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UNITED STATES
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 September 30, 2004

Commission File No. 0-31261

ATHEROGENICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Georgia
58-2108232
(State of incorporation)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

8995 Westside Parkway, Alpharetta, Georgia 30004
(Address of registrant's principal executive offices, including zip code)

_______________________

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code): (678) 336-2500

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 [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes [ X ] No [ ]

As of October 29, 2004 there were 37,341,847 shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding.

_________________________



 
     
 

 

 ATHEROGENICS, INC.

 

  FORM 10-Q

 

  INDEX

  
   
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
Page No.
   
Item 1. Condensed Financial Statements (unaudited)
  
       
     Condensed Balance Sheets
  
          September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003
3
       
     Condensed Statements of Operations
  
          Three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003
4
       
     Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
  
          Nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003
5
       
     Notes to Condensed Financial Statements   
6
       
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
 
           and Results of Operations
8
   
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
12
       
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
13
       
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
  
       
Item 6. Exhibits
13
       
SIGNATURES
14
   



 
 


     
 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

ATHEROGENICS, INC.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)


   
September 30,
  
December 31,
  
   
2004
  
2003
  
       
ASSETS
          
               
Current assets:
              
  Cash and cash equivalents
  
$
34,432,429
  
$
72,058,249
  
  Short-term investments
    
51,606,433
    
59,525,679
  
  Prepaid expenses
    
1,694,050
    
1,144,006
  
   Notes receivable and other current assets
    
480,448
    
496,871
  
      Total current assets
   
88,213,360
    
133,224,805
  
               
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net of
             
   accumulated depreciation and amortization
    
2,095,348
    
2,520,790
  
Other assets
    
2,568,775
    
3,091,151
  
       Total assets
  
$
92,877,483
  
$
138,836,746
  
               
               
               
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY
              
               
Current liabilities:
              
   Accounts payable
  
$
3,566,475
  
$
1,778,187
  
   Accrued research and development costs
    
5,372,787
    
2,961,085
  
   Accrued compensation
    
1,675,925
    
1,038,907
  
   Accrued liabilities
    
894,895
    
2,118,500
  
   Current portion of equipment loan facility
    
206,948
    
479,439
  
       Total current liabilities
    
11,717,030
    
8,376,118
  
               
Convertible notes payable
    
100,000,000
    
100,000,000
  
Equipment loan facility, net of current portion
    
—
    
83,622
  
               
Shareholders’ (deficit) equity
              
   Preferred stock, no par value: Authorized - 5,000,000 shares
    
—
    
—
  
   Common stock, no par value: Authorized - 100,000,000
              
    shares; issued and outstanding - 37,273,997 and
             
    36,763,407 shares at September 30, 2004 and
             
    December 31, 2003, respectively
    
175,501,277
    
172,452,536
  
   Warrants
    
1,008,859
    
950,588
  
   Deferred stock compensation
    
(614,103
)
  
(505,708
)
   Accumulated deficit
    
(194,662,291
)
  
(142,531,315
)
   Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
    
(73,289
)
  
10,905
  
       Total shareholders’ (deficit) equity
    
(18,839,547
)
  
30,377,006
  
       Total liabilities and shareholders’ (deficit) equity
  
$
92,877,483
  
$
138,836,746
  
               

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.


 
 


  3  
 

ATHEROGENICS, INC.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)


   
Three months ended
  
Nine months ended
  
   
September 30,
  
September 30,
  
   
2004
  
2003
  
2004
  
2003
  
                           
Revenues
  
$
—
  
$
—
  
$
—
  
$
—
  
                           
Operating expenses:
                          
  Research and development
    
16,636,236
    
11,783,883
    
44,478,990
    
33,284,827
  
  General and administrative
    
1,410,647
    
1,677,542
    
4,846,694
    
4,391,374
  
      Total operating expenses
    
18,046,883
    
13,461,425
    
49,325,684
    
37,676,201
  
                           
Operating loss
    
(18,046,883
)
  
(13,461,425
)
  
(49,325,684
)
  
(37,676,201
)
Interest income
    
343,795
    
443,336
    
1,089,877
    
862,609
  
Interest expense
    
(1,300,028
)
  
(618,528
)
  
(3,895,169
)
  
(653,704
)
Net loss
  
$
(19,003,116
)
$
(13,636,617
)
$
(52,130,976
)
$
(37,467,296
)
                           
Net loss per share -
                         
  basic and diluted
  
$
(0.51
)
$
(0.37
)
$
(1.41
)
$
(1.06
)
                           
Weighted average shares
                          
  outstanding - basic and diluted
    
37,047,826
    
36,566,434
    
36,976,911
    
35,451,468
  
                           


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.


