UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Amendment No. 1)
For
the fiscal year ended
or
Commission
File Number
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
The
|
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule
405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
☐ | Smaller reporting company | ||
Emerging growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its managements’ assessment of the effectiveness
of its internal controls over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes Oxley Act (15 U.S.C 7262(b)) by the registered
public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐
The
aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates on June 30, 2021, the last business day of the
most recently completed second quarter, based upon the closing price of Common Stock on such date as reported on Nasdaq Capital Market,
was approximately $
The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock as of March 31, 2022 was .
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Audit Firm ID | Auditor Name | Auditor Location | ||
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Except as described above, no other changes have been made to the Original Filing. The Original Filing continues to speak as of the date of the Original Filing, and the Company has not updated the disclosures contained therein to reflect any events which occurred at a date subsequent to the filing of the Original Filing other than as expressly indicated in this Amendment. Accordingly, this Amendment should be read in conjunction with the Original Filing and the Company’s other filings made with the SEC on or subsequent to March 30, 2022.
Table of Contents
Page No. | |||
Part III | |||
Item 10. | Directors, Executive Officers and Key Employees | 3 | |
Item 11. | Executive Compensation | 9 | |
Item 12. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters. | 17 | |
Item 13. | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence | 20 | |
Item 14. | Principal Accounting Fees and Services | 21 | |
Part IV | |||
Item 15. | Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules | 22 |
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Part III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
Executive Officers and Directors
The following table provides information regarding our executive officers and directors as of March 31, 2022:
Name | Age | Position | ||
Executive Officers: | ||||
David Young, Pharm.D, Ph.D. | 69 | Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Sian Bigora, Pharm.D. | 61 | Chief Development Officer | ||
Michael Floyd | 66 | Chief Operations Officer | ||
Wendy Guy | 57 | Chief Administrative Officer | ||
Patrick Lin | 56 | Chief Business and Strategy Officer | ||
James Stanker | 64 | Chief Financial Officer | ||
Non-Employee Directors: | ||||
Dr. Khalid Islam | 66 | Director | ||
Geraldine Pannu | 52 | Director | ||
Virgil Thompson | 82 | Director | ||
Justin Yorke | 55 | Director |
Executive Officers
David Young, Pharm.D., Ph.D. - Dr. Young has served as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since October 4, 2017 and has over 30 years of pharmaceutical research, drug development and corporate experience. He served as our interim CFO from October 4, 2017 to September 1, 2018. From 2006 to 2009, prior to joining the Questcor executive management team, Dr. Young served as an independent Director on the Questcor Board of Directors. As an independent director, Dr. Young, representing Questcor, worked with the FDA in developing a process to obtain approval for Acthar (the only commercial product owned by Questcor) in Infantile Spasms (IS), a deadly and debilitating very rare orphan indication. In 2009, Dr. Young joined the Questcor executive management team as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) in order to obtain IS FDA approval and market exclusivity by completing the New Drug Application (NDA) process, working with FDA on modernizing the label, and leading all aspects of approval including the Advisory Committee Meeting that voted to approve the NDA for IS. During the eight years that Dr. Young was involved with Questcor as an independent director and as its CSO, Questcor transitioned to an orphan drug specialty pharmaceutical company, moving from an outdated Acthar label and near bankruptcy in 2007 to a modernized Acthar label that helped it to achieve sales greater than $750 million per year and the ultimate sale of the company for approximately $5.6 billion in 2014. While serving on Questcor’s Board of Directors, Dr. Young was Executive Director & President, U.S. Operations of AGI Therapeutics plc. Dr. Young has also served as the Executive Vice President of the Strategic Drug Development Division of ICON plc, an international CRO, and was the Founder and CEO of GloboMax LLC, a CRO specializing in FDA drug development, purchased by ICON plc in 2003. Prior to forming GloboMax, Dr. Young was a Tenured Associate Professor at the School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland at Baltimore (UMAB), where he led a group of 30 faculty, scientists, postdocs, graduate students and technicians in evaluating the biological properties of drugs and drug delivery systems in animals and humans.
Dr. Young is an expert in small molecule and protein non-clinical and clinical drug development. He has served on FDA Advisory Committees, was Co-Principal Investigator on an FDA-funded Clinical Pharmacology contract, was responsible for the analytical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of all oral products manufactured in the UMAB-FDA contract which led to the Scale-up and Post-Approval Changes (SUPAC) and in-vitro in-vivo correlation (IVIVC) FDA Guidance, taught FDA reviewers as part of the UMAB-FDA contract for five years, has served on National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant review committees, and was Co-Principal Investigator on a National Cancer Institute contract to evaluate new oncology drugs. Dr. Young has met with the FDA over 100 times on more than 50 drug products and has been a key team member on more than 30 NDA/supplemental NDA approvals. Dr. Young has more than 150 presentations-authored publications-book chapters, including formal presentations to the FDA, FDA Advisory Committees, and numerous invited presentations at both scientific and investment meetings. Dr. Young received his B.S. in Physiology from the University of California at Berkeley, his M.S. in Medical Physics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and his Pharm.D. - Ph.D. with emphasis in Pharmacokinetics and Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Southern California. We believe Dr. Young is qualified to serve on our Board due to his pharmaceutical experience.
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Sian Bigora, Pharm.D. - Dr. Bigora has served as our Chief Development Officer since October 4, 2017 and has over 20 years of pharmaceutical research, regulatory strategy and drug development experience working closely with Dr. Young. From 2009 to 2015 Dr. Bigora was Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Questcor Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals in 2014), including leading efforts on modernizing the Acthar Gel label and in obtaining FDA approval in Infantile Spasms, events of material importance to Questcor’s subsequent success. During her time at Questcor, she assisted in building an expert regulatory group to address both commercial and development needs for complex products such as Acthar. Dr. Bigora’s role at Questcor included heading up the development of a safety pharmacovigilance group and a clinical quality group. Prior to her position at Questcor, Dr. Bigora was Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Operations of AGI Therapeutics, plc. In this role, she was responsible for the development and implementation of Global Phase 3 studies and interactions with regulatory authorities. Previously, she operated her own consulting company, serving as the regulatory and drug development expert team member for multiple small and mid-sized pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Bigora held multiple positions in regulatory affairs, operations and project management ending as VP of Regulatory Affairs at the Strategic Drug Development Division of ICON, plc, an international CRO, and at GloboMax LLC, a CRO specializing in FDA drug development, purchased by ICON plc in 2003. Prior to GloboMax, she worked in the Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics Laboratory at the School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland on the FDA funded Clinical Pharmacology contract and UMAB-FDA contract as a clinical scientist and instructor for FDA reviewers. Dr. Bigora received a Pharm.D. from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Maryland at Baltimore. She also completed a Fellowship in Pharmacokinetics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Maryland at Baltimore.
Michael Floyd – Mr. Floyd has served as our Chief Operating Officer since October 6, 2020. Mr. Floyd has been a serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience with early-stage biopharma businesses in infectious diseases, oncology and rare diseases. In 1996, he founded Neurologic, an early-stage enterprise that in-licensed technology from the National Institutes of Health for a diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s disease. Mr. Floyd was the co-author of the plan that created the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute in 1998 with the Honorable Jay Rockefeller and Johns Hopkins University. In 2006, Mr. Floyd was the Chief Executive Officer for the North American subsidiary of Arpida Ltd. where he organized the Phase 3 program for an MRSA drug and organized the NDA submission. Mr. Floyd subsequently led the US efforts to remediate the NDA for Gentium, SpA for defibrotide beginning in 2011. Mr. Floyd was the Founder of Bio-AIM, which is developing monoclonal antibodies for Acinetobacter baumannii and a Co-Founder of Exbaq, which is developing therapies for Gram negative pathogens. In 2016, Mr. Floyd co-founded Elion Oncology and served as its Chief Executive officer until joining Processa. Mr. Floyd received a BSBA in Accounting from Georgetown University and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).
