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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form
| (Mark One) | |
| QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. | |
| For
the quarterly period ended | |
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. |
For the transition period from ____ to _____
Commission
file number:
(Name of Registrant in Its Charter)
State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of exchange on which registered | ||
Indicate
by check whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has
been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule
405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
| Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ | |
| Smaller
reporting company |
Emerging
growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value at August 15, 2022.
MICROBOT MEDICAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Index
| 2 |
MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.
Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets
U.S. dollars in thousands
(Except share and per share data)
As of June 30, 2022 | As of December 31, 2021 | |||||||||
| Notes | Unaudited | Audited | ||||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||||
| Marketable securities | ||||||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | ||||||||||
| Total current assets | ||||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | ||||||||||
| Operating right-of-use assets | 3 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | ||||||||
| Lease liabilities | 3 | |||||||||
| Accrued liabilities | ||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||||
| Non-current liabilities: | ||||||||||
| Long-term lease liabilities | 3 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||||
| Common stock; $ par value; shares authorized as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | ||||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | $ | ||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| 3 |
MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.
Interim Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
U.S. dollars in thousands
(Except share and per share data)
For the Three Months Ended June 30, | For the Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| Unaudited | Unaudited | |||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| General and administrative | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Operating loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Financing income (expenses), net | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| Basic and diluted net loss per share | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| 4 |
MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.
Interim Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
U.S. dollars in thousands
(Except share and per share data)
| Common Stock | Additional Paid-In | Accumulated | Total Stockholders | |||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | ‘Equity | ||||||||||||||||
| Balances, December 31, 2020 (Audited) | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balances, March 31, 2021 (Unaudited) | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balances, June 30, 2021 (Unaudited) | $ | | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||
| Common Stock | Additional Paid-In | Accumulated | Total Stockholders | |||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | ‘Equity | ||||||||||||||||
| Balances, December 31, 2021 (Audited) | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balances, March 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balances, June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) | $ | | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| 5 |
MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.
Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
U.S. dollars in thousands
| For the Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Unaudited | ||||||||
| Operating activities: | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | ||||||||
| Non-cash and accrued interest | ( | ) | ||||||
| Share-based compensation expense | ||||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | ||||||||
| Other payables and accrued liabilities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net cash flows from operating activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Investing activities: | ||||||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from sales of investment | ||||||||
| Net cash flows from investing activities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period | ||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ | $ | ||||||
| Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | ||||||||
| Cash received from interest | $ | $ | ||||||
| Right-of-use asset and lease liability | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
| 6 |
MICROBOT MEDICAL INC.
Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
U.S. dollars in thousands
(Except share and per share data)
NOTE 1 - GENERAL
A. Description of business:
Microbot Medical Inc. (the “Company”) is a pre-clinical medical device company specializing in the research, design and development of next generation robotic endoluminal surgery devices targeting the minimally invasive surgery space. The Company is primarily focused on leveraging its micro-robotic technologies with the goal of redefining surgical robotics while improving surgical outcomes for patients.
The
Company incorporated on
On November 28, 2016, the Company consummated a transaction pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated August 15, 2016, with Microbot Medical Ltd., a private medical device company organized under the laws of the State of Israel (“Microbot Israel”). On the same day and in connection with the Merger, the Company changed its name from StemCells, Inc. to Microbot Medical Inc. On November 29, 2016, the Company’s common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MBOT”.
The Company and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Company”.
B. Use of estimates:
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions pertaining to transactions and matters whose ultimate effect on the financial statements cannot precisely be determined at the time of financial statements preparation. Although these estimates are based on management’s best judgment, actual results may differ from these estimates.
C. Unaudited Interim Financial Statements:
The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments except as otherwise discussed).
Operating results for the six and three-month periods ended June 30, 2022, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2022.
D. Risk Factors:
To
date, the Company has not generated revenues from its operations. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had unrestricted cash, cash equivalent
and marketable securities balance of approximately $
Due to continuing research and development activities, the Company expects to incur additional losses for the foreseeable future. The Company may seek to raise additional funds through future issuances of either debt and/or equity securities and possibly grants from government institutions. The Company’s ability to raise additional capital in the equity and debt markets is dependent on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the market demand for the Company’s stock, which itself is subject to a number of development and business risks and uncertainties, as well as the uncertainty that the Company would be able to raise such additional capital at a price or on terms that are favorable to the Company. These factors raise substantial doubt as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company’s interim financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
| 7 |
An epidemic of the coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) is ongoing throughout the world. As the outbreak is still evolving, although lockdowns in many places are being lifted, much of its impact continues to change. As of this filing, it is impossible to predict future effects and potential spread of the coronavirus disease globally. The coronavirus disease may cause significant delays and disruptions to our pre-clinical studies.
