UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

(Mark One)
T
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017
or
   
£
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
 
For the transition period from  to 


Commission file number 0-15327

CytRx Corporation
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
58-1642740
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)
   
11726 San Vicente Blvd, Suite 650,
 
Los Angeles, California
90049
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (310) 826-5648

________________

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Name of exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
The NASDAQ Capital Market
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
The NASDAQ Capital Market

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Securities Act Rule 405). Yes £ No R

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes £ No R

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes R No £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes R No £

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. R

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer", "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer £
Accelerated filer R
Non-accelerated filer £
Smaller reporting company £
   
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Emerging growth company £

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. £

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes £ No R

Based on the closing price of the Registrant's common stock as reported on The NASDAQ Capital Market, the aggregate market value of the Registrant's common stock held by non-affiliates on June 30, 2017 (the last business day of the Registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was approximately $94.5 million. Shares of common stock held by directors and executive officers and any ten percent or greater stockholders and their respective affiliates have been excluded from this calculation, because such stockholders may be deemed to be "affiliates" of the Registrant. This is not necessarily determinative of affiliate status for other purposes. The number of outstanding shares of the Registrant's common stock as of March 16, 2018 was 28,037,501.






CYTRX CORPORATION
2017 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

   
Page
 
       
NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
   
2
 
PART I
       
Item 1. BUSINESS
     
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
    11   
Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
    23   
Item 2. PROPERTIES
    23   
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
    24   
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
    25   
PART II
       
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
    26   
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
    27   
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
    29   
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
    38   
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
    38   
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
    38   
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
    38   
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
    40   
PART III
       
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
    41   
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
    48   
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
    61   
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
    62   
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
    63   
PART IV
       
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
    64   
Item 16. SUMMARY
    68   
 SIGNATURES
 
                               70  
       
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #i#

NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
References throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the "Company," "CytRx," "we," "us," and "our," except where the context requires otherwise, refer to CytRx Corporation.
If we are not successful in negotiating an agreement with a strategic partner to advance at least one lead compound from our Freiburg operations, we may reduce our headcount and discontinue certain development programs and drug discovery activities. For these reasons and others, our operating results may fluctuate from period to period, and the results of prior periods should not be relied upon as predictive of the results in future periods. Furthermore, if we obtain marketing approval and successfully commercialize aldoxorubicin, or another product candidate, we anticipate it will take a minimum of two years, and likely longer, for us to generate significant recurring revenue, and we will be dependent on future financing until such time, if ever, as we can generate significant recurring revenue. We have no commitments from third parties to provide us with any additional financing, and we may not be able to obtain future financing on favorable terms, or at all. Failure to obtain adequate financing would adversely affect our ability to operate as a going concern. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, dilution to stockholders may result and new investors could have rights superior to holders of the shares issued in this offering. In addition, debt financing, if available, may include restrictive covenants. If adequate funds are not available to us, we may have to liquidate some or all of our assets or to delay or reduce the scope of or eliminate some portion or all of our development programs or clinical trials. We also may have to license to other companies our product candidates or technologies that we would prefer to develop and commercialize ourselves.
References throughout this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the "Company," "CytRx," "we," "us," and "our," except where the context requires otherwise, refer to CytRx Corporation.
Some of the information contained in this Annual Report may include forward-looking statements that reflect our current views with respect to our research and development activities, business strategy, business plan, financial performance and other future events. These statements include forward-looking statements both with respect to us, specifically, and the biotechnology sector, in general. We make these statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that include the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "estimate," "may," "should," "anticipate," "will" and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements for purposes of the federal securities laws or otherwise.
All forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, those factors set forth in the sections entitled "Business," "Risk Factors," "Legal Proceedings," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" and "Controls and Procedures" in this Annual Report, all of which you should review carefully. Please consider our forward-looking statements in light of those risks as you read this Annual Report. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.
If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materializes, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from what we anticipate. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or individuals acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this Note.
INDUSTRY DATA
Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in this Annual Report concerning our industry, including our general expectations and market opportunity, is based on information from our own management estimates and research, as well as from industry and general publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Management estimates are derived from publicly available information, our knowledge of our industry and assumptions based on such information and knowledge, which we believe to be reasonable. In addition, assumptions and estimates of our and our industry's future performance are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described below in the "Risk Factors" section of this Annual Report.  These and other factors could cause our future performance to differ materially from our assumptions and estimates.
TRADEMARKS
CytRx is one of our trademarks used in this Annual Report. This Annual Report also includes trademarks, trade names and service marks that are the property of other organizations. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this Annual Report sometimes appear without the ® and ™ symbols, but those references are not intended to indicate that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights, or that the applicable owner will not assert its rights, to these trademarks and trade names.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #ii#

PART I

Item 1. BUSINESS
COMPANY OVERVIEW
We are a biopharmaceutical research and development company specializing in oncology. Our focus is on the discovery, research and clinical development of novel anti-cancer drug candidates that employ novel linker technologies to enhance the accumulation and release of cytotoxic anti-cancer agents at the tumor. Since 2008, we have worked to develop aldoxorubicin. In July 2017 we entered into an exclusive worldwide license under which NantCell, Inc. took over development of aldoxorubicin, invested in our common stock and agreed to make future milestone and royalty payments upon the successful development and commercialization of aldoxorubicin.  We are now actively pursuing new anti-cancer compounds through our drug discovery and research operation at our laboratory facilities in Freiburg, Germany led by Felix Kratz, Ph.D., Vice President of Drug Discovery and inventor of aldoxorubicin.
We are a Delaware corporation, incorporated in 1985. Our corporate offices are located at 11726 San Vicente Boulevard, Suite 650, Los Angeles, California 90049, and our telephone number is (310) 826-5648. Our web site is located at http://www.cytrx.com. We do not incorporate by reference into this Annual Report the information on, or accessible through, our website, and you should not consider it as part of this Annual Report.
LADR Drug Discovery Platform
The LADR™ (Linker Activated Drug Release) technology platform is a discovery engine combining our expertise in linker chemistry and albumin biology to create a pipeline of anti-cancer molecules that will avoid unacceptable systemic toxicity while delivering highly potent agents directly to the tumor.  We have created a "toolbox" of linker technologies that have the ability to significantly increase the therapeutic index of ultra-high potency drugs (10-1,000 times more potent than traditional chemotherapies) by controlling the release of the drug payloads and improving drug-like properties.

Our current efforts are focused on two classes of ultra-high potency albumin-binding drug conjugates.  These drug conjugates combine our proprietary LADR™ linkers with novel derivatives of the auristatin and maytansinoid drug classes.  These payloads historically have required a targeting antibody for successful administration to humans.  Our drug conjugates eliminate the need for a targeting antibody and provide a small molecule therapeutic option with potential broader applicability.

Our postulated mechanism of action for the albumin-binding drug conjugates is as follows:
after administration, the linker portion of the drug conjugate forms a rapid and specific covalent bond to the cysteine-34 position of circulating albumin;
circulating albumin preferentially accumulates at the tumors, bypassing concentration in other non-tumor sites, including the heart, liver and gastrointestinal tract due to a mechanism called "Enhanced Permeability and Retention";
once localized at the tumor, the acid-sensitive linker is cleaved due to the specific conditions within the tumor and in the tumor microenvironment; and
free active drug is then released.

Our strategy across these programs is to generate additional pre-clinical data that will allow them to make informed decisions regarding the selection of one or both programs for moving into human clinical trials either independently or on a partnered basis.

We recently entered into an agreement with Destum Partners, Inc., a leading strategic advisory firm serving companies in the life sciences industry, to assist in our pharma partnering activities. Destum will be our exclusive advisor for the identification of partnership opportunities for LADR™ ultra-high potency drug conjugates.
 
During 2017, our discovery laboratory synthesized and tested over 75 rationally designed drug conjugates with highly potent cytotoxic payloads, and two distinct classes of compounds have been created.  To date, four lead candidates have been selected based on in vitro and animal preclinical studies, stability, and manufacturing feasibility.  Additional animal efficacy and toxicology testing of these lead candidates is underway.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #3#


Aldoxorubicin
Until July 2017, we were focused on the research and clinical development of aldoxorubicin, our modified version of the widely-used chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin. Aldoxorubicin combines the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin with a novel linker-molecule that binds specifically to albumin in the blood to allow for delivery of higher amounts of doxorubicin (3½ to 4 times) without several of the major dose-limiting toxicities seen with administration of doxorubicin alone.

On July 27, 2017, we entered into an exclusive worldwide license with NantCell, Inc. ("NantCell"), granting to NantCell the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize aldoxorubicin in all indications, and our company is no longer directly working on development of aldoxorubicin.  As part of the license, NantCell made a strategic investment of $13 million in CytRx common stock at $6.60 per share (adjusted to reflect our 2017 reverse stock split), a premium of 92% to the market price on that date. We also issued NantCell a warrant to purchase up to 500,000 shares of common stock at $6.60 over the following 18 months. We are entitled to receive up to an aggregate of $343 million in potential milestone payments contingent upon achievement of certain regulatory approvals and commercial milestones. We are also entitled to receive ascending double-digit royalties for net sales for soft tissue sarcomas and mid to high single digit royalties for other indications.

Aldoxorubicin is a conjugate of the commonly prescribed chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin that binds to circulating albumin in the bloodstream and is believed to concentrate the drug at the site of the tumor. Aldoxorubicin, our lead clinical candidate, has been tested in over 600 patients with various types of cancer. Specifically, it is comprised of (6-maleimidocaproyl) hydrazine, an acid-sensitive molecule that is conjugated to doxorubicin.  The initial indication for aldoxorubicin is for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas (STS).
 
Aldoxorubicin has received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of STS. ODD provides several benefits including seven years of market exclusivity after approval, certain R&D related tax credits, and protocol assistance by the FDA.  European regulators granted aldoxorubicin Orphan designation for STS which confers ten years of market exclusivity among other benefits.

In the first quarter of 2018, we announced that NantCell was expanding aldoxorubicin's use by combining it with immunotherapies and cell-based treatments, specifically in metastatic pancreatic cancer and in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck or non-small cell lung cancer.

