a) (x) new Class B ordinary shares (New ProKidney Class B ordinary shares), which shares will have no economic rights but will entitle the holders thereof to vote on all matters on which shareholders of the Company are entitled to vote generally, and (y) restricted stock rights in respect of New ProKidney Class B ordinary shares (New ProKidney Class B PMEL RSRs), which restricted stock rights shall convert into New ProKidney Class B ordinary shares upon the vesting of the associated restricted common unit of ProKidney, (b) an amount in cash equal to the aggregate proceeds obtained by the Company in the PIPE Investment and (c) an amount in cash equal to the aggregate proceeds available for release to the Company from the Trust Account (after giving effect to all redemptions of Public Shares and after payment of any deferred underwriting commissions being held in the Trust Account and payment of certain transaction expenses); (2) Legacy GP will resign as the general partner of ProKidney and a private limited company incorporated under the laws of Ireland (New GP) will be admitted as the general partner of ProKidney; (3) ProKidney will distribute to the ProKidney unitholders the New ProKidney Class B ordinary shares and New ProKidney Class B PMEL RSRs received pursuant to clause (i)(a) (x) and (y) above; and (4) certain holders of ProKidney units will receive an aggregate of 17,500,000 restricted common units of ProKidney (Earnout RCUs) and 17,500,000 restricted stock rights of the Company (Earnout RSRs and, together with the Earnout RCUs, the Earnout Rights), which Earnout Rights will vest in three equal
FS-18
tranches upon the trading price of a Class A ordinary share reaching $15.00/share, $20.00/share and $25.00/share, respectively, on the terms set forth in the ProKidney Business Combination Agreement, or upon certain change of control events. When vested, the Earnout RCUs will automatically convert into Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units and the associated Earnout RSRs will automatically convert into New ProKidney Class B ordinary shares, respectively.
On January 18, 2022, the Company entered into subscription agreements (the Subscription Agreements) with certain investors (PIPE Investors) pursuant to which the PIPE Investors have subscribed for an aggregate of 57,500,000 Class A ordinary shares for a price of $10.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $575,000,000, of which (1) $156,400,000 is committed by certain existing directors, officers and equityholders of, or investment funds managed by Suvretta Capital Management, LLC, the Company, the Sponsor and/or their respective affiliates participating in the PIPE Investment, and (2) at least $50,000,000 (which may, at the election of such investors, be increased to up to $100,000,000) is committed by certain existing directors, officers and unitholders of ProKidney and/or its affiliates participating in the PIPE Investment (the ProKidney Related PIPE Investors); provided that the ProKidney Related PIPE Investors may elect instead to purchase Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units, together with a corresponding number of Class B ordinary shares, in lieu of Class A ordinary shares. The Subscription Agreements are subject to certain conditions, including that there shall not be in force any injunction or order enjoining or prohibiting the issuance and sale of the shares under the Subscription Agreements; the terms of the ProKidney Business Combination Agreement shall not have been amended, and the minimum cash condition therein shall not have been waived, in a manner that is materially adverse to the investor party to the Subscription Agreement; and the representation and warranties of the parties to the Subscription Agreement shall be accurate (subject to agreed materiality thresholds).
Following the Closing, the combined company will be organized in an umbrella partnership-C corporation (a so called Up-C) structure, and the Companys direct assets will consist of ProKidney Common Units and equity interests of New GP, and substantially all of the operating assets and business of the Company will be held indirectly through ProKidney.
The consummation of the proposed ProKidney Business Combination is subject to certain conditions as further described in the ProKidney Business Combination Agreement.
Legal Proceedings
Certain purported shareholders of the Company sent demand letters (the Demands) alleging deficiencies and/or omissions in the ProKidney Disclosure Statement filed by the Company with the SEC on February 14, 2022. The Demands seek additional disclosures to remedy these purported deficiencies. We believe that the allegations in the Demands are meritless.
Promissory Note: Unaudited
On April 20, 2022, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note (the Promissory Note) to the Sponsor pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000. The Promissory Note is non-interest bearing, unsecured and payable upon the earlier of July 2, 2023 and the effective date of the Companys Business Combination. The Promissory Note is subject to customary events of default which could, subject to certain conditions, cause the Promissory Note to become immediately due and payable. On April 26, 2022, the Company drew $250,000 under the Promissory Note.
FS-19
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
June 30, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 |
|||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
ASSETS |
||||||||
Current assets |
||||||||
Cash |
$ | 107,546 | $ | 440,488 | ||||
Prepaid expenses |
524,750 | 504,189 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Current Assets |
632,296 | 944,677 | ||||||
Non-current prepaid insurance |
| 247,500 | ||||||
Marketable securities held in Trust Account |
250,371,095 | 250,008,324 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ | 251,003,391 | $ | 251,200,501 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND PERMANENT DEFICIT |
||||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | | $ | 5,000 | ||||
Accrued expense |
7,603,038 | 1,864,796 | ||||||
Advances from related party |
80,687 | 10,000 | ||||||
Promissory note related party |
250,000 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current liabilities |
7,933,725 | 1,879,796 | ||||||
Deferred underwriting fee payable |
7,700,000 | 7,700,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Liabilities |
15,633,725 | 9,579,796 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) |
||||||||
Temporary Equity |
||||||||
Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, 25,000,000 shares at redemption value as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 |
250,371,095 | 250,008,324 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Permanent Deficit |
||||||||
Preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 |
| | ||||||
Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 640,000 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 25,000,000 shares subject to possible redemption) as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 |
64 | 64 | ||||||
Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 6,250,000 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 |
625 | 625 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
| | ||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(15,002,118 | ) | (8,388,308 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Permanent Deficit |
(15,001,429 | ) | (8,387,619 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND PERMANENT DEFICIT |
$ | 251,003,391 | $ | 251,200,501 | ||||
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
FS-20
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, |
For the Period from February 25, 2021 (Inception) Through June 30, |
||||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
Operating and formation costs |
$ | 2,607,609 | $ | 143 | $ | 6,613,810 | $ | 5,325 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Loss from operations |
(2,607,609 | ) | (143 | ) | (6,613,810 | ) | (5,325 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Other income: |
||||||||||||||||
Interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account |
337,595 | | 362,771 | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Other income, net |
337,595 | | 362,771 | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (2,270,014 | ) | $ | (143 | ) | $ | (6,251,039 | ) | $ | (5,325 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class A ordinary shares |
25,640,000 | | 25,640,000 | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per share, Class A ordinary shares |
$ | (0.07 | ) | $ | | $ | (0.20 | ) | $ | | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class B ordinary shares |
6,250,000 | 5,500,000 | 6,250,000 | 5,500,000 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per share, Class B ordinary shares |
$ | (0.07 | ) | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.20 | ) | $ | (0.00 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
FS-21
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN TEMPORARY EQUITY AND PERMANENT (DEFICIT) EQUITY
(UNAUDITED)
THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2022
Temporary Equity | Class A Ordinary Shares |
Class B Ordinary Shares |
Additional Paid-in Capital |
Accumulated Deficit |
Total Permanent Deficit |
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Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BalanceJanuary 1, 2022 |
25,000,000 | $ | 250,008,324 | 640,000 | $ | 64 | 6,250,000 | $ | 625 | $ | | $ | (8,388,308 | ) | $ | (8,387,619 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Remeasurement for Class A ordinary shares to redemption amount |
| (8,324 | ) | | | | | | 8,324 | 8,324 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | | | | | (3,981,025 | ) | (3,981,025 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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BalanceMarch 31, 2022 |
25,000,000 | $ | 250,000,000 | 640,000 | $ | 64 | 6,250,000 | $ | 625 | $ | | $ | (12,361,009 | ) | $ | (12,360,320 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
Remeasurement for Class A ordinary shares to redemption amount |
| 371,095 | | | | | | (371,095 | ) | (371,095 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | | | | | (2,270,014 | ) | (2,270,014 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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BalanceJune 30, 2022 |
25,000,000 | $ | 250,371,095 | 640,000 | $ | 64 | 6,250,000 | $ | 625 | $ | | $ | (15,002,118 | ) | $ | (15,001,429 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
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FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 AND FOR THE PERIOD FROM FEBRUARY 25, 2021 (INCEPTION) THROUGH JUNE 30, 2021
Temporary Equity | Class A Ordinary Shares |
Class B Ordinary Shares |
Additional Paid-in Capital |
Accumulated Deficit |
Total Permanent Equity |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BalanceFebruary 25, 2021 (inception) |
| $ | | | $ | | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Class B ordinary shares to Sponsor |
| | | | 6,325,000 | 633 | 24,367 | | 25,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | | | | | (5,182 | ) | (5,182 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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BalanceMarch 31, 2021 |
| $ | | | $ | | 6,325,000 | $ | 633 | $ | 24,367 | $ | (5,182 | ) | $ | 19,818 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | | | | | (143 | ) | (143 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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BalanceJune 30, 2021 |
| $ | | | $ | | 6,325,000 | $ | 633 | $ | 24,367 | $ | (5,325 | ) | $ | 19,675 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
FS-22
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 |
For the Period from February 25, 2021 (Inception) Through June 30, 2021 |
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Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |
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Net loss |
$ | (6,251,039 | ) | $ | (5,325 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
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Formation costs paid by Sponsor in exchange for issuance of Founder Shares |
| 5,000 | ||||||
Interest earned on marketable securities held in Trust Account |
(362,771 | ) | | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Prepaid expenses |
226,939 | (19,600 | ) | |||||
Advances from related party |
70,687 | | ||||||
Accrued expenses and accounts payable |
5,733,242 | 88 | ||||||
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Net cash used in operating activities |
(582,942 | ) | (19,837 | ) | ||||
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Cash Flows from Financing Activities: |
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Advances from related party |
| 25,643 | ||||||
Proceeds from promissory noterelated party |
250,000 | 300,000 | ||||||
Payment of offering costs |
| (82,268 | ) | |||||
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Net cash provided by financing activities |
250,000 | 243,375 | ||||||
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Net Change in Cash |
(332,942 | ) | 223,538 | |||||
CashBeginning of period |
440,488 | | ||||||
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CashEnd of period |
$ | 107,546 | $ | 223,538 | ||||
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Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities: |
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Offering costs paid by Sponsor in exchange for issuance of Founder Shares |
$ | | $ | 20,000 | ||||
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Remeasurement of Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption |
$ | 362,771 | $ | | ||||
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Offering costs included in accrued offering costs |
$ | | $ | 277,398 | ||||
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
FS-23
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND GOING CONCERN
Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III (now known as ProKidney Corp.) (the Company or SCS) was a blank check company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company on February 25, 2021. The Company was incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (a Business Combination). The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.
Business Combination
On July 11, 2022 (the Closing Date), SCS consummated the previously announced business combination (the Business Combination) with ProKidney LP, a limited partnership registered under the laws of Ireland (ProKidney). In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, SCS changed its name from Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III to ProKidney Corp. (or New ProKidney).
On the Closing Date, the following transactions occurred (the Transactions):
| (i) ProKidney issued to SCS a number of Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units equal to the number of fully diluted outstanding SCS ordinary shares as of immediately prior to the Closing (but after giving effect to all redemptions of SCS Class A ordinary shares and the purchase of SCS Class A ordinary shares and/or Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units pursuant to one or more subscription agreements (the PIPE Placement)), in exchange for (a) (x) New ProKidney Class B ordinary shares, which shares have no economic rights but entitle the holders thereof to vote on all matters on which shareholders of New ProKidney would be entitled to vote generally, and (y) restricted stock rights in respect of New ProKidney Class B ordinary shares (New ProKidney Class B PMEL RSRs), which restricted stock rights will convert into New ProKidney Class B ordinary shares upon the vesting of the associated PMEL RCUs, (b) an amount in cash equal to the aggregate proceeds obtained by SCS in the PIPE Placement and (c) an amount in cash equal to the aggregate proceeds available for release to SCS from SCSs trust account (Trust Account) (after giving effect to all redemptions of SCS Class A ordinary shares and after payment of any deferred underwriting commissions being held in the Trust Account and payment of certain transaction expenses); |
| (ii) Legacy GP resigned as the general partner of ProKidney and New GP was admitted as the general partner of ProKidney; |
| (iii) ProKidney distributed to the Closing ProKidney Unitholders the New ProKidney Class B ordinary shares and New ProKidney Class B PMEL RSRs received pursuant to clause (i)(a) (x) and (y) above; and |
| (iv) holders of Legacy ProKidney Class A Units received an aggregate of 17,500,000 Earnout RCUs and 17,500,000 Earnout RSRs (collectively, the Earnout Rights), which Earnout Rights vest in three equal tranches upon the achievement of certain New ProKidney share price milestones or certain change of control events. When vested, the Earnout RCUs will automatically convert into Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units and the associated Earnout RSRs will automatically convert into New ProKidney Class B ordinary shares, respectively. |
Holders of an aggregate of 22,829,769 Class A ordinary shares of SCS sold in its initial public offering (the Public Shares) properly exercised their right to have such shares redeemed for a full pro rata portion of the
FS-24
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
Trust Account, which was approximately $10.00 per share, or approximately $228.7 million in the aggregate, including interest.
In connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, SCS and New ProKidney entered into subscription agreements (the Subscription Agreements) with investors (the PIPE Investors), pursuant to which, among other things, New ProKidney agreed to issue and sell in a private placement an aggregate of 52,480,000 shares of New ProKidney Class A ordinary shares and 5,000,000 Post-Combination ProKidney Common Units (together with a corresponding number of New ProKidney Class B ordinary shares) to the PIPE Investors for a purchase price of $10.00 per share or Post-Combination ProKidney Common Unit, as applicable, and an aggregate purchase price of $574.8 million.
Immediately after giving effect to the Business Combination, the following equity securities of New ProKidney were issued and outstanding: (i) 9,060,231 New ProKidney Class A ordinary shares issued to the holders of pre-Closing SCS Class A ordinary shares and SCS Class B ordinary shares, (ii) 52,480,000 Class A ordinary shares issued in the PIPE Placement and (iii) 170,723,961 New ProKidney Class B ordinary shares, exclusive of 9,276,039 ProKidney Class B RSRs and 17,500,000 Earnout RSRs. As noted above, an aggregate of approximately $228.7 million was paid from the Trust Account to holders that properly exercised their right to have public shares redeemed, and the remaining balance immediately prior to the Closing of approximately $21.7 million remained in the Trust Account. The remaining amount in the Trust Account was used to fund expenses incurred by SCS and ProKidney in connection with the Business Combination and will be used for general corporate purposes of New ProKidney following the Business Combination.
Business Prior to the Business Combination
Prior to the Business Combination, the Company had one wholly owned subsidiary, ProKidney Corp. GP Limited., which was incorporated in Dublin on June 3, 2022 (Merger Sub).
All activity for the period from February 25, 2021 (inception) through June 30, 2022 relates to the Companys formation, the initial public offering (the Initial Public Offering), described below, and, subsequent to the Initial Public Offering, identifying a target company for a business combination and consummating the acquisition of ProKidney.
The registration statements for the Companys Initial Public Offering became effective on June 29, 2021 and June 30, 2021. On July 2, 2021, the Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 25,000,000 Class A ordinary shares (the Public Shares), which includes the partial exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option in the amount of 3,000,000 Public Shares, at $10.00 per Public Share, generating gross proceeds of $250,000,000, which is described in Note 3. The fair value attributable to the unexercised portion of the over-allotment option was deemed to be immaterial to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Substantially concurrently with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 640,000 Class A ordinary shares (the Private Placement Shares) at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Share in a private placement to SCS Sponsor III LLC, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (the Sponsor), generating gross proceeds of $6,400,000, which is described in Note 4.
Transaction costs amounted to $12,479,666, consisting of $4,400,000 of underwriting fees, $7,700,000 of deferred underwriting fees and $379,666 of other offering costs.
FS-25
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
In connection with the closing of the Initial Public Offering on July 2, 2021, an amount of $250,000,000 ($10.00 per Public Share) from the net proceeds of the sale of the Public Shares in the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Shares was placed in the Trust Account, and invested in U.S. government treasury bills with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds investing solely in U.S. Treasuries and meeting certain conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the Investment Company Act).
Risks and Uncertainties
Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the pandemic could have a negative effect on the Companys business, financial position, results of operations and/or the search for a target company, the specific impact was not readily determinable as of the date of these condensed consolidated financial statements. The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Liquidity and Going Concern
As of June 30, 2022, the Company had $107,546 in its operating bank account and working capital deficit of $7,301,429.
Until the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company used the funds not held in the Trust Account for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing due diligence on prospective target businesses, paying for travel expenditures, selecting the target business to acquire, and structuring, negotiating and consummating the Business Combination with ProKidney. The Company completed its Business Combination on July 11, 2022 with ProKidney, and has raised sufficient capital for its operations.
NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Certain information or footnote disclosures normally included in condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes necessary for a complete presentation of financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of a normal recurring nature, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, operating results and cash flows for the periods presented.
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements contained in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 24, 2022. The interim results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2022 or for any future periods.
FS-26
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an emerging growth company, as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the JOBS Act), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Companys condensed consolidated financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the condensed 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 contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Significant accounting estimates include the determination of the fair value of Class A ordinary shares that were subject to possible redemption and the fair value of Founder Shares transferred to directors. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.
FS-27
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
Marketable Securities Held in Trust Account
At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, substantially all of the assets held in the Trust Account were held in a money market fund which is invested primarily in U.S. Treasury securities.
Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption
The Company accounts for its Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity. Class A ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption are classified as a liability instrument and are measured at redemption value. Conditionally redeemable ordinary shares (including ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Companys control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, ordinary shares are classified as permanent deficit. The Companys Class A ordinary shares feature certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Companys control and subject to occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented at redemption value as temporary equity, outside of the permanent deficit section of the Companys condensed consolidated balance sheets.
The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable ordinary shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. Increases or decreases in the carrying value of redeemable ordinary shares are affected by charges against additional paid-in capital (to the extent available) and accumulated deficit.
FS-28
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets are reconciled in the following table:
Gross proceeds |
$ | 250,000,000 | ||
Less: |
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Class A ordinary shares issuance costs |
(12,479,666 | ) | ||
Plus: |
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Accretion of carrying value to redemption value |
12,487,990 | |||
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Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, December 31, 2021 |
250,008,324 | |||
Less: Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value |
(8,324 | ) | ||
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Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, March 31, 2022 |
250,000,000 | |||
Add: Remeasurement of carrying value to redemption value |
371,095 | |||
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Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, June 30, 2022 |
$ | 250,371,095 | ||
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Offering Costs
The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99-1. Offering costs consisted of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred through the Initial Public Offering that were directly related to the Initial Public Offering. The Company incurred offering costs amounting to $12,479,666 as a result of the Initial Public Offering, consisting of $4,400,000 of underwriting commissions, $7,700,000 of deferred underwriting commissions, and $379,666 of other offering costs. As the shares sold in the IPO are redeemable, the offering costs were charged to temporary equity and additional paid-in capital upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering. Immediately thereafter, temporary equity was remeasured, and an adjustment was recognized through additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit to adjust temporary equity to the redemption value.
Share-Based Payment Arrangements
The Company accounts for stock awards in accordance with ASC 718, CompensationStock Compensation, which requires that all equity awards be accounted for at their fair value. Fair value is measured on the grant date and is equal to the underlying value of the stock.
Costs equal to these fair values are recognized ratably over the requisite service period based on the number of awards that are expected to vest, in the period of grant for awards that vest immediately and have no future service condition, or in the period the awards vest immediately after meeting a performance condition becomes probable (i.e., the occurrence of a Business Combination). For awards that vest over time, cumulative adjustments in later periods are recorded to the extent actual forfeitures differ from the Companys initial estimates; previously recognized compensation cost is reversed if the service or performance conditions are not satisfied and the award is forfeited.
FS-29
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the condensed consolidated financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carry forwards. ASC 740 additionally requires a valuation allowance to be established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized.
ASC 740 also clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprises condensed consolidated financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement process for condensed consolidated financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Companys management has determined that the Cayman Islands is the Companys major tax jurisdiction. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position. The Company has been subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception.
The Company is considered to be an exempted Cayman Islands company and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands or the United States. As such, the Companys tax provision was zero for the periods presented.
Net Loss per Ordinary Share
Net loss per ordinary share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. The Company has two classes of ordinary shares, which are referred to as Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. Charges associated with the redeemable Class A ordinary shares are excluded from net loss per ordinary share as the redemption value approximates fair value.
As of June 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company did not have any dilutive securities or other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into ordinary shares and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted net loss per ordinary share is the same as basic net loss per ordinary share for the periods presented.
FS-30
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
The following table reflects the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share (in dollars, except per share amounts):
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, |
For the Period from 2021 (inception) June 30, |
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2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class B | Class A | Class B | Class A | Class B | Class A | Class B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share |
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Numerator: |
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Allocation of net loss, as adjusted |
$ | (1,825,123 | ) | $ | (444,891 | ) | $ | | $ | (143 | ) | $ | (5,025,922 | ) | $ | (1,225,117 | ) | $ | | $ | (5,325 | ) | ||||||||||
Denominator: |
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Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding |
25,640,000 | 6,250,000 | | 5,500,000 | 25,640,000 | 6,250,000 | | 5,500,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share |
$ | (0.07 | ) | $ | (0.07 | ) | $ | | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.20 | ) | $ | (0.20 | ) | $ | | $ | (0.00 | ) |
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution which, at times may exceed the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation coverage limit of $250,000. The Company has not experienced losses on these accounts.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Companys assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, (ASC 820), approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature.
Recent Accounting Standards
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, DebtDebt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and HedgingContracts in Entitys Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entitys Own Equity (ASU 2020-06), which simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current GAAP. ASU 2020-06 removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception and it also simplifies the diluted earnings per share calculation in certain areas. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2020-06 effective as of January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2020-06 did not have an impact on the Companys condensed consolidated financial statements.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Companys condensed consolidated financial statements.
FS-31
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
Accrued Expenses
At June 30, 2022, accrued expenses included $5,712,109 of legal expense, $665,684 of printing expense, $529,688 of due diligence expense, $124,950 of professional fee expense, $70,000 of regulatory fee expense and $500,606 of consulting expense, of which $5,500,000 of legal expense, $500,606 of consulting expense, $665,684 of printing expense, $118,450 of accounting fee and $529,688 due diligence expenses were incurred in connection with the Business Combination with ProKidney.
At December 31, 2021, accrued expenses included $1,506,528 of legal expense, $5,000 of printing expense, $282,500 of due diligence expense, $70,000 of regulatory filing fee and $770 of accounting expense.
NOTE 3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
Pursuant to the Initial Public Offering, the Company sold 25,000,000 Public Shares, which included a partial exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option in the amount of 3,000,000 Public Shares, at a price of $10.00 per Public Share. Unlike some other initial public offerings of special purpose acquisition companies, investors in the Initial Public Offering did not receive any warrants (which would typically become exercisable following completion of the Business Combination). The fair value attributable to the unexercised portion of the over-allotment option was deemed to be immaterial to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Substantially concurrently with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Sponsor purchased 640,000 Private Placement Shares at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Share, for an aggregate purchase price of $6,400,000. Each Private Placement Share was identical to the Class A ordinary shares sold in the Initial Public Offering, subject to certain limited exceptions as described in Note 7. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Shares was added to the net proceeds from the Initial Public Offering held in the Trust Account. If the Company did not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period or during any applicable extension period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Shares held in the Trust Account would be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the Private Placement Shares would be worthless.
NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Founder Shares
On March 2, 2021, the Sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain offering and formation costs of the Company in consideration for which the Sponsor received 5,750,000 Class B ordinary shares (the Founder Shares). On June 29, 2021, the Company effected a share capitalization with respect to its Class B ordinary shares of 575,000 shares thereof, resulting in the Companys initial shareholders holding an aggregate of 6,325,000 Founder Shares. All share and per-share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the share capitalization. The Founder Shares included an aggregate of up to 825,000 shares that were subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriters over-allotment option was exercised. As a result of the underwriters election to partially exercise their over-allotment option, a total of 750,000 Founder Shares were no longer subject to forfeiture and 75,000 Founder Shares were forfeited, resulting in an aggregate of 6,250,000 Founder Shares outstanding.
FS-32
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
In June 2021, the Sponsor transferred 30,000 Founder Shares to Marc Semigran, an independent director of the Company. The sale of the Founder Shares to the Companys director is in the scope of FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation (ASC 718). Under ASC 718, stock-based compensation associated with equity-classified awards is measured at fair value upon the grant date. The fair value of the 30,000 shares granted to the Companys director was $214,160 or approximately $7.14 per share. The Founder Shares were effectively sold subject to a performance condition (i.e., the occurrence of a Business Combination). Compensation expense related to the Founder Shares is recognized only when the performance condition is probable of occurrence under the applicable accounting literature in this circumstance. As of June 30, 2022, the Company determined that a Business Combination was not considered probable, and, therefore, no stock-based compensation expense has been recognized. Stock-based compensation would be recognized at the date a Business Combination would be considered probable (i.e., upon consummation of a Business Combination) in an amount equal to the number of Founder Shares times the grant date fair value per share (unless subsequently modified) less the amount initially received for the purchase of the Founder Shares.
The Sponsor and the Companys directors and officers have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to transfer, assign or sell any of their Founder Shares until the earlier of: (A) one year after the completion of a Business Combination and (B) subsequent to a Business Combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, rights issuances, consolidations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and other similar transactions) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after a Business Combination, or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, amalgamation, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Public Shareholders having the right to exchange their Class A ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property.
Administrative Services Agreement
The Company entered into an agreement in which it would pay an affiliate of the Sponsor $10,000 per month, commencing on June 30, 2021, for office space, administrative and support services. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company incurred $30,000 and $60,000, respectively, in fees for these services, of which is included in amounts due to related party in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet. For the three months ended June 30, 2021 and for the period from February 25, 2021 (inception) through June 30, 2021, the Company did not incur any fees for these services. Upon completion of the Business Combination, the Company ceased paying these monthly fees.
Due to Related Party
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, an affiliate of the Sponsor advanced the Company $37,064 and $70,687, respectively, for working capital purposes. No repayments of these amounts were made during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, the affiliate of the Sponsor advanced the Company $25,643, of which such amount was repaid on July 7, 2021. As of June 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, the outstanding balance under the advances amounted to $80,687 and $10,000 respectively.
Promissory NoteRelated Party
On March 2, 2021, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor (the Pre-IPO Sponsor Promissory Note), pursuant to which the Company could borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of
FS-33
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
$300,000. The Pre-IPO Sponsor Promissory Note was non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of December 31, 2021 and the completion of the Initial Public Offering. The outstanding balance under the Pre-IPO Sponsor Promissory Note of $300,000 was repaid at the closing of the Initial Public Offering on July 2, 2021. Borrowings are no longer available under the Pre-IPO Sponsor Promissory Note.
On April 20, 2022, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note (the Promissory Note) to the Sponsor pursuant to which the Company could borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000. The Promissory Note was non-interest bearing, unsecured and payable upon the earlier of July 2, 2023 and the effective date of the Companys Business Combination. The Promissory Note was subject to customary events of default which could, subject to certain conditions, cause the Promissory Notes to become immediately due and payable. On April 26, 2022, the Company drew $250,000 under the Promissory Note. As of June 30, 2022, there was $250,000 outstanding under the Promissory Note and the amount was paid off at the closing of the Business Combination.
NOTE 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company was a party to agreements with certain vendors that provide for fees that are contingent upon the consummation of a Business Combination in an aggregate amount of approximately $13.4 million, excluding the deferred underwriting fee discussed below. The Company was also required to pay certain fees and expenses of such vendors regardless of whether or not a Business Combination is consummated.
Registration Rights
Pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into on June 29, 2021, the holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Shares and any Private Placement Shares that could be issued on conversion of any Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the conversion of the Founder Shares) were entitled to registration rights requiring the Company to register such securities for resale (in the case of the Founder Shares, only after conversion to the Class A ordinary shares). The holders of these securities would be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders had certain piggy-back registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Company would bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. At the closing of the Business Combination, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, with the Sponsor, the Companys directors and the Closing ProKidney unitholders, which replaced the existing registration rights agreement.
General Legal Matters
Certain purported shareholders of the Company sent demand letters (the Demands) alleging deficiencies and/or omissions in the preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed by the Company with the SEC on February 14, 2022. The Demands seek additional disclosures to remedy these purported deficiencies. The Company believes that the allegations in the Demands are meritless.
Underwriting Agreement
The underwriters were entitled to a deferred underwriting commission of $7,700,000 in the aggregate. The deferred fee was paid to the underwriters at the closing of the Business Combination on July 11, 2022.
FS-34
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
Restricted Stock Unit Award
In September 2021, pursuant to a Director Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, dated September 24, 2021, between the Company and Uma Sinha, the Company agreed to grant 30,000 restricted stock units (RSUs) to Dr. Sinha, which grant was contingent on both the consummation of a Business Combination and a shareholder approved equity plan. The RSUs were to vest upon the consummation of such Business Combination and represent 30,000 Class A ordinary shares of the Company that will settle on a date determined in the sole discretion of the Company that shall occur between the vesting date and March 15 of the year following the year in which vesting occurs.
The RSUs granted by the Company are in the scope of ASC 718. Under ASC 718, stock-based compensation associated with equity-classified awards is measured at fair value upon the grant date. The RSUs granted were subject to a performance condition (i.e., the occurrence of a Business Combination). Compensation expense related to the RSUs is recognized only when the performance condition is probable of occurrence under the applicable accounting literature in this circumstance. As of June 30, 2022, the Company did not have a shareholder approved equity plan and also determined that a Business Combination was not considered probable, and, therefore, no stock-based compensation expense has been recognized. Stock-based compensation was recognized at the date a Business Combination was considered probable (i.e., upon consummation of a Business Combination) in an amount equal to the number of RSUs times the grant date fair value per share (unless subsequently modified).
NOTE 7. TEMPORARY EQUITY AND PERMANENT DEFICIT
Preference SharesThe Company is authorized to issue 5,000,000 preference shares, with a par value of $0.0001 per share. The Companys board of directors will be authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other special rights and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series. The Companys board of directors will be able to, without shareholder approval, issue preference shares with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the Companys ordinary shares and could have anti-takeover effects. At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were no preference shares issued or outstanding.
Class A Ordinary SharesThe Company is authorized to issue 500,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, with a par value of $0.0001 per share. At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were 640,000 Class A ordinary shares issued and outstanding, excluding 25,000,000 Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption which are presented as temporary equity.
Class B Ordinary SharesAs of June 30, 2022, the Company was authorized to issue 50,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, with a par value of $0.0001 per share. At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were 6,250,000 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding.
Holders of record of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders and vote together as a single class, except as required by law; provided that prior to a Business Combination, holders of Class B ordinary shares had the right to appoint all of the Companys directors and remove members of its board of directors for any reason, and holders of Class A ordinary shares were not entitled to vote on the appointment of directors during such time.
FS-35
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
The Class B ordinary shares automatically converted into Class A ordinary shares at the time of the Business Combination, or earlier at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for share sub-divisions, share dividends, rights issuances, consolidations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like. Additionally, in the event that additional (in excess of the amounts issued in the Initial Public Offering) Class A ordinary shares, or equity-linked securities, were issued or deemed issued in connection with the closing of the Business Combination, the ratio at which the Class B ordinary shares would convert into Class A ordinary shares would be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding Class B ordinary shares agreed to waive such anti-dilution adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B ordinary shares would equal, in the aggregate, 20% of the sum of the total number of Class A ordinary shares outstanding after such conversion (after giving effect to any redemptions of Class A ordinary shares by Public Shareholders, and excluding the Private Placement Shares), including any Class A ordinary shares issued or deemed issued, or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or rights issued or deemed issued, by the Company in connection with the Business Combination, excluding any Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities exercisable for or convertible into Class A ordinary shares issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the Business Combination and any private placement shares issued to the Sponsor or its affiliates upon conversion of Working Capital Loans; provided that such conversion of Class B ordinary shares would never occur on a less than one-for-one-basis.
Private Placement SharesThe Private Placement Shares are not transferable, assignable, or salable until 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination (except, among other limited exceptions, to the Companys directors and officers and other persons or entities affiliated with the Sponsor). Holders of the Private Placement Shares are entitled to certain registration rights. If the Company did not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period or during any applicable extension period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Shares held in the Trust Account would be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the Private Placement Shares would be worthless.
NOTE 8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Company follows the guidance in ASC Topic 820 for its financial assets and liabilities that arere-measured and reported at fair value at each reporting period, and non-financial assets and liabilities that are re-measured and reported at fair value at least annually.
The fair value of the Companys financial assets and liabilities reflects managements estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1: |
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. |
FS-36
PROKIDNEY CORP.
(F/K/A SOCIAL CAPITAL SUVRETTA HOLDINGS CORP. III)
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
Level 2: |
Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active. | |
Level 3: |
Unobservable inputs based on the Companys assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. |
The following table presents information about the Companys assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value:
Description |
Level | June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||
Marketable securities held in Trust Account |
1 | $ | 250,371,095 | $ | 250,008,324 |
NOTE 9. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date that the condensed consolidated financial statements were issued. Based upon this review, other than as described below, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the condensed consolidated financial statements.
As further described in Note 1, on July 11, 2022, the Company completed its Business Combination with ProKidney.
FS-37
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Members and the Board of Directors of ProKidney LP
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of ProKidney LP (the Company) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, statements of changes in members equity and cash flows for the years then ended and the related notes (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Substantial Doubt About the Companys Ability to Continue as a Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations, has a net capital deficiency, and has stated that substantial doubt exists about the Companys ability to continue as a going concern. Managements evaluation of the events and conditions and managements plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 2. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Our opinion is not modified with respect to this matter.
Adoption of ASC 842, Leases
As discussed in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for leases in the year ended December 31, 2020 due to the adoption of ASC 842, Leases. Our opinion is not modified with respect to this matter.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Companys auditor since 2019.
Raleigh, North Carolina
April 11, 2022
FS-38
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
December 31, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Current assets |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 20,558 | $ | 4,578 | ||||
Prepaid assets |
588 | 202 | ||||||
Prepaid clinical |
6,100 | 753 | ||||||
Other current assets |
25 | 52 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current assets |
27,271 | 5,585 | ||||||
Fixed assets, net |
11,358 | 8,914 | ||||||
Right of use assets, net |
1,241 | 1,559 | ||||||
Intangible assets, net |
428 | 642 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total assets |
$ | 40,298 | $ | 16,700 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Liabilities and Equity |
||||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 2,834 | $ | 781 | ||||
Lease liabilities |
267 | 225 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other |
9,213 | 4,496 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current liabilities |
12,314 | 5,502 | ||||||
Lease liabilities, net of current portion |
1,067 | 1,334 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies |
||||||||
Members equity: |
||||||||
Class A Units (186,500,000 and 115,000,000 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively) |
186,500 | 115,000 | ||||||
Class B Units (7,767,122 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020) |
1,927 | 1,228 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(161,510 | ) | (106,364 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total members equity |
26,917 | 9,864 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities and equity |
$ | 40,298 | $ | 16,700 | ||||
|
|
|
|
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.)
FS-39
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands, except for share and per share data)
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Revenue |
$ | | $ | | ||||
Operating expenses |
||||||||
Research and development |
46,255 | 21,042 | ||||||
General and administrative |
8,855 | 5,982 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total operating expenses |
55,110 | 27,024 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Operating loss |
(55,110 | ) | (27,024 | ) | ||||
Other income |
||||||||
Interest income |
2 | 43 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net loss before income taxes |
(55,108 | ) | (26,981 | ) | ||||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
38 | (232 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net and comprehensive loss |
$ | (55,146 | ) | $ | (26,749 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Weighted average Class A Units outstanding: |
||||||||
Basic and diluted |
150,706,849 | 104,986,301 | ||||||
Net loss per Class A Unit: |
||||||||
Basic and diluted |
$ | (0.37 | ) | $ | (0.25 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.)