Additionally, travel restrictions have been implemented with respect to certain countries in an effort to contain the coronavirus disease, and several countries have screenings of travelers. As travel restrictions may be implemented and adopted by countries around the world, the Company and its contract research organizations may be unable to visit its clinical trial sites and monitor the data from its clinical trials on timely basis. The Company’s employees may also face travel restrictions, which would impact its business. Furthermore, some of the Company’s manufacturers and suppliers are in Europe and may be impacted by port closures and other restrictions resulting from the coronavirus outbreak, which may disrupt the Company’s supply chain or limit its ability to obtain sufficient materials for its products.
The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 outbreaks or similar health epidemics are highly uncertain and subject to changes, and the Company cannot presently predict the scope and severity of any potential business shutdowns or disruptions. However, if the Company or any of the third parties with whom the Company engages, including the suppliers, animal trial sites, contract research organizations, regulators, including the FDA, health care providers and other third parties with whom the Company conducts business, were to experience shutdowns or other business disruptions, the Company’s ability to conduct our business and operations could be materially and negatively impacted, which could prevent or delay the Company from obtaining approval for its devices.
NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The significant accounting policies followed in the preparation of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements are identical to those applied in the preparation of the latest annual audited financial statements.
Fair value of financial instruments:
The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, other receivables and other accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.
A fair value hierarchy is used to rank the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:
Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
Level 2 - Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as unadjusted quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices in the markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
| 8 |
The Company’s financial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurements on a recurring basis and the level of inputs used in such measurements were as follows:
| As of June 30, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash equivalents: | ||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Marketable securities: | ||||||||||||||||
| Other money market funds | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| As of December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | |||||||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash equivalents: | ||||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Marketable securities: | ||||||||||||||||
| Other money market funds | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Contingencies:
Management records and discloses legal contingencies in accordance with ASC Topic 450 Contingencies. A provision is recorded when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company monitors the stage of progress of its litigation matters to determine if any adjustments are required.
Recently issued accounting pronouncements:
From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by FASB, or other standard setting bodies and adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations upon adoption.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing a variety of exceptions within the framework of ASC 740. These exceptions include the exception to the incremental approach for intra-period tax allocation in the event of a loss from continuing operations and income or a gain from other items (such as other comprehensive income), and the exception to using general methodology for the interim period tax accounting for year-to-date losses that exceed anticipated losses. The guidance will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2022, and interim periods in fiscal years beginning January 1, 2023. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2019-12 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-10, Government Assistance (Topic 832), Disclosures by Business Entities About Government Assistance, which requires entities to provide disclosures on material government assistance transactions for annual reporting periods. The disclosures include information around the nature of the assistance, the related accounting policies used to account for government assistance, the effect of government assistance on the entity’s financial statements, and any significant terms and conditions of the agreements, including commitments and contingencies. The new standard is effective for the Company on January 1, 2022 and only impacts annual financial statement footnote disclosures. Therefore, the adoption will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
| 9 |
Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted:
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses – Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”, which introduces a model based on expected losses to estimate credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments. In addition, for available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, the losses will be recognized as allowances rather than reductions in the amortized cost of the securities. The ASU is effective for smaller reporting companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022 (January 1, 2023 for the Company) with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance may have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
NOTE 3 – LEASES
The Company has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which it accounts for as a single lease component. The Company has elected not to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases that have a term of 12 months or less. The effect of short-term leases on the Company’s ROU assets and lease liabilities was not material. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. In addition, the Company does not have any related party leases and its sublease transactions are de minimis.
Supplemental cash flow information related to operating leases was as follows:
| For the Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Cash payments and expenses | $ | $ | ||||||
Undiscounted maturities of operating lease payments as of June 30, 2022 are summarized as follows:
| 2022 (Remainder of the year) | $ | |||
| 2023 | ||||
| 2024 | ||||
| Total future lease payments | ||||
| Less imputed interest | ( | ) | ||
| Total lease liability balance | $ |
As of June 30, 2022 | As of December 31, 2021 | |||||||
| Operating leases weighted average remaining lease term (in years) | ||||||||
| Operating leases weighted average discount rate | % | | % | |||||
NOTE 4 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Government Grants:
Microbot
Israel has received grants from the Israeli Innovation Authority (“IIA”) for participation in research and development since
2013 through June 30, 2022 totaling approximately $
In
addition, as a result of the agreement with CardioSert as described below in this Note 4, on January 4, 2018, Microbot Israel Microbot
Israel took over the liability to repay CardioSert’s IIA grants in the aggregate amount of approximately $
The
Company is obligated to pay royalties amounting to
The grants are linked to the exchange rate of the dollar to the New Israeli Shekel and bears interest of Libor per annum.
| 10 |
The repayment of the grants is contingent upon the successful completion of the Company’s research and development programs and generating sales. The Company has no obligation to repay these grants, if the project fails, is unsuccessful or aborted or if no sales are generated. The financial risk is assumed completely by the Government of Israel. The grants are received from the Government on a project-by-project basis.
