govx20140305_posam.htm

As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2014.

 

Registration No. 333-180535

 



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2

 

FORM S-1

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

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

 

Delaware

2834

87-0455038

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

1900 Lake Park Drive, Suite 380, Smyrna, Georgia 30080, (678) 384-7220

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Robert T. McNally, Ph.D.

President & Chief Executive Officer

GeoVax Labs, Inc.

1900 Lake Park Drive, Suite 380
Smyrna, Georgia 30080

Tel: (678) 384-7220

Fax: (678) 384-7283

With a copy to:

T. Clark Fitzgerald III
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP

271 17th Street NW, Suite 2400
Atlanta, Georgia 30363

Tel: (404) 879-2455

Fax: (404) 870-4869

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Amendment No. 2 to registration statement.

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ☐     Accelerated filer ☐     Non-accelerated filer ☐     Smaller reporting company ☒

 

The registrant hereby amends this Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 
 

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Form S-1 (this “Post-Effective Amendment”) is being filed pursuant to Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act to update our registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-180535) (the “Registration Statement”), which was previously declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 2012, as amended by post-effective Amendment No. 1 which was declared effective on March 28, 2013 as supplemented, to (i) include the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, and (ii) update certain other information in the Registration Statement. No additional securities are being registered under this Post-Effective Amendment. All applicable registration fees were paid at the time of the original filing of the Registration Statement.

 

 
 

 

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The selling stockholders may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, dATED MARCH 14, 2014

 

PROSPECTUS

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

 

Up to 5,866,666 Shares of Common Stock

 

 This prospectus relates to up to 5,866,666 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value, of GeoVax Labs, Inc. that may be sold from time to time by the selling stockholders named in this prospectus, which includes up to:

 

 

5,866,666 shares of common stock issuable to the selling stockholders upon the exercise of Series A and C Warrants.

 

The prices at which the Selling Stockholders may sell the shares will be determined by the prevailing market price for the shares or in negotiated transactions. The shares included in this prospectus may be reoffered and sold directly by the selling stockholders in accordance with one or more of the methods described in the plan of distribution, which begins on page 52 of this prospectus. 

 

We will not receive any proceeds from the sales of outstanding shares of common stock by the selling stockholders, but we will receive funds from the exercise of Series A or C Warrants held by the selling stockholders, if exercised for cash. 

 

Our common stock is registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and quoted on the over-the-counter market under the symbol “GOVX.” On March 10, 2014, the last reported sale price for our common stock as reported on the over-the-counter market was $0.41 per share.

 

This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to offer and sell the shares covered by this prospectus. We have not taken any action to register or obtain permission for this offering or the distribution of this prospectus in any country other than the United States.

 


 

Investing in the common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 for a discussion of these risks.

 


 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this Prospectus is ________, 2014

 

 

 
 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

1

COMPANY OVERVIEW

1

RISK FACTORS

4

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

12

USE OF PROCEEDS

13

MARKET FOR OUR COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

13

BUSINESS

14

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

26

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

26

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION ANDRESULTS OF OPERATIONS

27

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS, DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

34

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

35

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

37

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

41

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

42

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

44

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

46

DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES

50

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

51

LEGAL MATTERS

52

EXPERTS

52

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

52

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

F-1

PART II -- INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

II-1

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and any free-writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our securities. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we,” “our,” “us,” or the “Company” mean GeoVax Labs, Inc.

 

We obtained industry and market data used throughout this prospectus through our research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties and industry and general publications. We have not independently verified market and industry data from third-party sources.

 

 
 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

The following is only a summary. We urge you to read the entire prospectus, including the more detailed consolidated financial statements, notes to the consolidated financial statements and other information included. Investing in our securities involves risks. Therefore, please carefully consider the information provided under the heading “Risk Factors” starting on page 4. You should not invest unless you can afford to lose your entire investment.

 

 

COMPANY OVERVIEW

 

GeoVax Labs, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing vaccines that prevent and control Human Immunodeficiency Virus (“HIV”) infections. HIV infections result in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (“AIDS”). We have exclusively licensed from Emory University (“Emory”) vaccine technology which was developed in collaboration with the United States National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”).

 

Our most advanced vaccines under development address the clade B subtype of the HIV virus that is prevalent in the Americas and western Europe. Our vaccines are being evaluated to determine their potential to (a) prevent HIV infection and (b) to serve as a therapy for individuals who are already infected with HIV. These vaccines are currently being evaluated in humans -- both in those infected with HIV and those who are not. Subject to the availability of funding support from governmental or nongovernmental organizations, we also plan to develop vaccines designed for use to combat the subtypes of HIV that predominate in the developing countries. We have licensed from the NIH the modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) construct for the clade C version of HIV prevalent in South Africa and India, and have begun early development work on a vaccine for this subtype of the virus.

 

Our vaccines incorporate two delivery components: a recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) vaccine, and a recombinant poxvirus designated MVA vaccine. Both the DNA and MVA vaccines contain sufficient HIV genes to support the production of non-infectious virus-like particles.  These particles display the native trimeric-membrane-bound form of the viral envelope glycoprotein that mediates entry into cells and is the target for protective antibody. When used together, the recombinant DNA component primes immune responses, which are boosted by administration of the recombinant MVA component. We have also tested an adjuvanted version of our vaccine that co-expresses granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the DNA vaccine used to prime the immune response. An adjuvant is an agent that can improve a vaccine response.

 

Work on our vaccines began during the 1990s at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, under the direction of Dr. Harriet L. Robinson, who is now our Chief Scientific Officer. The vaccine technology was developed in collaboration with researchers at the NIH and the CDC. The technology developed by the collaboration is exclusively licensed to us from Emory University.

 

Our Strategy

 

Our short-term goal is to bring both our preventive and therapeutic HIV/AIDS vaccines into efficacy testing, with the ultimate objective of becoming a leading biopharmaceutical company that develops differentiated products to prevent and treat serious infections, focusing on unmet medical needs. To achieve these strategic goals, we intend to employ the following strategies:

 

Leverage the Support of Federal Government Agencies for Trials of our Preventive Vaccine. The NIH and HVTN have been very supportive of our efforts to date in developing our preventive vaccines, and we intend to continue to solicit their assistance and financial support for the efficacy testing of our preventive vaccines.

Development of Our Therapeutic Vaccine Candidates. We plan to focus our resources on developing our therapeutic vaccines to show initial indications of efficacy in humans. We will leverage governmental support where possible.

Seek the Support of Nongovernmental Organizations. We also intend to solicit the support of Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) toward the development of our vaccine candidates for the versions of the HIV virus prevalent in the developing world.

Seek Strategic Collaborations to Accelerate the Development of Our Vaccine Candidates to Optimize Economic Returns while Managing Risk. We intend to establish strategic licenses and collaborations, partnerships, alliances or enter into other transactions in the future with pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical companies with greater clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization capabilities that we believe can accelerate the development and/or commercialization of our vaccine candidates.

New Business Opportunities. We will be open to new business development opportunities to potentially expand our technology and product pipeline or to otherwise provide additional revenue sources.

 

 
 

 

 

Company Background

 

We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Our principal corporate offices are located at 1900 Lake Park Drive, Suite 380, Smyrna, Georgia 30080 (metropolitan Atlanta). Our telephone number is (678) 384-7220. The address of our web site is www.geovax.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports, are available to you free of charge through the “Investors” section of our web site as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials have been electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information contained on our web site does not form a part of this prospectus.

 

 
2

 

 

The Offering

 

Common stock offered by selling stockholders

 

Up to 5,866,666 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of Series A or C Warrants held by the selling stockholders. This number represents approximately 19% of our current outstanding common stock, on a fully diluted basis. (1)

     

Common stock outstanding before the offering.

 

24,968,037 shares (1)

     

Common stock outstanding after the offering, assuming all the Series A and C Warrants are exercised for cash.

 

30,834,703 shares (1)

     

Proceeds to us

 

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock covered by this prospectus. We will, however, receive approximately $2.1 million from the exercise of the Series A and C Warrants held by the selling stockholders, if they are exercised in full for cash.

     

Trading Symbol

 

GOVX

     

Risk Factors

 

There are significant risks involved in investing in our Company. For a discussion of risk factors you should consider before buying our common stock. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4.

 


 

(1)

The number of shares of our common stock that will be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 24,968,037 shares outstanding as of March 10, 2014, but excludes the following:

 

 

1,197,529 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans. As of March 10, 2014, there were options to purchase 995,300 shares of our common stock outstanding under our equity incentive plans with a weighted average exercise price of $4.15 per share;

 

2,418,160 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of currently outstanding warrants (but not including the Series A and C Warrants) as of March 10, 2014, with a weighted average exercise price of $6.25 per share.

 

3,714,286 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of outstanding Series B Preferred Stock.

  

 
3

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully review and consider the risks, uncertainties and other factors described below before you decide whether to purchase our securities. Any of these factors could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects and could negatively impact the market price of our common stock, and you may lose some or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also impair our business operations. You should also refer to the information contained in this prospectus, including our financial statements and the related notes.

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

We have a history of operating losses, and we expect losses to continue for the foreseeable future.

 

We have had no product revenue to date and there can be no assurance that we will ever generate any product revenue. We have experienced operating losses since we began operations in 2001. As of December 31, 2013, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $27.1 million. We expect to incur additional operating losses and expect cumulative losses to increase as our research and development, pre-clinical, clinical, manufacturing and marketing efforts expand. Our ability to generate revenue and achieve profitability depends on our ability to successfully complete the development of our product candidates, conduct pre-clinical tests and clinical trials, obtain the necessary regulatory approvals, and manufacture and market the resulting products. Unless we are able to successfully meet these challenges, we will not be profitable and may not remain in business.

 

Our business will require continued funding. If we do not receive adequate funding, we will not be able to continue our operations.

 

To date, we have financed our operations principally through the private placement of equity securities and through NIH grants. We will require substantial additional financing at various intervals for our operations, including clinical trials, operating expenses, intellectual property protection and enforcement, for pursuit of regulatory approvals, and for establishing or contracting out manufacturing, marketing and sales functions. There is no assurance that such additional funding will be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. If we are not able to secure the significant funding that is required to maintain and continue our operations at current levels, or at levels that may be required in the future, we may be required to delay clinical studies or clinical trials, curtail operations, or obtain funds through collaborative arrangements that may require us to relinquish rights to some of our products or potential markets.

 

The costs of conducting all of our human clinical trials to date for our preventive HIV vaccine have been borne by the HVTN, funded by the NIH, and we expect NIH support for additional clinical trials. GeoVax incurs costs associated with manufacturing the clinical vaccine supplies and other study support. We cannot predict the level of support we will receive from the HVTN or the NIH for any additional clinical trials.

 

Our operations are also partially supported by the NIH grants awarded to us to support our HIV/AIDS vaccine program. As of December 31, 2013, there is approximately $822,000 of unused grant funds remaining and available for use during 2014. We intend to pursue additional grants from the federal government. However, as we progress to the later stages of our vaccine development activities, government financial support may be more difficult to obtain, or may not be available at all. Furthermore, there is some risk that actual funding for grants could be delayed, cut back, or eliminated due to government budget constraints. Therefore, it will be necessary for us to look to other sources of funding in order to finance our development activities.

 

We expect that our current working capital, combined with proceeds from the grants awarded to us from the NIH will be sufficient to support our planned level of operations into the first quarter of 2015. In order to meet our operating cash flow requirements we plan additional offerings of our equity securities, debt, or convertible debt instruments. Should the financing we require to sustain our working capital needs be unavailable or prohibitively expensive when we require it, the consequences could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition and prospects.

 

 
4

 

 

Risks Related to Development and Commercialization of Product Candidates and Dependence on Third Parties

 

Our products are still being developed and are unproven. These products may not be successful.

 

To become profitable, we must generate revenue through sales of our products. However our products are in varying stages of development and testing. Our products have not been proven in human clinical trials and have not been approved by any government agency for sale. If we cannot successfully develop and prove our products and processes, or if we do not develop other sources of revenue, we will not become profitable and at some point we would discontinue operations.

 

Whether we are successful will be dependent, in part, upon the leadership provided by our management. If we were to lose the services of any of these individuals, our business and operations may be adversely affected. Further, we may not carry key man life insurance on certain of our executive officers or directors.

 

Whether our business will be successful will be dependent, in part, upon the leadership provided by our officers, particularly our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Scientific Officer. The loss of the services of these individuals may have an adverse effect on our operations. Although we carry some key man life insurance on Dr. Harriet L. Robinson, the amount of such coverage may not be sufficient to offset any adverse economic effects on our operations and we do not carry key man insurance on any of our other executive officers or directors. Further, our employees, including our executive officers and directors, are not subject to any covenants not to compete against the Company, and our business could be adversely affected if any of our employees or directors engaged in an enterprise competitive with the Company.

 

Regulatory and legal uncertainties could result in significant costs or otherwise harm our business.

 

To manufacture and sell our products, we must comply with extensive domestic and international regulation. In order to sell our products in the United States, approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is required. Satisfaction of regulatory requirements, including FDA requirements, typically takes many years, and if approval is obtained at all, it is dependent upon the type, complexity and novelty of the product, and requires the expenditure of substantial resources. We cannot predict whether our products will be approved by the FDA. Even if they are approved, we cannot predict the time frame for approval. Foreign regulatory requirements differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and may, in some cases, be more stringent or difficult to meet than FDA requirements. As with the FDA, we cannot predict if or when we may obtain these regulatory approvals. If we cannot demonstrate that our products can be used safely and successfully in a broad segment of the patient population on a long-term basis, our products would likely be denied approval by the FDA and the regulatory agencies of foreign governments.

 

We will face intense competition and rapid technological change that could result in products that are superior to the products we will be commercializing or developing.

 

The market for vaccines that protect against or treat HIV/AIDS is intensely competitive and is subject to rapid and significant technological change. We will have numerous competitors in the United States and abroad, including, among others, large companies with substantially greater resources than us. These competitors may develop technologies and products that are more effective or less costly than any of our future technology or products or that could render our technology or products obsolete or noncompetitive. If our technology or products are not competitive, we may not be able to remain in business.

 

Our product candidates are based on new medical technology and, consequently, are inherently risky. Concerns about the safety and efficacy of our products could limit our future success.

 

We are subject to the risks of failure inherent in the development of product candidates based on new medical technologies. These risks include the possibility that the products we create will not be effective, that our product candidates will be unsafe or otherwise fail to receive the necessary regulatory approvals, and that our product candidates will be hard to manufacture on a large scale or will be uneconomical to market.

 

Many pharmaceutical products cause multiple potential complications and side effects, not all of which can be predicted with accuracy and many of which may vary from patient to patient. Long term follow-up data may reveal additional complications associated with our products. The responses of potential physicians and others to information about complications could materially affect the market acceptance of our products, which in turn would materially harm our business.

 

 
5

 

 

 We may experience delays in our clinical trials that could adversely affect our financial results and our commercial prospects.

 

We do not know whether planned clinical trials will begin on time or whether we will complete any of our clinical trials on schedule, if at all. Product development costs will increase if we have delays in testing or approvals or if we need to perform more or larger clinical trials than planned. Significant delays may adversely affect our financial results and the commercial prospects for our products, and delay our ability to become profitable.

 

We rely heavily on the HVTN, independent clinical investigators, and other third party service providers for successful execution of our clinical trials, but do not control many aspects of their activities. We are responsible for ensuring that each of our clinical trials is conducted in accordance with the general investigational plan and protocols for the trial. Moreover, the FDA requires us to comply with standards, commonly referred to as Good Clinical Practices, for conducting, recording, and reporting the results of clinical trials to assure that data and reported results are credible and accurate and that the rights, integrity and confidentiality of trial participants are protected. Our reliance on third parties that we do not control does not relieve us of these responsibilities and requirements. Third parties may not complete activities on schedule, or may not conduct our clinical trials in accordance with regulatory requirements or our stated protocols. The failure of these third parties to carry out their obligations could delay or prevent the development, approval and commercialization of our product candidates. There is also a risk of changes in clinical trial strategy and timelines due to the HVTN and the NIH altering their trial strategy. The US government can also affect trial timelines through budget restrictions such as sequestration.

 

Failure to obtain timely regulatory approvals required to exploit the commercial potential of our products could increase our future development costs or impair our future sales.

 

None of our vaccines are approved by the FDA for sale in the United States or by other regulatory authorities for sale in foreign countries. To exploit the commercial potential of our technologies, we are conducting and planning to conduct additional pre-clinical studies and clinical trials. This process is expensive and can require a significant amount of time. Failure can occur at any stage of testing, even if the results are favorable. Failure to adequately demonstrate safety and efficacy in clinical trials could delay or preclude regulatory approval and restrict our ability to commercialize our technology or products. Any such failure may severely harm our business. In addition, any approvals we obtain may not cover all of the clinical indications for which approval is sought, or may contain significant limitations in the form of narrow indications, warnings, precautions or contraindications with respect to conditions of use, or in the form of onerous risk management plans, restrictions on distribution, or post-approval study requirements.

 

State pharmaceutical marketing compliance and reporting requirements may expose us to regulatory and legal action by state governments or other government authorities.

 

In recent years, several states have enacted legislation requiring pharmaceutical companies to establish marketing compliance programs and file periodic reports on sales, marketing, pricing and other activities. Similar legislation is being considered in other states. Many of these requirements are new and uncertain, and available guidance is limited. Unless we are in full compliance with these laws, we could face enforcement action and fines and other penalties and could receive adverse publicity, all of which could harm our business.

 

We may be subject to new federal and state legislation to submit information on our open and completed clinical trials to public registries and databases.

 

In 1997, a public registry of open clinical trials involving drugs intended to treat serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions was established under the FDA Modernization Act, or the FDMA, to promote public awareness of and access to these clinical trials. Under the FDMA, pharmaceutical manufacturers and other trial sponsors are required to post the general purpose of these trials, as well as the eligibility criteria, location and contact information of the trials. Since the establishment of this registry, there has been significant public debate focused on broadening the types of trials included in this or other registries, as well as providing for public access to clinical trial results. A voluntary coalition of medical journal editors has adopted a resolution to publish results only from those trials that have been registered with a no-cost, publicly accessible database, such as www.clinicaltrials.gov. Federal legislation was introduced in the fall of 2004 to expand www.clinicaltrials.gov and to require the inclusion of trial results in this registry. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America also issued voluntary principles for its members to make results from certain clinical trials publicly available and established a website for this purpose. Other groups have adopted or are considering similar proposals for clinical trial registration and the posting of clinical trial results. Failure to comply with any clinical trial posting requirements could expose us to negative publicity, fines and other penalties, all of which could materially harm our business.

 

 
6

 

 

Recently enacted and future legislation may increase the difficulty and cost for us to obtain marketing approval of and commercialize our drug candidates and affect the prices we may obtain.

 

In the United States and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and regulatory changes and proposed changes regarding the healthcare system that could prevent or delay marketing approval of our drug candidates, restrict or regulate post-approval activities and affect our ability to profitably sell any drug candidates for which we obtain marketing approval.

 

Among policy makers and payors in the United States and elsewhere, there is significant interest in promoting changes in healthcare systems with the stated goals of containing healthcare costs, improving quality and expanding access. In the United States, the pharmaceutical industry has been a particular focus of these efforts and has been significantly affected by major legislative initiatives. In March 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, or collectively the PPACA, a sweeping law intended to broaden access to health insurance, reduce or constrain the growth of healthcare spending, enhance remedies against fraud and abuse, add new transparency requirements for the healthcare and health insurance industries, impose new taxes and fees on the health industry and impose additional health policy reforms.

 

Among the provisions of the PPACA of importance to our potential drug candidates are:

 

 

an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports specified branded prescription drugs and biologic agents, apportioned among these entities according to their market share in certain government healthcare programs;

 

an increase in the statutory minimum rebates a manufacturer must pay under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program to 23.1% and 13.0% of the average manufacturer price for branded and generic drugs, respectively;

 

expansion of healthcare fraud and abuse laws, including the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute, new government investigative powers and enhanced penalties for non-compliance;

 

a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must agree to offer 50% point-of-sale discounts off negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs to eligible beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for a manufacturer’s outpatient drugs to be covered under Medicare Part D;

 

extension of a manufacturer’s Medicaid rebate liability to covered drugs dispensed to individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations;

 

expansion of eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs by, among other things, allowing states to offer Medicaid coverage to additional individuals and by adding new mandatory eligibility categories for certain individuals with income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level beginning in 2014, thereby potentially increasing a manufacturer’s Medicaid rebate liability;

 

expansion of the entities eligible for discounts under the Public Health Service pharmaceutical pricing program;

 

the new requirements under the federal Open Payments program and its implementing regulations;

 

a new requirement to annually report drug samples that manufacturers and distributors provide to physicians; and

 

a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research.

 

In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the PPACA was enacted. These changes include aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers of up to 2% per fiscal year, starting in 2013. On March 1, 2013, the President signed an executive order implementing the 2% Medicare payment reductions, and on April 1, 2013, these reductions went into effect. In January 2013, President Obama signed into law the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which, among other things, reduced Medicare payments to several providers and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years. These new laws may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other healthcare funding, which could have a material adverse effect on customers for our drugs, if approved, and, accordingly, our financial operations.

 

We expect that the PPACA, as well as other healthcare reform measures that may be adopted in the future, may result in more rigorous coverage criteria and in additional downward pressure on the price that we receive for any approved drug. Any reduction in reimbursement from Medicare or other government-funded programs may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors. The implementation of cost containment measures or other healthcare reforms may prevent us from being able to generate revenue, attain profitability or commercialize our drugs.

 

 
7

 

 

Legislative and regulatory proposals have been made to expand post-approval requirements and restrict sales and promotional activities for drugs. We cannot be sure whether additional legislative changes will be enacted, or whether the FDA regulations, guidance or interpretations will be changed, or what the impact of such changes on the marketing approvals of our drug candidates, if any, may be. In addition, increased scrutiny by the U.S. Congress of the FDA’s approval process may significantly delay or prevent marketing approval, as well as subject us to more stringent product labeling and post-marketing testing and other requirements.

 

We may not be successful in establishing collaborations for product candidates we may seek to commercialize, which could adversely affect our ability to discover, develop, and commercialize products.

 

We expect to seek collaborations for the development and commercialization of product candidates in the future. The timing and terms of any collaboration will depend on the evaluation by prospective collaborators of the clinical trial results and other aspects of our vaccine’s safety and efficacy profile. If we are unable to reach agreements with suitable collaborators for any product candidate, we will be forced to fund the entire development and commercialization of such product candidates, ourselves, and we may not have the resources to do so. If resource constraints require us to enter into a collaboration agreement early in the development of a product candidate, we may be forced to accept a more limited share of any revenues this product may eventually generate. We face significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborators. Moreover, these collaboration arrangements are complex and time-consuming to negotiate and document. We may not be successful in our efforts to establish collaborations or other alternative arrangements for any product candidate. Even if we are successful in establishing collaborations, we may not be able to ensure fulfillment by collaborators of their obligations or our expectations.

 

We do not have manufacturing, sales or marketing experience.

 

We do not have experience in manufacturing, selling, or marketing vaccines. To obtain the expertise necessary to successfully manufacture, market, and sell our vaccines, we will require the development of our own commercial infrastructure and/or collaborative commercial arrangements and partnerships. Our ability to execute our current operating plan is dependent on numerous factors, including, the performance of third party collaborators with whom we may contract.

 

Our vaccines under development may not gain market acceptance.

 

Our vaccines may not gain market acceptance among physicians, patients, healthcare payers and the medical community. Significant factors in determining whether we will be able to compete successfully include:

 

the efficacy and safety of our vaccines;

 

the time and scope of regulatory approval;

 

reimbursement coverage from insurance companies and others;

 

the price and cost-effectiveness of our products, and

 

the ability to maintain patent protection.

 

We may be required to defend lawsuits or pay damages for product liability claims.

 

Product liability is a major risk in testing and marketing biotechnology and pharmaceutical products. We may face substantial product liability exposure in human clinical trials and for products that we sell after regulatory approval. We carry product liability insurance and we expect to continue such policies. However, product liability claims, regardless of their merits, could exceed policy limits, divert management’s attention, and adversely affect our reputation and the demand for our products.

 

Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

 

We could lose our license rights to our important intellectual property if we do not fulfill our contractual obligations to our licensors.

 

Our rights to significant parts of the technology we use in our vaccines are licensed from third parties and are subject to termination if we do not fulfill our contractual obligations to our licensors. Termination of intellectual property rights under any of our license agreements could adversely impact our ability to produce or protect our vaccines. Our obligations under our license agreements include requirements that we make milestone payments to our licensors upon the achievement of clinical development and regulatory approval milestones, royalties as we sell commercial products, and reimbursement of patent filing and maintenance expenses. Should we become bankrupt or otherwise unable to fulfill our contractual obligations, our licensors could terminate our rights to critical technology that we rely upon.

 

 
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Other parties may claim that we infringe their intellectual property or proprietary rights, which could cause us to incur significant expenses or prevent us from selling products.

 

Our success will depend in part on our ability to operate without infringing the patents and proprietary rights of third parties. The manufacture, use and sale of new products have been subject to substantial patent rights litigation in the pharmaceutical industry. These lawsuits generally relate to the validity and infringement of patents or proprietary rights of third parties. Infringement litigation is prevalent with respect to generic versions of products for which the patent covering the brand name product is expiring, particularly since many companies that market generic products focus their development efforts on products with expiring patents. Pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, universities, research institutions or other third parties may have filed patent applications or may have been granted patents that cover aspects of our products or our licensors’ products, product candidates or other technologies.

 

Future or existing patents issued to third parties may contain patent claims that conflict with our products. We expect to be subject to infringement claims from time to time in the ordinary course of business, and third parties could assert infringement claims against us in the future with respect to our current products or with respect to products that we may develop or license. Litigation or interference proceedings could force us to:

 

 

stop or delay selling, manufacturing or using products that incorporate, or are made using the challenged intellectual property;

 

pay damages; or

 

enter into licensing or royalty agreements that may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all.

 

Any litigation or interference proceedings, regardless of their outcome, would likely delay the regulatory approval process, be costly and require significant time and attention of our key management and technical personnel.

 

Any inability to protect intellectual property rights in the United States and foreign countries could limit our ability to manufacture or sell products.

 

We will rely on trade secrets, unpatented proprietary know-how, continuing technological innovation and, in some cases, patent protection to preserve our competitive position. Our patents and licensed patent rights may be challenged, invalidated, infringed or circumvented, and the rights granted in those patents may not provide proprietary protection or competitive advantages to us. We and our licensors may not be able to develop patentable products. Even if patent claims are allowed, the claims may not issue, or in the event of issuance, may not be sufficient to protect the technology owned by or licensed to us. If patents containing competitive or conflicting claims are issued to third parties, we may be prevented from commercializing the products covered by such patents, or may be required to obtain or develop alternate technology. In addition, other parties may duplicate, design around or independently develop similar or alternative technologies.

 

We may not be able to prevent third parties from infringing or using our intellectual property, and the parties from whom we may license intellectual property may not be able to prevent third parties from infringing or using the licensed intellectual property. We generally will attempt to control and limit access to, and the distribution of, our product documentation and other proprietary information. Despite efforts to protect this proprietary information, unauthorized parties may obtain and use information that we may regard as proprietary. Other parties may independently develop similar know-how or may even obtain access to these technologies.

 

The laws of some foreign countries do not protect proprietary information to the same extent as the laws of the United States, and many companies have encountered significant problems and costs in protecting their proprietary information in these foreign countries.

