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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

(Mark One)

|X|            ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002

or

|_|            TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number: 000-31141

Discovery Partners International, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


 Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 33-0655706
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 

 9640 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California
(Address of principal executive offices)
 92121
(Zip Code)
 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (858) 455-8600

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $.001 par value
(Title of Class)

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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. |_|

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).
Yes |X| No |_|

The aggregate market value of the Common Stock of the Registrant held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based on the last sale price of the Common Stock on June 28, 2002 as reported by the Nasdaq National Market, was approximately $108,000,000. Shares of common stock held by each officer, director and holder of 10% or more of the outstanding common stock, if any, have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

As of March 17, 2003 there were 24,404,935 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Company’s Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 15, 2003, to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

Certain exhibits filed with the Company’s prior registration statements and Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K are incorporated by reference into Part IV of this Report.

 


 


 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

PART I

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Business

3

Item 2.

 

Properties

21

Item 3.

 

Legal Proceedings

21

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

 

Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

21

Item 6.

 

Selected Financial Data

23

Item 7.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

24

Item 7A.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

30

Item 8.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

30

Item 9.

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART III

 

 

 

 

 

Item 10.

 

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

30

Item 11.

 

Executive Compensation

30

Item 12.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

30

Item 13.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

30

Item 14.

 

Statement on Disclosure Controls and Procedures

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART IV

 

 

 

 

 

Item 15.

 

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K

31


SIGNATURES

36

Financial Statements

F-1


 


2



PART I

Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements containing the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates” and words of similar import. Our actual results could differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinions only as of the date of this report, as a result of risks and uncertainties that exist in our operations, development efforts and business environment. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements. You should carefully review the “Risks and Uncertainties” section below and the risk factors in other documents that we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

We own a registered trademark and service mark in IRORI®. We also own the following trademarks: MicroKan™, Unisphere™, Synthesis Manager™, Microtube™, Accucleave™, Clevap™, Chemiomics™, NanoKan™, ChemRx AT™, µARCS™, ChemCard™, Crystal Farm™ and Xenometrix™. This Annual Report on Form 10-K also includes trademarks owned by other parties.

Item 1.            Business

Overview

We were founded in 1995 as IRORI developing and selling instruments and associated consumables to pharmaceutical companies for the generation of large numbers of chemical compounds for drug discovery. In October 1998, we changed our name to Discovery Partners International, Inc. with the objective to create and commercialize a complete, integrated and highly efficient collection of drug discovery technologies focused from the point immediately following identification of a drug target through when a drug candidate is ready for clinical trials. Toward this end, in January 1999, we formed ChemRx to offer compound libraries and compound optimization services. We were then able to offer both the compound libraries as well as the instrumentation to generate compound libraries. In December 1999, we acquired Discovery Technologies, Ltd. (now known as Discovery Partners International AG) to provide assay development and ultra-high throughput screening services. This addition enabled us to offer screening services together with compounds and operates as a part of our Integrated Drug Discovery Unit.

In April 2000, we acquired Axys Advanced Technologies, or AAT, for a total consideration of 7,429,641 shares of our Common Stock and $600,000. This acquisition enabled us to offer the development and production of large compound libraries, and AAT now operates as a part of our Discovery Chemistry Unit.

In May 2000, we acquired 75% of the outstanding shares of Structural Proteomics. This acquisition provided us with computational software and services to make the drug discovery process more efficient. At the end of 2002 we acquired all the remaining shares of Structural Proteomics. Structural Proteomics operates as a part of our Integrated Drug Discovery Unit.

In July 2000, we successfully completed our initial public offering, and simultaneously reincorporated in the state of Delaware.

In January 2001, we acquired Systems Integration Drug Discovery Company, or SIDDCO, enhancing our capabilities in combinatorial chemistry research and development. SIDDCO operates as a part of our Discovery Chemistry Unit.

In May 2001, we acquired Xenometrix, Inc. This acquisition provided us with rights to a proprietary gene profiling system that we offer and license and enabled us to offer toxicology research products and services. Xenometrix operates as a part of our Integrated Drug Discovery Unit.

As a result of this growth, we currently offer customers a broad range of integrated drug discovery products and services from a single provider. Financial information regarding our financial condition and results of operations can be found in a separate section of this Report beginning on page F-1.

Industry Background

The Genomics/Proteomics Revolution

The drug discovery process is undergoing fundamental changes as a result of advances in genomics and proteomics. Historically, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have addressed only approximately 500 identified drug targets in the development of drugs. Industry experts predict that the application of genomics and proteomics will lead to the identification of thousands of new drug targets.

 


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Genomics and proteomics, the studies of genes and the proteins they encode, have been the subject of intense scientific and commercial focus. Genomics has led to the identification of large numbers of genes encoding potential drug targets, increasing the demand for drug discovery products and services. Drug targets are biological molecules, such as enzymes, receptors, other proteins and nucleic acids that may play a role in the onset or progression of a disease. Once a company has identified a potential drug target, it must still devote significant time and resources to validating the target and screening libraries of compounds against the target to discover potential drug candidates, which must be optimized further before commencement of human testing.

Our business is to partner with companies to advance this drug discovery process by bringing to bear our integrated suite of drug discovery products and services.

The Drug Discovery Process

Despite numerous advances and breakthrough technologies in genomics and proteomics, the process of discovering drug candidates from drug targets, as illustrated in the following figure and described below, remains slow, expensive and often unsuccessful.


Drug targets. The genomics revolution has identified large numbers of human genes that encode the chemical information for cells to produce the proteins that determine human physiology and disease. Drug discovery organizations are rushing to advance these new drug targets into discovery with varying degrees of target validation, or understanding of their role in disease processes, or understanding of their susceptibility to modulation by chemical compounds. Modulation is defined as the process of selectively increasing or decreasing the biological activity of a particular drug target.

Assays. Once a drug target has been identified and has been validated as having a role in a disease process, a corresponding set of biological assays, or tests, that relate to the activity of the drug target in the disease process must be developed. These assays are designed to show the effect of chemical compounds on the drug target and/or the disease process. Additionally, assays indicate the relative potency and specificity of interaction between the target and the compounds. The more potent and specific the interaction between the target and the compound, the more likely the compound is to become a drug.

Compound libraries. Typically, biologists or biochemists conduct assays in which they screen libraries consisting of thousands of compounds each to find those compounds that are active in modulating the behavior of the drug targets. Traditionally, chemists generated these compounds for testing by synthesizing them one at a time, or painstakingly isolating them from natural sources.

During the last several years, the pharmaceutical industry has developed modular, building block techniques, known as combinatorial chemistry, to more efficiently and productively generate these compounds.

 


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Screening. Screening is the process of testing compounds in assays to determine their potential therapeutic value. A typical screening campaign at a pharmaceutical company will entail screening hundreds of thousands of compounds from multiple compound sources. Today’s automated high throughput screening, or HTS, systems can test hundreds of thousands of compounds per day and require only very small amounts of each compound and target material.

Hits-to-optimized-leads. A successful screening process will identify a number of compounds, or hits, that show activity against the drug target. One or more of the hits are then selected for optimization based on their potency and specificity against the drug target. The hits selected for the optimization process are generally referred to as “leads.”

Optimizing a lead compound involves repeatedly producing several slight chemical variants of the lead compound and screening them in assays to discover the relationship between the changes in the molecular structure of compounds and the positive or negative effect on biological activity in the assay. These trends are called “structure-activity relationships,” or SARs, and are used to identify the compounds that have the optimal effect on the biological activity in the assay. Traditionally, defining SARs was painstakingly slow. Within the last several years, combinatorial chemistry methods have helped to speed this process. Chemists create “focused libraries” that are comprised of dozens to hundreds of compounds, computationally designed to explore the SARs of leads.

ADME and toxicology. Once a very potent and selective compound with a well understood SAR is selected for further development, researchers undertake the process of establishing its absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, or ADME, and toxicology characteristics. Leads are studied in biochemical assays and animal studies to determine, among other things, whether they are likely to be safe in humans and whether they are likely to stay in the body long enough to perform their intended function. Traditionally, these ADME and toxicology studies are performed at the end of the drug discovery process. There is a significant push in the industry, however, to attempt to provide ADME and toxicology information earlier in the process in order to avoid large expenditures on compounds that could ultimately fail due to their poor ADME and toxicology characteristics.

Drug candidates. If the results of the ADME and toxicology studies performed on a lead are favorable, an investigational new drug application, or IND, may be filed with the Food and Drug Administration requesting permission to begin clinical trials of the drug candidate in humans.

Limitations of the Current Industry

To meet growth expectations, pharmaceutical companies are under intense pressure to introduce new drugs, and they have increased research and development expenses more than seven-fold since 1985. Nevertheless, the number of new small molecular chemical entities approved by the Food and Drug Administration per year has decreased over that period, decreasing from 22 in 1985 to 17 in 2002. Despite major scientific and technological advances in areas such as genomics, HTS and combinatorial chemistry, the drug discovery process remains lengthy, expensive and often unsuccessful.

We believe that the following remain significant limitations to the current process of drug discovery.

Insufficient validation of targets. Drug discovery organizations are advancing potential new drug targets into discovery with varying degrees of understanding of their role in disease processes and frequently with little understanding of their susceptibility to modulation by compounds. The resources spent on pursuing these potential drug targets could be saved if there were better biological or chemical methods to de-select drug targets exhibiting undesirable characteristics in these areas.

Inefficient production of compound libraries. The increase in the number of potential drug targets has increased the demand for high quality compounds for screening. Traditional methods and instrumentation produce either discrete compounds in small numbers, or produce large numbers of compounds that are not discrete, but are present as mixtures whose components must be identified later using time-consuming tagging and screening techniques. Further, the processes used to develop compound libraries have been labor intensive and have lacked the efficiencies created by automated instrumentation.

Low quality compound libraries. While combinatorial chemistry has vastly increased the number of compounds available for screening, many of the compounds generated have lacked the qualities necessary to become new drug candidates. Also, many libraries contain impure compounds that could lead to false positives or the inability to reproduce results. Inadequately validated chemistries generate hit compounds that are difficult or impossible to reproduce. In addition, often libraries are designed without paying adequate attention to diversity of chemical properties. These oversights result in libraries that have large numbers of redundant, or unproductively similar, compounds. Further, little attention is devoted to the drug-like nature of the compounds leading to hits that could be toxic or have other fundamental ADME flaws.

 


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Inadequate informatics and computational tools. Success of many drug discovery programs is predicated on screening large numbers of compounds, followed by the synthesis and testing of compounds for optimization and for their ADME and toxicology characteristics. This sequential approach is time-consuming and costly. Many of the recent advances in drug discovery have been targeted at streamlining this process and have allowed large numbers of compounds to be generated and tested in higher throughput. However, these advances have been incremental. Pharmaceutical companies can save large expenditures of time and money by using informatics and computational tools to develop increased and earlier knowledge about which targets are likely to be receptive to chemical modulation, the likely interaction of chemicals and biological targets and which compounds are likely to have unacceptable ADME and toxicological characteristics.

Lack of an integrated, neutral drug discovery solution. Many of the companies that provide drug discovery services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries provide only selected services. As a result, they are unable to provide the knowledge and efficiencies that can be gained by broad experience in all facets of drug discovery. Further, customers seeking a total outsource solution must use valuable resources to manage multiple vendors and integrate inconsistent or incompatible products. Many drug discovery service providers also compete with their potential customers by conducting internal, proprietary drug discovery activities.

Our Solution

We bring together a unique combination of drug discovery expertise, technology and services to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Our customers include most major pharmaceutical companies and numerous biotechnology companies. We believe the broad range of products and services we offer or intend to offer will provide the following benefits:

Target validation. We have developed a large number of libraries of highly diverse compounds that are specifically designed to modulate many drug targets. We believe that we will be able to use these libraries, which are not sold on a standalone basis but rather only as part of an integrated suite of our products and services, to provide early information about whether a drug target is susceptible to chemical modulation and, if so, whether modulation of its activity has an important effect on the disease process or outcome. If these libraries are successful in providing this information early in the drug discovery process, our customers can save large amounts of time and resources. We believe our µARCS technology, a highly cost-effective uHTS platform, has the potential to become an invaluable tool to use a chemical genetics approach for target validation.

Efficient production of compound libraries through our Directed Sorting products. Our proprietary combinatorial system, referred to as Directed Sorting, combines the advantages of parallel synthesis, i.e., discrete compounds with large amounts of each compound, and split-and-pool synthesis, i.e., very high productivity, in generating compound libraries. In parallel synthesis, chemists perform multiple chemical reactions simultaneously, or “in parallel”. In split-and-pool synthesis, chemists take the product of one set of reactions and repeatedly split them for subsequent sets of reactions. Using our direct sorting technology chemists can synthesize compounds with high efficiency and speed and keep the compounds discrete in individually tagged reactors. Our Directed Sorting products have gained widespread acceptance throughout the pharmaceutical industry.

High quality compound libraries. Our chemistries are repeatable and our compounds rapidly replenishable because we produce detailed synthesis protocols, or recipe books, for each library. We are able to rapidly create focused libraries containing slight variations of hits from our original discovery or targeted libraries to study SARs. Working with our customers, we design discovery libraries for maximum diversity using proprietary computer algorithms. Finally, after synthesis, we use multiple analytical methods to ensure a high degree of compound purity. As a consequence, our libraries contain highly diverse, drug-like compounds of high purity. Our exclusive Accelerated Retention Window (ARW) method may be used to purify large combinatorial libraries to 90% purity or greater for the majority of compounds.

Broad range of products and services for assay development, chemistry and screening. We currently offer a broad range of drug discovery products and services targeted at areas of significantly expanded demand from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies — assay development, chemistry and screening. We have performed almost 150 different assays for our customers. We also provide access to more than 450,000 discrete compounds. Our approach for efficiently finding screening hits or drug leads combines proprietary computational methods for compound selection and data mining with our broadly applicable high throughput screening platform. In addition, our team of chemists and biologists has worked on numerous hit and lead optimization projects for our customers. To improve the ease of access to screening and cost effectiveness of the screening process, we have licensed micro Arrayed Compound Screening (µARCS), a next generation ultra high throughput screening technology. In addition, we possess the capability to study the effect of drugs on a sub-cellular level in quantitative terms.


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Development of an informatics and computational tools knowledge base. We apply state-of-the-art computational software tools to generate predictive information in the early stages of drug discovery. We use our tools to correlate information available on families of drug targets and compounds with screening data to predict which drug targets are likely to be receptive to chemical modulation, and which chemical structures are likely to react favorably with large families of drug targets or produce unacceptable ADME or toxicological results. Initially, we have developed computer algorithms that allow us to design libraries of compounds or to select compounds from existing collections with maximum diversity, thereby reducing the number of compounds that must be screened to identify hits. We believe that our computational tools will have the potential to virtually complement the drug discovery process, thus reduce the time and resources involved.

Integrated drug discovery products and services on attractive terms. We offer a broad range of integrated drug discovery products and services on terms and conditions that we believe make our products and services attractive to purchase. We believe that our integrated approach provides unique value to our customers. We believe that our financial terms and focus on our customers’ needs rather than our own drug development efforts makes our product and service offerings more attractive to our customers.

Our Strategy

Our strategy is to offer a complete, integrated and highly efficient drug discovery platform optimized to overcome many of the limitations associated with the slow and expensive traditional drug discovery process. Accordingly, we:

Offer an integrated and complete drug discovery solution from drug target to drug candidate. We offer our customers a suite of drug discovery technologies, products and services that address speed and cost considerations in the drug discovery process. We develop, produce and sell collections of chemical compounds in collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to be used to test for their potential use as new drugs or for use as the chemical starting point for new drugs. We develop, manufacture and sell proprietary instruments, such as Direct Sorting instrument systems, and the associated line of consumable supplies that are used by the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in their own in-house drug discovery chemistry operations. We provide assay development and screening services to our customers in which chemical compounds are tested for their biological activity as potential drugs. We use computational software tools that guide the entire process of chemical compound design, development and testing. We offer ADME and toxicology capabilities and license our proprietary gene profiling system that characterizes a cell’s response upon exposure to compounds and other agents by the pattern of gene expression in the cell.

Broaden and deepen our technology through internal invention and acquisition. We have assembled our current suite of advanced technologies, products and services both through internal invention and acquisition. We have developed our lead optimization capabilities and our Directed Sorting instrument systems and consumables internally. We have generated our assay development and screening capabilities, our ability to develop and synthesize large discovery libraries of compounds, our informatics technology and products, and our ADME and toxicology capabilities through acquisition. We intend to continue to invest in internal research and development and to acquire and integrate cutting edge products and services in order to stay at the forefront of drug discovery technology. We have exclusively licensed µARCS from Abbott Laboratories. This next generation screening platform is being used to increase the efficiency of our internal high throughput screening. We are also making this technology available to our customers.

Target the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. We will focus on providing drug discovery products and services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets. In a 2001 report, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America estimated that the pharmaceutical industry alone would spend more than $30 billion on research and development in 2001. The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries provided substantially all of our revenues in the year 2002, and we expect substantially all of our revenues to come from those industries for the foreseeable future. We have a skilled team of business development and marketing professionals targeting pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers worldwide. Due to some similarities of pharmaceutical and agrochemical discovery research, we also sell our products and services to the agrochemical industry and expect to continue to do so in the future.

Expand customer relationships through integration of products and services. We will use existing relationships with customers in individual areas of our business to sell products and services in multiple areas of drug discovery. We believe that our customers can best take advantage of the time and cost efficiencies of our products and services in integrated combinations. For example, we believe that our lead optimization group will be in the best position to optimize hits generated using our compound libraries because our group will best understand the underlying synthesis chemistry.

Generate multiple revenue streams. We sell a variety of products and services and have more than 200 customers. Our multiple revenue streams reduce the potential negative consequences to us if any one of our product or service areas ceases to be productive. We expect to continue to sell to our customers primarily for current revenue, but when appropriate, we may structure financial terms to include milestone payments or royalties based on the success of the ultimate pharmaceutical product.

 


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Expand our knowledge base. Because of the large number and diversity of our customers, we generate and are exposed to large amounts of highly useful information about the drug discovery process and about the general interaction between types of chemistries and types of drug targets. Much of this information is not specific to or proprietary to our customers and increases our understanding of the interaction of the drug targets we work on and the chemistries we apply to them as well as of the drug discovery process itself. We believe this knowledge will enable our customers and us to conduct drug discovery work faster, less expensively and with a greater likelihood of success. Our ultimate goal is to leverage our knowledge base to streamline the drug discovery process and to create new revenue opportunities for us.