TRDF Agreement:
Microbot
Israel signed an agreement with the Technion Research and Development Foundation (“TRDF”) in June 2012 by which TRDF
transferred to Microbot Israel a global, exclusive, royalty-bearing license (as amended, the License Agreement”). As partial consideration for the license, Microbot
Israel shall pay TRDF royalties on net sales (between
Pursuant to the License Agreement, both parties agreed to extend the next development milestone for the SCS project, which includes the First In Human milestone, until December 2024, and to continue to maintain the TipCat assets, which are still in a discovery phase, until December 2023.
Agreement with CardioSert Ltd.:
On
January 4, 2018, Microbot Israel entered into an agreement with CardioSert Ltd. (“CardioSert”) to acquire certain patent-protected
technology owned by CardioSert (the “Technology”). Pursuant to the agreement, Microbot Israel made an initial payment of
$
On
May 25, 2018, Microbot delivered an Exercise Notice to CardioSert Ltd., notifying it that Microbot elected to exercise the option to
acquire the Technology owned by CardioSert and therefore made an additional cash payment of $
The
agreement may be terminated by Microbot Israel at any time for convenience upon 90-days’ notice. The agreement may be terminated
by CardioSert in case the first commercial sale does not occur by the third anniversary of the date of signing of the agreement except
if Microbot Israel has invested more than $
ATM Agreement:
On
June 10, 2021, the Company entered into an At-the-Market Offering Agreement (the “ATM Agreement”) with H.C. Wainwright
Co. LLC (“Wainwright”), as sales agent, in connection with an “at the market offering” under which the Company
may offer and sell, from time to time in its sole discretion, shares of its common stock, par value $ per share, having an aggregate
offering price of up to $
The offer and sale of the shares pursuant to the ATM Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (a) the issuance and sale of all of the shares of common stock subject to the ATM Agreement or (b) the termination of the ATM Agreement by Wainwright or the Company pursuant to the terms thereof. The Company has no obligation to sell any of the shares and may at any time suspend offers under the ATM Agreement or terminate the ATM Agreement.
| 11 |
Strategic collaboration agreement with Stryker
On December 22, 2021, the Company entered into a strategic collaboration agreement for technology co-development with Stryker Corporation, acting through its Neurovascular Division. Pursuant to the agreement, the collaborative development program between the Company and Stryker aims to integrate certain of Stryker’s instruments with the Company’s LIBERTY® Robotic System to address certain neurovascular procedures.
The activities contemplated by the agreement shall be specified in one or more development plans derived from the terms and conditions set forth in the agreement. Each party bears its own costs and expenses in connection with the performance of the agreement and its assigned development activities.
Each of the Company and Stryker shall retain its right, title and interest to its existing intellectual property. Jointly developed intellectual property shall be owned by a party, based on the nature of the intellectual property as it relates to each parties’ respective business, and licensed back to the other party pursuant to a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free, paid-up, nonexclusive, sub-licensable license. Jointly developed intellectual property that is not exclusively pertaining to one party’s business shall be jointly and equally owned by both the Company and Stryker.
The term of the agreement continues until the completion of the last development plan agreed upon, unless earlier terminated pursuant to the terms of the agreement. The companies conducted discussions to define the development plan in the first quarter of 2022. Preparations for development activities started in the second fiscal quarter of 2022, and development is expected to commence during the second half of 2022.
Each of the Company and Stryker are subject to customary terms regarding non-disclosure of the other’s confidential information, and are further subject to mutual indemnification obligations.
Litigation:
Litigation Resulting from 2017 Financing
The
Company lost its appeal of an adverse judgment in the lawsuit captioned Sabby Healthcare Master Fund Ltd. and Sabby Volatility Warrant
Master Fund Ltd., Plaintiffs, against Microbot Medical Inc., Defendant, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New
York (Index No. 654581/2017). As a result, the Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) related to the Company’s June
8, 2017 equity financing (the “Financing”) was rescinded as it related to Sabby Healthcare Master Fund Ltd. and Sabby Volatility
Warrant Master Fund Ltd. (“Sabby”), and the Company paid approximately $
The
complaint seeks rescission of the SPA and return of the Plaintiffs’ $
The Company’s management is unable to assess the likelihood that it would be successful in any trial with respect to the SPA or the Financing, having previously lost the Sabby lawsuit. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that if the Company goes to trial and ultimately loses, or if the Company decides to settle at any time, such an adverse outcome would not be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position.
| 12 |
Alliance Litigation
On
April 28, 2019, the Company brought an action against Alliance Investment Management, Ltd. (“Alliance”), later amended to
include Joseph Mona (“Mona”) as a defendant, in the Southern District of New York under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. 78p(b), to compel Alliance and Mona to disgorge short swing profits realized from purchases and sales of the Company’s
securities within a period of less than six months. The amount of profits was estimated in the complaint to be approximately $
On
December 18, 2020, the Magistrate Judge recommended that: (i) judgment of $
On
March 30, 2021, the court issued an order adopting the Magistrate Judge’s Report Recommendation; and on March 31, 2021, the
clerk entered judgement against Joseph Mona and in favor of the Company in the amount of $
In June 2021, the Magistrate issued an order permitting Mona to file an Amended Counterclaim Complaint, and rejected the Company’s request to execute on the judgment while the Amended Counterclaim was pending. The Company filed an answer to the Amended Counterclaim in July 2021. A settlement conference was held in May 2022. The parties were unable to reach a settlement at the conference. The Magistrate recommended another conference following the close of the discovery period, which ended on August 1, 2022.