 

Neither the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office nor the courts have established a consistent policy regarding the breadth of claims allowed in pharmaceutical patents. The allowance of broader claims may increase the incidence and cost of patent interference proceedings and the risk of infringement litigation. On the other hand, the allowance of narrower claims may limit the value of our proprietary rights.

 

 
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Risks Related To This Offering and Our Securities

 

The market price of our common stock is highly volatile.

 

The market price of our common stock has been, and is expected to continue to be, highly volatile. Certain factors, including announcements of new developments by us or other companies, regulatory matters, new or existing medicines or procedures, concerns about our financial position, operating results, litigation, government regulation, developments or disputes relating to agreements, patents or proprietary rights, may have a significant impact on the market price of our stock. In addition, potential dilutive effects of future sales of shares of common stock by us, and subsequent sales of common stock by the holders of warrants and options could have an adverse effect on the market price of our shares.

 

Our common stock does not have a vigorous trading market and investors may not be able to sell their securities when desired.

 

We have a limited active public market for our common shares. A more active public market, allowing investors to buy and sell large quantities of our common stock, may never develop. Consequently, investors may not be able to liquidate their investments in the event of an emergency or for any other reason.

 

We have never paid dividends and have no plans to do so.

 

Holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared by our Board of Directors. To date, we have paid no cash dividends on our shares of common stock and we do not expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain future earnings, if any, to provide funds for operations of our business. Therefore, any potential return investors may have in our common stock will be in the form of appreciation, if any, in the market value of their shares of common stock.

 

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud.

 

We are subject to reporting obligations under the United States securities laws. The Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, adopted rules requiring every public company to include a management report on such company’s internal controls over financial reporting in its annual report. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important to help prevent fraud. As a result, our failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting could result in the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which in turn could negatively impact the trading price of our stock.

 

If we fail to remain current in our reporting requirements, our securities could be removed from the OTC Market, which would limit the ability of broker-dealers to sell our securities and the ability of stockholders to sell their securities in the secondary market.

 

United States companies trading on the OTC Market must be reporting issuers under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and must be current in their reports under Section 13. If we fail to remain current on our reporting requirements, we could be removed from the OTC Market. As a result, the market liquidity for our securities could be severely adversely affected by limiting the ability of broker-dealers to sell our securities and the ability of stockholders to sell their securities in the secondary market.

 

We expect to need additional capital, and the sale of additional shares or other equity securities could result in additional dilution to our stockholders.

 

We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, combined with anticipated cash flow from our NIH grants, and without consideration given to any potential proceeds from the exercise of the Series A or C Warrants, will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs into the first quarter of 2015. In order to meet our operating cash flow requirements we plan additional offerings of our equity securities, debt, or convertible debt instruments. The sale of additional equity securities could result in additional dilution to our stockholders. Certain equity securities, such as convertible preferred stock, or warrants, may contain anti-dilution provisions which could result in the issuance of additional shares at lower prices if we sell other shares below specified prices. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in debt service obligations and could result in operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations. We cannot assure investors that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

 

 
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Our directors and executive officers beneficially own a significant amount of our common stock and will be able to exercise significant influence on matters requiring stockholder approval.

 

Our directors and executive officers collectively beneficially own approximately 9.6% of our common stock as of March 10, 2014. Consequently, our directors and executive officers as a group may be able to exert significant influence over the election of directors and the outcome of most corporate actions requiring stockholder approval and our business, which may have the effect of delaying or precluding a third party from acquiring control of us. Furthermore, Emory University beneficially owns 18.5% of our common stock as of March 10, 2014. If our directors and executive officers move to act in concert with Emory University, their ability to influence stockholder actions will be even more significant.

 

The exercise of warrants or options or conversion of our Series B Preferred Stock may depress our stock price and may result in significant dilution to our common stockholders.

 

There are a significant number of outstanding warrants and options to purchase our stock and we have issued Series B Preferred Stock that is convertible into our common stock. If the market price of our common stock exceeds the exercise price of outstanding warrants and options or the conversion price of the Series B Preferred Stock, holders of those securities may be likely to exercise their warrants and options or convert their preferred shares and sell the common stock acquired upon exercise or conversion of such securities, as applicable, in the open market. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market by holders of warrants, options, or preferred shares may depress the prevailing market price for our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the future sale of our equity securities. Additionally, if the holders of outstanding options, warrants, or preferred shares exercise those options or warrants or convert those preferred shares, as applicable, our common stockholders will incur dilution in their relative percentage ownership. The prospect of this possible dilution may also impact the price of our common stock.

 

Our outstanding warrants include Series A and C Warrants to purchase up to 5,866,666 shares of our common stock that were issued in March 2012. These warrants have an exercise price of $0.35 per share. These warrants contain anti-dilution provisions, which may, under certain circumstances, reduce the exercise price (but have no effect on the number of shares subject to the warrants) to match if we sell or grant options to purchase, including rights to reprice, our common stock or common stock equivalents at a price lower than the exercise price of the warrants, or if we announce plans to do so. Reduction in the warrant exercise price will reduce the funds the Company receives upon exercise of the warrants, and increase the likelihood that a dilutive issuance will occur.

 

Our common stock is and likely will remain subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules, which make it more difficult to sell.

 

Our common stock is currently and may remain classified as a “penny stock.” The SEC rules regarding penny stocks may have the effect of reducing trading activity in our shares, making it more difficult for investors to sell. Under these rules, broker-dealers who recommend such securities to persons other than institutional accredited investors must:

 

 

make a special written suitability determination for the purchaser;

 

receive the purchaser’s written agreement to a transaction prior to sale;

 

provide the purchaser with risk disclosure documents which identify certain risks associated with investing in “penny stocks” and which describe the market for these “penny stocks” as well as a purchaser’s legal remedies;

 

obtain a signed and dated acknowledgment from the purchaser demonstrating that the purchaser has received the required risk disclosure document before a transaction in a “penny stock” can be completed; and

 

give bid and offer quotations and broker and salesperson compensation information to the customer orally or in writing before or with the confirmation.

 

These rules make it more difficult for broker-dealers to effectuate customer transactions and trading activity in our securities and may result in a lower trading volume of our common stock and lower trading prices.

 

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation which authorize the issuance of additional shares of preferred stock may make it more difficult for a third party to effect a change in control.

 

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our Board of Directors to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. During 2012, we issued 2,200 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, none of which remains outstanding. During 2013, we issued 1,650 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, 1,300 of which remains outstanding as of March 10, 2014. We believe the terms of these preferred shares would not have a substantial impact on the ability of a third party to effect a change in control. The remaining shares of preferred stock may be issued in one or more series, the terms of which may be determined at the time of issuance by our Board of Directors without further action by the stockholders. These terms may include voting rights including the right to vote as a series on particular matters, preferences as to dividends and liquidation, conversion rights, redemption rights and sinking fund provisions. The issuance of any preferred stock could diminish the rights of holders of our common stock, and therefore could reduce the value of our common stock. In addition, specific rights granted to future holders of preferred stock could be used to restrict our ability to merge with, or sell assets to, a third party. The ability of our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock could make it more difficult, delay, discourage, prevent or make it more costly to acquire or effect a change-in-control, which in turn could prevent the stockholders from recognizing a gain in the event that a favorable offer is extended and could materially and negatively affect the market price of our common stock.

 

 
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Certain provisions of the warrants we issued in March 2012 may make it more difficult for a third party to effect a change in control.

 

The Series A and C Warrants contain provisions which permit the holders to require the payment to them of an amount of cash equal to the value (based on a Black-Scholes computation) of the remaining unexercised portion of the warrants on the date of the consummation of a fundamental transaction (as defined, but generally a change in control of the Company) that is (i) an all cash transaction, (ii) a “going private” transaction, or (ii) a transaction involving a person or entity not traded on a national securities exchange. The prospect of making such payments may discourage a potential third party acquirer.

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. We generally identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar words, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, such as our estimates regarding anticipated operating losses, future performance, future revenues and projected expenses; our liquidity and our expectations regarding our needs for and ability to raise additional capital; our ability to manage our expenses effectively and raise the funds needed to continue our business; our ability to retain the services of our current executive officers, directors and principal consultants; our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our existing products and any future products we may develop; the initiation, timing, progress and results of our preclinical and clinical trials, research and development programs; regulatory and legislative developments in the United States and foreign countries; the timing, costs and other limitations involved in obtaining regulatory approval for any product; the further preclinical or clinical development and commercialization of our product candidates; the potential benefits of our product candidates over other therapies; our ability to enter into any collaboration with respect to product candidates; the performance of our third-party manufacturers; our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our products and operate our business without infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others; the successful development of our sales and marketing capabilities; the size and growth of the potential markets for our products and our ability to serve those markets; the rate and degree of market acceptance of any future products; our reliance on key scientific management or personnel; the payment and reimbursement methods used by private or governmental third-party payers; and other factors discussed elsewhere in this prospectus or any document incorporated by reference herein or therein.

 

The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described in the section titled “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. “Risk Factors” and “Business,” as well as other sections in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, discuss some of the factors that could contribute to these differences.

 

The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Other factors besides those described in this prospectus could also affect our actual results.

 

This prospectus also contains market data related to our business and industry. These market data include projections that are based on a number of assumptions. While we believe these assumptions to be reasonable and sound as of the date of this prospectus, if these assumptions turn out to be incorrect, actual results may differ from the projections based on these assumptions. As a result, our markets may not grow at the rates projected by these data, or at all. The failure of these markets to grow at these projected rates may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and the market price of our common stock.

 

 
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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We will not receive proceeds from the sales by the selling stockholders. We will, however, receive approximately $2.1 million from the exercise of the Series A and C Warrants held by the selling stockholders, if they are exercised in full for cash. We expect to use any proceeds from the exercise of warrants for working capital and general corporate purposes.

 

 

MARKET FOR OUR COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Market Information

 

Our common stock is currently traded on the OTCQB Market under the symbol “GOVX”. The following table sets forth the high and low bid prices for our common stock for the periods indicated. The prices represent quotations between dealers and do not include retail mark-up, markdown, or commission, and do not necessarily represent actual transactions. On March 10, 2014, the last reported sale price for our common stock as reported in the OTCQB Market was $0.41 per share.

 

   

High

   

Low

 

2014

               

First Quarter (through March 10, 2014)

  $ 0.60     $ 0.39  

2013

               

Fourth Quarter

  $ 0.97     $ 0.36  

Third Quarter

  $ 0.51     $ 0.36  

Second Quarter

  $ 0.63     $ 0.43  

First Quarter

  $ 0.85     $ 0.55  

2012

               

Fourth Quarter

  $ 0.89     $ 0.52  

Third Quarter

  $ 0.96     $ 0.76  

Second Quarter

  $ 1.07     $ 0.75  

First Quarter

  $ 1.24     $ 0.77  

 

On March 10, 2014, there were approximately 900 holders of record of our common stock. Because many of our shares of common stock are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of stockholders represented by these record holders.

 

Dividends

 

We have not paid any dividends since our inception and do not contemplate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination as to the declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on then existing conditions, including our financial condition, operating results, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business prospects and other factors our Board of Directors may deem relevant.

 

 
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BUSINESS

 

GeoVax, Labs Inc. is a biotechnology company developing vaccines that prevent and control human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV infections result in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We are incorporated in Delaware, and our offices and laboratory facilities are located in Smyrna, Georgia (metropolitan Atlanta).

 

Our vaccines are being evaluated to determine their potential to (a) prevent HIV infection and (b) to serve as a treatment for individuals who are already infected with HIV. These vaccines are currently being evaluated in human clinical trials -- both in those infected with HIV and those who are not.

 

Our most advanced vaccines under development are designed to function against the clade B subtype of the HIV virus that is prevalent in the United States and much of the developed world. An estimated 3.3 million people are infected with clade B HIV virus worldwide, with 187,000 new infections in 2012, of which 51,000 were in the United States. Subject to the availability of funding support from governmental or nongovernmental organizations, we also plan to develop vaccines designed for use to combat the subtypes of HIV that predominate in the developing countries. We have licensed from the NIH the MVA construct for the clade C subtype of HIV prevalent in South Africa and India, and have begun early development work on a vaccine for this subtype of the virus.

 

Our vaccines incorporate two delivery components: a recombinant DNA vaccine, and a recombinant poxvirus designated modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccine. Both the DNA and MVA vaccines contain sufficient HIV genes to support the production of non-infectious virus-like particles.  These particles display the native trimeric-membrane-bound form of the viral envelope glycoprotein that mediates entry into cells and is the target for protective antibody. When used together, the recombinant DNA component primes immune responses, which are boosted by administration of the recombinant MVA component. We have also tested an adjuvanted version of our vaccine that co-expresses granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the DNA vaccine used to prime the immune response. An adjuvant is an agent that can improve a vaccine response.

 

Our vaccine technology was developed in collaboration with researchers at Emory University, the NIH, and the CDC. The technology developed by the collaboration is exclusively licensed to us from Emory University. We also have nonexclusive licenses to certain patents owned by the NIH.

 

Therapeutic HIV Vaccine Program

 

We recently completed a Phase 1 clinical trial (GV-TH-01) investigating the therapeutic use of our GOVX-B11 vaccine in HIV-infected patients. GV-TH-01 is an open label Phase 1 treatment interruption trial investigating the safety and immunogenicity of GOVX-B11 in 9 HIV-infected patients who initiated drug treatment within 18 months of seroconversion and had stably controlled virus for at least 6 months. Patients were vaccinated with two DNA inoculations followed by two MVA inoculations at intervals of two months. Eight weeks following the last inoculation, patients suspended drug therapy for a 12 week period. Vaccinated patients’ ability to control the time and temporal height of re-emergent virus in the absence of drugs was then observed. Drug treatment was re-instituted after 12 weeks, and trial participants were observed for an additional 6 months. The primary endpoint of this study is to evaluate the safety of our vaccine in HIV-positive patients with well-controlled infections who are being treated with oral HIV medications. An exploratory objective of the study is to evaluate the ability of the vaccinated patient to control re-emergent virus during the drug treatment interruption period.

 

Early analysis of GV-TH-01 data indicates that, during the vaccination phase of the trial, enhanced CD8+ T cells were elicited in 8 of 9 participants and enhanced CD4+ T cell in 5 of 9 participants. Antibody responses were boosted in 4 of 9 participants. Analyses during the treatment interruption phase of the trial suggested that individuals with the best immune responses have lower levels of re-emergent virus. Excellent safety was observed throughout the trial, with none of the participants needing to reinstate antiretroviral drugs during the treatment interruption phase of the trial.

 

Based on the results of GV-TH-01, we are formulating plans for a follow-on Phase 1 clinical trial investigating the treatment of HIV-positive individuals with our GM-CSF adjuvanted DNA/MVA vaccine (GOVX-B21) in combination with standard-of-care antiretroviral drug therapy. The primary and secondary objectives of the study will be to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of GOVX-B21. An exploratory objective will be to investigate the vaccine’s effect on reducing viral reservoirs.

 

 
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Preventive HIV Vaccine Program

 

Clinical trials of our preventive vaccine have been conducted by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. The HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) is the largest worldwide clinical trials network dedicated to the development and testing of HIV/AIDS vaccines. Support for the HVTN comes from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The HVTN’s HIV Vaccine Trial Units are located at leading research institutions in 27 cities on four continents.

 

HVTN 065, a 120 person first in humans Phase 1 trial of our GOVX-B11 vaccine (JS7 DNA prime and MVA62B boost) showed good safety and immunogenicity and supported moving to Phase 2 testing. HVTN 205, a 300 person Phase 2a trial for MVA62B with or without a JS7 DNA prime has also been completed. Participants received either 2 doses of JS7 DNA vaccine followed by 2 doses of MVA62B at 0, 2, 4, and 6, months (DDMM regimen), 3 doses of MVA/62B at 0, 2, and 6 months (MMM regimen) or placebo injections. At peak response, 93.2% of the DDMM group and 98.4% of the MMM group had binding antibodies (Ab) for the envelope glycoprotein (Env). These binding Abs were more frequent and of higher magnitude for the transmembrane (gp41) than the receptor binding subunit (gp120) of the HIV envelope glycoprotein (Env). For both regimens, response rates were higher for CD4+ (66.4% DDMM, 43.1% MMM) than CD8+ (21.8% DDMM, 14.9% MMM) T cells. Responding CD4+ and CD8+ T cell were biased towards Gag and >70% produced two, or three, of four tested cytokines. At 6 months post vaccination, the magnitudes of Ab and T cell responses had decreased by <3- fold. These results distinguished our vaccine from other vaccines that have advanced to efficacy testing in the specificity and durability of elicited antibody responses. We believe that the durability of the Ab responses is important, because protection waned with the declining Ab response in the one partially successful HIV vaccine trial (RV144) conducted by the US military and the Thai government in Thailand.

 

During December 2013, we reviewed preliminary results from an ongoing Phase 1 trial (HVTN 094) of our adjuvanted DNA/MVA vaccine (GOVX-B21) that co-expresses GM-CSF in the priming DNA vaccine. Based on excellent preclinical non-human primate data, this trial was originally initiated with the expectation that GOVX-B21 would be carried forward into Phase 2 testing by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, with support by the NIH. However, comparison of data between HVTN 094 and HVTN 205 has not shown a significant benefit from adding the adjuvant to the vaccine for preventive use. Following an extensive review of preclinical and clinical data, we have decided to advance GOVX-B11 to the next stage of clinical testing.

 

We are currently in planning discussions with the HVTN for the next stage of clinical trials, and several scenarios are being considered. Our vaccine is currently the only vaccine being contemplated for efficacy trials for prevention of clade B HIV infection. However, the HVTN believes the best path forward may be to test GOVX-B11 in combination with a protein boost or another approach to preventing HIV infection. Protein boosts may augment antibody responses that can block virus infections (neutralizing antibody) and cause antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC antibody). Protein added to HIV vaccines have shown some success in other trials. The HVTN believes this “dual-action” approach may be a prudent and cost-effective path forward for supporting large clinical trials. We expect our next preventive clinical trial to begin during 2015 and to be fully funded by the NIH, with specific details of the study determined after further data analysis and input from the HVTN and NIH in mid-2014.

 

Background – Viruses and Vaccines

 

What are Viruses? Viruses are microscopic organisms consisting of genetic material comprised of DNA or ribonucleic acid (“RNA”), surrounded by a protein, lipid (fat), or glycoprotein coat. Viruses invade healthy, living host cells in order to replicate and spread. In many cases, the body’s immune system can recognize and effectively combat an infection caused by a virus. However, with certain viral infections, the body’s immune system is unable to fully destroy or inhibit the replication of the virus, which results in persistent and ongoing viral replication resulting in disease.

 

Infections caused by viruses can be chronic or acute. Chronic infections, such as those caused by HIV, do not typically self-resolve with time and can cause chronic disease. Acute infections associated with viruses, such as influenza, generally last for a relatively short period of time, and self-resolve in most immuno-competent individuals.

 

Viruses can also be characterized as either active or latent. An active virus can cause a persistent infection or disease over an extended period of time. A latent virus will remain in the body for very long periods of time after the initial infection and generally will only cause disease when the body’s immune system weakens, fails or is suppressed, allowing the virus to once again replicate. Vaccines have been widely used to prevent active viral infections from occurring.

 

 

 
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Viruses that develop resistance to antiviral drugs are increasingly becoming a challenge in the treatment of viral infections, particularly those that are chronic in nature. The ability of viruses to mutate spontaneously during replication allows drug-resistant strains to emerge when patients are using drugs that are not potent enough to quickly and completely inhibit viral replication. Drug resistance occurs because viruses continually replicate making millions of copies of themselves, some of which contain mutations in their genetic material. Mutations that emerge in the presence of a suppressive antiviral drug will give rise to mutant strains that are wholly or partially resistant to that drug. These mutant viruses, while initially low in number, eventually become the predominant strain in an infected patient as those strains that remain susceptible to the drug are inhibited from replicating. Once this occurs, the treatment benefit of that particular antiviral drug often diminishes, resulting in treatment failure and the need for an alternate therapy with different or possibly new drugs, or classes of drugs. In general, viruses that cause chronic infections, such as HIV, are more likely to develop drug resistance due to the long-term and persistent exposure of the virus to the antiviral therapy.

 

What are Vaccines? Vaccines represent an approach to broaden the ability to prevent serious infectious diseases caused by both viruses and bacteria. A vaccine is a substance introduced into the human body that teaches the immune system to detect and destroy a pathogen (a virus or bacterium that causes disease). All vaccines contain some harmless form or part of the pathogen they target. They exert their effects through the adaptive immune response, an arm of the immune system that learns to recognize and neutralize specific pathogens.

 

There are several types of vaccines:

Whole-killed/Whole-inactivated vaccines: The active ingredient in these vaccines is an intact virus or bacterium that has been killed or otherwise stripped of its ability to infect humans. Examples include the cholera and injectable polio vaccines. This approach has not been applied to the development of vaccines against HIV due to the small but inevitable risk that the viruses harvested for such preparations may not all have been killed or adequately inactivated.

Live attenuated vaccines:  These vaccines use a form of the targeted pathogen that is highly unlikely to be harmful—one capable, say, of multiplying, but not causing disease. Examples include the measles vaccine and the oral vaccine against polio, which has been widely deployed in global eradication efforts. Such vaccines can be very effective because they closely mimic the behavior of the targeted pathogen, giving the immune system a truer picture of what it would be up against. Due to the risk that attenuated HIV might revert to its disease-causing form, this approach has not been applied to the development of human AIDS vaccines.

Subunit vaccines: Vaccines of this variety are composed of purified pieces of the pathogen (known as antigens) that generate a vigorous, protective immune response. Common subunit vaccines include the seasonal flu and hepatitis B vaccines. This approach was employed to devise the first AIDS vaccine candidate tested in humans, which failed to induce protection from HIV infection.

DNA vaccines: These vaccine candidates are also designed to train the immune system to recognize a piece of the targeted bacterium or virus. The difference is that the active ingredients are not the purified antigens themselves but circles of DNA, called plasmids, that carry genes encoding those antigens. Human cells passively take up these plasmids and produce the antigens that, in turn, train the immune system to recognize the targeted pathogen.

Recombinant vector vaccines: These vaccines, like DNA vaccines, introduce genes for targeted antigens into the body. But the genes are inserted into a virus that actively infects human cells. The viruses chosen as vectors are safe to use because they do not ordinarily cause disease in humans and/or have been stripped of their ability to proliferate.

 

Overview of HIV/AIDS

 

What is HIV? HIV is a retrovirus that carries its genetic code in the form of RNA. Retroviruses use RNA and the reverse transcriptase enzyme to create DNA from the RNA template. The HIV-1 virus invades human cells and produces its viral DNA that is subsequently inserted into the chromosomes, which are the genetic material of a cell. HIV preferentially infects and replicates in T-cells, which are a type of white blood cell. Infection of T-cells alters them from immunity mediating cells to cells that produce and release HIV. This process results in the destruction of the immune defense system of infected individuals and ultimately, the development of AIDS.

 

There are several AIDS-causing HIV virus subtypes, or clades, that are found in different regions of the world. These clades are identified as clade A, clade B and so on. The predominant clade found in Europe, North America, parts of South America, Japan and Australia is clade B, whereas the predominant clades in Africa are clades A and C. In India, the predominant clade is clade C. Each clade differs by at least 20% with respect to its genetic sequence from other clades. These differences may mean that vaccines or treatments developed against HIV of one clade may only be partially effective or ineffective against HIV of other clades. Thus, there is often a geographical focus to designing and developing vaccines suited for the local clade.

 

HIV, even within clades, has a high rate of mutation that supports a significant level of genetic variation. In drug treatment programs, virus mutation can result in the development of drug resistance, referred to as virus drug escape, thereby rendering drug therapy ineffective. Hence, we believe that multi-drug therapy is very important. If several drugs are active against virus replication, the virus must undergo multiple simultaneous mutations to escape, which is less likely. The same is true for immune responses. HIV can escape single targeted immune responses. However, our scientists believe if an immune response is directed against multiple targets, which are referred to as epitopes, virus escape is much less frequent. Vaccination against more than one of the proteins found in HIV increases the number of targets for the immune response as well as the chance that HIV will not escape the vaccine-stimulated immune response, thus resulting in protection against infection or the development of clinical AIDS once infection occurs.

 

 
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What is AIDS? AIDS is the final, life-threatening stage of infection with the virus known as HIV. Infection with HIV severely damages the immune system, the body’s defense against disease. HIV infects and gradually destroys T-cells and macrophages, which are white blood cells that play key roles in protecting humans against infectious disease caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and other micro-organisms.

 

Opportunistic infections by organisms, normally posing no problem for control by a healthy immune system, can ravage persons with immune systems damaged by HIV infections. Destruction of the immune system occurs over years. The average onset of the clinical disease recognized as AIDS occurs after three to ten years of HIV infection if the virus is not treated effectively with drugs, but the time to developing AIDS is highly variable.

 

AIDS in humans was first identified in the United States in 1981, but researchers believe that it was present in Central Africa as early as 1959. AIDS is most often transmitted sexually from one person to another but it is also transmitted by blood in shared needles and through pregnancy and childbirth. Heterosexual activity is the most frequent route of transmission worldwide.

 

The level of virus in blood, known as viral load, is the best indicator of the speed with which an individual will progress to AIDS and the frequency with which an individual will spread infection. An estimated 1% or fewer of those infected have low enough levels of the virus to preclude progression to AIDS and to not transmit the infection. These individuals are commonly called elite controllers or long-term non-progressors.

 

AIDS is considered by many in the scientific and medical community to be the most lethal infectious disease in the world. According to the report published by UNAIDS/WHO, at the end of 2012, an estimated 36 million people were living with HIV worldwide, with approximately 2.5 million newly infected in 2012 alone. Approximately 25 million people infected with HIV have died since the 1981 start of the HIV pandemic. The United States currently suffers about 51,000 infections per year, of which only an estimated 25% enter into, and maintain, successful drug treatment.

 

At present, the standard approach to treating HIV infection is to inhibit viral replication through the use of combinations of drugs. Available drugs include reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, integration inhibitors and inhibitors of cell entry to block multiple essential steps in virus replication. However, HIV is prone to genetic changes that can produce strains that are resistant to currently approved drugs. When HIV acquires resistance to one drug within a class, it can often become resistant to the entire class, meaning that it may be impossible to re-establish control of a genetically altered strain by substituting different drugs in the same class. Furthermore, these treatments continue to have significant limitations which include toxicity, patient non-adherence to the treatment regimens and cost. As a result, over time, many patients develop intolerance to these medications or simply give up taking the medications due to the side effects.

 

According to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), the cost and complexity of new treatment advances for AIDS puts them out of reach for most people in the countries where treatment is most needed, and as noted above, in industrialized nations, where drugs are more readily available, side effects and increased rates of viral resistance have raised concerns about their long term use. AIDS vaccines, therefore, are seen by many as the most promising way to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It is expected that vaccines for HIV/AIDS, once developed, will be used universally and administered worldwide by organizations that provide health care services, including hospitals, medical clinics, the military, prisons and schools.