 
 


  4  
 

ATHEROGENICS, INC.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)


   
Nine months ended
  
   
September 30,
  
   
2004
  
2003
  
               
Operating activities:
              
Net loss
  
$
(52,130,976
)
$
(37,467,296
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
              
  operating activities:
              
   Depreciation and amortization
    
665,868
    
679,029
  
   Amortization of debt issuance costs
    
489,736
    
—
  
   Amortization of deferred stock compensation
    
411,491
    
1,110,664
  
     Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
              
      Prepaid expenses
    
(550,044
)
  
(1,474,001
)
      Notes receivable and other current assets
    
49,063
    
(466,374
)
      Accounts payable
    
1,788,288
    
(736,319
)
      Accrued research and development
    
2,411,702
    
2,626,710
  
     Accrued liabilities and compensation
    
(586,587
)
  
1,092,165
  
            Net cash used in operating activities
    
(47,451,459
)
  
(34,635,422
)
               
Investing activities:
              
Net sales (purchases) of short-term investments
    
7,835,052
    
(44,636,915
)
Purchases of equipment and leasehold improvements
    
(240,426
)
  
(455,769
)
             Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    
7,594,626
    
(45,092,684
)
               
Financing activities:
              
Proceeds from the exercise of common stock options
    
2,587,126
    
872,338
  
Proceeds from the issuance of convertible notes
    
—
    
96,300,000
  
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock
    
—
    
48,411,649
  
Payments on equipment loan facility
    
(356,113
)
  
(329,840
)
             Net cash provided by financing activities
    
2,231,013
    
145,254,147
  
               
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    
(37,625,820
)
  
65,526,041
  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    
72,058,249
    
32,132,329
  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  
$
34,432,429
  
$
97,658,370
  
               
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
              
Interest paid
  
$
4,673,321
  
$
49,593
  
Re-measurement adjustment for variable options and warrants
              
       issued for technology license agreements and consulting
              
   agreements
  
$
484,831
  
$
579,383
  


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements.


 
 


  5  
 

ATHEROGENICS, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1. Organization and Nature of Operations

AtheroGenics, Inc. ("AtheroGenics") was incorporated on November 23, 1993 (date of inception) in the State of Georgia to focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as heart disease (atherosclerosis), rheumatoid arthritis and asthma.

2. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) which management considers necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of AtheroGenics for the interim periods presented. Certain footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted from the interim financial statements as permitted by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.

The interim results should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in AtheroGenics' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. Shareholders are encouraged to review the Form 10-K for a broader discussion of AtheroGenics' opportunities and risks inherent in the business. Copies of the Form 10-K are available on request.

3. Net Loss per Share

      Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 128, Earnings per Share, requires presentation of both basic and diluted earnings per share. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed in the same manner as basic earnings per share except that diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that would occur if outstanding options, warrants and convertible notes were exercised. Because AtheroGenics reported a net loss for all periods presented, shares associated with stock options, warrants and convertible notes are not included because their effect would be antidilutive. Basic and diluted net loss per share amounts are the same for the periods presented.

4. Stock-Based Compensation

AtheroGenics has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees ("APB 25"), in accounting for its stock-based employee compensation plans, rather than the alternative fair value accounting method provided for under SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation ("SFAS 123"), as SFAS 123 requires the use of option valuation m odels that were not developed for use in valuing employee stock options. AtheroGenics accounts for transactions in which services are received in exchange for equity instruments based on the fair value of such services received from non-employees, in accordance with SFAS 123 and Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue No. 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments that are Issued to Other than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services. SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure ("SFAS 148"), an amendment to SFAS 123, requires disclosure in the summary of sig nificant accounting policies of the effects of the fair value of stock-based employee compensation on reported net income and earnings per share in annual and interim financial statements.


 
 


  6  
 

The following table illustrates the effect on net loss and net loss per share if the fair value based method had been applied to all outstanding and unvested options in each period, based on the provisions of SFAS 123 and SFAS 148.