NOTE 5 - SHARE CAPITAL
Share Capital Developments:
As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had shares of common stock issued and outstanding.
Employee Stock Option Grants:
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company granted to Mr. Harel Gadot, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, options to purchase an aggregate of shares of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price per share of $. The stock options vest over a period of years as outlined in the option agreements evidencing such grants.
During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company granted to certain employees and consultants and directors, options to purchase an aggregate of shares of the Company’s common stock, at an exercise price per share of $. The stock options vest over a period of years as outlined in the option agreements evidencing such grants.
| 13 |
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Forward Looking Statements
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our unaudited financial statements and related notes included in Item 1, “Financial Statements,” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Certain information contained in this MDA includes “forward-looking statements.” Statements which are not historical reflect our current expectations and projections about our future results, performance, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations, prospects and opportunities and are based upon information currently available to us and our management and their interpretation of what is believed to be significant factors affecting our existing and proposed business, including many assumptions regarding future events. Actual results, performance, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations, prospects and opportunities could differ materially and perhaps substantially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements as a result of various risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those risks described in detail in the section entitled “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Forward-looking statements, which involve assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies, and expectations, are generally identifiable by use of the words “may,” “should,” “would,” “will,” “could,” “scheduled,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” “seek,” or “project” or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology.
In light of these risks and uncertainties, and especially given the nature of our existing and proposed business, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained in this section and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q will in fact occur. Potential investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, there is no undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.
Overview
Microbot is a pre-clinical medical device company specializing in the research, design and development of next generation robotic endoluminal surgery devices targeting the minimally invasive surgery space. Microbot is primarily focused on leveraging its micro-robotic technologies with the goal of redefining surgical robotics while improving surgical outcomes for patients.
Microbot’s current technological platforms, ViRobTM, TipCATTM, LIBERTY® and CardioSert, are comprised of proprietary innovative technologies. Using the ViRob platform, Microbot is developing the Self Cleaning Shunt for the treatment of hydrocephalus and Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, or NPH. Utilizing the LIBERTY and CardioSert platforms, Microbot is developing the first ever fully disposable robot for various endovascular interventional procedures. In addition, the Company is focused on the development of a Multi Generation Pipeline Portfolio utilizing all of its proprietary technologies.
Technological Platforms
LIBERTY®
On January 13, 2020, Microbot unveiled what it believes is the world’s first fully disposable robotic system for use in endovascular interventional procedures, such as cardiovascular, peripheral and neurovascular. The LIBERTY robotic system features a unique compact design with the capability to be operated remotely, reduce radiation exposure and physical strain to the physician, reduce the risk of cross contamination, as well as the potential to eliminate the use of multiple consumables when used with its “One Done” capabilities, which would be based in part on the CardioSert platform or possibly other guidewire/microcatheter technologies.
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LIBERTY is designed to maneuver guidewires and over-the-wire devices (such as microcatheters) within the body’s vasculature. It eliminates the need for extensive capital equipment requiring dedicated cath-lab rooms as well as dedicated staff. In addition, when combined with CardioSert technology or possibly other guidewire/microcatheter technologies, it may be designed to streamline cath-lab procedures with our proprietary “One Done” tool that combines guidewire and microcatheter into a single device. With control over tip curvature and stiffness for maneuverability and access – and without the need for constant tool exchanges –when integrated into the LIBERTY device, the device may drastically reduce procedure time and costs while enhancing the operator experience.
On August 17, 2020, Microbot announced the successful conclusion of its feasibility animal study using the LIBERTY robotic system. The study met all of its end points with no intraoperative adverse events, which supports Microbot’s objectives to allow physicians to conduct a catheter-based procedure from outside the catheterization laboratory (cath-lab), avoiding radiation exposure, physical strain and the risk of cross contamination. The study was performed by two leading physicians in the neuro vascular and peripheral vascular intervention spaces, and the results demonstrated robust navigation capabilities, intuitive usability and accurate deployment of embolic agents, most of which was conducted remotely from the cath-lab’s control room.
In December 2021, we achieved design freeze of the LIBERTY device.
On December 22, 2021, we entered into a strategic collaboration agreement for technology co-development with Stryker Corporation, acting through its Neurovascular Division. Pursuant to the agreement, the collaborative development program between Stryker and us aims to integrate certain of Stryker’s instruments with our LIBERTY Robotic System to address certain neurovascular procedures. The activities contemplated by the Agreement shall be specified in one or more development plans derived from the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement.