Products and Services

We sell products and services designed to make the drug discovery process faster, less expensive and more likely to generate a drug candidate. The products and services provided by our centers of excellence in Instrumentation, Chemistry, Biology including Toxicology, and Informatics can be purchased individually or as integrated solutions, depending on our customers’ requirements. As described below, we currently offer products and services in many functional disciplines of the drug discovery process. We intend to continue to add to our functional offerings in order to provide a comprehensive and integrated suite of drug discovery services to our pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers.

Assays

We provide assay development services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agrochemical discovery. Our team of scientists is particularly experienced in working with major disease target classes such as protein kinases, G-protein-coupled receptors, nuclear receptors, phosphatases, and proteases. Biological systems about which we have particular expertise include enzymes, receptor-ligand interaction, protein-protein interaction, reporter-gene assays in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, cellular proliferation, differentiation and physiologic response, and microbial growth. Most recently we acquired a Cellomics ArrayScanII system and established the High Content Screening technology in-house. This allows us to profile compounds for their effect on multiple intracellular events in one assay.

Through our acquisition of Xenometrix we can now offer unique cell-based assays with multiple gene response indicators, which give specific information on the biological activity of a pharmaceutical compound. Genetically engineered living cells allow us to determine the on and off state of gene promoters in the presence of compounds. Our portfolio of reporter cell lines provides important efficacy and safety information to the drug research industry to help optimize the selection of drug candidates before moving to the more costly stages of pre-clinical and clinical testing.

Synthesis Automation

Through our IRORI line of products and services, we develop and manufacture proprietary instruments and consumables for compound library synthesis to pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations. Our instruments are based on a patented core technology referred to as Directed Sorting, which enables our customers to generate large collections of compounds.

In the Directed Sorting process, we synthesize each unique compound in a library in a separate micro-reactor that contains a unique, electronically readable tagging device. A micro-reactor is a semi-porous container that allows the chemical reagents and solvents used in the synthesis process to pass in and out of it without allowing the compound being synthesized inside to escape. In this way, we can process tens, hundreds or even thousands of micro-reactors simultaneously through a synthesis step in the same reaction vessel, which can be a large flask or beaker. At the end of each chemical synthesis step, a computer that reads the electronic tags directs the sorting of the micro-reactors for the next synthesis step. The sharing of reaction vessels by many micro-reactors provides huge productivity gains. For example, using only 30 reactions, Directed Sorting can complete a 1,000 compound library that results from a three-step synthesis procedure using ten reagents in each step. Using parallel synthesis, this same library would require between 1,110 and 3,000 reactions to complete.

Our current products based on the Directed Sorting technology include an ultra-high throughput chemistry system that can generate up to one million discrete compounds per year (the NanoKan System), an automated chemistry system (the AutoSort System) and a manual chemistry system. All of these systems include hardware and software platforms and use disposable micro-reactors that provide ongoing revenues for every compound that is synthesized using these products.

Proprietary Libraries

We offer a broad range of highly purified compound libraries for assay screening and rapid hit-to-lead activities.

Discovery Libraries. We generate and sell discovery libraries, which are collections of diverse, drug-like compounds that are designed using computer programs to systematically explore specified areas of chemical space or types of chemistry. They are used in the initial stages of screening in which very little information is known about which compounds will alter the activity of the drug target in the assay.

 


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Targeted Libraries. We design and sell targeted libraries selected for a specified type of drug target. These libraries are a group of highly related compounds used much like discovery libraries, but they provide a more insightful medicinal chemistry starting point.

Focused Libraries. We are able to rapidly generate focused libraries based on hits from our discovery libraries or targeted libraries because we have previously invested significant resources to produce detailed synthesis protocols in the development of each library of compounds. Focused libraries explore subtle changes in the compound structure to quickly elicit SARs and evolve lead compounds. In addition, we develop focused libraries from hits generated by our customers.

Chemistry Protocols. We may sell licenses to the detailed protocols, or chemical recipes, for generating our libraries to customers that purchase those libraries. This enables our customers to replenish compounds and to create additional compounds.

We have created and use a combinatorial chemistry technology platform employing parallel synthesis and our Directed Sorting system. Our approach provides the following advantages:

         Purity: Maximum purity is important to minimize false positives during screening. We can deliver compounds that are greater than 90% pure depending on customer specifications. Our quality control measures include high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectroscopy (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) and weight percent analysis. We achieve the required purity using several purification technologies including our proprietary Accelerated Retention Window (ARW) high throughput purification process;

         Diversity: Each discovery library of approximately 1,000 to 5,000 drug-like compounds is designed to contain a set of highly diverse compounds using our chemical mapping and differentiation software;

         Ease of optimization: The individual chemistries for each library are highly validated and characterized. This allows rapid generation of focused libraries around hits and rapid follow-up and modification by medicinal chemistry programs; and

         Re-supply and reproducibility: Our synthesis approaches produce large quantities that allow rapid and cost effective restocking of customers’ supplies. Our highly validated chemistries allow us or our customers to re-synthesize larger quantities on demand.

Screening

We offer ultra-high throughput screening services to customers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agrochemical industries. We have an experienced staff of scientists located at our facility near Basel, Switzerland. For an additional fee, we also offer our customers access to compounds from many of the world’s leading compound suppliers as well as a significant collection of internally developed compounds. This allows our customers access to a large and diverse collection of compounds without the need to store and manage the compound collections in their own facilities.

Our HTS modules are equipped to quickly and efficiently process the particular assay being carried out. A module consists of the appropriate plate and liquid handling equipment, coupled with the best read out technology for the assay being run. Fluorimetric read out technology includes the fluorometric imaging plate reader, homogenous time-resolved fluorescence and fluorescence polarization. Isotopic read out technology includes Flash Plate, and the scintillation proximity assay. A Perkin-Elmer ViewLux plate imager may also be used to further speed the plate reading process or a Cellomics ArrayScanII system is available to study events at single cell levels.

We deliver a list of validated hits to our screening customers. We also provide hit follow-up and verification services and, when desired, actual physical samples of the hit compounds. We anticipate that our screening services will lead to additional revenue opportunities based on requests for chemistry-based hit and lead optimization services.

To improve the speed and cost effectiveness of the screening process, we have developed micro ARrayed Compound Screening (µARCS™), a next-generation ultra high throughput screening technology exclusively licensed from Abbott Laboratories. µARCS will eliminate the need for microtiter plates by spotting compounds at a very high density directly onto microtiterplate size sheets, called ChemCards™. Each ChemCard contains duplicates of 4,608 compounds. Dramatic savings can be realized in running the µARCS assays because the need for liquid handling automation is eliminated and very small amounts of reagent are required. This platform provides rapid and cost effective high performance high throughput screening while supporting a very broad range of biochemical and cellular assays.

 


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Hits-to-optimized-leads

We offer the following products and services to advance early stage screening hits to optimized drug leads.

Focused libraries. In addition to our collection of proprietary libraries, we design and produce custom, focused libraries based upon hits identified from screening. These hits may be from our compound libraries, the customer’s internal compound collection or even from another compound library supplier. Focused libraries consist of combinatorially generated compounds that represent systematic variations of hits. Medicinal chemists use these focused libraries to begin refining hits to optimize the properties that have an effect on the drug target in the assay. Because we invest significant resources in the development of each of our compound libraries, we are able to generate focused libraries based on hits from our discovery or targeted libraries more rapidly than when we begin from an isolated hit resulting from a customer’s compound collection.

Medicinal chemistry. We also provide a wide range of medicinal chemistry and lead optimization services. In advancing a hit to a drug candidate, we use focused libraries and/or traditional medicinal chemistry methods. This includes the synthesis of compounds that modify the original hit or lead for improved potency, selectivity and other pharmaceutical characteristics. We have an experienced group of synthetic organic chemists and medicinal chemists with expertise in both solid phase chemistry and solution phase chemistry. In some cases we provide medicinal chemistry services in conjunction with our computational drug discovery efforts to design and construct small libraries of compounds to act on specific targets of known structure.

Drug discovery informatics; ADME and Toxicology

We are developing computational tools that we believe will allow us to substantially increase our knowledge of the characteristics of targets, leads, and ligand-target interactions which can be applied throughout the drug discovery process to significantly reduce the time and cost of developing a drug. We currently have computer algorithms that allow us to design libraries of compounds with high diversity, thereby increasing the likelihood of finding hits during screening. When screened against large numbers of potential drug targets, we believe these large and highly diverse libraries will provide significant information about which drug targets are amenable to modulation by chemical means. We have developed novel algorithms to aid in the understanding and utilization of the data resulting from high throughput screening experiments. We have developed a protein (drug target) family analysis tool which we believe will allow us to use screening data to correlate drug target families with the types of compounds which will likely bind to them. Using this tool, we hope to be able to design highly effective targeted libraries for whole drug target families. In addition, we hope to use this tool to efficiently design potent compounds for a particular drug target and to efficiently search databases of compounds available from other vendors for likely leads.

We expect to further use our computational tools and screening data to help predict ADME and toxicological reactions to classes of compounds. This will allow our customers to avoid spending money and time on hits and leads that will ultimately fail due to their ADME and toxicological characteristics.

Integrated drug discovery

In 2002 we continue to offer integrated collaborative drug discovery services which provide our clients with many of the tools and capabilities needed to find and advance leads to preclinical candidates. In these partnerships we provide integrated access to our computational design and analysis, chemistry, and biology capabilities for the purpose of developing a preclinical lead for the client’s target. Each collaborative program is customized to increase the likelihood of success. Milestone payments, which are due upon lead compounds demonstrating specified potency and selectivity requirements, are typically included in addition to FTE fees. Currently, milestone payments are not anticipated to be material to total revenue in 2003.

Component Supply

Although most of the raw materials used in the research, development and manufacture of our products and the offering of our services are available from more than one supplier, we depend on sole-source suppliers for the mesh component of our reactors, the radio frequency, or RF, tags used in our commercial products and the two-dimensional bar code tags used in our NanoKan system. These items are obtained from suppliers on standard commercial terms.

We have no long-term supply agreements for these items. To date, we have not experienced difficulty in obtaining necessary raw materials.

 


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Sales and Marketing

Our senior executives coordinate global management of our key customers and manage our general sales and marketing efforts for our drug discovery offerings to major pharmaceutical customers worldwide.

In addition to direct selling efforts we also use industry trade shows and industry journal advertising for sales and marketing.

Research and Development

Our research and development expenses totaled approximately $6.2 million in 2002, $13.0 million in 2001 and $8.9 million in 2000. None of these expenses was funded by outside parties. We conduct research and development programs in three primary areas as follows:

Core instrumentation technology. These projects include the development of new instrumentation technologies of the type that led to the development of our current IRORI products, including the NanoKan System. Core technology projects have also expanded beyond synthesis technology to include the development of other drug discovery instrumentation, including Crystal Farm™, our proprietary self-contained crystallization system that provides automated high throughput incubation and imaging of thousands of protein crystallization experiments. We implement projects on our own behalf and in collaboration with customers to develop specific instruments we identify as product opportunities. In collaborative projects, we seek to retain the intellectual property and commercialization rights.

Drug discovery informatics. We have initiated drug discovery informatics projects that we believe will lead to a host of new products and services. We have begun to develop informatics tools that will aid in the design of new compound libraries that are optimized for potency toward a specific drug target and minimized for interactions with other undesired targets. Additionally, we are developing computational software and algorithms that may provide rapid advances in the areas of high throughput protein homology determination and cell-based and target-based virtual screening.

Assay development and high throughput screening. We continue to invest in new assay development and HTS technologies that we believe will allow us to broaden our product and service offerings. We are continually expanding our portfolio of assays and believe that current research and development programs will allow us to address virtually every type of homogeneous or heterogeneous drug discovery assay, and a wide range of agrochemical assays. We are investing in the µARCS technology in order to improve the speed and cost effectiveness of the screening process.

Customers

During 2002, the Company generated revenue from approximately 200 customers worldwide. The most significant by volume are as follows:

 

Allergan

 

Kyowa

Asahi

 

Merck

Aventis

 

Microbia

Bayer

 

Millenium Pharmaceuticals

Bristol-Myers Squibb

 

Novartis

Celera Genomics

 

Pfizer

CV Therapeutics

 

Proctor & Gamble

Daiichi

 

Selectide

Genomic Institute of the Novartis Research

 

Syngenta

Foundation

 

Takeda

Hoffman-La Roche

 

Theracos

Inspire Pharmaceuticals

 

Vertex

Japan Tobacco

 

Xenon Genetics

Kirin

 

 


 


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The following table contains each customer that represented over 10% of our revenue for any of the indicated periods. There were no customers that represented over 10% of our revenue in 2001.

 

 

 

Years Ended
December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 


 


 


 

Pfizer

 

41

%

8

%

10

%

Japan Tobacco

 

5

%

4

%

14

%

Aventis

 

3

%

4

%

12

%


The following table presents the geographic breakdown of our revenue for our last three fiscal years.

 

 

 

Years Ended
December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 


 


 


 

United States

 

67

%

62

%

66

%

Japan

 

17

%

27

%

25

%

All other Foreign Countries

 

16

 

11

%

9

%


Agreement with Pfizer

In December 2001, we entered into a multi-year agreement with Pfizer to develop and produce libraries of high purity chemical compounds to be used in Pfizer’s drug discovery programs. Under this agreement, we collaborate with Pfizer to design and develop custom libraries of drug-like compounds that are exclusive to Pfizer. We manufacture and purify the compounds to high purity standards using, among other methods, our proprietary Accelerated Retention Window (ARW) purification technology. The initial term of the agreement expires in January 2006. Either party may terminate the agreement upon the material, unremedied breach of the other party. In addition, Pfizer has the right to terminate the agreement if we are merged with or into or sold to a third party or upon six months of notice. In any event Pfizer has a contractual right to terminate the contract, with or without cause, upon six months notice beginning on January 1, 2003. In such event, Pfizer will retain exclusive rights to the libraries of compounds that we have delivered to Pfizer, and will only be obligated to pay us for the minimum contracted compound libraries and manufacturing and purification services during the notice period. The estimated potential value of this 4-year collaboration may reach $95 million, making it material to our annual revenues each of the years 2002 through 2005. Achieving the full amount is, in effect, subject to Pfizer continuing to elect to place orders, or not cancel orders, for work. We believe Pfizer’s current intent is to fund the entire $95 million, provided that our work continues to be satisfactory. However, this is entirely in Pfizer’s control and subject to Pfizer’s discretion. During 2002, revenue from Pfizer represented 41% of total revenue.

Intellectual Property

To establish and protect our proprietary technologies and products, we rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secrets laws, as well as confidentiality provisions in our contracts.

We have implemented an aggressive patent strategy designed to maximize our intellectual property rights. We are pursuing patent coverage in the United States and those foreign countries that are home to the majority of our anticipated customer base. We currently own 23 issued patents in the United States. In addition, our patent portfolio includes eight pending patent applications in the United States and corresponding international and foreign filings in major industrial nations.

United States patents issued from applications filed prior to June 8, 1995 have a term of the longer of 20 years from the earliest priority date or 17 years from issue. Five of our applications were filed prior to June 8, 1995 and all of these applications have issued. United States patents issued from applications filed on or after June 8, 1995 have a term of 20 years from the application filing date or earlier claimed priority. Patents in most other countries have a term of 20 years from the date of filing of the patent application. Our remaining patent applications, including the applications from which 18 of our issued patents were derived, were filed after June 8, 1995. Because the time from filing to issuance of patent applications is often several years, this process may result in a shortened period of patent protection, which may adversely affect our ability to exclude competitors from our markets. Our issued United States patents have expiration dates ranging from April 2015 to April 2020. None of our licenses to use others’ patents will expire within the next ten years other than the Trega license which will expire in the United States in March of 2005. Our success will depend to a significant degree upon our ability to develop proprietary products and technologies and to obtain patent coverage for the products and technologies. We intend to continue to file patent applications covering any newly developed products and technologies.

 


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Patents provide some degree of protection for our proprietary technology. However, the pursuit and assertion of patent rights, particularly in areas like pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, involve complex determinations and, therefore, are characterized by some uncertainty. In addition, the laws governing patentability and the scope of patent coverage continue to evolve, particularly in biotechnology, and due to the time between the filing and granting of a patent application, we may be infringing upon the patent rights of a third party without any knowledge of the patent. As a result, patents might not issue from any of our patent applications or from applications licensed to us. The scope of any of our issued patents may not be sufficiently broad to offer meaningful protection. In addition, our issued patents or patents licensed to us may be successfully challenged, invalidated, circumvented or rendered unenforceable so that our patent rights might not create an effective competitive barrier. Moreover, the laws of some foreign countries may not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. Any patents issued to us or our strategic partners may not provide a legal basis for establishing an exclusive market for our products or provide us with any competitive advantages. In addition, patents issued to us or our strategic partners may not ensure that the patents of others will not have an adverse effect on our ability to do business or to continue to use our technologies freely. In view of these factors, our intellectual property positions bear some degree of uncertainty.

Our European eukaryotic gene profiling patent was opposed by various companies. Oral proceedings were held before the Opposition Division of the European Patent Office in January 2003. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Opposition Division maintained our patent in amended form. As amended, the patent claims kits and methods for identifying and characterizing the potential toxicity of a compound using expression profiles of four categories of stress. The decision of the Opposition Division may be appealed to the Technical Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office. Such appeal, if any, will not be resolved for several years.

There is no assurance that we will ultimately prevail in the appeal or be successful in enforcing or further licensing our European patent. If we are unsuccessful, the value of our gene profiling patent and any royalties it may generate could be reduced.

The source code for our proprietary software is protected both as a trade secret and as copyrighted works.

We also rely in part on trade secret protection of our intellectual property. We attempt to protect our trade secrets by entering into confidentiality agreements with third parties, employees and consultants. Our employees also sign agreements requiring that they assign to us their interests in inventions and original expressions and any corresponding patents and copyrights arising from their work for us. However, it is possible that these agreements may be breached, invalidated or rendered unenforceable, and if so, there may not be an adequate corrective remedy available. Despite the measures we have taken to protect our intellectual property, parties to our agreements may breach the confidentiality provisions in our contracts or infringe or misappropriate our patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and other proprietary rights. In addition, third parties may independently discover or invent competing technologies or reverse engineer our trade secrets or other technology.

