UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-QSB

x     QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004

OR

o    TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _______ to _______

Commission File Number 0-16686

VIOQUEST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact name of issuer as specified in its charter)


Minnesota
58-1486040
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
7 Deer Park Drive, Suite E, Monmouth Junction, NJ
08852
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)

(732) 274-0399

(Issuer’s telephone number)

Chiral Quest, Inc.
(former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed from last report)

Check whether the issuer (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x  No o

As of November 12, 2004 there were 17,827,924 shares of the issuer’s common stock, $.01 par value, outstanding.

Traditional Small Business Disclosure Format (check one): Yes o   No x

  
     

 
Index

   
Page
 
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   
Item 1.
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
1
 
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
9
 
 
or Plan of Operations
   
Item 3.
Controls and Procedures
13
 
PART II   
OTHER INFORMATION
   
Item 6.
Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
14
 
 
Signatures
15
 
 
Exhibit Index
16
 

Forward-Looking Statements

         This Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB contains statements that are not historical, but are forward-looking in nature, including statements regarding the expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In particular, the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation” section in Part I, Item 2 of this quarterly report includes forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. We use words such as we “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” and “intend” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. A number of important factors could, individually or in the aggregate, cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the continued availability of our chief technology officer, our ability to obtain additional financing, our ability to develop and maintain customer relationships, regulatory developments relating to and the general success of our customers’ products, and our ability to protect our proprietary technology. Other risks are described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” following Item 1 in Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2003.

  
     

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.  Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

VIOQUEST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 (UNAUDITED) AND DECEMBER 31, 2003

 
    September 30, 2004 (Unaudited)  
December 31,
2003
 
 ASSETS          
CURRENT ASSETS
         
   Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
4,059,550
 
$
659,117
 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of
             
$7,270 at September 30, 2004 and $11,490 at December 31, 2003
   
288,878
   
51,705
 
   Inventories
   
144,566
   
76,892
 
   Prepaid expenses
   
74,601
   
50,052
 
         Total Current Assets
   
4,567,595
   
837,766
 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
   
385,458
   
254,649
 
SECURITY DEPOSITS
   
68,700
   
31,000
 
DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS
   
   
50,000
 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, NET
   
514,550
   
412,442
 
TOTAL ASSETS
 
$
5,536,303
 
$
1,585,857
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
             
CURRENT LIABILITIES
             
   Accounts payable
 
$
459,111
 
$
273,414
 
   Accrued expenses
   
52,325
   
226,200
 
   Due to related party
   
   
1,201
 
   Deferred revenue, current portion
   
97,402
   
220,592
 
         Total Current Liabilities
   
608,838
   
721,407
 
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
             
   Deferred revenue, long-term portion
   
   
39,116
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES
   
608,838
   
760,523
 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
             
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
             
Common stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 17,827,924 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2004 and
             
13,001,018 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2003
   
178,279
   
130,010
 
    Additional paid-in capital
   
11,508,715
   
4,865,353
 
    Deferred expenses
   
(534,680
)
 
(758,824
)
    Accumulated deficit
   
(6,224,849
)
 
(3,411,205
)
         Total Stockholders' Equity
   
4,927,465
   
825,334
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
$
5,536,303
 
$
1,585,857
 



See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

  
  1  

 

VIOQUEST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 AND 2003
(UNAUDITED)


   
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2004
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2003
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003
 
                   
REVENUE
 
$
367,265
 
$
83,068
 
$
1,102,388
 
$
214,509
 
                           
COST OF GOODS SOLD
   
(192,349
)
 
(37,321
)
 
(569,598
)
 
(62,708
)
                           
GROSS PROFIT
   
174,916
   
45,747
   
532,790
   
151,801
 
                           
OPERATING EXPENSES
                         
Management and consulting fees
   
125,956
   
128,691
   
363,848
   
254,700
 
Research and development
   
253,969
   
76,995
   
712,019
   
283,470
 
Selling, general and administrative
   
337,709
   
230,705
   
1,141,781
   
654,071
 
Compensation
   
225,734
   
138,205
   
1,029,612
   
355,925
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
33,622
   
22,032
   
126,227
   
64,672
 
Total Operating Expenses
   
976,990
   
596,628
   
3,373,487
   
1,612,838
 
                           
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS
   
(802,074
)
 