On March 31, 2022, the Company filed its pre-submission package for the LIBERTY Robotic System with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), addressing the regulatory pathway for the LIBERTY Robotic System. The Company expects to meet with the FDA following a normal review process to discuss the pre-submission and ensure the testing protocols and regulatory pathway are aligned with the FDA to obtain clearance for LIBERTY.
On July 22, 2022, the Company completed a pre-submission process with the FDA regarding the LIBERTY device. Formal feedback from the FDA included a recommendation to perform a clinical study and a human factors validation study, to support clearance through the 510(k) notification process.
We are continuously exploring and evaluating additional innovative guidewire/microcatheter technologies to be integrated and combined with the LIBERTY robotic platform.
We are continuing our feasibility animal trials with respect to the LIBERTY device.
ViRob
The ViRob is an autonomous crawling micro-robot which can be controlled remotely or within the body. Its miniature dimensions are expected to allow it to navigate and crawl in different natural spaces within the human body, including blood vessels, the digestive tract and the respiratory system as well as artificial spaces such as shunts, catheters, ports, etc. Its unique structure is expected to give it the ability to move in tight spaces and curved passages as well as the ability to remain within the human body for prolonged time. The SCS product was developed using the ViRob technology.
In December 2021, we achieved electrical and mechanical design freeze for the implant of the SCS. In preparation for the IDE submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for our planned Early Feasibility Study, we have determined that we need further clinical input, and we are seeking collaboration with key opinion leaders in the U.S. to serve as primary investigators to conduct the EFS study. In parallel, we are continuing development of the SCS to the extent feasible without such clinical input, and we are continuing to evaluate the SCS project based on clinical feedback received.
Pursuant to an amendment to the License Agreement between Microbot and Technion Research and Development Foundation, both parties agreed to extend the next development milestone for the SCS project, which includes the First In Human milestone, until December 2024.
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TipCAT
The TipCAT is a disposable self-propelled locomotive device that is specially designed to advance in tubular anatomies. The TipCAT is a mechanism comprising a series of interconnected balloons at the device’s tip that provides the TipCAT with its forward locomotion capability. The device can self-propel within natural tubular lumens such as the blood vessels, respiratory and the urinary and GI tracts. A single channel of air/fluid supply sequentially inflates and deflates a series of balloons creating an inchworm like forward motion. The TipCAT maintains a standard working channel for treatments. Unlike standard access devices such as guidewires, catheters for vascular access and endoscopes, the TipCAT does not need to be pushed into the patient’s lumen using external pressure; rather, it will gently advance itself through the organ’s anatomy. As a result, the TipCAT is designed to be able to reach every part of the lumen under examination regardless of the topography, be less operator dependent, and greatly reduce the likelihood of damage to lumen structure. The TipCAT thus offers functionality features equivalent to modern tubular access devices, along with advantages associated with its physiologically adapted self-propelling mechanism, flexibility, and design. Currently, Microbot is not pursuing the development of the TipCAT as a colonoscopy tool due to its focus on the neurosurgical and endovascular intervention spaces, and as such it is currently exploring the use of the TipCAT for applications to complement its other technologies.
Pursuant to an amendment to the License Agreement between Microbot and the Technion, both parties agreed to continue to maintain the TipCat assets, which are still in a discovery phase, until December 2023.
One DoneTM (CardioSert) Technology
On April 8, 2018, Microbot acquired a patent-protected technology from CardioSert Ltd., a privately-held medical device company based in Israel that was part of a technological incubator supported by the Israel Innovation Authorities. The CardioSert technology contemplates a combination of a guidewire and microcatheter, technologies that are broadly used for surgery within a tubular organ or structure such as a blood vessel or duct. The CardioSert technology features a unique guidewire delivery system with steering and stiffness control capabilities which when developed is expected to give the physician the ability to control the tip curvature, to adjust tip load to varying degrees of stiffness in a gradually continuous manner. The CardioSert technology was originally developed to support interventional cardiologists in crossing chronic total occlusions (CTO) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures and has the potential to be used in other spaces and applications, such as peripheral intervention, and neurosurgery. Our CardioSert tool is now trademarked as “One DoneTM”.
Financial Operations Overview
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries and related expenses and overhead for Microbot’s research, development and engineering personnel, prototype materials and research studies, obtaining and maintaining Microbot’s patent portfolio. Microbot expenses its research and development costs as incurred.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of the costs associated with management salaries and benefits, professional fees for accounting, auditing, consulting and legal services, and allocated overhead expenses.
Microbot expects that its general and administrative expenses may increase in the future as it expands its operating activities, maintains and expands its patent portfolio and maintains compliance with exchange listing and SEC requirements. Microbot expects these potential increases will likely include management costs, legal fees, accounting fees, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance premiums and expenses associated with investor relations.