OUR CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Our current clinical development programs are discussed below.
Aldoxorubicin
Aldoxorubicin is a conjugate of the commonly prescribed chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin that binds to circulating albumin in the bloodstream and is believed to concentrate the drug at the site of tumors.  Specifically, it is comprised of (6-maleimidocaproyl) hydrazine, an acid-sensitive molecule that is conjugated to doxorubicin. Aldoxorubicin was out-licensed to NantCell in July 2017.
Aldoxorubicin for the Treatment of Cancer. Anthracyclines are a class of drugs that are among the most commonly used agents in the treatment of cancer. Doxorubicin, the first anthracycline to gain FDA approval, has demonstrated efficacy in a wide variety of cancers, including breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, sarcomas, and lymphomas. However, due to the uptake of doxorubicin by various parts of the body, it is associated with side effects such as cumulative cardiotoxicity, myelosuppression (decreased production of blood cells by bone marrow), gastrointestinal disorders, mucositis (inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the mouth and digestive tract), stomatitis (inflammation of soft tissue of the mouth), and necrotizing extravasation (damage due to the leakage of intravenous drugs from the vein into the surrounding tissue).
We believe aldoxorubicin has attributes that may improve on doxorubicin, alone, which we sometimes refer to as native doxorubicin, including the potential to increase the total doxorubicin dose, reduce certain adverse events associated with native doxorubicin, achieve increased drug concentration at tumor sites and improve efficacy.
Pre-clinical data. In a variety of preclinical models, aldoxorubicin was superior to doxorubicin at equitoxic doses in its ability to allow an increase in the total doxorubicin dose, its antitumor efficacy and its safety, including a reduction in cardiotoxicity. Animal studies conducted by aldoxorubicin inventor Dr. Felix Kratz demonstrated statistically significant efficacy compared to both placebo and native doxorubicin against breast, ovarian, pancreatic and small cell lung cancer models growing in immunodeficient mice.
Clinical data. In July 2016, we announced the initial analysis of top-line data from our on-going global, randomized Phase 3 clinical trial of aldoxorubicin as a treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory soft tissue sarcomas, or STS. The trial enrolled 433 patients.  Aldoxorubicin performed better than investigator's choice for the entire study population, and narrowly missed statistical significance in progression-free survival, or PFS (p=0.12; HR=0.81, 95% CI 0.64-1.06), the trial's primary endpoint.  All responses were determined by an independent, blinded central radiology lab assessment of scans.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #4#

On November 29, 2016, we announced updated results from the Phase 3 clinical trial, which demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS between aldoxorubicin and investigator's choice therapy in 246 patients with either leiomyosarcoma or liposarcoma, (p=0.007).  The hazard ratio (HR) was 0.62 (95% CI 0.44-0.88), representing a 38% reduction in the risk of tumor progression for patients receiving aldoxorubicin versus investigator's choice.  Leiomyosarcoma and liposarcoma, the two most common types of STS, accounted for 57% of the patients enrolled in the overall trial.  Aldoxorubicin also demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS over investigator's choice in 312 patients treated in North America plus Australia (p=0.028; HR=0.71, 95% CI 0.53-0.97).
Aldoxorubicin did not cause clinically significant cardiac, renal, or hepatic toxicities.  For the global trial population, the most commonly reported adverse events were neutropenia and anemia consistent with prior clinical trials with aldoxorubicin. Grade 3 or higher adverse events were manageable with supportive care and occurred at a rate of 61% for patients receiving aldoxorubicin and 46% in patients treated with investigator's choice.  Treatment-emergent adverse events leading to discontinuation occurred in 4.2% of patients treated with aldoxorubicin, compared to 6.3% for patients receiving investigator's choice.  Serious adverse events, primarily febrile neutropenia that resolved and rarely led to treatment termination occurred more frequently in patients administered aldoxorubicin.  Three treatment-related deaths occurred in aldoxorubicin-treated patients, while there were no treatment-related deaths among patients receiving investigators' choice of drugs.
Based upon the updated results of the Phase 3 trial, we met with the FDA in the first quarter of 2017. Following the meeting with the FDA, we announced that we planned to pursue a 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for a New Drug Application (NDA) filing.
We completed our global Phase 2b clinical trial to evaluate the preliminary efficacy and safety of aldoxorubicin as a first-line therapy in patients with advanced STS who are ineligible for surgery. The 123-subject Phase 2b clinical trial provided the first direct clinical trial comparison of aldoxorubicin and native doxorubicin as a first-line therapy for STS. The primary endpoint was PFS as determined by a blinded radiology review performed at an independent central radiology laboratory. The results from this trial were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Oncology in September 2015 (JAMA Oncology 2015 Sep 17:1-9.).
In the Phase 2b clinical trial, aldoxorubicin was found to be relatively safe and well-tolerated. Subjects treated with aldoxorubicin had an approximately two-fold increase in severe neutropenia compared with doxorubicin-treated subjects, but there was no difference in the incidence of febrile neutropenia (indicating an infection may be present) between the two groups. All adverse events in subjects treated with aldoxorubicin were consistent with the known side effects of doxorubicin, usually resolved before the administration of the next dose and did not require treatment discontinuation. There were no treatment-related deaths in the aldoxorubicin group.
A Phase 1 study of aldoxorubicin that demonstrated safety and objective clinical responses in several tumor types was completed in 2005 and published in Clinical Cancer Research in August 2007.  Of 35 evaluable patients, 23 had either an objective clinical (partial) response or stable disease.
We completed a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial with aldoxorubicin in patients with advanced solid tumors who had either relapsed or failed to respond to their prior chemotherapy. Clinical benefit was shown in ten of 13 (76.9%) evaluable patients with relapsed or refractory STS. There were no observed cardiac toxicities and no drug-related patient deaths. The results of this clinical trial were published in February 2015 in the peer-reviewed journal Cancer (Cancer, 2015 Feb 15; 121(4); 570-9).
Our Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating pharmacokinetics demonstrated that aldoxorubicin has a distribution half-life of approximately 20 to 24 hours, with a narrow volume of distribution to healthy tissue and slow clearance from the circulation. Complete details from this trial were published in the journal Investigational New Drugs (Invest New Drugs, 2015 Apr 15; (33(2):341-8).
In September 2016, we completed enrollment in our global Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating aldoxorubicin compared to topotecan in subjects with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) who have relapsed or were refractory to prior chemotherapy. The open-label Phase 2b clinical trial enroll approximately 135 patients (1:1 randomization).  The primary endpoint is PFS and the secondary endpoints are OS, overall response rates (partial and complete) and the safety of aldoxorubicin compared to topotecan in this population.  This trial was ongoing when aldoxorubicin was out-licensed to NantCell, Inc.
 We completed a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the preliminary efficacy and safety of aldoxorubicin in patients with unresectable glioblastoma whose tumors have progressed following prior treatment with surgery, radiation and with the drug temozolomide. The clinical trial has enrolled its target of 28 patients and demonstrated that an albumin-binding therapy can enter the brain and have anti-tumor activity. At the 2016 American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, the trial results were presented including the median overall survival of 8.6 months.
We completed a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the preliminary efficacy of aldoxorubicin in patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Results presented at the 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting showed that aldoxorubicin localized in the tumor lesions and compared to non-tumor tissues.  Eleven of 13 patients (85%) treated with low dose aldoxorubicin achieved a partial response at week four.
We also conducted a Phase 1b/2 trial in combination with ifosfamide in patients with STS, and completed a Phase 1b trial in combination with gemcitabine in subjects with metastatic solid tumors. Since most chemotherapy agents are administered in combination with other chemotherapeutics, these studies will demonstrate the dose of aldoxorubicin that can be administered with two other chemotherapies that are commonly used to treated patients with sarcomas, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #5#

Disposition of Molecular Chaperone Assets
Until 2011, we owned the rights to two drug candidates, arimoclomol and iroxanadine, based on molecular chaperone regulation technology that were designed to repair or degrade mis-folded proteins associated with disease. On May 13, 2011, we sold all pre-clinical and clinical data, intellectual property rights and other assets relating to those compounds to Orphazyme ApS in exchange for a cash payment of $150,000 and the right to receive various future payments that are contingent upon the achievement of specified regulatory and business milestones, as well as royalty payments based on a specified percentage of any eventual net sales of products derived from the assets. 
Innovive Acquisition Agreement
On September 19, 2008, we completed our merger acquisition of Innovive Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Innovive, and its clinical-stage cancer product candidates, including aldoxorubicin and tamibarotene. Under the merger agreement by which we acquired Innovive, we agreed to pay the former Innovive stockholders up to approximately $18.3 million of future earnout merger consideration, subject to our achievement of specified net sales under the Innovive license agreements. The earnout merger consideration, if any, will be payable in shares of our common stock, subject to specified conditions, or, at our election, in cash or by a combination of shares of our common stock and cash. Our common stock will be valued for purposes of any future earnout merger consideration based upon the trading price of our common stock at the time the earnout merger consideration is paid. The earnout will be accrued if and when earned.
Research and Development
Expenditures for research and development activities related to continuing operations were $19.8 million, $35.9 million and $43.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, or approximately 60%, 68% and 68%, respectively, of our total expenses. For further information regarding our research and development activities, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" below.