 

Our Vaccine Candidates

 

Our vaccines, initially developed by our Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Harriet L. Robinson at Emory University in collaboration with scientists at the NIH and the CDC, incorporate two vaccine delivery components: (1) a recombinant DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and (2) a recombinant poxvirus, known as MVA (modified vaccinia Ankara), both of which deliver genes that encode inactivated HIV derived proteins to the immune system. Both the DNA and MVA vaccines contain sufficient HIV genes to support the production of non-infectious virus-like particles which display the native trimeric membrane-bound form of the viral envelope glycoprotein that appears authentic to the immune system. When used together, the recombinant DNA component is used to prime the immune response, which is then boosted by administration of the recombinant MVA component. However, in certain settings the recombinant MVA alone may be sufficient for priming and boosting the immune responses.

 

 
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Our initial work focused on the development of a preventive vaccine for use in uninfected humans to prevent infection should they be exposed to the virus. Later, based on encouraging data in preclinical primate models, we undertook the development of a therapeutic vaccine for use in HIV infected humans to supplement approved drug regimens. For both preventive and therapeutic applications, our primary focus is on a vaccine for use against clade B, which is common in the United States and the industrially developed world. However, if efficacy is documented against clade B, we plan to develop vaccines designed for use to combat the subtypes of HIV that predominate in developing countries, including clades A, C and an AG recombinant. We have licensed from the NIH the MVA construct for the clade C version of HIV prevalent in South Africa and India, and have begun early development work on a vaccine for this subtype of the virus.

 

Induction of T-cell and Antibody Immune Responses. In both preclinical and clinical trials, our vaccines induce both anti-viral antibody and T-cell responses. The induction of both antibodies and T-cells is beneficial because these immune responses work through different mechanisms. Antibodies can prevent infection by blocking viruses from infecting cells. In preclinical vaccine studies using repeated rectal challenges with moderate doses of virus, the avidity, or tightness, of antibody binding to the surface envelope glycoprotein of HIV correlates with the prevention of infection (The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 204:164 (2011)). In high dose challenges that infect all animals at the first exposure, the avidity of the antibody for envelope glycoprotein correlates with reduced levels of virus replication (Journal of Virology, 83:4102 (2009)). These results likely reflect the tightly binding antibody both blocking infection as well as tagging the virus and infected cells for destruction, by white blood cells such as macrophages, neutrophils and natural killer cells. Our vaccines elicit CD8 T-cells, a type of T-cell that can recognize and kill cells that become infected by virus (without antibody tagging). CD8 T-cells are important for the control of the virus that has established an infection.  

 

DNA and MVA as Vaccine Vectors. Both the DNA and MVA vaccines produce virus-like particles containing the three major proteins of HIV. The virus-like particles cannot cause disease because they were designed with mutated or deleted enzymatic functions that are essential for virus replication.  The virus-like particles display trimeric membrane bound forms of the HIV envelope glycoprotein (Env). This is important because the natural form of the envelope glycoprotein elicits antibody capable of recognizing incoming virus and blocking infections. Expression of multiple proteins by the vaccine is important because each protein provides targets for cytotoxic T-cells. Elicitation of a multi-target T-cell response limits immune escape, just as multi-drug therapies limit drug escape.

 

Figure 1. Electron micrographs showing the virus-like-particles (VLPs) produced by GeoVax recombinant DNA and recombinant MVA vaccines. For the DNA Prime, VLPs are seen budding from a DNA-expressing cell. For the MVA boost, fully formed particles as well as a budding particle are shown. The VLPs display trimeric membrane-bound forms of the viral envelope glycoprotein (Env). This is an important feature of the vaccine because display of the normal Env means that the antibody elicited by the vaccine can recognize the Env on incoming viruses. The VLPs are immature and are rendered non-infectious by deletion of essential genes and introduction of inactivating mutations in essential viral enzymes.

 

MVA was selected for use as the live viral component of our vaccines because of its well established safety record and because of the ability of this vector to carry sufficient HIV proteins to produce virus-like particles. MVA was originally developed as a safer smallpox vaccine for use in immune compromised humans.  It was developed by attenuating the standard smallpox vaccine by making over 500 passages of the virus in chicken embryos or chick embryo fibroblasts which resulted in large genomic deletions. These deletions limited the ability of MVA to replicate in human cells, which can cause safety problems, but did not compromise the ability of MVA to grow on avian cells that are used for manufacturing the virus. The deletions also resulted in the loss of immune evasion genes which assist the spread of wild type smallpox infections, even in the presence of human immune responses. MVA was safely administered to over 120,000 people in the 1970s as a smallpox vaccine.

 

 
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Preclinical Studies. During the development of our preventive vaccines, preclinical efficacy trials were conducted by vaccinating non-human primates with simian immunodeficiency virus prototypes of our HIV vaccines and then testing them for resistance to simian immunodeficiency virus infection. The experimental data produced by these trials documented the ability of the simian prototypes of our vaccines to induce immune responses that can prevent infection as well as reduce the levels of viral replication in those animals that become infected.

 

Encouragingly, we found that non-human primates that were protected against a first series of rectal challenges were protected against further series of challenges. Seven survivors from a first series of 12 exposures were rested a year, boosted once with the MVA vaccine, and then exposed to a 2nd series of challenges. One of 7 animals was infected by the 10th exposure. Survivors of this 2nd series of exposures were again rested for 6 months and then exposed to a 3rd series of challenges. Again, protection was seen against the challenges with the last animal not becoming infected until the 12th challenge. The 1st two series of exposures were to SIVE660, a virus that has neutralization characteristics like viruses undergoing transmission in the current epidemic. The 3rd series of challenges was with SIV251, a virus that is considered the most potent SIV used in nonhuman primate studies and is an outlier in its high resistance to neutralization.

 

Preclinical Studies – Therapeutic Vaccine. In 2007-2008, data were generated in three pilot studies on therapeutic vaccination in simian immunodeficiency virus-infected non-human primates. The vaccine used in these pilot studies was specific for simian immunodeficiency virus but with the design features of our HIV/AIDS vaccine. In these pilot studies, conducted at Yerkes National Primate Research Center of Emory University, non-human primates were infected, drug-treated, vaccinated and then drug-interrupted. Following treatment interruption, median levels of virus in blood, measured as viral RNA, were 10 to 1000-times lower than those measured prior to drug and vaccine treatment. The therapeutic reductions in virus levels were best for animals placed on drugs within 12 weeks of infection with lower levels of protection being achieved in animals that were placed on drugs at 3 months or later after infection.

 

Human Clinical Trials -- Preventive Vaccine

Phase 1 Human Clinical Trials. All of our preventive vaccination trials in humans have been conducted by the HVTN, a network that is funded and supported by the NIH. The HVTN is the largest worldwide clinical trials network focused on the development and testing of HIV/AIDS vaccines. The results of a two group, 30 participant, Phase 1 trial (designated HVTN 045) are published in AIDS RESEARCH AND HUMAN RETROVIRUSES 22:678 (2006) and of a four group 120 participant trial (HVTN 065) in The Journal of Infectious Diseases 203:610 (2011). Our Phase 1 trials have tested both safety and dosing regimens.

 

In our first Phase 1 clinical trial, HVTN 045, our DNA vaccine was tested without MVA boosting to document the safety of the DNA. Our second Phase 1 clinical trial, HVTN 065, was designed to test the combined use of DNA and MVA and consisted of a dose escalation as well as regimen studies. The low dose consisted of 0.3 mg of DNA and 1x107 tissue culture infectious doses (TCID50) of MVA. Once safety was demonstrated for the low dose in 10 participants, the full dose (3 mg of DNA and 1x108 TCID50 of MVA) was administered to 30 participants. A single dose of DNA at time 0 followed by MVA at weeks 8 and 24, a DMM regimen, and three doses of MVA administered at weeks 0, 8 and 24, an MMM regimen, were also tested in 30 participants each. Participants were followed for 12 months to assess vaccine safety and to measure vaccine-induced immune responses.

 

Data from the HVTN 065 trial again documented the safety of the vaccine products but also showed that the DDMM and MMM regimens induced different patterns of immune responses. The full dose DDMM regimen induced higher response rates of CD4+ T-cells (77%) and CD8+ T-cells (42%) compared to the MMM regimen (43% CD4 and 17% CD8 response rates). In contrast, the highest response rates and highest titers of antibodies to the HIV Env protein were induced in the group that received only the MVA using the MMM regimen. Antibody response rates were documented to be higher for the MMM group using three different assays designed to measure total binding antibody levels for an immune dominant portion of the Env protein (27% for DDMM and 75% for MMM), binding of antibodies to the gp120 subunit of the envelope glycoprotein (81% for DDMM and 86% for MMM) and neutralizing antibodies (7% for DDMM and 30% for MMM). The 1/10th dose DDMM regimen induced overall similar T-cell responses but reduced antibody responses while the response rates were intermediate in the DMM group. 

 

The HVTN also sponsored and conducted a Phase 1 clinical trial in humans (HVTN 094) of the adjuvanted form of our vaccine that co-expresses GM-CSF in the DNA priming vaccine. We have designated the GM-CSF-adjuvanted version of our DNA/MVA vaccine regimen as GOVX-B21, and the unadjuvanted version as GOVX-B11. During December 2013, we reviewed preliminary results from HVTN 094. Based on excellent preclinical non-human primate data, this trial was originally initiated with the expectation that GOVX-B21 would be carried forward into Phase 2 testing by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, with support by the NIH. However, comparison of data between HVTN 094 and HVTN 205 has not shown a significant benefit from adding the adjuvant to the vaccine for preventive use. Following an extensive review of preclinical and clinical data, we have decided to advance GOVX-B11 to the next stage of clinical testing.

 

 
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Phase 2 Human Clinical Trials. Based on the safety and the immunogenicity results in the HVTN 045 and HVTN 065 trials, the full dose DNA/MVA and MVA-only regimens of our first-generation vaccine were selected for testing by the HVTN in a Phase 2a trial (designated HVTN 205) which was completed in 2012 and the subject of an oral presentation at the AIDS Vaccine 2012 Conference in September 2012, with further analysis presented at the AIDS Vaccine Meeting in Barcelona, Spain, in October 2013. HVTN 205 was designed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of our vaccines in healthy, HIV-uninfected adults. In HVTN 205, 299 participants were randomly assigned to three study arms: 149 participants received two injections of our DNA vaccine followed by two injections of the our MVA vaccine (DDMM arm), 75 participants received three MVA injections followed by one placebo injection (MMM arm), and 75 participants received four injections of placebo. After the final vaccination, antibody responses against the HIV Envelope protein (Env), the target for protective antibody, were detected in 93.2% of the DDMM arm (the vaccination regimen selected for further clinical study). At six months after final vaccination (the latest time point tested), Gp140 IgG antibody response titers in the DDMM arm had declined by less than 3-fold, with response rates only declining from 100% to 84%, indicating significant durability of the antibody response. Additionally, HVTN 205 also showed that the antibody responses after vaccination had high affinity binding, a characteristic which has been associated with prevention of HIV infection in preclinical models.

 

We are currently in planning discussions with the HVTN for the next stage of clinical trials, and several scenarios are being considered. Our vaccine is currently the only vaccine being contemplated for efficacy trials for prevention of clade B HIV infection. However, the HVTN believes the best path forward may be to test GOVX-B11 in combination with a protein boost or another approach to preventing HIV infection. Protein boosts may augment antibody responses that can block virus infections (neutralizing antibody) and cause antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC antibody). Protein added to HIV vaccines have shown some success in other trials. The HVTN believes this “dual-action” approach may be a prudent and cost-effective path forward for supporting large clinical trials. We expect our next preventive clinical trial to begin during 2015 and to be fully funded by the NIH, with specific details of the study determined after further data analysis and input from the HVTN and NIH in mid-2014.

 

Human Clinical Trials -- Therapeutic Vaccine. To help treat those people who are already infected with HIV, we are testing the feasibility of using our vaccine to enhance viral control in drug-treated individuals. Antiretroviral therapeutic drugs, which are taken for life by individuals once infected with HIV, have side effects and are expensive, costing $12,000 - $15,000 per year (drug cost only, not including physician visits and related costs). And according to a 2010 study by the CDC, of those individuals in the United States who are diagnosed with HIV, only 35% ultimately achieve stable viral load suppression through drug treatment.  Thus, even in the United States where the availability of drugs and treatment is good, there is still obvious compelling need for therapies that complement drugs.

 

Phase 1 Trial (Treatment Interruption). We recently completed a Phase 1 clinical trial (GV-TH-01) investigating the therapeutic use of our GOVX-B11 vaccine in HIV-infected patients. GV-TH-01 is an open label Phase 1 treatment interruption trial investigating the safety and immunogenicity of GOVX-B11 in 9 HIV-infected patients who initiated drug treatment within 18 months of seroconversion and had stably controlled virus for at least 6 months. Patients were vaccinated with two DNA inoculations followed by two MVA inoculations at intervals of two months. Eight weeks following the last inoculation, patients suspended drug therapy for a 12 week period. Vaccinated patients’ ability to control the time and temporal height of re-emergent virus in the absence of drugs was then observed. Drug treatment was re-instituted after 12 weeks, and trial participants were observed for an additional 6 months. The primary endpoint of this study is to evaluate the safety of our vaccine in HIV-positive patients with well-controlled infections who are being treated with oral HIV medications. An exploratory objective of the study is to evaluate the ability of the vaccinated patient to control re-emergent virus during the drug treatment interruption period.

 

Early analysis of GV-TH-01 data indicates that, during the vaccination phase of the trial, enhanced CD8+ T cells were elicited in 8 of 9 participants and enhanced CD4+ T cell in 5 of 9 participants. Antibody responses were boosted in 4 of 9 participants. Analyses during the treatment interruption phase of the trial suggested that individuals with the best immune responses have lower levels of re-emergent virus. Excellent safety was observed throughout the trial, with none of the participants needing to reinstate antiretroviral drugs during the treatment interruption phase of the trial.

 

Phase 1 Trial Planning (Vaccine plus Standard of Care Drug Therapy). The NIH has recently prioritized searching for a cure for those individuals who are HIV positive. Because of the mechanisms by which current oral drugs work, if the virus is in a latent phase these drugs are not effective, thus the drugs can prevent spread of the virus but cannot kill an infected cell. Immune responses can recognize and kill infected cells if they are expressing viral protein.

 

 
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Based on the results of GV-TH-01, we are formulating plans for a follow-on Phase 1 clinical trial investigating the treatment of HIV-positive individuals with our GM-CSF adjuvanted DNA/MVA vaccine (GOVX-B21) in combination with standard-of-care antiretroviral drug therapy. The primary and secondary objectives of the study will be to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of GOVX-B21. An exploratory objective will be to investigate the vaccine’s effect on reducing viral reservoirs.

 

Support from the United States Government

 

With the exception of the Phase 1 therapeutic trial (treatment interruption protocol), all of our human clinical trials to date have been conducted by the HVTN and funded by NIH. Our responsibility for these clinical trials has been to provide sufficient supplies of vaccine materials and technical expertise when necessary.

 

In addition to clinical trial support from the NIH, our operations are partially funded by NIH research grants. In September 2007, the NIH awarded us an Integrated Preclinical/Clinical AIDS Vaccine Development (IPCAVD) grant to support our HIV/AIDS vaccine program. We are utilizing this funding to further our HIV/AIDS vaccine development, optimization and production. The aggregate award (including subsequent amendments) totaled $20.4 million, and there is approximately $700,000 remaining and available for use as of December 31, 2013. In September 2012, the NIH awarded us an additional grant of $1.9 million to support development of versions of our HIV/AIDS vaccines to address the clade C subtype of the HIV virus prevalent in the developing world. All funding pursuant to this grant has been utilized. In July 2013, the NIH awarded us a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant for approximately $277,000 to support preclinical studies evaluating the ability of protein boosts to augment antibody responses. The grant award of approximately $277,000 is for the first year of a two year project period beginning August 1, 2013, and there is approximately $122,000 of unused grant funds remaining and available for use as of December 31, 2013.

 

Please refer to our Financial Statements beginning on page F-1 of this prospectus, and to “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, for additional information regarding revenue and funds availability.

 

Regulations

 

Regulation by governmental authorities in the United States and other countries is a significant factor in our ongoing research and development activities and in the manufacture of our products under development. Complying with these regulations involves a considerable amount of time and expense.

 

In the United States, drugs are subject to rigorous federal and state regulation. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended, or the FDC Act, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and other federal and state statutes and regulations govern, among other things, the testing, manufacture, safety, efficacy, labeling, storage, record keeping, approval, advertising and promotion of medications and medical devices. Product development and approval within this regulatory framework is difficult to predict, takes a number of years and involves great expense. The steps required before a pharmaceutical agent may be marketed in the United States include:

 

 

pre-clinical laboratory tests, in vivo pre-clinical studies and formulation studies;

 

the submission to the FDA of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for human clinical testing which must become effective before human clinical trials can commence;

 

adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of the product;

 

the submission of a New Drug Application to the FDA; and

 

FDA approval of the New Drug Application prior to any commercial sale or shipment of the product.

 

Each of these steps is described further below. In addition to obtaining FDA approval for each product, each domestic manufacturing establishment must be registered with, and approved by, the FDA. Domestic manufacturing establishments are subject to biennial inspections by the FDA and must comply with the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices for products, drugs and devices.

 

Preclinical Testing. Pre-clinical testing includes laboratory evaluation of chemistry and formulation, as well as cell culture and animal studies to assess the safety and potential efficacy of the product. Pre-clinical safety tests must be conducted by laboratories that comply with the FDA’s Good Laboratory Practices, or GLP. The results of pre-clinical testing are submitted to the FDA as part of the IND application and are reviewed by the FDA prior to the commencement of human clinical trials. Unless the FDA objects to an IND, the IND becomes effective 30 days following its receipt by the FDA.

 

 
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Clinical Trials. Clinical trials involve the administration of the HIV vaccines to volunteers or to patients under the supervision of a qualified, medically trained principal investigator. Clinical trials are conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practices under protocols that detail the objectives of the trial, the parameters to be used to monitor safety and the efficacy criteria to be evaluated. Each protocol must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND. Further, each clinical trial must be conducted under the auspices of an independent institutional review board at the institution where the trial will be conducted. The institutional review board will consider, among other things, ethical factors, the safety of human subjects and the possible liability of the institution.

 

Clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases, but the phases may overlap. In the Phase 1 clinical trial, the initial introduction of the product into healthy human subjects, the vaccine is tested for safety (including adverse side effects) and dosage tolerance. The Phase 2 clinical trial is the proof of principal stage and involves trials in a limited patient population to determine whether the product induces the desired effect (for our vaccines this means immune responses) and to better determine optimal dosage. The continued identification of possible safety risks is also a focus. When there is evidence that the product may be effective and has an acceptable safety profile in Phase 2 clinical trials, Phase 3 clinical trials are undertaken to evaluate clinical efficacy and to test for safety within an expanded patient population. Phase 3 trials are completed using multiple clinical study sites which are geographically dispersed. The manufacturer or the FDA may suspend clinical trials at any time if either believes that the individuals participating in the trials are being exposed to unacceptable health risks.

 

New Drug Application and FDA Approval Process. The results and details of the pre-clinical studies and clinical trials are submitted to the FDA in the form of a New Drug Application. If the New Drug Application is approved, the manufacturer may market the product in the United States.

 

International Approval. Whether or not the FDA has approved the drug, approval of a product by regulatory authorities in foreign countries must be obtained prior to the commencement of commercial sales of the drug in such countries. The requirements governing the conduct of clinical trials and drug approvals vary widely from country to country, and the time required for approval may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA approval.

 

Other Regulations. In addition to FDA regulations, our business activities may also be regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and other present and potential future federal, state or local regulations. Violations of regulatory requirements at any stage may result in various adverse consequences, including regulatory delay in approving or refusal to approve a product, enforcement actions, including withdrawal of approval, labeling restrictions, seizure of products, fines, injunctions and/or civil or criminal penalties. Any product that we develop must receive all relevant regulatory approvals or clearances before it may be marketed.

 

Our Strategy

 

Our short-term goal is to bring both our preventive and therapeutic HIV/AIDS vaccines into efficacy testing, with the ultimate objective of becoming a leading biopharmaceutical company that develops differentiated products to prevent and treat serious infections, focusing on unmet medical needs. To achieve these strategic goals, we intend to employ the following strategies:

 

Leverage the Support of Federal Government Agencies for Trials of our Preventive Vaccine. The NIH and HVTN have been very supportive of our efforts to date in developing our preventive vaccines, and we intend to continue to solicit their assistance and financial support for the efficacy testing of our preventive vaccines.

Development of Our Therapeutic Vaccine Candidates. We plan to focus our resources on developing our therapeutic vaccines to show initial indications of efficacy in humans. We will leverage governmental support where possible.

Seek the Support of Nongovernmental Organizations. We also intend to solicit the support of Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) toward the development of our vaccine candidates for the versions of the HIV virus prevalent in the developing world.

Seek Strategic Collaborations to Accelerate the Development of Our Vaccine Candidates to Optimize Economic Returns while Managing Risk. We intend to establish strategic licenses and collaborations, partnerships, alliances or enter into other transactions in the future with pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical companies with greater clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization capabilities that we believe can accelerate the development and/or commercialization of our vaccine candidates.

New Business Opportunities. We will be open to new business development opportunities to potentially expand our technology and product pipeline or to otherwise provide additional revenue sources.

  

 
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Manufacturing

 

We do not have the facilities or expertise to manufacture any of the clinical or commercial supplies of any of our products. To be successful, our products must be manufactured in commercial quantities in compliance with regulatory requirements and at an acceptable cost. To date, we have not commercialized any products, nor have we demonstrated that we can manufacture commercial quantities of our product candidates in accordance with regulatory requirements. If we cannot manufacture products in suitable quantities and in accordance with regulatory standards, either on our own or through contracts with third parties, it may delay clinical trials, regulatory approvals and marketing efforts for such products. Such delays could adversely affect our competitive position and our chances of achieving profitability. We cannot be sure that we can manufacture, either on our own or through contracts with third parties, such products at a cost or in quantities which are commercially viable.

 

We currently rely and intend to continue to rely on third-party contract manufacturers to produce vaccines needed for research and clinical trials. We have entered into arrangements with third party manufacturers for the supply of our DNA and MVA vaccines for use in our planned clinical trials. These suppliers operate under the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices and similar regulations of the European Medicines Agency. We anticipate that these suppliers will be able to provide sufficient vaccine supplies to complete our currently planned clinical trials. Various contractors are generally available in the United States and Europe for manufacture of vaccines for clinical trial evaluation, however, it may be difficult to replace existing contractors for certain manufacturing and testing activities and costs for contracted services may increase substantially if we switch to other contractors.

 

Development of Improved Manufacturing Techniques for MVA – The MVA component of our vaccine is currently manufactured in cells that are cultured from embryonic chicken eggs. In an attempt to find a means to reduce costs for large scale manufacturing, we have explored a number of approaches to producing MVA in continuous cell lines that can be grown in bioreactors. In this process we have identified a duck stem-cell-derived line (termed EB66), that is proprietary to Valneva S.E., France. We are currently working with Valneva on the use of EB66 cells for the growth of our MVA vaccines. We are hopeful that upon completion of process development we will be producing vaccine at significantly higher titers, allowing for quality improvements over the current process as well as meaningful cost reductions.

 

Competition

 

There currently is no FDA licensed and commercialized HIV/AIDS vaccine or competitive vaccine available in the world market. However, the market for vaccines that protect against or treat HIV/AIDS is intensely competitive and is subject to rapid and significant technological change. We will have numerous competitors in the United States and abroad, including large companies with substantially greater resources than us. These competitors may develop technologies and products that are more effective or less costly than any of our future technology or products or that could render our technology or products obsolete or noncompetitive.

 

There are several small and large biopharmaceutical companies pursuing HIV/AIDS vaccine research and development, including Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis and GlaxoSmithKline. Other HIV/AIDS vaccines are in varying stages of research, testing and clinical trials including those supported by the NIH Vaccine Research Center, the U.S. Military, IAVI, the European Vaccine Initiative, and the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative.

 

In October 2009, the results from a Phase 3 community-based clinical trial in Thailand using a recombinant canarypox (designated ALVAC and produced by Sanofi Pasteur) as a priming vaccine and a bivalent mixture of the gp120 subunit of Env from HIV clades B and C (produced by VaxGen, Inc. and currently licensed to Global Solutions for Infectious Diseases) as a protein booster vaccine were reported. In this clinical trial, protection against HIV infection at the rate of 31% was reported. The results of this clinical trial are encouraging because they represent the first success of an AIDS vaccine in humans and demonstrate that a vaccine can provide protection against HIV infections. 

 

To our knowledge, none of our competitors’ products have been tested in large scale non-human primate trials that have included experimental infection through the rectal site and shown to induce levels of protection or duration of protection comparable to that achieved using experimental prototypes of GeoVax’s vaccines. Furthermore, many of our competitors’ vaccine development programs require vaccine compositions which are more complicated than ours. For these reasons, we believe that it may be possible for our vaccine to compete successfully in the marketplace if licensed.

 

 
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Overall, the biopharmaceutical industry is competitive and subject to rapid and substantial technological change. Developments by others may render our proposed vaccination technologies noncompetitive or obsolete, or we may be unable to keep pace with technological developments or other market factors. Technological competition in the industry from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, universities, governmental entities and others diversifying into the field is intense and is expected to increase. Many of the pharmaceutical companies that compete with us have significantly greater research and development capabilities than we have, as well as substantially more marketing, manufacturing, and financial resources. In addition, acquisitions of, or investments in, small pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies by such large corporations could increase their research, financial, marketing, manufacturing and other resources. Competitive technologies may ultimately prove to be safer, more effective or less costly than any vaccine that we develop.

 

FDA and other regulatory approvals of our vaccines have not yet been obtained and we have not yet generated any revenues from product sales. Our future competitive position depends on our ability to obtain FDA and other regulatory approvals of our vaccines and to license or sell the vaccines to third parties on favorable terms.

 

Our Intellectual Property

 

We will be able to protect our proprietary rights from unauthorized use by third parties only to the extent that our proprietary rights are described by valid and enforceable patents or are effectively maintained as trade secrets. Accordingly, we are pursuing and will continue to pursue patent protection for our proprietary technologies developed through our collaborations with Emory University, the NIH, and the CDC, or developed by us alone. Patent applications have been filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in specific international markets (countries). Patent applications include provisions to cover our DNA and MVA based HIV vaccines, their genetic inserts expressing multiple HIV protein components, composition, structure, claim of immunization against multiple subtypes of HIV, routes of administration, safety and other related factors. Patent claims filed for our vaccines include provisions for their therapeutic and prophylactic use against HIV and smallpox.

 

We are the exclusive, worldwide licensee of a number of patents and patent applications, which we refer to as the Emory Technology, owned, licensed or otherwise controlled by Emory University for HIV or smallpox vaccines pursuant to a License Agreement originally entered into on August 23, 2002 and restated on June 23, 2004, which we refer to as the Emory License. Through the Emory License we are also a non-exclusive licensee of four issued United States patents owned by the NIH related to the ability of our MVA vector vaccine to operate as a vehicle to deliver HIV virus antigens, and also to induce an immune response in humans. The four issued United States patents owned by the NIH expire in 2023. All of our obligations with respect to the NIH-owned MVA patents are covered by the Emory License. In addition to the issued United States patents owned by the NIH, and a recently issued patent owned by Emory University, there are six issued and seven pending United States patent applications, and thirty-two issued or pending patents in countries other than the United States. The Emory License expires on the expiration date of the last to expire of the patents licensed thereunder including those that are issued on patents currently pending. We will not know the final termination date of the Emory License until such patents are issued. The Company may terminate the Emory University License upon 90 days’ written notice. The Emory License also contains standard provisions allowing Emory University to terminate upon breach of contract by the Company or upon the Company’s bankruptcy.