Income Taxes
Microbot has incurred net losses and has not recorded any income tax benefits for the losses. It is still in its development stage and has not yet generated revenues, therefore, it is more likely than not that sufficient taxable income will not be available for the tax losses to be fully utilized in the future.
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Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates
Management’s discussion and analysis of Microbot’s financial condition and results of operations are based on its consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires Microbot to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Microbot bases its estimates on historical experience, known trends and events, and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
While Microbot’s significant accounting policies are described in more detail in the notes to its consolidated financial statements, Microbot believes the following accounting policies are the most critical for fully understanding and evaluating its consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
Contingencies
Management records and discloses legal contingencies in accordance with ASC Topic 450 Contingencies. A provision is recorded when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company monitors the stage of progress of its litigation matters to determine if any adjustments are required.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company measures the fair value of certain of its financial instruments on a recurring basis.
A fair value hierarchy is used to rank the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:
Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
Level 2 - Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as unadjusted quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices in the markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
Results of Operations
Comparison of Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021
The following table sets forth the key components of Microbot’s results of operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands):
| Three months ended June 30, | Six months ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | 2022 | 2021 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development expenses | $ | (2,193 | ) | $ | (1,389 | ) | $ | (804 | ) | $ | (3,899 | ) | $ | (2,508 | ) | $ | (1,391 | ) | ||||||
| General and administrative expenses | (1,370 | ) | (1,087 | ) | (283 | ) | (2,840 | ) | (2,360 | ) | (480 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Financing income (expenses), net | 50 | (35 | ) | 85 | 37 | (31 | ) | 68 | ||||||||||||||||
Research and Development Expenses. Microbot’s research and development expenses were approximately $2,193,000 and $3,899,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to approximately $1,389,000 and $2,508,000 for the comparable periods in 2021. The increase in research and development expenses for the periods presented was primarily due to increases in payroll due to new hires and salary increases, as well as increases relating to the initial preparations to transfer the LIBERTY device from RD to production. Microbot expects its research and development expenses to continue to increase over time as Microbot advances its development programs and begins pre-clinical and clinical trials for its LIBERTY device and possibly other product candidates.
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General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses were approximately $1,370,000 and $2,840,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to approximately $1,087,000 and $2,360,000 for the comparable periods in 2021. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the periods presented was primarily due to increases in payroll due to new hires and salary increases, increases in share-based compensation expense, DO insurance premiums and travel expenses, which have resumed as Covid-related lockdowns have been lifted. These increases were partially offset by decreases in legal and consultant fees expenses. Microbot believes its general and administrative expenses may increase over time as it advances its programs, increases its headcount and operating activities and incurs increasing expenses associated with being a public company.
Financing Income (Expenses), net. Financing income was approximately $50,000 and $37,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to financing expense of approximately $35,000 and $31,000 for the comparable periods in 2021. The increase in financial income for the periods presented was primarily due to an increase in the exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar and NIS offset by financial expenses related to leasing liabilities.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Microbot has incurred losses since inception and negative cash flows from operating activities for all periods presented. As of June 30, 2022, Microbot had a net working capital of approximately $7,925,000, consisting primarily of cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities. This compares to net working capital of approximately $13,895,000 as of December 31, 2021. Microbot anticipates that it will continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future as it continues research and development efforts of its primary product candidates, hires additional staff, including clinical, scientific, operational, financial and management personnel, and continues to incur costs associated with being a public company.
Microbot has funded its operations through the issuance of capital stock, grants from the Israeli Innovation Authority, and convertible debt. Since inception (November 2010) through June 30, 2022, Microbot has raised net cash proceeds of approximately $54,770,000 and incurred a total cumulative loss of approximately $62,295,000. Microbot returned $3,375,000 (before interest) of such proceeds as a result of an adverse outcome in a litigation that concluded in the first quarter of 2020 and is now subject to an additional lawsuit seeking the return of an additional $6,750,000 of such proceeds. This litigation is in the discovery stage and we cannot project what the eventual outcome will be, though management is vigorously defending its position that no return of capital is warranted.
Microbot Israel obtained from the Israeli Innovation Authority (“IIA”) grants for participation in research and development for the years 2013 through June 30, 2022 in the total amount of approximately $1,500,000. On January 4, 2018, Microbot Israel entered into an agreement with CardioSert to acquire certain of its patent-protected technology. CardioSert received grants from the IIA in the aggregate amount of approximately $530,000 and Microbot Israel took over the liability to repay such grants.
Microbot Israel is obligated to pay royalties amounting to 3%-3.5% of its future sales up to the amount of the grants. The grants are linked to the exchange rate of the dollar to the New Israeli Shekel and bears interest at an annual rate of USD LIBOR. Under the terms of the grants and applicable law, Microbot is restricted from transferring any technologies, know-how, manufacturing or manufacturing rights developed using the grant outside of Israel without the prior approval of the Israel Innovation Authority. Microbot has no obligation to repay the grants, if the applicable project fails, is unsuccessful or aborted before any sales are generated. The financial risk is assumed completely by the IIA.