Manufacturing
We do not have the facilities or expertise to manufacture clinical supplies of aldoxorubicin or any of our other product candidates, and we lack the resources and capability to manufacture any of our product candidates on a commercial scale. Accordingly, we are dependent upon third-party manufactures, or potential future strategic alliance partners, to manufacture these supplies. Currently, we are no longer responsible for manufacturing aldoxorubicin, having entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with NantCell, Inc.
Commercialization and Marketing
We currently have no sales, marketing or commercial product distribution capabilities or experience in marketing products. 
As additional product candidates advance through our pipeline, our commercial plans may change. In particular, some of our pipeline assets target potentially large solid tumor indications.  Factors such as clinical data, the size of the development programs, the size of the target market, the size of a commercial infrastructure, and manufacturing needs may influence our strategies in the U.S., the European Union, and other territories.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #6#

Patents and Proprietary Technology
We actively seek patent protection for our technologies, processes, uses, and ongoing improvements and consider our patents and other intellectual property to be critical to our business. We regularly evaluate the patentability of new inventions and improvements developed by us or our collaborators, and, whenever appropriate, will endeavor to file U.S. and international patent applications to protect these new inventions and improvements. We cannot be certain that any of the current pending patent applications we have filed or licensed, or any new patent applications we may file or license, will ever be issued in the U.S. or any other country. There also is no assurance that any issued patents will be effective to prevent others from using our products or processes. It is also possible that any patents issued to us, as well as those we have licensed or may license in the future, may be held invalid or unenforceable by a court, or third parties could obtain patents that we would need to either license or to design around, which we may be unable to do. Current and future competitors may have licensed or filed patent applications or received patents, and may acquire additional patents and proprietary rights relating to compounds, products or processes that may be competitive with ours.
In addition to patent protection, we attempt to protect our proprietary products, processes and other information by relying on trade secrets and non-disclosure agreements with our employees, consultants and certain other persons who have access to such products, processes and information. Under the agreements, all inventions conceived by employees are our exclusive property, but there is no assurance that these agreements will afford significant protection against misappropriation or unauthorized disclosure of our trade secrets and confidential information.
As of December 31, 2017, we have three pending U.S. patent applications and thirteen pending foreign patent applications covering our LADRTM-related technology and DK049. The unextended patent term of patents that issue covering our LADRTM-related technology and DK049 is June 2038. In conjunction with our July 27, 2017 NantCell licensing agreement, we granted NantCell an exclusive license to all our aldoxorubicin-related patents, including the rights in four granted U.S. patents, 72 granted foreign patents, two pending U.S. patent applications, and fourteen pending foreign patent applications covering aldoxorubicin and related technologies. Our intellectual property holdings relating to aldoxorubicin and related technologies include an exclusive license from Vergell Medical, S.A. or Vergell, to U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications. Patents and applications that cover pharmaceutical compositions of aldoxorubicin, processes for their production, and their use in treatment methods (e.g., cancer (including glioblastoma), viral diseases, autoimmune diseases, and acute or chronic inflammatory diseases) have unextended patent terms expiring between June 2020 and June 2034. 

LICENSE AGREEMENTS
Aldoxorubicin
We are the licensee of patent rights held by KTB for the worldwide development and commercialization of aldoxorubicin under a license agreement dated April 17, 2006. In February 2017, we received notice that KTB had transferred and assigned its rights and obligations under the license to Vergell Medical, S.A. The license is exclusive and applies to all products that may be subject to the licensed intellectual property in all fields of use. We may sublicense the intellectual property in our sole discretion. Pursuant to an amendment to the license agreement entered into in March 2014, we also have a non-exclusive worldwide license to any additional technology that is claimed or disclosed in the licensed patents and patent applications for use in the field of oncology.
Under the agreement, we must make payments to Vergell in the aggregate of up to $7.5 million upon meeting clinical and regulatory milestones, and up to and including the product's second final marketing approval. We also agreed to pay:
commercially reasonable royalties based on a percentage of net sales (as defined in the agreement);
a percentage of any non-royalty sub-licensing income (as defined in the agreement); and
milestones of $1 million for each additional final marketing approval that we obtain.
In the event that we must pay a third party in order to exercise our rights to the intellectual property under the agreement, we are entitled to deduct a percentage of those payments from the royalties due Vergell, up to an agreed upon cap.
Under the agreement with Vergell, we must use commercially reasonable efforts to conduct the research and development activities we determine are necessary to obtain regulatory approval to market aldoxorubicin in those countries that we determine are commercially feasible. Under the agreement, Vergell is to use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide us with access to suppliers of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, or API, of aldoxorubicin, on the same terms and conditions as may be provided to Vergell by those suppliers.
The agreement will expire on a product-by-product basis upon the expiration of the subject patent rights. We have the right to terminate the agreement on 30 days' notice, provided we pay a cash penalty to Vergell. Vergell may terminate the agreement if we are in breach and the breach is not cured within a specified cure period, or if we fail to use diligent and commercial efforts to meet specified clinical milestones.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #7#

Competition
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are characterized by rapidly advancing technologies, intense competition and a strong emphasis on proprietary products. While we believe that our LADR™ technology platform and ultra-high potency albumin-bind drug conjugates provide us with competitive advantages, we face potential competition from many different sources, including major pharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutions and governmental agencies and public and private research institutions. Any drug candidates that we successfully develop and commercialize will compete with existing therapies and new therapies that may become available in the future.
Many competitors and potential competitors have substantially greater scientific, research and product development capabilities, as well as greater financial, marketing and human resources than we do. In addition, many specialized biotechnology firms have formed collaborations with large, established companies to support the research, development and commercialization of products that may be competitive with ours.

There are many companies developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) for the treatment of cancer that use the same classes of cytotoxic payloads as we are currently using.  These include Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Seattle Genetics Inc. who market Adcetris®, and F. Hoffmann-LaRoche Ltd./Genentech who market Kadcyla®.  According to www.clinicaltrials.gov, there are approximately 75 clinical trials testing an ADC that are either on-going or currently enrolling.  Other companies have created or have programs to create potent cell‑killing agents for attachment to antibodies or other targeting agents. These companies may compete with us for technology out‑license arrangements.
In addition to ADCs, we face competition from other nanomedicine platforms developing targeted therapies, including platforms focused on nanoparticles and liposomes. Non‑ADC therapies may be in development for the cancer types we or our partners elect to pursue.  Further, these companies may also compete with us for technology out‑license arrangements.
Continuing development of conventional and targeted chemotherapeutics by large pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology companies may result in new compounds that may compete with our product candidates. More recently, immuno-oncology therapies that stimulate the body's own defense system to attack cancers are being developed by certain of these companies and some have been approved for use as cancer therapeutics. In the future, immuno-oncology agents including cell therapies, targeted therapies or cytotoxic treatments may compete with our product candidates. Other companies have created or have programs to create potent cell‑killing agents for attachment to tumor targeting agents. These companies may compete with us for technology out‑license arrangements.
Our commercial opportunity could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize products that are more effective, have fewer or less severe side effects, are more convenient or are less expensive than any products that we may develop. Our competitors also may obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than we obtain approval for ours. In addition, our ability to compete may be affected in many cases by insurers or other third-party payors seeking to encourage the use of generic products. If our drug candidates achieve marketing approval, we expect that they will be priced at a significant premium over competitive generic products.
    Many companies, including large pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms with financial resources, research and development staffs, and facilities that may be substantially greater than those of ours or our strategic partners or licensees, are engaged in the research and development of pharmaceutical products that could compete with our potential products. To the extent that we seek to acquire, through license or otherwise, existing or potential new products, we will be competing with numerous other companies, many of which will have substantially greater financial resources, large acquisition and research and development staffs that may give those companies a competitive advantage over us in identifying and evaluating these drug acquisition opportunities. Any products that we acquire will be competing with products marketed by companies that in many cases will have substantially greater marketing resources than we have. The industry is characterized by rapid technological advances and competitors may develop their products more rapidly and such products may be more effective than those currently under development or that may be developed in the future by our strategic partners or licensees. Competitive products for a number of the disease indications that we have targeted are currently being marketed by other parties, and additional competitive products are under development and may also include products currently under development that we are not aware of or products that may be developed in the future.
 
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #8#

Government Regulation
The U.S. and other developed countries extensively regulate the preclinical and clinical testing, manufacturing, labeling, storage, record-keeping, advertising, promotion, export, marketing and distribution of drugs and biologic products. The FDA, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Public Health Service Act and other federal statutes and regulations, regulates pharmaceutical and biologic products.
To obtain approval of our product candidates from the FDA, we must, among other requirements, submit data supporting safety and efficacy for the intended indication as well as detailed information on the manufacture and composition of the product candidate. In most cases, this will require extensive laboratory tests and preclinical and clinical trials. The collection of these data, as well as the preparation of applications for review by the FDA involve significant time and expense. The FDA also may require post-marketing testing to monitor the safety and efficacy of approved products or place conditions on any approvals that could restrict the therapeutic claims and commercial applications of these products. Regulatory authorities may withdraw product approvals if we fail to comply with regulatory standards or if we encounter problems at any time following initial marketing of our products.
The first stage of the FDA approval process for a new drug involves completion of preclinical studies and the submission of the results of these studies to the FDA. These data, together with proposed clinical protocols, manufacturing information, analytical data and other information submitted to the FDA, in an investigational new drug application, or IND, must become effective before human clinical trials may commence. Preclinical studies generally involve FDA regulated laboratory evaluation of product characteristics and animal studies to assess the efficacy and safety of the product candidate.

After the IND becomes effective, a company may commence human clinical trials. These are typically conducted in three sequential phases, but the phases may overlap. Phase 1 trials consist of testing of the product candidate in a small number of patients or healthy volunteers, primarily for safety at one or more doses. Phase 2 trials, in addition to safety, evaluate the efficacy of the product candidate in a patient population somewhat larger than Phase 1 trials. Phase 3 trials typically involve additional testing for safety and clinical efficacy in an expanded population at multiple test sites. A company must submit to the FDA a clinical protocol, accompanied by the approval of the Institutional Review Boards at the institutions participating in the trial, prior to commencement of each clinical trial.
To obtain FDA marketing authorization, a company must submit to the FDA the results of the preclinical and clinical testing, together with, among other things, detailed information on the manufacture and composition of the product candidate, in the form of a new drug application, or NDA.
The amount of time taken by the FDA for approval of an NDA will depend upon a number of factors, including whether the product candidate has received priority review, the quality of the submission and studies presented, the potential contribution that the compound will make in improving the treatment of the disease in question, and the workload at the FDA.
The FDA may, in some cases, confer upon an investigational product the status of a fast-track product. A fast-track product is defined as a new drug or biologic intended for the treatment of a serious or life-threatening condition that demonstrates the potential to address unmet medical needs for this condition. The FDA can base approval of an NDA for a fast-track product on an effect on a surrogate endpoint, or on another endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. If a preliminary review of clinical data suggests that a fast-track product may be effective, the FDA may initiate review of entire sections of a marketing application for a fast-track product before the sponsor completes the application.
We anticipate that our products will be manufactured by our strategic partners, licensees or other third parties. Before approving an NDA, the FDA will inspect the facilities at which the product is manufactured and will not approve the product unless the manufacturing facilities are in compliance with the FDA's cGMP, which are regulations that govern the manufacture, holding and distribution of a product. Our manufacturers also will be subject to regulation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Nuclear Energy and Radiation Control Act, the Toxic Substance Control Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Following approval, the FDA periodically inspects drug and biologic manufacturing facilities to ensure continued compliance with the good manufacturing practices regulations. Our manufacturers will have to continue to comply with those requirements. Failure to comply with these requirements subjects the manufacturer to possible legal or regulatory action, such as suspension of manufacturing or recall or seizure of product. Adverse patient experiences with the product must be reported to the FDA and could result in the imposition of marketing restrictions through labeling changes or market removal. Product approvals may be withdrawn if compliance with regulatory requirements is not maintained or if problems concerning safety or efficacy of the product occur following approval.
The labeling, advertising, promotion, marketing and distribution of a drug or biologic product also must be in compliance with FDA and Federal Trade Commission requirements which include, among others, standards and regulations for off-label promotion, industry sponsored scientific and educational activities, promotional activities involving the internet, and direct-to-consumer advertising. We also will be subject to a variety of federal, state and local regulations relating to the use, handling, storage and disposal of hazardous materials, including chemicals and radioactive and biological materials. In addition, we will be subject to various laws and regulations governing laboratory practices and the experimental use of animals. In each of these areas, as above, the FDA has broad regulatory and enforcement powers, including the ability to levy fines and civil penalties, suspend or delay issuance of product approvals, seize or recall products, and deny or withdraw approvals.
We will also be subject to a variety of regulations governing clinical trials and sales of our products outside the U.S. Whether or not FDA approval has been obtained, approval of a product candidate by the comparable regulatory authorities of foreign countries and regions must be obtained prior to the commencement of marketing the product in those countries. The approval process varies from one regulatory authority to another and the time may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA approval. In the European Union, Canada and Australia, regulatory requirements and approval processes are similar, in principle, to those in the U.S