Wendy Guy - Ms. Guy has served as our Chief Administrative Officer since October 4, 2017 and has more than 20 years of experience in business operations. She has worked closely with Dr. Young in the past in corporate management and operations, human resources, and finance roles. From 2009 to 2014, Ms. Guy was employed at Questcor Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals in 2014) as Senior Manager, Business Operation in charge of the Maryland Office for Questcor. During the five years she spent at Questcor, she built a dynamic administrative and contracts team, grew the Maryland Office from two employees to just under 100, and expanded the facility from 1,200 sq. ft. to 15,000 sq. ft. Prior to her position at Questcor, Ms. Guy was Senior Manager, U.S. Operations of AGI Therapeutics, plc. In this role, she was responsible for the day-to-day business and administrative operations of the company. Previously, she held multiple senior level positions with the Strategic Drug Development Division of ICON, GloboMax, and Mercer Management Consulting. Ms. Guy received an A.A. from Mount Wachusett Community College.
Patrick Lin - Mr. Lin has served as our Chief Business & Strategy Officer since October 4, 2017 and has over 20 years of financing and investing experience in the Biopharm Sector. He is founder and, for more than 15 years, Managing Partner of Primarius Capital, a family office that manages public and private investments focused on small capitalization companies. For 10 years prior to forming Primarius Capital, Mr. Lin worked at several Wall Street banking and brokerage firms including Robertson Stephens & Co., E*Offering, and Goldman Sachs & Co. Mr. Lin was Co-Founding Partner of E*Offering. Mr. Lin received an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management, a Master of Engineering Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.
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James Stanker - Mr. Stanker has served as our Chief Financial Officer since September 5, 2018. Mr. Stanker has over 30 years of financial and executive leadership experience in the areas of accounting principles and audit standards, regulatory reporting, and fiscal management and strategy. He has served in a financial leadership role as an audit partner at Grant Thornton from February 2000 until his retirement in August 2016. His responsibilities included managing the audit quality in the Atlantic Coast Market Territory. From 2009 to 2012, he served as the Global Head of Audit Quality for Grant Thornton International. Prior to joining Grant Thornton, Mr. Stanker served as the Chief Financial Officer for a Nasdaq listed company and for a privately-held life science company. Mr. Stanker is a Certified Public Accountant. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics from San Jose State University and a Master’s in Business Administration from California State University, East Bay. He previously served on the Board of Directors of GSE Systems, Inc. Mr. Stanker is also a visiting professor in the George B. Delaplaine School of Business at Hood College.
Non-Employee Directors
Dr. Khalid Islam – Dr. Islam was the chairman and CEO of Gentium S.p.A. from 2009 to 2014, where he led its transition to a profitable company that subsequently sold for $1 billion. He has served on the board of Immunomedics Inc., which recently maximized shareholder value through a $21 billion transaction with Gilead Sciences. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc., Gain Therapeutics Inc. and Minoryx Therapeutics SL. He is an advisor to the venture group Kurma Biofund (Paris). Dr. Islam has served in a variety of roles of increasing responsibility from entrepreneurial start-ups to Fortune 100 companies and has served in both advisory and board capacities for several public and private health-care related companies. Dr. Islam holds a Ph.D from Imperial College, University of London. He also holds several patents and has published over 80 articles in leading journals.
Geraldine Liu Pannu – Ms. Pannu has served as a Director since February 13, 2020. Ms. Pannu has over 25 years of experience in investment and financial management, fund operations, consulting and marketing. Since January 2020, she has been the Founding and Managing Partner of GLTJ Pioneer Capital, a firm that specializes in land acquisition, entitlement and vertical development of multifamily, student and senior housing in the San Francisco Bay Area. From March 2007 to December 2016, Ms. Pannu was the COO and Managing Partner for ChinaRock Capital Management, a leading hedge and venture capital fund company. She previously worked at McKinsey & Co, Monitor Company as management consultant. She had successfully raised capital for several hedge, venture capital and real estate funds. She also helped start-up companies expand and diversify business categories, client verticals and grow revenue. Ms. Pannu was born in Shanghai and grew up in Hong Kong. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Shanghainese. We believe Ms. Pannu is qualified to serve on our Board because of her extensive investment experience.
Virgil Thompson – Mr. Thompson has served as a Director since October 2017 and previously served on the Board of Directors at Promet Therapeutics, LLC. He served as a Director of Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals (formerly Questcor Pharmaceuticals), and Director of GenZ Corporation, both companies he resigned from in 2017. From July 2009 to July 2015, he served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Spinnaker Biosciences, Inc., and now serves as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Thompson also served as Chairman of the Board of Aradigm Corporation, as well as of Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. until Questcor was acquired by Mallinckrodt in August 2014. Mr. Thompson served as the Chief Executive Officer and as a Director of Angstrom Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2002 to 2007. From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Thompson was Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Chimeric Therapies, Inc. From 1999 to 2000, Mr. Thompson was President, Chief Operating Officer and, from 1994, a Director of Bio-Technology General Corporation (subsequently Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.). Mr. Thompson obtained a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of Kansas and a J.D. degree from the George Washington University Law School. We believe Mr. Thompson is qualified to serve on our Board because of his extensive industry knowledge and board experience with publicly traded biotechnology companies.
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Justin Yorke – Mr. Yorke has served as a Director since October 2017. Mr. Yorke has over 25 years of experience as an institutional equity fund manager and senior financial analyst for investment funds and investment banks and was appointed as a Director in August 2017. For more than the past 16 years, he has been a managing member of San Gabriel Advisors and Arroyo Capital Management, which manages the San Gabriel Fund, JMW Fund and the Richland Fund whose primary activity is investing in public and private companies in the United States. Mr. Yorke currently serves as a Director of Splash Beverage Group. He also served as non-executive Chairman of Jed Oil and a Director/CEO at JMG Exploration. Mr. Yorke was a Fund Manager and Senior Financial Analyst, based in Hong Kong, for Darier Henstch, S.A., a private Swiss bank, where he managed their $400 million Asian investment portfolio. Mr. Yorke was an Assistant Director and Senior Financial Analyst with Peregrine Asset Management, which was a unit of Peregrine Securities, a regional Asian investment bank. Mr. Yorke was a Vice President and Senior Financial Analyst with Unifund Global Ltd., a private Swiss Bank, as a manager of its $150 million Asian investment portfolio. Mr. Yorke has a B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles. We believe Mr. Yorke is qualified to serve on our Board because of his extensive investment experience.
Board Composition
Currently, our Board of Directors is comprised of five members. Each director has been elected to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or special meeting in lieu of such annual meeting or until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.