(550,881
)
 
(2,840,697
)
 
(1,461,037
)
                           
INTEREST INCOME, NET
   
11,246
   
2,323
   
27,053
   
10,002
 
                           
NET LOSS
 
$
(790,828
)
$
(548,558
)
$
(2,813,644
)
$
(1,451,035
)
                           
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC AND DILUTED
 
$
(.04
)
$
(.04
)
$
(.17
)
$
(.12
)
                           
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING - BASIC AND DILUTED
   
17,827,924
   
13,001,018
   
16,841,403
   
12,324,550
 





See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

  
  2  

 

VIOQUEST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004
(UNAUDITED)


 
     
Common Stock  
                         
     
Shares  
   
Amount  
   
Additional
Paid-In
Capital 
   
Deferred
Expenses 
   
Accumulated
Deficit 
   
Total
Stockholders’
Equity 
 
Balance, January 1, 2004
   
13,001,018
 
$
130,010
 
$
4,865,353
 
$
(758,824
)
$
(3,411,205
)
$
825,334
 
Private placement of common stock,
                                     
net of expenses of $57,841
   
4,826,906
   
48,269
   
6,643,362
   
   
   
6,691,631
 
Amortization of deferred expenses
   
   
   
   
224,144
   
   
224,144
 
Net loss
   
   
   
   
   
(2,813,644
)
 
(2,813,644
)
Balance, September 30, 2004
   
17,827,924
 
$
178,279
 
$
11,508,715
 
$
(534,680
)
$
(6,224,849
)
$
4,927,465
 


See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

  
  3  

 

VIOQUEST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 AND 2003
(UNAUDITED)

 
     
For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30, 2004
   
For the Nine
Months Ended
September 30, 2003
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
         
Net loss
 
$
(2,813,644
)
$
(1,451,035
)
   Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
             
         Depreciation and amortization
   
126,227
   
64,672
 
         Amortization of deferred expenses
   
224,144
   
163,424
 
   Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
             
         (Increase) in accounts receivable
   
(237,173
)
 
(88,918
)
         (Increase) in inventories
   
(67,674
)
 
(54,059
)
         (Increase) in prepaid expenses
   
(24,549
)
 
(51,792
)
         (Increase) in security deposits
   
(37,700
)
 
(21,000
)
         Increase (Decrease) in accounts payable
   
185,697
   
(32,383
)
         Decrease in accrued expenses and due to related party
   
(175,076
)
 
(26,274
)
         Decrease in deferred revenue
   
(162,306
)
 
(6,642
)
            Net Cash Used In Operating Activities
   
(2,982,054
)
 
(1,504,007
)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
             
   Payments for purchased equipment
   
(211,762
)
 
(203,888
)
   Payments for intellectual property rights
   
(147,383
)
 
(87,245
)
            Net Cash Used In Investing Activities
   
(359,145
)
 
(291,133
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
             
   Payment of note payable
   
   
(336,625
)
   Cash received in merger and recapitalization
   
   
3,017,243
 
   Private placement of common stock
   
6,741,632
   
 
            Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities
   
6,741,632
   
2,680,618
 
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
   
3,400,433
   
885,478
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - BEGINNING OF PERIOD
   
659,117
   
33,520
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - END OF PERIOD
 
$
4,059,550
 
$
918,998
 
Supplemental Schedule of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
             
   Reclassification of Deferred Financing Costs to Additional Paid-In Capital
 
$
50,000
 
$
 


See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
  
  4  

 

VIOQUEST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

NOTE 1   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND LIQUIDITY


(A) Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information. Accordingly, the financial statements do not include all information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation. Interim operating results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2004 or for any subsequent period. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB of VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly Chiral Quest, Inc.) and its subsidiary (the “Company” or “VioQuest”) as of and for the year ended December 31, 2003.

(B)Liquidity

Since the Company’s inception, it has generated sales revenue but no net profits. Management believes that the Company’s research and development (“R&D”) and manufacturing capacity will need to grow in order for the Company to be able to obtain significant licensing and manufacturing agreements with large fine chemical and pharmaceutical companies. Management believes that the Company’s manufacturing capacity will continue to be enhanced with its new office and laboratory space located in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey that was leased in June 2003.

