Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies The Company MEI Pharma, Inc. (formerly Marshall Edwards, Inc.), or the Company, is a development stage oncology company focused on the clinical development of novel therapeutics for cancer. The Company’s common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MEIP”. The Company was incorporated in Delaware in December 2000 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Novogen Limited (“Novogen”). In December 2012, Novogen distributed to its shareholders substantially all of its MEI Pharma common stock. The Company’s business purpose is the development of drugs for the treatment of cancer. The Company is principally focused on the clinical development of its lead drug candidate, Pracinostat, which it is currently investigating in three Phase II clinical trials. Pracinostat is an orally available histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that is being developed for advanced hematologic diseases such as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In August 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of certain assets and intellectual property, including those related to Pracinostat, from SBio Pte Ltd (“SBio”). The Company’s clinical development pipeline also includes its isoflavone-based mitochondrial inhibitor drug candidate, ME-344. Results from a Phase I clinical trial of ME-344 in patients with refractory solid tumors were presented in October 2013. The Company initiated a Phase Ib trial of ME-344 in patients with small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer in May 2014. In September 2013, the Company acquired drug candidate PWT143, an oral inhibitor of phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) delta, a molecular target that has been shown to play a critical role in the proliferation and survival of certain hematologic cancer cells. The Company expects to complete the pre-clinical work required to support the filing of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for PWT143 by the end of calendar year 2014. Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended June 30, 2013, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 18, 2013. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued. Reverse Stock Split On December 18, 2012, the Company effected a 1-for-6 reverse stock split (the “2012 Reverse Stock Split”) of the Company’s common stock. As a result of the 2012 Reverse Stock Split, every six shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock were combined into one share of common stock. The 2012 Reverse Stock Split did not change the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock. All financial data and share information in this quarterly report is presented on an as-adjusted basis to give effect to the 2012 Reverse Stock Split. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and disclosures made in the accompanying notes to the financial statements. The Company uses estimates for certain accruals, including clinical and pre-clinical study fees and expenses, share-based compensation, and valuations of derivative liabilities, among others. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased. Short-Term Investments Investments that have maturities of greater than three months but less than one year are classified as short-term investments. Short-term investments are considered to be ‘held to maturity’ and are recorded at their amortized cost. Fair Value of Financial Instruments The carrying amounts of financial instruments such as cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts payable approximate the related fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. The Company invests its excess cash in financial instruments which are readily convertible into cash, such as money market funds and U.S. government securities. Cash is deposited in financial institutions that are FDIC insured; these deposits are in excess of the FDIC insurance limits. The fair value of financial assets and liabilities is measured under a three-tier fair value hierarchy as follows: Level 1 fair value is determined from observable, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 fair value is determined from quoted prices for similar items in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar items in markets that are not active. Level 3 fair value is determined using the entity’s own assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. Cash equivalents, where applicable, and short-term investments are classified as Level 1 as defined by the fair value hierarchy. Concentration of Credit Risk Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash in financial institutions (which exceeds federally insured limits), and cash equivalents and short-term investments (comprised of U.S. government securities). However, management believes that the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial positions of the depository institutions in which these deposits are held. Intangible Assets Intangible assets consist of patents acquired from SBio in August 2012, relating to a family of heterocyclic compounds that inhibit HDACs. Capitalized amounts are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected life of the intellectual property of 14 years from the date of acquisition. The carrying values of intangible assets are periodically reviewed to determine if the facts and circumstances suggest that a potential impairment may have occurred. Results of operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2014, do not reflect any write-downs associated with the potential impairment of intangible assets. Property and Equipment* Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets (generally three to seven years) using the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are stated at cost and are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease term. Research and Development Costs Research and development costs are expense d as incurred and include costs paid to third-party contractors to perform research, conduct clinical trials and develop and manufacture drug materials. Clinical trial costs, including costs associated with third-party contractors, are a significant component of research and development expenses. The Company accrues research and development costs based on work performed. In determining the amount to accrue, management relies on estimates of total costs based on contract components completed, the enrollment of subjects, the completion of trials, and other events. Costs incurred related to the purchase of in-process research and development for early-stage products or products that are not commercially viable and ready for use, or have no alternative future use, are charged to expense in the period incurred. License Fees Costs incurred related to the licensing of products that have not yet received regulatory approval to be marketed, or that are not commercially viable and ready for use, or have no alternative future use, are charged to expense in the period incurred. Share-based Compensation The Company’s Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (the Plan) provides for the grant of stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and other stock-based or stock-denominated awards. The maximum number of shares of common stock issuable under the Plan is 2,186,000 shares, of which 836,233 shares were available for awards as of March 31, 2014. The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated on the grant date under the fair value method using a binomial valuation model. The RSU equity awards are measured using the grant date fair value of the Company’s common stock. The estimated fair values of the stock options and RSUs, including the effect of estimated forfeitures, are expensed over the vesting period. The Company recognized share-based compensation expenses of $1,184,000 and $186,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $3,534,000 and $766,000 during the nine months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Interest and Dividend Income Interest on cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments balances is recognized when earned. Dividend income is recognized when the right to receive the payment is established. Income Taxes The Company’s income tax expense consists of current and deferred income tax expense or benefit. Current income tax expense or benefit is the amount of income taxes paid or refunded for the current year. A deferred income tax asset or liability is recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to tax credits and loss carry-forwards and to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, as well as differences in the timing of recognizing amounts for tax return purposes. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. As of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the Company has established a valuation allowance to fully reserve its net deferred tax assets. Tax rate changes are reflected in income during the period such changes are enacted. Changes in ownership may limit the amount of net operating loss carry-forwards that can be utilized in the future to offset taxable income. The Financial Accounting Standards Board Topic on Income Taxes prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute criteria for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if management believes it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2014.

1. Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The Company

MEI Pharma, Inc. (formerly Marshall Edwards, Inc.), or the Company, is a development stage oncology company focused on the clinical development of novel therapeutics for cancer. The Company’s common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “MEIP”. The Company was incorporated in Delaware in December 2000 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Novogen Limited (“Novogen”). In December 2012, Novogen distributed to its shareholders substantially all of its MEI Pharma common stock.

The Company’s business purpose is the development of drugs for the treatment of cancer. The Company is principally focused on the clinical development of its lead drug candidate, Pracinostat, which it is currently investigating in three Phase II clinical trials. Pracinostat is an orally available histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that is being developed for advanced hematologic diseases such as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In August 2012, the Company completed the acquisition of certain assets and intellectual property, including those related to Pracinostat, from S*Bio Pte Ltd (“S*Bio”). The Company’s clinical development pipeline also includes its isoflavone-based mitochondrial inhibitor drug candidate, ME-344. Results from a Phase I clinical trial of ME-344 in patients with refractory solid tumors were presented in October 2013. The Company initiated a Phase Ib trial of ME-344 in patients with small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer in May 2014. In September 2013, the Company acquired drug candidate PWT143, an oral inhibitor of phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) delta, a molecular target that has been shown to play a critical role in the proliferation and survival of certain hematologic cancer cells. The Company expects to complete the pre-clinical work required to support the filing of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for PWT143 by the end of calendar year 2014.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended June 30, 2013, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 18, 2013. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued.

Reverse Stock Split

On December 18, 2012, the Company effected a 1-for-6 reverse stock split (the “2012 Reverse Stock Split”) of the Company’s common stock. As a result of the 2012 Reverse Stock Split, every six shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock were combined into one share of common stock. The 2012 Reverse Stock Split did not change the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock. All financial data and share information in this quarterly report is presented on an as-adjusted basis to give effect to the 2012 Reverse Stock Split.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and disclosures made in the accompanying notes to the financial statements. The Company uses estimates for certain accruals, including clinical and pre-clinical study fees and expenses, share-based compensation, and valuations of derivative liabilities, among others. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased.

Short-Term Investments

Investments that have maturities of greater than three months but less than one year are classified as short-term investments. Short-term investments are considered to be ‘held to maturity’ and are recorded at their amortized cost.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of financial instruments such as cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts payable approximate the related fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. The Company invests its excess cash in financial instruments which are readily convertible into cash, such as money market funds and U.S. government securities. Cash is deposited in financial institutions that are FDIC insured; these deposits are in excess of the FDIC insurance limits.

The fair value of financial assets and liabilities is measured under a three-tier fair value hierarchy as follows: Level 1 fair value is determined from observable, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 fair value is determined from quoted prices for similar items in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar items in markets that are not active. Level 3 fair value is determined using the entity’s own assumptions about the inputs that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. Cash equivalents, where applicable, and short-term investments are classified as Level 1 as defined by the fair value hierarchy.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash in financial institutions (which exceeds federally insured limits), and cash equivalents and short-term investments (comprised of U.S. government securities). However, management believes that the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial positions of the depository institutions in which these deposits are held.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist of patents acquired from S*Bio in August 2012, relating to a family of heterocyclic compounds that inhibit HDACs. Capitalized amounts are amortized on a straight-line basis over the expected life of the intellectual property of 14 years from the date of acquisition. The carrying values of intangible assets are periodically reviewed to determine if the facts and circumstances suggest that a potential impairment may have occurred. Results of operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2014, do not reflect any write-downs associated with the potential impairment of intangible assets.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets (generally three to seven years) using the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are stated at cost and are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease term.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are expense d as incurred and include costs paid to third-party contractors to perform research, conduct clinical trials and develop and manufacture drug materials. Clinical trial costs, including costs associated with third-party contractors, are a significant component of research and development expenses. The Company accrues research and development costs based on work performed. In determining the amount to accrue, management relies on estimates of total costs based on contract components completed, the enrollment of subjects, the completion of trials, and other events. Costs incurred related to the purchase of in-process research and development for early-stage products or products that are not commercially viable and ready for use, or have no alternative future use, are charged to expense in the period incurred.

License Fees

Costs incurred related to the licensing of products that have not yet received regulatory approval to be marketed, or that are not commercially viable and ready for use, or have no alternative future use, are charged to expense in the period incurred.

Share-based Compensation

The Company’s Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (the Plan) provides for the grant of stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and other stock-based or stock-denominated awards. The maximum number of shares of common stock issuable under the Plan is 2,186,000 shares, of which 836,233 shares were available for awards as of March 31, 2014.

The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated on the grant date under the fair value method using a binomial valuation model. The RSU equity awards are measured using the grant date fair value of the Company’s common stock. The estimated fair values of the stock options and RSUs, including the effect of estimated forfeitures, are expensed over the vesting period.

The Company recognized share-based compensation expenses of $1,184,000 and $186,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $3,534,000 and $766,000 during the nine months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Interest and Dividend Income

Interest on cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments balances is recognized when earned. Dividend income is recognized when the right to receive the payment is established.

Income Taxes

The Company’s income tax expense consists of current and deferred income tax expense or benefit. Current income tax expense or benefit is the amount of income taxes paid or refunded for the current year. A deferred income tax asset or liability is recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to tax credits and loss carry-forwards and to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, as well as differences in the timing of recognizing amounts for tax return purposes. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. As of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2013, the Company has established a valuation allowance to fully reserve its net deferred tax assets. Tax rate changes are reflected in income during the period such changes are enacted. Changes in ownership may limit the amount of net operating loss carry-forwards that can be utilized in the future to offset taxable income.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board Topic on Income Taxes prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute criteria for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if management believes it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2014.