 

The Emory License, among other contractual obligations, requires payments based on the following:

 

 

Milestone Payments. An aggregate of $3,450,000 is potentially due to Emory University in the future upon the achievement of clinical development and regulatory approval milestones as defined in the Emory License. To date, we have paid a nominal milestone fee upon entering Phase 2 clinical trials for our preventive HIV/AIDS vaccine.

 

Maintenance Fees. The Company has achieved the specified milestones and met its obligations with regard to the related payments, and no maintenance fees are (or will be) owed to Emory University.

 

Royalties. Upon commercialization of products covered by the Emory License, we will owe royalties to Emory University of between 5% and 7.5%, depending on annual sales volume, of net sales made directly by GeoVax. The Emory License also requires minimum annual royalty payments of $3 million in the third year following product launch, increasing annually to $12 million in the sixth year.

 

Sublicense Royalties. In the event that we sublicense a covered product to a third party, we will owe royalties to Emory University based on all payments, cash or noncash, that we receive from our sublicensees. Those royalties will be 19% of all sublicensing consideration we receive prior to the first commercial sale of a related product. Commencing with the first commercial sale, the royalty owed to Emory University will be 27.5% of all sublicensing consideration we receive.

 

Patent Reimbursements. During the term of the Emory License we are obligated to reimburse Emory University for ongoing third party costs in connection with the filing, prosecution and maintenance of patent applications subject to the Emory License. The expense associated with these ongoing patent cost reimbursements to Emory University amounted to $98,042, $89,885, and $249,907 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

 
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We may only use the Emory Technology for therapeutic or prophylactic HIV or smallpox vaccines. Emory University also reserved the right to use the Emory Technology for research, educational and non-commercial clinical purposes. Due to the use of federal funds in the development of the Emory Technology, the U.S. Government has the irrevocable, royalty-free, paid-up right to practice and have practiced certain patents throughout the world, should it choose to exercise such rights.

 

We are not a party to any litigation, opposition, interference, or other potentially adverse proceeding with regard to our patent positions. However, if we become involved in litigation, interference proceedings, oppositions or other intellectual property proceedings, for example as a result of an alleged infringement or a third-party alleging an earlier date of invention, we may have to spend significant amounts of money and time and, in the event of an adverse ruling, we could be subject to liability for damages, invalidation of our intellectual property and injunctive relief that could prevent us from using technologies or developing products, any of which could have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial conditions or results of operations. In addition, any claims relating to the infringement of third-party proprietary rights, or earlier date of invention, even if not meritorious, could result in costly litigation, lengthy governmental proceedings, divert management’s attention and resources and require us to enter royalty or license agreements which are not advantageous if available at all.

 

We are also the exclusive licensee of five patents from MFD, Inc., which we refer to as the MFD Patents, pursuant to a license agreement dated December 26, 2004 with MFD, Inc., which we refer to as the MFD license agreement, related to certain manufacturing processes used in the production of our vaccines. Pursuant to the MFD license agreement, we obtained a fully paid, worldwide, irrevocable, exclusive license in and to the MFD Patents to use, market, offer for sale, sell, lease and import any AIDS and smallpox vaccine made with GeoVax Technology, as such term is defined in the MFD license agreement, and non-exclusive rights for other products. The term of the MFD license agreement ends on the expiration date of the last to expire of the MFD Patents, one of which expires in 2017. The license granted also extends to any and all current or future customers of GeoVax the right to commercially practice the GeoVax Technology, as such term is defined in the MFD license agreement, or any portion thereof. The license also extends to any and all current or future GeoVax Users, as such term is defined in the MFD license agreement, the right to use any GeoVax Technology, as such term is defined in the MFD license agreement.

 

In addition to patent protection, we also attempt to protect our proprietary products, processes and other information by relying on trade secrets and non-disclosure agreements with our employees, consultants and certain other persons who have access to such products, processes and information. Under these agreements, all inventions conceived by employees are our exclusive property. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that these agreements will afford significant protection against misappropriation or unauthorized disclosure of our trade secrets and confidential information.

 

We cannot be certain that any of the current pending patent applications we have licensed, or any new patent applications we may file or license, will ever be issued in the United States or any other country. Even if issued, there can be no assurance that those patents will be sufficiently broad to prevent others from using our products or processes. Furthermore, our patents, as well as those we have licensed or may license in the future, may be held invalid or unenforceable by a court, or third parties could obtain patents that we would need to either license or to design around, which we may be unable to do. Current and future competitors may have licensed or filed patent applications or received patents, and may acquire additional patents or proprietary rights relating to products or processes competitive to ours. In addition, any claims relating to the infringement of third-party proprietary rights, or earlier date of invention, even if not meritorious, could result in costly litigation, lengthy governmental proceedings, divert management’s attention and resources and require us to enter royalty or license agreements which are not advantageous to us, if available at all.

 

Research and Development

 

Our expenditures for research and development activities were $2,914,878, $3,043,522, and $4,276,375 during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. As our vaccines continue to go through the process to obtain regulatory approval, we expect our research and development costs to continue to increase significantly as even larger human clinical trials proceed in the United States and foreign countries. We have not yet formulated any plans for marketing and sales of any vaccine candidate we may successfully develop. Compliance with environmental protection laws and regulations has not had a material effect on our capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position to date.

 

Properties and Employees

 

We lease approximately 8,400 square feet of office and laboratory space located at 1900 Lake Park Drive, Suite 380, Smyrna, Georgia under a 62 month lease agreement which began November 1, 2009 and expires on December 31, 2014. We believe this space is adequate for our current needs and are currently evaluating our needs and facility alternatives beyond the current lease expiration date. As of March 10, 2014, we had six full-time and one part-time employees. None of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements and we believe that our employee relations are good.

 

 
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Corporate Background

 

Our primary business is conducted by our subsidiary, GeoVax, Inc., which was incorporated under the laws of Georgia in June 2001. The predecessor of our parent company, GeoVax Labs, Inc. (the reporting entity) was originally incorporated in June 1988 under the laws of Illinois as Dauphin Technology, Inc. (“Dauphin”). In September 2006, Dauphin completed a merger (the “Merger”) with GeoVax, Inc. As a result of the Merger, GeoVax, Inc. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dauphin, and Dauphin changed its name to GeoVax Labs, Inc. In June 2008, the Company was reincorporated under the laws of Delaware. We currently do not conduct any business other than GeoVax, Inc.’s business of developing new products for the treatment or prevention of human diseases. Our principal offices are located in Smyrna, Georgia (metropolitan Atlanta).

 

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

 

Our website address is www.geovax.com. We make available on this website under “Investors – SEC Reports,” free of charge, our proxy statements, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish such materials to the SEC. We also make available our Code of Ethics on this website under the heading “Investors – Corporate Governance”. Information contained on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus.

 

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following selected financial data are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period. The information set forth below should be read in conjunction with the information contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, beginning on page F-1 of this prospectus.

 

   

Years Ended December 31,

 
   

2013

   

2012

   

2011

   

2010

   

2009

 

Statement of Operations Data:

                                       

Total revenues (grant income)

  $ 2,417,550     $ 2,657,327     $ 4,899,885     $ 5,185,257     $ 3,668,195  

Net loss

    (2,284,943 )     (2,135,140 )     (2,346,826 )     (2,474,328 )     (3,284,252 )

Basic and diluted net loss per common share

    (0.11 )     (0.12 )     (0.15 )     (0.18 )     (0.22 )

 

   

As of December 31,

 
   

2013

   

2012

   

2011

   

2010

   

2009

 

Balance Sheet Data:

                                       

Total assets

  $ 2,839,576     $ 1,477,970     $ 1,645,142     $ 2,357,834     $ 4,315,597  

Total stockholders’ equity

    2,527,227       1,150,935       703,607       1,836,226       3,744,232  

 

 
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the discussion under “Selected Financial Data” and our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties because they are based on current expectations and relate to future events and our future financial performance. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many important factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors,” “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” and elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

Overview

 

GeoVax is a biotechnology company developing vaccines that prevent and control HIV. Our vaccine technology was developed in collaboration with researchers at Emory University, the NIH, and the CDC. The technology developed by the collaboration is exclusively licensed to us from Emory University. We also have nonexclusive licenses to certain patents owned by the NIH.

 

Our current vaccines under development address the clade B subtype of the HIV virus that is most prevalent in the United States and much of the developed world. Our vaccines are being evaluated to determine their potential to (a) prevent HIV infection and (b) to serve as a treatment for individuals who are already infected with HIV. These vaccines are currently being evaluated in human clinical trials -- both in those infected with HIV and those who are not.

 

We have neither received regulatory approval for any of our vaccine candidates, nor do we have any commercialization capabilities; therefore, it is possible that we may never successfully derive significant product revenues from any of our existing or future development programs or product candidates.

 

We expect for the foreseeable future our operations will result in a net loss on a quarterly and annual basis. As of December 31, 2013, we had an accumulated deficit of $27.1 million.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and adjusts the estimates as necessary. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed 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 materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements:

 

Revenue Recognition

 

We recognize revenue in accordance with the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, as amended by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition (“SAB 104”). SAB 104 provides guidance in applying U.S. generally accepted accounting principles to revenue recognition issues, and specifically addresses revenue recognition for upfront, non-refundable fees received in connection with research collaboration agreements. During 2013, 2012 and 2011, our revenue consisted of grant funding received from the NIH. Revenue from these arrangements is approximately equal to the costs incurred and is recorded as income as the related costs are incurred

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

We account for stock-based transactions in which the Company receives services from employees, directors or others in exchange for equity instruments based on the fair value of the award at the grant date. Compensation cost for awards of common stock is estimated based on the price of the underlying common stock on the date of issuance. Compensation cost for stock options or warrants is estimated at the grant date based on each instrument’s fair value as calculated by the Black-Scholes option pricing model. We recognize stock-based compensation cost as expense ratably on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the award.

 

 
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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

At December 31, 2013, we had cash and cash equivalents of $2,513,861 and total assets of $2,839,576, as compared to $1,035,925 and $1,477,970, respectively, at December 31, 2012. Working capital totaled $2,385,990 at December 31, 2013, compared to $1,017,439 at December 31, 2012.

 

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

We are a development-stage company as defined by Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 915, “Development Stage Entities” and do not have any products approved for sale. Due to our significant research and development expenditures, we have not been profitable and have generated operating losses since our inception in 2001. Our primary sources of cash are from sales of our equity securities and from government grant funding.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $1,694,592, $2,441,247, and $303,621 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Generally, the differences between periods are due to fluctuations in our net losses, offset by non-cash charges such as depreciation and stock-based compensation expense, and by net changes in our assets and liabilities. Our net losses generally fluctuate based on expenditures for our research activities, offset by government grant revenues. During 2011, net cash used in operating activities was lower due mostly to higher than usual offsets for net changes in assets and liabilities from the prior year (primarily a $430,402 change in deferred offering costs and a $419,927 change in accounts payable and accrued expenses).

 

The NIH has funded the costs of conducting all of our human clinical trials (Phase 1 and Phase 2a) to date for our preventive vaccines, with GeoVax incurring costs associated with manufacturing the clinical vaccine supplies and other study support. We are currently in planning discussions with the HVTN for the next stage of our preventive clinical trials, and several scenarios are being considered. While we expect the next clinical trial to begin during 2015 and to be fully funded by the NIH, with specific details of the study determined after further data analysis and input from the HVTN and NIH in mid-2014. Until the next trial begins, however, we cannot be fully assured of the level of support, if any, we will receive from the HVTN or the NIH for this clinical trial.

 

We recently completed a Phase 1 clinical trial (GV-TH-01) investigating the therapeutic use of our GOVX-B11 vaccine in HIV-infected patients. GV-TH-01 is an open label Phase 1 treatment interruption trial investigating the safety and immunogenicity of GOVX-B11 in 9 HIV-infected patients who initiated drug treatment within 18 months of seroconversion and had stably controlled virus for at least 6 months. An exploratory objective of the study is to evaluate the ability of the vaccinated patient to control re-emergent virus during the drug treatment interruption period. We received no federal assistance in conducting this study. In a follow-on study, we are formulating plans for a Phase 1 clinical trial investigating the treatment of HIV-positive individuals with GOVX-B21 in combination with standard-of-care antiretroviral drug therapy. The primary and secondary objectives of the study will be to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of our vaccine. An exploratory objective will be to investigate the vaccine’s effect on reducing viral reservoirs. We plan to seek funding from the NIH to conduct this trial which, if we are successful, would allow us to begin in mid-2015. If we are able to secure sufficient capital from issuance of our equity securities or other sources, we may initiate this trial sooner.

 

In addition to clinical trial support from the NIH, our operations are partially funded by NIH research grants. We record the funding we receive pursuant to these grants as revenue at the time the related expenditures are incurred. In September 2007, the NIH awarded us an Integrated Preclinical/Clinical AIDS Vaccine Development (IPCAVD) grant to support our HIV/AIDS vaccine program. We are utilizing this funding to further our HIV/AIDS vaccine development, optimization and production. The aggregate award (including subsequent amendments) totaled $20.4 million, and there is $700,153 remaining and available for use as of December 31, 2013. In September 2012, the NIH awarded us an additional grant of $1.9 million to support development of versions of our HIV/AIDS vaccines to address the clade C subtype of the HIV virus prevalent in the developing world. All funding pursuant to this grant has been utilized as of December 31, 2013. In July 2013, the NIH awarded us a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant for approximately $277,000 to support preclinical studies evaluating the ability of protein boosts to augment antibody responses. The grant award of approximately $277,000 is for the first year of a two year project period beginning August 1, 2013, and there is $122,127 remaining and available for use as of December 31, 2013.

 

 
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We intend to pursue additional grants from the federal government but cannot be assured of success. As we progress to the later stages of our vaccine development activities, government financial support may be more difficult to obtain, or may not be available at all. Therefore, it will be necessary for us to look to other sources of funding in order to finance our clinical trials and other vaccine development activities.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

Our investing activities have consisted predominantly of capital expenditures. Capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, were $ 86,603, $-0-, and $11,896, respectively.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $3,259,131, $2,309,192, and $404,410 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

The cash generated by our financing activities during 2011 relates to the sale of our common stock to individual accredited investors in a private placement offering initiated during December 2011. During January 2012, we received an additional $310,160 from stock sales pursuant to this offering (including $36,800 received in payment of a stock subscription receivable from December 2011).

 

In March 2012, we sold an aggregate of 2,200 Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Shares”), as well as accompanying warrants to purchase 8,799,999 shares of common stock, to a group of institutional investors for an aggregate purchase price of $2.2 million. Net proceeds to the Company, after deduction of placement agent fees and other expenses, were approximately $2.0 million. The Series A Preferred Shares were convertible at any time at the option of the holders into shares of our common stock. The initial conversion price was $0.75 and during 2012, 1,412 of the Series A Preferred Shares were converted at this price into an aggregate of 1,882,667 shares of our common stock. Effective December 11, 2013, the designation of the Series A Preferred Shares was amended in connection with the issuance of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (see discussion below). The amendment had the effect of reducing the conversion price of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Shares to $0.35 and during the remainder of 2013, 717 shares of the Series A Preferred Shares were converted at this price into an aggregate of 2,048,570 shares of our common stock. As of December 31, 2013, there were 71 shares of Series A Preferred Shares outstanding, convertible into 202,859 shares of our common stock. All of the remaining Series A Preferred Shares were converted into shares of our common stock during January 2014.

 

In January 2013, we reduced the exercise price of 2,933,333 of certain stock purchase warrants from $0.75 to $0.60 per share. In consideration for the reduction of the exercise price, the holders of the warrants immediately exercised 1,766,667 of the warrants for cash, resulting in total proceeds to the Company of $1,060,000. We also extended the expiration date of the 1,166,666 unexercised warrants from March 21, 2013 to May 21, 2013. In May 2013, we reduced the exercise price of the 1,166,666 remaining warrants from $0.60 to $0.50 per share. In consideration for the reduction of the exercise price, the holders of the warrants immediately exercised all of the remaining warrants for cash, resulting in total proceeds to the Company of $583,333.

 

In December 2013, we sold an aggregate of 1,650 Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Shares”) for an aggregate purchase price of $1.65 million. Net proceeds to the Company, after deduction of transaction expenses, were approximately $1.6 million. No warrants were issued in connection with the transaction. The Series B Preferred Shares may be converted at any time at the option of the holders into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $0.35. In conjunction with the sale of the Series B Preferred Shares, we entered into an agreement with the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares to amend the designation of the Series A Preferred Shares. The amendment had the effect of reducing the conversion price of the then-outstanding 788 Series A Preferred Shares from $0.75 to $0.35. Upon the consummation of the sale of the Series B Preferred Shares in December 2013, the exercise price of warrants to purchase 5,866,666 shares of our common stock issued in connection with the Series A Preferred Shares was reduced from $1.00 to $0.35 pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions contained in the warrant agreements. As of December 31, 2013, there were 1,650 shares of Series B Preferred Shares outstanding, convertible into 4,714,286 shares of our common stock. In January 2014, 350 Series B Preferred Shares were converted into 1,000,000 shares of our common stock.

 

Our capital requirements, particularly as they relate to our research and development activities, have been and will continue to be significant. We anticipate incurring additional losses for several years as we expand our clinical programs and proceed into higher cost human clinical trials. Conducting clinical trials for our vaccine candidates in development is a lengthy, time-consuming and expensive process. We will not generate revenues from the sale of our technology or products for at least several years, if at all. For the foreseeable future, we will be dependent on obtaining financing from third parties in order to maintain our operations, including our clinical program. Such capital may not be available on terms acceptable to the Company or at all. If we fail to obtain additional funding when needed, we would be forced to scale back or terminate our operations, or to seek to merge with or to be acquired by another company.

 

 
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We expect that our current working capital combined with the remaining available funds from the NIH grants will be sufficient to support our planned level of operations into the first quarter of 2015. We anticipate raising additional capital during 2014, although there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so. While we believe that we will be successful in obtaining the necessary financing to fund our operations through government grants and clinical trial support, exercise of stock purchase warrants, and/or other sources, there can be no assurances that such additional funding will be available to us on reasonable terms or at all. Should the financing we require to sustain our working capital needs be unavailable or prohibitively expensive when we require it, the consequences could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition and prospects.

 

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that are likely or reasonably likely to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

Contractual obligations represent future cash commitments and liabilities under agreements with third parties, and exclude contingent liabilities for which we cannot reasonably predict future payment. Additionally, the expected timing of payment of the obligations presented below is estimated based on current information. Timing of payments and actual amounts paid may be different depending on the timing of receipt of goods or services or changes to agreed-upon terms or amounts for some obligations.

 

The following table represents our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2013, aggregated by type (in thousands):

 

   

Payments Due by Period

 

Contractual Obligations

 

Total

   

Less than

1 Year

   

1-3

Years

   

4-5

Years

   

More than

5 years

 

Operating Lease Obligations (1)

  $ 129     $ 129     $ --     $ --     $ --  

Firm Purchase Commitments (2)

  $ 78     $ 78     $ --     $ --     $ --  

Emory University – License Agreement (3)

    --       --       --       --       --  

Total

  $ 207     $ 207     $ --     $ --     $ --  

 

 

(1)

Our operating lease obligations relate to the facility lease for our 8,430 square foot facility in Smyrna, Georgia, which houses our laboratory operations and our administrative offices. The lease, which was effective November 1, 2009, expires on December 31, 2014.

 

(2)

Firm purchase commitments relate to contracts for conduct of clinical trials, and research activities related to NIH grants.

 

(3)

Pursuant to the Emory License, we have committed to make potential future milestone and royalty payments which are contingent upon the occurrence of future events. Such events include development milestones, regulatory approvals and product sales. Because the achievement of these milestones is currently neither probable nor reasonably estimable, the contingent payments have not been included in the table above or recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The aggregate total of all potential milestone payments included in the Emory License (excluding royalties on net sales) is approximately $3.5 million.

 

As of December 31, 2013, except as disclosed in the table above, we had no other material firm purchase obligations or commitments for capital expenditures and no committed lines of credit or other committed funding or long-term debt. We have employment agreements with our executive officers and a consulting agreement with a member of our Board of Directors, each of which may be terminated with no more than 90 days advance written notice. The table also excludes budgeted expenses under research agreements which are fully reimbursable to us pursuant to grants from the NIH and cover a period of less than one year.

 

 
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Net Operating Loss Carryforwards

 

At December 31, 2013, we had consolidated net operating loss carryforwards for income tax purposes of $62.4 million, which will expire in 2014 through 2033 if not utilized. Approximately $42.6 million of our net operating loss carryforwards relate to the operations of our predecessor, Dauphin Technology, Inc. prior to the 2006 merger between Dauphin Technology, Inc. and GeoVax, Inc. We also have research and development tax credits of approximately $799,000 available to reduce income taxes, if any, which will expire in 2022 through 2033 if not utilized. The amount of net operating loss carryforwards and research tax credits available to reduce income taxes in any particular year may be limited in certain circumstances. Based on an assessment of all available evidence including, but not limited to, our limited operating history in our core business and lack of profitability, uncertainties of the commercial viability of our technology, the impact of government regulation and healthcare reform initiatives, and other risks normally associated with biotechnology companies, we have concluded that it is more likely than not that these net operating loss carryforwards and credits will not be realized and, as a result, a 100% deferred tax valuation allowance has been recorded against these assets.

 

Results of Operations

 

Net Loss

 

We recorded net losses of $2,284,943, $2,135,140, and $2,346,826 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Our operating results typically fluctuate due to the timing of activities and related costs associated with our vaccine research and development activities and our general and administrative costs, as described in more detail below.

 

Grant Revenue

 

We recorded grant revenues of $2,417,550, $2,657,327, and $4,899,885 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Grant revenues relate to grants from the NIH in support of our HIV vaccine development activities (see discussion under “Liquidity and Capital Resources” above). We record revenue associated with these grants as the related costs and expenses are incurred. The difference in our grant revenues from period to period is directly related to our expenditures for activities supported by the grants, and can fluctuate significantly based on the timing of the related expenditures. There is an aggregate of approximately $822,000 in approved grant funds remaining and available for use as of December 31, 2013, which we anticipate recognizing as revenue during 2014.

 

Research and Development

 

Our research and development expenses were $2,914,878, $3,043,522, and $4,276,375 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Research and development expense for these periods includes stock-based compensation expense of $41,539, $78,140, and $179,400 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively (see discussion under “Stock-Based Compensation Expense” below). Our research and development costs do not include costs incurred by the HVTN in conducting clinical trials of our vaccines; those costs are funded directly by the NIH.

 

Our research and development expenses can fluctuate considerably on a period-to-period basis, depending on our need for vaccine manufacturing by third parties, the timing of expenditures related to our grants from the NIH, and the timing of costs associated with clinical trials being funding directly by us. Our ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of our second generation preventive vaccine is being conducted by the HVTN with funding from the NIH, but we are responsible for the manufacture of vaccine product to be used in the trials. We are not currently receiving any government support for the ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of our therapeutic vaccine (treatment interruption protocol). We cannot predict the level of support we may receive from HVTN or other federal agencies (or divisions thereof) for our future clinical trials. We expect that our research and development costs will increase in the future as we progress into the later stage human clinical trials.

 

Since our inception, all of our research and development efforts have been focused on development of our HIV/AIDS vaccines, which we have managed and evaluated to date as a single project. Upon receipt of the IPCAVD grant from the NIH in late 2007, we began incurring additional costs associated with the grant, and reallocated personnel and other internal resources toward activities supported by the grant. The table below summarizes our research and development expenses for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2013. The amounts shown related to NIH grants represent all direct costs associated with grant activities, including salaries and personnel-related expenses, supplies, consulting, contract services and travel. The remainder of our research and development expense is allocated to our general HIV/AIDS vaccine program.

 

 
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R&D Project

 

2013

   

2012

   

2011

 

NIH Grant Activities

  $ 1,842,065     $ 1,837,085     $ 3,015,812  

DNA/MVA Vaccines – HIV/AIDS

    1,072,813       1,206,437       1,260,563  

Total Research and Development Expense

  $ 2,914,878     $ 3,043,522     $ 4,276,375  

 

Our vaccine candidates still require significant, time-consuming and costly research and development, testing and regulatory clearances. Completion of clinical development will take several years or more, but the length of time generally varies substantially according to the type, complexity, novelty and intended use of a product candidate. The NIH has funded the costs of conducting all of our completed and ongoing human clinical trials to date for our preventive HIV vaccine, with GeoVax incurring costs associated with manufacturing the clinical vaccine supplies and other study support. We are having discussions with the HVTN and NIH with regard to the conduct of an additional trial of our preventive vaccine, and we expect the NIH will provide support for this trial as well. We intend to seek government and/or third party support for future clinical human trials, but there can be no assurance that we will be successful.

 

The duration and the cost of future clinical trials may vary significantly over the life of the project as a result of differences arising during development of the human clinical trial protocols, including, among others:

 

the number of patients that ultimately participate in the clinical trial;

 

the duration of patient follow-up that seems appropriate in view of the results;

 

the number of clinical sites included in the clinical trials; and

 

the length of time required to enroll suitable patient subjects.

 

Due to the uncertainty regarding the timing and regulatory approval of clinical trials and pre-clinical studies, our future expenditures are likely to be highly volatile in future periods depending on the outcomes of the trials and studies. From time to time, we will make determinations as to how much funding to direct to these programs in response to their scientific, clinical and regulatory success, anticipated market opportunity and the availability of capital to fund our programs.

 

In developing our product candidates, we are subject to a number of risks that are inherent in the development of products based on innovative technologies. For example, it is possible that our vaccines may be ineffective or toxic, or will otherwise fail to receive the necessary regulatory clearances, causing us to delay, extend or terminate our product development efforts. Any failure by us to obtain, or any delay in obtaining, regulatory approvals could cause our research and development expenditures to increase which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. Because of the uncertainties of clinical trials, estimating the completion dates or cost to complete our research and development programs is highly speculative and subjective. As a result of these factors, we are unable to accurately estimate the nature, timing and future costs necessary to complete the development of our product candidates. In addition, we are unable to reasonably estimate the period when material net cash inflows could commence from the sale, licensing or commercialization of such product candidates, if ever.

 

General and Administrative Expense

 

Our general and administrative expenses were $1,792,160, $1,752,765, and $2,972,555 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. General and administrative costs include officers’ salaries, legal and accounting costs, patent costs, amortization expense associated with intangible assets, and other general corporate expenses. General and administrative expense includes stock-based compensation expense of $360,565, $231,936, and $593,597 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively (see discussion under “Stock-Based Compensation Expense” below). The decline in general and administrative expense from 2011 to 2012 is primarily due to higher expenses during 2011 for legal costs, patent costs and stock-based compensation expense related to investment advisory fees and investor warrant extensions. We expect that our general and administrative costs may increase in the future in support of expanded research and development activities and other general corporate activities.

