UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 6-K

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

September 2018

 

Commission file number: 001-36288

 

Akari Therapeutics, Plc

(Translation of registrant's name into English)

 

75/76 Wimpole Street

London W1G 9RT

United Kingdom

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F  x       Form 40-F ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulations S-T Rule 101(b)(1):_____

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulations S-T Rule 101(b)(7):_____

 

 

 

 

 

  

CONTENTS

 

 

On September 27, 2018, Akari Therapeutics, Plc, issued a press release announcing its second quarter 2018 financial results and business highlights. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

The statements under “Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results and Business Highlights”, the accompanying financial statements and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements” of Exhibit 99.1 are hereby incorporated by reference into all effective registration statements filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Exhibit No.

 

99.1 Press Release dated September 27, 2018.

  

 

 

  

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  Akari Therapeutics, Plc  
  (Registrant)  
       
  By: /s/ Clive Richardson  
  Name:   Clive Richardson  
    Interim Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Operating Officer

       

Date: September 27, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Akari Announces Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results and Business Highlights

 

Announced Securities Purchase Agreement For Up To $20 Million with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC

 

NEW YORK and LONDON, September 27, 2018 - Akari Therapeutics, Plc (NASDAQ:AKTX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics to treat orphan autoimmune and inflammatory diseases where complement and or leukotriene systems are implicated, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018.

 

“We made several important advancements since the beginning of 2018 and now have a diversified clinical portfolio with four ongoing disease programs and up to a $20 million funding facility provided by Aspire Capital Fund, LLC,” commented Clive Richardson, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Akari Therapeutics.

 

Clinical development highlights and upcoming milestones

 

§Coversin clinical trials focused on orphan diseases mediated by both the complement and leukotriene pathways:

 

oPhase II trial in patients with bullous pemphigoid, a severe blistering skin disease, with initial data expected in the first quarter of 2019

 

oPhase I/II trial in patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis, a sight threatening surface of the eye condition, with initial data anticipated in the first quarter of 2019

 

§Coversin clinical trials in orphan diseases in which complement dysregulation is the primary disease driver:

 

oPhase III trial in naïve patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) and a Phase II trial in patients with PNH who are resistant to eculizumab

 

oPhase II trial in atypical haemolytic syndrome, a severe thrombotic microangiopathy

 

§All patients who completed phase 2 have opted to enroll into the Coversin long term Phase III safety study. Currently there is over 15 years of safety data on Coversin with no drug related severe adverse events to date.

 

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Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results and Business Highlights

 

§Operating expenses, which include research and development (R&D) expenses and general and administrative (G&A) expenses, were $8.0 million in the second quarter of 2018, as compared to $7.3 million in the same quarter the prior year. Operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were $12.3 million, as compared to $15.6 million for the same period the prior year.

 

oR&D expenses in the second quarter of 2018 were $5.1 million, as compared to $3.8 million in the same quarter the prior year. The increase was due primarily to higher manufacturing costs for Coversin as the Company manufactured clinical trial material for supply through 2019.

 

oG&A expenses in the second quarter of 2018 were $2.9 million, as compared to $3.6 million in the same quarter last year. This decrease was due primarily to lower legal fees, partially offset by higher rent expense.

 

§Total other expense for the second quarter of 2018 was $43,000, as compared to total other income of $7.0 million in the second quarter of 2018. This change was primarily attributed to a $7.0 million gain in fair value of the stock option and warrant liabilities in the second quarter of 2017, compared to a $153,000 loss in the second quarter of 2018.

 

§Net loss for the second quarter of 2018 was $8.0 million, compared to a net loss of $0.3 million for the same period in 2017. This year over year increase in net loss was due primarily to the aforementioned $7.0 million gain in fair value of the stock option and warrant liabilities in the second quarter of 2017.

 

§The Company has entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement of up to $20 million with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC (“Aspire Capital”). Under the terms of this agreement, Aspire Capital has committed to purchase up to $20 million of Akari’s American Depositary Shares (ADSs) at Akari’s request from time to time during a 30-month period beginning on the effective date of a registration statement related to the transaction and at prices based on the market price at the time of each sale. As consideration for Aspire Capital’s obligation under the Agreement, Akari issued 30,000,000 ordinary shares at $0.02 per ordinary share (equivalent to $2.00 per ADS) to Aspire Capital as a commitment fee and sold to Aspire Capital 25,000,000 ordinary shares at $0.02 per share (equivalent to $2.00 per ADS). 

 

§As of June 30, 2018, the Company had cash of $15.1 million, as compared to cash of $28.1 million as of December 31, 2017

 

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About Akari Therapeutics

 