Our Board of Directors may consider a broad range of factors relating to the qualifications and background of nominees, which may include diversity, which is not only limited to race, gender or national origin. We have no formal policy regarding Board diversity. Our Board of Directors’ priority in selecting Board members is identification of persons who will further the interests of our stockholders through his or her established record of professional accomplishment, the ability to contribute positively to the collaborative culture among Board members, knowledge of our business, understanding of the competitive landscape and professional and personal experiences and expertise relevant to our growth strategy.
Director Independence
The Nasdaq Marketplace Rules require a majority of a listed company’s Board of Directors to be comprised of independent directors. In addition, the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees be independent and that audit committee members also satisfy independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.
Under Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, a director will only qualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of our Board of Directors, that person does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In order to be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act, a member of an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, the Board of Directors, or any other Board committee, accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries.
Our Board of Directors has reviewed the composition of our Board of Directors and the independence of each director. Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, including family relationships, our Board of Directors has determined that each of Geraldine Pannu, Virgil Thompson and Justin Yorke is an “independent director” as defined under Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. Our Board of Directors also determined that the directors who serve on our audit committee, our compensation committee, and our nominating and corporate governance committee satisfy the independence standards for such committees established by the SEC and the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, as applicable. In making such determinations, our Board of Directors considered the relationships that each such non-employee director has with our company and all other facts and circumstances our Board of Directors deemed relevant in determining independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director.
There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.
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Committees of the Board of Directors
Each of the below committees has a written charter approved by our Board of Directors located at our website: www.processapharmaceuticals.com. Each of the committee’s report to our Board of Directors as such committee deems appropriate and as our Board of Directors may request. Copies of each charter are posted on the investor relations section of our website. Members serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined by our Board of Directors. In addition, from time to time, special committees may be established under the direction of our Board of Directors when necessary to address specific issues.
The Board of Directors met five times during 2021. All directors attended each meeting.
Audit Committee
Our audit committee is comprised of Geraldine Pannu, Virgil Thompson and Justin Yorke with Justin Yorke serving as chairman of the committee. Our Board of Directors has determined that each member of the audit committee meets the independence requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and the applicable Nasdaq Listing Rules and has sufficient knowledge in financial and auditing matters to serve on the audit committee. Our Board of Directors has determined that Justin Yorke is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the SEC regulations and the applicable Nasdaq Listing Rules. The audit committee’s responsibilities include:
● | selecting a firm to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements; | |
● | ensuring the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm; | |
● | discussing the scope and results of the audit with the independent registered public accounting firm, and reviewing, with management and that firm, our interim and year-end operating results; | |
● | establishing procedures for employees to anonymously submit concerns about questionable accounting or audit matters; | |
● | considering the effectiveness of our internal controls and internal audit function; | |
● | reviewing material related-party transactions or those that require disclosure; and | |
● | approving or, as permitted, pre-approving all audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm. |
The audit committee met four times during 2021. All the committee members attended each meeting.
Compensation Committee
Our compensation committee is comprised of Geraldine Pannu, Virgil Thompson and Justin Yorke with Geraldine Pannu serving as chairman of the committee. Each member of this committee is a non-employee director, as defined by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, and an outside director, as defined pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Our Board of Directors has determined that each member of the compensation committee is “independent” as defined in the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The composition of our compensation committee meets the requirements for independence under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, including the applicable transition rules. The compensation committee’s responsibilities include:
● | reviewing and approving, or recommending that our Board of Directors approve, the compensation of our executive officers; | |
● | reviewing and recommending to our Board of Directors the compensation of our directors; | |
● | reviewing and recommending to our Board of Directors the terms of any compensatory agreements with our executive officers; | |
● | administering our stock and equity incentive plans; | |
● | reviewing and approving or making recommendations to our Board of Directors with respect to incentive compensation and equity plans; and | |
● | reviewing all overall compensation policies and practices. |
The compensation committee met two times during 2021. All the committee members attended each meeting.
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Nominating and Governance Committee
Our nominating and governance committee is comprised of Geraldine Pannu, Virgil Thompson and Justin Yorke with Virgil Thompson as the chairman of the committee. Our Board of Directors has determined that each member of the nominating and corporate governance committee is “independent” as defined in the applicable Nasdaq Listing Rules. The nominating and corporate governance committee’s responsibilities include:
● | identifying and recommending candidates for membership on our Board of Directors; | |
● | recommending directors to serve on Board committees; | |
● | reviewing and recommending our corporate governance guidelines and policies; | |
● | reviewing proposed waivers of the code of conduct for directors and executive officers; | |
● | evaluating, and overseeing the process of evaluating, the performance of our Board of Directors and individual directors; and | |
● | assisting our Board of Directors on corporate governance matters. |
The nominating and governance committee met one time during 2021. All the committee members attended each meeting.
Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight
Our Board of Directors is currently chaired by David Young, Pharm.D, Ph.D., who also serves as our Chief Executive Officer. Our Board of Directors does not have a policy regarding the separation of the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, as our Board of Directors believes it is in our best interest to make that determination based on our position and direction and the membership of the Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors has determined that having an employee director serve as Chairman is in the best interest of our stockholders at this time because of the efficiencies achieved in having the role of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman combined, and because the detailed knowledge of our day-to-day operations and business that the Chief Executive Officer possesses greatly enhances the decision-making processes of our Board of Directors as a whole. We have a governance structure in place, including independent directors, designed to ensure the powers and duties of the dual role are handled responsibly. We do not have a lead independent director.
Our Board of Directors oversees the management of risks inherent in the operation of our business and the implementation of our business strategies. Our Board of Directors performs this oversight role by using several different levels of review. In connection with its reviews of our operations and corporate functions, our Board of Directors addresses the primary risks associated with those operations and corporate functions. In addition, our Board of Directors reviews the risks associated with our business strategies periodically throughout the year as part of its consideration of undertaking any such business strategies.
Each of our Board committees also oversees the management of our risks that fall within the committee’s areas of responsibility. In performing this function, each committee has full access to management, as well as the ability to engage advisors. Our Chief Executive Officer reports to the audit committee and is responsible for identifying, evaluating and implementing risk management controls and methodologies to address any identified risks. In connection with its risk management role, our audit committee meets privately with representatives from our independent registered public accounting firm and our Chief Executive Officer. The audit committee oversees the operation of our risk management program, including the identification of the primary risks associated with our business and periodic updates to such risks, and reports to our Board of Directors regarding these activities.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of the members of our compensation committee has at any time during the prior three years been one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past fiscal year has served, as a member of the Board of Directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our Board of Directors or compensation committee.