Third parties may file claims asserting that our technologies or products infringe on their intellectual property. We cannot predict whether third parties will assert such claims against us or our licensees or against the licensors of technology licensed to us, or whether those claims will harm our business. If we are forced to defend against such claims, whether they are with or without merit, and whether they are resolved in our favor or against us, our licensees or our licensors, we will incur significant expenses and experience diversion of management’s attention and resources. As a result of any disputes over intellectual property, we may have to develop at a substantial cost non- infringing technology or enter into licensing agreements. These agreements, if necessary, may be unavailable on terms acceptable to us, or at all, which could seriously harm our business or financial condition.

License Agreement with Abbott Laboratories. On January 2, 2001 we signed an agreement with Abbott Laboratories that provides us with the exclusive license to µARCS. We paid Abbott $2 million in prepaid royalties upon signing of the agreement and an additional $2 million in April 2002. An additional payment of $2 million is due in April 2003. The Abbott µARCS technology provides ultra high throughput screening of thousands of compounds per microplate-sized card against a very broad range of drug discovery targets, without the use of individual wells and the attendant liquid handling requirements. We believe this technology can enable virtually any laboratory to screen compounds against a wide range of targets faster and less expensively than other available screening methodologies.

Competition

We compete with companies in the United States and abroad that engage in the development and production of drug discovery products and services. These competitors include companies engaged in the following areas of drug discovery:

         Assay, development and screening, including Cerep, Evotec OAI AG, Pharmacopeia and Tripos;

         Combinatorial chemistry instruments, including Argonaut and Mimotopes;

 


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         Compound library development and lead optimization services, including Albany Molecular Research, Pharmacopeia, Array Biopharma, Evotec OAI AG, Biofocus and ArQule;

         Informatics, including Accelrys and Tripos; and

         Gene profiling, including Affymetrix and Gene Logic.

Academic institutions, governmental agencies and other research organizations also conduct research in areas in which we provide services, either on their own or through collaborative efforts. Also, essentially all of our pharmaceutical company customers have internal departments that provide some or all of the products and services we sell, so these customers may have limited needs for our products and services. Many of our competitors, including Pharmacopeia, have access to greater financial, technical, research, marketing, sales, distribution, service and other resources than we do. We may not yet be large enough to achieve satisfactory market recognition or operating efficiencies, particularly in comparison to some competitors.

Government Regulation

We are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. In the course of our business, we handle, store and dispose of chemicals. The laws and regulations applicable to our operations include provisions that regulate the discharge of materials into the environment. Usually these environmental laws and regulations impose “strict liability,” rendering a person liable without regard to negligence or fault on the part of such person. Such environmental laws and regulations may expose us to liability for the conduct of, or conditions caused by, others. We have not been required to expend material amounts in connection with our efforts to comply with environmental requirements, and we do not believe that compliance with such requirements will have a material adverse effect upon our capital expenditures, results of operations or competitive position. Because the requirements imposed by these laws and regulations frequently change, we are unable to predict the cost of compliance with these requirements in the future, or the effect of these laws on our capital expenditures, results of operations or competitive position.

Employees

As of February 1, 2003, we had approximately 236 full-time employees worldwide. None of our employees is covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

Web Site Access to SEC Filings

We maintain an Internet website at www.discoverypartners.com. We make available free of charge on our Internet website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

In addition to the other information contained herein, you should carefully consider the following risk factors in evaluating our company.

We derive a significant percentage of our revenues from a single customer and are contractually required to fulfill specific obligations. We need to continue to satisfy the customer or else we could lose the contract and its anticipated revenues.

We anticipate that a significant portion of our revenues for 2003 and beyond will be derived from our chemistry collaboration we entered into with Pfizer in December 2001. This collaboration requires us to deliver a large number of chemical compounds of guaranteed minimum purity with higher minimum weight quantity than we have historically been required to produce and deliver to other customers. We face the risk that, to the extent such minimum weight quantity and purity levels are not achieved in production, scheduled compound deliveries may be delayed, or additional costs may be required to reproduce or re-purify the compounds so that the minimum specifications are achieved, which could defer or eliminate revenues while increasing cost of revenues. We also may fail to deliver the minimum number of compounds required by Pfizer, which would increase the risk of Pfizer exercising its right to terminate the contract. In any event Pfizer has a contractual right to terminate the contract, with or without cause, upon six months notice beginning on January 1, 2003. During 2002, revenue from Pfizer represented 41% of total revenue.

 


14



We may not achieve or sustain profitability in the future.

We have incurred operating and net losses since our inception. As of December 31, 2002, we had an accumulated deficit of $104.7 million. For the years ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002 we had net losses of $11.7 million, $11.1 million, and $62.1 million, respectively. We may also in the future incur operating and net losses and negative cash flow from operations. We may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Moreover, if we do achieve profitability, the level of any profitability cannot be predicted and may vary significantly from quarter to quarter.

We expect business conditions in our industry to be difficult in the near term.

Because we anticipate business conditions in the drug discovery services business to be difficult through at least 2003, we are not seeking and do not anticipate sizable organic revenue growth in 2003.

Our success will depend on the prospects of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and the extent to which these industries engage third parties to perform one or more aspects of their drug discovery process.

Our revenues depend to a large extent on research and development expenditures by the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and companies in these industries outsourcing research and development projects. These expenditures are based on a wide variety of factors, including the resources available for purchasing research equipment, the spending priorities among various types of research and policies regarding expenditures during recessionary periods. Geopolitical uncertainty or general economic downturns in our customers’ industries or any decrease in research and development expenditures could harm our operations, as could increased popularity of management theories that counsel against outsourcing of critical business functions. Any decrease in drug discovery spending by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies could cause our revenues to decline and adversely impact our profitability.

Our success will depend on technological improvements to the process of drug discovery and on improvements to our customers’ expected return on investment (ROI) in the phases of the drug discovery and development process that we participate in.

The drug discovery and development process can be broadly separated into the following stages: Target identification; target validation; lead discovery; lead optimization; pre-clinical development; IND filing; clinical trials, phases I-III; new drug application (NDA); and post market surveillance. We currently participate in the areas of lead discovery and lead optimization. Current market studies indicate that, on average, less than one in fifty leads discovered ultimately results in an NDA. Moreover, based on current averages, for the isolated phases of lead discovery and lead optimization, the cost of acquiring a validated target plus the costs of lead discovery and lead optimization are greater than the expected proceeds of out-licensing a potential drug candidate during the pre-clinical phase of drug development. It is estimated that currently, a positive expected ROI on drug discovery and development does not occur until the drug candidate has successfully passed through phase II of clinical trials. Such conditions make it difficult for us to solicit profitable business from collaboration partners who are unable to fund the development of drug candidates through phase II of clinical trials.

The concentration of the pharmaceutical industry and the current trend toward increasing consolidation could hurt our business prospects.

The pharmaceutical company side of the market for our products and services is highly concentrated, with approximately 50 large pharmaceutical companies conducting drug discovery research. The continuation of the current trend toward consolidation of the pharmaceutical industry may reduce the number of our potential customers even further. Accordingly, we expect that a relatively small number of customers will account for a substantial portion of our revenues.

Additional risks associated with a highly concentrated customer base include:

         fewer customers for our products and services;

         larger companies may develop and utilize in-house technology and expertise rather than using our products and services;

         larger customers may negotiate price discounts or other terms for our products and services that are unfavorable to us; and

         the market for our products and services may become saturated.

 


15



For example, because of the heavy concentration of the pharmaceutical industry and the relatively high cost of our systems, such as, NanoKan, µARCS and Crystal Farm, we expect to place only a limited number of systems before we saturate the market for these products.

Our decision to discontinue the non-exclusive chemical compound supply product line places more emphasis on integrated drug discovery collaborations, an area of higher risk and complexity.

As a result of our decision to limit access to our proprietary chemistry compounds and capabilities solely to companies that enter into integrated drug discovery, chemistry or screening and optimization collaborations with us, we now rely on this relatively complex form of customer engagement to deliver value for the Company. As a result of the inherent complexity of such collaborations, we have an increased risk of being unable to reach agreement with the prospective customer for such collaborations or of structuring sub-optimal arrangements that fail to adequately compensate us for the risks inherent in such collaborations.

We may fail to expand customer relationships through integration of products and services.

We may not be successful in selling our offerings in combination across the range of drug discovery disciplines we serve because integrated combinations of our products and services may not achieve time and cost efficiencies for our customers, especially our large pharmaceutical company customers. On the other hand, biotechnology companies may desire our integrated offerings but are often not sufficiently financed to pay for these services. In addition, we may not succeed in further integrating our offerings. We may not be able to use existing relationships with customers in individual areas of our business to sell products and services in multiple areas of drug discovery. If we do not achieve integration of our products and services, we may not be able to take advantage of potential revenue opportunities and differentiate ourselves from competitors.

All our products and services have lengthy sales cycles and involve significant scientific risk of fulfillment, which could cause our operating results to fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter.

Sales of all our products and services typically involve significant technical evaluation and commitment of expense or capital by our customers. Accordingly, the sales cycles, or the time from finding a prospective customer through closing the sale, associated with these products or collaborations, range from six to eighteen months. Sales of these products and the formation of these collaborations are subject to a number of significant risks, including customers’ budgetary constraints and internal acceptance reviews that are beyond our control. Due to these lengthy and unpredictable sales cycles, our operating results could fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter. We expect to continue to experience significant fluctuations in quarterly operating results due to a variety of factors, such as general and industry specific economic conditions, that may affect the research and development expenditures of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

A large portion of our revenues rely upon the scientific success, either on the customer’s part in the form of delivering specified proteins for assay development or chemistry library design ideas of scientific projects for chemical compound development and production, or on our part in the form of assay or compound development or compound production. To the extent that either we experience delays in receiving specific deliverables required for us to complete our objectives or we encounter delays in our ability meet our scientific obligations, we may be unable to receive and recognize revenues in accordance with our expectations.

A large portion of our expenses, including expenses for facilities, equipment and personnel, is relatively fixed. Accordingly, if revenues decline or do not grow as anticipated, we might not be able to correspondingly reduce our operating expenses. Failure to achieve anticipated levels of revenues could therefore significantly harm our operating results for a particular fiscal period.

Due to the possibility of fluctuations in our revenues (on an absolute basis and relative to our expenses), we believe that quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our operating results are not a good indication of our future performance.

If our products and services do not become widely used in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, it is unlikely that we will succeed.

We have a limited history of offering our products and services, including informatics tools, biology services, µARCS, toxicology services, Crystal Farm and combinatorial chemistry instrumentation systems. It is uncertain whether our current customers will continue to use these products and services or whether new customers will use these products and services. In order to be successful, our products and services must meet the requirements of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and we must convince potential customers to use our products and services instead of competing technologies and offerings. Moreover, we cannot thrive unless we can achieve economies of scale on our various offerings. Market acceptance will depend on many factors, including our ability to:

 


16



         convince potential customers that our technologies are attractive alternatives to other technologies for drug discovery;

         manufacture products and conduct services in sufficient quantities with acceptable quality and at an acceptable cost;

         convince potential customers to purchase drug discovery products and services from us rather than developing them internally; and

         place and service sufficient quantities of our products.

Because of these and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, our products and services may not gain sufficient market acceptance.

The drug discovery industry is competitive and subject to technological change, and we may not have the resources necessary to compete successfully.

We compete with companies in the United States and abroad that engage in the development and production of drug discovery products and services. These competitors include companies engaged in the following areas of drug discovery:

         Assay, development and screening, including Cerep, Evotec OAI AG, Pharmacopeia and Tripos;

         Combinatorial chemistry instruments, including Argonaut and Mimotopes;

         Compound libraries and lead optimization, including Albany Molecular Research, Pharmacopeia, Array Biopharma, Evotec OAI AG, Biofocus and ArQule;

         Informatics, including Accelrys and Tripos; and

         Gene profiling, including Affymetrix and Gene Logic.

Academic institutions, governmental agencies and other research organizations also conduct research in areas in which we provide services, either on their own or through collaborative efforts. Also, essentially all of our pharmaceutical company customers have internal departments that provide some or all of the products and services we sell, so these customers may have limited needs for our products and services. Many of our competitors, including Pharmacopeia, have access to greater financial, technical, research, marketing, sales, distribution, service and other resources than we do. We may not yet be large enough to achieve satisfactory market recognition or operating efficiencies, particularly in comparison to some competitors. In addition, small size (particularly when combined with unprofitable operations) often results in the loss of stock research analyst coverage; absence of coverage makes it difficult for a company to find and hold a stock market following. Currently, only one analyst follows us.

Moreover, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are characterized by continuous technological innovation. We anticipate that we will face increased competition in the future as new companies enter the market and our competitors make advanced technologies available. Technological advances or entirely different approaches that we or one or more of our competitors develop may render our products, services and expertise obsolete or uneconomical. For example, advances in informatics and virtual screening may render some of our technologies, such as our large compound libraries, obsolete. Additionally, the existing approaches of our competitors or new approaches or technologies that our competitors develop may be more effective than those we develop. We currently are investing in µARCS technology to improve screening processes. However, we may be unable to successfully sell this technology to customers and we may never recover the cost of our investment including the prepaid royalty to Abbott, which is carried on our balance sheet as other intangible assets in an amount equal to approximately $4.0 million and which could grow to over $6.0 million during 2003. We may not be able to compete successfully with existing or future competitors.

In addition, due to improvements in global communications, combined with the supply of lower cost PhD level scientific talent in offshore locations such as China, India and Eastern Europe, we face the growing threat of competition for our chemistry and computational chemistry services.

 


17



The intellectual property rights we rely on to protect the technology underlying our products and techniques may not be adequate, which could enable third parties to use our technology or very similar technology and could reduce our ability to compete in the market.

Our success will depend on our ability to obtain, protect and enforce patents on our technology and to protect our trade secrets. We also depend, in part, on patent rights that third parties license to us. Any patents we own or license may not afford meaningful protection for our technology and products. Others may challenge our patents or the patents of our licensors and, as a result, these patents could be narrowed, invalidated or rendered unenforceable. In addition, current and future patent applications on which we depend may not result in the issuance of patents in the United States or foreign countries. Competitors may develop products similar to ours that are not covered by our patents. Further, since there is a substantial backlog of patent applications at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the approval or rejection of our or our competitors’ patent applications may take several years.

Our European eukaryotic gene profiling patent was opposed by various companies. Oral proceedings were held before the Opposition Division of the European Patent Office in January 2003. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Opposition Division maintained our patent in amended form. As amended, the patent claims kits and methods for identifying and characterizing the potential toxicity of a compound using expression profiles of four categories of stress. The decision of the Opposition Division may be appealed to the Technical Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office. Such appeal, if any, will not be resolved for several years.

There is no assurance that we will ultimately prevail in the appeal or be successful in enforcing or further licensing our European patent. If we are unsuccessful, the value of our gene profiling patent and any royalties it may generate could be reduced.

In addition to patent protection, we also rely on copyright protection, trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological innovation and licensing opportunities. In an effort to maintain the confidentiality and ownership of our trade secrets and proprietary information, we require our employees, consultants and advisors to execute confidentiality and proprietary information agreements. However, these agreements may not provide us with adequate protection against improper use or disclosure of confidential information, and there may not be adequate remedies in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure. Furthermore, like many technology companies, we may from time to time hire scientific personnel formerly employed by other companies involved in one or more areas similar to the activities conducted by us. In some situations, our confidentiality and proprietary information agreements may conflict with, or be subject to, the rights of third parties with whom our employees, consultants or advisors have prior employment or consulting relationships.

Although we require our employees and consultants to maintain the confidentiality of all confidential information of previous employers, their prior affiliations may subject us or these individuals to allegations of trade secret misappropriation or other similar claims. Finally, others may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques, or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets. Our failure to protect our proprietary information and techniques may inhibit or limit our ability to exclude certain competitors from the market.

The drug discovery industry has a history of intellectual property litigation and we may be involved in intellectual property lawsuits, which may be expensive.

In order to protect or enforce our patent rights, we may have to initiate legal proceedings against third parties. In addition, others may sue us for infringing their intellectual property rights, or we may find it necessary to initiate a lawsuit seeking a declaration from a court that we are not infringing the proprietary rights of others. The patent positions of pharmaceutical, biotechnology and drug discovery companies are generally uncertain. A number of pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, independent researchers, universities and research institutions may have filed patent applications or may have been granted patents that cover technologies similar to the technologies owned by, or licensed to, us or our collaborators. A number of patents may have been issued or may be issued in the future that could cover certain aspects of our technology and that could prevent us from using technology that we use or expect to use. In addition, we are unable to determine all of the patents or patent applications that may materially affect our ability to make, use or sell any potential products. Legal proceedings relating to intellectual property would be expensive, take significant time and divert management’s attention from other business concerns, no matter whether we win or lose. The cost of such litigation could affect our profitability.

Further, an unfavorable judgment in an infringement lawsuit brought against us, in addition to any damages we might have to pay, could require us to stop the infringing activity or obtain a license. Any required license may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, some licenses may be nonexclusive, and therefore, our competitors may have access to the same technology that is licensed to us. If we fail to obtain a required license or are unable to design around a patent, we may be unable to sell some of our products or services.

 


18



Our stock price likely will be volatile.

The trading price of our common stock likely will be volatile and could be subject to fluctuations in price in response to various factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

         actual or anticipated variations in quarterly operating results;

         announcements of technological innovations by us or our competitors;

         new products or services introduced or announced by us or our competitors;

         changes in financial estimates by (or the beginning or cessation of coverage by) securities analysts;

         conditions or trends in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries or in the drug discovery “tools” industry;

         announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;

         the implementation or wind-down of stock buyback programs;

         additions or departures of key personnel;

         economic and political factors; and

         sales of our common stock.

In addition, price and volume fluctuations in the stock market in general, and the Nasdaq National Market and the market for technology companies in particular, have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. Further, the market prices of securities of life sciences companies have been particularly volatile. Conditions or trends in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries generally may cause further volatility in the trading price of our common stock, because the market may incorrectly perceive us as a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company. These broad market and industry factors may harm the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance. In the past, plaintiffs have often instituted securities class action litigation following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities. A securities class action suit against us could result in potential liabilities, substantial costs and the diversion of management’s attention and resources, regardless of whether we win or lose.

Our customers may restrict our use of scientific information, which could prevent us from using this information for additional revenue.

We plan to generate and use information that is not proprietary to our customers and which we derive from performing drug discovery services for our customers. However, our customers may not allow us to use information such as the general interaction between types of chemistries and types of drug targets that we generate when performing drug discovery services for them. Our current contracts typically restrict our use of certain scientific information we generate for our customers, such as the biological activity of chemical compounds with respect to drug targets, and future contracts also may restrict our use of additional scientific information. To the extent that our use of information is restricted, we may not be able to collect and aggregate scientific data and take advantage of potential revenue opportunities.

