SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002 Commission File Number 0-19122
APHTON CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 95-3640931
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
80 SW Eighth Street, Suite 2160 33130
Miami, Florida (Zip Code)
(address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (305) 374-7338
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes x No
--- ---
The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the close of
business on July 24, 2002:
Class Number of
Shares outstanding
Common Stock, $0.001 par value 20,101,639
APHTON CORPORATION
Index
Page
Part I - Financial Information 3
Item 1. Financial Statements:
Balance Sheets - June 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001 4
Statements of Operations - Three and six months
ended June 30, 2002 and 2001 5
Statements of Cash Flows - Three and six months
ended June 30, 2002 and 2001 5
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations 6
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 10
Part II - Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 10
Item 2. Changes in Securities 10
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 10
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 10
Item 5. Other Information 10
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 10
Signature 11
- 2 -
Part I - Financial Information
Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by
terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate",
"believe", "continue", "predict", "estimated", "potential", or the negative of
such terms or other comparable terminology. We have based these forward-looking
statements on our current expectations and projections about future events.
These statements include, but are not limited to information about:
o Our business outlook and future financial performance;
o Anticipated profitability, revenues, expenses and capital expenditures;
o Anticipated research, development, clinical, regulatory and reimbursement
progress;
o Future funding and expectations as to any future events; and
o Other statements that are not historical fact and are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties.
When considering such forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the
risk factors and other cautionary statements in our publicly available filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent
Registration Statement on Form S-3/A declared effective on July 12, 2002, our
Transition Report on Form 10-K/A for the eleven months ended December 31, 2001,
the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002 and this Form 10-Q. These
risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from
future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many of
these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. You should not put
undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to
release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect
events or circumstances after the date of this Form 10-Q or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable
securities laws.
Item 1. Financial Statements
The unaudited condensed interim financial statements included herein have been
prepared by us in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in
the United States and pursuant to Regulation S-X, Rule 10-01 of the Securities
and Exchange Commission. In the opinion of management, the financial statements
include all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position of
the Company as of June 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001 and the results of its
operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2002 and 2001; and its
cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2002 and 2001. It is suggested that
these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements
and the notes thereto included in the Company's latest transition report on Form
10-K/A.
- 3 -
APHTON CORPORATION
Financial Statement Overview
The following highlighted information is also contained in Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. During
the six months ended June 30, 2002, Aphton received net proceeds of
approximately $27.7 million from the sale of approximately 2.5 million shares of
its common stock. Approximately 170,000 additional unregistered shares were
issued pursuant to anti-dilution rights of existing shareholders. Total costs
and expenses were reduced from $13.1 million in the quarter ending December 31,
2001 to $10.1 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2002, to $9.9 million for
the quarter ended June 30, 2002. This decrease is primarily due to the
completion of recruitment for two of the Company's clinical trials. We expect
our total costs to continue to decrease in the remaining two quarters of the
year 2002. The Company is planning to initiate two clinical trials in the fourth
quarter. Most of the costs relating to these trials will be incurred during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
APHTON CORPORATION
Condensed Balance Sheets
June 30, December 31,
Assets 2002 2001
(Unaudited) ------
-----------
Current Assets:
Cash and current investments:
Cash and short-term cash investments $10,647,991 $3,176,717
Investment securities-trading 1,145,525 1,147,417
Investment securities-held-to-maturity 990,764 1,999,006
--------------- --------------
Total cash and current investments 12,784,280 6,323,140
Other assets (including current portion of
unconditional supply commitment) 461,523 595,390
-------------- --------------
Total current assets 13,245,803 6,918,530
Equipment and improvements, net 168,846 188,597
Unconditional supply commitment 6,625,515 6,875,515
------------- --------------
Total assets $20,040,164 $13,982,642
============= ==============
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Liabilities:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other $9,042,532 $10,715,430
------------ --------------
Total current liabilities 9,042,532 10,715,430
Deferred revenue 10,000,000 10,000,000
------------- -------------