   
Three months ended
  
Nine months ended
  
   
September 30,
  
September 30,
  
   
2004
  
2003
  
2004
  
2003
  
                           
Net loss, as reported
  
$
(19,003,116
)
$
(13,636,617
)
$
(52,130,976
)
$
(37,467,296
)
Add: Stock-based employee compensation
                          
   expense included in reported net loss
    
25,526
    
140,649
    
50,933
    
422,209
  
                           
Deduct: Total stock-based employee
                          
  compensation expense determined under
                          
   fair value based method for all awards
    
(1,713,838
)
  
(847,777
)
  
(4,433,463
)
  
(2,571,404
)
                           
Pro forma net loss
  
$
(20,691,428
)
$
(14,343,745
)
$
(56,513,506
)
$
(39,616,491
)
                           
Net loss per share:
                          
   Basic and diluted, as reported
  
$
(0.51
)
$
(0.37
)
$
(1.41
)
$
(1.06
)
   Basic and diluted, pro forma
  
$
(0.56
)
$
(0.39
)
$
(1.53
)
$
(1.12
)


5. Convertible Notes Payable

In August 2003, AtheroGenics issued $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.5% convertible notes due September 1, 2008 with interest payable semi-annually in March and September. Net proceeds to AtheroGenics were approximately $96.7 million, after deducting expenses and underwriter’s discounts and commissions. The issuance costs related to the notes are recorded as other assets and are being amortized to interest expense over the five-year life of the notes.

The notes may be converted at the option of the holder into shares of AtheroGenics’ common stock prior to the close of business on September 1, 2008 at a conversion rate of 65.1890 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes, representing a conversion price of approximately $15.34, subject to adjustment. Under certain circumstances, AtheroGenics may be obligated to redeem all or part of the notes prior to their maturity at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest and liquidated damages, if any, up to but excluding the maturity date.

As of September 30, 2004, AtheroGenics had reserved 6,518,900 shares of common stock for future issuance in connection with the convertible notes. In addition, as of September 30, 2004, accrued liabilities included approximately $375,000 of accrued interest related to the convertible notes.

6. Bank Credit Agreements

In March 2002, AtheroGenics entered into a revolving credit facility with Silicon Valley Bank for up to a maximum amount of $5,000,000 to be used for working capital requirements. In December 2003, AtheroGenics canceled the line of credit, which was unused during the entire period.

In addition, in March 2002, AtheroGenics entered into an equipment loan facility with Silicon Valley Bank for up to a maximum amount of $2,500,000 to be used to finance existing and new equipment purchases. Amounts borrowed under the equipment loan facility are repaid in 33 equal installments of principal and interest beginning on the first business day of the month following an advance. As of September 30, 2004, there was an outstanding balance of $206,948 under the equipment loan facility and the weighted average interest rate was 7.6% per year. The borrowing period for the equipment loan facility expired in September 2003.

In connection with the revolving credit facility and the equipment loan facility, AtheroGenics has granted to Silicon Valley Bank a negative pledge on its intellectual property and on deposits with Silicon Valley Bank and its affiliates.


 
  7  
 

7. Reclassifications

Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net loss or shareholders’ (deficit) equity.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following should be read with the financial statements and related footnotes and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in AtheroGenics' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. The results discussed below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in any future periods. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the statements made. These risks are set forth in more detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

OVERVIEW

Since our operations began in 1994, we have focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, including heart disease (atherosclerosis), rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. Based on our proprietary vascular protectant, or v-protectant™, technology platform, we have two drug programs in the clinic, and are pursuing a number of other preclinical programs.

AGI-1067 is our v-protectant™ candidate that is most advanced in clinical development, and is designed to benefit patients with heart disease. AGI-1067 is currently in a Phase III clinical trial, referred to as ARISE, or Aggressive Reduction of Inflammation Stops Events, to evaluate the impact of AGI-1067 on important outcome measures such as death due to heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization and unstable angina in patients who have coronary heart disease. ARISE will enroll a minimum of 4,000 patients who will be followed for an average of 18 months and until a minimum of 1,160 primary events, or outcome measures, have occurred. In October 2004, we announced that we would hold open enrollment and increase the number of patients in the study by an unspecifie d number in order to accelerate the accumulation of primary events and maintain our timelines for filing a New Drug Application with the U. S. Food and Drug Administration.