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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We maintain a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all of our employees, officers and directors, including those officers responsible for financial reporting. Our code of business conduct and ethics is available on our website at www.processapharmaceuticals.com. We intend to disclose any amendments to the code, or any waivers of its requirements, on our website or in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
To our knowledge, none of our current directors or executive officers has, during the past ten years:
● | been convicted in a criminal proceeding or been subject to a pending criminal proceeding; | |
● | had any bankruptcy petition filed by or against the business or property of the person, or of any partnership, corporation or business association of which he or she was a general partner or executive officer, either at the time of the bankruptcy filing or within two years prior to that time; | |
● | been subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction or federal or state authority, permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting, his involvement in any type of business, securities, futures, commodities, investment, banking, savings and loan, or insurance activities, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity; | |
● | been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended, or vacated; or | |
● | been the subject of, or a party to, any federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of any federal or state securities or commodities law or regulation or any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies. |
Except as set forth above and in our discussion below in “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions,” none of our directors or executive officers has been involved in any transactions with us or any of our directors, executive officers, affiliates or associates which are required to be disclosed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
This section provides an overview of the compensation of our named executive officers. Our named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 are:
● | David Young, our Chief Executive Officer; | |
● | Sian Bigora, our Chief Development Officer; | |
● | Mike Floyd, our Chief Operating Officer; | |
● | Wendy Guy, our Chief Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary; | |
● | Patrick Lin, our Chief Strategy and Development Officer; and | |
● | James Stanker, our Financial Officer |
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Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our named executive officers in respect of their service to us during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Stock Awards ($) (1) | Option Awards ($) | All Other Compensation ($) (2) | Total ($) | |||||||||||||||||
David Young | 2021 | 87,500 | 347,012 | - | - | 434,512 | |||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer | 2020 | 58,333 | 380,052 | - | - | 438,385 | |||||||||||||||||
Sian Bigora | 2021 | 87,500 | 347,012 | - | 25,566 | 460,078 | |||||||||||||||||
Chief Development Officer | 2020 | 75,833 | 380,052 | - | 24,629 | 480,514 | |||||||||||||||||
Michael Floyd (3) | 2021 | 87,500 | 596,387 | - | 22,335 | 706,222 | |||||||||||||||||
Chief Operations Officer | 2020 | 21,875 | 50,000 | - | 5,576 | 77,451 | |||||||||||||||||
Wendy Guy | 2021 | 87,500 | 347,012 | - | 295 | 434,807 | |||||||||||||||||
Chief Administrative Officer | 2020 | 87,500 | 380,052 | - | 907 | 468,459 | |||||||||||||||||
Patrick Lin | 2021 | 87,500 | 347,012 | - | 21,955 | 456,467 | |||||||||||||||||
Chief Business and Strategy Officer | 2020 | 75,492 | 380,052 | - | 20,684 | 476,228 | |||||||||||||||||
James Stanker | 2021 | 87,500 | 347,012 | - | - | 434,512 | |||||||||||||||||
Chief Financial Officer | 2020 | 87,500 | 380,052 | - | - | 467,552 |
(1) Reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units granted in 2021 and 2020 calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Refer to “Note 5 – Stock-Based Compensation” in our December 31, 2021 consolidated financial statements appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was originally filed on March 30, 2022, for a discussion of the assumptions used underlying the valuation of the equity awards.
Stock awards for 2021 include the following:
● | the fair value ($184,512) of awards made in the form of restricted stock units for 21,430 shares of our common stock were granted to each named executive officers on July 1, 2021, contained either service or performance vesting conditions, and must meet distribution requirements before any shares of common stock will be issued. The restricted stock units for the future issuance of (i) 8,572 shares of our common stock vest ratably over the subsequent two years and (ii) 12,858 shares of our common stock vest upon meeting the following performance criteria: (a) 4,286 shares of our common stock when we completed the interim analysis for PCS6422 (which was completed on November 1, 2021); (b) 4,286 shares of our common stock when we complete the interim analysis for PCS499; and (c) 4,286 shares of our common stock when we cumulatively raise at least $30 million. | |
● | the portion of the named executive officer’s base compensation paid in cash restricted stock units which were earned ratably during the year and vested at the end of each calendar quarter. During 2021, each of our named executive officers were awarded restricted stock units representing $162,500 of deferred compensation or 22,780 shares of our common stock. This translated into an average award price of $7.13 per share. The common stock awarded will not be distributed to the named executive officers until the earlier of: (i) their termination, (ii) the third anniversary from the grant date, (iii) a change of control, or (iv) their death. |
(2) Represents health insurance premiums paid.
(3) Mr. Floyd joined the Company as our Chief Operating Officer in October 2020.
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Overview of Our Executive Compensation Philosophy and Design
We believe that a skilled, experienced and dedicated executive and senior management team is essential to the future performance of our Company and to building stockholder value. We have sought to establish competitive compensation programs that enable us to attract and retain executive officers with these qualities. The other objectives of our compensation programs for our executive officers are the following:
● | to motivate our executive officers to achieve strong financial performance; | |
● | to attract and retain executive officers who we believe have the experience, temperament, talents and convictions to contribute significantly to our future success; and | |
● | to align the economic interests of our executive officers with the interests of our stockholders. |
Setting Executive Compensation
Our compensation committee has primary responsibility for, among other things, determining our compensation philosophy, evaluating the performance of our named executive officers, setting the compensation and other benefits of our named executive officers and administering our equity compensation plan.
It is our CEO’s responsibility to provide recommendations to the compensation committee for most compensation matters related to executive compensation. The recommendations are based on a general analysis of market standards and trends and an evaluation of the contribution of each executive officer to our performance. Our compensation committee considers, but retains the right to accept, reject or modify such recommendations and has the right to obtain independent compensation advice. Neither the CEO nor any other members of management is present during executive sessions of the compensation committee. The CEO is not present when decisions with respect to his compensation are made. Our Board of Directors appoints the members of our compensation committee and delegates to the compensation committee the direct responsibility for overseeing the design and administration of our executive compensation program.
We have not historically utilized a compensation consultant to set the compensation of our named executive officers.
Elements of Executive Compensation
We believe the most effective compensation package for our named executive officers is one designed to reward achievement of individual and corporate objectives; provide for short-term, medium-term and long-term financial and strategic goals; and align the interest of management with those of the stockholders by providing incentives for improving stockholder value. To accomplish that objective, our named executive officers have, and it is anticipated will continue to receive, the majority of their annual compensation in the form of restricted stock units or restricted stock awards. As shown in the Summary Compensation Table, each of our named executive officers received cash compensation in each of 2021 and 2020 of only $87,500.
Base Compensation. We pay our named executive officers base compensation to compensate them for services rendered and to provide them with a steady source of income for living expenses throughout the year. For 2021, each of our named executive officer’s base salary was $250,000, of which we only paid $87,500 in cash and the remainder paid in restricted stock units which were earned ratably during the year and vested at the end of each calendar quarter. During 2021, each of our named executive officers were awarded restricted stock units representing 22,780 shares of our common stock. This translated into an average award price of $7.13 per share. The common stock awarded will not be distributed to the named executive officers until the earlier of: (i) their termination, (ii) the third anniversary from the grant date, (iii) a change of control, or (iv) their death.
Adjustments to base salaries are expected to be determined annually and may be increased based on the executive officer’s success in meeting or exceeding individual objectives, as well as to maintain market competitiveness. Additionally, base salaries can be adjusted as warranted throughout the year to reflect promotions or other changes in the scope of breadth of an executive officer’s role or responsibilities.
Equity Awards. We have used equity awards to align the interest of our named executive officers with those of our stockholders, as the value of the awards granted thereunder is linked to the value of our common stock, which, in turn, is indirectly attributable to the performance of our executive officers. We believe these equity-based award opportunities align the interests of our named executive officers with those of our stockholders as they indirectly influence the performance of the Company’s common stock.
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During 2021, we granted restricted stock units (RSUs) to each of our executive officers for 21,430 shares of our common stock that contained either service or performance vesting conditions and must meet distribution requirements before any shares of common stock will be issued. RSUs for the future issuance of (i) 8,572 shares of our common stock vest ratably over the subsequent two years and (ii) 12,858 shares of our common stock vest upon meeting the following performance criteria: (a) 4,286 shares of our common stock when we completed the interim analysis for PCS6422 (which was completed on November 1, 2021); (b) 4,286 shares of our common stock when we complete the interim analysis for PCS499; and (c) 4,286 shares of our common stock when we cumulatively raise at least $30 million.