FS-40
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Members Equity
(in thousands, except for share data)
Class A | Class B | Accumulated Deficit |
Total Members Equity |
|||||||||||||||||
Units | Amount | Profits Interests |
||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2020 |
95,000,000 | $ | 95,000 | $ | 498 | $ | (79,615 | ) | $ | 15,883 | ||||||||||
Capital contribution |
20,000,000 | 20,000 | | | 20,000 | |||||||||||||||
Equity-based compensation |
| | 730 | | 730 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | (26,749 | ) | (26,749 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2020 |
115,000,000 | 115,000 | 1,228 | (106,364 | ) | 9,864 | ||||||||||||||
Capital contribution |
71,500,000 | 71,500 | | | 71,500 | |||||||||||||||
Equity-based compensation |
| | 699 | | 699 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | (55,146 | ) | (55,146 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2021 |
186,500,000 | $ | 186,500 | $ | 1,927 | $ | (161,510 | ) | $ | 26,917 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.)
FS-41
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities |
||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (55,146 | ) | $ | (26,749 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows |
||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
1,984 | 964 | ||||||
Equity-based compensation |
699 | 730 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities |
||||||||
Other assets |
(5,704 | ) | (809 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
7,868 | 683 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash flows used in operating activities |
(50,299 | ) | (25,181 | ) | ||||
Cash flows used in investing activities |
||||||||
Proceeds from sale of equipment |
1 | | ||||||
Purchase of equipment and facility expansion |
(5,192 | ) | (5,456 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash flows used in investing activities |
(5,191 | ) | (5,456 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities |
||||||||
Payments on finance leases |
(30 | ) | (11 | ) | ||||
Net cash contribution |
71,500 | 20,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash flows from financing activities |
71,470 | 19,989 | ||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
15,980 | (10,648 | ) | |||||
Cash, beginning of period |
4,578 | 15,226 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash, end of period |
$ | 20,558 | $ | 4,578 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities: |
||||||||
Equipment and facility expansion included in accounts payable and accrued expenses |
$ | 1,295 | $ | 1,840 | ||||
|
|
|
|
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.)
FS-42
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
Note 1: The Company
ProKidney LLC was formed as a Bermuda limited liability company on December 12, 2018 and funded with $75,000,000 on December 31, 2018. On January 9, 2019 (the Acquisition Date), ProKidney LLC acquired all of the equity interests in inRegen and Twin City Bio LLC (TC Bio) for $62,000,000. inRegen was duly incorporated under the Cayman Islands Companies Act (as amended) on December 21, 2015 as an exempted company. During 2020, inRegens name was changed to ProKidney (and is referred to herein as ProKidney-KY), and TC Bios name was changed to ProKidney, LLC (and is referred to herein as ProKidney-US). ProKidney-US was formed as a limited liability company under the laws of Delaware on December 18, 2015. In August 2021, ProKidney LP was organized as a limited partnership under the laws and regulations of Ireland, with ProKidney LLC becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of ProKidney LP (and is referred to herein as ProKidney). Following this reorganization on August 5, 2021 and for the purposes of these financial statements, the term ProKidney, as used herein, refers to ProKidney LP following this reorganization, and the financial information presented herein is that of ProKidney LP and its wholly owned subsidiaries.
ProKidney acquired the equity interests in ProKidney-KY to develop its Renal Advanced Cell Therapy, which has the potential to stabilize or improve renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease or delay or eliminate the need for dialysis and organ transplantation. ProKidney acquired ProKidney-US to provide contractual development and manufacturing services to ProKidney-KY, which is ProKidney-USs only customer.
Because ProKidney is a limited partnership, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company (as defined below), whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, are solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no holder of equity interests in ProKidney (members equity) is obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a holder of members equity.
Note 2: Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements reflect the operations of ProKidney and its wholly-owned subsidiaries consisting of ProKidney-KY and ProKidney-US (together, the Company). All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) and Accounting Standards Update (ASU) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). These consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. Dollars.
Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company performed an analysis of its ability to continue as a going concern. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $161,510,000. The Company has generated losses from operations for each year since its inception including losses from operations of $55,146,000 and $26,749,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company intends to continue to conduct significant
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additional research, development, and clinical study activities which, together with expenses incurred for general and administrative expenses, are expected to result in continuing operating losses for the foreseeable future. The amount of future losses and when, if ever, the Company will achieve profitability are uncertain. The Companys ability to achieve profitability will depend, among other things, on successfully completing clinical studies, obtaining requisite regulatory approvals, establishing appropriate pricing for its product with payers, and raising sufficient funds to finance the Companys activities. No assurance can be given that the Companys clinical development efforts will be successful, that regulatory approvals will be obtained, or that the Company will be able to achieve appropriate pricing and market access or that profitability, if achieved, can be sustained. These matters raise substantial doubt about the Companys ability to continue as a going concern. The Company believes that, based on its current business plan, its existing cash and cash equivalents of $20,558,000 at December 31, 2021 will not be sufficient to fund its obligations for the next 12 months. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the outcome of this uncertainty.
Our ability to execute our operating plan depends on our ability to obtain additional funding through equity offerings, debt financings or potential licensing and collaboration arrangements. There can be no assurance that additional funds will be available when needed from any source or, if available, will be available on terms that are acceptable to us. Even if we raise additional capital, we may also be required to modify, delay or abandon some of our plans which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition and our ability to achieve our intended business objectives.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements, in accordance with GAAP, requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the amounts of expenses during the reported periods. Certain estimates in these consolidated financial statements have been made in connection with the calculation of research and development expenses, equity-based compensation expense and the provision for or benefit from income taxes. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions, including in certain circumstances future projections, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results in the period in which they become known.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less on the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these items.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Cash and equivalents are financial instruments that are potentially subject to concentrations of credit risk. The Companys cash and equivalents are deposited in accounts at large financial institutions, and amounts may exceed federally insured limits.
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Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses which have been presented on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 consisted of the following (in thousands):
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
|||||||
Compensation |
$ | 1,832 | $ | 1,085 | ||||
Clinical study related costs |
2,031 | 1,154 | ||||||
Facility expansion costs |
19 | 1,709 | ||||||
Accrued legal |
964 | | ||||||
Manufacturing improvement costs |
4,164 | | ||||||
Other accrued expenses |
203 | 548 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total accrued expenses and other |
$ | 9,213 | $ | 4,496 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses are comprised of costs incurred in performing research and development activities, including salaries, benefits, third party license fees, and external costs of outside vendors engaged to conduct manufacturing and preclinical development activities and clinical trials.
The Company records accruals based on estimates of services received, efforts expended, and amounts owed pursuant to contracts with numerous contract research organizations. In the normal course of business, the Company contracts with third parties to perform various clinical study activities in the ongoing development of potential products. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation and variation from contract to contract and may result in uneven payment flows. Payments under the contracts depend on factors such as the achievement of certain events and the completion of portions of the clinical study or similar conditions. The objective of the Companys accrual policy is to match the recording of expenses in its financial statements to the actual services received and efforts expended. As such, expense accruals related to clinical studies are recognized based on the companys estimate of the degree of completion of the event or events specified in the specific clinical study.
The Company records nonrefundable advance payments it makes for future research and development activities as prepaid expenses. Prepaid expenses are recognized as expense in the Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss as the Company receives the related goods or services.
Costs incurred in obtaining technology licenses are charged to research and development expense as purchased in-process research and development if the technology licensed has not reached technological feasibility and has no alternative future use.
Fixed Assets
Fixed assets are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Generally, expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense and major improvements or replacements are capitalized. The Company computes depreciation and amortization using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of, the life of the lease or the estimated useful life of the leasehold improvement. The estimated useful lives are as follows:
Computer equipment and software |
3-5 years | |
Furniture and equipment |
5-7 years | |
Leasehold improvements |
remainder of lease term |
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Fixed assets consisted of the following (in thousands):
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
|||||||
Furniture and equipment |
$ | 2,180 | $ | 2,011 | ||||
Computer equipment and software |
569 | 130 | ||||||
Leasehold improvements |
10,517 | 76 | ||||||
Construction in progress |
351 | 7,854 | ||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation |
(2,259 | ) | (1,157 | ) | ||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Total fixed assets, net |
$ | 11,358 | $ | 8,914 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $1,451,000 and $606,000, respectively.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are comprised of acquired assembled workforce, which are accounted for in accordance with ASC 350IntangiblesGoodwill and Other. The acquired assembled workforce is amortized on a straight-line basis over the useful life of five years. The following table summarizes information related to the Companys assembled workforce intangible asset (in thousands):
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
|||||||
Gross carrying amount |
$ | 1,073 | $ | 1,073 | ||||
Accumulated amortization |
645 | 431 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net carrying amount |
$ | 428 | $ | 642 | ||||
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|
|
|
Estimated amortization expense for each of the years 2022 through 2023 is $215,000 and $5,000 for 2024. Amortization expense relating to the assembled workforce intangible asset was $214,000 for the year ended December 31, 2021 and $215,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets such as fixed assets and intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. No impairment charges have been recorded for the years ended December 31, 2021 or 2020.
Income Taxes
The Company was organized as a limited liability company, is now a limited partnership and is classified as a partnership for U.S. income tax purposes, and as such, only records a provision for federal and state income taxes on its subsidiaries organized as C corporations or which have elected to be treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. ProKidney-US is a limited liability company and has elected to be treated as a C corporation. Therefore, a provision for federal and state taxes has been recorded. ProKidney-KY has been granted, by the Government in Council of the Cayman Islands, tax concessions under an undertaking certificate exempting it from any tax levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations in relation to its operations or in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax for a period of twenty years from January 20, 2016. ProKidney-KY elected to be treated as an entity disregarded from its owner for U.S. tax purposes, and as a result, it has not recorded an income tax provision.
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The Company uses the liability method in accounting for income taxes as required by ASC Topic 740 Income Taxes, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the results of operations in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets unless it is more likely than not that such assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, available taxes in the carryback periods, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Accordingly, the Company has provided a full valuation allowance to offset the net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2021.
Interest and penalties related to income taxes are included in the benefit (provision) for income taxes in the Companys Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company has not incurred any significant interest or penalties related to income taxes in any of the periods presented.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value is described below. This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
Level 1 | Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities | |
Level 2 | Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable through correlation with market data | |
Level 3 | Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions |
The carrying values of cash equivalents, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. There are no available-for-sale securities included in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Balances recognized related to the Companys operating and finance leases are included in right-of-use assets, net and lease liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Right of use assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease if it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise the option. As most of the Companys leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The right of use asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. The Company has elected a practical expedient to not separate its lease and non-lease components and instead account for them as a single lease component. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet.
Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Lease payments for short-term leases are recorded to operating expense on a straight-line basis and variable lease payments are recorded in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred.
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Contingent Liabilities
The Company records reserves for contingent liabilities when it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred at the date of the financial statements, and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.
Equity-Based Compensation
The Deed for the Establishment of a Limited Partnership of ProKidney LP, dated as of August 5, 2021 (the Limited Partnership Agreement) which replaced the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of ProKidney LLC as the governing document of the parent entity in the Company, allows for the issuance of Profits Interests (as defined in the Limited Partnership Agreement) to employees, directors, other service providers of the Company and others denominated in the form of one or more Class B Units (as defined in the Limited Partnership Agreement). The Company measures compensation expense for Profits Interests based on estimated fair values at the time of grant. The Company estimates the fair value of Profits Interests using generally accepted valuation procedures. The Company recognizes compensation expense, on a straight-line basis, for the portion of the Profits Interests value that is expected to vest over the requisite service period. The Company records forfeitures of Profits Interests as they occur.