 

 
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Stock-Based Compensation Expense

 

We recorded total stock-based compensation expense of $402,104, $310,076, and $772,997 during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, which was allocated to research and development expense or general and administrative expense according to the classification of cash compensation paid to the employee, consultant or director to whom the stock compensation was granted. In addition to amounts related to the issuance of stock options to employees, the figures include amounts related to common stock and stock purchase warrants issued to consultants and non-employee directors. The overall decline in stock-based compensation expense during 2012, as compared to 2011, can be attributed to expense in the prior year associated with stock issuances for investment advisory fees, warrants granted to investor relations consultants, and extensions to investor warrants. For the three years ended December 31, 2013, stock-based compensation expense was allocated as follows:

 

   

2013

   

2012

   

2011

 

General and administrative expense

  $ 360,565     $ 231,936     $ 593,597  

Research and development expense

    41,539       78,140       179,400  

Total stock option expense

  $ 402,104     $ 310,076     $ 772,997  

 

Other Income

 

Interest income was $4,545, $3,820, and $2,219 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The variances between years are primarily attributable to the cash available for investment and to interest rate fluctuations.

 

Impact of Inflation

 

For the three year period ended December 31, 2013, we do not believe that inflation and changing prices had a material impact on our operations or on our financial results.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have not entered into off-balance sheet financing arrangements, other than operating leases.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Our exposure to market risk is limited primarily to interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of United States interest rates, particularly because a significant portion of our investments are in short-term debt securities issued by the U.S. government and institutional money market funds. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal while at the same time maximizing the income received without significantly increasing risk. Due to the nature of our short-term investments, we believe that we are not subject to any material market risk exposure. We do not have any derivative financial instruments or foreign currency instruments.

 

 
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS, DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS 

 

Based solely upon information made available to us, the following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 10, 2014 by (1) each director; (2) each of our Named Executive Officers; (3) all executive officers and directors as a group; and (4) each additional person who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock. Except as otherwise indicated, the holders listed below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them.

 

   

Amount and Nature

         
   

of Beneficial

   

Percent

 

Name of Beneficial Owner (1)

 

Ownership

   

of Class (2)

 

Directors and Executive Officers:

               

David A. Dodd (3)

    357,124       1. 4 %

Dean G. Kollintzas (4)

    128,712       *  

Robert T. McNally (5)

    231,380       *  

Mark W. Reynolds (6)

    181,999       *  

Harriet L. Robinson (7)

    1,452,606       5.8 %

John N. Spencer, Jr. (8)

    142,412       *  

All executive officers and directors as a group (6 persons) (9)

    2,494,233       9.6 %

Other 5% Stockholders:

               

Emory University (10)

    4,621,405       18.5 %

Sabby Healthcare Volatility Master Fund, Ltd (11)

    2,747,000       9.99 %

Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund, Ltd (12)

    2,747,000       9.99 %

Welch & Forbes LLC (13)

    2,230,799       8.4 %

 


* Less than 1%

 

 

(1)

Except as otherwise indicated, the business address of each director and executive officer listed is c/o GeoVax Labs, Inc., 1900 Lake Park Drive, Suite 380, Smyrna, Georgia 30080.

 

(2)

This table is based upon information supplied by officers and directors, and with respect to principal stockholders, Schedules 13D and 13G filed with the SEC or information otherwise supplied to us. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Applicable percentage ownership is based on 24,968,037 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 10, 2014. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of common stock subject to options currently exercisable, or exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2014, are deemed outstanding.

 

(3)

Includes options and warrants to purchase 229,399 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2014.

 

(4)

Includes options and warrants to purchase 113,787 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2014.

 

(5)

Includes options and warrants to purchase 189,175 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2014.

 

(6)

Includes options and warrants to purchase 145,999 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2014.

 

(7)

Dr. Robinson shares voting and investment power over 1,024,472 shares with Welch & Forbes LLC, whose ownership is described below. Includes options and warrants to purchase 278,880 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2014.

 

(8)

Includes options and warrants to purchase 113,787 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2014. Mr. Spencer shares voting and investment power with his spouse with respect to 28,625 shares and a warrant for 22,388 shares which are owned jointly by them.

 

(9)

Includes options and warrants to purchase 1,071,027 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2014.

 

(10)

The address for this stockholder is Administration Building, 201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.

 

(11)

The address for this stockholder is c/o Ogier Fiduciary Services (Cayman) Limited, 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman KY1-9007, Cayman Islands. Includes 217,958 shares of common stock, 1,642,857 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Stock, and warrants to purchase 2,666,666 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2014. The Series B Preferred Stock, and the Series A and C Warrants owned by these stockholders contain exercise and conversion limitations providing that a holder thereof may not convert or exercise (as the case may be) to the extent (but only to the extent) that, if after giving effect to such conversion or exercise (as the case may be), the holder or any of its affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the outstanding shares of common stock immediately after giving effect to such conversion or exercise (as the case may be). To the extent the above limitation applies, the determination of whether a share of preferred stock or warrant shall be exercisable or convertible (vis-à-vis other convertible, exercisable or exchangeable securities owned by the holder) shall, subject to such Maximum Percentage limitation, be determined on the basis of the first submission to the Company for conversion, exercise or exchange (as the case may be). Sabby Management, LLC shares voting and investment power with respect to these shares on behalf of this stockholder.  As manager of Sabby Management, LLC, Hal Mintz also shares voting and investment power on behalf of this stockholder.  Each of Sabby Management, LLC and Hal Mintz disclaim beneficial ownership over the securities listed except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.  Except as described above, none of the holders has had, within the past three years, any position, office or other material relationship with the Company or any of our predecessors or affiliates.

 
 
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(12)

The address for this stockholder is c/o Ogier Fiduciary Services (Cayman) Limited, 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman KY1-9007, Cayman Islands. Includes 218,130 shares of common stock, 1,642,857 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Stock, and warrants to purchase 2,666,666 shares of common stock exercisable within 60 days of March 10, 2014. The Series B Preferred Stock and the Series A and C Warrants owned by these stockholders contain exercise and conversion limitations providing that a holder thereof may not convert or exercise (as the case may be) to the extent (but only to the extent) that, if after giving effect to such conversion or exercise (as the case may be), the holder or any of its affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the outstanding shares of common stock immediately after giving effect to such conversion or exercise (as the case may be). To the extent the above limitation applies, the determination of whether a share of preferred stock or warrant shall be exercisable or convertible (vis-à-vis other convertible, exercisable or exchangeable securities owned by the holder) shall, subject to such Maximum Percentage limitation, be determined on the basis of the first submission to the Company for conversion, exercise or exchange (as the case may be). Sabby Management, LLC shares voting and investment power with respect to these shares on behalf of this stockholder.  As manager of Sabby Management, LLC, Hal Mintz also shares voting and investment power on behalf of this stockholder.  Each of Sabby Management, LLC and Hal Mintz disclaim beneficial ownership over the securities listed except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.  Except as described above, none of the holders has had, within the past three years, any position, office or other material relationship with the Company or any of our predecessors or affiliates.

 

(13)

The address for this stockholder is 45 School Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02108. Includes 1,024,472 shares held by Dr. Robinson as to which the stockholder shares voting and dispositive power.

 

 

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our directors and executive officers.

 

Name

Age

Current Position

David A. Dodd (1)(2)(3)

64

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Robert T. McNally, Ph.D.

66

President and Chief Executive Officer, Director

Mark W. Reynolds, CPA

52

Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

Harriet L. Robinson, Ph.D.

76

Chief Scientific Officer, Director

Dean G. Kollintzas (1)(2)(3)

40

Director

John N. Spencer, Jr. CPA (1)(2)(3)

73

Director

  
 

(1)

Member of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

(2)

Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

(3)

Member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

David A. Dodd.  Mr. Dodd joined the Board of Directors in March 2010 and became Chairman of our Board of Directors on January 1, 2011. Since April 2013, he has served as President and Chief Executive Officer, and as a member of the Board of Directors, of Aeterna Zentaris Inc., an oncology and endocrinology drug development company. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of RiversEdge BioVentures, an investment and advisory firm focused on the life sciences and pharmaceuticals industries, which he founded in 2009. He has more than 35 years of executive experience in the healthcare industry. From December 2007 to June 2009, Mr. Dodd was President, Chief Executive officer and Chairman of BioReliance Corporation, an organization that provided biological safety testing, viral clearance testing, genetic and mammalian technology testing and laboratory animal diagnostic services testing. From October 2006 to April 2009, he served as non-executive chairman of Stem Cell Sciences Plc. Before that, Mr. Dodd served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Serologicals Corporation (Nasdaq: SERO) before it was sold to Millipore Corporation in July 2006 for $1.5 billion. For five years prior to his employment by Serologicals Corporation, Mr. Dodd served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Chairman of its subsidiary Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The Board of Directors concluded Mr. Dodd should serve on the Board of Directors due to his experience in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as his background in general management, business transformation, corporate partnering, and mergers and acquisitions.

 

Robert T. McNally, Ph.D.  Dr. McNally joined the Board of Directors in December 2006 and was appointed as our President and Chief Executive Officer effective April 1, 2008. From 2000 to March 2008, Dr. McNally served as Chief Executive Officer of Cell Dynamics LLC, a cGMP laboratory services company. Previously, Dr. McNally was a co-founder and Senior Vice President of Clinical Research for CryoLife, Inc., a pioneering company in transplantable human tissues. He has over 34 years of experience in academic and corporate clinical investigations, management, research, business, quality and regulatory affairs Dr. McNally is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, serves on the advisory boards of the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Dupree College of Management at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and is a former Chairman of Georgia Bio, a trade association. Dr. McNally graduated with a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. McNally should serve on its Board of Directors by virtue of his prior business and scientific experience, including his experience as Chief Executive Officer of Cell Dynamics, LLC and as Senior Vice President of Clinical Research for CryoLife, Inc., and due to his intimate involvement with the Company’s ongoing operations as its President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

 
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Mark W. Reynolds, CPA  Mr. Reynolds joined the Company on a part-time basis in October 2006 as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, becoming a full-time employee in January 2010. From 2003 to 2006, before being named Chief Financial Officer of GeoVax Labs, Inc., Mr. Reynolds provided financial and accounting services to GeoVax, Inc. as an independent contractor. From 2004 to 2008, Mr. Reynolds served as Chief Financial Officer for HealthWatchSystems, Inc. a privately-held company in the consumer healthcare industry. From 2004 to 2006, he served as Chief Financial Officer for Duska Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly-held biotechnology company. From 1988 to 2002, Mr. Reynolds was first Controller and later Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of CytRx Corporation, a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company. Mr. Reynolds began his career as an auditor with Arthur Andersen & Co. from 1985 to 1988. He is a certified public accountant and earned a master’s of accountancy degree from the University of Georgia.

 

Harriet L. Robinson, Ph.D.  Dr. Robinson joined the Company as Senior Vice President, Research and Development on a part-time basis in November 2007 and on a full-time basis in February 2008, and was elected to the Board of Directors in June 2008. She is a co-founder of GeoVax, Inc. and has served as chief of its scientific advisory board since formation of the company in 2001. From 1999 to February 2008, Dr. Robinson served as the Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and from 1998 to February 2008 as Chief, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Yerkes National Primate Center and Professor at the Emory University School of Medicine. She was Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center from 1988 to 1997 and Staff, then Senior, then Principal Scientist at the University of Massachusetts Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology from 1977 to 1987. Dr. Robinson received a bachelor of arts degree from Swarthmore College and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Board of Directors has concluded that Dr. Robinson should serve on its Board of Directors by virtue of her extensive knowledge of the Company’s technology as its scientific founder.

 

Dean G. Kollintzas.  Mr. Kollintzas joined the Board of Directors upon consummation of the merger with GeoVax, Inc. in September 2006. Since 2001 Mr. Kollintzas has been an intellectual property attorney specializing in biotechnology and pharmaceutical licensing, FDA regulation, and corporate/international transactions. Mr. Kollintzas received a microbiology degree from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from Franklin Pierce Law Center. He is a member of the Wisconsin and American Bar Associations. Since 2004, Mr. Kollintzas has also owned and operated a restaurant in Joliet, Illinois called The Metro Grill. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Kollintzas should serve on the Board of Directors by virtue of his experience with intellectual property matters, biotechnology and pharmaceutical licensing, and FDA regulation.

 

John N. (Jack) Spencer, Jr., CPA  Mr. Spencer joined the Board of Directors upon consummation of the merger with GeoVax, Inc. in September 2006. Mr. Spencer is a certified public accountant and was a partner of Ernst & Young LLP where he spent more than 38 years until he retired in 2000. Mr. Spencer also serves as a director of MRI Interventions, Inc., a medical device company, where he also chairs the audit committee, and served as a director of Firstwave Technologies (Nasdaq: FSTW) from November 2003 until April 2009. He served as the Temporary Chief Financial Officer of Applied Generic Technologies Corporation from November 2013 until February 2014 while that company prepared its initial public offering. He also serves as a consultant to various companies primarily relating to financial accounting and reporting matters. Mr. Spencer received a bachelor of science degree from Syracuse University, and he earned an M.B.A. degree from Babson College. He also attended the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. The Board of Directors has concluded that Mr. Spencer should serve on the Board of Directors by virtue of his experience at Ernst & Young LLP where he was the partner in charge of that firm’s life sciences practice for the southeastern United States, and his clients included a large number of publicly-owned and privately-held medical technology companies, together with his continuing expertise as a director of, and a consultant to, other publicly owned and privately held companies.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

During 2013, Mr. Mr. Dodd, Mr. Kollintzas and Mr. Spencer served on our Compensation Committee. None of these individuals were officers or employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, nor at any time prior thereto. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, none of the members of the Compensation Committee had any relationship with the Company requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K, and none of the Company’s executive officers served on the compensation committee (or equivalent), or the Board of Directors, of another entity whose executive officer(s) served on our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.

 

 
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The tables and disclosures that follow set forth the compensation and certain other information with respect to our “Named Executive Officers”. The Named Executive Officers for 2013 include our chief executive officer and the two other most highly compensated individuals who were serving as executive officers as of December 31, 2013. Our Named Executive Officers for 2013 were:

 

 

Robert T. McNally, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Mark W. Reynolds, Chief Financial Officer

 

Harriet L. Robinson, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer

 

Employment Agreements

 

Robert T. McNally.  On March 20, 2008, GeoVax entered into an employment agreement with Robert T. McNally, Ph.D. to become our President and Chief Executive Officer effective April 1, 2008. The employment agreement has no specified term. The employment agreement provided for an initial annual salary of $200,000 to Dr. McNally, subject to periodic increases as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors may also approve the payment of a discretionary bonus annually. Dr. McNally is eligible for grants of awards from our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and is entitled to participate in any and all benefits in effect from time-to-time for employees generally. We may terminate the employment agreement, with or without cause. If we terminate the employment agreement without cause, we will be required to provide Dr. McNally at least 30 days prior notice of the termination and one week of severance pay for each full year of service as President and Chief Executive Officer ($26,442 as of December 31, 2013, paid as salary continuance). Dr. McNally may terminate the employment agreement at any time by giving us 60 days notice. In that event, he would not receive severance. In October 2013, our Board of Directors approved an amendment to the employment agreement with Dr. McNally. The 2013 amendment includes severance provisions in the event of a change in control (as defined in the amendment) and a qualifying termination of employment. See the discussion under “Potential Payments Upon Change-in-Control” below. In February 2014, Dr. McNally reduced his time commitment to the company to 60% in conjunction with a prorata reduction of his then annualized salary of $275,000 to $165,000.

 

Mark W. Reynolds.  On February 1, 2008, GeoVax entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Mark W. Reynolds, our Chief Financial Officer. The employment agreement has no specified term. The employment agreement provided for an initial annual salary of $115,000 to Mr. Reynolds, which was increased to $150,000 by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors effective January 1, 2009, commensurate with an increased time commitment provided by Mr. Reynolds (50% to 75%). The employment agreement was again amended and restated, effective January 1, 2010, to reflect a further adjustment for Mr. Reynolds time commitment (from 75% to 100%) together with a base salary increase to $212,600. The Board of Directors may also approve the payment of a discretionary bonus annually. Mr. Reynolds is eligible for grants of awards from our Plan and is entitled to participate in any and all benefits in effect from time-to-time for employees generally. We may terminate the employment agreement, with or without cause. If we terminate the employment agreement without cause, we will be required to provide Mr. Reynolds at least 30 days prior notice of the termination and one week of severance pay for each full year of service as Chief Financial Officer ($28,619 as of December 31, 2013, paid as salary continuance). Mr. Reynolds may terminate the employment agreement at any time by giving us 60 days notice. In that event, he would not receive severance. In October 2013, our Board of Directors approved an amendment to the employment agreement with Mr. Reynolds. The 2013 amendment includes severance provisions in the event of a change in control (as defined in the amendment) and a qualifying termination of employment. See the discussion under “Potential Payments Upon Change-in-Control” below.

 

Harriet L. Robinson.  On November 19, 2007, GeoVax entered into an employment agreement with Harriet L. Robinson, our Chief Scientific Officer. The employment agreement has no specified term. The employment agreement provided for an initial base salary of $250,000 to Dr. Robinson, subject to periodic increases as determined by the Compensation Committee. Dr. Robinson initially worked part-time for the Company, and became a full-time employee in February 2008. In April 2013, Dr. Robinson reduced her time commitment to the Company from 100% to 80%, and her base salary was adjusted proportionately. The Board of Directors may also approve the payment of a discretionary bonus annually. Dr. Robinson is eligible for grants of awards from our Plan and is entitled to participate in any and all benefits in effect from time-to-time for employees generally. We may terminate the employment agreement, with or without cause. If we terminate the employment agreement without cause, we will be required to provide Dr. Robinson at least 30 days prior notice of the termination and one week of severance pay for each full year of service ($24,531 as of December 31, 2013, paid as salary continuance). Dr. Robinson may terminate the employment agreement at any time by giving us 60 days notice. In that event, she would not receive severance. In April 2013, Dr. Robinson reduced her time commitment to the company to 80% in conjunction with a prorata reduction of her then annualized salary of $265,750 to $212,600. In October 2013, our Board of Directors approved an amendment to the employment agreement with Dr. Robinson. The 2013 amendment includes severance provisions in the event of a change in control (as defined in the amendment) and a qualifying termination of employment. See the discussion under “Potential Payments Upon Change-in-Control” below.

 

 
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In October 2006 GeoVax Labs, Inc. and our subsidiary, GeoVax, Inc. entered into indemnification agreements with Messrs. McNally, Reynolds, Kollintzas and Spencer. Pursuant to these agreements, we have agreed to indemnify them to the full extent permitted by Illinois and Georgia law against certain liabilities incurred by these individuals in connection with specified proceedings if they acted in a manner they believed in good faith to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that such conduct was unlawful. The agreements also provide for the advancement of expenses to these individuals subject to specified conditions.

 

Potential Payments Upon Change-in-Control 

 

Our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan contains provisions that could lead to an accelerated vesting of options or other awards. In the event of certain change-in-control transactions described in the Plan, (i) outstanding options or other awards under the Plan may be assumed, converted or replaced; (ii) the successor corporation may substitute equivalent options or other awards or provide substantially similar consideration to Plan participants as were provided to stockholders (after taking into account the existing provisions of the options or other awards); or (iii) the successor corporation may replace options or awards with substantially similar shares or other property.

 

In the event the successor corporation (if any) refuses to assume or substitute options or other awards as described (i) the vesting of any or all options or awards granted pursuant to the Plan will accelerate upon the change-in-control transaction, and (ii) any or all options granted pursuant to the Plan will become exercisable in full prior to the consummation of the change-in-control transaction at such time and on such conditions as the Compensation Committee determines. If the options are not exercised prior to the consummation of the change-in-control transaction, they shall terminate at such time as determined by the Compensation Committee. Subject to any greater rights granted to Plan participants under the Plan, in the event of the occurrence of a change-in-control transaction any outstanding options or other awards will be treated as provided in the applicable agreement or plan of merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, or sale of assets.

 

If the Company experienced a change-in-control transaction described in the Plan on December 31, 2013, the value of accelerated options for each Named Executive Officer, based on the difference between the closing price of our common stock on the OTC Market on December 31, 2013, and, if lower, the exercise price per share of each option for which vesting would be accelerated for each Named Executive Officer, would be $0.

 

Our employment agreements with each Named Executive Officer provide for payment to each Named Executive Officer if we terminate such Named Executive Officer’s employment without cause. If each Named Executive Officer was terminated without cause on December 31, 2013, the following amounts, which represent one week of pay for each full year of service to the Company, would be payable to each Named Executive Officer as salary continuance under the terms of such Named Executive Officer’s employment agreement: Dr. McNally - $26,442; Mr. Reynolds - $28,619; and Dr. Robinson - $24,531.

 

In October 2013, our Board of Directors approved amendments to the employment agreements with each Named Executive Officer These 2013 amendments include severance provisions in the event of a change in control and a qualifying termination of employment. Specifically, if a Named Executive Officer is terminated at any time during the three month period which immediately precedes a change in control (as defined in the amendment) or during the one year period following a change in control, then the Company would pay an amount in cash equal to (a) a multiple of the Named Executive Officer’s then base salary and target annual bonus (3x for Dr. McNally, 2x for Mr. Reynolds, and 2x for Dr. Robinson), (b) a multiple of the cost to provide 401(k) or other deferred compensation or health and welfare benefits to the Named Executive Officer (3x for Dr. McNally, 2x for Mr. Reynolds, and 2x for Dr. Robinson), and (c) a tax gross-up payment (if an excise tax is imposed by § 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code or any related interest or penalties are incurred by the officer) pursuant to the amendment. The amendments also provide for full and complete vesting of all stock option grants held by the Named Executive Officers.

 

 
38

 

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following narrative, table, and footnotes set forth information concerning the total compensation earned during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 by our Named Executive Officers. The individual components of the total compensation reflected in the table are broken out as follows:

 

Salary. Base salary earned during 2013 and 2012. The terms of the Employment Agreements governed the base salaries for Dr. McNally, Mr. Reynolds, and Dr. Robinson.

 

Bonus. The amount of cash bonuses paid during 2013 and 2012. No bonuses were paid to Dr. McNally, Mr. Reynolds, or Dr. Robinson during these periods.

 

Option Awards. The awards disclosed under the heading “Option Awards” consist of the aggregate grant date fair value of the stock option grants during 2013 and 2012 computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation (“FASB ASC Topic 718”). For a discussion of the various assumptions made and methods used for determining such amounts, see footnotes 2 and 10 to our 2013 consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

All Other Compensation. The amounts include under “All Other Compensation” are described in the footnotes to the table.

 

Name and

Principal Position

Year

 

Salary($)

   

Bonus

($)

   

Option

Awards

($)

   

All Other

Compensation ($)(4)

   

Total

($)

 

Robert T. McNally

2013

  $ 275,000     $ -     $ 12,930 (1)   $ 10,200     $ 298,130  
President and Chief Executive Officer 2012     275,000       -       16,650 (2)     10,000       301,650  

Mark W. Reynolds

2013

    212,600       -       12,930 (1)     8,504       234,034  
Chief Financial Officer 2012     212,600       -       13,875 (3)     8,238       234,713  

Harriet L. Robinson

2013

    225,887       -       12,930 (1)     9,035       247,852  
Chief Scientific Officer 2012     265,750       -       13,875 (3)     10,000       289,625  

 

(1)

Grant date fair value of stock option grant on December 18, 2013 for 30,000 shares with an exercise price of $0.53 per share, vesting over a three-year period. As of December 31, 2013, none of these shares have vested and are exercisable

(2)

Grant date fair value of stock option grant on December 11, 2012 for 30,000 shares with an exercise price of $0.66 per share, vesting over a three-year period. As of December 31, 2013, 10,000 of these shares have vested and are exercisable.

(3)

Grant date fair value of stock option grant on December 11, 2012 for 25,000 shares with an exercise price of $0.66 per share, vesting over a three-year period. As of December 31, 2013, 8,333 of these shares have vested and are exercisable

(4)

Amounts shown in the “All Other Compensation” column represent employer contributions to the Company’s 401(k) retirement plan.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

GeoVax has awarded stock options to its senior management and other employees. The terms of these awards typically provide for vesting over a defined period of time, generally three years. The options expire if not exercised within ten years from the date of grant. The Company does not have a formula for determining stock option awards. Awards are generally based on the subjective judgment of the President and Chief Executive Officer and on the Compensation Committee’s subjective judgment.

 

 
39

 

 

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to unexercised options previously awarded to our Named Executive Officers that were outstanding as of December 31, 2013.

 

Option Awards

   

Number of Securities

Underlying Unexercised Options

           

Name

 

(#) Exercisable

   

(#) Unexercisable

   

Option Exercise Price ($)

 

Option Expiration Date

Robert McNally

    -       30,000 (1)   $ 0.53  

12/18/23

      10,000       20,000 (2)     0.66   12/11/22
      20,000       10,000 (3)     0.91   12/30/21
      10,000       -       1.98   12/10/20
      10,000       -       7.00   12/2/19
      10,000       -       5.50   12/11/18
      48,000       -       8.50   6/17/18
      10,000       -       8.05   12/5/17
      26,400       -       17.75   3/14/17

Mark Reynolds

    -       30,000 (1)     0.53  

12/18/23

      8,333       16,667 (2)     0.66   12/11/22
      16,666       8,334 (3)     0.91   12/30/21
      10,000       -       1.98   12/10/20
      10,000       -       7.00   12/2/19
      10,000       -       5.50   12/11/18
      10,000       -       8.05   12/5/17
      36,000       -       17.75   3/14/17

Harriet Robinson

    -       30,000 (1)     0.53  

12/18/23

      8,333       16,667 (2)     0.66   12/11/22
      16,666       8,334 (3)     0.91   12/30/21
      10,000       -       1.98   12/10/20
      10,000       -       7.00   12/2/19
      10,000       -       5.50   12/11/18
      177,912       -       2.024   2/5/14

 

(1)

These stock options vest and become exercisable in three equal installments on December 18, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

(2)

These stock options vest and become exercisable in two equal installments on December 11, 2014 and 2015.

(3)

These stock options vest and become exercisable on December 30, 2014.

 

Other Benefits Provided to Executive Officers

 

Dr. McNally, Mr. Reynolds and Dr. Robinson are eligible for health insurance and 401(k) benefits at the same level and subject to the same conditions as provided to all other employees. GeoVax participates in a multi-employer defined contribution retirement plan (the “401k Plan”) administered by a third party service provider; and the Company contributes to the 401k Plan on behalf of all its eligible employees based upon the same matching formula. The amounts shown in the Summary Compensation Table under the heading “Other Compensation” represent the value of the Company’s matching contributions to the 401(k) accounts of these executive officers. Executive officers did not receive any other perquisites or other personal benefits or property from the Company or any other source.

 

 
40

 

 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation earned for service on our Board of Directors during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013 by each individual who served as a director at any time during the fiscal year.

 

Name

 

Fees

Earned or Paid in Cash

($)

   

Stock

Awards

($)

   

(2)(3)

Option

Awards

($)

   

Non-Equity

Incentive

Plan

Compensation

($)

   

Non-qualified

Deferred

Compensation Earnings

($)

   

All

Other

Compensation

($)

   

Total

($)

 

David A. Dodd

    47,450       -       10,775       -       -       -       58,225  

Dean G. Kollintzas

    28,300       -       10,775       -       -       -       39,075  

Robert T. McNally (1)

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

Harriet L. Robinson (1)

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -  

John N. Spencer, Jr.

    37,450       -       10,775       -       -       -       48,225  

 

(1)

Dr. McNally and Dr. Robinson, who were employees of the Company during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, received no compensation for their service as directors. All amounts related to their compensation as Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and prior years are included in the “Summary Compensation Table”.

(2)

Amounts shown in the “Option Awards” column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For a discussion of the various assumptions made and methods used for determining such amounts, see footnotes 2 and 10 to our 2013 consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this registration statement. On December 18, 2013, Messrs. Dodd, Kollintzas and Spencer were each granted options to purchase 25,000 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $0.53 per share.