We believe that our net cash will be sufficient to fund operations necessary to continue development activities of LIBERTY and (to the extent we are successful in obtaining clinical input) the SCS, for approximately seven months, based on current projected burn rate and milestones. However, in the event we are unsuccessful in our current litigation with Empery and Hudson Bay, pursuant to which they are seeking the return of $6,750,000 in proceeds we received from them in a 2017 stock offering, we would have net cash for approximately 1 month. Outcomes with respect to the regulatory process for our proposed products may further require adjustments to our projections or require the reallocation of funds from one or more existing projects to other projects. For instance, if we are unsuccessful in obtaining clinical input to continue the SCS research and development program, we may decide to reallocate funds budgeted for that program to the LIBERTY device program.
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Microbot plans to continue to fund its research and development programs from time to time and other operating expenses, and the associated losses from operations, through its existing cash. Microbot intends to also raise capital through additional, future issuances of debt and/or equity securities, including through its existing $10 million registered At-The-Market offering and other registered offerings under its existing Registration Statement on Form S-3 for up to $75 million of securities, which it may draw down from time to time. These issuances may be opportunistic and even if the Company has enough funds at such time for operations. The capital raises from issuances of convertible debt and equity securities could result in additional dilution to Microbot’s shareholders. In addition, to the extent Microbot determines to incur additional indebtedness, Microbot’s incurrence of additional debt could result in debt service obligations and operating and financing covenants that would restrict its operations. Microbot can provide no assurance that financing will be available in the amounts it needs or on terms acceptable to it, if at all. If Microbot is not able to secure adequate additional working capital when it becomes needed, it may be required to make reductions in spending, extend payment terms with suppliers, liquidate assets where possible and/or suspend or curtail planned research and development programs. Any of these actions could materially harm Microbot’s business.
As a result of the foregoing, we are unable to fully implement our business plan without raising additional capital, if at all, and these conditions raise substantial doubt about Microbot’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated interim financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on recoverability and reclassification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Cash Flows
The following table provides a summary of the net cash flow activity for each of the periods set forth below (in thousands):
| Six months ended June 30, | ||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Net cash flows from operating activities | $ | (6,131 | ) | $ | (4,291 | ) | ||
| Net cash flows from investing activities | (78 | ) | 259 | |||||
| Net cash flows from financing activities | - | - | ||||||
| Decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | $ | (6,209 | ) | $ | (4,032 | ) | ||
Comparison of the Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021
Net cash flows from operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were approximately $6,131,000 calculated by reducing our net loss from operations by approximately $571,000 to eliminate non-cash and expense items not involving cash flows such as depreciation and share-based compensation expense, as well as other changes in current assets and liabilities resulting in non-cash adjustments in the consolidated statements of operations. Cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was approximately $4,291,000 similarly adjusted by approximately $608,000.
Net cash flows used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were approximately $78,000, relating to the purchase of property and equipment, compared to net cash flows provided by investing activities as a result of proceeds from selling an investment in a convertible loan in the amount of $270,000, partially offset by approximately $11,000 used for the purchase of property and equipment, for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Microbot has no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Interest Rate Risk
Microbot’s cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 consisted of readily available checking and money market funds. Microbot’s primary exposure to market risk is interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates. However, because of the short-term nature of the instruments in Microbot’s portfolio, a sudden change in market interest rates would not be expected to have a material impact on Microbot’s financial condition and/or results of operations. Microbot does not believe that its cash or cash equivalents have significant risk of default or illiquidity. While Microbot believes its cash and cash equivalents do not contain excessive risk, Microbot cannot provide absolute assurance that in the future its investments will not be subject to adverse changes in market value. In addition, Microbot maintains significant amounts of cash and cash equivalents at one or more financial institutions that are in excess of federally insured limits.
Foreign Exchange Risks
Our financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars and financial results are denominated in U.S. dollars, while a significant portion of our business is conducted, and a substantial portion of our operating expenses are payable, in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
Exchange rate fluctuations may have an adverse impact on our future revenues, if any, or expenses as presented in the financial statements. We may in the future use financial instruments, such as forward foreign currency contracts, in its management of foreign currency exposure. These contracts would primarily require us to purchase and sell certain foreign currencies with or for U.S. dollars at contracted rates. We may be exposed to a credit loss in the event of non-performance by the counterparties of these contracts. In addition, these financial instruments may not adequately manage our foreign currency exposure. Our results of operations could be adversely affected if we are unable to successfully manage currency fluctuations in the future.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act). As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, management of the Company, under the direction of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, reviewed and performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of June 30, 2022. Based on that review and evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, along with the management of the Company, have determined that as of June 30, 2022, the disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and were effective to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, identified in connection with the evaluation of such internal control that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
From time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings, which arise in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm business.