Since inception, the Company has incurred an accumulated deficit of $6,224,849 through September 30, 2004. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 the Company had net losses of $790,828 and $2,813,644, respectively. Management expects the Company’s operating losses to continue at least the next two years, primarily due to the expansion of its R&D programs, the hiring of additional chemists, and the expansion of its manufacturing capabilities. There can be no assurance that the Company will ever be able to operate profitably.

As of September 30, 2004, the Company had working capital of $3,958,757 and cash and cash equivalents of $4,059,550. If the Company is unable to significantly increase its revenues, it will most likely require additional financing, perhaps as early as the second quarter of 2005 in order to continue operations. The most likely sources of financing include private placements of the Company’s equity or debt securities or bridge loans to the Company from third party lenders.

The Company’s net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $2,982,054. The Company’s net cash used in operating activities primarily consisted of a net loss of $2,813,644, an increase in accounts receivable of $237,173 and decreases in deferred revenue of $162,306 and accrued expenses of 175,076, offset by an increase in accounts payable of $185,697.

The Company’s net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 totaled $359,144 which consisted of purchases of equipment for $211,762 related to the laboratory expansions completed in April and September 2004, along with patent applications expenditures of $147,383.

The Company’s net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $6,741,632. Financing activities consisted of the cash received in the private placement of the Company’s common stock on February 25, 2004.


 
  
  5  

 

VIOQUEST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

Management anticipates that the Company’s capital resources will be adequate to fund its operations through June 30, 2005, assuming the Company achieves expected increases in revenue. If the Company is unable to increase revenues as expected, however, additional financing will likely be required as early as the second quarter of 2005 in order to fund operations. The most likely source of financing includes private is of our equity or debt securities or bridge loans to the Company from third party lenders. However, changes may occur that would consume available capital resources before that time. The Company’s combined capital requirements will depend on numerous factors, including: competing technological and market developments, changes in our existing collaborative relationships, the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights and the outcome of any potentially related litigation or other dispute, the purchase of additional capital equipment, acquisition of technologies, the establishment and funding of the Chiral Quest, Jiashan, China facility, and the development and regulatory approval progress of its customers’ product candidates into which the Company’s technology will be incorporated.

Additional capital that may be needed by the Company in the future may not be available on reasonable terms, or at all. If adequate financing is not available, the Company may be required to terminate or significantly curtail its operations, or enter into arrangements with collaborative partners or others that may require the Company to relinquish rights to certain of its technologies, or potential markets that the Company would not otherwise relinquish.

The Company’s ability to achieve profitability depends upon, among other things, its ability to discover and develop products (specifically new “ligands” which are the Company’s core proprietary technology consisting of molecular compounds that create a chiral center), and to develop its products on a commercial scale through a cost effective and efficient process. To the extent that the Company is unable to produce, directly or indirectly, ligands in quantities required for commercial use, it will not realize any significant revenues from its technology. Moreover, there can be no assurance that it will ever achieve significant revenues or profitable operations from the sale of any of its products or technologies.

(C) Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for its employee and director stock option plans using the intrinsic value method in accordance with APB Opinion No. 25, “ Accounting For Stock Issued To Employees, ” and related interpretations. The Company measures compensation expense for employee and director stock options as the aggregate difference between the market value of its common stock and exercise prices of the options on the date that both the number of shares the grantee is entitled to receive and the exercise prices are known. For pro forma disclosure purposes, the Company values option issuances using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. If the Company had elected to recognize compensation cost for all outstanding options granted by the Company to employees by applying the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation,” to employee stock options, net loss and net loss per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 would have been increased to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

 
   

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2004 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003 

 
Net loss as reported
 
$
(790,828
)
$
(548,558
)
$
(2,813,644
)
$
(1,451,035
)
Total stock-based employee compensation expenses using the fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects
   
(35,733
)
 
(12,691
)
 
(83,938
)
 
(144,305
)
Net loss, pro forma
 
$
(826,561
)
$
(561,249
)
$
(2,897,582
)
$
(1,595,340
)
Basic and diluted net loss per common share:
                         