(3)

The table below shows the aggregate numbers of option awards outstanding for each non-employee director as of December 31, 2013.

 

Name

 

Aggregate Option Awards

Outstanding

as of December 31, 2013

(#)

 

David A. Dodd

    111,400  

Dean G. Kollintzas

    141,400  

John N. Spencer, Jr.

    141,400  

 

Director Compensation Plan

 

In March 2007, the Board of Directors approved a recommendation from the Compensation Committee for director compensation, which we refer to as the “Director Compensation Plan.” It was subsequently amended in March 2008, December 2009, and in December 2010. The Director Compensation Plan applies only to non-employee directors. Directors who are employees of the Company receive no compensation for their service as directors or as members of committees.

 

Cash Fees

 

For 2013, each non-employee director received an annual retainer (paid quarterly) of $5,000 for service as a member of the Audit Committee and $3,300 for service as a member of the Compensation Committee or the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Chairman of the Audit Committee received an annual retainer of $9,000, and the Chairman of each of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee received an annual retainer of $6,000. These retainers were also paid quarterly. Non-employee directors also received fees for each Board of Directors or Committee meeting attended as follows: $3,000 for in person Board of Directors meetings ($1,500 for telephonic meetings), $1,000 for in person Committee meeting chaired ($750 for telephonic meetings), and $500 for in person Committee meeting attended as a non-chair member ($400 for telephonic meetings). Mr. Dodd, the non-employee Chairman of the Board during 2013, received an annual retainer of $30,000 (paid quarterly) and was not entitled to additional fees for Board meetings attended, but did receive additional fees for committees on which he serves. 

 

 
41

 

 

 

Stock Option Grants

 

Each of our current non-employee directors received a grant of options to purchase 26,400 shares of common stock on the date that such non-employee director was first elected or appointed. We currently do not have a formula for determining annual stock option grants to directors (upon their re-election to the Board of Directors, or otherwise). Such option grants are currently determined by the Board of Directors, upon recommendation by the Compensation Committee based on the Compensation Committee’s annual deliberations and review of the director compensation structure of similar companies. At its meeting in December 2013, upon a recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors approved an annual stock option grant of 25,000 shares to its non-employee members.

 

Expense Reimbursement

 

All directors are reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings of the Board of Directors and committees.

 

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

Policies and Procedures for Approval of Related Party Transactions

 

Our Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all transactions or arrangements between the Company and any of our directors, officers, principal stockholders or any of their respective affiliates, associates or related parties, other than transactions with officers which are covered by the duties of the Compensation Committee. In determining whether to approve or ratify a related party transaction, the Audit Committee will discuss the transaction with management and will consider all relevant facts and circumstances available to it including:

 

 

• 

whether the terms of the transaction are fair to the Company and at least as favorable to the Company as would apply if the transaction did not involve a related party;

 

• 

whether there are demonstrable business reasons for the Company to enter into the transaction;

 

• 

whether the transaction would impair the independence of a non-employee director; and

 

• 

whether the transaction would present an improper conflict of interest for any director or executive officer, taking into account the size of the transaction, the direct or indirect nature of the related party’s interest in the transaction and the ongoing nature of any proposed relationship, and any other factors the Audit Committee deems relevant.

 

These policies are in writing and included in the Company’s minute book.

 

Our Board of Directors has made the following findings and adopted the following policies (in writing) regarding related party transactions:

The Company has not made and will not make loans or loan guarantees on behalf of any director, officer, beneficially owner of more than 5% of our common stock, or other person constituting a Promoter, as such term is defined in the NASAA Statement of Policy Regarding Corporate Securities Definitions.

The Company has not engaged and will not engage in material transactions with any director, officer, beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock, or other person constituting a Promoter, as such term is defined in the NASAA Statement of Policy Regarding Corporate Securities Definitions, except as described below or as otherwise approved by our Audit Committee consistent with the policies and procedures described below.

The Company will make any future material affiliated transactions on terms that are no less favorable to the Company than those that can be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.

A majority of the Company’s Audit Committee will approve all future material transactions.

The Company’s officers, directors, and counsel will:

 

o

consider their due diligence and assure that there is a reasonable basis for these representations, and

 

o

consider whether to embody the representations in the issuer’s charter or bylaws.

 

 

 
42

 

 

 

Transactions with Emory University

 

Emory University is a significant stockholder of the Company, and our primary product candidates are based on technology rights subject to a license agreement with Emory University, which we refer to as the Emory License. The Emory License, among other contractual obligations, requires payments based on milestone achievements, royalties on sales by the Company or on payments to the Company by our sublicensees, and payment of maintenance fees in the event certain milestones are not met within the time periods specified in the Emory License. We may terminate the Emory License upon 90 days prior written notice. In any event, the Emory License expires on the date of the latest expiration date of the underlying patents. We are also obligated to reimburse Emory University for certain ongoing costs in connection with the filing, prosecution and maintenance of patent applications subject to the Emory License. The expense associated with these ongoing patent reimbursements to Emory University amounted to $98,042 and $89,885 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

  

In connection with our IPCAVD grant from the NIH, we have entered into two research agreements with Emory University for the purpose of conducting research and development activities related to the grant. During the years ended 2013 and 2012, we recorded $252,478 and $552,403 respectively, of expense associated with these contracts. All amounts paid to Emory under these agreements are reimbursable to us pursuant to the NIH grant.

 

Private Placements Transactions

 

In December 2011 and January 2012, members of our management and Board of Directors participated in a private placement offering of units of our common stock and warrants. Each unit, which was priced at $0.67 per unit, consisted of one share of our common stock and a five-year warrant to purchase 1.5 shares at $1.00 per share. The purchases by management and members of our Board of Directors were as follows: Dr. McNally $20,000 (29,850 units); Dr. Robinson $100,000 (149,254 units); Mr. Dodd $75,040 (112,000 units); Mr. Reynolds $20,100 (30,000 units); Mr. Spencer $10,000 (14,925 units); Mr. Kollintzas $10,000 (14,925 units); and Mr. Antebi (a former director) $20,100 (30,000 units).

 

On March 21, 2012, we completed a private placement transaction and issued to a total of 2,200 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, with a stated value of $1,000 per share and a conversion price of $0.75, to three accredited investors. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock was convertible into 1,333.33 shares of our common stock. Each purchaser of a share of Series A Preferred Stock also acquired a Series A, a Series B, and a Series C Warrant to purchase a share of our common stock. The Series A Preferred Stock and related warrants were issued in reliance upon exemptions provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) for the offer and sale of securities not involving a public offering and Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

Effective January 17, 2013, the Company reduced the exercise price of its outstanding Series B Warrants issued in connection with the March 2012 private placement, which were exercisable for an aggregate of 2,933,333 shares of common stock .  The exercise price for all of the Series B Warrants was reduced from $0.75 to $0.60 per share.  The $1.00 per share exercise price for the Series A and Series C Warrants did not change. In consideration for the reduction of the exercise price, the holders of the Series B Warrants agreed to immediately exercise 1,766,667 of the Series B Warrants for cash, and the expiration date of Warrants with respect to the remaining shares subject to the Series B Warrants was extended from March 21, 2013 to May 21, 2013. In addition, the Company, Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund, Ltd. (which invested $1,000,000 in the March 2012 private placement and an additional $750,000 upon exercise of the Series B Warrants), and Sabby Healthcare Volatility Master Fund, Ltd. which invested $1,000,000 in the March 2012 private placement and an additional $750,000 upon exercise of the Series B Warrants), agreed to increase the beneficial ownership limitation contained in their Series B Warrants to 9.99% from 4.99%. See “Security Ownership of Principal Stockholders, Directors and Executive Officers” for additional information.

 

Effective May 14, 2013, the Company reduced the exercise price of the remaining Series B Common Stock Purchase Warrants from $0.60 to $0.50 per share. In consideration for the reduction of the exercise price, the holders of the Series B Warrants immediately exercised all 1,166,666 of the remaining Series B Warrants for cash, resulting in total proceeds to the Company of $583,333.

 

On December 11, 2013, the Company and the holders of its Series A Preferred Stock and Series A and Series C Warrants entered into an Amendment Agreement (the “Amendment”) providing, among other things, that if the Company’s next issuance of at least $500,000 of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents (as defined) was for a conversion price lower than the then-current conversion price for the Series A Preferred Stock, then the conversion price for the Series A Preferred Stock would be reduced to the same price. There were 788 shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding as of December 11, 2013. On December 13, 2013, we implemented agreed-upon changes to the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock. Pursuant to the Amendment, the terms of the Company’s outstanding Series A and Series C Warrants were also amended to eliminate certain future reductions in the exercise price of those warrants subject to certain conditions.

 

On December 11, 2013, we also entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with three accredited investors providing for the issuance and sale to them of an aggregate of 1,650 shares of our Series B Preferred Stock. Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund, Ltd. and Sabby Healthcare Volatility Master Fund, Ltd. each acquired 750 shares of Series B Preferred Stock for $750,000. Each share of Series B Preferred Stock is initially convertible into approximately 2,857.1 shares of our common stock for an aggregate of approximately 4,714,215 shares of our common stock. The conversion price is $0.35 per share.

 

Upon closing of the transactions contemplated in the Securities Purchase Agreement on December 13, 2013, the conversion price for the Series A Preferred Stock was reduced to $.35 per share, and the number of shares of common stock into which each shares of Series A Preferred Stock could be converted was increased to approximately 2,857.1 shares. The exercise price for the Series A and Series C Warrants was decreased to $.35 per share. There was no increase in the number of shares that may be purchased upon exercise of those warrants.

 

 

 
43

 

 

 

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

 

This prospectus relates to the resale by the selling stockholders named below from time to time of up to a total of 5,866,666 shares that are issuable to the selling stockholders. The number of shares is subject to adjustment as described at “Description of Securities.” The common stock offered by this prospectus is being offered by the selling stockholders for their own accounts.

 

Private Placement Transactions

 

On March 21, 2012, we completed a private placement transaction and issued Series A convertible preferred stock, which we refer to as Series A Preferred Stock, with a stated value of $1,000 per share and a conversion price of $0.75, to three accredited investors. 459 shares of Series A Preferred stock remain outstanding. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock was originally convertible into 1,333.33 shares of our common stock. The Series A Preferred Stock and related warrants were issued in reliance upon exemptions provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for the offer and sale of securities not involving a public offering and Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

On December 13, 2013, we amended the Certificate of Designation of the Series A Preferred Stock, which effectively reduced the conversion price to $0.35 for the remaining outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock at that date. The resale of the additional common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock has also been registered for resale pursuant to the Securities Act.

 

On December 13, 2013, we completed a private placement transaction and issued to a total of 1,650 shares of Series B convertible preferred stock, which we refer to as Series B Preferred Stock, with a stated value of $1,000 per share and a conversion price of $0.35, to three accredited investors. Each share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into approximately 2,857 shares of our common stock. The Series B Preferred Stock was issued in reliance upon exemptions provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for the offer and sale of securities not involving a public offering and Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

Selling Stockholders

 

The table below, which was prepared based on information supplied to us by the selling stockholders, sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of outstanding shares of our common stock owned by the selling stockholders and the shares that they may sell or otherwise dispose of from time to time under this prospectus. Each of the selling stockholders, or their respective transferees, donees or their successors, may resell, from time to time, all, some or none of the shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus, as provided in this prospectus under the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” and in any applicable prospectus supplement. However, we do not know when, in what amount, or at what specific prices the selling stockholders may offer their shares for sale under this prospectus, if any.

 

The number of shares disclosed in the table below as “beneficially owned” are those beneficially owned as determined under the rules of the SEC. Such information is not necessarily indicative of ownership for any other purpose. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares “voting power,” which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or “investment power,” which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a selling stockholder and the percentage of ownership of that selling stockholder, shares of common stock underlying shares of Series B Preferred Stock, options or warrants held by that selling stockholder that are convertible or exercisable, as the case may be, within 60 days of March 10, 2014 are included. Those shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other selling stockholder. Each selling stockholder’s percentage of ownership in the following table is based upon 24,968,037 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 10, 2014.

 

Unless otherwise indicated and subject to community property laws where applicable, the selling stockholders named in the following table have, to our knowledge, sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by them. In addition, none of the selling stockholders has any family relationships with our officers, directors or controlling stockholders. Furthermore, no selling stockholder is a registered broker-dealer or an affiliate of a registered broker-dealer.

 

Information concerning any of the selling stockholders may change from time to time, and any changed information will be presented in a prospectus supplement as necessary. Please carefully read the footnotes located below the table in conjunction with the information presented in the table.

 

 
44

 

 

Selling Stockholder Name

 

Beneficial

Ownership

Prior to this

Offering

(1), (2)

   

Shares that

may be

Offered and

Sold Hereby

(2)

   

Beneficial

Ownership

After this

Offering (3)

   

% Holding

After

Completion

of this

Offering

 

Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund, Ltd.

    2,747,000 (4)     2,666,666       1,860,815       5.7 %

Sabby Healthcare Volatility Master Fund, Ltd.

    2,747,000 (5)     2,666,666       1,860,987       5.7 %

Brio Capital Master Fund Ltd.

    961,906 (6)     533,334       428,572       1.4 %

______________________

* Less than 1.0%

 

(1)

Includes all shares beneficially owned by the Selling Stockholders as of March 10, 2014

(2)

Includes all of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Series B Preferred Stock owned by this stockholder, as well as all of the shares issuable upon exercise of the Series A and C Warrants held by this stockholder. The number of shares offered by the Selling Stockholders in the table above reflects 100% of the shares issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock and upon exercise of the Series A and C Warrants. The Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, and the Series A and C Warrants contain exercise and conversion limitations providing that a holder thereof may not convert or exercise (as the case may be) to the extent (but only to the extent) that, if after giving effect to such conversion or exercise (as the case may be), the holder or any of its affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the outstanding shares of common stock immediately after giving effect to such conversion or exercise (as the case may be). To the extent the above limitation applies, the determination of whether a share of preferred stock or warrant shall be exercisable or convertible (vis-à-vis other convertible, exercisable or exchangeable securities owned by the holder) shall, subject to such Maximum Percentage limitation, be determined on the basis of the first submission to the Company for conversion, exercise or exchange (as the case may be). Accordingly, the number of shares of common stock set forth in the table as being registered for a Selling Stockholder may exceed the number of shares of common stock that the Selling Stockholder could own beneficially at any given time through its ownership of the Series A or Series B Preferred Stock and the Series A and C Warrants.

(3)

These shares have been separately registered for resale pursuant to the Securities Act and may also be sold.

(4)

Includes 217,958 shares of common stock, 1,642,857 shares issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Stock, and 2,666,666 shares issuable upon exercise of the Series A and C Warrants. Sabby Management, LLC shares voting and investment power with respect to these shares on behalf of this stockholder as well as Sabby Healthcare Volatility Master Fund, Ltd. As manager of Sabby Management, LLC, Hal Mintz also shares voting and investment power on behalf of this stockholder. Each of Sabby Management, LLC and Hal Mintz disclaim beneficial ownership over the securities covered by this prospectus except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.

(5)

Includes 218,130 shares of common stock, 1,642,857 shares issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Stock, and 2,666,666 shares issuable upon exercise of the Series A and C Warrants. Sabby Management, LLC shares voting and investment power with respect to these shares on behalf of this stockholder as well as Sabby Volatility Warrant Master Fund, Ltd. As manager of Sabby Management, LLC, Hal Mintz also shares voting and investment power on behalf of this stockholder. Each of Sabby Management, LLC and Hal Mintz disclaim beneficial ownership over the securities covered by this prospectus except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.

(6)

Includes approximately 428,572 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred stock and 533,334 shares issuable upon exercise of the Series A and C Warrants. Brio Capital Management, LLC shares voting and investment power with respect to these shares. As manager of Brio Capital Management, LLC, Shaye Hirsch also shares voting and investment power on behalf of this stockholder. Each of Brio Capital Management, LLC and Shaye Hirsch disclaim beneficial ownership over the securities covered by this prospectus except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.

 

 
45

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Capital Stock

 

The following description of our capital stock is summarized from, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, our certificate of incorporation, as amended, including the certificates of designation, as amended, setting forth the terms of our Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock, all of which have been previously filed with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference. This summary is not intended to give full effect to provisions of statutory or common law. We urge you to review the following documents because they, and not this summary, define the rights of a holder of shares of common stock, Series A and Series B Preferred Stock: 

 

 

the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the “DGCL”, as it may be amended from time to time;

 

  

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our certificate of incorporation, as it may be amended or restated from time to time, and

 

  

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our bylaws, as they may be amended or restated from time to time.

 

General

 

Our authorized capital stock currently consists of 85,000,000 shares, which are divided into two classes consisting of 75,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

 

Common Stock

 

As of March 10, 2014, there were issued and outstanding 24,968,037 shares of common stock, options to purchase 995,300 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 8,284,826 shares of common stock, including the 5,866,666 shares in the aggregate subject to the unexercised Series A and C Warrants. An additional 3,714,286 shares of our common stock are reserved for issuance upon conversion of the outstanding Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held in the election of directors and in all other matters to be voted on by the stockholders. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends as may be declared from time to time by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor, and subject to the rights of holders of our Series B Preferred Stock. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of common stock are to share in all assets remaining after the payment of liabilities, and satisfaction of the liquidation preference of our outstanding Series B Preferred Stock. Holders of common stock have no pre-emptive or conversion rights and are not subject to further calls or assessments. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. The rights of the holders of the common stock are subject to any rights that may be fixed for holders of preferred stock, such as the Series B Preferred Stock. All of the outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

 

We are authorized to issue up to 2,200 shares of our Series A convertible preferred stock. As of March 10, 2014, no shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, were outstanding.

 

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

 

We are authorized to issue up to 1,650 shares of our Series B Preferred Stock. As of March 10, 2014, 1,300 shares of our Series B convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, were outstanding.

 

The Series B Preferred Stock is convertible at the option of the holder at any time into shares of common stock at a conversion ratio determined by dividing the $1,000 stated value of the Series A convertible preferred stock by a conversion price of $0.35 per share. As of March 10, 2014, an aggregate of 3,714,286 shares of our common stock are issuable upon conversion of the 1,300 outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock. The conversion price of the Series B Preferred Stock is subject to adjustment in the case of stock splits, stock dividends, combinations of shares, similar recapitalization transactions and certain pro-rata distributions to common stockholders.

 

 
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Subject to limited exceptions, a holder of the Series B Preferred Stock will not have the right to convert any portion of its Series B Preferred Stock if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to its conversion.

 

The holders of Series B Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive any securities or rights to acquire securities or property granted or issued by us pro rata to the holders of our common stock to the same extent as if such holders had converted all of their shares of Series B Preferred Stock. No distribution may be made on the common stock so long as any dividend due on the Series B Preferred Stock remains unpaid. In the event of a fundamental transaction, such as a merger, consolidation, sale of substantially all assets and similar reorganizations or recapitalizations, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, upon conversion of their shares, any securities or other consideration received by the holders of our common stock pursuant to the fundamental transaction.

 

Except as required by law, holders of the Series B Preferred Stock are not entitled to voting rights; provided, however, that the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock is required to take certain actions that may alter or change adversely the rights or preferences of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, increase the number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, or authorize a new class ranking senior or pari passu to the Series B Preferred Stock. The Series B Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference equal to $1,000 per share.

 

The securities purchase agreement and related registration rights agreement, as well as the certificate of designation authorizing the Series B Preferred Stock include certain other agreements and covenants for the benefit of the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock, including restrictions on our ability to issue additional equity securities for a period of 45 days after the effective date of this prospectus, issue additional debt or equity securities with a variable conversion or exercise price for a period of nine months after the initial closing, and undertake a reverse or forward stock split or reclassification of our common stock until December 13, 2014 (unless such reverse split is made in conjunction with the listing of the common stock on a national securities exchange), and a requirement to use our best efforts to maintain the listing or trading of our common stock on one or more specified United States securities exchanges or regulated quotation services.

 

Undesignated Preferred Stock 

 

Subject to the restrictions set forth in the certificate of designation for our Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock, our Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 9,996,150 additional shares of preferred stock in one or more series and fix the number of shares constituting any such series, the voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including the dividend rights, dividend rate, terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), redemption price or prices, conversion rights and liquidation preferences of the shares constituting any series, without any further vote or action by the stockholders. For example, the Board of Directors is authorized to issue a stockholder of preferred stock that would have the right to vote, separately or with any other stockholder of preferred stock, on any proposed amendment to our certificate of incorporation, or on any other proposed corporate action, including business combinations and other transactions.

 

We will not offer preferred stock unless the offering is approved by a majority of our independent directors. The independent directors will have access, at our expense, to our counsel or independent counsel.

 

The Series A, B and C Warrants

 

Pursuant to the terms of the securities purchase agreement for the sale of the Series A convertible preferred stock, each purchaser was also issued a Series A Warrant, a Series B Warrant and a Series C Warrant, each to purchase up to a number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock equal to 100% of the Common Stock underlying the preferred shares issued to such purchaser pursuant to the securities purchase agreement (up to 2,933,333 shares in the aggregate for each series of warrants, or 8,799,999 shares in total). The Series A Warrants have an exercise price of $0.35 per share, are fully exercisable, and have a term of exercise equal to five years from the date of issuance. There are currently no Series B Warrants outstanding. The Series C Warrants have an exercise price of $0.35 per share and have a term of exercise equal to five years from the date of issuance.

 

The exercise price of the warrants and, in some cases, the number of shares issuable upon exercise, are subject to adjustment in the case of stock splits, stock dividends, combinations of shares, similar recapitalization transactions and certain pro-rata distributions to common stockholders. The exercise price, but not the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise, will also be adjusted to match the lower price if we sell or grant (or announce a sale or grant) of any shares of common stock or securities convertible into, or rights to acquire, common stock at an effective price per share that is lower than the then exercise price, except in the event of certain exempt issuances. In addition, upon exercise of the warrants the warrant holders will be entitled to receive any securities or rights to acquire securities or property granted or issued by us pro rata to the holders of our common stock to the same extent as if such holders had then exercised the warrants. In the event of a fundamental transaction, such as a merger, consolidation, sale of substantially all assets and similar reorganizations or recapitalizations, the warrant holders will be entitled to receive, upon exercise of their warrants, any securities or other consideration received by the holders of common stock pursuant to the fundamental transaction. Under certain circumstance, after a fundamental transaction, holders may be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the value of the Series A or C Warrants, computed as provided in those warrants. Any successor to us or surviving entity shall assume the obligations under the warrants.

 

 
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The warrant holders must surrender payment in cash of the aggregate exercise price of the shares being acquired upon exercise of the warrants. If there is no effective registration statement registering, or no current prospectus available for the resale of the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, then the warrants may be exercised on a “net” or “cashless” basis. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued in connection with the exercise of a warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will pay the holder an amount in cash equal to the fractional amount multiplied by the exercise price.

 

Subject to limited exceptions, a holder of the Series A or C Warrants will not have the right to exercise the warrant if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to its conversion. Upon 61 days’ prior notice from a holder, the 4.99% limitation may be increased to 9.99% for that holder. The Series A and Series C Warrants held by two investors have been amended to increase the beneficial ownership limitation to 9.99%.

 

Delaware Anti-Takeover Law

 

We have elected not to be subject to certain provisions of Delaware law that could make it more difficult to acquire us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest, open market purchases, removal of incumbent directors and otherwise. These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our Board of Directors.

 

In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in various “business combination” transactions with any interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

 

the transaction is approved by the corporation’s board of directors prior to the date the interested stockholder obtained interested stockholder status;

 

 

upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder’s becoming an interested stockholder, the stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned by (a) persons who are directors and also officers and (b) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

 

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on or subsequent to the date the business combination is approved by the corporation’s board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2 / 3 % of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

A “business combination” is defined to include mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in financial benefit to a stockholder. In general, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or within three years, did own, 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock.

 

Section 203 applies to Delaware corporations that have a class of voting stock that is listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders; provided, however, the restrictions of this statute will not apply to a corporation if:

 

  

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the corporation’s original charter contains a provision expressly electing not to be governed by the statute;

 

  

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the corporation’s board of directors adopts an amendment to the corporation’s bylaws within 90 days of the effective date of the statute expressly electing not to be governed by it;

 

  

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the stockholders of the corporation adopt an amendment to its charter or bylaws expressly electing not to be governed by the statute (so long as such amendment is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote);

 

 
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a stockholder becomes an interested stockholder inadvertently and as soon as practicable divests himself of ownership of a sufficient number of shares so that he ceases to be an interested stockholder, and during the three year period immediately prior to a business combination, would not have been an interested stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition;

 

  

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the business combination is proposed prior to the consummation or abandonment of a merger or consolidation, a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of assets of the corporation or a proposed tender or exchange offer for 50% or more of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation; or

 

  

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the business combination is with an interested stockholder who became an interested stockholder at a time when the restrictions contained in the statutes did not apply.

 

Our certificate of incorporation includes a provision electing not to be governed by Section 203 of the DCGL. Accordingly, our board of directors does not have the power to reject certain business combinations with interested stockholders based on Section 203 of the DCGL.

 

Indemnification

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to an action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the corporation’s request in such a capacity for another entity against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the action, suit or proceeding. The power to indemnify applies (i) if such person is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding or (ii) if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The power to indemnify applies to actions brought by or in the right of the corporation as well, but only to the extent of defense expenses (including attorneys’ fees but excluding amounts paid in settlement), actually and reasonably incurred and not to any satisfaction of judgment or settlement of the claim itself, and with the further limitation that in such actions no indemnification shall be made in the event of any adjudication of negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duties to the corporation, unless a court believes that in light of all the circumstances indemnification should apply.

 

Our bylaws provide that we may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. Our bylaws also provide that we may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

Under our bylaws, expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as we deem appropriate.

 

 
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The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by our bylaws is not exclusive, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

 

Our bylaws also provide that we may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under our bylaws. The Company maintains an insurance policy providing for indemnification of its officers, directors and certain other persons against liabilities and expenses incurred by any of them in certain stated proceedings and under certain stated conditions.

 

In October 2006, GeoVax and our subsidiary, GeoVax, Inc. entered into indemnification agreements with Messrs. McNally, Reynolds, Kollintzas and Spencer. Pursuant to these agreements, we have agreed to hold harmless and indemnify these directors and officers to the full extent authorized or permitted by applicable Illinois and Georgia law against certain expenses and other liabilities actually and reasonably incurred by these individuals in connection with certain proceedings if they acted in a manner they believed in good faith to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that such conduct was unlawful. The agreements also provide for the advancement of expenses to these individuals subject to specified conditions. Under these agreements, we will not indemnify these individuals for expenses or other amounts for which applicable Illinois and Georgia law prohibit indemnification. The obligations under these agreements continue during the period in which these individuals are our directors or officers and continue thereafter so long as these individuals shall be subject to any proceeding by reason of their service to the Company, whether or not they are serving in any such capacity at the time the liability or expense incurred for which indemnification can be provided under the agreements.

 

DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

In the event that a claims for indemnification against such liabilities (other than our payment of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

 
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Each selling stockholder of the securities and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their securities covered hereby on the OTC Bulletin Board or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A selling stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities:

 

 

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

 

block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

 

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

 

an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

 

privately negotiated transactions;

 

 

settlement of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part;

 

 

in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security;

 

 

through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

 

a combination of any such methods of sale; or

 

 

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The selling stockholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA IM-2440.