CytRx 2017 10-K Page #9#

Employees
As of March 16, 2018, we had twenty employees, thirteen of whom were engaged in preclinical research at our Freiburg, Germany laboratory, and seven of whom were involved in management and administrative operations.
Available Information
We maintain a website at www.cytrx.com and make available there, free of charge, our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, as soon as is reasonably practicable after filing. The public may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers such as us that file electronically with the SEC. Among other things, we post on our website our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
Potential Strategic Alternatives
From time to time, we may consider strategic alternatives available to us to enhance shareholder value. Strategic alternatives could include the acquisition of or strategic partnership with one or more parties or the licensing of some of our proprietary technologies. See "Item 1A – Risk Factors – The impact and results of our exploration of strategic alternatives are uncertain and may not be successful."
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties facing our business. The risks described below are not the only ones facing us. Our business is also subject to the risks that affect many other companies, such as employment relations, general economic conditions and geopolitical events.  Further, additional risks not currently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may in the future materially and adversely affect our business, operations, liquidity and stock price.
Risks Associated With Our Business
We have operated at a loss and will likely continue to operate at a loss for the foreseeable future.
We have operated at a loss due to our ongoing expenditures for research and development of our product candidates and for general and administrative purposes, and lack of significant recurring revenues. We incurred a net loss of $35.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 and $50.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 and had an accumulated deficit as of December 31, 2017 of $450.9 million. We are likely to continue to incur losses unless and until we are able to commercialize aldoxorubicin or one or more of our other existing or possible future product candidates. These losses, among other things, have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on our stockholders' equity and working capital. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with our product development efforts, we are unable to predict when we may become profitable, if at all. If we do not become profitable or are unable to maintain future profitability, the market value of our common stock will be adversely affected.
Because we have no source of significant recurring revenue, we must depend on capital raising to sustain our operations, and our ability to raise capital may be severely limited.
Developing products and conducting clinical trials require substantial amounts of capital. To date, we have relied primarily upon proceeds from sales of our equity securities under our "shelf" registration statements on Form S-3 filed with the SEC and proceeds from the exercise of options and warrants to generate funds needed to finance our business and operations. We will need to raise additional capital to, among other things:
fund development of product candidates based on our LADR™ technology;
finance our general and administrative expenses
acquire or license new technologies;
prepare, file, prosecute, maintain, enforce and defend our patent and other proprietary rights; and
develop and implement sales, marketing and distribution capabilities to successfully commercialize any product for which we obtain marketing approval and choose to market ourselves.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #10#

The depressed market price of our common stock may severely limit our ability to continue to raise capital, because the aggregate or market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates, referred to as our "public float," as of the file date of this Annual Report is less than $75 million.  As a result, under Instruction I.B.6 to Form S-3 the aggregate amount of securities that we can offer and sell under our "shelf" registration statements in any 12-month period cannot exceed one-third of our public float, or approximately $20.5 million as of March 16, 2018.  If our public float increases to $75 million or more, we will no longer be subject to this limitation.
At December 31, 2017, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $37.6 million. Under the terms of the loan agreement, however, we are required to maintain cash equal to a minimum of the greater of three months projected cash burn or $10 million. Management believes that our current resources will be sufficient to fund our operations for the foreseeable future. This estimate is based, in part, upon our currently projected expenditures for 2018 and the first three months of 2019 of approximately $27.8 million (unaudited), which includes approximately $1.5 million (unaudited) for our  clinical programs, approximately $3.1 million (unaudited) for pre-clinical development of new high potency cytotoxic albumin-binding cancer drugs, approximately $0.7 million (unaudited) for general operation of its clinical programs, approximately $10.1 million (unaudited) for other general and administrative expenses and $12.4 million of interest and principal payments on our outstanding term loan. These projected expenditures are also based upon numerous other assumptions and subject to many uncertainties, and actual expenditures may be significantly different from these projections. While these projections represent our current expected expenditures, we have the ability to reduce the amounts and alter the timing of research and development expenditures as needed to manage its liquidity needs while still advancing its research and development objectives. We will ultimately be required to obtain additional funding in order to execute our long-term business plans, although we do not currently have commitments from any third parties to provide us with long term debt or capital. We cannot assure that additional funding will be available on favorable terms, or at all. If we fail to obtain additional funding when needed, we may not be able to execute our business plans and our business may suffer, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
If we are not successful in negotiating an agreement with a strategic partner to advance at least one lead compound from our Freiburg operations, we may reduce our headcount and discontinue certain development programs and drug discovery activities. For these reasons and others, our operating results may fluctuate from period to period, and the results of prior periods should not be relied upon as predictive of the results in future periods. Furthermore, if we obtain marketing approval and successfully commercialize aldoxorubicin, or another product candidate, we anticipate it will take a minimum of two years, and likely longer, for us to generate significant recurring revenue, and we will be dependent on future financing until such time, if ever, as we can generate significant recurring revenue. We have no commitments from third parties to provide us with any additional financing, and we may not be able to obtain future financing on favorable terms, or at all. Failure to obtain adequate financing would adversely affect our ability to operate as a going concern. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, dilution to stockholders may result and new investors could have rights superior to holders of the shares issued in this offering. In addition, debt financing, if available, may include restrictive covenants. If adequate funds are not available to us, we may have to liquidate some or all of our assets or to delay or reduce the scope of or eliminate some portion or all of our development programs or clinical trials. We also may have to license to other companies our product candidates or technologies that we would prefer to develop and commercialize ourselves.
 
If NantCell fails to successfully develop aldoxorubicin or our exclusive licensing arrangement with NantCell is otherwise unsuccessful, our business prospects will be materially adversely affected.
   In July 2017, we entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with NantCell to complete the clinical development of and commercialization of aldoxorubicin. Under this agreement, NantCell has committed to provide substantial funding, as well as significant capabilities in clinical development, regulatory affairs, marketing and sales.
 
If, for any reason, NantCell does not devote sufficient time and resources to the development and commercialization of aldoxorubicin, we will not realize the potential commercial benefits of the arrangement, and our results of operations will be adversely affected. In addition, if NantCell were to breach or terminate its arrangement with us, the development and commercialization of aldoxorubicin could be delayed, curtailed or terminated, and we may not have sufficient financial resources or capabilities to continue development and commercialization of aldoxorubicin on our own.
Under our agreement with NantCell, they may opt out of a project by giving us twelve months' prior written notice. If NantCell were to exercise its right to opt out of a program or to terminate the licensing agreement, the development and commercialization of aldoxorubicin would be adversely affected, our potential for generating revenue from this program would be adversely affected and attracting new partners would be made more difficult.
Much of the potential revenue from our existing and future arrangement with NantCell will consist of contingent payments, such as payments for achieving development and commercialization milestones and royalties payable on commercial sales of successfully developed aldoxorubicin.  The milestone, royalty and other revenue that we may receive under this arrangement will depend upon our, and NantCell's ability to successfully develop, introduce, market and sell aldoxorubicin. We will not be directly involved in this process and will depend entirely on NantCell, which may fail to develop or effectively commercialize aldoxorubicin because they:
·
decide not to devote the necessary resources due to internal constraints, such as limited personnel with the requisite scientific expertise, limited cash resources or specialized equipment limitations, or the belief that other drug development programs may have a higher likelihood of obtaining regulatory approval or may potentially generate a greater return on investment;
·
do not have sufficient resources necessary to carry aldoxorubicin through clinical development, regulatory approval and commercialization;
·
cannot obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for aldoxorubicin; or
·
decide to pursue a competitive drug candidate.
If NantCell fails to develop or effectively commercialize aldoxorubicin or for any of the other reasons described above, we may not be able to develop and commercialize that drug independently, or replace NantCell with another suitable partner in a reasonable period of time and on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #11#