As reported
 
$
(.04
)
$
(.04
)
$
(.17
)
$
(.12
)
Pro forma
 
$
(.05
)
$
(.04
)
$
(.17
)
$
(.13
)
                           
Black-Scholes option pricing assumptions
                         
Risk-free interest rate
   
3%-4.5
%
 
2.3%-4
%
 
3.6%-4.5
%
 
2.3%-4
%
Volatility
   
64%-77
%
 
64%-128
%
 
39%-127
%
 
64%-128
%
Lives in years
   
10
   
3-10
   
10
   
3-10
 
Dividend yield
   
0
%
 
0
%
 
0
%
 
0
%
                           

 
  
  6  

 

VIOQUEST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

In addition, options are issued to non-employees such as consultants, scientific advisory board members and directors. Any options issued to non-employees are recorded in the consolidated financial statements as deferred expenses in the stockholders’ equity section using the fair value method and then amortized to expense over the applicable service periods.

(D) Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for each period presented. Diluted net loss per share is the same as basic net loss per share, since potentially dilutive securities from the assumed exercise of stock options and stock warrants would have had an antidilutive effect because the Company incurred a net loss during each period presented. The amount of potentially dilutive securities excluded from the calculation was 2,083,877 at September 30, 2004. There were 2,506,047 potentially dilutive securities at September 30, 2003.


NOTE 2   INVENTORIES

The principal components of inventories are as follows:

 
     
September 30, 2004
(Unaudited)  
   
December 31,
2003  
 
Raw material compounds
 
$
17,231
 
$
25,796
 
Work in process
   
123,335
   
42,251
 
Finished goods
   
4,000
   
8,845
 
Total Inventories
 
$
144,566
 
$
76,892
 


NOTE 3   STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY


On February 25, 2004, the Company completed the sale of its securities in a private placement to accredited investors for gross proceeds of approximately $7.2 million. Investors in the private placement purchased an aggregate of approximately 4.8 million shares of the Company’s common stock at a price per share of $1.50. Additionally, investors received one 5-year warrant to purchase one share of common stock at $1.65 per share for every two common shares purchased in the offering (a total of 2.4 million warrants). ThinkEquity Partners LLC, Paramount BioCapital, Inc. and Casimir Capital L.P. acted as the placement agents for this offering and received fees of approximately $500,000 of which Paramount BioCapital, Inc., a related party, received $300,000. Net proceeds to the Company, after deducting placement agent fees and other expenses relating to the private placement, were approximately $6.7 million.

The table below illustrates the number of stock options issued to: employees, scientific advisory board members, board of directors and consultants which were issued for services provided:

   
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004
 
       
Balance, January 1, 2004
   
2,841,857
 
Granted
   
205,000
 
Exercised
   
0
 
Expired
   
(250
)
Terminated
   
(962,730
)
Balance, September 30, 2004
   
2,083,877
 
         

  
  7  

 

VIOQUEST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

NOTE 4   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In April 2004, the Company appointed Ronald Brandt to be its President and Chief Executive Officer on an interim basis. In June 2004, the Company appointed Mr. Brandt to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of its chiral ligand operating subsidiary. In connection with that appointment, Mr. Brandt entered into a new employment agreement with such subsidiary, which superseded his October 2003 employment agreement with the Company. Mr. Brandt’s new employment agreement provides for a term expiring in October 2006 and maintains his annual base salary of $200,000. Mr. Brandt is also entitled to receive bonuses based on the Company’s gross revenues, as follows:

     (i) A one time payment of $50,000 upon the completion of the first two consecutive fiscal quarters in which the Company has gross revenue in excess of $1,000,000;

     (ii) A one time payment of $75,000 upon the completion of the first two consecutive fiscal quarters in which the Company has gross revenue in excess of $2,500,000;

     (iii) For each fiscal quarter in which the Company has gross revenue in excess of $2,500,000 following the first two consecutive fiscal quarters described in (ii) above, the Company will remit to the Executive a payment of $10,000.

