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The Business
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
The Business [Abstract]  
Nature of Operations [Text Block]
The Business
 
Overview
 
NeoStem, Inc. (“we,” “NeoStem” or the “Company”) is a leader in the emerging cellular therapy industry. We are pursuing the preservation and enhancement of human health globally through the development of cell based therapeutics that prevent, treat or cure disease. We have multiple cell therapy platforms that work to address the pathology of disease using a person's own cells to amplify the body's natural repair mechanisms including enhancing the destruction of cancer initiating cells, repairing and replacing damaged or aged tissue, cells and organs and restoring their normal function. We believe that cell therapy will play a large role in changing the natural history of diseases as more breakthrough therapies are developed, ultimately lessening the overall burden of disease on patients and their families as well as the economic burden that these diseases impose upon modern society.

Our business includes the development of novel proprietary cell therapy products, as well as a revenue-generating contract development and manufacturing service business that we leverage for the development of our therapeutics while providing service to other companies in the cell therapy industry. The combination of our own therapeutic development business and a revenue-generating service provider business provides the Company with unique capabilities for cost effective in-house product development and immediate revenue and future cash flow to help underwrite our internal development programs. This business model enables the Company to be opportunistic in growing its pipeline as evidenced by the Company's acquisition in May 2014 of California Stem Cell, Inc. ("CSC"), a cell biotechnology corporation that is developing cellular immunotherapies for cancer, an area we view to be one of the most promising sub-sectors in biotechnology. The lead product candidate in its immunotherapy pipeline is NBS20, also referred to as DC/TC (dendritic cell/tumor cell), and is targeting malignant melanoma initiating cells. This immunotherapy designed to treat Stage IV or recurrent Stage III metastatic melanoma, which has been granted fast track and orphan designation by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), also has a Phase 3 protocol that is the subject of a Special Protocol Assessment ("SPA"). The SPA, indicates that the FDA is in agreement with the design, clinical endpoints, and planned clinical analyses of the Phase 3 trial that would serve as the basis for a Biologics License Application ("BLA") that would be filed with the FDA requesting marketing approval of this therapeutic candidate. This protocol calls for enrolling 250 evaluable patients and is expected to be initiated later in 2014. We are evaluating other clinical indications into which we may advance this program, including liver, ovarian and lung cancers.

We are also currently developing therapies to address ischemia through utilizing CD34 cells. Ischemia occurs when the supply of oxygenated blood in the body is restricted. We seek to reverse this restriction through the development and formation of new blood vessels. NBS10, also referred to as AMR-001, is our most clinically advanced product candidate in our ischemic repair program and is being developed to treat damaged heart muscle following an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) ("AMI"). In December 2013, the Company completed enrollment in its PreSERVE AMI study. PreSERVE AMI is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial testing NBS10, an autologous (donor and recipient are the same) adult stem cell product for the treatment of patients with left ventricular dysfunction following acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The last patient in the trial was infused in December 2013 and the last patient six-month follow-up occurred in June 2014. Once the primary end point six-month data is collected, the data set will be locked and analysis will begin.   An abstract for the PreSERVE AMI study has been accepted for presentation at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions being held November 15-19, 2014 although we anticipate results of the study will be released earlier. If approved by the FDA and/or other worldwide regulatory agencies following successful completion of further trials, NBS10 would address a significant medical need for which there is currently no effective treatment, potentially improving longevity and quality of life for those suffering a STEMI, and positioning the Company to capture a meaningful share of this worldwide market. We are evaluating other clinical indications into which we may advance this program, including traumatic brain injury ("TBI"), congestive heart failure ("CHF"), and critical limb ischemia ("CLI").

Another platform technology we are developing utilizes T Regulatory Cells ("Tregs") to treat diseases caused by imbalances in an individual's immune system.  Collaborating with the University of California, San Francisco, we are utilizing the technology platform of our majority-owned subsidiary, Athelos Corporation ("Athelos"), to restore immune balance by enhancing Treg cell number and function.  Tregs are a natural part of the human immune system and regulate the activity of T effector cells, the cells that are responsible for protecting the body from viruses and other foreign antigens. When Tregs function properly, only harmful foreign materials are attacked by T effector cells. In autoimmune disease it is thought that deficient Treg activity permits the T effector cells to attack the body's own tissues, while in allergic diseases, like asthma, it is though that the immune system overreacts to harmless foreign substances. We plan to initiate in 2014, subject to review and approval of the protocols by the appropriate regulatory authorities, a Phase 2 study of NBS03D, a Treg based therapeutic, in the treatment of type 1 diabetes, and a Phase 1 study in Canada of NBS03A, a Treg based therapeutic, in support of our steroid resistant asthma development program.