We are currently conducting a Phase IIb clinical trial called CART-2, which is a 467-patient study that examines the effect of 12 months of AGI-1067 therapy on atherosclerosis and post-angioplasty restenosis. In September 2004, we announced interim results from CART-2. Interim data from CART-2 were independently analyzed by two leading cardiac intravascular ultrasound labs. The primary endpoint of the trial was a change in coronary atherosclerosis, measured as total plaque volume after a 12-month treatment period compared to baseline values. Results of the interim analysis from the two labs indicate that AGI-1067 reduced plaque volume by an average of 3.8%, which was statistically significant. An important secondary endpoint from the trial, change in plaque volume in the most severely diseased subsegment, als o showed significant regression from baseline by an average of 7.1%. Overall adverse events rates were similar in the AGI-1067 and Standard of Care groups, and AGI-1067 was generally well tolerated. Interim results are not conclusive results and there can be no assurances that final results will be similar. Final results of the CART-2 data will be released before the end of December 2004.

Our second v-protectant™, AGIX-4207, is a novel oral agent that was being developed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In October 2004, we announced the results of a 275-patient Phase II trial of AGIX-4207, called OSCAR, or Oral Suppression of Cellular Inflammation Attenuates Rheumatoid Arthritis. OSCAR evaluated the impact of various doses of AGIX-4207 versus placebo on clinical efficacy, biomarkers and safety in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The results indicated that none of the three dosing arms of AGIX-4207 showed a statistically significant improvement in ACR 20 scores, a standard measurement of response utilized to evaluate improvement, when compared to placebo, the primary efficacy end point of the trial. Two of the pre-specified secondary endpoints, tender joint count and morning stiffness, did show statistically significant improvement when compared to placebo. Based on the aggregate findings of the study, however, we have discontinued clinical development of AGIX-4207 in rheumatoid arthritis. We continue to have an active program aimed at investigating other v-protectants™ in rheumatoid arthritis and have identified other compounds with enhanced therapeutic potential within our rheumatoid arthritis preclinical models. We are working to select another candidate to move into formal preclinical development.


 
  8  
 

AGIX-4207 I.V., our third v-protectant™ candidate, is an intravenous drug designed to treat rheumatoid arthritis patients in whom the rapid attainment of target drug levels in the blood is desirable. In light of the results of the OSCAR study with the oral dosage form of AGIX-4207 that showed a lack of sufficient efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis, we have also discontinued development of the I.V. dosage form of AGIX-4207.

Our fourth v-protectant™ candidate, AGI-1096, is a novel antioxidant and selective anti-inflammatory agent that is being developed to address the accelerated inflammation of grafted blood vessels common in chronic organ transplant rejection and known as transplant arteritis. We have completed a Phase I clinical trial that assessed safety and tolerability of AGI-1096 in healthy volunteers. The results of AGI-1096 clinical trial data demonstrated the drug was well tolerated at all oral doses, with no drug-related adverse events. We are currently in a collaboration with Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd to further develop AGI-1096.

To date, we have devoted substantially all of our resources to research and development. We have not received any commercial revenues from product sales. We expect to incur significant losses in most years prior to deriving any product revenue as we continue to increase research and development costs. We have incurred significant losses since we began operations in 1994 and as of September 30, 2004, we had an accumulated deficit of $194.7 million. We cannot assure you that we will become profitable. We expect that losses will fluctuate from quarter to quarter and that these fluctuations may be substantial. Our ability to achieve profitability depends upon a variety of factors, including our ability, alone or with others, to complete the successful development of our pr oduct candidates, to obtain required regulatory clearances, and to manufacture and market our future products.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

AtheroGenics considers certain accounting policies related to use of estimates, research and development accruals, revenue recognition and stock-based compensation to be critical policies. There have been no material changes in the critical accounting policies from what was previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2004.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Comparison of the Three and Nine Month Periods Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003

Revenues

There were no revenues during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003.

Expenses

Research and Development. Research and development expenses increased 41% to $16.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2004 from $11.8 million for the comparable period in 2003, and 34% to $44.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 from $33.3 million in the comparable period in 2003. The increase in research and development expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 was primarily due to expenditures related to ongoing patient recruitment and operation of the AGI-1067 ARISE clinical trial, as well as a $2 million expense for pre-commercialization manufacturing activities related to AGI-1067.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses decreased 16% to $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2004 from $1.7 million for the comparable period in 2003. The decrease in general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2004 was primarily due to lower deferred stock compensation expenses and lower consulting costs. General and administrative expenses increased 10% to $4.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 from $4.4 million in the comparable period in 2003. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 is primarily due to higher directors and officers’ insurance premiums and expenses related to business development, partially offset by lower deferred stock compensation expenses.