Our success will depend on our ability to attract and retain key executives, experienced scientists and sales personnel.

Our future success will depend to a significant extent on our ability to attract, retain and motivate highly skilled scientists and sales personnel. In addition, our business would be significantly harmed if we lost the services of Riccardo Pigliucci, our chief executive officer. Our ability to maintain, expand or renew existing engagements with our customers, enter into new engagements and provide additional services to our existing customers depends, in large part, on our ability to hire and retain scientists with the skills necessary to keep pace with continuing changes in drug discovery technologies and sales personnel who are highly motivated. Additionally, it is difficult for us to find qualified sales personnel in light of the fact that our sales personnel generally hold Ph.D’s. Our employees are “at will,” which means that they may resign at any time, and we may dismiss them at any time (subject, in some cases, to severance payment obligations). We believe that there is a shortage of, and significant competition for, scientists with the skills and experience in the sciences necessary to perform the services we offer. We compete with pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, combinatorial chemistry companies, contract research companies and academic institutions for new personnel. We may not be successful in attracting new scientists or sales personnel or in retaining or motivating our existing personnel.

 


19



We have acquired several businesses and face risks associated with integrating these businesses and potential future acquisitions.

We plan to continue to review potential acquisition candidates in the ordinary course of our business, and our strategy includes building our business through acquisitions. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including, among others, difficulties and expenses incurred in the consummation of acquisitions and assimilation of the operations, personnel and services or products of the acquired companies, difficulties of operating new businesses, the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns and the potential loss of key employees of the acquired company. In addition, acquired businesses may have management structures incompatible with our own and may experience difficulties in maintaining their existing levels of business after joining us. If we do not successfully integrate and grow the businesses we have acquired or any businesses we may acquire in the future, our business will suffer. Additionally, acquisition candidates may not be available in the future or may not be available on terms and conditions acceptable to us. Acquisitions of foreign companies also may involve additional risks of assimilating different business practices, overcoming language and cultural barriers and foreign currency translation. We currently have no agreements or commitments with respect to any acquisition, and we may never successfully complete any additional acquisitions.

Our success will depend on our ability to manage growth and expansion.

Growth in our operations has placed and, if we grow in the future, will continue to place a significant strain on our operational, human and financial resources. In the past three years we have acquired five new businesses, and we intend to continue to grow our business internally and by acquisition. As and if we expand our operations we will not necessarily have in place infrastructure and personnel sufficient to accommodate the increased size of our business. Our ability to effectively manage any growth through acquisitions or any internal growth will depend, in large part, on our ability to hire, train and assimilate additional management, professional, scientific and technical personnel and our ability to expand, improve and effectively use our operating, management, marketing and financial systems to accommodate our expanded operations. These tasks are made more difficult as we acquire businesses in geographically disparate locations.

Our operations could be interrupted by damage to our facilities.

Our results of operations are dependent upon the continued use of our highly specialized laboratories and equipment. Our operations are primarily concentrated in facilities in San Diego, California, near San Francisco, California, near Basel, Switzerland and in Tucson, Arizona. Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, or terrorist acts could damage our laboratories or equipment and these events may materially interrupt our business. We maintain business interruption insurance to cover lost revenues caused by such occurrences. However, this insurance would not compensate us for the loss of opportunity and potential adverse impact on relations with existing customers created by an inability to meet our customers’ needs in a timely manner, and may not compensate us for the physical damage to our facilities.

We may incur exchange losses when foreign currency used in international transactions is converted into U.S. dollars.

Currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the currencies in which we do business including the British pound, the Japanese yen, the Swiss franc and the Euro will cause foreign currency translation gains and losses. We cannot predict the effects of exchange rate fluctuations on our future operating results because of the number of currencies involved, changes in the percentage of our revenue that will be invoiced in foreign currencies, the variability of currency exposure and the potential volatility of currency exchange rates. We do not currently engage in foreign exchange hedging transactions to manage our foreign currency exposure; however, we may begin to hedge certain transactions between the Swiss franc and other currencies that are invoiced from our Swiss affiliate in order to minimize foreign exchange transaction gains and losses.

We may be subject to liability regarding hazardous materials.

Our products and services as well as our research and development processes involve the controlled use of hazardous materials. For example, we often use acids, bases, oxidants, and flammable materials. Acids include trifluoroacetic acid and hydrochloric acid, bases include sodium hydroxide and triethylamine, oxidants include peracids and potassium permanganate, and flammable solvents include methanol, hexane and tetrahydrofuran. We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of such materials and certain waste products. We cannot completely eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials. In the event of such an accident, we could be held liable for any damages that result, and any such liability could exceed our resources and disrupt our business. In addition, we may have to incur significant costs to comply with environmental laws and regulations related to the handling or disposal of such materials or waste products in the future, which would require us to spend substantial amounts of money.

 


20



Because it is unlikely that we will pay dividends, our stockholders will only be able to benefit from holding our stock if the stock price appreciates.

We have never paid cash dividends on our capital stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

Anti-takeover provisions in our stockholder rights plan and in our charter and bylaws could make a third-party acquisition of us difficult.

In 2003 we adopted a stockholder rights plan (a so-called “poison pill”). Also, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would be beneficial to our stockholders. These provisions could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. In addition, as a result of our acquisition of Axys Advanced Technologies, we have a standstill agreement with Axys Pharmaceuticals, which prevents Axys Pharmaceuticals (and prevents its subsequent acquirer, the Celera Genomics business of Applera Corporation) from making a hostile effort to acquire us.

Item 2.            Properties

We believe that our currently leased and occupied facilities are generally well maintained, in good operating condition and are sufficient to meet our needs for the near term.

 

Leased Properties Locations

 

Square Feet

 

Use

 

Lease Expiration
Dates

 


 


 


 


 

San Diego, California

 

34,500

 

Corporate headquarters
Marketing and product support
Laboratory
Manufacturing

 

August 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South San Francisco, California

 

52,000

 

Laboratory
Office

 

November 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tucson, Arizona

 

29,000

 

Laboratory
Office

 

July 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basel, Switzerland

 

20,000

 

Laboratory
Office

 

December 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ft. Lee, New Jersey

 

2,500

 

Office

 

February 2004

 


Item 3.            Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we may be involved in litigation that arises through the normal course of business. As of the date of this Report, we are not a party to any material legal proceedings.

Item 4.            Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the quarter ended December 31, 2002.

PART II

Item 5.            Market for the Company’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

(a)       Information Regarding Our Stock

Market Information

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market, under the symbol DPII. The following table sets forth the range of high and low sales prices on the Nasdaq National Market of our common stock for the quarterly periods indicated, as reported by Nasdaq. Such quotations represent inter-dealer prices without retail mark up, mark down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.

 


21



 

 

 

High

 

Low

 

 

 


 


 

Year Ended December 31, 2002:

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

$

9.34

 

$

5.09

 

Second Quarter

 

8.15

 

4.95

 

Third Quarter

 

6.50

 

2.91

 

Fourth Quarter

 

3.35

 

2.30

 

Year Ended December 31, 2001:

 

 

 

 

 

First Quarter

 

$

11.625

 

$

5.375

 

Second Quarter

 

8.85

 

4.42

 

Third Quarter

 

5.78

 

3.26

 

Fourth Quarter

 

7.50

 

3.00

 

Year Ended December 31, 2000:

 

 

 

 

 

Third Quarter (beginning July 27)

 

$

26.00

 

$

17.375

 

Fourth Quarter

 

$

22.50

 

$

5.625

 


Holders

As of March 17, 2003, there were approximately 148 holders of record of our common stock.

Dividends

We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock, and we do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

(b)      Use of Proceeds

Use of Proceeds

The registration statement (File No. 333-36638) for our initial public offering was declared effective by the SEC on July 27, 2000. We received net proceeds from the Offering of approximately $94.7 million. Through December 31, 2002, we had used approximately $17.0 million of the net proceeds for acquisitions of companies, $4.0 million for prepaid µARCS royalties and $8.2 million for capital expenditures.

 


22



Item 6.            Selected Financial Data

The following selected consolidated financial data has been derived from our audited financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s financial statements and related notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period.

Selected Consolidated Financial Information

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

1998

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

 

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

41,315

 

$

41,134

 

$

36,264

 

$

13,076

 

$

6,214

 

Cost of revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues before additional charges

 

28,221

 

20,460

 

18,343

 

8,235

 

2,786

 

Additional charges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for discontinued products and obsolete inventory

 

5,781

 

4,397

 

 

 

 

Anticipated contract loss

 

1,485

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

Gross margin

 

5,828

 

16,277

 

17,921

 

4,841

 

3,428

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

6,222

 

12,982

 

8,934

 

3,538

 

5,058

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

12,271

 

11,019

 

8,414

 

4,439

 

4,984

 

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets

 

51,091

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of stock-based compensation and other non-cash compensation charges

 

623

 

1,074

 

1,376

 

311

 

 

Amortization of goodwill

 

 

5,848

 

3,379

 

 

 

Write-off of in-process research and development

 

 

 

9,000

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

Total operating expenses

 

70,207

 

30,923

 

31,103

 

8,288

 

10,042

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

Loss from operations

 

(64,379

)

(14,646

)

(13,182

)

(3,447

)

(6,614

)

Interest income (expense), net

 

2,037

 

3,252

 

1,247

 

211

 

273

 

Foreign currency gains (losses) and other income (expense), net

 

230

 

246

 

238

 

(134

)

63

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

Net loss

 

$

(62,112

)

$

(11,148

)

$

(11,697

)

$

(3,370

)

$

(6,278

)

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Net loss per share, basic and diluted

 

$

(2.55

)

$

(0.46

)

$

(0.89

)

$

(3.00

)

$

(8.20

)

 

 



 



 



 



 



 

Shares used in calculating net loss per share, basic and diluted

 

24,315

 

24,016

 

13,177

 

1,125

 

765

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

Other Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

 

(2,135

)

(1,529

)

3,360

 

(5,735

)

(3,267

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(39,646

)

(45,450

)

(9,204

)

(5,894

)

(2,068

)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

 

(610

)

 

477

 

 

100,453

 

 

3,799

 

 

15,769

 


 

 

 

 

As of December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

1999

 

1998

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents and short-term Investments

 

$

69,636

 

$

77,265

 

$

97,690

 

$

2,885

 

$

10,715

 

Working capital (deficit)

 

77,892

 

88,550

 

106,987

 

(3,663

)

8,976

 

Total assets

 

104,443

 

167,022

 

178,293

 

21,652

 

16,596

 

Long-term obligations, less current portion

 

306

 

1,082

 

944

 

1,910

 

96

 

Redeemable preferred stock

 

 

 

 

27,907

 

27,907

 

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

 

 

96,532

 

 

157,042

 

 

166,562

 

 

(19,269

)

 

(16,298

)


 


23



Item 7.      Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion of our financial condition contains certain statements that are not strictly historical and are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty. Our actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in our operations, development efforts and business environment, including those set forth under the Section entitled “Risks and Uncertainties” in Item 1, and other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements included in this report are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement.

Overview

We sell a broad range of products and services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to make the drug discovery process for our customers faster, less expensive and more effective at generating drug candidates. We focus on the portion of the drug discovery process that begins after identification of a drug target through when a drug candidate is ready for clinical trials. Our major products and services are as follows:

         We develop, produce and sell collections of chemical compounds that pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies test for their potential use as new drugs or for use as the chemical starting point for new drugs.

         We develop, manufacture and sell proprietary instruments and the associated line of consumable supplies that are used by the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in their own in-house drug discovery chemistry operations.

         We provide testing services to our customers in which chemical compounds are tested for their biological activity as potential drugs.

         We provide computational software tools that guide the entire process of chemical compound design, development and testing.

         We license our proprietary gene profiling system that characterizes a cell’s response upon exposure to compounds and other agents by the pattern of gene expression in the cell.

At the close of 1999, we acquired Discovery Technologies Ltd. (DTL). During 2000 we acquired two additional businesses: Axys Advanced Technologies, Inc. (AAT) and a 75% interest in Structural Proteomics, Inc. (SPI). In January 2001 we acquired Systems Integration Drug Discovery Company (SIDDCO) and in May 2001 we acquired Xenometrix, Inc. In November 2001, we changed the name of Discovery Technologies Ltd. to Discovery Partners International AG. In December 2002, we acquired the remaining 25% interest in SPI.

Critical Accounting Policies

This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates, and the estimates themselves might be different if we used different assumptions.

We believe the following critical accounting policies involve significant judgments and estimates that are used in the preparation of our financial statements.

 


24



Revenue recognition. Revenue from product sales, which include the sale of instruments, related consumables, and chemical compounds, is recorded as products are shipped if the costs of such shipments can be reasonably estimated and if all customer’s acceptance criteria have been met. Currently, we are delivering compounds pursuant to a significant fixed-price multi-year contract. Compounds are shipped to this customer as soon as they have met acceptance criteria even if this results in partial shipment of a production batch. As of December 31, 2002, we did not have sufficient historical production yield experience to estimate the costs of these partial shipments; therefore, we have deferred the recognition of revenue and cost of sales until all compounds in a specific production batch have been shipped to allow us to more accurately calculate the costs. Certain of our contracts for product sales include customer acceptance provisions that give our customers the right of replacement if the delivered product does not meet specified criteria; however, we have historically demonstrated that the products meet the specified criteria and the number of customers exercising their right of replacement has been insignificant. Development contract revenues and high-throughput screening service revenues are recognized on a percentage-of-completion basis. Advances received under these development contracts and high-throughput screening service agreements are initially recorded as deferred revenue, which is then recognized as costs are incurred over the term of the contract. Certain of these contracts may allow the customer the right to reject the work performed; however, we have no material history of such rejections. Revenue from drug discovery and chemistry service agreements is recognized on a monthly basis and is based upon the number of full time equivalent (FTE) employees that actually worked on each agreement and the agreed-upon rate per FTE per month. Revenue due to us under the Xenometrix patent licensing agreements is recognized upon receipt of monies, provided we have no future obligation with respect to such payments. From time to time we receive requests from customers to bill and hold goods for them. In these cases, the customer accepts the risk of loss and the transfer of ownership of such goods prior to shipment. If the specific revenue recognition criteria under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States at the time of the bill and hold are met, the revenue is recognized.

Goodwill. On January 1, 2002, we adopted SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Upon adoption, we performed a transitional impairment test of our goodwill. Additionally, in accordance with SFAS No. 142, we performed our annual impairment test as of October 1, 2002. Each impairment test involved a two-step approach. The first step involved estimating the fair value of the Company and comparing it to the carrying value of recorded assets. Under SFAS No. 142, if the fair value of the Company’s identifiable reporting units is greater than the recorded assets for such reporting units, on a case by case basis, then the first test is passed and no further impairment testing is required. This initial impairment testing indicated no impairment existed as of January 1, 2002. Due to a significant decline in the market capitalization of the Company and those of its peers between January 1, 2002 and October 1, 2002, the carrying value of the recorded assets exceeded the estimated fair value for each of the Company’s identifiable reporting units as of October 1, 2002. As a result of this potential indication of impairment, we performed the second step of impairment testing, which involved allocating the fair value to all of our assets and liabilities, including unrecorded intangible assets, in order to determine the deemed fair value, if any, of goodwill. Both impairment test steps required us to make significant assumptions and estimates, including the determination of the fair value of identifiable reporting units as well as the fair value of specific assets and liabilities. This process, which utilized a combination of discounted cash flow and market multiple approaches to determining fair market value, required us to estimate future cash flows and applicable discount rates. The analysis resulted in a $50.9 million goodwill impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2002, which represented the write-off of all goodwill existing on the books. In the event we make future acquisitions that result in goodwill being recorded, we will be required to perform this test, at a minimum, on an annual basis.

Inventory. Inventories are recorded at the lower of cost or market. We write-down our inventory for estimated obsolescence or non-marketability if there is an excess of cost of inventory over the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual market conditions are less favorable than we have projected, additional inventory write-downs may be required. During the second quarter of 2002, we identified changes in the market for chemical compound libraries including a shift in demand from diverse purified compounds to purified targeted compounds and an increased demand to bring proprietary assets into drug discovery collaborations. As a result, we made a decision to cease developing, producing and selling our non-exclusive chemical compounds on a stand-alone basis to third parties and, instead, will make these compounds available only as part of collaborations with our future partners; however, there are no assurances that this strategy will be successful. We will expense the development and production of any compound that is created for use as part of collaborations with our future partners. A significant portion of our net inventory balance represents work-in-process related to two multi-year chemistry collaborations, for one of which we are not yet able to reasonably estimate the costs of partial shipments made under the contract. For this contract, we have deferred the recognition of revenue and cost of sales until all compounds expected to be delivered in a specific production batch have been shipped to allow us to more accurately calculate the costs. Estimated losses on any deliverables are recorded when they become apparent. As of December 31. 2002, we have reserved approximately $635,000 against the work-in-process representing the anticipated losses on the sale of chemical libraries.

Long-lived assets. We periodically assess the recoverability of our long-lived assets by determining whether the carrying value of such assets exceeds its fair value. If impairment is indicated, we reduce the carrying value of the asset to fair value. As of December 31, 2002 we determined that the carrying value of an intangible asset related to customer contracts recorded in connection with the SIDDCO acquisition was impaired. Accordingly, the asset was reduced by $173,000 to its fair value of zero.

 


25



Results of Operations

Revenue. Total revenue in 2002 increased by less than 1% to $41.3 million from $41.1 million in 2001 and $36.3 million in 2000. The increase from 2001 to 2002 resulted primarily from increases in chemistry services and exclusive compound supply revenue as well as revenues generated by the Xenometrix subsidiary (acquired in May 2001). These increases were offset by decreases in nonexclusive compound supply sales, legacy instrumentation system sales, consumable sales and screening revenues. In 2002, 41% of our revenue came from our combinatorial chemistry contract with Pfizer, and we anticipate that this contract will also provide for a high percentage of 2003 and 2004 revenue. However, Pfizer has the right to terminate the contract without cause by giving six months’ notice. It is imperative that we continue to satisfy this key customer.