Pre-clinical assets include our VSEL TM (Very Small Embryonic Like) Technology regenerative medicine platform. Regenerative medicine holds the promise of improving clinical outcomes and reducing overall  healthcare costs.  We are working on a Department of Defense funded study of VSELsTM for the treatment of chronic wounds. Other preclinical work with VSELsTM includes exploring macular degeneration as a target indication.

Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC ("PCT") is a contract manufacturer in the cellular therapy industry that generates revenue. This wholly owned subsidiary, which we acquired in 2011, is an industry leader in providing high quality manufacturing capabilities and support to developers of cell-based therapies to enable them to improve efficiencies and profitability and reduce the capital investment required for their own development activities. Since its inception more than 15 years ago, PCT has provided pre-clinical and clinical current Good Manufacturing Practice (“cGMP”) development and manufacturing services to more than 100 clients. PCT has experience advancing regenerative medicine product candidates from product inception through rigorous quality standards all the way through to human testing, BLA filing and FDA product approval. PCT's core competencies in the cellular therapy industry include manufacturing of cell therapy-based products, engineering and innovation services, product and process development, cell and tissue processing, regulatory support, storage, distribution and delivery and consulting services. PCT has two cGMP, state-of-the art cell therapy research, development, and manufacturing facilities in New Jersey and California, serving the cell therapy community with integrated and regulatory compliant distribution capabilities. The Company is pursuing commercial expansion of our manufacturing operations both in the U.S. and internationally. Additionally, with our acquisition of CSC in Irvine, California, we are now in a position to leverage NeoStem Oncology's expertise in immunotherapy and advance our platform technology, as well as the technologies of PCT's client base.

Strategic acquisitions have been the cornerstone of NeoStem’s growth and have been selected in order to provide value to stockholders by taking advantage of the infrastructure we have created which includes strong development, regulatory and manufacturing expertise. By adding NBS20, our DC/TC product candidate and a late stage novel proprietary cancer cell therapy into our pipeline, we look to further advance towards our goal of delivering transformative cell based therapies to the market to help patients suffering from life-threatening medical conditions. Coupled with our strong manufacturing capability, we believe the stage is set for us to realize meaningful clinical development and manufacturing efficiencies, further positioning NeoStem to lead the cell therapy industry.


Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“generally accepted accounting principles”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, which are unaudited, include all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of June 30, 2014 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the periods presented. The unaudited consolidated financial statements herein should be read together with the historical consolidated financial statements of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. Operating results for the six months ended June 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2014.
    
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Estimates also affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Reclassifications
 
Certain reclassifications have been made to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 to conform to the presentation for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014.

Principles of Consolidation
 
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of NeoStem, Inc. and its wholly owned and partially owned subsidiaries and affiliates as listed below.
 
Entity
 
Percentage of Ownership
 
Location
NeoStem, Inc.
 
Parent  Company
 
United States of America
NeoStem Therapies, Inc.
 
100%
 
United States of America
Stem Cell Technologies, Inc.
 
100%
 
United States of America
Amorcyte, LLC
 
100%
 
United States of America
Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC (PCT)
 
100%
 
United States of America
NeoStem Family Storage, LLC
 
100%
 
United States of America
Athelos Corporation (1)
 
90%
 
United States of America
PCT Allendale, LLC
 
100%
 
United States of America
NeoStem Oncology, LLC (2)
 
100%
 
United States of America


(1) Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement signed in March 2011, our initial ownership in Athelos was 80.1%, and Becton Dickinson's ("BD") initial minority ownership was 19.9%. Per the Agreement, BD will be diluted based on new investment in Athelos by us (subject to certain anti-dilution provisions). As of June 30, 2014, BD's ownership interest in Athelos was decreased to 10.0%, and our ownership increased to 90.0%. As a result in the change in ownership, approximately $0.1 million was transferred from additional paid in capital to non-controlling interests.

(2) On May 8, 2014, NeoStem acquired CSC, now known as NeoStem Oncology, LLC (see Note 3, Acquisition). Accordingly, the operating results of NeoStem Oncology, LLC prior to May 8, 2014 are not included in the Company's consolidated operations and cash flows.