Defined Contribution Plan
The Company sponsors a 401(k) plan for its ProKidney-US employees and a defined contribution plan for its ProKidney-KY employees. Full-time employees are eligible to participate in the ProKidney-US plan. The Company matches 50% of participating ProKidney-US employees contributions up to 8% of salary. The costs of the ProKidney-US plan were $161,000 and $119,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The Company contributes 7% of ProKidney-KY employee salaries to the ProKidney-KY defined contribution plan. The costs of the ProKidney-KY plan were $8,000 and $20,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Segments
The Company operates in only one segment.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a liability on the balance sheet for all leases, with the exception of short-term leases. The lease liability will be equal to the present value of lease payments, and the right-of-use asset will be based on the lease liability, subject to adjustment such as for initial direct costs. Leases will continue to be classified as either operating or finance leases in the income statement. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), as of January 1, 2021. For additional detail, see Note 4, Leases.
Subsequent Events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through April 11, 2022, which is the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued. See additional information in Notes 5 and 8.
Note 3: Income Taxes
The Companys subsidiary, ProKidney-US, is treated as a C corporation, and therefore a provision for federal and state taxes has been recorded.
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The provision for income tax expense consisted of the following for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
|||||||
Current: |
||||||||
Federal |
$ | 72 | $ | (242 | ) | |||
State |
(34 | ) | 10 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current income tax expense (benefit) |
38 | (232 | ) | |||||
Deferred: |
||||||||
Federal |
| | ||||||
State |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total deferred income tax expense |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
$ | 38 | $ | (232 | ) | |||
|
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|
|
The difference between the statutory rate for federal income tax and the effective income tax rate was as follows:
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
|||||||
Current: |
||||||||
Income taxes at statutory rate |
21.0 | % | 21.0 | % | ||||
State taxes, net of federal benefit |
| | ||||||
LLC flow-through structure |
(21.4 | ) | (21.5 | ) | ||||
Federal Credits |
1.8 | 2.3 | ||||||
Provision to return adjustment |
| 0.2 | ||||||
Change in valuation allowance |
(1.3 | ) | (1.1 | ) | ||||
Other |
(0.2 | ) | | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Effective income tax rate |
(0.1 | )% | 0.9 | % | ||||
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|
|
Components of the Companys deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the consolidated balance sheet consisted of the following (in thousands):
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
|||||||
Deferred tax assets: |
||||||||
Accrued bonus |
$ | 376 | $ | 243 | ||||
Fixed assets |
| 108 | ||||||
Federal credit carryforwards |
939 | 331 | ||||||
Leases |
28 | | ||||||
Start-up costs |
39 | 48 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Deferred tax assets before valuation allowance |
1,382 | 730 | ||||||
Valuation allowance |
1,237 | 560 | ||||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Total deferred tax assets |
145 | 170 | ||||||
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|
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Deferred tax liabilities: |
||||||||
Intangible assets |
90 | 148 | ||||||
Fixed assets |
47 | | ||||||
Prepaid expenses |
8 | 22 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total deferred tax liabilities |
145 | 170 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net deferred tax asset |
$ | | $ | | ||||
|
|
|
|
FS-49
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, available taxes in the carryback periods, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Accordingly, the Company has provided a valuation allowance of $1,237,000 and $560,000 respectively for December 31, 2021 and 2020, to offset the net deferred tax assets.
The Company has $1,118,000 in Research Credit Carryforwards that begin to expire in 2040.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of total unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 consisted of the following (in thousands):
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
|||||||
Unrecognized tax benefits (gross): |
||||||||
Benefits at the beginning of the year |
$ | | $ | | ||||
Increase related to prior year tax positions |
94 | | ||||||
Decrease related to prior year tax positions |
| | ||||||
Increase related to current year tax positions |
86 | | ||||||
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|
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Benefits at the end of the year |
$ | 180 | $ | | ||||
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There are no net unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2021 which, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate. We expect none of the gross unrecognized tax benefits will decrease within the next year.
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic. This contagious disease outbreak, which continued to spread, and the related adverse public health developments, have adversely affected work forces, economies and financial markets globally. As a result, governments around the world have enacted legislation to provide aid and stimulate economies. In the U.S., The Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economics Security Act (CARES Act), was enacted on March 27, 2020, The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 was enacted on December 27, 2020, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was enacted on March 11, 2021. All of these acts included both income tax and non-income tax provisions to assist companies. No provisions in these acts had a material impact on the income tax provision or any other area of the Companys financial statements.
Tax years 2018 through 2021 remain subject to examination by federal and state authorities.
Note 4: Leases
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02: Leases (Topic 842). This ASU requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on its balance sheet for most operating leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which provides companies with an additional optional transition method to apply the new standard to leases in effect at the adoption date through a cumulative effect adjustment. The Company adopted the new lease standard as of January 1, 2021 using the modified retrospective transition method.
The Company elected the package of practical expedients referenced in ASU 2016-02, which permits companies to retain original lease identification and classification without reassessing initial direct costs for existing leases. The Company also elected the practical expedient that exempts leases with an initial lease term of 12 months or less, as well as the practical expedient that allows companies to select, by class of underlying asset,
FS-50
not to separate lease and non-lease components. Adoption of this standard resulted in the recognition of a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the Companys January 1, 2021 Consolidated Balance Sheet of $1,560,000 and $1,559,000 respectively. There was no material impact on the Companys Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Loss.
The Company has operating leases for real estate (primarily office space) and certain equipment with various expiration dates. The Company also has one finance lease for certain equipment. Rent expense was $434,000 and $314,000, for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The following table summarizes the classification of operating and finance lease assets and obligations in the Companys Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (in thousands):
December 31, 2021 |
December 31, 2020 |
|||||||
Operating leases: |
||||||||
Right of use assets |
$ | 1,139 | $ | 1,415 | ||||
Operating lease liabilities, current |
$ | 235 | $ | 195 | ||||
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent |
985 | 1,219 | ||||||
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|
|||||
Total operating lease liabilities |
$ | 1,220 | $ | 1,414 | ||||
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|
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Finance leases: |
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Right of use assets |
$ | 102 | $ | 145 | ||||
Finance lease liabilities, current |
$ | 32 | $ | 30 | ||||
Finance lease liabilities, noncurrent |
82 | 115 | ||||||
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|
|
|||||
Total finance lease liabilities |
$ | 114 | $ | 145 | ||||
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|
|
Maturities of lease liabilities for the Companys operating and finance leases are as follows for the year ending December 31, 2021 (in thousands):
Operating Leases |
Finance Leases |
Total | ||||||||||
2022 |
$ | 326 | $ | 40 | $ | 366 | ||||||
2023 |
332 | 40 | 372 | |||||||||
2024 |
341 | 40 | 381 | |||||||||
2025 |
282 | 7 | 289 | |||||||||
2026 |
180 | | 180 | |||||||||
Thereafter |
| | | |||||||||
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|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total lease payments |
1,461 | 127 | 1,588 | |||||||||
Less: imputed interest |
(241 | ) | (13 | ) | (254 | ) | ||||||
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|
|
|
|||||||
Present value of lease liabilities |
$ | 1,220 | $ | 114 | $ | 1,334 | ||||||
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|
The weighted average remaining lease term for operating leases is 4.4 years, and 3.3 years for the finance lease. The weighted average discount rate is 8.5%.
Note 5: Members Equity
Ownership interests in the Company are represented by two classes of units, Class A Units and Class B Units. The terms of the units are governed by the LLC Agreement. As of December 31, 2021, there were 190,000,000 Class A and 10,000,000 Class B Units authorized.
FS-51
Holders of Class A Units have voting rights and rights to profits and losses of the Company and distributions from the Company. The following is a summary of the activity of the Class A Units:
Units outstanding January 1, 2020 |
95,000,000 | |||
Issued 2020 |
20,000,000 | |||
|
|
|||
Units outstanding December 31, 2020 |
115,000,000 | |||
Issued 2021 |
71,500,000 | |||
|
|
|||
Units outstanding December 31, 2021 |
186,500,000 | |||
|
|
The Class B Units are reserved for issuance of Profits Interests and do not have voting rights. The Profits Interests are designed so that the holders of Profits Interests only participate in a qualified distribution event and only if its valuation threshold is attained in such a distribution event as set forth in the Limited Partnership Agreement; provided, however, that the Limited Partnership Agreement (as amended and restated on January 17, 2022 as contemplated by Note 8 below) provides that certain qualified distribution events will result in the holders of Profits Interests receiving disproportionate distributions from ProKidney until each such holders threshold value has been reduced to zero in order to catch up such holders distributions to its pro rata share of aggregate cumulative distributions, and once sufficient distributions to a holder of Profits Interests have been made in accordance with the foregoing, the associated Class B Units will automatically be converted into Class A Units.
Note 6: Net Loss per Share
Basic loss per share (EPS) was computed by dividing net loss by the number of weighted average units of Class A Units outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS was calculated to give effect to potentially issuable dilutive units of common units using the treasury method. For all periods presented, the vested Profits Interests have been excluded from the diluted EPS calculation as their effect would be anti-dilutive. The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods indicated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Years Ended December 31, | ||||||||
2021 | 2020 | |||||||
Numerator |
||||||||
Net loss available to Class A Unit holders |
$ | (55,146 | ) | $ | (26,749 | ) | ||
Denominator |
||||||||
Weighted average Class A Units outstanding, basic and diluted |
150,706,849 | 104,986,301 | ||||||
Net loss per Class A Unit |
||||||||
Net loss per Class A Unit, basic and diluted |
$ | (0.37 | ) | $ | (0.25 | ) |
Note 7: Equity Based Compensation
The issuance of Profits Interests to employees, directors, and other service providers of the Company (Plan Participants) is administered at the discretion of ProKidney GP Limited, the general partner of ProKidney (the General Partner). Profits Interests allow the Plan Participants to participate in the residual profits of the Company after the distribution of proceeds reach a minimum threshold value. The threshold value is the amount of proceeds that must be distributed to the holders of Class A Units before the Plan Participants can participate in a distribution.
FS-52
Under the Limited Partnership Agreement, the General Partner determines the terms and conditions of the Profits Interests issued. The threshold value assigned to each grant shall not be less than the fair market value of the Company on the date of grant. Profits Interests awards vest at a rate of 25% on the latter of the first anniversary of employment and the first anniversary of the Acquisition Date with the remaining 75% to vest in increments of 25% on each anniversary following the first anniversary date or in increments of 6.25% each calendar quarter following the first anniversary date. The Profits Interests are subject to a repurchase option should the plan participant no longer be employed by the Company.
Under the Limited Partnership Agreement (prior to its amendment and restatement on January 17, 2022), there are 10,000,000 Class B Units authorized for issuance.
The following table summarizes the activity related to the Companys Profits Interest awards for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Number of Shares |
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |
|||||||
Awards outstanding at December 31, 2020 |
4,402,398 | $ | 0.36 | |||||
Vested |
(1,941,781 | ) | 0.36 | |||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Awards outstanding at December 31, 2021 |
2,460,617 | $ | 0.36 | |||||
|
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|
|
No Class B Units were granted to employees during the year ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, 2,232,878 Class B Units remained unissued. Given that these instruments meet the criteria for being considered profits interest, the Company has recognized no tax benefit related to these awards.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, the Company recognized equity-based compensation expense of $699,000 and $730,000.
As of December 31, 2021, the unrecognized compensation expense was $868,000. The current weighted average remaining period over which the unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recognized is 1.4 years. The weighted average grant date fair value of the Profits Interests granted during the year ended December 31, 2020 was $0.36 per Class B unit.
Fair Value Estimate
The Company is privately held with no active public market for its equity instruments. Therefore, for financial reporting purposes, management may periodically determine the estimated per share fair value of the Companys equity shares (including Profits Interests) using contemporaneous valuations. These contemporaneous valuations are done using methodologies consistent with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, also known as the Practice Aid.
