UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  November 15, 2005

 

Senesco Technologies, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-31326

 

84-1368850

(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

303 George Street, Suite 420, New Brunswick, New Jersey

 

08901

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(732) 296-8400

(Registrant’s telephone number,
including area code)

 

Not applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425).

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12).

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)).

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)).

 

 



 

Item 2.02.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On November 15, 2005, Senesco Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), issued a press release to report the Company’s financial results for the three month period ended September 30, 2005.  The full text of the press release is attached to this current report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

 

The information in this Form 8-K shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(c)   Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release of Senesco Technologies, Inc. dated November 15, 2005.

 

2



 

SIGNATURE

 

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, hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

SENESCO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated: November 15, 2005

By:

  /s/ Bruce Galton

 

 

  Name: Bruce Galton

 

 

  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

3


Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Company Contact:

 

Investor Relations Contacts:

Senesco Technologies, Inc.

 

Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates

Joel Brooks

 

Kim Sutton Golodetz

Chief Financial Officer

 

(kgolodetz@lhai.com)

(jbrooks@senesco.com)

 

Anne Marie Fields

(732) 296-8400

 

(afields@lhai.com)

 

 

212-838-3777

 

SENESCO TECHNOLOGIES REPORTS FIRST QUARTER
FISCAL 2006 FINANCIAL RESULTS

 

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (November 15, 2005) – Senesco Technologies, Inc. (“Senesco” or the “Company”) (AMEX: SNT) reported financial results for the three month period ended September 30, 2005.

 

The net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2005 was $897,122, or $0.06 per share, compared with a net loss of $723,621, or $0.05 per share, in the comparable period in fiscal 2005.  This increase was primarily the result of both higher research and development expenses and general and administrative expenses, which was partially offset by an increase in interest income.

 

The Company reported revenues of $12,500 during the three month period ended September 30, 2005, compared with $12,498 in the comparable period in fiscal 2005. The recorded revenue consisted of the amortized portion of the initial fee and milestone payment on a development and license agreement.

 

Total operating expenses for the three month period ended September 30, 2005 were $941,990, compared with $743,987 in the comparable period in fiscal 2005.  This increase was primarily attributable to increases in research and development expenses and general and administrative expenses.  The Company expects operating expenses to increase over the next twelve months as it continues to expand its research and development activities.

 

Research and development expenses for the three month period ended September 30, 2005 were $419,541, compared with $257,585 in the comparable period in fiscal 2005.  This increase was primarily the result of the expanded research programs in both the agricultural and human health applications of Senesco’s technology, as well as an increase in stock-based compensation.

 

General and administrative expenses for the three month period ended September 30, 2005 were $522,449, compared with $486,402 in the comparable period in fiscal 2005.  This increase was primarily the result on an increase in stock-based compensation, payroll and benefits and professional fees, which was partially offset by a decrease in investor relations expense.  The Company expects general and administrative expenses to modestly increase over the next 12 months primarily due to an increase in legal and accounting fees related to the increased regulatory environment and an increase in rent due to moving into larger office space in June 2005.

 

As of September 30, 2005, Senesco had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $3,714,638 and working capital of $3,410,254.

 



 

Commenting on the quarter, Bruce Galton, Senesco’s president and chief executive officer said, “We are very excited about the progress we have been making as we advance our technology in human health research.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2006, we reported the results of an in-vitro lung cancer study in mice, conducted at the University of Waterloo, in which our proprietary Factor 5A technology was used to treat mice that had been injected with a type of melanoma that has an affinity for lung tissue.  The mice that received treatment showed an average 41% reduction in tumor weight relative to the untreated mice. Additionally, nearly half of the treated mice had lung weights statistically comparable to control (healthy) mice that did not have any tumors.  We believe that these results are indicative of Factor 5A’s efficacy to inhibit lung tumor formation and/or growth.  Interestingly, we found that VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), a growth factor which can increase vascularization of tumors, was down-regulated in the lung tumors of the treated mice in a dose response manner.  Therefore, by increasing the dose of Factor 5A the level of VEGF was proportionately lowered.”