If we do not achieve our projected development goals in the time frames we estimate, the commercialization of our products may be delayed and our business prospects may suffer. Our financial projections also may prove to be materially inaccurate.
From time to time, we estimate the timing of the accomplishment of various scientific, clinical, regulatory and other product development goals, which we sometimes refer to as milestones. These milestones may include the commencement or completion of scientific studies and clinical trials and the submission of regulatory filings.
We also may disclose projected expenditures or other forecasts for future periods. These and other financial projections are based on management's current expectations and do not contain any margin of error or cushion for any specific uncertainties, or for the uncertainties inherent in all financial forecasting.
The actual timing of milestones and actual expenditures or other financial results can vary dramatically compared to our estimates, in some cases for reasons beyond our control. If we do not meet milestones or financial projections as announced from time to time, the development and commercialization of our products may be delayed and our business prospects may suffer. The assumptions management has used to produce these projections may significantly change or prove to be inaccurate. Accordingly, you should not unduly rely on any of these financial projections.
The regulatory approval process is lengthy, time consuming and inherently unpredictable, and if our products are not successfully developed and approved by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities, we may be forced to reduce or curtail our operations.
All of our product candidates in development must be approved by the FDA or corresponding foreign governmental agencies before they can be marketed. The process for obtaining FDA and foreign government approvals is both time-consuming and costly, with no certainty of a successful outcome. This process typically includes the conduct of extensive pre-clinical and clinical testing, including post-approval testing, which may take longer or cost more than we or our licensees, if any, anticipate, and may prove unsuccessful due to numerous factors, including the substantial discretion of the regulatory authorities. In addition, approval policies, regulations, or the type and amount of clinical data necessary to gain approval may change during the course of a product candidate's clinical development and may vary among jurisdictions. We have not obtained regulatory approval for any product candidate.
Numerous factors could affect the timing, cost or outcome of our product development efforts, including the following:
·
difficulty in enrolling patients in conformity with required protocols or projected timelines;
·
requirements for clinical trial design imposed by the FDA;
·
unexpected adverse reactions by patients in trials;
·
difficulty in obtaining clinical supplies of the product;
·
changes in or our inability to comply with FDA or foreign governmental product testing, manufacturing or marketing requirements;
·
regulatory inspections of clinical trials or manufacturing facilities, which may, among other things, require us or our manufacturers or licensees to undertake corrective action or suspend or terminate the affected clinical trials if investigators find them not to be in compliance with applicable regulatory requirements;
·
inability to generate statistically significant data confirming the safety and efficacy of the product being tested;
·
modification of the product during testing; and
·
reallocation of our limited financial and other resources to other clinical programs.
It is possible that none of the product candidates we develop will obtain the regulatory approvals necessary for us to begin selling them. The time required to obtain FDA and foreign governmental approvals is unpredictable, but often can take years following the commencement of clinical trials, depending upon the complexity of the product candidate. Any analysis we perform on data from clinical activities is subject to confirmation and interpretation by regulatory authorities, which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. In addition, even if we were to obtain approval, regulatory authorities may approve any of our product candidates for fewer or more limited indications than we request, may not approve the price we intend to charge for our products, may grant approval contingent on the performance of costly post-marketing clinical trials, or may approve a product candidate with a label that does not include the labeling claims necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of that product candidate. Any of the foregoing scenarios could materially harm the commercial prospects for our product candidates.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #12#

Furthermore, even if we obtain regulatory approvals, the manufacturing processes, labeling, packaging, distribution, adverse event reporting, storage, import, export, advertising, promotion and recordkeeping for the product will be subject to extensive and ongoing regulatory requirements. These requirements include submissions of safety and other post-marketing information and reports, registration, as well as continued compliance with current good manufacturing practices, or cGMPs, and good clinical practices, or cGCPs, for any clinical trials that we conduct post-approval. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or with our third-party manufacturers or manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in, among other things:
·
restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of the product, withdrawal of the product from the market, or voluntary or mandatory product recalls;
·
fines, warning letters or holds on clinical trials;
·
refusal by the FDA to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications filed by us or our strategic partners, or suspension or revocation of product license approvals;
·
injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.
The FDA's policies may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay regulatory approval of our product candidates. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative action, either in the United States or abroad. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing approval that we may have obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability, which would adversely affect our business. We will also be subject to periodic inspections and the potential for mandatory post- approval clinical trials required by the FDA and other U.S. and foreign regulatory authorities. Any delay or failure in obtaining required approvals or to comply with post-approval regulatory requirements could have a material adverse effect on our ability to generate revenue from the particular product candidate. The failure to comply with any post-approval regulatory requirements also could result in the rescission of the related regulatory approvals or the suspension of sales of the offending product.
 
Clinical drug development involves a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome, and results of earlier studies and trials may not be predictive of future trial results.
Clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, and its outcome is inherently uncertain. Failure can occur at any time during the clinical trial process. The results of preclinical studies and early clinical trials of our product candidates may not be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials. Product candidates in later stages of clinical development may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy traits despite having progressed through preclinical studies and initial clinical trials. A number of companies in the biopharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials due to lack of efficacy or safety profiles, notwithstanding promising results in earlier trials. For example, aldoxorubicin has shown encouraging preliminary clinical results in our Phase 2b clinical trial as a treatment for STS; however, these conclusions may not be reproduced in future clinical trial results; for instance, the Phase 3 pivotal clinical trial testing aldoxorubicin as a treatment for STS narrowly missed statistical significance although it demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS over investigator's choice in 312 patients treated in North America plus Australia . Accordingly, our development partner may ultimately be unable to provide the FDA with satisfactory data on clinical safety and efficacy sufficient to obtain FDA approval of aldoxorubicin for any indication.
Further, we may experience delays in clinical trials of our product candidates. We do not know whether ongoing clinical trials will be completed on schedule or at all, or whether planned clinical trials will begin on time, need to be redesigned, enroll patients on time or be completed on schedule, if at all. Clinical trials can be delayed for a variety of reasons, including delays related to:
·
obtaining regulatory approval to commence a trial;
·
reaching agreement on acceptable terms with prospective contract research organizations, or CROs, and clinical trial sites, the terms of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary significantly among different CROs and clinical trial sites;
·
obtaining institutional review board approval at each clinical trial site;
·
recruiting suitable patients to participate in a trial;
·
having patients complete a trial or return for post-treatment follow-up;
·
clinical trial sites deviating from trial protocol or dropping out of a trial;
·
adding new clinical trial sites; or
·
manufacturing sufficient quantities of product candidate for use in clinical trials.

CytRx 2017 10-K Page #13#

Our SPA with the FDA for our pivotal study of aldoxorubicin does not guarantee marketing approval in the U.S.
We have an SPA with the FDA for the pivotal trial of aldoxorubicin for the treatment of STS. The SPA means that the FDA agrees that the design and analyses proposed in a protocol are acceptable to support regulatory approval of the product candidate with respect to effectiveness of the indication studied. However, an SPA agreement does not guarantee approval of a product candidate, and even if the FDA agrees to the design, execution, and analysis proposed in protocols reviewed under the SPA process, the FDA may revoke or alter its agreement in certain circumstances. In particular, an SPA agreement is not binding on the FDA if public health concerns emerge that were unrecognized at the time of the SPA agreement, other new scientific concerns regarding product safety or efficacy arise, the sponsor fails to comply with the agreed upon trial protocols, or the relevant data, assumptions or information provided by the sponsor in a request for the SPA change or are found to be false or omit relevant facts. In addition, even after an SPA agreement is finalized, the SPA agreement may be modified, and such modification will be deemed binding on the FDA review division, except under the circumstances described above, if the FDA and the sponsor agree in writing to modify the protocol and such modification is intended to improve the study. The FDA retains significant latitude and discretion in interpreting the terms of the SPA agreement and the data and results from any study that is the subject of the SPA agreement. Moreover, a final determination that the agreed-upon protocol satisfies a specific objective, such as the demonstration of efficacy and safety (positive benefit-risk ratio), or supports an approval decision, will be based on a complete review of all the data submitted to the FDA.
We rely on third parties to conduct our preclinical and clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, we and our collaborators may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our product candidates and our business could be substantially harmed.
We have agreements with third-party CROs to monitor and manage data for our preclinical and clinical programs. We rely heavily on these parties for execution of our preclinical and clinical trials, and control only certain aspects of their activities. Nevertheless, we are responsible for ensuring that each of our studies is conducted in accordance with the applicable protocol, legal, regulatory and scientific standards, and our reliance on CROs does not relieve us of our regulatory responsibilities. We and our CROs are required to comply with cGCPs, which are regulations and guidelines enforced by the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities for products in clinical development. Regulatory authorities enforce these cGCPs through periodic inspections of trial sponsors, principal investigators and trial sites. If we or any of these CROs fails to comply with applicable cGCP regulations, the clinical data generated in our clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may require us to perform additional clinical trials before approving our marketing applications. We cannot assure you that, upon inspection, such regulatory authorities will determine that any of our clinical trials comply with the cGCP regulations. In addition, our clinical trials must be conducted with product produced under cGMP regulations, and will require a large number of test subjects. Our or our CROs' failure to comply with these regulations may require us to repeat clinical trials, which would delay the regulatory approval process.
If any of our relationships with these third-party CROs terminate, we may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative CROs or to do so on commercially reasonable terms. In addition, our CROs are not our employees, and except for remedies available to us under our agreements with such CROs, we cannot control whether or not they devote sufficient time and resources to our ongoing preclinical and clinical programs. If CROs do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations or meet expected deadlines, if they need to be replaced or if the quality or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols, regulatory requirements or for other reasons, our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or successfully commercialize our product candidates. As a result, our financial results and the commercial prospects for aldoxorubicin would be harmed, our costs could increase and our ability to generate revenues could be delayed.
Switching or adding additional CROs involves substantial cost and requires extensive management time and focus. In addition, there is a natural transition period when a new CRO commences work. As a result, delays occur, which can materially impact our ability to meet our desired clinical development timelines. Though we carefully manage our relationships with our CROs, there can be no assurance that we will not encounter similar challenges or delays in the future or that these delays or challenges will not have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and prospects

We rely upon third parties for the manufacture of our clinical product supplies, and we intend to rely on third parties to produce commercial supplies of any approved product candidate, and our commercialization of any product candidates could be stopped, delayed or made less profitable if those third parties fail to obtain approval of the FDA, fail to provide us with sufficient quantities of drug product or fail to do so at acceptable quality levels or prices.
We do not have the facilities or expertise to manufacture any of our other product candidates, and we lack the resources and capability to manufacture any of our product candidates on a clinical or commercial scale. Accordingly, we are dependent upon third-party manufacturers, or potential future strategic alliance partners, to manufacture these supplies. Our failure to secure arrangements as needed could have a materially adverse effect on our ability to complete the development of our future products or to commercialize them.
The facilities used by our contract manufacturers to manufacture our product candidates must be approved by the FDA pursuant to inspections that will be completed after we submit our NDA to the FDA. We do not control the manufacturing process of aldoxorubicin and are completely dependent on our contract manufacturing partners for compliance with the FDA's requirements for manufacture of aldoxorubicin. If our contract manufacturers cannot successfully manufacture material that conforms to our specifications and the FDA's strict regulatory requirements, they will not be able to secure and/or maintain FDA approval for the manufacturing facilities. In addition, we have no control over the ability of our contract manufacturers to maintain adequate quality control, quality assurance and qualified personnel. If the FDA does not approve these facilities for the manufacture of our product candidates or if it withdraws any such approval in the future, we may need to find alternative manufacturing facilities, which would significantly impact our ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval for or market our product candidates.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #14#