 

In connection with the sale of the securities or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell securities short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

 

The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each selling stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).

 

 
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The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the securities. The Company has agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

  

Because selling stockholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder. In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus. The selling stockholders have advised us that there is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale securities by the selling stockholders.

 

We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which the securities may be resold by the selling stockholders without registration and without regard to any volume or manner-of-sale limitations by reason of Rule 144 (assuming a cashless exercise of each Series A, B, and C Warrant), without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of the securities have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale securities will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale securities covered hereby may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

 

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M under the Securities Act, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the selling stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of securities of the common stock by the selling stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the selling stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act)

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon by Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice LLP, Atlanta, Georgia.

 

EXPERTS

 

The audited consolidated financial statements of GeoVax, Labs, Inc. and subsidiary as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for the period of time considered part of the development stage from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2013, included in the Registration Statement have been audited by Porter Keadle Moore, LLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report appearing herein. Such financial statements have been so included in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The audited consolidated financial statements of GeoVax Labs, Inc. and subsidiary for the year ended December 31, 2005 and for the period from inception of the development stage (June 27, 2001) to December 31, 2005, included in the Registration Statement have been audited by Tripp, Chafin & Company, LLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report appearing herein. Such financial statements have been so included in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information pertaining to us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are not necessarily complete, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.

 

 
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We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

 
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GEOVAX LABS, INC.

(A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE ENTERPRISE)

 

INDEX TO 2013 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms on Financial Statements

F-2

     

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012

F-4

     

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 and for the Period from Inception (June 27, 2001) to December 31, 2013

F-5

     

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficiency) for the Period from Inception (June 27, 2001) to December 31, 2013

F-6

     

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011and for the Period from Inception (June 27, 2001) to December 31, 2013

F-7

     

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

F-8

     

Financial Statement Schedule:

 
 

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

 

F-19

  

 
F-1

 

  

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

To the Board of Directors

GeoVax Labs, Inc.

Atlanta, Georgia

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of GeoVax Labs, Inc. and subsidiary (a development stage company) (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity (deficiency), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013, and for the period of time considered part of the development stage from June 27, 2001 to December 31, 2013, except we did not audit the Company’s financial statements for the period from June 27, 2001 to December 31, 2005 which were audited by other auditors. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of the Company listed in Item 15(a). These financial statements and financial statement schedule 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 the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, 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 consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of GeoVax Labs, Inc. and subsidiary as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013, and for the period of time considered part of the development stage from June 27, 2001 to December 31, 2013, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

 

 

/S/ PORTER KEADLE MOORE, LLC

 

Atlanta, Georgia

March 14, 2014

 

 
F-2

 

  

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

Board of Directors

GeoVax, Inc.

Atlanta, Georgia

 

We have audited the statements of operations, stockholders’ deficiency and cash flows of GeoVax, Inc. (a Georgia corporation in the development stage) for the period from inception (June 27, 2001) to December 31, 2005. 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 audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit 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 audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements of GeoVax, Inc. referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the results of its operations, changes in stockholders’ deficiency and cash flows for the period from inception (June 27, 2001) to December 31, 2005, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/s/ TRIPP, CHAFIN & COMPANY, LLC

 

Marietta, Georgia

February 8, 2006 

 

 
F-3

 

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

(A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE ENTERPRISE)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

   

December 31,

 
   

2013

   

2012

 

ASSETS

               

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 2,513,861     $ 1,035,925  

Grant funds receivable

    140,909       266,248  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    43,569       42,301  
                 

Total current assets

    2,698,339       1,344,474  
                 

Property and equipment, net

    120,227       102,486  
                 

Other assets

    21,010       31,010  
                 

Total assets

  $ 2,839,576     $ 1,477,970  
                 
                 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

               

Current liabilities:

               

Accounts payable

  $ 155,943     $ 163,788  

Accrued expenses

    96,406       33,877  

Amounts payable to Emory University (a related party)

    60,000       129,370  
                 

Total current liabilities

    312,349       327,035  
                 

Commitments (Note 6)

               
                 

Stockholders’ equity:

               

Preferred stock, $.01 par value:

               

Authorized shares – 10,000,000

               

Series A convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value; 71 and 788 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively

    60,586       312,196  

Series B convertible preferred stock, $1,000 stated value; 1,650 and -0- shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively

    1,255,569       -  

Common stock, $.001 par value:

               

Authorized shares – 75,000,000 and 40,000,000 at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively

               

Issued and outstanding shares – 23,765,180 and 18,733,277 at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively

    23,765       18,733  

Additional paid-in capital

    28,239,392       25,587,148  

Deficit accumulated during the development stage

    (27,052,085 )     (24,767,142 )
                 

Total stockholders’ equity

    2,527,227       1,150,935  
                 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 2,839,576     $ 1,477,970  

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 
F-4

 

 

 GEOVAX LABS. INC.

 (A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE ENTERPRISE)

 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

   

Years Ended December 31,

   

From Inception

(June 27, 2001) to

 
   

2013

   

2012

   

2011

   

December 31, 2013

 

Grant revenue

  $ 2,417,550     $ 2,657,327     $ 4,899,885     $ 25,386,569  
                                 

Operating expenses:

                               

Research and development

    2,914,878       3,043,522       4,276,375       31,589,076  

General and administrative

    1,792,160       1,752,765       2,972,555       21,192,584  
      4,707,038       4,796,287       7,248,930       52,781,660  
                                 

Loss from operations

    (2,289,488 )     (2,138,960 )     (2,349,045 )     (27,395,091 )
                                 

Other income (expense):

                               

Interest income

    4,545       3,820       2,219       348,675  

Interest expense

    -       -       -       (5,669 )
      4,545       3,820       2,219       343,006  
                                 

Net loss

  $ (2,284,943 )   $ (2,135,140 )   $ (2,346,826 )   $ (27,052,085 )
                                 

Basic and diluted:

                               

Loss per common share

  $ (0.11 )   $ (0.12 )   $ (0.15 )   $ (2.21 )

Weighted average shares outstanding

    21,212,327       18,315,669       15,735,541       12,241,449  

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 

 

 
F-5

 

  

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

(A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE ENTERPRISE)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)

 

 

   

Series A Convertible

Preferred Stock

   

Series B Convertible

Preferred Stock

   

Common Stock

   

Additional

Paid-in

   

Stock

Subscription

   

Deficit

Accumulated

During the

Development

   

Total

Stockholders’

Equity

 
   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Capital

   

Receivable

   

Stage

   

(Deficiency)

 

Capital contribution at inception (June 27, 2001)

    -     $ -       -     $ -       -     $ -     $ 10     $ -     $ -     $ 10  

Net loss for the period ended December 31, 2001

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (170,592 )     (170,592 )

Balance at December 31, 2001

    -       -       -       -       -       -       10       -       (170,592 )     (170,582 )

Sale of common stock for cash

    -       -       -       -       2,789,954       2,790       (2,320 )     -       -       470  

Issuance of common stock for technology license

    -       -       -       -       704,534       705       148,151       -       -       148,856  

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2002

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (618,137 )     (618,137 )

Balance at December 31, 2002

    -       -       -       -       3,494,488       3,495       145,841       -       (788,729 )     (639,393 )

Sale of common stock for cash

    -       -       -       -       1,229,278       1,229       2,458,380       -       -       2,459,609  

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2003

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (947,804 )     (947,804 )

Balance at December 31, 2003

    -       -       -       -       4,723,766       4,724       2,604,221       -       (1,736,533 )     872,412  

Sale of common stock for cash and stock subscription receivable

    -       -       -       -       1,482,605       1,483       2,988,436       (2,750,000 )     -       239,919  

Cash payments received on stock subscription receivable

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       750,000       -       750,000  

Issuance of common stock for technology license

    -       -       -       -       49,420       49       99,951       -       -       100,000  

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2004

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (2,351,828 )     (2,351,828 )

Balance at December 31, 2004

    -       -       -       -       6,255,791       6,256       5,692,608       (2,000,000 )     (4,088,361 )     (389,497 )

Cash payments received on stock subscription receivable

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       1,500,000       -       1,500,000  

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2005

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (1,611,086 )     (1,611,086 )

Balance at December 31, 2005

    -       -       -       -       6,255,791       6,256       5,692,608       (500,000 )     (5,699,447 )     (500,583 )

Cash payments received on stock subscription receivable

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       500,000       -       500,000  

Conversion of preferred stock to common stock

    -       -       -       -       3,550,851       3,551       1,071,565       -       -       1,075,116  

Common stock issued in connection with merger

    -       -       -       -       4,359,891       4,360       1,708,489       -       -       1,712,849  

Issuance of common stock for cashless warrant exercise

    -       -       -       -       56,825       57       (57     -       -       -  

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2006

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (584,166 )     (584,166 )

Balance at December 31, 2006

    -       -       -       -       14,223,358       14,224       8,472,605       -       (6,283,613 )     2,203,216  

Sale of common stock for cash

    -       -       -       -       406,729       407       3,162,543       -       -       3,162,950  

Sale of common stock for cash upon stock option exercise

    -       -       -       -       2,471       2       4,998       -       -       5,000  

Stock-based compensation expense

    -       -       -       -       -       -       1,518,496       -       -       1,518,496  

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2007

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (4,241,796 )     (4,241,796 )

Balance at December 31, 2007

    -       -       -       -       14,632,558       14,633       13,158,642       -       (10,525,409 )     2,647,866  

Sale of common stock for cash

    -       -       -       -       306,419       306       1,770,785       -       -       1,771,091  

Issuance of common stock for services

    -       -       -       -       10,000       10       73,990       -       -       74,000  

Stock-based compensation expense

    -       -       -       -       -       -       1,945,049       -       -       1,945,049  

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (3,728,187 )     (3,728,187 )

Balance at December 31, 2008

    -       -       -       -       14,948,977       14,949       16,948,466       -       (14,253,596 )     2,709,819  

Sale of common stock for cash

    -       -       -       -       216,261       216       1,519,784       -       -       1,520,000  

Sale of common stock for cash upon warrant exercise

    -       -       -       -       462,826       463       1,499,537       -       -       1,500,000  

Issuance of common stock for services

    -       -       -       -       4,500       5       31,495       -       -       31,500  

Stock-based compensation expense

    -       -       -       -       -       -       1,267,165       -       -       1,267,165  

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2009

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (3,284,252 )     (3,284,252 )

Balance at December 31, 2009

    -       -       -       -       15,632,564       15,633       21,266,447       -       (17,537,848 )     3,744,232  

Issuance of common stock in lieu of cash payment

    -       -       -       -       12,000       12       89,988       -       -       90,000  

Issuance of common stock for services

    -       -       -       -       10,500       10       53,803       -       -       53,813  

Stock-based compensation expense

    -       -       -       -       -       -       696,719       -       -       696,719  

Fractional share cash payout upon reverse split

    -       -       -       -       (218 )     -       (1,210 )     -       -       (1,210

)

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2010

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (2,747,328 )     (2,747,328 )

Balance at December 31, 2010

    -       -       -       -       15,654,846       15,655       22,105,747       -       (20,285,176 )     1,836,226  

Sale of common stock for cash

    -       -       -       -       658,520       659       440,551       -       -       441,210  

Issuance of common stock for services

    -       -       -       -       129,245       129       149,871       -       -       150,000  

Stock-based compensation expense

    -       -       -       -       -       -       622,997       -       -       622,997  

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2011

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (2,346,826 )     (2,346,826 )

Balance at December 31, 2011

    -       -       -       -       16,442,611       16,443       23,319,166       -       (22,632,002

)

    703,607  

Sale of common stock for cash

    -       -       -       -       407,999       408       272,952       -       -       273,360  

Sale of convertible preferred stock and warrants for cash

    2,200       871,614       -       -       -       -       1,127,418       -       -       1,999,032  

Conversion of preferred stock to common stock

    (1,412 )     (559,418 )     -       -       1,882,667       1,882       557,536       -       -       -  

Stock-based compensation expense

    -       -       -       -       -       -       310,076       -       -       310,076  

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2012

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (2,135,140

)

    (2,135,140 )

Balance at December 31, 2012

    788       312,196       -       -       18,733,277       18,733       25,587,148       -       (24,767,142 )     1,150,935  

Sale of common stock for cash upon warrant exercise

    -       -       -       -       2,933,333       2,933       1,640,400       -       -       1,643,333  

Issuance of common stock for services

    -       -       -       -       50,000       50       20,450       -       -       20,500  

Sale of convertible preferred stock for cash

    -       360,229       1,650       1,255,569       -       -       -       -       -       1,615,798  

Conversion of preferred stock to common stock

    (717 )     (611,839 )     -       -       2,048,570       2,049       609,790       -       -       -  

Stock-based compensation expense

    -       -       -       -       -       -       381,604       -       -       381,604  

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2013

    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (2,284,943 )     (2,284,943 )

Balance at December 31, 2013

    71     $ 60,586       1,650     $ 1,255,569       23,765,180     $ 23,765     $ 28,239,392     $ -     $ (27,052,085 )   $ 2,527,227  

    

 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 
F-6

 

 

GEOVAX LABS. INC.

(A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE ENTERPRISE)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

         

Years Ended December 31,

   

From Inception

(June 27, 2001) to

 
         

2013

   

2012

   

2011

   

December 31, 2013

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                                 

Net loss

  $ (2,284,943 )   $ (2,135,140 )   $ (2,346,826 )   $ (27,052,085 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

                                 

Depreciation and amortization

    78,862       93,643       109,017       738,142  

Accretion of preferred stock redemption value

    -       -       -       346,673  

Stock-based compensation expense, including common stock issued for services

    402,104       310,076       772,997       7,160,709  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

                                 

Grant funds receivable

    125,339       (82,733 )     290,760       (140,909 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    (1,268 )     (12,593 )     19,122       (43,569 )

Deferred offering costs

    -       -       430,402       -  

Deposits

    -       -       980       (11,010 )

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    (14,686 )     (614,500 )     419,927       312,349  

Total adjustments

    590,351       (306,107 )     2,043,205       8,362,385  

Net cash used in operating activities

    (1,694,592 )     (2,441,247 )     (303,621 )     (18,689,700 )
                                       

Cash flows from investing activities:

                                 

Purchase of property and equipment

    (86,603 )     -       (11,896 )     (625,093 )

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

    -       -       -       5,580  

Net cash used in investing activities

    (86,603 )     -       (11,896 )     (619,513 )
                                       

Cash flows from financing activities:

                                 

Proceeds from sale of common stock

    1,643,333       310,160       404,410       17,479,801  

Proceeds from sale of preferred stock

    1,615,798       1,999,032       -       4,343,273  

Net cash provided in financing activities

    3,259,131       2,309,192       404,410       21,823,074  
                                       

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    1,477,936       (132,055 )     88,893       2,513,861  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

    1,035,925       1,167,980       1,079,087       -  
                                       

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

  $ 2,513,861     $ 1,035,925     $ 1,167,980     $ 2,513,861  
                                       
                                       

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

                                 

Interest paid

  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 5,669  
                                       

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

In connection with the Merger discussed in Note 7, all of the then outstanding shares of the Company’s mandatory redeemable convertible preferred stock were converted into shares of common stock as of September 28, 2006.

 

As discussed in Note 8, during the year ended December 31, 2013, an aggregate of 717 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were converted into 2,048,570 shares of common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2012, an aggregate of 1,412 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock were converted into 1,882,667 shares of common stock.

  

 See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

 
F-7

 

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

(A DEVELOPMENT-STAGE ENTERPRISE)

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 and

Period from Inception (June 27, 2001) to December 31, 2013

 

 

1.     Description of Business

 

GeoVax Labs, Inc. (“GeoVax” or the “Company”), is a biotechnology company developing vaccines that prevent and fight Human Immunodeficiency Virus (“HIV”) infections. HIV infections result in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (“AIDS”). We have exclusively licensed from Emory University (“Emory”) vaccine technology which was developed in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”). GeoVax is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware and our principal offices are located in Smyrna, Georgia (metropolitan Atlanta area).

 

Our most advanced vaccines under development address the clade B subtype of the HIV virus that is most prevalent in the United States and western Europe. Our vaccines are being evaluated to determine their potential to (a) prevent HIV infection and (b) to serve as a therapy for individuals who are already infected with HIV. These vaccines are currently being evaluated in humans -- both in those infected with HIV and those who are not. Our goal is to build a profitable company by generating income from products we develop and commercialize, either alone or with one or more potential strategic partners.

 

We operate in a highly regulated and competitive environment. The manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products require approval from, and are subject to, ongoing oversight by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in the European Union, and by comparable agencies in other countries. Obtaining approval for a new pharmaceutical product is never certain and may take many years and may involve expenditure of substantial resources.

 

2.     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

Our primary business is conducted by our wholly-owned subsidiary, GeoVax, Inc. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of GeoVax, Inc. from inception together with those of GeoVax Labs, Inc. from September 28, 2006 (see Note 7). All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Development-Stage Enterprise and Basis of Presentation

 

We are devoting all of our present efforts to research and development and GeoVax is a development stage enterprise as defined by Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 915, Development Stage Entities. All losses accumulated since inception (June 27, 2001) have been considered as part of our development stage activities.

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business for the twelve-month period following the date of these consolidated financial statements. We are devoting substantially all of our present efforts to research and development. We have funded our activities to date from government grants and clinical trial assistance, and from sales of our equity securities. We will continue to require substantial funds to continue these activities. We believe that our existing cash resources, combined with the proceeds from the NIH grants discussed in Note 5, will be sufficient to fund our planned operations into the first quarter of 2015.

 

We expect we will need to raise additional funds and are currently exploring sources of non-dilutive capital through government grant programs and clinical trial support. We also intend to conduct additional offerings of our equity securities or convertible debt instruments. However, additional funding may not be available on favorable terms or at all. If we fail to obtain additional capital when needed, we may be required to delay, scale back, or eliminate some or all of our research and development programs as well as reduce our general and administrative expenses.

 

 
F-8

 

  

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires us 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 may differ from those estimates.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

We consider all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Our cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of bank deposits and money market accounts. The recorded values approximate fair market values due to the short maturities.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that subject us to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, which are maintained by a high credit quality financial institution. The carrying values reported in the balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents approximate fair values.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred, while additions and improvements are capitalized. We calculate depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets which range from three to five years. We amortize leasehold improvements using the straight-line method over the term of the related lease.

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

We review long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the assets to the future net cash flows expected to be generated by such assets. If we consider such assets to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the expected future net cash flows from the assets.

 

Accrued Liabilities

 

As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we estimate expenses that we believe we have incurred, but have not yet been billed by our third party vendors. This process involves identifying services and activities that have been performed by such vendors on our behalf and estimating the level to which they have been performed and the associated cost incurred for such service as of each balance sheet date.

 

Net Loss Per Share

 

Basic and diluted loss per common share are computed based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Common share equivalents consist of common shares issuable upon conversion of convertible preferred stock, and upon exercise of stock options and stock purchase warrants. All common share equivalents are excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share since the effect would be anti-dilutive. Common share equivalents which could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future, and which were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share, totaled approximately 14.4 million, 13.3 million, and 2.8 million at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  

 

 
F-9

 

  

Revenue Recognition

 

We recognize revenue in accordance with the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, as amended by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition, (“SAB 104”). SAB 104 provides guidance in applying GAAP to revenue recognition issues, and specifically addresses revenue recognition for upfront, nonrefundable fees received in connection with research collaboration agreements. During 2013, 2012 and 2011, our revenue consisted of grant funding received from the NIH (see Note 5). Revenue from these arrangements is approximately equal to the costs incurred and is recorded as income as the related costs are incurred.

 

Research and Development Expense

 

Research and development expense primarily consists of costs incurred in the discovery, development, testing and manufacturing of our product candidates. These expenses consist primarily of (i) fees paid to third-party service providers to perform, monitor and accumulate data related to our preclinical studies and clinical trials, (ii) costs related to sponsored research agreements, (iii) the costs to procure and manufacture materials used in clinical trials, (iv) laboratory supplies and facility-related expenses to conduct development, and (v) salaries, benefits, and share-based compensation for personnel. These costs are charged to expense as incurred.

 

Patent Costs

 

Our expenditures relating to obtaining and protecting patents are charged to expense when incurred, and are included in general and administrative expense. 

 

Period to Period Comparisons

 

Our operating results are expected to fluctuate for the foreseeable future. Therefore, period-to-period comparisons should not be relied upon as predictive of the results for future periods. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year financial statement presentation.

 

Income Taxes

 

We account for income taxes using the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted rates in effect for the year in which temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance unless, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized.

 

Stock-Based Compensation 

 

We account for stock-based transactions in which the Company receives services from employees, directors or others in exchange for equity instruments based on the fair value of the award at the grant date. Compensation cost for awards of common stock is estimated based on the price of the underlying common stock on the date of issuance. Compensation cost for stock options or warrants is estimated at the grant date based on each instrument’s fair value as calculated by the Black-Scholes option pricing model. We recognize stock-based compensation cost as expense ratably on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the award. See Note 10 for additional stock-based compensation information.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

There have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements which we expect to have a material impact on our financial statements, nor do we believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on our financial statements. 

 

 
F-10

 

  

3.     Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment is composed of the following as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:

 

   

2013

   

2012

 

Laboratory equipment

  $ 474,602     $ 388,000  

Leasehold improvements

    115,605       115,605  

Other furniture, fixtures & equipment

    28,685       28,685  

Total property and equipment

    618,892       532,290  

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

    (498,666 )     (429,804 )

Property and equipment, net

  $ 120,227     $ 102,486  

 

Depreciation and amortization expense was $68,862, $73,720, and $84,131 during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

4.     Other Assets

 

Other assets include the following as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:

 

   

2013

   

2012

 

Technology licenses

  $ 248,855     $ 248,855  

Deposits

    11,010       11,010  

Accumulated amortization – technology licenses

    (238,855 )     (228,855 )

Total other assets

  $ 21,010     $ 31,010  

 

Amortization expense related to technology licenses was $10,000, $19,923, and $24,886 during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

5.     Government Grants

 

In September 2007, the NIH awarded us an Integrated Preclinical/Clinical AIDS Vaccine Development (IPCAVD) grant to support our HIV/AIDS vaccine program. We are utilizing this funding to further our HIV/AIDS vaccine development, optimization and production. The aggregate award (including subsequent amendments) totaled $20.4 million, and there is $700,153 of unrecognized grant funds remaining and available for use as of December 31, 2013.

 

In September 2012, the NIH awarded us a grant of $1.9 million to support development of versions of our HIV/AIDS vaccines to address the clade C subtype of the HIV virus prevalent in the developing world. All funding pursuant to this grant has been utilized as of December 31, 2013.

 

In July 2013, the NIH awarded us a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant entitled “Enhancing Protective Antibody Responses for a GM-CSF Adjuvanted HIV Vaccine.” The grant award of approximately $277,000 is for the first year of a two year project period beginning August 1, 2013, and there is $122,127 of unrecognized grant funds remaining and available for use as of December 31, 2013.

 

We record revenue associated with these grants as the related costs and expenses are incurred and such revenue is reported as a separate line item in our statements of operations. During 2013, 2012, and 2011, we recorded $2,417,550, $2,657,327, and $4,899,885, respectively, of revenue associated with these grants.

 

6.     Commitments

 

Lease Agreements

 

We lease approximately 8,400 square feet of office and laboratory space located in Smyrna, Georgia (metropolitan Atlanta). Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $117,879, $118,801, and $119,255, respectively. Future minimum lease payments pursuant to the 62 month lease total $128,920 in 2014. 

 

 
F-11

 

  

Other Commitments

 

In the normal course of business, we may enter into various firm purchase commitments related to production and testing of our vaccine material, conduct of clinical trials, and other research-related activities. As of December 31, 2013, we had approximately $77,500 of unrecorded outstanding purchase commitments to our vendors and subcontractors, all of which we expect will be due in 2014.

 

7.     2006 Merger and Recapitalization

 

The Company was originally incorporated in June 1988 under the laws of Illinois as Dauphin Technology, Inc. (“Dauphin”). Dauphin was unsuccessful and its operations were terminated in December 2003. In September 2006, Dauphin completed a merger (the “Merger”) with GeoVax, Inc. which was incorporated under the laws of Georgia in June 2001. As a result of the Merger, the shareholders of GeoVax, Inc. exchanged their shares of common stock for Dauphin common stock and GeoVax, Inc. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dauphin. Dauphin then changed its name to GeoVax Labs, Inc. and replaced its officers and directors with those of GeoVax, Inc. Subsequent to the Merger, the Company has not conducted any business other than GeoVax, Inc.’s business of developing human vaccines. The Merger was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting as a reverse acquisition in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, Dauphin was treated as the acquired company and, accordingly, all financial information prior to the date of Merger presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, or in the notes herein, as well as any references to prior operations, are those of GeoVax, Inc. In June 2008, the Company was reincorporated under the laws of Delaware.

 

8.     Preferred Stock

 

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

 

The Company has authorized 2,200 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $1,000 stated value (“Series A Preferred Shares”). Pursuant to a securities purchase agreement dated March 16, 2012, we sold an aggregate of 2,200 Series A Preferred Shares, as well as accompanying warrants to purchase 8,799,999 shares of common stock, for gross proceeds of $2.2 million. Net proceeds to the Company, after deduction of placement agent fees and other expenses, were approximately $2.0 million.

 

The Series A Preferred Shares have a liquidation preference equal to the initial purchase price, have no voting rights, and are not entitled to a dividend. The Series A Preferred Shares may be converted at any time at the option of the holders into shares of our common stock. The initial conversion price was $0.75 and during 2012, 1,412 of the Series A Preferred Shares were converted at this price into an aggregate of 1,882,667 shares of our common stock. Effective December 11, 2013, the designation of the Series A Preferred Shares was amended in connection with the issuance of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (see discussion below). The amendment had the effect of reducing the conversion price of the then-outstanding Series A Preferred Shares to $0.35 and during the remainder of 2013, 717 shares of the Series A Preferred Shares were converted at this price into an aggregate of 2,048,570 shares of our common stock. As of December 31, 2013, there were 71 shares of Series A Preferred Shares outstanding, convertible into 202,859 shares of our common stock. All of the remaining Series A Preferred Shares were converted into shares of our common stock during January 2014.

 

Accounting Treatment and Allocation of Proceeds. We assessed the Series A Preferred Shares and the related warrants under ASC Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”), ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”), and ASC Topic 470, “Debt” (“ASC 470”). The preferred stock contains an embedded feature allowing an optional conversion by the holder into common stock which meets the definition of a derivative. However, we determined that the preferred stock is an “equity host” (as described by ASC 815) for purposes of assessing the embedded derivative for potential bifurcation and that the optional conversion feature is clearly and closely associated to the preferred stock host; therefore the embedded derivative does not require bifurcation and separate recognition under ASC 815. We determined there to be a beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”) requiring recognition at its intrinsic value. Since the conversion option of the preferred stock was immediately exercisable, the amount allocated to the BCF was immediately accreted to preferred dividends, resulting in an increase in the carrying value of the preferred stock. We also assessed the warrants issued in connection with the financing under ASC 815 and determined that they did not initially meet the definition of a derivative, but will require evaluation on an on-going basis. As of December 31, 2013, we determined that the warrants still did not meet the definition of a derivative.