     (iv) A one time payment of $100,000 upon the completion of the first two consecutive fiscal quarters in which the Company has gross revenue in excess of $5,000,000; and

     (v) For each fiscal quarter in which the Company has gross revenue in excess of $5,000,000 following the first two consecutive fiscal quarters described in (iv) above, the Company will remit to the Executive a payment of $10,000 (in addition to the $100,000 payment in (iv) above).

Mr. Brandt is also entitled to a $100,000 bonus upon such time as the Company sells the operating subsidiary for gross proceeds of at least $40 million.

In the event Mr. Brandt’s employment is terminated by the Company upon a “change of control” (as defined in the employment agreement), or for a reason other than “disability” or “cause” (as those terms are defined in the employment agreement), the Company has agreed to pay Mr. Brandt his base salary for 6 months, plus accrued bonuses, provided, that the Company’s obligation to continue paying his base salary for a 6-month period will be reduced by the amount Mr. Brandt earns from other employment during that period.

In connection with his employment agreement, Mr. Brandt also received options to purchase an aggregate of 400,000 shares of Company common stock at a fair market value price at $1.01 per share (the fair market value at the date of grant). Of such options, the right to purchase 100,000 shares vests in three equal annual installments beginning June 2004. The right to purchase the remaining 300,000 shares vests as follows: (1) 100,000 shares vest at such time as the closing bid price for the Company’s common stock exceeds $3.00 per share for 10 consecutive trading days during the term of the employment agreement; (2) 100,000 shares vest at such time as the closing bid price for the Company’s common stock exceeds $5.00 per share for 10 consecutive trading days during the term of the employment agreement; and 100,000 shares vest at such time as the closing bid price for the Company’s common stock exceeds $7.00 per share for 10 consecutive trading days during the term of the employment agreement. Mr. Brandt further received an option to purchase 2.5% of the subsidiary’s common stock at a price of $.01 per share, which will vest in 3 annual installments commencing June 2005.

On August 6, 2004, the Company received a letter from a competitor notifying the Company of the competitor’s belief that one of the Company’s proprietary ligands was infringing on a European patent held by such competitor. Although the Company does not believe the competitor’s claims have any merit, even if the Company were prevented from selling or otherwise marketing the ligand, such prohibition would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations or cash flows.


 

  
  8  

 

Item 2.  
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATIONS.
 


Overview

Since our inception in October 2000, we have focused our efforts and resources on the development of asymmetric catalysis technology, our primary intellectual property to which we hold an exclusive worldwide license from the Pennsylvania State Research Foundation (“PSRF”), the technology development arm of the Pennsylvania State University (“Penn State”). Our license from PSRF covers certain inventions discovered by our Chief Technology Officer (“CTO”) prior to November 8, 2002.

Since inception we have incurred an accumulated deficit of $6,224,849 through September 30, 2004. We expect our operating losses to continue at least the next two years, primarily due to expansion of our research and development programs, the hiring of additional chemists, and the expansion of our manufacturing capabilities.

Our ability to achieve profitability depends upon, among other things, our ability to discover and develop products (specifically new “ligands” which are the Company’s core proprietary technology consisting of molecular compounds that create a chiral center), and to develop our products on a commercial scale through a cost effective and efficient process. To the extent that we are unable to produce, directly or indirectly, ligands in quantities required for commercial use, we will not realize any significant revenues from our technology. Moreover, there can be no assurance that we will ever achieve significant revenues or profitable operations from the sale of any of our products or technologies.

Since our inception, we have generated sales revenue but no net profits. Our management believes that our research and development (“R&D”) and manufacturing capacity will need to grow in order for us to be able to obtain significant licensing and manufacturing agreements with large fine chemical and pharmaceutical companies. We believe that our manufacturing capacity will continue to be enhanced with the expansions of our new office and laboratory space located in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey that was leased in June 2003.