 
We may be unable to protect our intellectual property rights, which could adversely affect our ability to compete effectively.
We will be able to protect our technologies from unauthorized use by third parties only to the extent that we have rights to valid and enforceable patents or other proprietary rights that cover them. Although we have rights to patents and patent applications directed to our product candidates, these patents and applications may not prevent third parties from developing or commercializing similar or identical technologies. In addition, our patents may be held to be invalid if challenged by third parties, and our patent applications may not result in the issuance of patents.
The patent positions of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies can be highly uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions for which important legal principles remain unresolved. No consistent policy regarding the breadth of claims allowed in biotechnology patents has emerged to date in the United States and in many foreign countries. The application and enforcement of patent laws and regulations in foreign countries is even more uncertain. Accordingly, we may not be able to effectively file, protect or defend our proprietary rights on a consistent basis. Many of the patents and patent applications on which we rely were issued or filed by third parties prior to the time we acquired rights to them. The validity, enforceability and ownership of those patents and patent applications may be challenged, and if a court decides that our patents are not valid, we will not have the right to stop others from using our inventions. There is also the risk that, even if the validity of our patents is upheld, a court may refuse to stop others on the ground that their activities do not infringe our patents.
Any litigation brought by us to protect our intellectual property rights could be costly and have a material adverse effect on our operating results or financial condition, make it more difficult for us to enter into strategic alliances with third parties to develop our products, or discourage our existing licensees from continuing their development work on our potential products. If our patent coverage is insufficient to prevent third parties from developing or commercializing similar or identical technologies, the value of our assets is likely to be materially and adversely affected.
We also rely on certain proprietary trade secrets and know-how, especially where we believe patent protection is not appropriate or obtainable. However, trade secrets and know-how are difficult to protect. Although we have taken measures to protect our unpatented trade secrets and know-how, including the use of confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees, consultants and some of our contractors, it is possible that these persons may disclose our trade secrets or know-how or that our competitors may independently develop or otherwise discover our trade secrets and know-how.

If our product candidates infringe the rights of others, we could be subject to expensive litigation or be required to obtain licenses from others to develop or market them.
Our competitors or others may have patent rights that they choose to assert against us or our licensees, suppliers, customers or potential collaborators. Moreover, we may not know about patents or patent applications that our products would infringe. For example, because patent applications do not publish for at least 18 months, if at all, and can take many years to issue, there may be currently pending applications unknown to us that may later result in issued patents that our product candidates would infringe. In addition, if third parties file patent applications or obtain patents claiming technology also claimed by us or our licensors in issued patents or pending applications, we may have to participate in interference proceedings in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to determine priority of invention. If third parties file oppositions in foreign countries, we may also have to participate in opposition proceedings in foreign tribunals to defend the patentability of our foreign patent applications.
If a third-party claims that we are infringing on its proprietary rights, any of the following may occur:
·
we may become involved in time-consuming and expensive litigation, even if the claim is without merit;
·
we may become liable for substantial damages for past infringement if a court decides that our technology infringes a competitor's patent;
·
a court may prohibit us from selling or licensing our product without a license from the patent holder, which may not be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all, or which may require us to pay substantial royalties or grant cross licenses to our patents; and
·
we may have to redesign our product candidates or technology so that it does not infringe patent rights of others, which may not be possible or commercially feasible.
If any of these events occurs, our business and prospects will suffer and the market price of our common stock will likely decline substantially.
The results of pre-clinical studies or early clinical trials are not necessarily predictive of future results, and our ultra-high potency albumin-binding drug conjugates may not have favorable results in later clinical trials or receive regulatory approval.
Success in pre-clinical studies and early clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will generate adequate data to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of our ultra-high potency albumin-binding drug conjugates. A number of companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, including those with greater resources and experience than we have, have suffered significant setbacks in clinical trials, even after seeing promising results in earlier clinical trials. Despite the results reported in earlier preclinical trials for our ultra-high potency albumin-binding drug conjugates, we do not know whether the clinical trials we may conduct will demonstrate adequate efficacy and safety to result in regulatory approval to market them in any particular jurisdiction. If our clinical trials do not produce favorable results, our ability to achieve regulatory approval for these drug candidates will be adversely impacted and the value of our stock may decline.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #15#

 
Any products we develop may become subject to unfavorable pricing regulations or third-party coverage and reimbursement policies, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We intend to sell our products that may be approved for marketing primarily to hospitals, which generally receive reimbursement for the health care services they provide to their patients from third-party payors, such as Medicare, Medicaid and other domestic and international government programs, private insurance plans and managed care programs.
We currently expect that any drugs we develop may need to be administered under the supervision of a physician. Under currently applicable law, drugs that are not usually self-administered may be eligible for coverage by the Medicare program if:
·
they are "incidental" to a physician's services;
·
they are "reasonable and necessary" for the diagnosis or treatment of the illness or injury for which they are administered according to accepted standard of medical practice;
·
they are not excluded as immunizations; and
·
they have been approved by the FDA.
There is significant uncertainty related to the insurance coverage and reimbursement of newly approved products. In the United States, third-party payors, including private and governmental payors, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs, play an important role in determining the extent to which new drugs and biologics will be covered and reimbursed. The Medicare program covers certain individuals aged 65 or older, disabled or suffering from end-stage renal disease. The Medicaid program, which varies from state-to-state, covers certain individuals and families who have limited financial means. The Medicare and Medicaid programs increasingly are used as models for how private payors and other governmental payors develop their coverage and reimbursement policies for drugs and biologics. It is difficult to predict at this time what third-party payors will decide with respect to the coverage and reimbursement for our product candidates.
Most third-party payors may deny coverage or reimbursement if they determine that a medical product was not used in accordance with cost-effective treatment methods, as determined by the third-party payor, or was used for an unapproved indication. Third-party payors also may refuse to cover and reimburse for experimental procedures and devices. Furthermore, because our programs are in the early stages of development, we are unable at this time to determine their cost-effectiveness and the level or method of reimbursement. Increasingly, third-party payors are requiring that drug companies provide them with predetermined discounts from list prices, and are challenging the prices charged for medical products. If the price we are able to charge for any products we develop is inadequate in light of our development and other costs, our profitability could be adversely affected.
Healthcare legislative reform measures could hinder or prevent the commercial success of our products and product candidates.
In the United States, there have been, and we expect there will continue to be, a number of legislative and regulatory changes to the healthcare system that could affect our future revenues and profitability. Federal and state lawmakers regularly propose and, at times, enact legislation that results in significant changes to the healthcare system, some of which are intended to contain or reduce the costs of medical products and services. For example, in March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, or collectively, the Affordable Care Act, became law in the United States It contains a number of provisions, including those governing enrollments in federal healthcare programs, reimbursement changes and fraud and abuse measures, all of which will impact existing government healthcare programs and will result in the development of new programs. The Affordable Care Act, among other things, (i) increases the minimum Medicaid rebates owed by manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, extends the rebate program to individuals enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations, and addresses new methodologies by which rebates owed by manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program are calculated for drugs that are inhaled, infused, instilled, implanted or injected, and for drugs that are line extension products; (ii) establishes annual fees and taxes on manufacturers of certain branded prescription drugs, and (iii) enacts a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must agree to offer 50% point-of-sale discounts off negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs to eligible beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for the manufacturer's outpatient drugs to be covered under Medicare Part D.
In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted in the United States since the Affordable Care Act was enacted. On August 2, 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011 among other things, created measures for spending reductions by Congress. A Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, tasked with recommending a targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for the years 2013 through 2021, was unable to reach required goals, thereby triggering the legislation's automatic reduction to several government programs. This includes aggregate reductions of Medicare payments to providers up to 2% per fiscal year, which went into effect on April 1, 2013. On January 2, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed into law, which, among other things, further reduced Medicare payments to several providers, including hospitals, imaging centers and cancer treatment centers. We expect that additional state and federal healthcare reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for healthcare products and services, which could result in reduced demand for our products once approved or additional pricing pressures.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #16#

 

We may also be subject to healthcare laws, regulation and enforcement and our failure to comply with those laws could adversely affect our business, operations and financial condition.
If we obtain FDA approval for any of our product candidates and begin commercializing those products in the United States, our operations may be directly, or indirectly through our customers, subject to various federal and state fraud and abuse laws, including, without limitation, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the federal False Claims Act, and physician sunshine laws and regulations. These laws may impact, among other things, our proposed sales, marketing, and education programs. In addition, we may be subject to patient privacy regulation by both the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business. The laws that may affect our ability to operate include:
·
the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, any person from knowingly and willfully offering, soliciting, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce either the referral of an individual, for an item or service or the purchasing or ordering of a good or service, for which payment may be made under federal healthcare programs such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs;
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the federal False Claims Act, which prohibits, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, false claims, or knowingly using false statements, to obtain payment from the federal government, and which may apply to entities that provide coding and billing advice to customers;
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federal criminal laws that prohibit executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or making false statements relating to healthcare matters;
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the federal physician sunshine requirements under the Affordable Care Act, which requires manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics, and medical supplies to report annually to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians, other healthcare providers, and teaching hospitals, and ownership and investment interests held by physicians and other healthcare providers and their immediate family members;
·
the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, which governs the conduct of certain electronic healthcare transactions and protects the security and privacy of protected health information; and
·
state law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers; state laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the pharmaceutical industry's voluntary compliance guidelines and the applicable compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government, or otherwise restrict payments that may be made to healthcare providers and other potential referral sources; state laws that require drug manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures; and state laws governing the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not have the same effect, thus complicating compliance efforts.
Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and safe harbors available, it is possible that some of our business activities could be subject to challenge under one or more of such laws. In addition, recent health care reform legislation has strengthened these laws. For example, the recently enacted Affordable Care Act, among other things, amends the intent requirement of the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute and criminal healthcare fraud statutes. A person or entity no longer needs to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it. In addition, the Affordable Care Act provides that the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the False Claims Act.
Achieving and sustaining compliance with these laws may prove costly. In addition, any action against us for violation of these laws, even if we successfully defend against it, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and divert our management's attention from the operation of our business. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the laws described above or any other governmental regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, the exclusion from participation in federal and state healthcare programs, imprisonment, or the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our financial results.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #17#