Retirement and Other Benefits. We maintain a defined contribution employee retirement plan for our employees, including our named executive officers. The plan is intended to qualify as a tax-qualified 401(k) plan so that contributions to the 401(k) plan, and income earned on such contributions, are not taxable to participants until withdrawn or distributed from the 401(k) plan (except in the case of contributions under the 401(k) plan designated as Roth contributions). Under the 401(k) plan, each employee is fully vested in his or her deferred salary contributions. Employee contributions are held and invested by the plan’s trustee as directed by participants. The 401(k) plan provides us with the discretion to match employee contributions. We currently do not match employee contributions.
2022 Compensation Plan. On March 15, 2022, the compensation committee recommended, and the Board of Directors approved, the following compensation for each of our named executive officers for 2022:
● | a base salary as depicted in the table below, consisting of a cash salary component of $93,875 for each named executive officer payable in semi-monthly installments and an equity component which vary between $203,375 and $420,875 depending on the executive officer’s role. The number of shares of restricted stock is calculated using the average stock price for the respective month and vest quarterly. |
Name and Principal Position | 2022 Total Base Salary ($) |
Cash Portion of Base Salary ($) | Equity Portion of Base Salary ($) | |||
David Young | 514,750 | 93,875 | 420,875 | |||
Sian Bigora | 342,250 | 93,875 | 248,375 | |||
Michael Floyd | 297,250 | 93,875 | 203,375 | |||
Wendy Guy | 297,250 | 93,875 | 203,375 | |||
Patrick Lin | 297,250 | 93,875 | 203,375 | |||
James Stanker | 328,750 | 93,875 | 234,875 |
● | restricted stock units representing 247,841 shares of our common stock. The restricted stock units each had a fair market value on the grant date of $746,000. The restricted stock units cliff vest on January 1, 2023. On the date of grant, there was not sufficient shares available under our 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan available. As such, 110,139 of these restricted stock units are considered contingent and will be issued only upon approval by our shareholders at our next annual shareholder meeting to increase the number of shares available for grant under our 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan. |
Employment Agreements
We do not currently have any executive employment agreements with any of our named executive officers in connection with their employment with us other than our employment agreement with Michael Floyd, as described below.
● | Floyd Employment Agreement. Pursuant to the employment agreement with Mr. Floyd, he initially received an annual base salary of $87,500. We granted Mr. Floyd 50,000 Restricted Stock Awards (RSAs) of our common stock, which is subject to service vesting criteria. In the event Mr. Floyd is terminated without Cause (as defined in the Agreement), or for Good Reason (as defined in the Agreement), we are required to provide 52 weeks’ notice in writing. The RSAs shall fully vest upon Change in Control (as defined in the Agreement) if Mr. Floyd is terminated without Cause or for Good Reason. He may also receive a severance payment at our discretion. Mr. Floyd is entitled to participate in all employee benefits available to employees of the Company. The employment agreement also includes confidentiality provisions. |
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Processa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan
We maintain an Omnibus Plan that provides us with the authority to issue up to 3,000,000 shares of our common stock to eligible participants. The two complementary goals of the Omnibus Plan are to attract and retain outstanding individuals to serve as our officers, directors, employees and consultants, and to increase stockholder value by providing participants incentives to increase stockholder value by offering the opportunity to acquire shares of our common stock, receive monetary payments based on the value of our common stock and receive other incentive compensation on the potentially favorable terms that the Plan provides. The following is a summary of the material provisions of the Omnibus Plan:
Administration. The Omnibus Plan is administered by our Board of Directors, the compensation committee of the Board of Directors, any other committee of the Board, any subcommittee of the compensation committee or one or more of our officers to whom the Board or compensation committee has delegated authority, which are collectively referred to as the “Administrator.” The Administrator has the authority to interpret the Omnibus Plan or award agreements entered into with respect to the Omnibus Plan; make, change, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Omnibus Plan; make changes to, or reconcile any inconsistency in, the Omnibus Plan or any award or agreement covering an award; and take any other action needed to administer the Omnibus Plan.
Eligibility; Participant Award Limits. The Administrator may designate any of the following as a participant under the Omnibus Plan: any officer or employee, or individuals engaged to become an officer or employee, of our company or our affiliates; consultants of our company or our affiliates; and our directors, including our non-employee directors.
Types of Awards. The Omnibus Plan permits the Administrator to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance units, shares of common stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units, cash incentive awards, dividend equivalent units, or any other type of award permitted under the Omnibus Plan. The Administrator may grant any type of award to any participant it selects, but only our employees or our subsidiaries’ employees may receive grants of incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Awards may be granted alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or (subject to the repricing prohibition described below) in substitution for any other award (or any other award granted under another plan of our company or any affiliate, including the plan of an acquired entity).
Shares Reserved under the Omnibus Plan. We have reserved an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares of our common stock available for issuance under the Omnibus Plan. We may issue all reserved shares pursuant to the exercise of incentive stock options. The number of shares reserved for issuance under the Omnibus Plan will be reduced on the date of the grant of any award by the maximum number of shares, if any, that may become payable with respect to which such award is granted. However, an award that may be settled solely in cash will not deplete the Omnibus Plan’s share reserve at the time the award is granted. If (a) an award lapses, expires, is canceled, or terminates without issuance of shares or is settled in cash, (b) the Administrator determines that the shares granted under an award will not be issuable because the conditions for issuance will not be satisfied, (c) shares are forfeited under an award, or (d) shares are issued under any award and we reacquire them pursuant to our reserved rights upon the issuance of the shares, then those shares are added back to the reserve and may again be used for new awards under the Omnibus Plan. Shares that are tendered or withheld in payment of the exercise price of a stock option or as a result of the net settlement of an outstanding stock appreciation right, shares we purchase using proceeds from stock option exercises and shares tendered or withheld to satisfy any federal, state, or local tax withholding obligations may or may not be made available for re-issuance under the Omnibus Plan.
Transferability. Awards are not transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, unless the Administrator allows a participant to (i) designate in writing a beneficiary to exercise the award or receive payment under the award after the participant’s death, (ii) transfer an award to a former spouse as required by a domestic relations order incident to a divorce, or (iii) otherwise transfer an award without receiving any consideration.
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Adjustments. If (i) we are involved in a merger or other transaction in which our shares of common stock are changed or exchanged; (ii) we subdivide or combine shares of common stock or declare a dividend payable in shares of common stock, other securities, or other property (other than stock purchase rights issued pursuant to a stockholder rights agreement); (iii) we effect a cash dividend that exceeds 10% of the fair market value of a share of common stock or any other dividend or distribution in the form of cash or a repurchase of shares of common stock that our Board determines is special or extraordinary, or that is in connection with a recapitalization or reorganization; or (iv) any other event occurs that in the Administrator’s judgment requires an adjustment to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits intended to be made available under the Omnibus Plan, then the Administrator will, in a manner it deems equitable, adjust any or all of (A) the number and type of shares subject to the Omnibus Plan and which may, after the event, be made the subject of awards; (B) the number and type of shares of common stock subject to outstanding awards; (C) the grant, purchase, or exercise price with respect to any award; and (D) the performance goals of an award.