 

Subsequent to the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2006, Senesco participated in the Rodman & Renshaw Techvest Healthcare Conference, held November 7 - 9, 2005 at the Palace Hotel in New York.  President & CEO Bruce Galton presented at the conference on November 9, 2005.

 

About Senesco Technologies, Inc.

 

Senesco takes its name from the scientific term for the aging of plant cells: senescence.  The Company has developed technology that regulates the onset of cell death.  Delaying cell breakdown in plants extends freshness after harvesting, while increasing crop yields, plant size and resistance to environmental stress for flowers, fruits and vegetables.  The Company believes that its technology can be used to develop superior strains of crops without any modification other than delaying natural plant senescence.  Senesco has begun to explore ways to trigger or delay cell death in mammals (apoptosis) to determine if the technology is applicable in human medicine.  Accelerating apoptosis may have applications to development of cancer treatments.  Delaying apoptosis may have applications to certain diseases such as, glaucoma, ischemia and arthritis, among others.  Senesco has partnered with leading-edge companies engaged in agricultural biotechnology and earns research and development fees for applying its gene-regulating platform technology to enhance its partners’ products.  Senesco is headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and utilizes research laboratories at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada and the University of Colorado in Denver, Colorado, as well as other institutions.

 

Certain statements included in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Actual results could differ materially from such statements expressed or implied herein as a result of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: the development of the Company’s gene technology; the approval of the Company’s patent applications; the successful implementation of the Company’s research and development programs and joint ventures; the success of the Company’s license agreements; the acceptance by the market of the Company’s products; success of the Company’s preliminary studies and preclinical research; competition and the timing of projects and trends in future operating performance, as well as other factors expressed from time to time in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  As a result, this press release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC.  The forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

 

(tables to follow)

 



 

SENESCO TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)

 

 

 

For the Three
Months
Ended
September
30,
2005

 

For the Three
Months
Ended
September
30,
2004

 

From Inception
on July 1, 1998
through
September 30,
2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

$

12,500

 

$

12,498

 

$

364,167

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative

 

522,449

 

486,402

 

15,624,223

 

Research and development

 

419,541

 

257,585

 

5,838,122

 

Total Operating Expenses

 

941,990

 

743,987

 

21,462,345

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss From Operations

 

(929,490

)

(731,489

)

(21,098,178

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sale of state income tax loss

 

 

 

586,442

 

Other noncash income

 

 

 

321,259

 

Interest income, net

 

32,368

 

7,868

 

238,397

 

Net Loss

 

$

(897,122

)

$

(723,621

)

$

(19,952,080

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Common Share

 

$

(0.06

)

$

(0.05

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding

 

15,467,388

 

13,787,848

 

 

 

 

Prior year amounts have been adjusted for adoption of FAS 123R on July 1, 2005.

 



 

SENESCO TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

September 30,

 

June 30,

 

 

 

2005

 

2005

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

584,283

 

$

291,858

 

Short-term investments

 

3,130,355

 

3,941,627

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

129,884

 

156,544

 

Total Current Assets

 

3,844,522

 

4,390,029

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term investments

 

 

247,768

 

Property and equipment, net

 

25,104

 

30,038

 

Intangibles, net

 

1,591,150

 

1,438,119

 

Security deposit

 

7,187

 

7,187

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

5,467,963

 

$

6,113,141

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

139,619

 

$

217,569

 

Accrued expenses

 

273,816

 

180,002

 

Deferred revenue

 

20,833

 

33,333

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

434,268

 

430,904

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grant payable

 

90,150

 

90,150

 

Other liability

 

10,357

 

2,336

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

534,775

 

523,390

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 5,000,000 shares, no shares issued

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized 30,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding 15,467,388

 

154,674

 

154,674

 

Capital in excess of par

 

24,730,594

 

24,490,035

 

Deficit accumulated during the development stage

 

(19,952,080

)

(19,054,958

)

Total Stockholders’ Equity

 

4,933,188

 

5,589,751

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

5,467,963

 

$

6,113,141

 

 

Prior year amounts have been adjusted for adoption of FAS123R on July 1, 2005.