Total liabilities 19,042,532 20,715,430
------------ -------------
Commitments
Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value -
Authorized: 2,000,000 shares
Issued and outstanding: none - -
Common stock, $0.001 par value -
Authorized: 30,000,000 shares
Issued and outstanding: 20,101,639 shares at June 30,
2002 and 17,386,996 shares at December 31, 2001 20,102 17,387
Additional paid in capital 121,215,753 93,566,314
Purchase warrants 298,900 298,900
Accumulated deficit (120,537,123) (100,615,389)
------------- --------------
Total stockholders' equity (deficit) 997,632 (6,732,788)
--------------- --------------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit) $20,040,164 $13,982,642
=============== ==============
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APHTON CORPORATION
Unaudited Condensed Statements of Operations
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2002 and 2001
Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,
2002 2001 2002 2001
---- ---- ---- ----
Revenue: $ - $ - $ - $ -
-------------- ------------- -------------- ---------------
Costs and expenses:
General and administrative 564,495 519,069 953,927 891,759
Research and development 9,311,658 5,648,381 19,001,905 10,575,900
-------------- ------------- -------------- ---------------
Total costs and expenses 9,876,153 6,167,450 19,955,832 11,467,659
-------------- ------------- -------------- ---------------
Loss from operations 9,876,153 6,167,450 19,955,832 11,467,659
-------------- ------------- -------------- ---------------
Other income (expense):
Dividend and interest income 49,325 123,611 71,613 353,576
Unrealized losses from investments (7,870) (409,220) (37,515) (1,378,184)
--------------- -------------- --------------- ----------------
Net loss $(9,834,698) $(6,453,059) $(19,921,734) $(12,492,267)
=============== ============== =============== ================
Per share data: Basic and fully diluted loss
per common share $(0.49) $(0.40) $(1.03) $(0.77)
======= ======= ======= =======
Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding 20,101,639 16,199,493 19,420,924 16,199,493
=============== ============== =============== ================
The net loss for the three and six months ended June 30, 2002 and 2001 was the
comprehensive loss for those periods. For all periods presented potential common
shares, consisting of approximately 2.7 million purchase warrants, were excluded
from the computation of net loss per share because their effect was
anti-dilutive.
APHTON CORPORATION
Unaudited Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
For the six months ended June 30, 2002 and 2001
2002 2001
---- ----
Cash flows from operating activities:
Cash paid to suppliers and employees $(21,176,416) $(11,300,431)
---------------- --------------
Net cash used in operating activities (21,176,416) (11,300,431)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of held to maturity securities (1,311,203) (6,672,714)
Proceeds from maturity of held to maturity securities 2,323,229 18,057,000
Capital expenditures (16,490) (65,867)
---------------- --------------
Net cash provided by investing activities 995,536 11,318,419
----------------- --------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Sales of stock 27,652,154 -
----------------- --------------
Cash provided by financing activities 27,652,154 -
----------------- --------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and short-term cash investments 7,471,274 17,988
Cash and short-term cash investments:
Beginning of period 3,176,717 4,998,650
----------------- --------------
End of period $10,647,991 $5,016,638
================= ==============
Reconciliation of net loss to net cash used in operating activities
Net loss $(19,921,734) $(12,492,267)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 36,241 35,460
Unrealized losses from investments 37,515 1,378,184
Decrease in accrued employee benefits (37,515) (1,378,184)
Changes in -
Investment securities-trading (1,892) 1,258,555
Other assets - including current portion of supply commitment 133,867 (125,327)
Unconditional supply commitment - long term portion 250,000 150,000
Accounts payable and other (1,672,898) (126,852)
----------------- --------------
Net cash used in operating activities: $(21,176,416) $(11,300,431)
================= ==============
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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations
Three and six months ended June 30, 2002
General
Aphton Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company in one phase III and three
phase II clinical trials. We apply our innovative technology-platform to develop
products for neutralizing, and removing from circulation, hormones and other
molecules that participate in gastrointestinal system and reproductive system
cancer and non-cancer diseases. We have strategic alliances with Aventis Pasteur
(NYSE: AVE), GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) and others.
We are conducting a phase III clinical trial with our anti-gastrin targeted
immunotherapy, called G17DT, which induces antibodies in the patient in order to
neutralize gastrin 17 (a hormone normally secreted in the stomach that regulates
stomach acid and is also secreted by, and linked in certain cases to, the growth
of cancers), for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer in the U.S. and in
Europe. We are conducting a phase II trial with G17DT for patients with
histologically confirmed, locally advanced and metastatic stomach cancer. We
have concluded a phase II trial with G17DT which showed, among other things, the
reduction of post prandial (post-meal) levels of gastrin to pre-meal levels,
including the reduction of hypergastrinemia levels of gastrin induced by the
proton-pump inhibitor drug omeprazole to pre-meal levels of gastrin for patients
treated with omeprazole. We plan to initiate a clinical trial at the end of 2002
to show, among other endpoints, that G17DT may be efficacious in providing
symptomatic relief to patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease
(or GERD).
