10-Jan-2008
Quarterly Report
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF THE FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
GENERAL
Our primary mission is to develop and commercially exploit novel medical device technologies to improve the delivery of healthcare. We do not currently employ our own manufacturing or distribution channels but rather rely on relationships with sub-contractors and/or partner companies. We develop technology protected by strong intellectual property targeted at specific markets within the medical technology sector.
COMPANY BUSINESS
During the three-month period ended November 30, 2007, we have accomplished the following:
· On October 5, we closed a transaction to sell a subset of our intellectual property portfolio to Medtronic for $11 million. The portion that was sold was limited to technologies covering MRI safety of implantable devices such as pacemakers and neurostimulators. We received $500,000 upon execution on August 6, $500,000 on September 6 and the balance of the $11 million was paid upon closing on October 5. Under this agreement, we maintain our license with Boston Scientific, including the $250,000 annual minimum payments, as well as any royalties for vascular implants such as stents, as well as MRI visible devices such as catheters and guidewires.
· We have continued collaboration with Myotech, LLC on development of the Myotech Circulatory Support System (CSS), a life-saving device that provides benefits and competitive advantages not possible with other circulatory support devices. In the past, first generation prototype versions of this technology (Direct Mechanical Ventricular Actuation) have saved human lives and hold tremendous promise of the treatment of acute heart failure. On October 5, 2007, we announced a new agreement with Myotech putting Biophan in control of Myotech, increasing our ownership to 68 percent, from 44 percent prior to the deal, in exchange for $1.2 million in funding. Upon achieving certain milestones, Biophan will commit an additional $2 million in funding in exchange for additional equity.
· In addition to the sale of intellectual property rights to Medtronic, we recognized $159,706 in revenue from licensing, grants, development payments, MRI testing, and consulting fees.
· Our subsidiary, Biophan Europe, has continued development of an MRI image compatible stent, capable of being imaged with MRI to detect the presence of restenosis (blood vessel narrowing) and blood clots after implantation. Biophan Europe is also developing an MRI visible heart valve, including the ability to place the valve under MRI guidance, which provides significant advantages over existing imaging procedures. Our technologies to enable stent and heart valve visibility are licensed exclusively to Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX). Biophan Europe is also continuing development of an MRI image compatible vena cava filter, which allows MR imaging of blood clots that may be present in the filter to help ensure the safe removal of the device, in addition to an occluder device that can also be imaged and implanted under MRI guidance to treat conditions such as PFO (patent foramen ovale) and atrial septal defects.
· We have continued working under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the FDA's Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories (OSEL) to research and define methods for measuring MRI safety of medical implants by examining the leads of cardiac rhythm management and neurostimulation devices.
We have determined that the technology that we control which is the most proven and most likely to produce revenues within the near term is the Myotech CSS. This technology is our primary areas of focus. Work on MRI visibility is centered in Europe in our Biophan Europe subsidiary.
Other programs, such as the biothermal power supply that we have been developing with NASA, will take longer to develop, and we have decided to fund these projects through either government grants, strategic partners, or other structures that do not divert focus and resources from our short-term goals of capitalizing on our core business.
The work done to date at NASA on the biothermal power supply has indicated that it may require an additional 18 months to determine if we can develop a significant improvement in performance of thermoelectric materials over the current state of the art adequate to generate power from the available heat in the human body. We have secured one SBIR Phase 1 grant from the Department of Homeland Security, and another from the Department of Energy, for the development of the biothermal power supply, and we are pursuing additional grant and matching fund opportunities with other Federal agencies.
|