In any such case, the Administrator may also provide for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding award in exchange for the cancellation of all or a portion of the award, subject to the terms of the Omnibus Plan.
The Administrator may, in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization, authorize the issuance or assumption of awards upon terms and conditions we deem appropriate without affecting the number of shares of common stock otherwise reserved or available under the Omnibus Plan.
Change of Control. To the extent a participant has an employment, retention, change of control, severance, or similar agreement with us or any of our affiliates that discusses the effect of a change of control (as defined in the Omnibus Plan) on the participant’s awards, such agreement will control. Otherwise, unless otherwise provided in an award agreement or by the Administrator prior to the change of control, in the event of a change of control, if the purchaser, successor or surviving entity (or parent thereof) (the “Successor”) agrees, then some or all outstanding awards will be assumed or replaced with the same type of award with similar terms and conditions. If applicable, each award that is assumed must be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such change of control, to apply to the number and class of securities that would have been issuable to a participant upon the consummation of such change of control had the award been exercised, vested, or earned immediately prior to such change of control, and other appropriate adjustment to the terms and conditions of the award may be made.
If a participant is terminated from employment without cause (as defined in the Omnibus Plan) or the participant resigns employment for good reason (as defined in the Omnibus Plan) within 24 months following the change of control, then upon such termination, all of the participant’s awards in effect on the date of such termination will vest in full or be deemed earned in full.
Term of Omnibus Plan. Unless earlier terminated by our Board of Directors, the Omnibus Plan will remain in effect until the date all shares reserved for issuance have been issued, except that no incentive stock options may be issued if the term of the Omnibus Plan extends beyond 10 years from the effective date without stockholder approval of such extension.
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table lists the outstanding equity awards held by each of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2021:
Stock Option Awards(1,2) | Stock Awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Grant Date | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Option Exercise Price ($) | Number of Shares of Stock not Vested(3) | Market Value of Shares Not Vested ($)(4) | ||||||||||||||||
David Young (5) | 7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 8,572 | 42,003 | ||||||||||||||||
7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 4,286 | 21,001 | |||||||||||||||||
7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 4,286 | 21,001 | |||||||||||||||||
08/05/20 | - | - | - | 7,601 | 37,245 | |||||||||||||||||
Sian Bigora | 7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 8,572 | 42,003 | ||||||||||||||||
7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 4,286 | 21,001 | |||||||||||||||||
7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 4,286 | 21,001 | |||||||||||||||||
08/05/20 | - | - | - | 7,601 | 37,245 | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 6,549 | 1,310 | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 1,733 | - | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 1,733 | - | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 5,198 | - | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
Michael Floyd | 6/8/2021 | - | - | - | 37,500 | 183,750 | ||||||||||||||||
Wendy Guy | 7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 8,572 | 42,003 | ||||||||||||||||
7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 4,286 | 21,001 | |||||||||||||||||
7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 4,286 | 21,001 | |||||||||||||||||
08/05/20 | - | - | - | 7,601 | 37,245 | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 6,549 | 1,310 | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 1,733 | - | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 1,733 | - | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 5,198 | - | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
Patrick Lin | 7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 8,572 | 42,003 | ||||||||||||||||
7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 4,286 | 21,001 | |||||||||||||||||
7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 4,286 | 21,001 | |||||||||||||||||
08/05/20 | - | - | - | 7,601 | 37,245 | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 6,549 | 1,310 | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 1,733 | - | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 1,733 | - | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 5,198 | - | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
James Stanker | 7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 8,572 | 42,003 | ||||||||||||||||
7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 4,286 | 21,001 | |||||||||||||||||
7/1/2021 | - | - | - | 4,286 | 21,001 | |||||||||||||||||
08/05/20 | - | - | - | 7,601 | 37,245 | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 6,549 | 1,310 | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 1,733 | - | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 1,733 | - | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
06/20/19 | 5,198 | - | 16.80 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
09/01/18 | 37,667 | 7,533 | 19.88 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
09/01/18 | 2,572 | - | 19.88 | - | - |
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(1) The stock options granted on June 20, 2019 vest over three years. Options granted to Mr. Stanker on September 1, 2018 vested 2,572 shares over one year and 45,200 shares vest 25% after one year with the remaining options vesting ratably over the subsequent 36-month period.
(2) Options for the purchase of 16,523 shares of our common stock were granted to each of Dr. Young, Dr. Bigora, Wendy Guy, Patrick Lin and James Stanker on June 20, 2019 contained either service or performance vesting conditions, have a contractual term of five years and an exercise price equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant of $16.80. Stock options for the purchase of 7,859 shares of common stock vested one-third on the first anniversary date of the grant, with the remaining options vesting ratably over the subsequent two years. Stock options for the purchase of 8,664 shares vested upon meeting the following performance criteria: (i) options to purchase 1,733 shares of our common stock vested on August 29, 2019 when we in-licensed an additional drug asset; (ii) options to purchase 1,733 shares of our common stock vested on December 31, 2020 when we completed our Phase 2A clinical trial for PCS499; and (iii) options to purchase 5,198 shares of our common stock vested on October 6, 2020 when we up-listed to the Nasdaq market.
(3) Stock awards granted on August 5, 2020 vest over two years and the 7,601 shares held by Dr. Young, Dr. Bigora, Wendy Guy, Patrick Lin and James Stanker are scheduled to vest on August 5, 2022. The stock awards granted to Mr. Floyd on June 8, 2021 vest over three and a half years. Stock awards in the form of restricted stock units for 21,430 shares of our common stock were granted to each of Dr. Young, Dr. Bigora, Michael Floyd, Wendy Guy, Patrick Lin and James Stanker on July 1, 2021, contained either service or performance vesting conditions and must meet distribution requirements before any shares of common stock will be issued. These stock awards vest (i) 8,572 shares of our common stock ratably over the subsequent two years; (ii) 12,858 shares of our common stock upon meeting the following performance criteria: (a) 4,286 shares of our common stock when we completed the interim analysis for PCS6422 (which was completed on n November 1, 2021); (b) stock awards for 4,286 of our common stock when we complete the interim analysis for PCS499; and (c) stock awards for 4,286 of our common stock when we cumulatively raise at least $30 million.
(4) Market value is based on $4.90 per share, which was the closing market price of our common stock on December 31, 2021, the last trading day of the year.
(5) On October 1, 2020, Dr. Young voluntarily forfeited all stock options that had previously been granted to him in 2019.
(6) Not included in the above table are restricted stock units representing 22,780 shares of our common stock that are vested as of March 31, 2022 for each of our named executive officers.
Employee Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation, Invention and Non-Disclosure Agreements
Each of our named executive officers has entered into standard form agreements with respect to non-competition, non-solicitation, invention and non-disclosure. Under these agreements, each of our named executive officers has agreed not to compete with us during his or her employment and for a period of one year after the termination of his or her employment, not to solicit our employees, consultants, customers, business or prospective customers during his or her employment and for a period of one year after the termination of his or her employment, and to protect our confidential and proprietary information indefinitely. In addition, under these agreements, each named executive officer has agreed that we own all inventions that are developed by such named executive officer during his or her employment with us that (i) are related to our business or our customers or suppliers or any of our products or services being researched, developed, manufactured or sold by us or which may be used with such products or services; (ii) result from tasks assigned to the executive officer by us; or (iii) result from the use of our premises or personal property (whether tangible or intangible) owned, leased or contracted for by us.