A phase II trial is also underway in the U.S. and Europe using our immunogen
called GnRH pharmaccine, which is a targeted immunotherapy that neutralizes the
hormone GnRH, for the treatment of chronic diseases and cancer in prostate
cancer patients who are not responding to hormone therapy.
Clinical Results
On May 17, 2002, at the Annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, in
Orlando, Florida, at a special symposium held by Aventis (AVE), Dr. Ajani of the
MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, presented interim results from a
phase II clinical trial with gastric (stomach) cancer patients treated with
Aphton's G17DT and chemotherapy, with an overall tumor response rate (tumor
shrinkage of 50% or more) of 53% for the 36 reported and evaluable patients.
On May 20, 2002, at the same ASCO conference, Aphton's collaborating scientists
presented results from a phase II study with patients with histologically proven
stage IV gastric cancer who were treated with Aphton's G17DT but with no
chemotherapy administered. Of the 10 evaluable patients, there was a 48% median
survival benefit compared to previous studies for such stage IV gastric cancer
patients.
On May 23, 2002, at the Annual Meeting of the American Gastroenterological
Association (AGA) held in San Francisco, CA, Aphton collaborators received a
Blue Ribbon Poster Award for one of four scientific posters relating to Aphton's
G17DT product.
On June 12, 2002, Aphton reported further interim results from Aphton's phase II
clinical trial with patients with metastatic gastric cancer referred to above.
Of the 58 evaluable patients reported on at that time, the overall tumor
response rate was 48.3%.
On July 17, 2002 and then on July 23, 2002, Aphton announced that the FDA
granted Orphan Drug status for Aphton's anti-gastrin G17DT immunogen for
treatment of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and for treatment of gastric cancer,
respectively. The term "orphan-drug" refers to a product that treats a rare
disease affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans. Orphan-Drug Status confers a
7-year period of exclusive marketing rights for G17DT for this indication,
thereby protecting it from similar drugs of the same class. In addition, it
qualifies the Company to apply for grant amounts totaling up to $900,000 over a
3-year period, with a maximum of $300,000 per year. Furthermore, the requirement
for a $300,000 user fee that is payable with the submission of a New Drug
Application is waived for an Orphan Drug.
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On July 29, 2002 Aphton filed an SEC Regulation FD Disclosure describing its
phase II clinical trial results with patients treated with G17DT, both with and
without treatment with the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole, a discussion of the
disease called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and Aphton's recent
efforts, preparations and plans for filing an IND for GERD in the United States
and Europe in the coming weeks.
On July 31, 2002, Aphton reported further impressive interim results from its
phase II clinical trial with patients with metastatic stomach cancer who were
treated with Aphton's G17DT and chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin and 5FU. Of
the 72 evaluable patients reported upon that time, 37 had either a partial or a
complete tumor response for an overall tumor response rate of 51.4%. One patient
had a complete response (no detectable residual tumor) and 36 had a partial
response (tumor shrinkage by 50% or more). Furthermore, an additional 20
patients had stable disease. There is only one large, randomized, phase III
clinical trial that has been reported in the medical literature with cisplatin
plus 5 FU for patients with advanced gastric cancer. Of the 399 total patients
enrolled in the trial, 245 were evaluable. For the patients treated with
cisplatin plus 5FU, the tumor response rate was 20%, as reported by the European
Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) which conducted the
trial. The results reported by Aphton on July 31, 2002 compare favorably with
those results. They represent a 157% improvement relative to the 20% results
reported in the EORTC clinical trial. Aphton has completed recruitment for its
phase II clinical trial for patients with metastatic stomach cancer and is
following the patients while awaiting additional interim results which will be
followed by final analysis of the data. Aphton's anti-gastrin targeted therapy
adds a biological dimension to the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers,
without adding toxicity.
Results of Operations
During the six months ended June 30, 2002, Aphton received net proceeds of
approximately $27.7 million from the sale of approximately 2.5 million shares of
its common stock. Approximately 170,000 unregistered additional shares were
issued pursuant to anti-dilution rights of existing shareholders. Net loss was
reduced from $13,197,503 in the quarter ending December 31, 2001 to $10,087,036
in the quarter ended March 31, 2002 and were further reduced to $9,834,698 in
the quarter ended June 30, 2002. This decrease is primarily due to the
completion of recruitment for two of the Company's clinical trials. We expect
our total costs and expenses to continue to decrease in the remaining two
quarters of the year 2002. The Company is planning to initiate two clinical
trials in the fourth quarter. Most of the costs relating to these trials will be
incurred during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
During this period the Company had no contract revenues. The investment earnings
on cash and current investments for the six months ended June 30, 2002 was
$71,613, compared to $353,576 for the six months ended June 30, 2001. This
decrease was due to lower average cash balances and interest rates. Total
research and development expenditures decreased from $9,690,247 to $9,311,658 in
the three months ended June 30, 2002 over the three months ended March 31, 2002.