On February 18, 2003, we acquired Surg II, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (“Surg”), in a reverse merger transaction (the “Merger”). Pursuant to the terms of the Merger, Chiral Quest, LLC merged with and into a wholly-owned subsidiary of Surg. In exchange for all of the outstanding membership interests of Chiral Quest, LLC, Surg issued to the former member of Chiral Quest, LLC a number of shares of Surg’s common stock that resulted in the members of Chiral Quest, LLC owning two-thirds of Surg’s outstanding shares following the Merger. In connection with the Merger, Surg changed its name to Chiral Quest, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, and adopted the business plan of Chiral Quest, LLC. Accordingly, when we refer to our business or financial information relating to periods prior to the Merger, we are referring to the business and financial information of Chiral Quest, LLC, unless the context indicates otherwise. In August 2004, we changed the Company’s name to VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Results of Operations - For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2004 vs. 2003

Our revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2004 were $367,265 as compared to $83,068 for the three months ended September 30, 2003. For the three months ended September 30, 2004, approximately 8% of total revenue was derived from the amortization of option fee income pertaining to the licensing of our intellectual property and 92% of total revenue was derived from sales of our ligands, feasibility screening and customized process development services sold to third parties. For the three months ended September 30, 2003, approximately 40% of total revenue was derived from the amortization of option fee income and 60% of total revenue was comprised of sales or our ligands. It is anticipated that sales of our ligands, molecular building blocks and customized chiral services will continue to comprise a greater percentage of our revenues in the future as we expand our manufacturing capabilities.

 

  
  9  

 

Cost of goods sold for three months ended September 30, 2004 was $192,349 as compared to $37,321 during the three months ended September 30, 2003. The increase in cost of goods sold is attributable to the materials used in production for projects completed and shipped along with the allocation of direct labor and overhead expenses to finished goods.

Management and consulting expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2004 were $125,956 as compared to $128,691 during the three months ended September 30, 2003. The overall change for the three months ended September 30, 2004 vs. September 30, 2003 was primarily caused by a decrease in management fee expense. The Company incurred management fee expenses of $3,000 per month primarily related to office space and administrative services provided by Paramount BioCapital. The office space and administrative services were no longer required as of the end of the first quarter of 2004.

Our R&D expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2004 were $253,969 as compared to $76,995 during the three months ended September 30, 2003. This increase was primarily caused by increased utilization of the Penn State research resources in connection with the development of new ligands. The agreement with Penn State, which has been extended to April 14, 2005, provides for the Company to fund services of four post-doctorate fellows whom under the supervision of the CTO, conduct research and provide research quantities of chiral ligands to the Company. The future obligation payable by the Company through April 14, 2005 as of the end of the agreement is approximately $146,321. This amount consists principally of four post-doctorate salaries, fringe benefits, materials and supplies for the stated period. In addition, during the second quarter of 2003, we opened an additional laboratory facility in New Jersey, and have completed an expansion to the facility in April 2004, that enabled us to produce both research and commercial quantities of our ligands, as well as completing a second expansion in September 2004. In connection with the new facility and its expansion, numerous lab supplies and chemicals were purchased. Accordingly, we incurred increased expenses in the third quarter due to the opening and expansions of the New Jersey facility, along with the increased costs of using the facility and chemists at Penn State.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2004 were $337,709 as compared to $230,705 during the three months ended September 30, 2003. This increase in SG&A expenses was due in part to increased usage of temporary contractors, higher legal and accounting fees, increased rent expense for the New Jersey facility as a result of the facility’s expansions, additional spending on advertising and promotion expenses, increased travel expenses for new business development opportunities and higher administrative expenses associated with having more employees such as insurance and employer payroll taxes.

Compensation expense was $225,734 for the three months ended September 30, 2004 as compared to $138,205 for the three months ended September 30, 2003. This increase is attributed to hiring of a vice president of business development, a controller, and several chemists to work at the new laboratory facility in New Jersey. Compensation expense as it relates to direct labor for ongoing and completed projects, has been capitalized as part of inventory work in process and finished goods as these cost components relate directly to cost of goods sold.

Depreciation and amortization expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2004 were $33,622 as compared to $22,032 during the three months ended September 30, 2003. This increase was related to patent amortization and fixed asset purchases for office equipment, computer equipment, laboratory equipment and leasehold improvements for the newly leased facility and expansions in New Jersey.

Interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2004 was $11,246 as compared to $2,323 for the three months ended September 30, 2003. The increase in interest income is attributed to having higher cash reserves as a result of the funds received from the private placement of the Company’s common stock in February 2004.