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Director Compensation
On March 15, 2022, our compensation committee recommended, and our Board of Directors approved, an amendment to our compensation plan for non-employee directors. Effective January 1, 2022, each non-employee director will receive an annual cash retainer of $12,000, payable in quarterly installments and an annual restricted stock grant of 18,208 shares equal to $63,000 total value, which was based on the closing price of our common stock on March 15, 2022 of $3.46 per share. These shares vest on December 31, 2022.
In 2021, each non-employee director received an annual cash retainer of $10,000, payable quarterly. For their 2021 service, in March 2022 each non-employee director also received 4,393 shares equal to $30,000 total value, which was based on an average price for the third quarter of 2021 of $6.83 per share. Our directors waived any cash compensation and director’s fees until we completed our up-list to Nasdaq in October 2020. As such, they did not earn or receive any cash compensation until the fourth quarter of 2020. We granted 6,876 restricted stock awards to each of Justin Yorke, Virgil Thompson and Geraldine Pannu on August 5, 2020, of which 4,538 restricted stock awards vested on October 6, 2020 when we successfully completed our underwritten public offering and up-listed to the Nasdaq Capital Market and 1,169 shares vested on August 5, 2021. The remaining 1,169 restricted stock awards vest on the second anniversary of the grant date.
Our directors are also reimbursed for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with service as a director.
The table below shows all compensation paid to our non-employee directors during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Equity Awards ($)(1) | Total ($) | |||||||||
Dr. Khalid Islam | 10,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 | |||||||||
Geraldine Pannu | 10,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 | |||||||||
Virgil Thompson | 10,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 | |||||||||
Justin Yorke | 10,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 |
(1) As noted above, each director received 4,393 shares of our common stock for their 2021 service. These shares were issued to our directors in March 2022.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock at March 31, 2022 for:
● | Each of our directors; | |
● | Each of our named executive officers; | |
● | All of our current directors and executive officers as a group; and | |
● | Each person, or group of affiliated persons, who beneficially owned more than 5% of our common stock. |
The number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by each entity, person, director or executive officer is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares over which the individual has sole or shared voting power or investment power as well as any shares that the individual has the right to acquire within 60 days of March 31, 2022, through the exercise of any stock option, warrants or other rights. Except as otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock held by that person.
The percentage of shares beneficially owned is computed on the basis of 15,752,512 shares of our common stock outstanding (excluding 91,109 issued but unvested shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units for 190,493 share of our common stock that have vested but the shares have not been issued) as of March 31, 2022. Shares of our common stock that a person has the right to acquire within 60 days of March 31, 2022, are deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such rights, but are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person, except with respect to the percentage ownership of all directors and executive officers as a group.
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Shares beneficially owned | ||||||||
Shares | Percent | |||||||
Name and address of beneficial owner (1) | ||||||||
Officers and Directors | ||||||||
David Young (2), (12), (13) | 1,579,902 | 10.0 | % | |||||
Sian Bigora (3), (12) | 582,857 | 3.7 | % | |||||
Michael Floyd (4) | 175,056 | 1.1 | % | |||||
Wendy Guy (5), (12) | 402,704 | 2.5 | % | |||||
Patrick Lin (6) | 483,476 | 3.1 | % | |||||
James Stanker (7) | 143,144 | * | ||||||
Khalid Islam (8) | 193,395 | 1.2 | % | |||||
Geraldine Pannu (9) | 10,100 | * | ||||||
Virgil Thompson (10) | 99,567 | * | ||||||
Justin Yorke (11) | 549,127 | 3.5 | % | |||||
Total for all Officers and Directors | 4,219,328 | 26.2 | % | |||||
More than 5% Stockholders: | ||||||||
CorLyst, LLC (12), (13) | 1,129,331 | 7.0 | % |
* represents less than 1%
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each beneficial owner listed is c/o Processa Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 7380 Coca Cola Drive, Suite 106, Hanover, Maryland 21076.
(2) Consists of (i) 335,854 shares of common stock held directly by Dr. Young; (ii) 376,980 shares held by family entities; (iii) 829,287 shares held by CorLyst, LLC (“CorLyst”) (458,400 shares held on behalf of entities controlled by Dr. Young and 370,887 shares held on behalf of other stockholders); and (iii) restricted stock units for 37,781 shares of our common stock. Dr. Young is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Member of CorLyst. Dr. Young disclaims beneficial ownership of a portion of CorLyst shares.
(3) Consists of (i) 395,418 shares of common stock held directly by Dr. Bigora; (ii) 133,353 shares held by CorLyst; (iii) restricted stock units representing 37,781 shares of common stock; and (iv) stock options for the purchase of 16,305 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to options held directly by Dr. Bigora exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2022.
(4) Consists of (i) 70,930 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Floyd; (ii) restricted stock units representing 37,781 shares of common stock; and (iii) 66,345 shares of common stock held directly by Elion Oncology, Inc. based Mr. Floyd’s ownership interest in Elion Oncology, Inc.
(5) Consists of (i) 181,927 shares of common stock held directly by Ms. Guy; (ii) 166,691 shares held by CorLyst; (iii) restricted stock units representing 37,781 shares of common stock; and (iv) stock options for the purchase of 16,305 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to options held directly by Ms. Guy exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2022.
(6) Consists of (i) 429,390 shares of common stock held by Mr. Lin; (ii) restricted stock units representing 37,781 shares of common stock; and (iii) stock options for the purchase of 16,305 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to options held directly by Mr. Lin exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2022.
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(7) Consists of (i) 44,111 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Stanker; (ii) restricted stock units representing 37,781 shares of common stock; and (iii) stock options for the purchase of 61,252 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to options held directly by Mr. Stanker exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2022.
(8) Consists of (i) 72,486 shares of common stock held directly by Dr. Islam and (ii) 120,909 shares of common stock held directly by Elion Oncology, Inc. based Dr. Islam’s ownership interest in Elion Oncology, Inc.
(9) Consists of 10,100 shares of common stock held directly by Ms. Pannu.
(10) Consists of (i) 16,693 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Thompson; (ii) 80,836 shares of common stock held directly by the Thompson Family Trust, of which Mr. Thompson is a trustee and has investment and disposition power over the shares of common stock; and (iii) 2,038 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to options held directly by Mr. Thompson exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2022.
(11) Justin Yorke, a member of our Board of Directors, is a manager of the San Gabriel Fund, LLC, JMW Fund, LLC and the Richland Fund, LLC (collectively “the Funds”). The shares of common stock reported for Mr. Yorke include (i) 13,716 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Yorke; (ii) the shares held by the Funds which total 533,373 shares; and (iii) 2,038 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to options held directly by Mr. Yorke exercisable within 60 days of March 31, 2022.
(12) CorLyst is the beneficial holder of 1,129,331 shares. This beneficial ownership is allocated in the above table as follows: Dr. Young-related entities – 458,400 shares, Dr. Bigora – 133,353 shares; Ms. Guy – 166,691 shares; and other stockholders – 370,887 shares.
(13) Although Dr. Young confers with all other members or parties associated with CorLyst, Dr. Young has voting and investment control of this entity.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The table below provides information as to our 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2021.