Total research and development costs increased from $10,575,900 for the six
months ended June 30, 2001 to $19,001,905 for the six months ended June 30,
2002. This 80% increase was a result of the increased clinical trial costs
associated with the development of the Company's products, including the costs
of establishing centers where patients are treated and monitored, and the
reduction of research and development expenses by approximately $38,000 in the
six months ended June 30, 2002, as compared to the $1,378,184 reduction in the
six months ended June 30, 2001. These reductions correspond with adjustments of
the same amount for unrealized losses on investment securities. The Company
allows certain employees to defer a portion of compensation, and the Company
transfers this amount into an investment account such that the employee is able
to direct the investment of the funds. The related investment securities are
held by the Company, and are subject to the general creditors of the Company.
These employees direct the investment of the funds, and the changes in value in
these investments are recognized as unrealized gains and losses in the statement
of operations with a corresponding increase or decrease to the carrying value of
the investment account. The same amount is used to adjust research and
development expense and the corresponding liability for employees' wages and
benefits payable. Unrealized holding losses on trading securities and the
corresponding decrease in research and development expense totaled approximately
$38,000 in the six month period ending June 30, 2002 and approximately
$1,378,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2001.
-7-
The Company does not accumulate cost information by major development product.
Many costs are applicable to more than one product. We receive reimbursements
from our strategic partners for some of our research and development expenses
and these expenses are not included in our costs. We estimate that 93% of our
research and development costs are spent on gastrointestinal and reproductive
system cancers. There are no payment or penalty milestones associated with any
of the projects, all of which are in Phase II or III clinical trials. The
Company does not speculate on the timing of approvals by regulatory authorities.
Critical Accounting Policies
The Company's significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 to the
consolidated financial statements included in our Transition Report on Form
10-K/A for the eleven months ended December 31, 2001. There have been no changes
to our accounting policies during the three and six months ended June 30, 2002.
Other
In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statements of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, "Business Combinations," which the
Company adopted in July 2001 and No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets," which was adopted in January 2002, effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2001. Under these rules, goodwill and intangible assets
deemed to have indefinite lives will no longer be amortized but will be subject
to annual impairment tests in accordance with the Statements. Other intangible
assets will continue to be amortized over their useful lives. The adoption of
these statements did not have an impact on the Company's financial position or
results from operations.
In August 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or
Disposal of Long-Lived Assets" (SFAS No. 144) which the Company adopted January
1, 2002. SFAS 144 superseded Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived
Assets to be Disposed Of," and the accounting and reporting provisions of
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30, "Reporting the Results of
Operations-Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and
Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions," for
the disposal of a segment of a business. SFAS No. 144 also amended Accounting
Research Bulletin No. 51, "Consolidated Financial Statements," to eliminate the
exception to consolidation for a subsidiary for which control is likely to be
temporary. The adoption of this statement did not have an impact on the
Company's financial position or results from operations.
In April 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
145, Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB
Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections (SFAS 145). SFAS 145 will require
gains and losses on extinguishments of debt to be classified as income or loss
from continuing operations rather than as extraordinary items as previously
required under SFAS 4. Extraordinary treatment will be required for certain
extinguishments as provided in APB Opinion No. 30. SFAS 145 also amends SFAS 13
to require certain modifications to capital leases be treated as a
sale-leaseback and modifies the accounting for sub-leases when the original
lessee remains a secondary obligor (or guarantor). In addition, the FASB
rescinded SFAS 44, which addressed the accounting for intangible assets of motor
carriers and made numerous technical corrections. The provisions of SFAS 145
related to the rescission of SFAS 4 shall be applied in fiscal years beginning
after May 15, 2002. The provisions of paragraphs 8 and 9(c) of SFAS 145, related
to SFAS 13, shall be effective for transactions occurring after May 15, 2002.
All other provisions of SFAS 146 shall be effective for financial statements
issued on or after May 15, 2002. We do not expect the adoption of SFAS 145 to
have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.