The increase from 2000 to 2001 resulted from revenue generated by businesses we acquired during 2000 and 2001 including AAT (acquired in April 2000), SPI (acquired in May 2000), SIDDCO (acquired in January 2001) and Xenometrix (acquired in May 2001) and an increase in sales of our drug discovery collaborations and licenses. These increases were partially offset by a decline in revenue from NanoKan System sales. We were contractually prohibited from selling NanoKan Systems during the first three quarters of 2001, and have sold no NanoKan Systems thereafter.

Cost of revenues. Cost of revenues for 2002 includes a charge of $5.8 million related to provisions for discontinued products. During the three months ended June 30, 2002, we identified changes in the market for chemical compound libraries reflecting a shift in demand from purified highly diverse compound libraries toward purified targeted compound libraries. At the same time, we also believed we could generate higher value by leveraging these proprietary compound library assets through broader drug discovery collaborations. As a result, we made a decision to cease selling our inventoried chemical compounds on a stand-alone basis to third parties and, instead, make these compounds available only as part of collaborations with our future partners; however, there are no assurances that this strategy will be successful. Accordingly, we increased our inventory reserve by approximately $5.8 million to fully reserve for these chemical compound libraries and recorded this charge as an additional cost of revenue.

Additionally, the cost of revenues for 2002 includes a provision for contract losses estimated at approximately $1.5 million. The associated contracts obligate us to develop, produce and deliver non-exclusive compounds each quarter through the second quarter of 2003. The pricing of the compounds included in these contracts assumed that we would sell these compounds, under certain conditions, to multiple other customers. As a result of our decision to cease selling these compounds on a stand-alone basis, these additional sales will not be realized and thus a loss is anticipated for these existing contracts as the cost to produce exceeds the sales price. During 2002, we incurred a loss totaling $647,478 related to the sale of compounds under this contract and we have, therefore, reduced the contract loss accrual by such amount to $837,522.

Cost of revenues for 2001 includes a charge of $4.4 million of obsolete inventory reserves. During the third quarter of 2001, we experienced a shift in our mix of sales orders indicating a decrease in demand for certain of our inventoried chemical compound libraries, specifically large diversity libraries containing non-purified compounds. As a result of the changes in the marketplace, we assessed our ending inventory and increased our reserves for specifically identified obsolete inventory.

Gross margins. Gross margins (excluding the charge of $5.8 million for discontinued products and the $1.5 million anticipated contract loss accrual in 2002 and excluding the charge of $4.4 million for obsolete inventory in 2001) decreased to $13.1 million in 2002 from $20.7 million in 2001 and $17.9 million in 2000. Gross margin was 32% of revenues in 2002 (excluding the charge of $5.8 million for discontinued products and the $1.5 million anticipated contract loss accrual) compared to 50% in 2001 (excluding the charge of $4.4 million for obsolete inventory) and 49% in 2000. Gross margin as a percent of revenue decreased in 2002 primarily due to the impact of the Pfizer contract described below, lower screening and system volumes, and a loss on a separate fixed-price exclusive chemistry contract. In December of 2001 we entered into a multi-million dollar, multi-year contract with Pfizer. This collaboration requires significant development effort for which Pfizer is at risk. As a result, a significant amount of cost that has historically been classified as research and development has shifted to cost of revenues, thereby penalizing our gross margin percentage but correspondingly reducing our research and development expenses. Gross margin as a percent of revenue increased slightly in 2001 primarily due to the impact of NanoKan sales in 2000, which had a lower gross margin than our other product lines.

Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits, supplies and expensed development materials, and facilities costs including equipment depreciation. Research and development expenses were $6.2 million in 2002, compared to $13.0 million in 2001 and $8.9 million in 2000. Research and development expenses decreased from 2001 to 2002 primarily as a result of the shift of development expenses to cost of revenues associated with the Pfizer contract, as well as the decision to discontinue the development of chemical compounds to be sold out of inventory. Research and development expenses increased from 2000 to 2001 primarily as a result of the research and development efforts associated with the four businesses we acquired in 2000 and 2001. Research and development expenses as a percentage of revenues were 15% in 2002, 32% in 2001 and 25% in 2000.

 


26



Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits for sales, marketing and administrative personnel, advertising and promotional expenses, professional services, and facilities costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $12.3 million in 2002 from $11.0 million in 2001 and $8.4 million in 2000. The increase from 2001 to 2002 was due primarily to additional personnel hired and relocation costs associated with the recent appointments of the Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officers, and payments to a strategic consulting firm. The increase from 2000 to 2001 was due primarily to the addition of selling, general and administrative expenses associated with the businesses acquired in 2000 and 2001 and increases in corporate expenses associated with being a public company, including directors and officers liability insurance, accounting, legal and investor relations expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues were 30% in 2002, 27% in 2001 and 23% in 2000.

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets. In accordance with SFAS 142, we performed our annual impairment test as of October 1, 2002. This impairment test involved a two-step approach. The first step involved estimating the fair value of the Company and comparing it to the carrying value of recorded assets. Under SFAS No. 142, if the fair value of the Company’s identifiable reporting units is greater than the recorded assets for such reporting units, on a case by case basis, then the first test is passed and no further impairment testing is required. Due to a significant decline in the market capitalization of the Company and those of its peers between January 1, 2002 and October 1, 2002, the carrying value of the recorded assets exceeded the estimated fair value for each of the Company’s identifiable reporting units as of October 1, 2002. As a result of this potential indication of impairment, we performed the second step of impairment testing, which involved allocating the fair value to all of our assets and liabilities, including unrecorded intangible assets, in order to determine the deemed fair value, if any, of goodwill. Both impairment test steps required us to make significant assumptions and estimates, including the determination of the fair value of identifiable reporting units as well as the fair value of specific assets and liabilities. This process, which utilized a combination of discounted cash flow and market multiple approaches to determining fair market value, required us to estimate future cash flows and applicable discount rates. The analysis resulted in a $50.9 million goodwill impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2002, which represented the write-off of all goodwill existing on the books. In the event we make future acquisitions that result in goodwill being recorded, we will be required to perform this test, at a minimum, on an annual basis.

Despite the large impairment charges required by generally accepted accounting principles, we continue to have confidence that our future operating results will demonstrate the substantial value of our technologies and capabilities.

Similarly, as of December 31, 2002 the Company determined that the carrying value of an intangible asset related to customer contracts recorded in connection with the SIDDCO acquisition was impaired. Accordingly, the asset was reduced by $173,000 to its fair value of zero.

Stock-based compensation. During 1999 and 2000, we granted stock options with exercise prices that were less than the estimated fair value of the underlying shares of common stock on the date of grant. As a result, we have recorded deferred stock-based compensation to be amortized over the period that these options vest. The amortization of deferred stock-based compensation for 2002 was $623,000 compared to approximately $1.1 million for 2001 and $1.4 million for 2000. We anticipate deferred stock-based compensation for 2003 to be approximately $240,000.

Amortization of goodwill. We recognized no goodwill amortization expense during 2002 compared to approximately $5.8 million in goodwill amortization expense recognized during 2001. This decrease is due to the adoption of SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, effective January 1, 2002. SFAS No. 142 required that we cease the periodic amortization of goodwill and certain other intangibles resulting from acquisitions made before July 1, 2001.

In-process research and development. We incurred $9.0 million in expense in 2000 as a result of the write-off of in-process research and development acquired as part of the AAT acquisition. We did not incur any similar expense during 2002 or 2001.

Interest income, net of interest expense. We realized $2.0 million in net interest income in 2002, compared to net interest income of approximately $3.3 million in 2001 and $1.3 million in 2000. The decrease in net interest income in 2002 is primarily due to a decline in U.S. interest rates and a decrease in the average cash balance. The increase in net interest income in 2001 was due to an increase in the average cash balance and due to imputed interest expense of $1.2 million recorded in 2000 and equal to the fair value of warrants that were issued in connection with bridge notes.

Income taxes. At December 31, 2002, we had federal and California income tax net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $19.4 million and $15.8 million, respectively. The difference between the federal and California tax operating loss carryforwards is primarily attributable to the capitalization of research and development expenses and the percentage limitation on the carryover of net operating losses for California income tax purposes. The federal and California tax loss carryforwards will begin to expire in 2010 and 2005, respectively, unless previously utilized. We also have federal and California research tax credit carryforwards of approximately $2.2 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The federal research tax credit carryforwards will begin to expire in 2011 unless previously utilized. The California research tax credits will carryforward indefinitely. We have provided a 100% valuation allowance against the related deferred tax assets as realization of such tax benefits is uncertain.

 


27



Liquidity and Capital Resources

Since inception of the Company, we have funded our operations with $39.0 million of private equity financings and $94.7 million of net proceeds from our initial public offering in July 2000.

At December 31, 2002, cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled approximately $69.6 million, compared to $77.3 million at December 31, 2001 and $97.7 million at December 31, 2000.

In April 2002, we paid $2 million in prepaid royalties as required under our exclusive Micro Arrayed Compound Screening (µARCS) license agreement with Abbott Laboratories, which we carry on the balance sheet as other intangible assets. Expense will be recognized when royalties are earned. An additional payment of $2 million will be due in April 2003.

We currently anticipate investing approximately $4.0 million in 2003 for leasehold improvements and capital equipment necessary to support future revenue growth. Our actual future capital requirements will depend on a number of factors, including our success in increasing sales of both existing and new products and services, expenses associated with unforeseen litigation, regulatory changes, competition and technological developments, and potential future merger and acquisition activity.

On October 4, 2001, our Board of Directors authorized a Stock Repurchase Plan, authorizing us to repurchase up to 2,000,000 shares of common stock at no more than $3.50 per share. Through February 2003, we have purchased 150,000 shares for a total of $408,250 and we may continue to purchase additional shares in the future.

We believe we have sufficient cash resources to fund operations for at least the next twelve months through December 31, 2003.

We have entered into various agreements that obligate us to make future payments. The table below sets forth the contractual cash obligations that exist as of December 31, 2002:

 

 

 

Payments Due by Period

 

 

 


 

Contractual Obligations

 

Total

 

Less than 1 Year

 

1-3 Years

 

4-5 Years

 

After 5 Years

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Capital Lease Obligations

 

$

1,028,862

 

$

722,892

 

$

305,970

 

$

 

$

 

Operating Leases

 

13,120,730

 

2,577,397

 

7,851,556

 

2,691,777

 

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 

Total Contractual Cash Obligations

 

$

14,149,592

 

$

3,300,289

 

$

8,157,526

 

$

2,691,777

 

$

 

 

 



 



 



 



 



 


Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Statements Nos. 141 and 142 (SFAS 141 and SFAS 142), Business Combinations and Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, respectively. SFAS 141 replaces prior accounting standards and eliminates pooling-of-interests accounting prospectively. It also provides guidance on purchase accounting related to the recognition of intangible assets and accounting for negative goodwill. SFAS 142 changes the accounting for goodwill from an amortization method to an impairment write-off approach. Under SFAS 142, goodwill is tested annually and whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that goodwill might be impaired. SFAS 141 and SFAS 142 are effective for all business combinations completed after June 30, 2001. Additionally, effective January 1, 2002 amortization of goodwill recorded for business combinations consummated prior to July 1, 2001 ceased, and intangible assets acquired prior to July 1, 2001 that do not meet the criteria for separate recognition under SFAS 141 have been reclassified to goodwill.

On January 1, 2002, we adopted SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Upon adoption, we performed a transitional impairment test of our goodwill. Additionally, in accordance with SFAS No. 142, we performed our annual impairment test as of October 1, 2002. Each impairment test involved a two-step approach. The first step involved estimating the fair value of the Company and comparing it to the carrying value of recorded assets. Under SFAS No. 142, if the fair value of the Company’s identifiable reporting units is greater than the recorded assets for such reporting units, on a case by case basis, then the first test is passed and no further impairment testing is required. This initial impairment testing indicated no impairment existed as of January 1, 2002. Due to a significant decline in the market capitalization of the Company and those of its peers between January 1, 2002 and October 1, 2002, the carrying value of the recorded assets exceeded the estimated fair value for each of the Company’s identifiable reporting units as of October 1, 2002. As a result of this potential indication of impairment, we performed the second step of impairment testing, which involved allocating the fair value to all of our assets and liabilities, including unrecorded intangible assets, in order to determine the deemed fair value, if any, of goodwill. Both impairment test steps required us to make significant assumptions and estimates, including the determination of the fair value of identifiable reporting units as well as the fair value of specific assets and liabilities. This process, which utilized a combination of discounted cash flow and market multiple approaches to determining fair market value, required us to estimate future cash flows and applicable discount rates. The analysis resulted in a $50.9 million goodwill impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2002, which represented the write-off of all goodwill existing on the books. In the event we make future acquisitions that result in goodwill being recorded, we will be required to perform this test, at a minimum, on an annual basis.

 


28



The following pro forma information reconciles the net loss and loss per share reported for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 to adjusted net loss and loss per share which reflects the adoption as of January 1, 2002 of SFAS No. 142 and compares the adjusted information to the current year results:

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 


 


 


 

 

 

 

 

(Pro Forma)

 

(Pro Forma)

 

Reported net loss

 

$

(62,112,842

)

$

(11,148,230

)

$

(11,696,739

)

Goodwill and other intangible asset amortization

 

 

6,593,434

 

3,667,009

 

 

 


 


 


 

Adjusted net loss

 

$

(62,112,842

)

$

(4,554,796

)

$

(8,029,730

)

 

 



 



 



 

Basic and diluted loss per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported net loss

 

$

(2.55

)

$

(0.46

)

$

(0.89

)

Goodwill and other intangible asset amortization

 

 

0.27

 

0.28

 

 

 


 


 


 

Adjusted net loss per share

 

$

(2.55

)

$

(0.19

)

$

(0.61

)

 

 



 



 



 


In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, which addresses financial reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets and supersedes SFAS 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 APB No. 30, Reporting the Results of Operations for a disposal of a segment of a business. Adoption of SFAS No. 144, effective January 1, 2002, did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. The Company assesses potential impairments to its long-lived and intangible assets when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recovered. An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount of the long-lived and intangible asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The carrying amount of a long-lived and intangible asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. Any required impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of a long-lived and intangible asset exceeds its fair value and is recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the related asset and a charge to operating results. As of December 31, 2002 the Company determined that the carrying value of an intangible asset related to customer contracts recorded in connection with an acquisition was impaired. Accordingly, the asset was reduced by $173,000 to its fair value of zero.

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal. SFAS No. 146 addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and supersedes EITF Issue No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).” The principal difference between SFAS No. 146 and Issue 94-3 relates to the requirements under SFAS 146 for recognition of a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity. SFAS No. 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 No. 146 are effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002, with early application encouraged. We do not expect that the adoption of SFAS No. 146 will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123. This statement amends SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation to provide alternative methods of voluntarily transitioning to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. SFAS No. 148 also amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method used to account for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method on reported results. The disclosure provisions are effective for the year ended December 31, 2002. We have included the required disclosures in Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. We have not yet completed the final evaluation of the transitioning options presented by SFAS No. 148. However, during 2003, we expect to reach a determination of whether and, if so, when to change our existing accounting for stock-based compensation to the fair value method in accordance with the transition alternatives of SFAS No. 148.

 


29



Item 7A.         Market Risk

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Short-term investments. Our interest income is sensitive to changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates, particularly since a significant portion of our investments are and will be in short-term marketable securities, U.S. government securities and corporate bonds. Due to the nature and maturity of our short-term investments, we have concluded that there is no material market risk exposure to our principal. The average maturity of our investment portfolio is six months. A 1% change in interest rates would have an effect of approximately $338,000 on the value of our portfolio.

Foreign currency rate fluctuations. The functional currency for our Discovery Partners International AG (DPI AG) group is the Swiss franc. DPI AG accounts are translated from their local currency to the U.S. dollar using the current exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date for the balance sheet accounts, and using the average exchange rate during the period for revenues and expense accounts. The effects of translation for our DPI AG group are recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity (accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)). DPI AG conducts its business with customers in local currencies. Exchange gains and losses arising from these transactions are recorded using the actual exchange differences on the date the transaction is settled. We have not in the past taken any action to reduce our exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, such as options or futures contracts, with respect to transactions with DPI AG or transactions with our worldwide customers, but anticipate that we could begin to hedge against foreign exchange transaction gains and losses resulting from non-Swiss franc invoices issued to customers by DPI AG in the near future. A 10% change in the value of the Swiss franc relative to the U.S. dollar throughout 2002 would have resulted in a 1% change in revenue for the year ended December 31, 2002.

Inflation.  We do not believe that inflation has had a material impact on our business or operating results during the periods presented.

Item 8.            Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Our financial statements appear in a separate section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K beginning on page F-1.

Item 9.            Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

During our three most recent fiscal years and since then through today, we have not had a change in our independent auditors nor have there been any reportable disagreements between us and our independent auditors.

PART III

Item 10.          Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

The sections titled “Directors and Nominees”, “Board Meetings and Committees,” “Executive Officers” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” appearing in the definitive Proxy Statement which we will file related to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 15, 2003 are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 11.          Executive Compensation

The section titled “Executive Compensation and Other Information” appearing in the definitive Proxy Statement which we will file related to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 15, 2003 is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12.          Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The section titled “Principal Stockholders” appearing in the definitive Proxy Statement which we will file related to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 15, 2003 is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13.          Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

The section titled “Certain Transactions” appearing in the definitive Proxy Statement which we will file for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 15, 2003 is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14.          Statement on Disclosure Controls and Procedures

(a)       Evaluation of Controls and Procedures

Within 90 days before the filing of this report, our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Pigliucci, and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Kussman, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, Mr. Pigliucci and Mr. Kussman concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in causing material information to be collected, communicated and analyzed by management of the Company on a timely basis and to ensure that the quality and timeliness of the Company’s public disclosures comply with its SEC disclosure obligations.

 


30



(b)       Changes in internal controls

There were no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls after the date of our most recent evaluation.

PART IV

Item 15.          Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)(1) Financial Statements:

The following financial statements of Discovery Partners International, Inc. are included in a separate section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K commencing on the pages referenced below:

 

 

Page

 

 

Consolidated Financial Statements of Discovery Partners International, Inc

 

Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2002 and 2001

F-3

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

F-4

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

F-6

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

F-7


(2) Financial Statement Schedules:

All schedules have been omitted, since they are not applicable or not required, or the relevant information is included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto.