Akari is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing inhibitors of acute and chronic inflammation, specifically for the treatment of rare and orphan diseases, in particular those where the complement system or leukotrienes or both complement and leukotrienes together play a primary role in disease progression. Akari's lead drug candidate Coversin™ is a C5 complement inhibitor currently being evaluated in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). In addition to its C5 inhibitory activity, Coversin independently and specifically inhibits leukotriene B4 (LTB4) activity. Akari is currently evaluating Coversin in two conditions, the skin and eye diseases bullous pemphigoid and atopic keratoconjunctivitis, where the dual action of Coversin on both C5 and LTB4 may be beneficial. Akari is also developing other tick derived proteins, including long acting versions.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects, which are based on the information currently available to us and on assumptions we have made. Although we believe that our plans, intentions, expectations, strategies and prospects as reflected in or suggested by those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that the plans, intentions, expectations or strategies will be attained or achieved. Furthermore, actual results may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements and will be affected by a variety of risks and factors that are beyond our control. Such risks and uncertainties for our company include, but are not limited to: needs for additional capital to fund our operations, our ability to continue as a going concern; uncertainties of cash flows and inability to meet working capital needs; an inability or delay in obtaining required regulatory approvals for Coversin and any other product candidates, which may result in unexpected cost expenditures; our ability to obtain orphan drug designation in additional indications; risks inherent in drug development in general; uncertainties in obtaining successful clinical results for Coversin and any other product candidates and unexpected costs that may result therefrom; difficulties enrolling patients in our clinical trials; failure to realize any value of Coversin and any other product candidates developed and being developed in light of inherent risks and difficulties involved in successfully bringing product candidates to market; inability to develop new product candidates and support existing product candidates; the approval by the FDA and EMA and any other similar foreign regulatory authorities of other competing or superior products brought to market; risks resulting from unforeseen side effects; risk that the market for Coversin may not be as large as expected; risks associate with the departure of our former Chief Executive Officers and other executive officers; risks related to material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting and risks relating to the ineffectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures; risks associated with the putative shareholder class action and SEC investigation; inability to obtain, maintain and enforce patents and other intellectual property rights or the unexpected costs associated with such enforcement or litigation; inability to obtain and maintain commercial manufacturing arrangements with third party manufacturers or establish commercial scale manufacturing capabilities; the inability to timely source adequate supply of our active pharmaceutical ingredients from third party manufacturers on whom the company depends; unexpected cost increases and pricing pressures and risks and other risk factors detailed in our public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on July 18, 2018. Except as otherwise noted, these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any of these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after this press release. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

 

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AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc

  

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

As of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017

(in U.S. Dollars, except share data)

  

   June 30, 2018   December 31, 2017 
Assets    (Unaudited)       
           
Current Assets:          
Cash  $15,069,942   $28,106,671 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  $1,453,331   $706,415 
Total Current Assets  $16,523,273    28,813,086 
           
Restricted cash  $521,408   $142,235 
Property and equipment, net  $38,698   $55,898 
Patent acquisition costs, net  $36,167   $39,124 
Total Assets  $17,119,546   $29,050,343 
           
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity          
           
Current Liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $2,001,802   $1,971,161 
Accrued expenses  $3,989,429   $4,795,873 
Liabilities related to options and warrants  $2,288,361   $5,081,335 
Total Current Liabilities  $8,279,592    11,848,369 
           
Other long-term liability  $213,204   $48,003 
Total liabilities  $8,492,796   $11,896,372 
           
Commitments and Contingencies          
           
Shareholders' Equity:          
Share capital GBP of .01 par value          
Authorized: 10,000,000,000 ordinary shares; issued and outstanding:          
1,525,693,393 at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively   22,927,534   $22,927,534 
Additional paid-in capital   105,627,489   $104,799,550 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (230,635)  $(236,246)
Accumulated deficit   (119,697,638)  $(110,336,867)
Total Shareholders' Equity   8,626,750    17,153,971 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity   17,119,546   $29,050,343 

 

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AKARI THERAPEUTICS, Plc

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS-UNAUDITED

For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017

(in U.S. Dollars)

 

   Six Months Ended   Three Months Ended 
   Jun 30, 2018   Jun 30, 2017   Jun 30, 2018   Jun 30, 2017 
Operating Expenses:                    
Research and development costs  $6,129,228   $9,784,884   $5,120,840   $3,782,185 
General and administrative expenses   6,155,038   $5,847,442   $2,858,065   $3,566,952 
Total Operating Expenses   12,284,266    15,632,326    7,978,905    7,349,137 
Loss from Operations   (12,284,266)   (15,632,326)   (7,978,905)   (7,349,137)
                     
Other Income (Expense):                    
   Interest income   132,073   $77,451   $67,436   $38,564 
   Changes in fair value of option and warrant liabilities - (loss) gain   2,792,974   $2,667,788   $(152,557)  $6,999,529 
   Foreign currency exchange gain (loss)   6,446   $(13,052)  $47,421   $(6,293)
   Other expenses   (7,998)  $(4,389)  $(5,590)  $(2,679)
Total Other Income (Expense)   2,923,495    2,727,799    (43,290)   7,029,121 
                     
Net Loss   (9,360,771)   (12,904,527)   (8,022,196)   (320,016)
                     
Other Comprehensive Loss:                    
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment   5,611   $(93,730)  $(27,188)  $(48,577)
                     
Comprehensive Loss  $(9,355,160)  $(12,998,257)  $(8,049,384)  $(368,593)
                     
Loss per common share (basic and diluted)  $(0.01)  $(0.01)  $(0.01)  $(0.00)
                     
Weighted average common shares (basic and diluted)   1,525,693,393    1,177,693,383    1,525,693,393    1,177,693,383 

 

 

 

For more information

Investor Contact:

 

Peter Vozzo

Westwicke Partners

(443) 213-0505

peter.vozzo@westwicke.com

 

Media Contact:

 

Mary-Jane Elliott / Sukaina Virji / Nicholas Brown

Consilium Strategic Communications

+44 (0)20 3709 5700

Akari@consilium-comms.com

 

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