 
We are subject to intense competition, and we may not compete successfully.
Many companies, including large pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms with financial resources, research and development staffs, and facilities that may be substantially greater than those of ours or our strategic partners or licensees, are engaged in the research and development of pharmaceutical products that could compete with our potential products. To the extent that we seek to acquire, through license or otherwise, existing or potential new products, we will be competing with numerous other companies, many of which will have substantially greater financial resources, large acquisition and research and development staffs that may give those companies a competitive advantage over us in identifying and evaluating these drug acquisition opportunities. Any products that we acquire will be competing with products marketed by companies that in many cases will have substantially greater marketing resources than we have. The industry is characterized by rapid technological advances and competitors may develop their products more rapidly and such products may be more effective than those currently under development or that may be developed in the future by our strategic partners or licensees. Competitive products for a number of the disease indications that we have targeted are currently being marketed by other parties, and additional competitive products are under development and may also include products currently under development that we are not aware of or products that may be developed in the future.
As a result, these competitors may:
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succeed in developing competitive products sooner than us or our strategic partners or licensees;
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obtain FDA or foreign governmental approvals for their products before we can obtain approval of any of our products;
·
obtain patents that block or otherwise inhibit the development and commercialization of our product candidate candidates;
·
develop products that are safer or more effective than our products;
·
devote greater resources than us to marketing or selling products;
·
introduce or adapt more quickly than us to new technologies and other scientific advances;
·
introduce products that render our products obsolete;
·
withstand price competition more successfully than us or our strategic partners or licensees;
·
negotiate third-party strategic alliances or licensing arrangements more effectively than us; and
·
take better advantage than us of other opportunities.
We will be required to pay substantial milestone and other payments relating to the commercialization of our products.
The agreement relating to our worldwide rights to aldoxorubicin provides for our payment of up to an aggregate of $7.5 million upon meeting specified clinical and regulatory milestones up to and including the product's second, final marketing approval. We also will be obliged to pay:
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commercially reasonable royalties based on a percentage of net sales (as defined in the agreement);
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a percentage of any non-royalty sub-licensing income (as defined in the agreement); and
·
milestones of $1,000,000 for each additional final marketing approval that we might obtain.
Under the merger agreement by which we acquired Innovive, we agreed to pay the former Innovive stockholders a total of up to approximately $18.3 million of future earnout merger consideration, subject to our achievement of specified net sales under the Innovive license agreements. The earnout merger consideration, if any, will be payable in shares of our common stock, subject to specified conditions, or, at our election, in cash or by a combination of shares of our common stock and cash. Our common stock will be valued for purposes of any future earnout merger consideration based upon the trading price of our common stock at the time the earnout merger consideration is paid.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #18#

 
We rely significantly on information technology and any failure, inadequacy, interruption or security lapse of that technology, including any cybersecurity incidents, could harm our ability to operate our business effectively.
We rely significantly on information technology and any failure, inadequacy, interruption or security lapse of that technology, including any cybersecurity incidents, could harm our ability to operate our business effectively. We maintain sensitive data pertaining to our Company on our computer networks, including information about our development activities, our intellectual property and other proprietary business information. Our internal computer systems and those of third parties with which we contract may be vulnerable to damage from cyber-attacks, computer viruses, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures, despite the implementation of security measures. System failures, accidents or security breaches could cause interruptions to our operations, including material disruption of our development activities, result in significant data losses or theft of our intellectual property or proprietary business information, and could require substantial expenditures to remedy. To the extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data or applications or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability and our development programs could be delayed, any of which would harm our business and operations.
We are subject to potential liabilities from clinical testing and future product liability claims.
If any of our products are alleged to be defective, they may expose us to claims for personal injury by patients in clinical trials of our products or, if we obtain marketing approval and commercialize our products, by patients using our commercially marketed products. Even if one or more of our products is approved by the FDA, users may claim that such products caused unintended adverse effects. We maintain clinical trial insurance for our ongoing clinical trials, and we plan to seek to obtain similar insurance for any other clinical trials that we conduct. We also would seek to obtain product liability insurance covering the commercial marketing of our product candidates. We may not be able to obtain additional insurance, however, and any insurance obtained by us may prove inadequate in the event of a claim against us. Any claims asserted against us also may divert management's attention from our operations, and we may have to incur substantial costs to defend such claims even if they are unsuccessful.
We may be unable to successfully acquire additional technologies or products. If we require additional technologies or products, our product development plans may change and the ownership interests of our shareholders could be diluted.
We may seek to acquire additional technologies by licensing or purchasing such technologies, or through a merger or acquisition of one or more companies that own such technologies. We have no current understanding or agreement to acquire any technologies, however, and we may not be able to identify or successfully acquire any additional technologies. We also may seek to acquire products from third parties that already are being marketed or have been approved for marketing, although we have not currently identified any of these products. We do not have any prior experience in acquiring or marketing products approved for marketing and may need to find third parties to market any products that we might acquire.
We have focused our product development efforts on our oncology drug candidates, which we believe have the greatest revenue potential. If we acquire additional technologies or product candidates, we may determine to make further changes to our product development plans and business strategy to capitalize on opportunities presented by the new technologies and product candidates.
We may determine to issue shares of our common stock to acquire additional technologies or products or in connection with a merger or acquisition of another company. To the extent we do so, the ownership interest of our stockholders will be diluted accordingly.
 
The impact and results of our exploration of any strategic alternatives are uncertain and may not be successful.
From time to time, we may consider strategic alternatives available to us to enhance shareholder value. Strategic alternatives could include acquisition transactions and/or strategic partnerships with one or more parties, the licensing of some of our proprietary technologies, or other possible transactions. Any strategic transaction that is completed ultimately may not deliver the anticipated benefits or enhance shareholder value.  Further, we may devote a significant amount of our management resources to such a transaction, which could negatively impact our operations. We may incur significant costs in connection with seeking certain acquisitions or other strategic opportunities regardless of whether the transaction is completed, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and capital resources. In the event that we consummate an acquisition or strategic alternative in the future, there is no assurance that we would fully realize the potential benefits of such a transaction. Integration may be difficult and unpredictable, and acquisition-related integration costs, including certain non-recurring charges, could materially and adversely affect our results of operations. Moreover, integrating assets and businesses may significantly burden management and internal resources, including the potential loss or unavailability of key personnel. If we fail to successfully integrate any assets and businesses we acquire, we may not fully realize the potential benefits we expect, and our operating results could be adversely affected.  If we pay for an acquisition in cash, it would reduce our cash available for operations or cause us to incur additional debt, and if we pay with our stock it could be dilutive to our stockholders.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #19#

 
In the event of a dispute regarding our international drug development, it may be necessary for us to resolve the dispute in the foreign country of dispute, where we would be faced with unfamiliar laws and procedures.
The resolution of disputes in foreign countries can be costly and time consuming, similar to the situation in the United States. However, in a foreign country, we face the additional burden of understanding unfamiliar laws and procedures. We may not be entitled to a jury trial, as we might be in the United States. Further, to litigate in any foreign country, we would be faced with the necessity of hiring lawyers and other professionals who are familiar with the foreign laws. For these reasons, we may incur unforeseen expenses if we are forced to resolve a dispute in a foreign country.
Drug discovery is a complex, time-consuming and expensive process, and we may not succeed in creating new product candidates.
Conducting drug discovery and pre-clinical development of our albumin-binding technology is a complex and expensive process that will take many years.  Accordingly, we cannot be sure whether or when our drug discovery and pre-clinical development activities will succeed in developing any new product candidates.  In addition, any product candidates that we develop in pre-clinical testing may not demonstrate success in clinical trials required for marketing approval.
Any deficiency in the design, implementation or oversight of our drug discovery and pre-clinical testing programs could cause us to incur significant additional costs, experience significant delays, prevent us from obtaining marketing approval for any product candidate that may result from these programs or abandon development of certain product candidates.  If any of these risks materializes, it could harm our business and cause our stock price to decline.
We have a limited operating history in drug discovery, which is inherently risky, and we may not succeed in addressing these risks.
We have operated our drug discovery laboratory and LADR™ development program since October 2014. Accordingly, we have a limited operating history in conducting our own drug discovery programs. Consequently, there is limited information for investors to use as basis for assessing the viability of our drug discovery efforts.  Investors must consider the risks and difficulties inherent in drug discovery and pre-clinical activities, including the following:
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difficulties, complications, delays and other unanticipated factors in connection with the development of new drugs;
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competition from companies that have substantially greater assets and financial resources than we have;
·
our ability to anticipate and adapt to a competitive market and rapid technological developments;
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our need to rely on multiple levels of complex financing agreements with outside funding due to the length of drug development cycles and governmental approved protocols associated with the pharmaceutical industry; and
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our dependence upon key scientific personnel, including Felix Kratz, Ph.D., our Vice President of Drug Discovery.
We cannot be certain that we will successfully address these risks or that our drug discovery efforts will be successful.  In the event that we do not successfully address these risks, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.  We also may be required to reduce or discontinue altogether our drug discovery and pre-clinical programs.
Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.
Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, if a corporation undergoes an "ownership change," the corporation's ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes (such as research and development tax credits) to offset its post-change income and taxes may be limited. In general, an "ownership change" occurs if there is a cumulative change in our ownership by "5% shareholders" that exceeds 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. Similar rules may apply under state tax laws. As a result of a previous ownership change, our annual utilization of approximately $136.8 million in federal net operating loss carryforwards will be substantially limited.  If we experience ownership changes as a result of future transactions in our stock, we may be further limited in our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and other tax assets to reduce taxes owed on the net taxable income that we earn. Any such limitations on the ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and other tax assets could potentially result in increased future tax liability to us on any net income that we may earn in the future.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #20#

 
Risks Associated with Our Common Stock
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings or other equity issuances.
To raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock, preferred stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is equal to or greater than the price per share that you may pay for the shares of our common stock offered hereby. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share that you may pay for the shares of our common stock.