The valuation approach utilized the Option Pricing Method (OPM), where the fair value of the total equity of the Company within each scenario is first estimated using a back-solve method wherein the equity value is derived from a recent transaction in the Companys own securities, and then the total equity value is allocated to the various components of the capital structure, including the Profits Interests, using an OPM or a waterfall approach based on the specific rights of each of the equity classes. The OPM uses the fair value of the total equity of the Company within a scenario as a starting point and incorporates assumptions made regarding the expected returns and volatilities that are consistent with the expectations of market participants, and distribution of equity values is produced which cover the range of events that an informed market participant might expect.
FS-53
This process creates a range of equity values both between and within scenarios. The fair value measurement is sensitive to changes in the unobservable inputs. Changes in those inputs might result in a higher or lower fair value measurement.
In performing these valuations, management considered all objective and subjective factors that they believed to be relevant, including managements best estimate of the Company business condition, prospects, and operating performance at each valuation date. Within the valuations performed, a range of factors, assumptions, and methodologies were used. The significant factors included trends within the industry, the prices at which the Company sold Class A Units, the rights and preferences of the Class A Units relative to the Class B Units at the time of each measurement date, the results of operations, financial position, status of research and development efforts, stage of development and business strategy, the lack of an active public market for the units, and the likelihood of achieving an exit event in light of prevailing market conditions.
The following reflects the key assumptions used in the OPM valuation:
Total equity value (in thousands) |
$ | 78,100 | ||
Expected volatility of total equity |
80 | % | ||
Discount for lack of market |
30 | % | ||
Expected time to exit event |
3 years |
Note 8: Subsequent Events
On January 17, 2022, the Company amended and restated its Limited Partnership Agreement (the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement) in part to authorize the issuance of up to 50,000,000 Class B Units (including Class B-1 Units). Upon authorization of these units, the Company issued Profits Interests to certain Plan Participants in the form of 8,498,488 Class B-1 Units. Additionally, the Company issued 8,848,901 of its Class B-1 Units for total value received by the Company (or its subsidiaries) of $8,052,000.
The Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement provides that certain qualified distribution events will result in holders of Profits Interests receiving disproportionate distributions from ProKidney until each such holders valuation threshold has been reduced to zero in order to catch up such holders distributions to its pro rata share of aggregate cumulative distributions, and once sufficient distributions to a holder of Profits Interests have been made in accordance with the foregoing, the associated Class B Units will automatically be converted into Class A Units.
On January 18, 2022, the Company executed a definitive business combination agreement (the Business Combination Agreement), with Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III (SCS). Under the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, the Company will become a subsidiary of SCS and will be organized in an umbrella partnership corporation (Up-C) structure, which provides potential future tax benefits for SCS when the equity holders ultimately exchange their pass-through interests for Class A ordinary shares in SCS.
On January 18, 2022, in connection with the Business Combination Agreement, the Company entered into two promissory note agreements with certain of its existing holders. Through such promissory notes, the existing holders may fund up to $100,000,000 to support the operational financing needs of the Company prior to the closing of the Business Combination. The Company has borrowed $20,000,000 against these promissory notes subsequent to December 31, 2021.
FS-54
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
June 30, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 |
|||||||
(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Current assets |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 21,882 | $ | 20,558 | ||||
Prepaid assets |
682 | 588 | ||||||
Prepaid clinical |
11,350 | 6,100 | ||||||
Other current assets |
| 25 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current assets |
33,914 | 27,271 | ||||||
Fixed assets, net |
10,857 | 11,358 | ||||||
Right of use assets, net |
1,962 | 1,241 | ||||||
Deferred offering costs |
6,905 | | ||||||
Intangible assets, net |
320 | 428 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total assets |
$ | 53,958 | $ | 40,298 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Liabilities and Equity |
||||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 2,513 | $ | 2,834 | ||||
Lease liabilities |
377 | 267 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other |
6,184 | 9,213 | ||||||
Income taxes payable |
1,730 | | ||||||
Related party notes payable |
35,000 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current liabilities |
45,804 | 12,314 | ||||||
Lease liabilities, net of current portion |
1,617 | 1,067 | ||||||
Members equity: |
||||||||
Class A Units (186,500,000 issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021) |
186,500 | 186,500 | ||||||
Class B Units (27,100,937 and 7,767,122 issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively) |
71,164 | 1,927 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit |
(251,127 | ) | (161,510 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total members equity |
6,537 | 26,917 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total liabilities and equity |
$ | 53,958 | $ | 40,298 | ||||
|
|
|
|
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.)
FS-55
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands, except for share and per share data)
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
Operating expenses |
||||||||||||||||
Research and development |
$ | 11,558 | $ | 10,969 | $ | 40,048 | $ | 20,828 | ||||||||
General and administrative |
9,180 | 1,748 | 47,152 | 3,492 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total operating expenses |
20,738 | 12,717 | 87,200 | 24,320 | ||||||||||||
Operating loss |
(20,738 | ) | (12,717 | ) | (87,200 | ) | (24,320 | ) | ||||||||
Interest income |
| 2 | | 2 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(170 | ) | | (184 | ) | | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net loss before income taxes |
(20,908 | ) | (12,715 | ) | (87,384 | ) | (24,318 | ) | ||||||||
Income tax expense |
1,223 | 10 | 2,233 | 16 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net and comprehensive loss |
$ | (22,131 | ) | $ | (12,725 | ) | $ | (89,617 | ) | $ | (24,334 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Weighted average Class A Units outstanding: |
||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted |
186,500,000 | 140,109,890 | 186,500,000 | 131,160,221 | ||||||||||||
Net loss per Class A Unit: |
||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted |
$ | (0.12 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | $ | (0.48 | ) | $ | (0.19 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.)
FS-56
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Members Equity
(in thousands, except for share data)
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2022 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class B | Accumulated Deficit |
Total Members Equity |
|||||||||||||||||
Units | Amount | Profits Interests | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2022 |
186,500,000 | 186,500 | 62,663 | (228,996 | ) | 20,167 | ||||||||||||||
Capital contribution |
| | 500 | | 500 | |||||||||||||||
Equity-based payments |
| | 8,001 | | 8,001 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | (22,131 | ) | (22,131 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Balance as of June 30, 2022 |
186,500,000 | $ | 186,500 | $ | 71,164 | $ | (251,127 | ) | $ | 6,537 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class B | Accumulated Deficit |
Total Members Equity |
|||||||||||||||||
Units | Amount | Profits Interests | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2021 |
135,000,000 | 135,000 | 1,403 | (117,973 | ) | 18,430 | ||||||||||||||
Capital contribution |
10,000,000 | 10,000 | | | 10,000 | |||||||||||||||
Equity-based payments |
| | 175 | | 175 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | (12,725 | ) | (12,725 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Balance as of June 30, 2021 |
145,000,000 | $ | 145,000 | $ | 1,578 | $ | (130,698 | ) | $ | 15,880 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.)
FS-57
ProKidney LP and Subsidiaries
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Members Equity
(in thousands, except for share data)
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class B | Accumulated Deficit |
Total Members Equity |
|||||||||||||||||
Units | Amount | Profits Interests | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2021 |
186,500,000 | 186,500 | 1,927 | (161,510 | ) | 26,917 | ||||||||||||||
Capital contribution |
| | 6,050 | | 6,050 | |||||||||||||||
Equity-based payments |
| | 63,187 | | 63,187 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | (89,617 | ) | (89,617 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Balance as of June 30, 2022 |
186,500,000 | $ | 186,500 | $ | 71,164 | $ | (251,127 | ) | $ | 6,537 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class B | Accumulated Deficit |
Total Members Equity |
|||||||||||||||||
Units | Amount | Profits Interests | ||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2020 |
115,000,000 | 115,000 | 1,228 | (106,364 | ) | 9,864 | ||||||||||||||
Capital contribution |
30,000,000 | 30,000 | | | 30,000 | |||||||||||||||
Equity-based payments |
| | 350 | | 350 | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
| | | (24,334 | ) | (24,334 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Balance as of June 30, 2021 |
145,000,000 | $ | 145,000 | $ | 1,578 | $ | (130,698 | ) | $ | 15,880 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.)
FS-58
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities |
||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (89,617 | ) | $ | (24,334 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows |
||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
1,462 | 878 | ||||||
Equity-based compensation |
60,685 | 350 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities |
||||||||
Deferred offering costs |
(6,905 | ) | | |||||
Prepaid and other assets |
(5,320 | ) | (4,896 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
(520 | ) | 8,907 | |||||
Income taxes payable |
1,730 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash flows used in operating activities |
(38,485 | ) | (19,095) | |||||
Cash flows used in investing activities |
||||||||
Purchase of equipment and facility expansion |
(1,225 | ) | (3,393 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash flows used in investing activities |
(1,225 | ) | (3,393 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities |
||||||||
Payments on finance leases |
(16 | ) | (15 | ) | ||||
Borrowings under related party notes payable |
35,000 | | ||||||
Net cash contribution |
6,050 | 30,000 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net cash flows provided by financing activities |
41,034 | 29,985 | ||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
1,324 | 7,497 | ||||||
Cash, beginning of period |
20,558 | 4,578 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash, end of period |
$ | 21,882 | $ | 12,075 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities: |
||||||||
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations |
$ | 878 | $ | | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Equipment and facility expansion included in accounts payable and accrued expenses |
$ | 529 | $ | 635 | ||||
|
|
|
|
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.)
FS-59
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial StatementsUnaudited
Note 1: The Company
ProKidney LLC was formed as a Bermuda limited liability company on December 12, 2018 and funded with $75,000,000 on December 31, 2018. On January 9, 2019 (the Acquisition Date), ProKidney LLC acquired all of the equity interests in inRegen and Twin City Bio LLC (TC Bio) for $62,000,000. inRegen was duly incorporated under the Cayman Islands Companies Act (as amended) on December 21, 2015 as an exempted company. During 2020, inRegens name was changed to ProKidney (and is referred to herein as ProKidney-KY), and TC Bios name was changed to ProKidney, LLC (and is referred to herein as ProKidney-US). ProKidney-US was formed as a limited liability company under the laws of Delaware on December 18, 2015. In August 2021, ProKidney LP was organized as a limited partnership under the laws and regulations of Ireland, with ProKidney LLC becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of ProKidney LP (and is referred to herein as ProKidney). Following this reorganization on August 5, 2021, and for the purposes of these financial statements, the term ProKidney as used herein, refers to ProKidney LP following this reorganization, and the financial information presented herein is that of ProKidney LP and its wholly owned subsidiaries.
ProKidney acquired the equity interests in ProKidney-KY to develop its Renal Advanced Cell Therapy, which has the potential to stabilize or improve renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease or delay or eliminate the need for dialysis and organ transplantation. ProKidney acquired ProKidney-US to provide contractual development and manufacturing services to ProKidney-KY, which is ProKidney-USs only customer.
Because ProKidney is a limited partnership, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company (as defined below), whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, are solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no holder of equity interests in ProKidney (members equity) is obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a holder of members equity.
On January 18, 2022, the Company executed a definitive business combination agreement (the Business Combination Agreement), with Social Capital Suvretta Holdings Corp. III (SCS). Pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, the Company would become a subsidiary of SCS and would be organized in an umbrella partnership corporation (Up-C) structure, would provide potential future tax benefits for SCS when the equity holders ultimately exchanged their pass-through interests for Class A ordinary shares. The transaction closed on July 11, 2022. Upon consummation of the transaction, SCS changed its name to ProKidney Corp.
The business combination between SCS and ProKidney LP (the Business Combination) resulted in gross proceeds of approximately $596,537,000. This amount reflects a contribution of $21,737,000 of cash held in SCS trust account, net of redemptions, and a $574,800,000 concurrent private placement of Class A ordinary shares of the combined company, priced at $10.00 per share (the PIPE Placement). Upon close, these proceeds were used to repay the outstanding balance of $35,000,000 under the Companys two promissory note agreements with certain holders of its Class A Units (the Promissory Notes) and related accrued interest. Additionally, the proceeds were used to pay those expenses previously incurred by SCS related to the Business Combination of approximately $21,029,000 as well as advisory and placement fees of approximately $29,389,000 incurred in connection with the PIPE Placement.
