Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

BUSINESS AND FUNDING

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BUSINESS AND FUNDING
12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]

1.                  BUSINESS AND FUNDING


Description of Business


As used herein, “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “Anixa” means Anixa Biosciences, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.  Our primary operations involve research and development of cancer therapeutics and diagnostics.  Our cancer therapeutics programs consist of development of a vaccine against triple negative breast cancer (“TNBC”) and development of chimeric endocrine receptor T-cell (“CER-T”) technology, a novel form of CAR-T technology, initially focused on treating ovarian cancer.  Our cancer diagnostics program consists of development of the artificial intelligence (AI) driven Cchek™ liquid biopsy platform for early cancer detection. 


We hold an exclusive worldwide, royalty-bearing license to use certain intellectual property owned or controlled by The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (“Cleveland Clinic”) related to certain breast cancer vaccine technology developed at Cleveland Clinic.  We are working in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic to develop a method to vaccinate women against contracting breast cancer, focused specifically on TNBC, the most lethal form of the disease.  A specific protein, alpha-lactalbumin, has been identified that is only present during lactation in healthy women, but reappears in many forms of breast cancer, especially TNBC.  Studies have shown that vaccinating against this protein prevents breast cancer in mice.  We are working with researchers at Cleveland Clinic to advance this vaccine toward human clinical testing, and are completing the activities necessary to submit an Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”).


Our subsidiary, Certainty Therapeutics, Inc. (“Certainty”), is developing immuno-therapy drugs against cancer.  Certainty holds an exclusive worldwide, royalty-bearing license to use certain intellectual property owned or controlled by The Wistar Institute (“Wistar”) relating to Wistar’s CER-T technology.  We have initially focused on the development of a treatment for ovarian cancer, but we may also pursue applications of the technology for the development of treatments for additional solid tumors.  The license agreement requires Certainty to make certain cash and equity payments to Wistar.  With respect to Certainty’s equity obligations to Wistar, Certainty issued to Wistar shares of its common stock equal to five percent (5%) of the common stock of Certainty.


Certainty, in collaboration with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc. (“Moffitt”), is advancing toward human clinical testing its CER-T technology for treating ovarian cancer.  Certainty is working with researchers at Moffitt to complete studies necessary to submit an IND application with the FDA. 


Our subsidiary, Anixa Diagnostics Corporation (“Anixa Diagnostics”), is developing Cchek™, an AI driven platform of non-invasive blood tests for the early detection of cancer which is based on the body’s immune response to the presence of a malignancy.  We have demonstrated the efficacy of Cchek™ with 20 different types of cancer:  breast, lung, colon, melanoma, ovarian, liver, thyroid, pancreatic, appendiceal, uterine, osteosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, vulvar, prostate, bladder, cervical, head and neck, gastric and testicular cancers.  Breast, lung, colon and prostate cancers represent the four largest categories of cancer worldwide.


Based on a number of factors, including key scientific, clinical, and commercial considerations, for the past year the primary commercial focus for Cchek™ has been on developing a prostate cancer confirmatory test.  In February 2019 we formed a strategic alliance with ResearchDx, a CLIA certified, CAP Accredited laboratory, to prepare the Cchek™ Prostate Cancer Confirmation (“Cchek™ PCC”) test for launch as a laboratory developed test.  In December 2019, upon completion of independent validation by ResearchDx, we announced the commercial launch of Cchek™ PCC.  We are currently conducting a number of activities to support the marketing of Cchek™ PCC, including the development of marketing materials, education of key opinion leaders in urology and development of a reimbursement path for the test.  We expect Cchek™ PCC to be broadly available throughout the U.S. by April 2020.


Over the next several quarters, we expect the development of our breast cancer vaccine, Certainty’s CER-T technology and Anixa Diagnostic’s Cchek™ to be the primary focus of the Company.  As part of our legacy operations, the Company remains engaged in limited patent licensing activities in the area of encrypted audio/video conference calling.  We do not expect these activities to be a significant part of the Company’s ongoing operations nor do we expect these activities to require material financial resources or attention of senior management.


Over the past several years, our revenue was derived from technology licensing and the sale of patented technologies, including revenue from the settlement of litigation.  We have not generated any revenue to date from our cancer therapeutics and diagnostics programs.  In addition, while we pursue our cancer therapeutics and diagnostics programs, we may also make investments in and form new companies to develop additional emerging technologies.


Funding


Based on currently available information as of January 9, 2020, we believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and expected cash flows will be sufficient to fund our activities for the next twelve months.  We have implemented a business model that conserves funds by collaborating with third parties to develop our technologies.  However, our projections of future cash needs and cash flows may differ from actual results.  If current cash on hand, cash equivalents, short term investments and cash that may be generated from our business operations are insufficient to continue to operate our business, or if we elect to invest in or acquire a company or companies or new technology or technologies that are synergistic with or complementary to our technologies, we may be required to obtain more working capital.  During fiscal year 2019, we raised approximately $5,527,000 through an at-the-market equity offering of 1,363,872 shares of common stock (as of October 31, 2019 an additional 112,238 shares were available for sale under our 2018 at-the-market equity program, which shares were sold in November 2019).  Further, we have an additional at-the-market equity offering under which we may issue up to $50 million of common stock, which has been effective since June 2019 and under which we commenced selling shares in November 2019, and which may remain available to us in the future.  We may seek to obtain working capital during our fiscal year 2020 or thereafter through sales of our equity securities or through bank credit facilities or public or private debt from various financial institutions where possible.  We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all.  If we do identify sources for additional funding, the sale of additional equity securities or convertible debt could result in dilution to our stockholders. We can give no assurance that we will generate sufficient cash flows in the future to satisfy our liquidity requirements or sustain future operations, or that other sources of funding, such as sales of equity or debt, would be available or would be approved by our security holders, if needed, on favorable terms or at all.  If we fail to obtain additional working capital as and when needed, such failure could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.  Furthermore, such lack of funds may inhibit our ability to respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated capital needs, or may force us to reduce operating expenses, which would significantly harm the business and development of operations.