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Litigation Resulting from 2017 Financing
We were named as the defendant in a lawsuit captioned Empery Asset Master Ltd., Empery Tax Efficient, LP, Empery Tax Efficient II, LP, Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd., Plaintiffs, against Microbot Medical Inc., Defendant, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York (Index No. 651182/2020). The complaint alleges, among other things, that we breached multiple representations and warranties contained in the SPA, of which the Plaintiffs participated, and fraudulently induced Plaintiffs into signing the Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) related to our June 8, 2017 equity financing (the “Financing”). The complaint seeks rescission of the SPA and return of the Plaintiffs’ $6.75 million purchase price with respect to the Financing. We filed a Motion to Dismiss on March 16, 2020, which Motion was denied in February 2021. On March 18, 2021, we filed a notice of appeal of the denial of the Motion to Dismiss, which we ultimately did not pursue. The parties presently are engaged in discovery. At this time no estimation of the potential outcome of the litigation can be made, and management is unable to assess the likelihood that we will succeed at trial with respect to the SPA or the Financing, having previously lost another lawsuit with respect to the Financing; however, we believe that differentiating facts could result in a different outcome from the prior lawsuit.
Mona Litigation
On April 28, 2019, we brought an action against Alliance Investment Management, Ltd. (“Alliance”), later amended to include Joseph Mona (“Mona”) as a defendant, in the Southern District of New York under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. 78p(b), to compel Alliance and Mona to disgorge short swing profits realized from purchases and sales of our securities within a period of less than six months. The case is Microbot Medical Inc. v. Alliance Investment Management, Ltd., No. 19-cv-3782-GBD (SDNY). The amount of profits was estimated in the complaint to be approximately $468,000.
On October 28, 2019, Alliance filed a motion for summary judgment requesting that the Court dismiss the claims against Alliance. On February 4, 2020, Mona answered the 16(b) claim we asserted against him by claiming various equitable defenses, and filed a counterclaim against Microbot under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, claiming a net loss on trading Microbot stock of $150,954.
On March 6, 2020, we filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings with respect to our 16(b) claim against Mona, together with a motion to dismiss Mona’s 10(b) counterclaim.
On September 17, 2020, the court issued a Memorandum Decision Order that, among other things, granted Alliance’s summary judgment motion. Our Section 16(b) claim against Mona remained pending following the court’s dismissal of the 16(b) claim against Alliance.
On December 18, 2020, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report Recommendation, which recommended that: (i) judgment of $484,614.30 be entered in our favor on our Section 16(b) claim against Mona; and (ii) Mona’s Section 10(b) claim be dismissed with prejudice (except as to allegations regarding statements purportedly made by employees of Integra Consulting, an outside investor relations firm, which the Magistrate recommended be dismissed without prejudice).
On March 30, 2021, the court issued an order adopting the Magistrate Judge’s Report Recommendation; and on March 31, 2021, the Clerk entered judgement against Mona and in favor of Microbot in the amount of $484,614.30. On April 27, 2021, Mona filed an appeal of the court’s judgment, which is pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Microbot intends to oppose the appeal.
In June 2021, the Magistrate issued an order permitting Mona to file an Amended Counterclaim Complaint, and rejected Microbot’s request to execute on the judgment while the Amended Counterclaim was pending. Microbot filed an answer to the Amended Counterclaim in July 2021. A settlement conference was held in May 2022. The parties were unable to reach a settlement at the conference. The Magistrate recommended another conference following the close of the discovery period, which ended on August 1, 2022.
Other than the foregoing, we are not currently a party in any legal proceeding or governmental regulatory proceeding nor are we currently aware of any pending or potential legal proceeding or governmental regulatory proceeding proposed to be initiated against us that would have a material adverse effect on us or our business.
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Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There is substantial doubt regarding on our ability to continue as a going concern.
As stated in the notes to our unaudited financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2022, we have cash sufficient to fund our operations for less than 12 months from the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and we have not generated any revenues, have sustained losses and have accumulated a significant deficits since our inception. Our continued existence is dependent upon our ability to continue to execute our operating plan and to obtain additional debt or equity financing.
There can be no assurance that the additional necessary debt or equity financing will be available, or will be available on terms acceptable to us, in which case we may be unable to meet our obligations or fully implement our business plan, if at all, beyond such 8-month period. Additionally, should we be unable to realize our assets and discharge our liabilities in the normal course of business, the net realizable value of our assets may be materially less than the amounts recorded in our financial statements. As a result of the foregoing and our current cash position, these conditions raise substantial doubt about Microbot’s ability to continue as a going concern beyond approximately the next 8 months, which could adversely affect our ability to raise capital, expand our business and develop our planned products.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information.
None.
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Item 6. Exhibits
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, this 15th day of August, 2022.
| MICROBOT MEDICAL INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Harel Gadot | |
| Name: | Harel Gadot | |
| Title: | Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | |
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
| By: | /s/ Rachel Vaknin | |
| Name: | Rachel Vaknin | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
| (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | ||
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