Note 2: Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the operations of ProKidney and its wholly-owned subsidiaries consisting of ProKidney-KY and ProKidney-US (together, the Company). All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.
FS-60
These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the Companys annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the Companys financial information. These interim results and cash flows for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) and Accounting Standards Update (ASU) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). These unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. Dollars.
Going Concern
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company performed an analysis of its ability to continue as a going concern. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $251,127,000. The Company has generated losses from operations for each year since its inception. The Company intends to continue to conduct significant additional research, development, and clinical study activities which, together with expenses incurred for general and administrative expenses, are expected to result in continuing operating losses for the foreseeable future. The amount of future losses and when, if ever, the Company will achieve profitability are uncertain. The Companys ability to achieve profitability will depend, among other things, on successfully completing clinical studies, obtaining requisite regulatory approvals, establishing appropriate pricing for its product with payers, and raising sufficient funds to finance the Companys activities. No assurance can be given that the Companys clinical development efforts will be successful, that regulatory approvals will be obtained, or that the Company will be able to achieve appropriate pricing and market access or that profitability, if achieved, can be sustained.
These matters raised substantial doubt about the Companys ability to continue as a going concern. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $21,882,000, and remaining availability of $65,000,000 under the Promissory Notes. As of June 30, 2022, the Company believed that these sources of liquidity would not be sufficient to fund its obligations for the subsequent 12 months. However, the Closing of the Business Combination on July 11, 2022 provided additional liquidity to the Company totaling approximately $511,912,000. The Companys liquidity after considering the proceeds from the Business Combination is considered sufficient to satisfy the Companys operating liabilities for a period greater than 12 months following the issuance date of these financial statements. As such, management considers that the substantial doubt about the Companys ability to continue as a going concern is alleviated by the inclusion of these additional funds in its available sources of liquidity.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements, in accordance with GAAP, requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, and the amounts of expenses during the reported periods. Certain estimates in these condensed consolidated financial statements have been made in connection with the calculation of research and development expenses, equity-based compensation expense and the provision for or benefit from income taxes. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions, including in certain circumstances future projections, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Changes in estimates are reflected in reported results in the period in which they become known.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less on the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these items.
FS-61
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Cash and equivalents are financial instruments that are potentially subject to concentrations of credit risk. The Companys cash and equivalents are deposited in accounts at large financial institutions, and such amounts may exceed federally insured limits.
Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses as presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 consisted of the following (in thousands):
June 30, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 |
|||||||
Compensation |
$ | 1,545 | $ | 1,832 | ||||
Clinical study related costs |
222 | 2,031 | ||||||
Accrued legal costs |
3,193 | 964 | ||||||
Manufacturing improvement costs |
652 | 4,164 | ||||||
Other accrued expenses |
572 | 222 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total accrued expenses and other |
$ | 6,184 | $ | 9,213 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses are comprised of costs incurred in performing research and development activities, including salaries, benefits, third party license fees, and external costs of outside vendors engaged to conduct manufacturing and preclinical development activities and clinical trials.
The Company records accruals based on estimates of services received, efforts expended, and amounts owed pursuant to contracts with numerous contract research organizations. In the normal course of business, the Company contracts with third parties to perform various clinical study activities in the ongoing development of potential products. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation and variation from contract to contract and may result in uneven payment flows. Payments under the contracts depend on factors such as the achievement of certain events and the completion of portions of the clinical study or similar conditions. The objective of the Companys accrual policy is to match the recording of expenses in its financial statements to the actual services received and efforts expended. As such, expense accruals related to clinical studies are recognized based on the companys estimate of the degree of completion of the event or events specified in the specific clinical study.
The Company records nonrefundable advance payments it makes for future research and development activities as prepaid expenses. Prepaid expenses are recognized as expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss as the Company receives the related goods or services
Costs incurred in obtaining technology licenses are charged to research and development expense as purchased in-process research and development if the technology licensed has not reached technological feasibility and has no alternative future use.
Fixed Assets
Fixed assets are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Generally, expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense and major improvements or replacements are capitalized. The Company computes
FS-62
depreciation and amortization using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of, the life of the lease or the estimated useful life of the leasehold improvement. The estimated useful lives are as follows:
Computer equipment and software | 3-5 years | |
Furniture and equipment | 5-7 years | |
Leasehold improvements |
remainder of lease term |
Fixed assets consisted of the following (in thousands):
June 30, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 |
|||||||
Furniture and equipment |
$ | 2,367 | $ | 2,180 | ||||
Computer equipment and software |
719 | 569 | ||||||
Leasehold improvements |
10,538 | 10,517 | ||||||
Construction in progress |
694 | 351 | ||||||
Less: accumulated depreciation |
(3,461 | ) | (2,259 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total fixed assets, net |
$ | 10,857 | $ | 11,358 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Depreciation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 was $604,000 and $402,000, respectively. Depreciation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 was $1,198,000 and $578,000, respectively.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are comprised of acquired assembled workforce, which are accounted for in accordance with ASC 350IntangiblesGoodwill and Other. The acquired assembled workforce is amortized on a straight-line basis over the useful life of five years. The following table summarizes information related to the Companys assembled workforce intangible asset (in thousands):
June 30, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 |
|||||||
Gross carrying amount |
$ | 1,073 | $ | 1,073 | ||||
Accumulated amortization |
753 | 645 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net carrying amount |
$ | 320 | $ | 428 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Estimated amortization expense for the remaining six months of 2022 was $100,000, $215,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023 and $5,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024. Amortization expense relating to the assembled workforce intangible asset was $54,000 and $107,000 for each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets such as fixed assets and intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. No impairment charges have been recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2022 or 2021.
FS-63
Income Taxes
The Company was organized as a limited liability company, is now a limited partnership and is classified as a partnership for U.S. income tax purposes, and as such, only records a provision for federal and state income taxes on its subsidiaries organized as C corporations or which have elected to be treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. ProKidney-US is a limited liability company and has elected to be treated as a C corporation. Therefore, a provision for federal and state taxes has been recorded. ProKidney-KY has been granted, by the Government in Council of the Cayman Islands, tax concessions under an undertaking certificate exempting it from any tax levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations in relation to its operations or in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax for a period of twenty years from January 20, 2016. ProKidney-KY elected to be treated as an entity disregarded from its owner for U.S. tax purposes, and as a result, it has not recorded an income tax provision.
The Company uses the liability method in accounting for income taxes as required by ASC Topic 740 Income Taxes, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the results of operations in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets unless it is more likely than not that such assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, available taxes in the carryback periods, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Accordingly, the Company has provided a full valuation allowance to offset the net deferred tax assets at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.
Interest and penalties related to income taxes are included in the benefit (provision) for income taxes in the Companys Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. The Company has not incurred any significant interest or penalties related to income taxes in any of the periods presented.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value is described below. This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
| Level 1 Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities |
| Level 2 Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable through correlation with market data |
| Level 3 Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions |
The carrying values of cash equivalents, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.
Leases
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Balances recognized related to the Companys operating and finance leases are included in right-of-use assets, net and lease liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Right of use assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the
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present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease if it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise the option. As most of the Companys leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The right of use asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. The Company has elected a practical expedient to not separate its lease and non-lease components and instead account for them as a single lease component. Leases with a term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet.
Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Lease payments for short-term leases are recorded to operating expense on a straight-line basis and variable lease payments are recorded in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred.
Contingent Liabilities
The Company records reserves for contingent liabilities when it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred at the date of the financial statements, and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.
Equity-Based Compensation
The Deed for the Establishment of a Limited Partnership of ProKidney LP, dated as of August 5, 2021 (the Limited Partnership Agreement) which replaced the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of ProKidney LLC as the governing document of the parent entity in the Company, allowed for the issuance of Profits Interests (as defined in the Limited Partnership Agreement) to employees, directors, other service providers of the Company and others denominated in the form of one or more Class B Units (as defined in the Limited Partnership Agreement).
On January 17, 2022, the Company amended and restated its Limited Partnership Agreement (the Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement) in part to authorize the issuance of up to 50,000,000 Class B Units (including Class B-1 Units). The Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement provided that certain qualified distribution events would result in holders of Profits Interests receiving disproportionate distributions from ProKidney until each such holders valuation threshold had been reduced to zero in order to catch up such holders distributions to its pro rata share of aggregate cumulative distributions, and once sufficient distributions to a holder of Profits Interests had been made in accordance with the foregoing, the associated Class B Units would automatically be converted into Class A Units.
Upon consummation of the Business Combination discussed in Note 1, the Companys existing Class B Units (including Class B-1 Units) were caught up and were converted into Class A Units of the Company. The resulting vested and unvested Class A Units were then recapitalized into Common Units or Restricted Common Units of ProKidney Corp., respectively. Upon recapitalization, the Restricted Common Units maintained the vesting schedules associated with the original Profits Interest awards.
The Company measures compensation expense for Profits Interests based on estimated fair values at the time of grant. The Company estimates the fair value of Profits Interests using generally accepted valuation procedures. The Company recognizes compensation expense, on a straight-line basis, for the portion of the Profits Interests value that is expected to vest over the requisite service period. The Company records forfeitures of Profits Interests as they occur.
Segments
The Company operates in only one segment.
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Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a liability on the balance sheet for all leases, with the exception of short-term leases. The lease liability will be equal to the present value of lease payments, and the right-of-use asset will be based on the lease liability, subject to adjustment such as for initial direct costs. Leases will continue to be classified as either operating or finance leases in the income statement. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021, with early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), as of January 1, 2021. For additional detail, see Note 4, Leases.
Subsequent Events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through August 12, 2022, which is the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued. See additional information in Note 9.
Note 3: Income Taxes
The Companys subsidiary, ProKidney-US, is treated as a C corporation, and therefore a provision for federal and state taxes has been recorded. The Companys effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, was (5.8)% and (0.1)%, respectively. The Companys effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, was (2.6)% and (0.1)%, respectively. The difference between the Companys effective tax rates and the U.S. statutory rate of 21% is primarily attributable to the Company and ProKidney-KY being treated as partnerships for income tax purposes.
For tax years beginning after December 31, 2021, the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 (the TCJA) requires specified research and development expenses to be capitalized and amortized ratably over a five-year period. The adoption of this provision of the TCJA is the primary driver of income tax expense recognized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, available taxes in the carryback periods, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment.
There were no net unrecognized tax benefits as of June 30, 2022 which, if recognized, would affect our effective tax rate. We expect none of the gross unrecognized tax benefits will decrease within the next year.
There were no significant changes in the Companys uncertain tax positions during the six months ended June 30, 2022 from the amount that was reflected at December 31, 2022.
Note 4: Leases
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02: Leases (Topic 842). This ASU requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on its balance sheet for most operating leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which provides companies with an additional optional transition method to apply the new standard to leases in effect at the adoption date through a cumulative effect adjustment. The Company adopted the new lease standard as of January 1, 2021 using the modified retrospective transition method.
The Company elected the package of practical expedients referenced in ASU 2016-02, which permits companies to retain original lease identification and classification without reassessing initial direct costs for existing leases. The Company also elected the practical expedient that exempts leases with an initial lease term of
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twelve months or less, as well as the practical expedient that allows companies to select, by class of underlying asset, not to separate lease and non-lease components. Adoption of this standard resulted in the recognition of a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the Companys January 1, 2021 Consolidated Balance Sheet of $1,560,000 and $1,559,000 respectively. There was no material impact on the Companys Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss.
The Company has operating leases for real estate (primarily office space) and certain equipment with various expiration dates. The Company also has one finance lease for certain equipment. Rent expense was $140,000 and $78,000, for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, the Companys rent expense was $229,000 and $221,000, respectively.