In June 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities (SFAS
146). SFAS 146 addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated
with exit or disposal activities and nullifies EITF Issue No. 94-3, Liability
Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an
Activity (including
-8-
Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring). The principal difference between
SFAS 146 and Issue 94-3 relates to SFAS 146's requirements for recognition of a
liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity. SFAS 146
requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal
activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under Issue 94-3, a
liability for an exit cost as generally defined in Issue 94-3 was recognized at
the date of an entity's commitment to an exit plan. The provisions of SFAS 146
are effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December
31, 2002. We do not expect the adoption of SFAS 146 to have a material effect on
our financial position or results of operations.
Inflation and changing prices have not had a significant effect on continuing
operations and are not expected to have any material effect in the foreseeable
future. Interest and other income were primarily derived from money-market
accounts.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company has financed its operations since inception through the sale of its
equity securities and, to a lesser extent, using operating revenues from R&D
limited partnerships to conduct research and development. These funds provided
the Company with the resources to hire staff, construct its research and
development facilities, acquire capital equipment and finance technology and
product development, manufacturing of its products and clinical trials.
On March 21, 2002, the Company sold 1,200,000 shares of registered common stock
at $10.50 per share and received net proceeds of $11.8 million. On February 7,
2002, the Company sold 1,345,000 shares of registered common stock at $12.70 per
share and received net proceeds of $16.1 million. There was approximately
$300,000 in offering expenses that were netted against these proceeds.
During the eleven months ended December 31, 2001, the Company received proceeds
of approximately $13.3 million net of approximately $1.0 million offering costs
from the closing of a private financing with several funds. The Company issued
1,187,503 shares of common stock and there were no warrants or options included
with this private placement. Approximately 170,000 additional unregistered
shares were issued subsequent to December 31, 2001 due to an anti-dilution
provision for the sale of securities at less than $12.00 per share prior to
October 2002.
The Company anticipates that its existing capital resources which are composed
primarily of cash and short-term cash investments, including the proceeds from
its equity offerings and interest thereon, will enable it to maintain its
currently planned operations into the quarter ending December 31, 2002. The
Company's working capital and capital requirements will depend upon numerous
factors, including the following: the progress of the Company's research and
development program, preclinical testing and clinical trials; the timing and
cost of obtaining regulatory approvals; the levels of resources that the Company
devotes to product development, manufacturing and marketing capabilities;
technological advances; competition; and collaborative arrangements or strategic
alliances with other drug companies, including the further development,
manufacturing and marketing of certain of the Company's products and the ability
of the Company to obtain funds from such strategic alliances or from other
sources.
The Company may seek additional financing through collaborative arrangements or
through public or private equity or debt financings. Additional financing may
not be available to the Company on acceptable terms or at all. If the Company
raises additional funds by issuing equity securities, dilution to the interests
of existing stockholders may result. If adequate funds are not available, we may
not be able to implement our business strategy in whole or in part. In such an
event, we could be required to delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate one or
more of our research or development programs or obtain funds through
arrangements with collaborative partners or others that may require us to
relinquish rights to certain of our technologies, potential products or products
that we would otherwise seek to develop or commercialize ourselves.
-9-
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The Company has no material changes to the disclosure on this matter made under
Item 7A of its Transition Report on Form 10-K/A for the eleven month period
ended December 31, 2001.
Part II - Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings. Not applicable.
Item 2. Changes in Securities. Not applicable.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities. Not applicable.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
On May 22, 2002, the Company held its 2002 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders in Miami, Florida, to elect one director to hold office
until the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and thereafter until his
successor is duly elected and qualified. Robert S. Basso was elected to
the Board of Directors for another term with 99.7% of the vote cast (84%
of the total shares outstanding).
Item 5. Other Information. Not applicable.
Item 6. Exhibits and Report on Form 8-K.
(a) Exhibits.
99.1 Certification by Philip C. Gevas, Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer and President, pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
99.2 Certification by Frederick W. Jacobs, Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Chief Accounting
Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K.
During the three months ended June 30, 2002, the Company filed
the following current reports on Form 8-K:
o On May 20, 2002, the Company announced that the interim
results from several clinical trials and studies with
the Company's anti-gastrin 17 immunogen (G17DT) were
presented at the annual meeting of the American Society
of Oncology (ASCO) held in Orlando, Florida; and
o On June 12, 2002, the Company reported continued
impressive interim results from its clinical trial with
patients with metastatic stomach cancer who were treated
with the Company's G17DT and chemotherapy consisting of
cisplatin and 5FU. This report updated results reported
at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) on
May 17, 2002 on 36 patients.
-10-
Signature
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
Aphton Corporation
Date: August 13, 2002 By: /s/ Frederick W. Jacobs
-----------------------------------------
Frederick W. Jacobs
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Chief Accounting Officer
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