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights | Number of securities remaining available for issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) | ||||||||||
(a) | (b) | (c) | ||||||||||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 280,724 | (1) | $ | 11.45 | 1,882,124 | |||||||
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | 47,772 | 19.88 | - | |||||||||
Total | 328,496 | 1,882,124 | (2) |
(1) | Includes stock options to purchase 7,143 shares of our common stock issued under the prior equity compensation plan. | |
(2) | Consists of shares available for issuance under the 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan, adjusted for the 17,572 shares issued to the board of directors in March 2022 for 2021 service. |
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Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
The audit committee has adopted written policies and procedures for the committee to review and approve, or ratify related party transactions. These transactions include:
● | transactions that must be disclosed in proxy statements under SEC rules, and | |
● | transactions that potentially could cause a non-employee director to cease to qualify as an independent director under Nasdaq Stock Market listing requirements. |
Transactions that are deemed immaterial under applicable disclosure requirements are generally deemed pre-approved under these written policies and procedures, including transactions with an entity with which a director’s sole relationship is as a non-employee director and the total amount involved does not exceed 1% of the entity’s total annual revenues.
Criteria for committee approval or ratification of a related party transaction, in addition to factors that the committee otherwise deems appropriate under the circumstances, include:
● | whether terms of the transaction are no less favorable than terms generally available from an unaffiliated third party; and | |
● | in the case of a non-employee director, whether the transaction would disqualify the director from (1) being independent under Nasdaq Stock Market listing requirements, or (2) from serving on the audit committee, compensation committee or nominating and governance committee under Nasdaq Stock Market and other regulatory requirements. |
With the exception of the transactions set forth below, we were not a party to any transaction (in which the amount involved exceeded the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our assets for the last two fiscal years) in which a director, executive officer, holder of more than five percent of our common stock, or any member of the immediate family of any such person has or will have a direct or indirect material interest and no such transactions are currently proposed.
CorLyst, LLC
CorLyst, LLC (“CorLyst”) reimburses us for shared costs related to payroll, health insurance and rent based on actual costs incurred, which are recognized as a reduction of our general and administrative operating expenses being reimbursed in our consolidated statement of operations. We recorded $126,324 and $119,001 of reimbursements during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Dr. Young, our CEO and Chairman of our Board of Directors, is also the CEO and Managing Member of CorLyst. David Young spends a nominal amount of effort related to CorLyst activities and averages more than 40 hours per week on Processa activities. As of December 31, 2021, CorLyst beneficially owns 1,129,331 shares of our common stock.
License Agreement with Elion Oncology, Inc.
Mr. Floyd and Dr. Islam hold equity interests totaling 66.18% of Elion Oncology, Inc., which owns 1.8% of our common stock. On August 23, 2020, we entered into a condition precedent License Agreement with Elion Oncology (“Elion License Agreement”), pursuant to which we acquired an exclusive license to develop, manufacture and commercialize PCS6422 globally. The grant of license was conditioned on the following being satisfied by October 30, 2020: (i) our closing on an equity financing of at least $15 million in gross proceeds and (ii) successful up-listing to Nasdaq.
On October 6, 2020, all conditions were satisfied, resulting in the addition of PCS6422 to the Processa portfolio, and we paid $100,000 cash and issued 825,000 shares of our common stock to Elion. Such shares were subject to a lock-up, with 50% of such shares released from such lock up after six months and the remaining 25% tranches to be released following 9 months and 12 months, respectively.
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As part of the Elion License Agreement, we issued 100,000 shares of our common stock to Elion on October 6, 2021, the first anniversary of the Elion License Agreement. We have agreed to issue an additional 100,000 shares of our common stock on the second anniversary date of the Elion License Agreement. We believe the payment of this amount is probable and represent seller financing since the only condition related to their payment is the passage of time, which management does not believe is substantive. We valued the shares at $4.00 per share based on the underwritten public offering price on October 6, 2020, which is the date the conditions precedent in the license agreement were met.
As additional consideration, we will pay Elion development and regulatory milestone payments (a portion of which are payable in shares of our common stock and a portion of which are payable in cash) upon the achievement of certain milestones, which include FDA or other regulatory approval and dosing a patient. In addition, we must pay Elion one-time sales milestone payments based on the achievement during a calendar year of one or more thresholds for annual sales for products made and pay royalties based on annual licensing sales. We are also required to split any milestone payments received with Elion based on any sub-license agreement we may enter into.
We are required to use commercially reasonable efforts, at our sole cost and expense, to research, develop and commercialize products in one or more countries, including meeting specific diligence milestones that consist of: (i) dosing a first patient in a Phase 1B clinical trial with a product within 12 months; and (ii) dosing a first patient with a product in a Phase 2 or 3 clinical trial within 48 months. Either party may terminate the agreement in the event of a material breach of the agreement that has not been cured following written notice and a 90-day opportunity to cure such breach (which is shortened to 15 days for a payment breach).
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed to Processa for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 by our independent auditor, BD & Company:
Service Type | 2021 | 2020 | ||||||
Audit Fees | $ | 86,000 | $ | 59,600 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees | - | - | ||||||
Tax Fees | - | - | ||||||
All Other Fees | 60,000 | 61,150 | ||||||
Total | $ | 146,000 | $ | 120,750 |
Audit Fees. These fees were for professional services rendered for 2021 and 2020 in connection with the audit of our annual financial statements on Form 10-K and review of the financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The amounts also include fees for services that are normally provided by BD & Company Inc. in connection with statutory and regulatory filings and engagements for the years identified.
All Other Fees. These fees were primarily for services related to our Registration Statements and related comfort letters in 2021 and 2020.
Audit Committee Policies and Procedures for Pre-Approval of Independent Auditor Services
The following describes the Audit Committee’s policies and procedures regarding pre-approval of the engagement of the Company’s independent auditor to perform audit as well as permissible non-audit services for the Company.
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For audit services and audit-related fees, the independent auditor will provide the Committee with an engagement letter during the March-May quarter of each year outlining the scope of the audit services proposed to be performed in connection with the audit of the current fiscal year. If agreed to by the Committee, the engagement letter will be formally accepted by the Committee at an Audit Committee meeting held as soon as practicable following receipt of the engagement letter. The independent auditor will submit to the Committee for approval an audit services fee proposal after acceptance of the engagement letter.
For non-audit services and other fees, Company management may submit to the Committee for approval (during May through September of each fiscal year) the list of non-audit services that it recommends the Committee engage the independent auditor to provide for the fiscal year. The list of services must be detailed as to the particular service and may not call for broad categorical approvals. Company management and the independent auditor will each confirm to the Audit Committee that each non-audit service on the list is permissible under all applicable legal requirements. In addition to the list of planned non-audit services, a budget estimating non-audit service spending for the fiscal year may be provided. The Committee will consider for approval both the list of permissible non-audit services and the budget for such services. The Committee will be informed routinely as to the non-audit services actually provided by the independent auditor pursuant to this pre-approval process.
To ensure prompt handling of unexpected matters, the Audit Committee delegates to its Chairman the authority to amend or modify the list of approved permissible non-audit services and fees. The Chairman will report any action taken pursuant to this delegation to the Committee at its next meeting.
All audit and non-audit services provided to the Company are required to be pre-approved by the Committee.
Part IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
The following documents were previously filed as part of the Original Filing:
(a)(1) and (2) Financial Statements and Schedules:
See Part II, Item 8, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was originally filed on March 30, 2022.
(3) Exhibits
+ | Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
PROCESSA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ David Young | |
David Young | ||
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
Dated: | May 2, 2022 |
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