Termination of the Original License Agreement
Pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement dated June 29, 1983, as superseded by an Amended License Agreement dated April 24, 1989 and a Second Amended License Agreement dated March 1, 1990 between the Company and Dr. Burzynski (collectively, the “Original License Agreement”), the Original License Agreement terminated on July 2, 2019 upon the expiration of the last patent licensed to the Company from Dr. Burzynski. As of July 2, 2019, all patents previously licensed by the Company under the Original License Agreement have expired.
New License Agreement
On May 22, 2023, the Company entered into a new License Agreement (the “New License Agreement”) with Dr. Burzynski, pursuant to which Dr. Burzynski licensed to the Company the exclusive rights in the Territory (composed of the United States and Canada) to make, have made, use, sell, offer for sale, and distribute or otherwise exploit the licensed products and services relating to Antineoplastons, including but not limited to any patent rights which may be granted in these countries. The New License Agreement currently covers four United States patents owned by Dr. Burzynski. The Company will not be able to exploit such rights under the New License Agreement until such time as Antineoplastons are approved, of which there can be no assurance, by the FDA for sale in the United States.
Results of Operations
Three Months Ended May 31, 2024 Compared to Three Months Ended May 31, 2023
Research and development costs were approximately $226,000 and $182,000 for the three months ended May 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $44,000 or 24% was due to an increase in facility and equipment costs of $22,000, consulting and other research and development costs of $1,000, and personnel costs of $21,000, as a result of additional requests imposed by the Food and Drug Administration.
General and administrative expenses were approximately $145,000 and $105,000 for the three months ended May 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $40,000 or 38% was due to an increase in legal and other professional costs of $17,000, primarily relating to various discussions with our outside law firm and consultants regarding the Company’s current clinical hold on IND 43742 and other future developments relating to Antineoplaston patents, and other costs of $23,000 as a result of increased reporting requirements from regulatory agencies.
The Company had net losses of approximately $371,000 and $287,000 for the three months ended May 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase in the net loss from 2024 to 2023 is primarily due to an overall increase in research and development costs and in general and administrative expenses of the Company as described above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company’s operations have been funded entirely by contributions from Dr. Burzynski and from funds generated from Dr. Burzynski’s medical practice. Effective March 1, 1997, the Company entered into a Research Funding Agreement with Dr. Burzynski (the “Research Funding Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to undertake all scientific research in connection with the development of new or improved Antineoplastons for the treatment of cancer and Dr. Burzynski agreed to fund the Company’s Antineoplaston research for that purpose. Under the Research Funding Agreement, the Company hires such personnel as is required to conduct Antineoplaston research, and Dr. Burzynski funds the Company’s research expenses, including expenses to conduct the clinical trials. Dr. Burzynski also provides the Company laboratory and research space as needed to conduct the Company’s research activities. The Research Funding Agreement also provides that Dr. Burzynski may fulfill his funding obligations in part by providing the Company such administrative support as is necessary for the Company to manage its business. Dr. Burzynski pays the full amount of the Company’s monthly and annual budget of expenses for the operation of the Company, together with other unanticipated but necessary expenses which the Company incurs.
The amounts which Dr. Burzynski is obligated to pay under the agreement shall be reduced dollar for dollar by the following: (1) any income which the Company receives for services provided to other companies for research and/or development of other products, less such identifiable marginal or additional expenses necessary to produce such income, or (2) the net proceeds of any stock