 

 
F-12

 

  

The following is a summary of the allocation of net proceeds and reconciliation to the carrying value of the Series A Preferred Shares at December 31, 2013: 

 

Net proceeds

    1,999,032  

Fair value of warrants (recorded to Additional Paid-in Capital)

    (1,127,418 )

Beneficial conversion feature (recorded to Additional Paid-in Capital)

    (762,667 )

Net proceeds allocated to preferred stock

    108,947  

Accretion of beneficial conversion feature (deemed dividend)

    762,667  

Initial carrying value of preferred stock

    871,614  

Accretion of beneficial conversion feature (deemed dividend) related to issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

    360,229  

Conversions to common stock

    (1,171,257 )

Carrying value at December 31, 2013

    60,586  

 

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

 

The Company has authorized 1,650 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, $1,000 stated value (“Series B Preferred Shares”). Pursuant to a securities purchase agreement dated December 11, 2013, we sold an aggregate of 1,650 Series B Preferred Shares, for gross proceeds of $1.65 million. Net proceeds to the Company, after deduction of transaction expenses, were approximately $1.6 million. No warrants were issued in connection with the transaction.

 

The Series B Preferred Shares have a liquidation preference equal to the initial purchase price, have no voting rights, and are not entitled to a dividend. The Series B Preferred Shares may be converted at any time at the option of the holders into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $0.35. As of December 31, 2013, there were 1,650 shares of Series B Preferred Shares outstanding, convertible into 4,714,286 shares of our common stock. In January 2014, 350 Series B Preferred Shares were converted into 1,000,000 shares of our common stock.

 

In conjunction with the sale of the Series B Preferred Shares, we entered into an agreement with the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares to amend the designation of the Series A Preferred Shares. The amendment had the effect of reducing the conversion price of the then-outstanding 788 Series A Preferred Shares from $0.75 to $0.35.

 

Accounting Treatment and Allocation of Proceeds. We assessed the Series B Preferred Shares under ASC Topic 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” (“ASC 480”), ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”), and ASC Topic 470, “Debt” (“ASC 470”). The preferred stock contains an embedded feature allowing an optional conversion by the holder into common stock which meets the definition of a derivative. However, we determined that the preferred stock is an “equity host” (as described by ASC 815) for purposes of assessing the embedded derivative for potential bifurcation and that the optional conversion feature is clearly and closely associated to the preferred stock host; therefore the embedded derivative does not require bifurcation and separate recognition under ASC 815. We determined there to be a beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”) for both the Series A Preferred Shares and the Series B Preferred Shares requiring recognition at its intrinsic value. Since the conversion option of both series of preferred stock was immediately exercisable, the amount allocated to each BCF was immediately accreted to preferred dividends, resulting in an increase in the carrying value of both the Series A Preferred Shares and the Series B Preferred Shares.

 

The following is a summary of the allocation of net proceeds and reconciliation to the carrying value of the Series B Preferred Shares at December 31, 2013: 

 

Net proceeds

    1,615,798  

Beneficial conversion feature – Series A Preferred Shares (recorded to Additional Paid-in Capital)

    (360,229 )

Beneficial conversion feature – Series B Preferred Shares (recorded to Additional Paid-in Capital)

    (754,286 )

Net proceeds allocated to preferred stock

    501,283  

Accretion of beneficial conversion feature (deemed dividend)

    754,286  

Carrying value at December 31, 2013

    1,255,569  

 

 
F-13

 

  

9.     Common Stock

 

Increase in Authorized Shares of Common Stock

 

At our annual meeting of stockholders held on June 10, 2013, our stockholders approved an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to increase our authorized shares of common stock from 40,000,000 shares to 75,000,000 shares. The amendment to our certificate of incorporation was filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on August 1, 2013.

 

Common Stock Reserved

 

A summary of common stock reserved for future issuance as of December 31, 2013 is as follows 

 

Stock Purchase Warrants

    8,292,226  

Stock Option Plan

    1,197,529  

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

    202,857  

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

    4,714,286  

Total

    14,406,898  

 

Common Stock Transactions

 

During December 2011, we sold an aggregate of 658,520 shares of our common stock to a group of individual accredited investors (including members of our board of directors and management --see Note 13) for an aggregate purchase price of $441,210. We also issued to the investors warrants to purchase an aggregate of 987,783 shares of common stock at a price of $1.00 per share, which expire in December 2016.

 

During January 2012, we sold an aggregate of 407,999 shares of our common stock to a group of individual accredited investors (including members of our board of directors and management --see Note 13) for an aggregate purchase price of $273,360. We also issued to the investors warrants to purchase an aggregate of 612,001 shares of common stock at a price of $1.00 per share, which expire in January 2017.

 

During the period from April to September 2012, we issued an aggregate of 1,882,667 shares of our common stock related to conversions of our Series A Preferred Shares (see Note 8).

 

During January and May 2013, we issued an aggregate of 1,766,667 shares and 1,166,666 shares, respectively, of our common stock pursuant to the exercise of certain stock purchase warrants, resulting in total proceeds of $1,060,000 and $583,333, respectively (see “Stock Purchase Warrants” below).

 

During October 2013, we issued 50,000 shares of our common stock to a consultant in exchange for services and recorded general and administrative expense of $20,500 related to the issuance (see Note 10).

 

During December 2013, we issued an aggregate of 2,048,570 shares of our common stock related to conversions of our Series A Preferred Shares (see Note 8).

 

Stock Purchase Warrants

 

As of December 31, 2013, we have the following stock purchase warrants outstanding:

Expiration Date

 

Number of Shares

   

Weighted Average

Exercise Price

 

January 19, 2014

    7,400     $ 1.40  

December 31, 2014

    818,376       16.50  

December 31, 2016

    987,783       1.00  

January 16, 2017

    45,000       1.00  

January 31, 2017

    567,001       1.00  

March 21, 2017

    5,866,666       0.35  

Outstanding at December 31, 2013

    8,292,226     $ 2.07  

 

During 2011, we recorded $152,126 of general and administrative expense associated with the extension of the expiration dates of warrants to purchase 818,376 shares of common stock which were due to expire in 2011 to 2013.

 

 
F-14

 

 

 

Effective January 17, 2013, we reduced the exercise price of 2,933,333 certain stock purchase warrants from $0.75 to $0.60 per share. In consideration for the reduction of the exercise price, the holders of the warrants immediately exercised 1,766,667 of the warrants for cash, resulting in total proceeds to the Company of $1,060,000. We also extended the expiration date of the 1,166,666 unexercised warrants from March 21, 2013 to May 21, 2013. We recorded general and administrative expense of $218,551 associated with these warrant modifications. Effective May 14, 2013, we reduced the exercise price of the 1,166,666 remaining warrants from $0.60 to $0.50 per share. In consideration for the reduction of the exercise price, the holders of the warrants immediately exercised all of the remaining warrants for cash, resulting in total proceeds to the Company of $583,333. We recorded general and administrative expense of $19,617 associated with this warrant modification.

 

Upon the consummation of the sale of our Series B Preferred Shares in December 2013, the exercise price of warrants to purchase 5,866,666 shares of our common stock issued in connection with our Series A Preferred Shares was reduced from $1.00 to $0.35 pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions contained in the warrant agreements. As this existing contractual provision was unrelated to the sale of the Series B Preferred Shares and the exercise price adjustment was triggered automatically, with no consideration received by the Company, no accounting recognition was given to the adjustment.

 

10.     Stock-Based Compensation

 

Stock Option Plan

 

In 2006, we adopted the GeoVax Labs, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Stock Option Plan”) for the granting of qualified incentive stock options (“ISO’s”), nonqualified stock options, restricted stock awards or restricted stock bonuses to employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors of the Company. The exercise price for any option granted may not be less than fair value (110% of fair value for ISO’s granted to certain employees). Options granted under the Stock Option Plan have a maximum ten-year term and generally vest over three years. The Company has reserved 1,200,000 shares of its common stock for issuance under the Stock Option Plan.

 

A summary of activity under the Stock Option Plan as of December 31, 2013, and changes during the year then ended is presented below:

   

Number

of Shares

   

Weighted-

Average

Exercise

Price

   

Weighted-

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Term (yrs)

   

Aggregate

Intrinsic

Value

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2012

    1,069,141     $ 4.50                  

Granted

    210,000       0.52                  

Exercised

    -       -                  

Forfeited or expired

    (82,097 )     4.68                  

Outstanding at December 31, 2013

    1,197,044     $ 3.79       6.0     $ 7,700  

Exercisable at December 31, 2013

    812,037     $ 5.29       4.3     $ 0  

 

Additional information concerning our stock options for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:

 

   

2013

   

2012

   

2011

 

Weighted average fair value of options granted during the period

  $ 0.43     $ 0.59     $ 0.79  

Intrinsic value of options exercised during the period

    -       -       -  

Total fair value of options vested during the period

    165,490       319,920       540,339  

 

We use the Black-Scholes model for determining the grant date fair value of our stock option grants. This model utilizes certain information, such as the interest rate on a risk-free security with a term generally equivalent to the expected life of the option being valued and requires certain other assumptions, such as the expected amount of time an option will be outstanding until it is exercised or expired, to calculate the fair value of stock options granted. The significant assumptions we used in our fair value calculations were as follows:

 

 
F-15

 

  

   

2013

   

2012

   

2011

 

Weighted average risk-free interest rates

    2.3 %     1.1 %     1.4 %

Expected dividend yield

    0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %

Expected life of option (years)

 

7.0

   

6.7

   

7.0

 

Expected volatility

    96.60 %     105.2 %     111.2 %

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to the Stock Option Plan was $143,435, $310,076, and $463,752 during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Stock option expense is allocated to research and development expense or to general and administrative expense based on the nature of the services provided by the related individuals. For the three years ended December 31, 2013, stock option expense was allocated as follows:

 

   

2013

   

2012

   

2011

 

General and administrative expense

  $ 101,896     $ 231,936     $ 284,352  

Research and development expense

    41,539       78,140       179,400  

Total stock option expense

  $ 143,435     $ 310,076     $ 463,752  

 

As of December 31, 2013, there was $196,648 of unrecognized compensation expense related to stock-based compensation arrangements pursuant to the Stock Option Plan. The unrecognized compensation expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average remaining period of 2.2 years.

 

Other Non-Employee Stock-Based Compensation

 

We recorded stock-based compensation expense for non-employees, related to the issuance of our common stock or stock purchase warrants, of $20,500, $-0-, and $7,119 during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. All such expense was allocated to general and administrative expense. As of December 31, 2013, there was no unrecognized compensation expense related to these awards.

 

11.     Retirement Plan

 

We participate in a multi-employer defined contribution retirement plan (the “401k Plan”) administered by a third party service provider; and the Company contributes to the 401k Plan on behalf of its employees based upon a matching formula. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 our contributions to the 401k Plan were $43,132, $50,500, and $56,928, respectively.

 

12.     Income Taxes

 

At December 31, 2013, we have a consolidated federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward of approximately $62.4 million, available to offset against future taxable income which expires in varying amounts in 2014 through 2033. Additionally, we have approximately $799,000 in research and development (“R&D”) tax credits that expire in 2022 through 2033 unless utilized earlier. No income taxes have been paid to date.

 

As a result of the Merger discussed in Note 7, our NOL carryforward increased substantially due to the addition of historical NOL carryforwards for Dauphin Technology, Inc. However, Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code contains provisions that may limit our utilization of NOL and R&D tax credit carryforwards in any given year as a result of significant changes in ownership interests that have occurred in past periods or may occur in future periods.

  

 
F-16

 

  

Deferred income taxes reflect the net effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities included the following at December 31, 2013 and 2012:

 

   

2013

   

2012

 

Deferred tax assets:

               

Net operating loss carryforward

  $ 21,971,742     $ 24,428,215  

Research and development tax credit carryforward

    799,248       785,201  

Stock-based compensation expense

    2,233,909       2,097,194  

Total deferred tax assets

    25,004,899       27,310,610  
                 

Deferred tax liabilities

               

Depreciation

    (2,019 )     (14,869 )

Total deferred tax liabilities

    (2,019 )     (14,869 )
                 

Net deferred tax assets

    25,002,880       27,295,741  

Valuation allowance

    (25,002,880 )     (27,295,741 )
    $ -     $ -  

 

We have established a full valuation allowance equal to the amount of our net deferred tax assets due to uncertainties with respect to our ability to generate sufficient taxable income to realize these assets in the future. A reconciliation of the income tax benefit on losses at the U.S. federal statutory rate to the reported income tax expense is as follows:

 

   

2013

   

2012

   

2011

 

U.S. federal statutory rate applied to pretax loss

  $ (776,881 )   $ (725,948 )   $ (797,921 )

Permanent differences

    3,138       2,674       4,216  

Research and development credits

    14,047       21,236       32,675  

Change in valuation allowance

    759,696       702,038       761,030  

Reported income tax expense

  $ -     $ -     $ -  

 

13.     Related Party Transactions

 

We are obligated to reimburse Emory University (a significant stockholder of the Company) for ongoing costs in connection with the filing, prosecution and maintenance of patent applications subject to a license agreement for technology associated with the vaccines we are developing. The expense associated with these ongoing patent cost reimbursements to Emory amounted to $98,042, $89,885, and $249,907 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.

 

In connection with our IPCAVD grant from the NIH (see Note 5), we entered into subcontracts with Emory for the purpose of conducting research and development activities related to the grant. During 2013, 2012, and 2011, we recorded $252,478, $552,403, and $1,172,758, respectively, of expense associated with these subcontracts. All amounts paid to Emory under these subcontracts are reimbursable to us pursuant to the NIH grant.

 

In March 2008, we entered into a consulting agreement with Donald Hildebrand, a former member of our Board of Directors and our former President & Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to which Mr. Hildebrand has provided business and technical advisory services to the Company. The term of the consulting agreement, as amended, began on April 1, 2008 and ended on December 31, 2012. During 2012 and 2011, we recorded $24,000 and $24,000, respectively, of expense associated with the consulting agreement.

 

In December 2011 and January 2012, members of our management and Board of Directors participated in a private placement offering of our common stock and warrants (see Note 9), whereby they purchased an aggregate of 380,954 shares of our common stock for a total purchase price of $255,239 and received five-year warrants to purchase an additional 571,432 shares of our common stock exercisable at $1.00 per share.  

 

 
F-17

 

  

14.     Selected Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)

 

A summary of selected quarterly financial data for 2013 and 2012 is as follows:

 

   

2013 Quarter Ended

 
   

March 31

   

June 30

   

September 30

   

December 31

 

Revenue from grants

  $ 797,040     $ 441,561     $ 1,004,211     $ 174,738  

Net loss

    (696,797 )     (526,284 )     (190,148 )     (871,714 )

Net loss per share

    (0.03 )     (0.02 )     (0.01 )     (0.04 )

 

   

2012 Quarter Ended

 
   

March 31

   

June 30

   

September 30

   

December 31

 

Revenue from grants

  $ 854,063     $ 705,698     $ 638,000     $ 459,566  

Net loss

    (730,513 )     (497,763 )     (296,779 )     (610,085 )

Net loss per share

    (0.04 )     (0.03 )     (0.02 )     (0.03 )

 

15.     Subsequent Events

 

In January 2014, we issued an aggregate of 202,857 and 1,000,000 shares of our common stock related to conversions of our Series A Preferred Shares and Series B Preferred Shares, respectively.

 

 

 
F-18

 

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

SCHEDULE II – VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

 

For the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

 

 

   

 

   

Additions  

         

 

 

Description

 

Balance at

Beginning

Of Period

   

Charged to

Costs and

Expenses

   

Charged to

Other

Accounts

   

(1)

Deductions

   

Balance at

End

Of Period

 

Reserve Deducted in the Balance Sheet From the Asset to Which it Applies:

                                       
                                         

Allowance for Deferred Tax Assets

                                       

Year ended December 31, 2013

  $ 27,295,741     $ 862,735     $ -     $ (3,155,596 )   $ 25,002,880  

Year ended December 31, 2012

    27,591,230       817,472       -     $ (1,112,961 )     27,295,741  

Year ended December 31, 2011

    27,576,253       888,561       -       (873,584 )     27,591,230  

 

 

 

 

(1)

Deductions represent the effect of expiring NOL carryforwards from prior year.

 

  

  

 
 F-19

 

  

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

 

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by us in connection with this offering. All expenses are estimated except the fees payable to the SEC.

 

SEC registration fee

  $ 1,257  

Legal fees and expenses

    25,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

    6,000  

Printing and miscellaneous expenses

    --  

Total

  $ 32,257  

 

 

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), provides, among other things, that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the corporation’s request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the action, suit or proceeding. The power to indemnify applies (i) if such person is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding or (ii) if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The power to indemnify applies to actions brought by or in the right of the corporation as well, but only to the extent of defense expenses (including attorneys’ fees but excluding amounts paid in settlement), actually and reasonably incurred and not to any satisfaction of judgment or settlement of the claim itself, and with the further limitation that in such actions no indemnification shall be made in the event of any adjudication of negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duties to the corporation, unless a court believes that in light of all the circumstances indemnification should apply.

 

Our bylaws provide that we may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. Our bylaws also provide that we may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

Under our bylaws, expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as we deem appropriate.

 

 
II-1

 

 

The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by our bylaws is not exclusive, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

 

Our bylaws also provide that we may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under our bylaws. The Company maintains an insurance policy providing for indemnification of its officers, directors and certain other persons against liabilities and expenses incurred by any of them in certain stated proceedings and under certain stated conditions.

 

In October 2006, GeoVax and our subsidiary, GeoVax, Inc. entered into indemnification agreements with Messrs. McNally, Reynolds, Kollintzas and Spencer. Pursuant to these agreements, we have agreed to hold harmless and indemnify these directors and officers to the full extent authorized or permitted by applicable Illinois and Georgia law against certain expenses and other liabilities actually and reasonably incurred by these individuals in connection with certain proceedings if they acted in a manner they believed in good faith to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that such conduct was unlawful. The agreements also provide for the advancement of expenses to these individuals subject to specified conditions. Under these agreements, we will not indemnify these individuals for expenses or other amounts for which applicable Illinois and Georgia law prohibit indemnification. The obligations under these agreements continue during the period in which these individuals are our directors or officers and continue thereafter so long as these individuals shall be subject to any proceeding by reason of their service to the Company, whether or not they are serving in any such capacity at the time the liability or expense incurred for which indemnification can be provided under the agreements.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

On March 22, 2011, we issued an aggregate of 21,253 shares of our common stock to Gilford Securities, Incorporated and to Array Capital Management, LLC for financial advisory services.  For this transaction the Company relied upon Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder to issue the common stock.  The shares were offered to investors who acquired the shares for investment in a transaction that did not involve a general solicitation.

 

For the quarter ended June 30, 2011, we issued an aggregate of 75,734 shares of our common stock to Gilford Securities Incorporated and to Array Capital Management, LLC for financial advisory services. For these transactions the Company relied upon Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder to issue the common stock.  The shares were offered to investors who acquired the shares for investment in a transaction that did not involve a general solicitation.

 

On July 20, 2011, we issued an aggregate of 32,258 shares of our common stock to Gilford Securities, Incorporated and to Array Capital Management, LLC for financial advisory services.  For this transaction the Company relied upon Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder to issue the common stock.  The shares were offered to these investors who acquired the shares for investment in a transaction that did not involve a general solicitation.

 

On December 30, 2011, we sold to fourteen individual accredited investors 658,520 shares of our common stock, $.001 par value, and five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 987,783 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $441,208.  No commissions were paid in connection with these sales.  We relied on Rule 506 of Regulation D under the Securities Act to issue such securities, inasmuch as these were sold without any form of general solicitation or general advertising and sales were made only to accredited investors. A copy of the form of warrant issued to the investors was attached to our Form 8-K filed January 5, 2012.

 

On January 31, 2012, we sold to eleven individual accredited investors 370,686 shares of our common stock, $.001 par value, and five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 556,031 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $248,360.  No commissions were paid in connection with these sales. We relied on Rule 506 of Regulation D under the Securities Act to issue such securities, inasmuch as these were sold without any form of general solicitation or general advertising and sales were made only to accredited investors. A copy of the form of warrant issued to the investors was attached to our Form 8-K filed February 6, 2012.

 

 
II-2

 

 

On March 16, 2012, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with the certain purchasers identified therein providing for the issuance and sale to the purchasers of an aggregate of 2,200 shares of our Series A convertible preferred stock, and a Series A, B and C Warrant to each purchaser, for gross proceeds to the Company of $2.2 million, as described in our Form 8-K filed March 22, 2012. The Company relied on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act afforded by Section 4(2) thereof and Rule 506 of Regulation D. Moody Capital, LLC acted as the exclusive placement agent for the private placement, and the Company paid the placement agent a fee equal to 8% of the aggregate $2,200,000 of gross proceeds raised in the private placement. For information regarding the terms of the Series A convertible preferred stock and the Series A, B and C Warrants, see “Description of Securities” in the prospectus accompanying this registration statement. The Series B Warrants, originally exercisable at an exercise price of $0.75 per share, were amended in March 2013 before any were exercised, to change the exercise price to $0.60 per share. At that time Series B Warrants to purchase 1,766,667 shares were exercised. In May 2013, the remaining Series B Warrants were amended to change the exercise price to $0.50 per share, and all remaining Series B Warrants to purchase 583,333 shares were exercised.

 

On October 22, 2013, we issued 50,000 shares of our common stock to ProActive Capital Resources Group, LLC for services rendered pursuant to a consulting agreement with the Company. For this transaction the Company relied upon Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder to issue the common stock. The shares were offered to a single accredited investor who acquired the shares for investment in a transaction that did not involve a general solicitation.

 

On December 11, 2013, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with three accredited investors identified therein providing for the issuance and sale to the purchasers of an aggregate of 1,650 shares of our Series B convertible preferred stock for gross proceeds to the Company of $1,650,000, as described in our Form 8-K filed December 17, 2013. The Company relied on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act afforded by Section 4(2) thereof and Rule 506 of Regulation D. For information regarding the terms of the Series B convertible preferred stock, see “Description of Securities” in the prospectus accompanying this registration statement.

 

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

(a)

The exhibits filed with this registration statement are set forth on the exhibit index following the signature page and are incorporated by reference in their entirety into this item.

 

(b)

Financial Statement Schedules:

 

Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (unaudited) is included in the Financial Statements at page F-19.

 

All other financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or not required or because the information is included elsewhere in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes thereto.

 

Item 17. Undertakings

 

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

 

(1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i)

To include any prospectus required by Section10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

(2)

That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 
 
II-3

 

 

(3)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4)

That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

 

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

 

(i)

Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii)

Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii)

The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv)

Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

(1)

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4)or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2)

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of these securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering.

 

 
II-4

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-1 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 2 to registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Smyrna, State of Georgia, on the 14th day of March, 2014.

 

 

GEOVAX LABS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert T. McNally

 

 

 

Robert T. McNally Ph.D.

 

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment No 2 to registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. 

 

Name

 

Title

 

Date

         

/s/ Robert T. McNally

 

Director

 

March 14, 2014

Robert T. McNally

 

President & Chief Executive Officer

   
    (Principal Executive Officer)    
         

/s/ Mark W. Reynolds

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

March 14, 2014

Mark W. Reynolds

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

   
         
         

*

 

Director

 

March 14, 2014

David A. Dodd

       
         
         

*

 

Director

 

March 14, 2014

Dean G. Kollintzas

       
         
         

*

 

Director

 

March 14, 2014

Harriet L. Robinson

       
         
         

*

 

Director

 

March 14, 2014

John N. Spencer, Jr.

       

 

 

 

* By:

/s/ Robert T. McNally

 

 

 

Robert T. McNally, Attorney-in-Fact

 

 

 

 
II-5

 

 

 EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

Description

2.1

Agreement and Plan of Merger dated January 20, 2006 by and among GeoVax, Inc., GeoVax Acquisition Corp. and Dauphin Technology, Inc. (1)

2.2

First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (2)

2.3

Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (3)

3.1

Certificate of Incorporation (6)

3.1.1

Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of GeoVax Labs, Inc. filed April 13, 2010 (10)

3.1.2

Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of GeoVax Labs, Inc. filed April 27, 2010 (11)

3.1.3

Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of GeoVax Labs, Inc. filed August 2, 2013 (17)

3.2

Bylaws (6)

4.1.1

Amendment to Certificate of Designation of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock filed December 13, 2013 (19)

4.1.2

Form of Stock Certificate for the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (19)

4.2

Form of Stock Certificate for the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (14)

4.3

Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock filed December 13, 2013 (19)

4.4

Form of Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, filed March 20, 2012 (14)

5.1 *

Opinion of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP

10.1 ***

Employment Agreement between GeoVax Labs, Inc. and Robert T. McNally effective as of April 1, 2008 (7)

10.2 ***

Employment Agreement between GeoVax, Inc. and Mark W. Reynolds Amended and Restated effective as of January 1, 2010 (9)

10.3 ***

Employment Agreement between GeoVax, Inc. and Harriet Robinson effective as of November 19, 2007 (9)

10.4 ***

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement between GeoVax Labs, Inc. and Robert T. McNally dated October 22, 2013 (18)

10.5 ***

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement between GeoVax Labs, Inc. and Harriet Robinson dated October 22, 2013 (18)

10.6 ***

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement between GeoVax Labs, Inc. and Mark W. Reynolds dated October 22, 2013 (18)

10.7 ***

GeoVax Labs, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (4)

10.8

License Agreement between GeoVax, Inc. and Emory University, dated August 23, 2002 (3)

10.9

Office and Laboratory Lease between UCB, Inc. and GeoVax, Inc. (8)

10.10

Summary of the GeoVax Labs, Inc. Director Compensation Plan (9)

10.11

Form of Warrant dated December 30, 2011 (12)

10.12

Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (13)

10.13

Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated March 16, 2012 (14)

10.14

Form of Registration Rights Agreement dated March 16, 2012 (14)

10.15

Form of Series A Warrant issued March 21, 2012 (14)

10.16

Form of Series B Warrant issued March 21, 2012 (14)

10.17

Form of Series C Warrant issued March 21, 2012 (14)

10.18

Warrant Reset Offer Agreements dated January 17, 2013 (15)

10.19

Warrant Reset Offer Agreements dated May 14, 2013 (16)

10.20

Securities Purchase Agreement dated December 11, 2013 with Form of Registration Rights Agreement (19)

10.21

Amendment Agreement and Consent of Holders of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock dated December 11, 2013 (19)

14.1

Code of Ethics (5)

21.1

Subsidiaries of the Registrant (5)

23.1 **

Consent of Porter Keadle Moore, LLC

23.2 **

Consent of Tripp, Chafin & Company, LLC

 
 
II-6

 

 

101 *,****

The following financial information for GeoVax Labs, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2013, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 and for the period from inception (June 27, 2001) to December 31, 2013, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficiency) for the period from inception (June 27, 2001) to December 31, 2013, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 and for the period from inception (June 27, 2001) to December 31, 2013, and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 


*

Previously filed.

**

Filed herewith.

***

Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

****

Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files in Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

 

(1)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 24, 2006.

(2)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 13, 2006.

(3)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 4, 2006.

(4)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s definitive Information Statement (Schedule 14C) filed August 18, 2006.

(5)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 28, 2007.

(6)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 23, 2008.

(7)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 24, 2008.

(8)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed November 6, 2009.

(9)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 8, 2010.

(10)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 14, 2010.

(11)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 28, 2010.

(12)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 5, 2012.

(13)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 6, 2012.

(14)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 22, 2012.

(15)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 17, 2013.

(16)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 15, 2013.

(17)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 2, 2013.

(18)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 23, 2013.

(19)

Incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 17, 2013.

 

 

II-7