(3) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Title

 

Method of Filing

3.1

 

Certificate of Incorporation of the Company

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

3.2

 

Bylaws of the Company

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

4.2

 

Rights Agreement, dated as of February 13, 2003, between Discovery Partners International, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, which includes the form of Certificate of Designation for the Series A junior participating preferred stock as Exhibit A, the form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Series A Preferred Stock as Exhibit C

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

10.6

 

Services Agreement between us and Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dated April 28, 2000.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.7

 

First Amendment to Sublease between Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Axys Advanced Technologies, Inc., dated April 28, 2000.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 


31



 

Exhibit
Number

 

Title

 

Method of Filing

10.8

 

Compound Purchase Agreement between us and Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dated April 28, 2000.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.9

 

Standstill Agreement between us and Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc., dated April 28, 2000.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.18

 

Master Security Agreement between us and General Electric Capital Corporation, dated November 1, 1999, as amended.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.33 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.20

 

Standby Letter of Credit between us and Bank of America, dated February 3, 1999.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.21

 

Non-Exclusive Sublicense Agreement between us and Trega Biosciences, Inc., dated May 1, 1998.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.22

 

Patent License Agreement between us and Abbott Labs, Incorporated, dated January 2, 2001.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

10.23

 

Indemnification Agreement between us and Sokymat, S.A., dated April 19, 1999.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.32

 

Leasehold Contract between Basler Kantonalbank and Discovery Technologies, Ltd., dated June 18, 1997 (English version).

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.47 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.33

 

Leasehold Contract between Basler Kantonalbank and Discovery Technologies, Ltd., dated June 18, 1997 (German version).

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.48 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.35*

 

Key Employment Agreement between us and Riccardo Pigliucci, dated April 17, 1998.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.51 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.36*

 

1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan, as amended.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.52 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.37*

 

1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan, Form of Notice of Grant.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.53 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 


32



  

Exhibit
Number

 

Title

 

Method of Filing

10.38*

 

1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan, Form of Stock Option Agreement.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.54 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.39*

 

1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan, Form of Stock Purchase Agreement.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.55 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.40*

 

1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan, Form of Restricted Stock Issuance Agreement.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.56 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.41*

 

Axys Advanced Technologies, Inc. 1999 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.57 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.42*

 

Axys Advanced Technologies, Inc. 1999 Equity Incentive Plan, Form of Stock Option Agreement.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.58 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.43*

 

2000 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.59 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.44*

 

2000 Stock Incentive Plan, Form of Notice of Grant.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.44 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

10.45*

 

2000 Stock Incentive Plan, Form of Stock Option Agreement.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.45 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

10.46*

 

2000 Stock Incentive Plan, Form of Stock Issuance Agreement.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.46 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

10.47*

 

2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.60 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.48*

 

2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Form of Stock Purchase Agreement

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.48 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

10.49*

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement between us and each of our directors and officers.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.61 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.51

 

Leasehold Contract between Basler Kantonalbank and Discovery Partners Technologies, Ltd., dated January 31, 2000 (English version).

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.63 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 


33



 

Exhibit
Number

 

Title

 

Method of Filing

10.52 

 

Leasehold Contract between Basler Kantonalbank and Discovery Partners Technologies, Ltd., dated January 31, 2000 (German version).

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.64 to the Company’s Registration Statement No. 333-36638 on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.53 

 

Promissory Note issued by Jack Fitzpatrick, dated April 6, 2001.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.53 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 10, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

10.54 

 

Promissory Note issued by Richard Brown, dated April 6, 2001.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.54 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 10, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

10.55*

 

Offer letter between us and Craig Kussman, dated October 29, 2001

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.55 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

10.56†

 

Protocol Development and Compound Production Agreement between us and Pfizer Inc., dated December 19, 2001.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.56 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

10.57*

 

Offer letter between us and Taylor J. Crouch, dated June 18, 2002.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.57 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

10.58 

 

Promissory Note issued by Taylor J. Crouch, dated July 29, 2002.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.58 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

10.59†

 

Amendment No. 1 to the 2001 Agreement between us and Pfizer Inc. effective May 15, 2002.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.59 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

10.60†

 

Amendment No. 2 to the 2001 Agreement between us and Pfizer Inc. amended August 13, 2002.

 

Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 10.59 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

10.61*

 

Offer letter between us and Douglas A. Livingston, dated November 13, 2002

 

Filed Herewith

 

 

 

 

 

10.62†

 

Amendment No. 3 to the 2001 Agreement between us and Pfizer Inc. amended December 12, 2002.

 

Filed Herewith

 

 

 

 

 

10.63*

 

Amendment No. 1 to Notice of Grant of Stock Option between us and Craig Kussman, dated January 24, 2003

 

Filed Herewith

 

 

 

 

 

10.64*

 

General Release and Settlement Agreement between us and Arnold Hagler, dated December 31, 2002.

 

Filed Herewith

 

 

 

 

 

10.65*

 

Discovery Partners International, Inc. Consulting Agreement between us and Arnold Hagler, dated January 1, 2003

 

Filed Herewith

 

 

 

 

 

10.66

 

Stock Purchase Agreement between us and Arnold Hagler, dated December 31, 2002

 

Filed Herewith

 

 

 

 

 

10.67

 

Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement among us, Structural Proteomics, Richard Fine, Boris Klebansky and Arnold Hagler, dated November 2002

 

Filed Herewith

 


34



 

Exhibit
Number

 

Title

 

Method of Filing

10.68

 

Stock Purchase Agreement between us and Richard Fine, dated December 13, 2002

 

Filed Herewith

 

 

 

 

 

10.69

 

Stock Purchase Agreement between us and Boris Klebansky, dated December 13, 2002

 

Filed Herewith

 

 

 

 

 

21.1

 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant

 

Filed Herewith

 

 

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

 

Filed Herewith

 

 

 

 

 

99.1

 

Section 906 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer

 

Filed Herewith

 

 

 

 

 

99.2

 

Section 906 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer

 

Filed Herewith


______________

          Certain confidential portions of this Exhibit were omitted by means of redacting a portion of the text (the “Mark”). This Exhibit has been filed separately with the Secretary of the Commission without the Mark pursuant to the Company’s Application Requesting Confidential Treatment under Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

*          Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

(b)      Reports on Form 8-K

We did not file any reports on Form 8-K during the quarter ended December 31, 2002.

 


35



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

 

 

 

DISCOVERY PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.



 

By: 


/s/ RICCARDO PIGLIUCCI

 

 

 


 

 

 

Riccardo Pigliucci
President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: March 19, 2003

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ RICCARDO PIGLIUCCI

 

Chief Executive Officer
and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

 

March 19, 2003


Riccardo Pigliucci

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ CRAIG KUSSMAN

 

Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)

 

March 19, 2003


Craig Kussman

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ DIETER HOEHN

 

Director

 

March 19, 2003


Dieter Hoehn

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ JOHN WALKER

 

Director

 

March 19, 2003


John Walker

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ ALAN LEWIS

 

Director

 

March 19, 2003


Alan Lewis

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ HARRY HIXSON

 

Director

 

March 19, 2003


Harry Hixson

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ COLIN DOLLERY

 

Director

 

March 19, 2003


Colin Dollery

 

 

 

 

 

 


36



CERTIFICATIONS

I, Riccardo Pigliucci, certify that:

1.         I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Discovery Partners International, Inc.

2.         Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3.         Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.         The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

a.        designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

b.        evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

c.        presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.         The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.        all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b.        any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.         The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have indicated in this annual report whether there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

 

 

 

 

Date: March 19, 2003

 

 

/s/ Riccardo Pigliucci

 

 

 


 

 

 

Riccardo Pigliucci
Chief Executive Officer

 


37



I, Craig Kussman, certify that:

1.         I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Discovery Partners International, Inc.

2.         Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3.         Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.         The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

a.        designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

b.        evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

c.        presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.         The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a.        all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b.        any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.         The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

 

 

 

 

Date: March 19, 2003

 

 


/s/ Craig Kussman

 

 

 


 

 

 

Craig Kussman
Chief Financial Officer

 


38



DISCOVERY PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Page

Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2002 and 2001

F-3

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

F-4

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

F-7


 


F-1



REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Discovery Partners International, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Discovery Partners International, Inc. as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Discovery Partners International, Inc. at December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, Discovery Partners International, Inc. changed its method of accounting for purchased goodwill and other intangible assets in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 during the first quarter of fiscal 2002.

 

 

 

 



 

 


/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

 

 

 

ERNST & YOUNG LLP

San Diego, California
January 24, 2003

 


F-2



DISCOVERY PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

  

 

 

December 31,
2002

 

December 31,
2001

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

8,309,269

 

$

50,915,481

 

Short-term investments

 

61,326,678

 

26,349,756

 

Accounts receivable

 

9,816,462

 

10,143,648

 

Inventories

 

4,607,941

 

8,174,755

 

Other current assets

 

1,333,173

 

1,401,914

 

 

 


 


 

Total current assets

 

85,393,523

 

96,985,554

 

Restricted cash

 

930,598

 

861,352

 

Property and equipment, net

 

9,819,577

 

10,641,664

 

Goodwill, net

 

 

49,545,594

 

Patent, license rights and other intangible assets, net

 

7,219,564

 

7,772,763

 

Other assets, net

 

1,080,163

 

1,215,184

 

 

 


 


 

Total assets

 

$

104,443,425

 

$

167,022,111

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

$

2,377,117

 

$

2,409,872

 

Contract loss accrual

 

837,522

 

 

Accrued compensation

 

1,272,915

 

1,406,260

 

Current portion of obligations under capital leases and line of credit

 

722,892

 

738,170

 

Deferred revenue

 

2,290,566

 

3,880,817

 

 

 


 


 

Total current liabilities

 

7,501,012

 

8,435,119

 

Obligations under capital leases, less current portion

 

305,970

 

1,082,257

 

Deferred rent

 

104,940

 

95,300

 

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiary

 

 

367,881

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2002 and 2001

 

 

 

Common stock, $.001 par value, 99,000,000 shares authorized, 24,371,131 and 24,262,181 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively

 

 

 

24,371

 

 

 

24,262

 

Treasury stock, at cost, 35,000 shares

 

(119,250

)

(119,250

)

Additional paid-in capital

 

200,691,363

 

200,533,917

 

Deferred compensation

 

(260,226

)

(882,964

)

Note receivable from stockholder

 

 

(240,000

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

885,485

 

302,987

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(104,690,240

)

(42,577,398

)

 

 


 


 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

96,531,503

 

157,041,554

 

 

 


 


 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

104,443,425

 

$

167,022,111

 

 

 



 



 


See accompanying notes.

 


F-3



DISCOVERY PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 


 


 


 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales to third parties

 

$

40,948,623

 

$

39,827,412

 

$

33,898,886

 

Sales to Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc

 

366,425

 

1,306,456

 

2,364,764

 

 

 


 


 


 

Total revenues

 

41,315,048

 

41,133,868

 

36,263,650

 

Cost of revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues before additional charges

 

28,221,378

 

20,459,573

 

18,342,688

 

Additional charges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for discontinued products and obsolete inventory

 

5,781,262

 

4,396,795

 

 

Anticipated contract loss

 

1,485,000

 

 

 

 

 


 


 


 

Gross margin

 

5,827,408

 

16,277,500

 

17,920,962

 

Cost and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research and development

 

6,222,383

 

12,981,819

 

8,934,059

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

12,270,705

 

11,018,841

 

8,413,848

 

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets

 

51,090,984

 

 

 

Amortization of stock-based compensation

 

622,738

 

1,074,277

 

1,375,839

 

Amortization of goodwill

 

 

5,848,573

 

3,379,009

 

Write-off of in-process research and development

 

 

 

9,000,000

 

 

 


 


 


 

Total operating expenses

 

70,206,810

 

30,923,510

 

31,102,755

 

 

 


 


 


 

Loss from operations

 

(64,379,402

)

(14,646,010

)

(13,181,793

)

Interest income

 

2,181,614

 

3,531,104

 

2,776,620

 

Interest expense

 

(144,470

)

(279,580

)

(1,529,578

)

Foreign currency transaction gains (losses), net

 

(102,324

)

(14,246

)

133,062

 

Other expense

 

(36,141

)

 

 

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiary

 

367,881

 

260,502

 

104,950

 

 

 


 


 


 

Net loss

 

$

(62,112,842

)

$

(11,148,230

)

$

(11,696,739

)

 

 



 



 



 

Net loss per share, basic and diluted

 

$

(2.55

)

$

(0.46

)

$

(0.89

)

 

 



 



 



 

Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted

 

24,314,891

 

24,015,865

 

13,176,576

 

 

 


 


 


 

The composition of stock-based compensation is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues

 

$

9,007

 

$

15,493

 

$

17,992

 

Research and development

 

263,304

 

453,161

 

575,914

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

350,427

 

605,623

 

781,933

 

 

 


 


 


 

 

 

$

622,738

 

$

1,074,277

 

$

1,375,839

 

 

 



 



 



 


See accompanying notes.

 


F-4



DISCOVERY PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

Treasury Stock

 

Additional Paid
in Capital

 

Deferred
Compensation

 

Notes Receivable
from
Stockholder

 

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (loss)

 

Accumulated
Deficit

 

Total
Stockholders’
Equity (deficit)

 



Shares

 

Amount

Shares

 

Amount

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Balance at December 31, 1999

 

 

1,611,763

 

$

1,612

 

 

 

$

1,399,376

 

$

(642,282

)

$

(240,000

)

$

(55,448

)

$

(19,732,429

)

$

(19,269,171

)

Common stock issued for acquisitions

 

7,579,641

 

7,580

 

 

 

60,151,916

 

 

 

 

 

60,159,496

 

Common stock issued through IPO

 

5,750,000

 

5,750

 

 

 

94,588,039

 

 

 

 

 

94,593,789

 

Exercise of options and warrants to purchase common stock

 

973,421

 

973

 

 

 

343,373

 

 

 

 

 

344,346

 

Issuance of warrants to purchase common stock

 

 

 

 

 

1,915,766

 

 

 

 

 

1,915,766

 

Conversion of preferred into common stock

 

8,016,412

 

8,016

 

 

 

39,020,526

 

 

 

 

 

39,028,542

 

Deferred Compensation related to stock options and restricted stock

 

 

 

 

 

2,724,672

 

(2,724,672

)

 

 

 

 

Amortization of deferred compensation and other non-cash compensation charges

 

 

 

 

 

41,261

 

1,334,576

 

 

 

 

1,375,837

 

Comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

110,351

 

 

110,351

 

Net Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(11,696,739

)

(11,696,739

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(11,586,388

)

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Balance at December 31, 2000

 

23,931,237

 

23,931

 

 

 

200,184,929

 

(2,032,378

)

(240,000

)

54,903

 

(31,429,168

)

166,562,217

 

Exercise of options to purchase common stock

 

330,944

 

331

 

 

 

424,125

 

 

 

 

 

424,456

 

Amortization of deferred compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,074,277

 

 

 

 

1,074,277

 

Stock option forfeitures

 

 

 

 

 

(75,137

)

75,137

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase of company stock

 

 

 

(35,000

)

(119,250

)

 

 

 

 

 

(119,250

)

Comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(207,657

)

 

(207,657

)

Unrealized gain (loss) on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

455,741

 

 

455,741

 

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(11,148,230

)

(11,148,230

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10,900,146

)

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Balance at December 31, 2001

 

 

24,262,181

 

 

24,262

 

(35,000

)

 

(119,250

)

 

200,533,917

 

 

(882,964

)

 

(240,000

)

 

302,987

 

 

(42,577,398

)

 

157,041,554

 

Exercise of options to purchase common stock

 

108,950

 

109

 

 

 

157,446

 

 

 

 

 

157,555

 

Amortization of deferred compensation

 

 

 

 

 

 

622,738

 

 

 

 

622,738

 

Payment of note receivable from stockholder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

240,000

 

 

 

240,000

 

Comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

694,714

 

 

694,714

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(112,216

)

 

(112,216

)

Net loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(62,112,842

)

(62,112,842

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(61,530,344

)

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Balance at December 31, 2002

 

$

24,371,131

 

$

24,371

 

(35,000

)

$

(119,250

)

$

200,691,363

 

$

(260,226

)

$

 

$

885,485

 

$

(104,690,240

)

$

96,531,503

 

 

 



 



 


 



 



 



 



 



 



 



 


See accompanying notes.


F-5



DISCOVERY PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

  

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 


 


 


 

Operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(62,112,842

)

$

(11,148,230

)

$

(11,696,739

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

5,325,851

 

5,673,283

 

3,691,731

 

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets

 

51,090,984

 

 

 

Amortization of deferred compensation

 

622,738

 

1,074,277

 

1,375,839

 

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiary

 

(367,881

)

(260,502

)

(104,950

)

Loss on obsolete inventory

 

5,781,262

 

4,612,141

 

889,679

 

Anticipated contract loss

 

1,485,000

 

 

 

Amortization of goodwill

 

 

5,848,573

 

3,379,009

 

Non-cash interest expense for warrants issued

 

 

 

1,243,847

 

Write-off of in-process research and development

 

 

 

9,000,000

 

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

796,640

 

(379,835

)

(4,804,972

)

Inventories

 

(2,213,657

)

(4,019,982

)

(2,305,238

)

Other current assets

 

93,582

 

371,789

 

(1,373,796

)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

(271,071

)

(2,505,568

)

481,058

 

Contract loss accrual

 

(647,478

)

 

 

Deferred revenue

 

(1,718,118

)

(953,898

)

2,309,449

 

Deferred rent

 

9,640

 

20,717

 

22,677

 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents and other assets

 

(9,190

)

138,648

 

1,252,200

 

 

 


 


 


 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

(2,134,540

)

(1,528,587

)

3,359,794

 

Investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(2,710,281

)

(3,763,784

)

(4,067,670

)

Deposits and other assets

 

252,984

 

1,035,744

 

(2,670,883

)

Purchase of patents, license rights and other intangible assets

 

(2,211,621

)

(2,126,778

)

(143,673

)

Additional cash consideration for acquisition of Discovery Technologies

 

 

(894,300

)

(1,721,775

)

Purchases of short-term investments

 

(54,103,167

)

(27,892,235

)

 

Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments

 

19,126,245

 

1,998,220

 

 

Purchase of Systems Integration Drug Discovery Company, Inc., net of cash acquired

 

 

 

 

(12,011,297

)

 

 

Purchase of Xenometrix, Inc., net of cash acquired

 

 

(1,795,077

)

 

Purchase of Axys Advanced Technologies, Inc

 

 

 

(600,334

)

 

 


 


 


 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(39,645,840

)

(45,449,507

)

(9,204,335

)

Financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from equipment lease and line of credit

 

250,284

 

969,257

 

1,484,859

 

Principal payments on capital leases, equipment notes payable, line of credit, and promissory notes

 

 

(1,258,076

)

 

(797,006

)

 

(2,974,674

)

Repayment of note receivable from stockholder

 

240,000

 

 

 

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock

 

157,555

 

424,456

 

94,938,135

 

Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock

 

 

 

5,004,801

 

Purchase of treasury stock

 

 

(119,250

)

 

Proceeds from convertible notes payable

 

 

 

2,000,000

 

 

 


 


 


 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

(610,237

)

477,457

 

100,453,121

 

Effect of exchange rate changes

 

(215,595

)

(274,118

)

197,017

 

 

 


 


 


 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(42,606,212

)

(46,774,755

)

94,805,597

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

50,915,481

 

97,690,236

 

2,884,639

 

 

 


 


 


 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

$

8,309,269

 

$

50,915,481

 

$

97,690,236

 

 

 



 



 



 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

156,616

 

$

166,354

 

$

285,731

 

 

 



 



 



 

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of assets acquired

 

$

 

$

17,726,858

 

$

 

Cash paid for capital stock

 

 

(15,002,448

)

 

 

 


 


 


 

Liabilities assumed

 

$

 

$

2,724,410

 

$

 

 

 



 



 



 

Issuance of warrant to purchase preferred stock

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,105,767

 

 

 



 



 



 

Deferred acquisition payment for Discovery Technologies

 

$

 

$

 

$

931,335

 

 

 



 



 



 


See accompanying notes.