The following table summarizes the classification of operating and finance lease assets and obligations in the Companys Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 (in thousands):
June 30, 2022 |
December 31, 2021 |
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Operating leases: |
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Right of use assets |
$ | 1,876 | $ | 1,139 | ||||
Operating lease liabilities, current |
$ | 343 | $ | 235 | ||||
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent |
1,551 | 985 | ||||||
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Total operating lease liabilities |
$ | 1,894 | $ | 1,220 | ||||
Finance leases: |
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Right of use assets |
$ | 86 | $ | 102 | ||||
Finance lease liabilities, current |
$ | 34 | $ | 32 | ||||
Finance lease liabilities, noncurrent |
66 | 82 | ||||||
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Total finance lease liabilities |
$ | 100 | $ | 114 | ||||
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Maturities of lease liabilities for the Companys operating and finance leases are as follows as of June 30, 2022 (in thousands):
Operating Leases |
Finance Leases |
Total | ||||||||||
2022 (remaining six months) |
242 | 20 | 262 | |||||||||
2023 |
494 | 40 | 534 | |||||||||
2024 |
507 | 40 | 547 | |||||||||
2025 |
507 | 10 | 517 | |||||||||
2026 |
421 | | 421 | |||||||||
Thereafter |
119 | | 119 | |||||||||
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Total lease payments |
2,290 | 110 | 2,400 | |||||||||
Less: imputed interest |
(396 | ) | (10 | ) | (406 | ) | ||||||
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Present value of lease liabilities |
$ | 1,894 | $ | 100 | $ | 1,994 | ||||||
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The weighted average remaining lease term for operating leases is 4.5 years, and 2.8 years for the finance lease. The weighted average discount rate is 8.5%.
Note 5: Related Party Debt
On January 18, 2022, in connection with execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the Company entered into the Promissory Notes. Through the Promissory Notes, the holders could fund up to $100,000,000 to support the operational financing needs of the Company prior to the Closing of the Business Combination. These notes bore interest at a rate of 3% per annum and were due upon the earliest of either (i) the date on which the Business Combination closed or (ii) January 17, 2023.
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Drawdowns on the Promissory Notes could be made in multiples of $10,000 unless otherwise agreed upon. Once an amount is drawn down under the Promissory Notes, it was no longer available for future drawdown requests even if prepaid.
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company borrowed $15,000,000 and $35,000,000, respectively, under the Promissory Notes. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company recognized interest expense of $168,000 and $180,000, respectively related to the Promissory Notes. Interest payable as of June 30, 2022 was $180,000 and is reflected within accrued expenses and other within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amounts due under the Promissory Notes were paid upon Closing of the Business Combination described in Note 1.
Note 6: Members Equity
Ownership interests in the Company were represented by two classes of units, Class A Units and Class B Units. The terms of the units were governed by the LP Agreement. As of June 30, 2022, there were 190,000,000 Class A and 50,000,000 Class B Units authorized (including Class B-1 Units).
Holders of Class A Units had voting rights and rights to profits and losses of the Company and distributions from the Company. No Class A Units were issued during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.
During the three months ended June 30, 2022, the Company issued 549,451 of its Class B-1 Units for total cash proceeds of $500,000. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company issued 6,648,353 of its Class B-1 Units for total cash proceeds of $6,050,000. As these awards were issued for a price below their estimated fair value to employees, board members and other service providers, the provisions of ASC Topic 718 Stock Compensation apply. Refer to Note 8 for further details.
The Class B Units were reserved for issuance of Profits Interests and did not have voting rights. The Profits Interests were designed so that the holders of Profits Interests could only participate in a qualified distribution event and only if its valuation threshold was attained in such a distribution event as set forth in the Limited Partnership Agreement; provided, however, that the Limited Partnership Agreement, as amended and restated in January 2022, provided that certain qualified distribution events would result in the holders of Profits Interests receiving disproportionate distributions from ProKidney until each such holders threshold value had been reduced to zero in order to catch up such holders distributions to its pro rata share of aggregate cumulative distributions, and once sufficient distributions to a holder of Profits Interests had been made in accordance with the foregoing, the associated Class B Units would automatically be converted into Class A Units.
Note 7: Net Loss per Share
Basic loss per share (EPS) was computed by dividing net loss by the number of weighted average units of Class A Units outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS was calculated to give effect to potentially issuable dilutive units of common units using the treasury method. For all periods presented, the vested and unvested Profits Interests have been excluded from the diluted EPS calculation as their effect would be anti-dilutive. The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the periods indicated based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
Numerator |
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Net loss available to Class A Unit holders |
$ | (22,131 | ) | $ | (12,725 | ) | $ | (89,617 | ) | $ | (24,334 | ) | ||||
Denominator |
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Weighted average Class A Units outstanding, basic and diluted |
186,500,000 | 140,109,890 | 186,500,000 | 131,160,221 | ||||||||||||
Net loss per Class A Unit |
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Net loss per Class A Unit, basic and diluted |
(0.12 | ) | (0.09 | ) | (0.48 | ) | (0.19 | ) | ||||||||
Antidilutive securities |
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Class B Units |
27,100,937 | 7,767,122 | 27,100,937 | 7,767,122 |
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Note 8: Equity Based Compensation
Profits Interests Awards
The issuance of Profits Interests to employees, directors, and other service providers of the Company (Plan Participants) was administered at the discretion of ProKidney GP Limited, the general partner of ProKidney until the Closing (the Legacy General Partner). Profits Interests allowed the Plan Participants to participate in the residual profits of the Company after the distribution of proceeds reach a minimum threshold value. The threshold value was the amount of proceeds that must be distributed to the holders of Class A Units before the Plan Participants could participate in a distribution.
Under the Limited Partnership Agreement, the Legacy General Partner determined the terms and conditions of the Profits Interests issued. The threshold value assigned to each grant was not to be less than the fair market value of the Company on the date of grant. Profits Interests awards would vest at a rate of 25% on the latter of the first anniversary of employment and the first anniversary of the Acquisition Date with the remaining 75% to vest in increments of 25% on each anniversary following the first anniversary date, ratably over a three or four-year period from the date of grant, in annual installments of 33.3% over the three-year period from the date of grant, in increments of 6.25% each calendar quarter following the first anniversary date, or were fully vested upon issuance. The Profits Interests were subject to a repurchase option should the plan participant no longer be employed by the Company.
The following table summarizes the activity for the six months ended June 30, 2022, related to the Companys Class B and B-1 Units granted as equity awards to its employees, board members and service providers:
Number of Shares |
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |
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Unvested awards outstanding at January 1, 2022 |
2,460,617 | $ | 0.36 | |||||
Granted |
9,977,072 | 6.09 | ||||||
Vested |
(1,073,973 | ) | 1.28 | |||||
Forfeited |
(41,612 | ) | 6.03 | |||||
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Awards outstanding at June 30, 2022 |
11,322,104 | $ | 5.30 | |||||
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As of June 30, 2022, the unrecognized compensation expense related to these awards was $54,463,000. The current weighted average remaining period over which the unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recognized is 3.4 years. The weighted average grant date fair value of the Profits Interests granted during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, was $6.42 and $6.09, respectively, per Class B-1 unit. There were no Profits Interests granted during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021.
As of June 30, 2022, there remained 22,899,063 Class B Units available for issuance. Given that these instruments meet the criteria for being considered profits interests, the Company has recognized no tax benefit related to these awards.
Modification to Profits Interest Awards
On January 17, 2022, the Limited Partnership Agreement was amended and restated to provide that certain qualified distribution events would result in the holders of Profits Interests receiving disproportionate distributions from ProKidney until each such holders threshold value was reduced to zero in order to catch up such holders distributions to its pro rata share of aggregate cumulative distributions, and once sufficient distributions to a holder of Profits Interests had been made in accordance with the foregoing, the associated Class B Units would automatically be converted into Class A Units.
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This amendment constituted a modification to the Class B Units outstanding as of the date of the modification under the provisions of ASC Topic 718. In connection with the modification of its outstanding share-based compensation awards, the Company will recognize total additional compensation expense of $5,437,000 related to awards granted to its employees. The portion of this additional compensation expense attributable to vested awards of $3,715,000 was recognized immediately upon modification during the six months ended June 30, 2022.
Issuance of Profits Interests to Service Provider
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company issued 2,750,000 fully vested Class B-1 Units to a third-party service provider as payment for research and development services provided in prior periods. The Company had previously recognized expense of $2,502,000 for these services based on the liability related to the services incurred. As the fair value of shares issued to satisfy that obligation was higher than the amount previously expensed, the Company recognized additional research and development expense of $14,080,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2022.
Purchase of Class B-1 Units
As discussed further in Note 6, certain of the Companys employees, board members and service providers purchased 549,451 and 6,648,353 of its Class B-1 Units for total cash proceeds of $500,000 and $6,050,000, respectively, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. Since these Class B-1 Units were fully vested upon purchase and contained no service requirements, the Company immediately recognized the difference between the purchase price and the estimated fair value for these Class B-1 Units of $3,027,000 and $34,254,000 as equity-based compensation expense during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively. No such sales occurred during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021.
Compensation Expense
Compensation expense related to the issuance and purchase of Class B and B-1 Units is included in research and development and general and administrative expense as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
Research and development |
$ | 1,336 | $ | | $ | 18,703 | $ | | ||||||||
General and administrative |
6,664 | 175 | 41,983 | 350 | ||||||||||||
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Total equity-based compensation expense |
$ | 8,001 | $ | 175 | $ | 60,686 | $ | 350 | ||||||||
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Fair Value Estimate
The Company is privately held with no active public market for its equity instruments. Therefore, for financial reporting purposes, management may periodically determine the estimated per share fair value of the Companys equity shares (including Profits Interests) using contemporaneous valuations. These contemporaneous valuations are done using methodologies consistent with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, also known as the Practice Aid.
For the Profits Interest Awards granted during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, the valuation approach utilized a hybrid method which consists of a combination of an Option Pricing Method (OPM) and a Probability Weighted Expected Return Method (PWERM) approach. Weighting allocations were assigned to the OPM an PWERM methods based upon the expected likelihood possible future liquidity events, including the Business Combination.
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Under the OPM approach, the fair value of the total equity of the Company within each scenario was first estimated using a back-solve method wherein the equity value is derived from a recent transaction in the Companys own securities, and then the total equity value is allocated to the various components of the capital structure, including the Profits Interests, using an OPM or a waterfall approach based on the specific rights of each of the equity classes. The OPM uses the fair value of the total equity of the Company within a scenario as a starting point and incorporates assumptions made regarding the expected returns and volatilities that are consistent with the expectations of market participants, and distribution of equity values is produced which cover the range of events that an informed market participant might expect. This process creates a range of equity values both between and within scenarios. The fair value measurement is sensitive to changes in the unobservable inputs. Changes in those inputs might result in a higher or lower fair value measurement.
The PWERM approach is a scenario-based analysis that estimates the value per ordinary sharebased on the probability-weighted present value of expected future equity values for the ordinary shares, under various possible future liquidity event scenarios, including the proposed Business Combination, in light of the rights and preferences of each class and series of shares, including the Profits Interests, discounted for a lack of marketability.
In performing these valuations, management considered all objective and subjective factors that they believed to be relevant, including managements best estimate of the Companys business condition, prospects, and operating performance at each valuation date. Within the valuations performed, a range of factors, assumptions, and methodologies were used. The significant factors included trends within the industry, the prices at which the Company sold Class A units, the rights and preferences of the Class A units relative to the Class B units at the time of each measurement date, the results of operations, financial position, status of research and development efforts, stage of development and business strategy, the lack of an active public market for the units, and the likelihood of achieving an exit event in light of prevailing market conditions.
The following reflects the key assumptions used in each of the valuation scenarios for awards granted during the six months ended June 30, 2022:
OPM | PWERM | |||||||
Total equity value (in thousands) |
$234,551 - $280,400 | $1,750,000 | ||||||
Expected volatility of total equity |
95% | 60% - 90% | ||||||
Discount for lack of market |
30% | 7% - 15% | ||||||
Expected time to exit event |
3.4 years - 3.7 years | 0.1 years - 0.5 years |
Note 9: Subsequent Events
As discussed in Note 1, the Company closed the Business Combination with SCS on July 11, 2022.
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PROKIDNEY CORP.
Up to 239,420,000 Class A Ordinary Shares
PROSPECTUS
September 8, 2022
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of this prospectus. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted.