Organization, Operations and Basis of Accounting

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Organization, Operations and Basis of Accounting [Abstract]

Organization, Operations and Basis of Accounting

1. Organization, Operations and Basis of Accounting

Response Genetics, Inc. (the "Company") was incorporated in the State of Delaware on September 23, 1999 as Bio Type, Inc. for the purpose of providing unique molecular profiling services of tumor tissue that has been formalin-fixed and embedded in paraffin wax. In August 2000, the Company changed its name to Response Genetics, Inc.

The Company is a life science company engaged in the research, development, marketing and sale of pharmacogenomic tests for use in the treatment of cancer. Pharmacogenomics is the science of how an individual's genetic makeup relates to drug response. Tests based on pharmacogenomics facilitate the prediction of a response to drug therapy or survival following surgery based on an individual's genetic makeup. In order to generate pharmacogenomic information from patient specimens for these tests, the Company uses proprietary enabling methods for maximizing the extraction and analysis of nucleic acids and, therefore, accessing the genetic information available from each patient sample. The Company's platforms include analysis of single biomarkers using the polymerase chain reaction method as well as global gene interrogation using microarray methods and fluorescence in situ hybridization ("FISH") from paraffin or frozen tissue specimens. The Company primarily derives its revenue from the sale of its ResponseDX ^® diagnostic testing products and by providing pharmacogenomic clinical trial testing services to pharmaceutical companies in the United States, Asia and Europe.

The Company's goal is to provide cancer patients and their physicians with a means to make informed, individualized treatment decisions based on genetic analysis of tumor tissues. The Company's pharmacogenomic analysis of clinical trial specimens for the pharmaceutical industry may provide data that will lead to a better understanding of the molecular basis for response to specific drugs and, therefore lead to individualized treatment.

Since its inception, the Company has devoted substantial effort in developing its product and has incurred losses and negative cash flows from operations, and at December 31, 2012 has an accumulated deficit of $57,276,664. The Company is forecasting continued losses and negative cash flows as it funds its sales and marketing activities and research and development programs.

Based on the Company's current operating plan which includes various assumptions concerning the level and timing of cash receipts from product sales and cash outlays for operating expenses and capital expenditures, management believes that existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to meet the Company's working capital requirements through the next twelve months. The Company's ability to successfully carry out its business plan is primarily dependent upon its ability to (1) obtain sufficient additional capital at acceptable costs, (2) attract and retain knowledgeable workers, and (3) generate significant revenues. The Company expects to seek additional financing and/or strategic investments; however, there can be no assurance that any additional financing or strategic investments will be available on acceptable terms, if at all.

If events or circumstances occur such that the Company does not meet its operating plan as expected, the Company will most likely be required to reduce certain discretionary spending, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's ability to achieve its intended business objectives. No adjustments have been made to the accompanying financial statements to reflect any of the matters discussed above. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis that the Company will continue as a going concern.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported in the Company's consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.