 


F-6



DISCOVERY PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in $, except where noted)

1.         Organization and Basis of Presentation

Organization and Business

Discovery Partners International, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in California on March 22, 1995, under the name IRORI. The Company develops and offers libraries of drug-like compounds, proprietary instruments, consumable supplies, drug discovery services, computational tools to generate compound libraries, and testing and screening services to optimize potential drugs. Additionally, the Company licenses proprietary gene profiling systems. In 1998, the Company changed its name to Discovery Partners International, Inc. In July 2000, the Company reincorporated in Delaware.

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include all the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, IRORI Europe, Ltd., Discovery Partners International AG (DPI AG), ChemRx Advanced Technologies, Inc., Systems Integration Drug Discovery Company, Inc., Xenometrix, Inc. and Structural Proteomics, Inc. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

2.         Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassification

Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the 2002 presentation.

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a remaining maturity of less than three months when purchased to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2002 and 2001, the cost of cash equivalents was the same as the market value. Accordingly, there were no unrealized gains and losses. The Company evaluates the financial strength of institutions at which significant investments are made and believes the related credit risk is limited to an acceptable level.

Investments

The Company applies SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, to its investments. Under SFAS No. 115, the Company classifies its investments as “Available-for-Sale” and records such assets at estimated fair value in the balance sheet, with unrealized gains and losses, if any, reported in stockholders’ equity. The Company invests its excess cash balances in marketable debt securities, primarily government securities and corporate bonds and notes, with strong credit ratings. The Company limits the amount of investment exposure as to institutions, maturity and investment type. The cost of securities sold is determined based on the specific identification method.

At December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, short-term investments consist of the following:

 

  

 

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

 


 

 

 

Amortized Cost

 

Market Value

 

Unrealized
Gain

 

 

 


 


 


 

U.S. Government Securities

 

$

15,754,045

 

$

15,888,285

 

$

134,240

 

Corporate Securities

 

45,229,108

 

45,438,393

 

209,285

 

 

 


 


 


 

Total

 

$

60,983,153

 

$

61,326,678

 

$

343,525

 

 

 



 



 



 


 


F-7



  

 

 

December 31, 2001

 

 

 


 

 

 

Amortized Cost

 

Market Value

 

Unrealized
Gain/(Loss)

 

 

 


 


 


 

U.S. Government Securities

 

$

7,081,932

 

$

7,193,130

 

$

111,198

 

Corporate Securities

 

18,812,083

 

19,156,626

 

344,543

 

 

 


 


 


 

Total

 

$

25,894,015

 

$

26,349,756

 

$

455,741

 

 

 



 



 



 


Investment maturities at December 31, 2002 are as follows:

  

 

 

Market Value

 

 

 


 

Within one year

 

$

50,198,874

 

After one year through two years

 

11,127,804

 

 

 


 

Total

 

$

61,326,678

 

 

 



 


The Company had realized gains on the sale of investments totaling approximately $28,000 and $86,000 in 2002 and 2001, respectively.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

An allowance for doubtful accounts is established using the specific identification method.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Statements Nos. 141 and 142 (SFAS No. 141 and SFAS No. 142), Business Combinations and Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. SFAS No. 141 replaces prior accounting standards and eliminates pooling-of-interests accounting prospectively. It also provides guidance on purchase accounting related to the recognition of intangible assets and accounting for negative goodwill. SFAS No. 142 changes the accounting for goodwill from an amortization method to an impairment write-off approach. Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill is tested annually and whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that goodwill might be impaired. SFAS No. 141 and SFAS No. 142 are effective for all business combinations completed after June 30, 2001. The Company adopted SFAS No. 142 as of January 1, 2002. Upon adoption, management performed a transitional impairment test of goodwill. Additionally, in accordance with SFAS No. 142, management performed its annual impairment test as of October 1, 2002. Each impairment test involved a two-step approach. The first step involved estimating the fair value of the Company and comparing it to the carrying value of recorded assets. Under SFAS No. 142, if the fair value of the Company’s identifiable reporting units is greater than the recorded assets for such reporting units, on a case by case basis, then the first test is passed and no further impairment testing is required. This initial impairment testing indicated no impairment existed as of January 1, 2002. Due to a significant decline in the market capitalization of the Company and those of its peers between January 1, 2002 and October 1, 2002, the carrying value of the recorded assets exceeded the estimated fair value for each of the Company’s identifiable reporting units as of October 1, 2002. As a result of this potential indication of impairment, management performed the second step of impairment testing, which involved allocating the fair value to all of the Company’s assets and liabilities, including unrecorded intangible assets, in order to determine the deemed fair value, if any, of goodwill. Both impairment test steps required management to make significant assumptions and estimates, including the determination of the fair value of identifiable reporting units as well as the fair value of specific assets and liabilities. This process, which utilized a combination of discounted cash flow and market multiple approaches to determining fair market value, required management to estimate future cash flows and applicable discount rates. The analysis resulted in a $50.9 million goodwill impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2002, which represented the write-off of all goodwill existing on the books. In the event the Company makes future acquisitions that result in goodwill being recorded, management will be required to perform this test, at a minimum, on an annual basis.

The following pro forma information reconciles the net loss and loss per share reported for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 to adjusted net loss and loss per share which reflects the adoption of SFAS 142 and compares the adjusted information to the current year results:

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 


 


 


 

 

 

 

 

(Pro Forma)

 

(Pro Forma)

 

Reported net loss

 

$

(62,112,842

)

$

(11,148,230

)

$

(11,696,739

)

Goodwill and other intangible asset amortization

 

 

6,593,434

 

3,667,009

 

 

 


 


 


 

Adjusted net loss

 

$

(62,112,842

)

$

(4,554,796

)

$

(8,029,730

)

 

 



 



 



 

Basic and diluted loss per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported net loss

 

$

(2.55

)

$

(0.46

)

$

(0.89

)

Goodwill and other intangible asset amortization

 

 

0.27

 

0.28

 

 

 


 


 


 

Adjusted net loss per share

 

$

(2.55

)

$

(0.19

)

$

(0.61

)

 

 



 



 



 


 


F-8



Long-Lived Assets

The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets effective January 1, 2002. The adoption of this accounting standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s operating results and financial position. The Company assesses potential impairments to its long-lived and intangible assets when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recovered. An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount of the long-lived and intangible asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The carrying amount of a long-lived and intangible asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. Any required impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of a long-lived and intangible asset exceeds its fair value and is recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the related asset and a charge to operating results. As of December 31, 2002 the Company determined that the carrying value of an intangible asset related to customer contracts recorded in connection with an acquisition was impaired. Accordingly, the asset was reduced by $173,000 to its fair value of zero.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, are carried at cost, which management believes approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments.

Inventories

Inventories are recorded at the lower of weighted average cost (approximates first-in first-out) or market. Inventories consist of the following:

  

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 


 


 

Raw materials

 

$

1,119,688

 

$

1,304,113

 

Work-in process

 

3,735,508

 

848,664

 

Finished goods

 

18,552,432

 

17,441,612

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

23,407,628

 

19,594,389

 

Less reserves

 

(18,799,687

)

(11,419,634

)

 

 


 


 

  

 

$

4,607,941

 

$

8,174,755

 

 

 



 



 


Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consists of the following:

  

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 


 


 

Furniture and equipment

 

$

19,255,033

 

$

17,493,229

 

Software

 

2,038,329

 

1,275,216

 

Leasehold improvements

 

5,436,860

 

5,543,479

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

26,730,222

 

24,311,924

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

(16,910,645

)

(13,670,260

)

 

 


 


 

  

 

$

9,819,577

 

$

10,641,664

 

 

 



 



 


Property and equipment, including equipment under capital leases and equipment notes payable, are stated at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets (three to seven years) or the term of the related lease, using the straight-line method. Amortization of assets acquired under capital leases is included in depreciation expense.

Patents and License Rights

The Company has purchased patents and license rights for the labeling of chemical libraries and related to products for sale and for use in Company sponsored research and development projects. The purchased patents and license rights are amortized ratably over a period of ten years which is the expected useful life of the technology.

At December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, accumulated amortization of patents, license rights and other intangible assets was $2,077,233 and $2,576,714.

 


F-9



Other Assets

Other assets consist of chemical compounds purchased by DPI AG for its screening services. The compounds are stated at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets (three to five years) using the straight-line method.

Revenue Recognition

Product Sales. Revenue from product sales, which include the sale of instruments, related consumables, and chemical compounds, is recorded as products are shipped if the costs of such shipments can be reasonably estimated and if all customer’s acceptance criteria have been met. Currently, the Company is delivering compounds pursuant to a significant fixed-price multi-year contract. Compounds are shipped to this customer as soon as they have met acceptance criteria even if this results in partial shipment of a production batch. As of December 31, 2002, the Company did not have sufficient historical production yield experience to estimate the costs of these partial shipments; therefore, the Company has deferred the recognition of revenue and cost of sales until all compounds in a specific production batch have been shipped to allow the Company to more accurately calculate the costs. Certain of the Company’s contracts for product sales include customer acceptance provisions that give customers the right of replacement if the delivered product does not meet specified criteria; however, the Company has historically demonstrated that the products meet the specified criteria and the number of customers exercising their right of replacement has been insignificant. From time to time the Company receives requests from customers to bill and hold goods for them. In these cases, the customer accepts the risk of loss and the transfer of ownership of such goods prior to shipment. If the specific revenue recognition criteria under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States at the time of the bill and hold are met, the revenue is recognized.

Development and screening services.  Development contract revenues and high-throughput screening service revenues are recognized on a percentage of completion basis. Advances received under these development contracts and high-throughput screening service agreements are initially recorded as deferred revenue, which is then recognized as costs are incurred over the term of the contract. Certain of these contracts may allow the customer the right to reject acceptance of work performed; however, the Company has no material history of such rejections.

FTE services. Revenue from drug discovery and chemistry service agreements is recognized on a monthly basis and is based upon the number of full time equivalent (FTE) employees that actually worked on each agreement and the agreed-upon rate per FTE per month.

Licensing revenue. Revenue due to the Company under the Xenometrix patent licensing agreements is recognized upon receipt of monies, provided the Company has no future obligation with respect to such payments.

Research and Development Costs

Costs incurred in connection with research and development are charged to operations as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

As permitted by SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, the Company accounts for common stock options granted to employees and founders and directors using the intrinsic value method and, thus, recognizes no compensation expense for such stock-based awards where the exercise prices are equal to or greater than the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. The Company has recorded deferred stock compensation related to certain stock options which were granted with exercise prices below estimated fair value (see Note 7), which is being amortized on an accelerated amortization methodology.

Deferred compensation for options granted and restricted stock sold to consultants has been determined in accordance with SFAS No. 123 and EITF 96-18 as the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measured. Deferred charges for options granted and restricted stock sold to consultants are periodically re-measured until the underlying options vest.

Comprehensive Loss

SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income, requires the Company to report in the consolidated financial statements, in addition to net income, comprehensive income (loss) and its components including foreign currency items and unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities. For the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002, the Company has disclosed comprehensive loss in its consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity. The accumulated balances for each item included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is as follows:

 


F-10



  

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 


 


 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

$

541,960

 

$

(152,754

)

Unrealized gain on investments

 

343,525

 

455,741

 

 

 


 


 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

$

885,485

 

$

302,987

 

 

 



 



 


Net Loss Per Share

Basic and diluted net loss per common share are presented in conformity with SFAS No. 128, Earnings per Share. In accordance with SFAS No. 128, basic and diluted net loss per share has been computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, less shares subject to repurchase. The Company has also excluded the as converted or as exercised effects of convertible preferred stock, outstanding stock options and warrants from the calculation of diluted net loss per common share because all such securities are anti-dilutive for all applicable periods presented. The weighted average number of shares excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share for outstanding convertible preferred stock was 4,374,471 in 2000. The total number of shares issuable upon exercise of stock options and warrants excluded from the calculations of diluted net loss per share for options and warrants were 1,446,534, 609,632 and 1,292,362 in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Had the effect of such securities been dilutive, they would have been included in the computation of diluted net loss per share using the treasury stock method.

Segment Reporting

The Company has determined that it operates in only one segment.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. The Company believes it has reduced its exposure to credit loss to an acceptably low level by placing its cash, cash equivalents and investments with financial institutions and corporations that are believed to be of high credit quality and by limiting its exposure to any single investment.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, which addresses financial reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets and supersedes SFAS 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 APB No. 30, Reporting the Results of Operations for a disposal of a segment of a business. Adoption of SFAS No. 144, effective January 1, 2002, did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. The Company assesses potential impairments to its long-lived and intangible assets when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recovered. An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount of the long-lived and intangible asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The carrying amount of a long-lived and intangible asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. Any required impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of a long-lived and intangible asset exceeds its fair value and is recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the related asset and a charge to operating results. As of December 31, 2002 the Company determined that the carrying value of an intangible asset related to customer contracts recorded in connection with an acquisition was impaired. Accordingly, the asset was reduced by $173,000 to its fair value of zero.

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal. SFAS No. 146 addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and supersedes EITF Issue No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).” The principal difference between SFAS No. 146 and Issue 94-3 relates to the requirements under SFAS No. 146 for recognition of a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity. SFAS No. 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 No. 146 are effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002, with early application encouraged. We do not expect that the adoption of SFAS No. 146 will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 


F-11



In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123. This statement amends SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation to provide alternative methods of voluntarily transitioning to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. SFAS No. 148 also amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require disclosure of the method used to account for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method on reported results in both annual and interim financial statements. The disclosure provisions are effective for the year ended December 31, 2002. The Company has not yet completed the final evaluation of the transitioning options presented by SFAS No. 148. However, during 2003, we expect to reach a determination of whether and, if so, when to change our existing accounting for stock-based compensation to the fair value method in accordance with the transition alternatives of SFAS No. 148.

Foreign Currency Translation

The financial statements of IRORI Europe, Ltd. are measured using the U.S. dollar as the functional currency. Effective December 2001, the operations of IRORI Europe, Ltd. were consolidated into DPI AG. The financial statements of DPI AG are measured using the local currency, the Swiss Franc, as the functional currency. Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities of the Company are translated at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet date, while income and expense items are translated at the average rate of exchange during the reporting period. The resulting foreign currency gains (losses) for IRORI Europe, Ltd. are included in the consolidated statement of operations. The resulting translation adjustments for DPI AG are unrealized and included as a separate component of other comprehensive income (loss). Transactions denominated in currencies other than the local currency are recorded based on exchange rates at the time such transactions arise. Subsequent changes in exchange rates result in transaction gains and losses, which are reflected in income as unrealized (based on period-end translations) or realized upon settlement of these transactions.

3.         Acquisitions

Systems Integration Drug Discovery Company, Inc.

On January 12, 2001, the Company acquired Systems Integration Drug Discovery Company, Inc. (SIDDCO), a privately held company located in Tucson, Arizona, for approximately $12.5 million. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase in accordance with the provisions of APB No. 16, Business Combinations.

A summary of the SIDDCO acquisition costs and allocation to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is as follows:

  

Total acquisition costs:

 

 

 

Cash paid at acquisition

 

$

12,082,171

 

Acquisition-related expenses

 

440,293

 

 

 


 

 

 

$

12,522,464

 

 

 



 

Allocated to assets and liabilities as follows:

 

 

 

Tangible assets acquired

 

$

2,226,786

 

Assumed liabilities

 

(1,801,245

)

Assembled workforce

 

731,234

 

Customer contracts

 

689,000

 

Goodwill

 

10,676,689

 

 

 


 

 

 

$

12,522,464

 

 

 



 


As disclosed in Note 2, the goodwill (including assembled workforce) and the customer contracts intangible asset have been written-off as of December 31, 2002.

The pro forma results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 as if the acquisition of SIDDCO had occurred on January 1, 2000 are not materially different than the reported net loss.

Xenometrix

On May 8, 2001, the Company acquired Xenometrix, Inc. (Xenometrix), a publicly held company located in Boulder, Colorado, for approximately $2.5 million. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase in accordance with the provisions of APB No. 16.

A summary of the Xenometrix acquisition costs and allocation to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is as follows:

  

Total acquisition costs:

 

 

 

Cash paid at acquisition

 

$

2,321,416

 

Acquisition-related expenses

 

158,568

 

 

 


 

 

 

$

2,479,984

 

 

 



 

Allocated to assets and liabilities as follows:

 

 

 

Tangible assets acquired

 

$

960,154

 

Assumed liabilities

 

(923,165

)

Patents and license rights

 

2,442,995

 

 

 


 

  

 

$

2,479,984

 

 

 



 


 


F-12



The patents and license rights are being amortized over 10 years from the date of acquisition. The pro forma results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 as if the acquisition of Xenometrix had occurred on January 1, 2000 are not materially different than the reported net loss.

Axys Advanced Technologies, Inc.

On April 28, 2000, the Company acquired Axys Advanced Technologies, Inc. (“AAT”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was subsequently acquired by the Celera Genomics business unit of Applera Corporation). The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase in accordance with the provisions of APB No. 16.

The Company obtained a report from Houlihan Valuation Advisors, an independent valuation firm, and performed other procedures necessary to complete the purchase price allocation.