 
 


  9  
 

Interest Income

Interest income was $343,795 for the three months ended September 30, 2004 and $443,336 for the comparable period in 2003. The decrease in interest income in the three months ended September 30, 2004 is due to the lower amount of funds available than in the comparable period in 2003. Interest income was $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and $862,609 for the comparable period in 2003. The increase in the nine month period ended September 30, 2004 is due to the larger amount of invested funds as a result of the $100.0 million convertible debt financing in August 2003.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2004 and $618,528 for the comparable period in 2003, and $3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and $653,704 for the comparable period in 2003. The increase in interest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 is due to our $100.0 million convertible debt financing in August 2003.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Since inception, we have financed our operations primarily through sales of equity securities and convertible notes. At September 30, 2004, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $86 million, compared with $131.6 million at December 31, 2003. Working capital at September 30, 2004 was $76.5 million, compared to $124.8 million at December 31, 2003. The decrease in cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and working capital is primarily due to use of funds for operating purposes.

Net cash used in operating activities was $47.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, compared to $34.6 million for the comparable period in 2003. The increase in the use of cash in operating activities is principally due to funding a net loss of $52.1 million. The increase in cash used to fund the net loss is primarily attributable to expenditures for our AGI-1067 compound, including the ARISE clinical trial and other ongoing research and development activities. As enrollment for ARISE continues to increase, so will the associated costs. Once full enrollment is reached, these increases should moderate. Prepaid expenses will continue to fluctuate as pre-payments are made to contractors for the ARISE clinical trial and are then expensed as services are performed. We anticipate net cash usage in 2004 for ARISE and our other ongoing clinical programs, as well as our other operating activities, to be in a range of $63.0 million to $67.0 million, subject to the impact of a potential corporate partnering arrangement for AGI-1067.

Net cash provided by investing activities was $7.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $45.1 million for the comparable period in 2003. Net cash provided by investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2004 consisted primarily of sales of available-for-sale securities, with the proceeds reinvested in interest-bearing cash equivalents. Net cash used in investing activities for the comparable period in 2003 consisted primarily of the purchases of available-for-sale securities.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, and $145.3 million for the comparable period in 2003. Net cash provided by financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2004 consisted primarily of proceeds from the exercise of common stock options. Net cash provided by financing activities for the comparable period in 2003 consisted primarily of $48.4 million received from our follow-on stock offering in February 2003 and $96.7 million received from our convertible debt financing in August 2003.

In March 2002, we entered into an equipment loan facility, as modified in June 2003, with Silicon Valley Bank for up to a maximum amount of $2.5 million to be used to finance existing and new equipment purchases. The borrowing period under the equipment loan facility, as modified, expired on September 30, 2003. At September 30, 2004, there was an outstanding balance of approximately $206,948 on the equipment loan facility and the weighted average interest rate was 7.6% per year.

In August 2003, we issued $100 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.5% convertible notes due in 2008 through a Rule 144A private placement to qualified institutional buyers. These notes initially are convertible into our common stock at a conversion rate of 65.1890 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes, or approximately $15.34
 

 
  10  
 

per share. Net proceeds were approximately $96.7 million. We are using the net proceeds from the sale of the notes for research and development activities, including clinical trials, process development and manufacturing support, and for general corporate purposes, including working capital. Pending these uses, the net proceeds have been invested in interest-bearing, investment grade securities.

The following table summarizes our long-term contractual obligations as of September 30, 2004.

   
Payments Due by Period
  
   
Total
  
Remainder of
2004
  
2005-2006
  
2007-2008
  
Thereafter
  
Contractual obligations
                                
   Operating leases, net of sublease income
  
$
4,939,752
  
$
280,316
  
$
2,152,011
  
$
2,314,723
  
$
192,702
  
   Long-term debt
    
100,206,948
    
123,326
    
83,622
    
100,000,000
    
—
  
      Total contractual obligations
  
$
105,146,700
  
$
403,642
  
$
2,235,633
  
$
102,314,723
  
$
192,702
  

In July 2004, we signed a term sheet for a license with a contract manufacturer for AGI-1067 under which we purchased a portion of our clinical drug supply requirements. The term sheet includes contingent future payments and royalties. As of September 30, 2004, we have accrued $2.0 million for pre-commercial manufacturing activities related to this term sheet. The term sheet also calls for a definitive license and commercial manufacturing agreement to be negotiated.