  
  10  

 
 

Our net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2004 was $790,828 as compared to $548,558 for the three months ended September 30, 2003. The increased net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2004 as compared to September 30, 2003 was attributable to higher R&D expenses incurred with funding Penn State’s research services provided to the Company, increased operational expenditures comprised of higher total rent expense due to the newly leased, and expansions to the New Jersey facility in June 2003, April and September 2004 respectively, higher legal and accounting expenses, higher payroll expenses associated with having more employees along with increased usage of temporary contractors. We expect losses to continue in the next year as we continue to expand operations in New Jersey as well as commence operations in Jiashan.

Results of Operations - For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 vs. 2003

Our revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 were $1,102,388 as compared to $214,509 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, approximately 8% of total revenue was derived from the amortization of option fee income pertaining to the licensing of our intellectual property and 92% of total revenue was derived from sales of our ligands, feasibility screening and customized process development services sold to third parties. For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, approximately 47% of total revenue was derived from the amortization of option fee income and 53% of total revenue was comprised of sales or our ligands. It is anticipated that sales of our ligands, molecular building blocks and customized chiral services will continue to comprise a greater percentage of our revenues in the future as we expand our manufacturing capabilities.

Cost of goods sold for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $569,598 as compared to $62,708 during the nine months ended September 30, 2003. The increase in cost of goods sold is attributable to the materials used in production for projects completed and shipped along with the allocation of direct labor and overhead expenses to finished goods.

Management and consulting expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 were $363,848 as compared to $254,700 during the nine months ended September 30, 2003. The overall change for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 vs. September 30, 2003 was primarily caused by an increase in consulting expense. Consulting expense increased due to the new consulting agreement we entered into with our CTO at a rate of $10,000 per month effective May 15, 2003, along with the Company utilizing the consulting services of a previous employee during the second quarter 2004. In addition, consulting expense increased due to the amortization of the fair value of stock options issued to consultants and scientific advisory board members, during the second, third and fourth quarters of 2003. The increased management and consulting expenses have been offset by a decrease in management expenses, charged by Paramount BioCapital LLC, for administrative services which are no longer required by the Company. 

Our R&D expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 were $712,019 as compared to $283,470 during the nine months ended September 30, 2003. This increase was primarily caused by increased utilization of the Penn State research resources in connection with the development of new ligands. The agreement with Penn State, which has been extended to April 14, 2005, provides for the Company to fund services of four post-doctorate fellows who, under the supervision of the CTO, conduct research and provide research quantities of chiral ligands to the Company. The future obligation payable by the Company through April 14, 2005 as of the end of the agreement is approximately $146,321. This amount consists principally of four post-doctorate salaries, fringe benefits, materials and supplies for the stated period. In addition, during the second quarter of 2003, we opened an additional laboratory facility in New Jersey, and have completed an expansion to the facility in April 2004, that enabled us to produce both research and commercial quantities of our ligands, as well as completing a second expansion in September 2004. In connection with the new facility and its expansions, numerous lab supplies and chemicals were purchased. Accordingly, we incurred increased expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, due to the opening and expansions of the New Jersey facility, along with the increased costs of using the facility and chemists at Penn State.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 were $1,141,781 as compared to $654,071 during the nine months ended September 30, 2003. This increase in SG&A expenses was due in part to increased usage of temporary contractors, higher legal and accounting fees, increased rent expense for the New Jersey facility as a result of the facility’s expansions, additional spending on advertising and promotion expenses, increased travel expenses for new business development opportunities and higher administrative expenses associated with having more employees such as insurance and employer payroll taxes.

Compensation expense was $1,029,612 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 as compared to $355,925 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. This increase was caused primarily by the resignation of the CEO effective April 16, 2004, which resulted in charge of $375,000 in severance costs. In addition, compensation expense increased due to the hiring of a vice president of business development, a controller, and several chemists to work at the new laboratory facility in New Jersey.

  
  11  

 

Compensation expense as it relates to direct labor for ongoing and completed projects, has been capitalized as part of inventory work in process and finished goods as these cost components relate directly to cost of goods sold.

Depreciation and amortization expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 were $126,227 as compared to $64,672 during the nine months ended September 30, 2003. This increase was primarily related to patent amortization and fixed asset purchases for office equipment, computer equipment, laboratory equipment and leasehold improvements for the newly leased facility and expansions in New Jersey.

Interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $27,053 as compared to $10,002 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. The increase in interest income is attributed to having higher cash reserves as a result of the funds received from the private placement of the Company’s common stock in February 2004.

Our net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $2,813,644 as compared to $1,451,035 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. The increased net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 as compared to September 30, 2003 was primarily due to the severance costs associated with the resignation of the Company’s CEO, higher R&D expenses incurred with funding Penn State’s research services provided to the Company, increased operational expenditures comprised of higher total rent expense due to the newly leased, and expansions to the New Jersey facility in June 2003, April and September 2004 respectively, higher legal and accounting expenses, higher payroll expenses associated with having more employees along with increased usage of temporary contractors. We expect losses to continue in the next year as we continue to expand operations in New Jersey as well as commence operations in Jiashan.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of September 30, 2004, we had working capital of $3,958,757 and cash and cash equivalents of $4,059,550. We believe our current capital resources, together with anticipated increases in revenue, will be sufficient to fund our operations through the second quarter of 2005. However, if we are unable to increase our revenues as we anticipate, we will likely require additional financing as early as the second quarter of 2005 in order to fund our operations. The most likely source of financing includes private is of our equity or debt securities or bridge loans to the Company from third party lenders.

The Company’s net cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $2,982,054. The Company’s net cash used in operating activities primarily consisted of a net loss of $2,813,644, an increase in accounts receivable of $237,173 and decreases in deferred revenue of $162,306 and accrued expenses of $175,076, partially offset by an increase in accounts payable of $185,697.

The Company’s net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 totaled $359,145 which consisted of purchases of equipment for $211,762 related to the laboratory expansions completed in April and September 2004, along with patent applications expenditures of $147,383.

The Company’s net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $6,741,632. Financing activities consisted of the cash received in the private placement of the Company’s common stock on February 25, 2004.

In February 2004, we sold in a private placement 4.8 million shares of our common stock plus warrants to purchase an additional 2.4 million shares of common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of $7.2 million. Management believes that the remaining capital resulting from the private placement and anticipated increased revenue, will provide sufficient resources to fund our continued operational expansion and corporate development through approximately the second quarter of 2005. Our long term liquidity is contingent upon achieving increased sales and/or obtaining additional financing.

Our working capital requirements will depend upon numerous factors, including, without limitation, the progress of our R&D programs, the resources we devote to developing manufacturing and marketing capabilities, technological advances, the status of competitors, and our ability to establish sales arrangements with new customers. Working capital will also be affected by the expansions of office and laboratory space lease agreements that were entered into during the second quarter of 2003 and first and second quarters of 2004, along with the hiring of additional employees, in addition to the establishment and funding of the China subsidiary.

We have formed two China subsidiaries through which we intend to open a laboratory facility in the People’s Republic of China. We have provided $66,000 of capital to the China subsidiary during the second quarter of 2004. Our management believes that by opening a facility in China to produce non-proprietary chemical building blocks and related compounds, we will be able to significantly decrease our manufacturing costs and expenses, enabling us to cost-effectively produce our ligands and end products and make our products substantially more competitive and even more attractive to current and potential customers. We expect operations to commence on a limited basis by the end of fiscal 2004.

  
  12  

 

 Item 3. Controls and Procedures

As of September 30, 2004, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in alerting them on a timely basis to material information required to be disclosed in our periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission. During the fiscal three months ended September 30, 2004, there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


  
  13  

 


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)      Exhibits


Exhibit No.
Description
 
     
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
 
32.1
Certifications of Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of
 
 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 

(b)      Reports on Form 8-K

     None.
 

  
  14  

 

SIGNATURES

In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
VIOQUEST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
 
Date: November 12, 2004
By: 
/s/ Ronald Brandt
 
   
Ronald Brandt
Interim Chief Executive Officer
 
       
Date: November 12, 2004
By:
/s/ Brian Lenz
 
   
Brian Lenz
Interim Chief Financial Officer
 

 
  
  15  

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
Description
 
     
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
 
32.1
Certifications of Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of
 
 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 

 

  
  16