A summary of the AAT acquisition costs and allocation to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is as follows:

 

Total acquisition costs:

 

 

 

Cash paid at acquisition

 

$

50,000

 

Issuance of promissory note

 

550,334

 

Issuance of common stock, warrant and stock options

 

59,769,495

 

Acquisition related expenses

 

345,099

 

 

 


 

 

 

$

60,714,928

 

 

 



 

Allocated to assets and liabilities as follows:

 

 

 

Tangible assets acquired

 

$

12,252,068

 

Assumed liabilities

 

(2,581,167

)

In-process research and development

 

9,000,000

 

Assembled workforce

 

1,344,067

 

Below market value lease

 

1,221,105

 

Goodwill

 

39,478,855

 

 

 


 

 

 

$

60,714,928

 

 

 



 


The below market lease intangible asset is being amortized on a straight-line basis over four years from the date of acquisition.

As disclosed in Note 2, the goodwill (including assembled workforce) has been written-off as of December 31, 2002.

The valuation of the in-process research and development was determined based on a discounted cash flow analysis of projected future earnings for each project in development. The revenue stream from each research and development project was estimated based upon its stage of completion as of the acquisition date. The discount rates used for the analysis were adjusted based on the stage of completion to give effect to uncertainties in meeting the projected cash flows. The discount rates used ranged from 20% to 40%. The Company wrote-off all the in-process research and development in 2000.

Assuming that the acquisition of AAT had occurred on the first day of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, pro forma condensed consolidated financial information would be as follows:

 

  

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2000

 

1999

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

Revenues

 

$

41,334,000

 

$

27,050,000

 

Net loss

 

(3,543,000

)

(4,170,000

)

Net loss per share, basic and diluted

 

$

(0.27

)

$

(3.71

)


This pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of the actual results that would have been achieved had AAT been acquired the first day of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, nor is it necessarily indicative of future results. The above pro forma condensed consolidated information does not include the $9.0 million ($0.68 per share) write-off of in-process research and development that occurred in the Company’s accounting for its acquisition of AAT in 2000.

4.         Debt

At December 31, 2002, obligations under equipment notes totaled $1,000,528 (see Note 5) and were payable in monthly installments through the year 2005 with a weighted-average interest rate of 7.39% and were secured by assets of the Company.

 


F-13



5.         Commitments

 

Leases

The Company leases certain buildings and equipment under operating and capital leases, which expire at varying dates through January 2008. The operating lease related to the Company’s corporate headquarters allows the company to renew for two additional five-year periods. Rent expense was $2,265,926, $1,909,075 and $908,036 for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

Annual future minimum lease obligations under the Company’s operating and capital leases as of December 31, 2002 are as follows:

 

 

Operating
Leases

 

Equipment
Notes
Payable and
Capital Leases

 

 

 


 


 

2003

 

$     2,577,397

 

$          705,668

 

2004

 

2,839,779

 

335,413

 

2005

 

2,724,352

 

15,545

 

2006

 

2,287,425

 

 

2007

 

1,399,243

 

 

Thereafter

 

1,292,534

 

 

 

 


 


 

Total minimum lease payments

 

$   13,120,730

 

1,056,626

 

 

 


 

 

 

Less amount representing interest

 

 

 

(56,098

)

 

 

 

 


 

Total present value of minimum payments

 

 

 

1,000,528

 

Less current portion

 

 

 

(694,558

)

 

 

 

 


 

Non-current portion

 

 

 

$          305,970

 

 

 

 

 


 


At December 31, 2002, cost and accumulated amortization of property and equipment under capital leases was $3,500,757 and $1,954,502, respectively. At December 31, 2001, cost and accumulated amortization of property and equipment under capital leases was $3,427,221 and $1,074,500, respectively.

Restricted Cash

The Company has restricted cash of $931,000 and $861,000 as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, collateralizing obligations under lease and line of credit agreements.

6.         Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock

In April 2000, the Company issued 1,392,503 shares of redeemable convertible Series E preferred stock at $8.00 per share in exchange for the conversion of $6.0 million in notes payable to shareholders and $5.0 million in cash. All of the shares of redeemable convertible Series A, B, C, D and E preferred stock were converted into common stock upon the completion of the Company’s initial public offering on July 27, 2000.

7.         Stockholders’ Equity

Common Stock

On July 27, 2000, the Company sold 5,000,000 shares of common stock at $18.00 per share through an Initial Public Offering. On August 27, 2000, the underwriters exercised their option to acquire an additional 750,000 shares, also at $18.00 per share.

On October 4, 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a Stock Repurchase Plan, whereby the Company was authorized to repurchase up to 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at no more than $3.50 per share. In October 2001, the Company purchased 35,000 shares of its common stock for a total of $119,250 pursuant to its Stock Repurchase Plan. In February 2003, an additional 115,000 shares were purchased for a total of $289,000.

Stock Options

In November 1995, the Company adopted the 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan, under which 2,350,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance of stock and stock options granted by the Company. In July 2000, the Company adopted the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) as the successor plan to the 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan. 3,300,000 shares of common stock were reserved under the Plan, including shares rolled over from its 1995 Plan. The Plan provides for the grant of incentive and nonstatutory options. The exercise price of incentive stock options must equal at least the fair value on the date of grant, and the exercise price of nonstatutory stock options may be no less than 85% of the fair value on the date of grant. The options generally are exercisable immediately and vest, subject to the Company’s right of repurchase, over a four-year period. All options expire no later than ten years after the date of grant.

 


F-14



A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information is as follows:

 

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 


 


 


 

 

 

Options

 

Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Options

 

Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Options

 

Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Outstanding at beginning of period

 

2,786,813

 

$

5.91

 

2,086,842

 

$

5.44

 

934,510

 

$

0.71

 

Granted

 

1,316,151

 

4.80

 

1,709,821

 

6.15

 

1,602,755

 

7.03

 

Exercised

 

(112,675

)

1.48

 

(329,694

)

1.17

 

(359,362

)

0.96

 

Forfeited

 

(452,844

)

7.20

 

(680,156

)

1.53

 

(91,061

)

2.59

 

 

 


 


 


 


 


 


 

Outstanding at end of period

 

3,537,445

 

$

5.44

 

2,786,813

 

$

5.91

 

2,086,842

 

$

5.44

 

 

 


 



 


 



 


 



 

Exercisable

 

3,458,589

 

$

5.44

 

2,732,583

 

$

5.87

 

2,086,842

 

$

5.44

 

 

 


 



 


 



 


 



 


Following is a further breakdown of the options outstanding as of December 31, 2002:

  

Range of Exercise Prices

 

 

Options
Outstanding

 

Weighted
Average
Remaining Life
in Years

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

 

Options
Exercisable

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
of Options
Exercisable

 


 

 


 


 


 


 


 

$ 0.20 - 1.50

 

273,350

 

3.7

 

$

1.03

 

273,350

 

$

1.03

 

$ 1.51 - 6.56

 

2,560,085

 

8.6

 

$

4.48

 

2,486,074

 

$

4.45

 

$ 6.57 - 12.00

 

571,992

 

7.4

 

$

8.65

 

567,147

 

$

8.64

 

$12.01 - 25.00

 

132,018

 

7.6

 

$

19.52

 

132,018

 

$

19.52

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

3,537,445

 

 

 

 

 

3,458,589

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 


Exercise prices for options outstanding as of December 31, 2002 ranged from $0.20 to $25.00. The weighted-average remaining contractual life of those options is approximately eight years. The weighted-average fair value of the options granted in 2002, 2001 and 2000 is $3.27, $5.34 and $5.62 per share, respectively.

At December 31, 2002, options for 200,234 shares were available for future grant.

Pro forma information regarding net income or loss is required by SFAS No. 123, and has been determined as if the Company had accounted for its employee stock options under the fair value method of that Statement. The fair value of these options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for option grants:

  

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

July 28, 2000 to
December 31, 2000

 

January 1, 2000
to July 27, 2000

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Risk-free interest rate

 

4.5

%

5.0

%

5.0

%

5.0

%

Dividend yield

 

0

%

0

%

0

%

0

%

Volatility factor

 

97

%

70

%

70

%

0

%

Weighted average life in years

 

6.6

 

5.0

 

5.0

 

5.0

 


For the period January 1, 2000 to July 27, 2000, the Company used 0% as its volatility factor as this was the period for which the Company was not yet public.

 

For purposes of adjusted pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options is amortized to expense over the vesting period. The Company’s adjusted pro forma information is as follows:

  

 

 

Years Ended December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 


 


 


 

Net loss, as reported

 

$

(62,112,842

)

$

(11,148,230

)

$

(11,696,739

)

Deduct: Total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value based method

 

(2,989,299

)

(1,564,977

)

(1,604,808

)

 

 


 


 


 

Pro forma net loss

 

$

(65,102,141

)

$

(12,713,207

)

$

(13,301,547

)

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings Per Share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted – as reported

 

$

(2.55

)

$

(.46

)

$

(.89

)

 

 



 



 



 

Basic and diluted – pro forma

 

$

(2.68

)

$

(.53

)

$

(1.01

)

 

 



 



 



 


 


F-15



Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In June 2000, the Board of Directors and stockholders adopted the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”). The Purchase Plan permits eligible employees to purchase common stock at a discount, but only through payroll deductions, during defined offering periods. The price at which stock is purchased under the Purchase Plan is equal to 85% of the fair market value of the common stock on the first or last day of the offering period, whichever is lower. In addition, the Purchase Plan provides for annual increases of shares available for issuance under the Purchase Plan beginning with fiscal 2001. Employee participation in the Purchase Plan commenced August 1, 2002. As of December 31, 2002 a total of 972,901 shares of the Company’s common stock were reserved for future issuance under the Purchase Plan. Pursuant to the Purchase Plan, on January 31, 2003, the participating employees purchased 25,757 shares of the Company’s common stock.

Deferred Stock Compensation

In conjunction with the Company’s initial public offering completed in July 2000, the Company recorded deferred stock compensation totaling approximately $2.7 million and $1.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively, representing the difference at the date of grant between the exercise or purchase price and estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock as estimated by the Company’s management for financial reporting purposes in accordance with APB No. 25. Deferred compensation is included as a reduction of stockholders’ equity and is being amortized to expense on an accelerated basis in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 28 over the vesting period of the options and restricted stock. During the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, the Company recorded amortization of stock-based compensation expense of approximately $0.6 million, $1.1 million and $1.4 million, respectively.

Warrants

In years prior to 1999, the Company issued warrants to purchase a total of 468,522 shares of common and preferred stock in connection with convertible bridge notes issued to investors and obligations under capital leases. The warrants had exercise prices ranging from $.01 to $2.00 per share. The Company determined the relative fair value of the warrants at issuance was not material; accordingly, no value has been assigned to the warrants.

In connection with the issuance of notes payable in December 1999 and March 2000, the Company issued warrants to investors to purchase a total of 234,738 shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock at a purchase price of $5.00 per share. The estimated fair value of the warrants of $1.2 million was based on the Black-Scholes valuation model and was recorded as interest expense in 2000.

In connection with the acquisition of AAT, the Company issued warrants exercisable through May 5, 2005 to purchase a total of 200,000 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $8.00 per share (See Note 3). None of these warrants have been exercised through December 31, 2002.

As of December 31, 2002, 703,260 warrants have been exercised.

Common Shares Reserved For Future Issuance

At December 31, 2002 common shares reserved for future issuance consist of the following:

 

Stock options

 

3,737,679

 

Employee Stock purchase plan

 

972,901

 

Warrants

 

200,000

 

 

 


 

 

 

4,910,580

 

 

 


 


8.      Income Taxes

At December 31, 2002, the Company had federal and California income tax net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $19,400,000 and $15,800,000, respectively. The difference between the federal and California net tax operating loss carryforwards is primarily attributable to the capitalization of research and development expenses and the percentage limitation on the carryover of net operating losses for California income tax purposes.

The federal and California tax loss carryforwards will begin to expire in 2010 and 2005, respectively, unless previously utilized. The Company also has federal and California research tax credit carryforwards of approximately $2,200,000 and $1,300,000, respectively. The federal research tax credit carryforwards will begin to expire in 2011 unless previously utilized. The California research tax credits will carryforward indefinitely.

 


F-16



Pursuant to Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code, annual use of the Company’s net operating loss and credit carryforwards may be limited if cumulative changes in ownership of more than 50% occur during any three year period.

Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets are shown below. A valuation allowance of $36,337,000 has been recognized to offset the deferred tax assets as realization of such assets is uncertain.

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 


 


 

Deferred tax assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss carryforwards

 

$

7,716,000

 

$

6,973,000

 

Research and development credits

 

3,120,000

 

2,724,000

 

Capitalized research and development expenses

 

134,000

 

1,798,000

 

Intangible assets

 

16,830,000

 

4,468,000

 

Inventory reserves

 

7,679,000

 

1,919,000

 

Other, net

 

1,697,000

 

742,000

 

 

 


 


 

Total deferred tax assets

 

37,176,000

 

18,624,000

 

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets

 

(36,337,000

)

(17,314,000

)

 

 


 


 

Net deferred tax assets

 

839,000

 

1,310,000

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisitions

 

(839,000

)

(1,310,000

)

 

 


 


 

Net deferred tax assets

 

$

 

$

 

 

 



 



 


9.         Retirement Plan

In 1996, the Company established a 401(k) plan covering substantially all domestic employees. The Company pays all administrative fees of the plan. The plan contains provisions allowing for the Company to declare a discretionary match. In 2001, the Company declared a matching contribution equal to 50% of the first 6% deferred by the employee up to a maximum of $2,000. Accordingly, there was an accrual of $225,000 as of December 31, 2001, which was paid in January 2002. There were no matching contributions declared by the Company for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2000.

10.       Significant Customers, Suppliers and Foreign Operations

Most of the Company’s operations and long-lived assets are based in the United States. DPI AG, located near Basel, Switzerland, had long-lived assets totaling $3,407,801 and $3,842,795 at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

The geographic breakdown of our revenues for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 are as follows:

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 


 


 


 

United States

 

67

%

72

%

66

%

Foreign countries

 

33

%

28

%

34

%

 

 


 


 


 

 

 

100

%

100

%

100

%

 

 


 


 


 


Major customers are defined as those responsible for 10% or more of revenues and have historically included collaborative partners, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. There were no customers that constituted 10% or more of 2001 revenues. The percentages of net sales made for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2000 to customers, which were in any of those years a major customer, were as follows:

 

 

 

Years Ended
December 31,

 

 

 


 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 


 


 


 

Pfizer

 

41

%

8

%

10

%

Japan Tobacco

 

5

%

4

%

14

%

Aventis

 

3

%

4

%

12

%


In December 2001, the Company entered into a multi-year agreement with Pfizer, Inc. to develop and produce libraries of high purity chemical compounds to be used in Pfizer’s drug discovery programs. Under this agreement, the Company collaborates with Pfizer to design and develop custom libraries of drug-like compounds that are exclusive to Pfizer. The Company manufactures and purifies the compounds to high purity standards using our proprietary Accelerated Retention Window (ARW) purification technology. The initial term of the agreement expires in January 2006. Either party may terminate the agreement upon the material, unremedied breach of the other party. In addition, Pfizer has the right to terminate the agreement if the Company merged with or into or sold to a third party or upon six months of notice. In any event Pfizer has a contractual right to terminate the contract, with or without cause, upon six months notice beginning on January 1, 2003. In such event, Pfizer will retain exclusive rights to the libraries of compounds delivered to Pfizer, and will only be obligated to pay the Company for the minimum contracted compound libraries and manufacturing and purification services during the notice period. The estimated potential value of this 4-year collaboration may reach $95 million, making it material to annual revenues in those years. Achieving the full amount is, in effect, subject to Pfizer continuing to elect to place orders, or not cancel orders, for work. Management believes Pfizer’s current intent is to fund essentially the entire $95 million as long as the work continues to be satisfactory. However, this is entirely in Pfizer’s control and subject to their discretion.

 


F-17



The Company depends on sole source suppliers for the mesh component of its reactors, the RF tags used in its commercial products and the two dimensional bar code tags used in its NanoKan reactors.

11.       Related Party Transactions

On July 29, 2002, the Company loaned $300,000 to the Chief Operating Officer in connection with his relocation to the San Diego area. The loan bears no interest until the due date, July 29, 2007. After it is due, the note bears interest at 10% annually. The underlying promissory note is full-recourse and is secured by the residence of the officer.

During 2002, the Company generated approximately $366,000 from Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Axys) in compound sales revenue. Axys is owned by Applera Corporation which has an ownership interest in the Company in excess of 10%.

12.       Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

The following financial information reflects all normal recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim periods. Summarized quarterly data for fiscal 2002 and 2001 are as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

 

 

 

2002 Quarter Ended

 

 

 


 

 

 

Mar 31

 

Jun 30

 

Sep 30

 

Dec 31

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Revenues

 

$

10,020

 

$

8,395

 

$

10,544

 

$

12,355

 

Cost of revenues

 

5,921

 

13,528

 

6,976

 

9,063

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Gross margin

 

$

4,099

 

$

(5,133

)

$

3,568

 

$

3,292

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Loss from operations (1)

 

$

(1,308

)

$

(10,253

)

$

(1,395

)

$

(51,424

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net loss

 

$

(764

)

$

(9,663

)

$

(808

)

$

(50,877

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net loss per share, basic and diluted (2)

 

$

(0.03

)

$

(0.40

)

$

(0.03

)

$

(2.09

)

 

 



 



 



 



 


 

 

 

2001 Quarter Ended

 

 

 


 

 

 

Mar 31

 

Jun 30

 

Sep 30

 

Dec 31

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Revenues

 

$

9,524

 

$

11,051

 

$

9,640

 

$

10,919

 

Cost of revenues

 

4,464

 

5,495

 

9,369

 

5,529

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Gross margin

 

$

5,060

 

$

5,556

 

$

271

 

$

5,390

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Loss from operations

 

$

(3,454

)

$

(1,817

)

$

(7,197

)

$

(2,178

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net loss

 

$

(2,201

)

$

(888

)

$

(6,422

)

$

(1,637

)

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net loss per share, basic and diluted(2)

 

$

(0.09

)

$

(0.04

)

$

(0.27

)

$

(0.07

)

 

 



 



 



 



 


__________

(1)       Loss from operations for the three months ended December 31, 2002 reflects that charge for impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets of $51.1 million.

(2)       Net loss per share is calculated independently for each of the quarters presented. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly net loss per share will not necessarily equal the total for the year.


F-18