Based upon the current status of our product development and commercialization plans, we believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments will be adequate to satisfy our capital needs for at least the next 12 months. However, our actual capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

     -
 the status of product development;
   
     -
  the time and cost involved in conducting clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approvals;
   
     -
  the costs of filing, prosecuting and enforcing patent and other intellectual property claims;
   
     -
  competing technological and market developments; and
   
     -
  our ability to establish new licensing and partnering agreements.

We have historically accessed the capital markets from time to time to raise adequate funds for operating needs and cash reserves. Although we believe we have adequate cash for at least the next 12 months, we may access capital markets when we believe market conditions or AtheroGenics' needs merit doing so.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act") provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of AtheroGenics. AtheroGenics and its representatives may from time to time make written or oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in this report and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in our reports to our shareholders. Generally, the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. All statements which address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, such as projections about our future results of operations or our financial con dition, research, development and commercialization of our product candidates and anticipated trends in our business, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Reform Act. The forward-looking statements are and will be based on management's then current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and speak only as of their dates. AtheroGenics undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


 
 


  11  
 

The following are some of the factors that could affect our financial performance or could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements:

     -
  AGI-1067 and AGI-1096 may fail in clinical trials;
   
     -
  our ability to generate positive cash flow in light of our history of operating losses;
   
     -
  our inability to obtain additional financing on satisfactory terms, which could preclude us from
 
  developing or marketing our products;
   
     -
  our ability to successfully develop our other product candidates;
   
     -
  our ability to commercialize our product candidates if we fail to demonstrate adequately their safety
 
  and efficacy;
   
     -
  possible delays in our clinical trials;
   
     -
  our inability to predict whether or when we will obtain regulatory approval to commercialize our
 
   product candidates or the timing of any future revenue from these product candidates;
   
     -
  our need to comply with applicable regulatory requirements in the manufacture and distribution of
 
  our products to avoid incurring penalties that may inhibit our ability to commercialize our products;
   
     -
  our ability to protect adequately or enforce our intellectual property rights or secure rights to third
 
  party patents;
   
     -
  the ability of our competitors to develop and market anti-inflammatory products that are more
 
 effective, have fewer side effects or are less expensive than our current or future product candidates;
   
     -
  third parties' failure to synthesize and manufacture our product candidates, which could delay our
 
  clinical trials or hinder our commercialization prospects;
   
     -
  our ability to create sales, marketing and distribution capabilities or enter into agreements with third
 
  parties to perform these functions;
   
     -
  our ability to attract, retain and motivate skilled personnel and cultivate key academic collaborations;
   
     -
  our ability to obtain an adequate level of reimbursement or acceptable prices for our products;
   
     -
  if plaintiffs bring product liability lawsuits against us, we may incur substantial financial loss or may
 
  be unable to obtain future product liability insurance at reasonable prices, if at all, either of which
 
  could diminish our ability to commercialize our future products; and
   
     -
 conversion of our $100 million principal amount, 4.5% convertible notes will dilute the ownership
 
  interest of existing shareholders and could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

The foregoing list of important factors is discussed in more detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 and is not an exhaustive list.

Item 3. Quantitative And Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our financial position, operating results or cash flows due to changes in U.S. interest rates. This exposure is directly related to our normal operating activities. Our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments are invested with high quality issuers and are generally of a short-term nature. Interest rates payable on our equipment loan facilities and our convertible notes are generally fixed. As a result, we do not believe that near-term changes in interest rates will have a material effect on our future results of operations.


 
 


  12  
 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer are responsible for establishing and maintaining "disclosure controls and procedures" (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for AtheroGenics. Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are adequate and effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to us required to be included in our periodic SE C filings.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting. There were no material changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibits
 
  Exhibit 31.1
-
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer under Rule 13a-14(a).
     
  Exhibit 31.2
-
Certifications of Chief Financial Officer under Rule 13a-14(a).
     
  Exhibit 32
-
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer under Section 1350.

 


 
 


  13  
 

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, thereunto duly authorized.


 
ATHEROGENICS, INC.
   
Date: November 1, 2004               
/s/MARK P. COLONNESE       
 
Mark P. Colonnese
 
Senior Vice President of Finance and
 
   Administration and Chief Financial Officer