We may experience volatility in our stock price, which may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.
The market price of our common stock in 2017 ranged from $1.65 to $6.00 per share, and it may continue to experience significant volatility from time to time. Factors that may affect the market price of our common stock include the following:
·
announcements of interim or final results of our clinical trials or our drug discovery activities;
·
announcements of regulatory developments or technological innovations by us or our competitors;
·
changes in our relationship with our licensors and other strategic partners;
·
our quarterly operating results;
·
litigation involving or affecting us;
·
shortfalls in our actual financial results compared to our guidance or the forecasts of stock market analysts;
·
developments in patent or other technology ownership rights;
·
acquisitions or strategic alliances by us or our competitors;
·
public concern regarding the safety of our products; and
·
government regulation of drug pricing.

Our outstanding options and warrants and the availability for resale of the underlying shares may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.
As of December 31, 2017, we had outstanding stock options to purchase 2,865,512 shares of our common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $10.62 per share and outstanding warrants to purchase 3,980,781 shares of common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $4.26 per share. Our outstanding options and warrants could adversely affect our ability to obtain future financing or engage in certain mergers or other transactions, since the holders of options and warrants can be expected to exercise them at a time when we may be able to obtain additional capital through a new offering of securities on terms more favorable to us than the terms of outstanding options and warrants. For the life of the options and warrants, the holders have the opportunity to profit from a rise in the market price of our common stock without assuming the risk of ownership. The issuance of shares upon the exercise of outstanding options and warrants will also dilute the ownership interests of our existing stockholders. Many of our outstanding warrants contain anti-dilution provisions pertaining to dividends with respect to our common stock. In the event that these anti-dilution provisions are triggered by us in the future, we would likewise be required to reduce the exercise price, and increase the number of shares underlying, those warrants, which would have a dilutive effect on our stockholders.
We have registered with the SEC the resale by the holders of all or substantially all shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of our outstanding options and warrants. The availability of these shares for public resale, as well as actual resales of these shares, could adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #21#

 
We cannot assure investors that our internal controls will prevent future material weaknesses.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective internal controls for financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. We are required to furnish a report by management on, among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. This assessment needs to include disclosure of any material weaknesses identified by our management in our internal control over financial reporting.
There can be no assurance that we will not suffer from material weaknesses in the future. If we fail to remediate these material weaknesses or fail to otherwise maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting in the future, such failure could result in a material misstatement of our annual or quarterly financial statements that would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis and which could cause investors and other users to lose confidence in our financial statements, limit our ability to raise capital and have a negative effect on the trading price of our common stock. Additionally, failure to remediate the material weaknesses or otherwise failing to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting may also negatively impact our operating results and financial condition, impair our ability to timely file our periodic and other reports with the SEC, subject us to additional litigation and regulatory actions and cause us to incur substantial additional costs in future periods relating to the implementation of remedial measures.
We are subject to legal actions that could adversely affect our financial condition.
From time to time, we are involved in legal proceedings that arise in ordinary course of business.  Securities-related class action and derivative lawsuits have often been brought against companies, including many biotechnology companies, which experience volatility in the market price of their securities. This risk is especially relevant for biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies such as ours, which often experience significant stock price volatility in connection with their product development programs.
As described further in Item 3 of Part I of this Annual Report, our directors and certain of our officers are subject to stockholder derivative claims pending in the Delaware Court of Chancery and we and certain of our officers are subject to class-action complaints filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Although we carry director's and officer's and other liability insurance, we must pay the first legal fees and other litigation expenses incurred up to the application retention, or deductible, amounts under our insurance policies, and the insurance may not be sufficient to cover all of the liabilities that we may incur in connection with the pending or possible future legal actions.  As a result, the pending legal proceedings and any future legal actions may adversely affect out financial condition.

Our anti-takeover measures may make it more difficult to change our management, or may discourage others from acquiring us, and thereby adversely affect stockholder value.
We have a stockholder rights plan and provisions in our restated by-laws, as amended, that are intended to protect our stockholders' interests by encouraging anyone seeking control of our company to negotiate with our board of directors. These provisions may discourage or prevent a person or group from acquiring us without the approval of our board of directors, even if the acquisition would be beneficial to our stockholders.
We have a classified board of directors, which means that at least two stockholder meetings, instead of one, will be required to effect a change in the majority control of our board of directors. This applies to every election of directors, not just an election occurring after a change in control. The classification of our board increases the amount of time it takes to change majority control of our board of directors and may cause potential acquirers to lose interest in a potential purchase of us, regardless of whether our purchase would be beneficial to us or our stockholders. The additional time and cost to change a majority of the members of our board of directors makes it more difficult and may discourage our existing stockholders from seeking to change our existing management in order to change the strategic direction or operational performance of our company.
Our by-laws provide that directors may only be removed for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of our capital stock then entitled to vote at an election of directors. This provision prevents stockholders from removing any incumbent director without cause. Our by-laws also provide that a stockholder must give us at least 120 days notice of a proposal or director nomination that such stockholder desires to present at any annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders. Such provision prevents a stockholder from making a proposal or director nomination at a stockholder meeting without us having advance notice of that proposal or director nomination. This could make a change in control more difficult by providing our directors with more time to prepare an opposition to a proposed change in control. By making it more difficult to remove or install new directors, these bylaw provisions may also make our existing management less responsive to the views of our stockholders with respect to our operations and other issues such as management selection and management compensation.
We are subject to the anti-takeover provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which may also prevent or delay a takeover of us that may be beneficial to our stockholders.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #22#

 
Our restated by-laws, as amended, designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders' ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees.
Our by-laws provide that, unless we consent in writing to an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) any action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to this provision of our by-laws. This choice-of-forum provision may limit our stockholders' ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our amended and restated by-laws inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
We may issue preferred stock in the future, and the terms of the preferred stock may reduce the value of our common stock.
We are authorized to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series. Our board of directors may determine the terms of future preferred stock offerings without further action by our stockholders. If we issue preferred stock, it could affect your rights or reduce the value of our outstanding common stock. In particular, specific rights granted to future holders of preferred stock may include voting rights, preferences as to dividends and liquidation, conversion and redemption rights, sinking fund provisions, and restrictions on our ability to merge with or sell our assets to a third party.

We do not expect to pay any cash dividends on our common stock.
We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock or other securities, and we currently do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Because we do not anticipate paying cash dividends for the foreseeable future, our stockholders will not realize a return on their investment in our common stock except to the extent of any appreciation in the value of our common stock. Our common stock may not appreciate in value, or may decline in value.
Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
We lease our headquarters in Los Angeles, California. The lease covers approximately 5,739 square feet of office and storage space and expires in February 2020.  Our monthly rent is $20,396, which is subject to annual increases.  In addition to the monthly rent, we are responsible for paying our allocable portion of operating expenses.  We have an option to extend the term of the lease for a five-year period and a right of first offer during the extended lease term to lease any available space on the sixth floor of the premises, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the lease agreement.  We also lease additional storage space for approximately 540 square feet. This lease expires in February 2020, and requires us to make monthly payments of $1,257, subject to annual increases.
We lease laboratory space in Freiburg, Germany, covering approximately 752 square meters (8,094 square feet). Our monthly rent is €10,070 (approximately $11,143), which is subject to annual increases. The amended lease expires on September 30, 2018, and we have an option to extend the term of the lease for up to three additional three-year periods.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #23#

 
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are occasionally involved in legal proceedings and other matters arising from the normal course of business. As previously reported in our Quarterly Report filed with the SEC on November 7, 2017, the following actions are currently outstanding:
Shareholder Derivative Actions in Delaware.  There are two competing derivative complaints pending in the Delaware Court of Chancery alleging claims related to our alleged retention of DreamTeamGroup and MissionIR.  On December 14, 2015, a shareholder derivative complaint, captioned Niedermeyer et al. v. Kriegsman et al., C.A. No. 11800, was filed against certain of our officers and directors, for which a second amended complaint was filed on October 12, 2016.  On September 6, 2016, one of the plaintiffs in the California litigation (discussed above) effectively refiled his complaint in the Delaware Court of Chancery, with the case captioned Taylor v. Kriegsman, C.A. No. 12720.   Following competing motions for appointment of a lead plaintiff and lead counsel, On February 22, 2017, the Court of Chancery appointed Niedermeyer et al.as lead plaintiffs in the complaint. On May 3, 2017, the parties entered into negotiations with a mediator and on June 2, 2017, the parties entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") to settle the entire action. On June 15, 2017, the MOU was submitted to the Court and the parties are now seeking Court approval. The Stipulation of Settlement was filed with the Court on January 22, 2018, which was preliminarily approved by the Court.  A final approval hearing is scheduled for April 19, 2018.  Any petition for an attorney fee award to the Plaintiff's counsel will also be considered by the Court at the April 19, 2018 hearing.
Class Action in California.  On July 25 and 29, 2016, nearly identical class action complaints were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, titled Crihfield v. CytRx Corp., et al., Case No. 2:16-cv-05519 and Dorce v. CytRx Corp., Case No. 2:16-cv-05666 alleging that we and certain of our officers violated the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by allegedly making materially false and/or misleading statements, and/or failing to disclose material adverse facts to the effect that the clinical hold placed on the Phase 3 trial of aldoxorubicin for STS would prevent sufficient follow-up for patients involved in the study, thus requiring further analysis, which could cause the trial's results and/or FDA approval to be materially adversely affected or delayed.  The plaintiffs allege that such wrongful acts and omissions caused significant losses and damages to a class of persons and entities that acquired our securities between November 18, 2014 and July 11, 2016, and seek an award of compensatory damages, costs and expenses, including counsel and expert fees, and such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. On October 26, 2016, the Court entered an Order consolidating the actions titled In re: CytRx Corporation Securities Litigation, Master File No. 16 cv-05519-SJO and appointing a Lead Plaintiff and Lead Counsel. Following the filing of a first amended complaint on January 13, 2017, on March 14, 2017 the Company and the individual defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss.  Plaintiff filed an Opposition thereto on April 28, 2017.  The Company and the individual defendants filed a Reply on May 30, 2017 and the matter was heard by the Court on June 12, 2017. On June 14, 2017, the Court issued an Order granting the Motion to Dismiss with leave to amend. Plaintiff filed a Second Amended Complaint and the Individual Defendants filed a renewed Motion to Dismiss. Plaintiff filed an Opposition thereto on July 24, 2017. The Company and the Individual Defendants filed a Reply on July 31, 2017. On August 14, 2017, the Court issued an Order granting in part and denying in part the motion to dismiss. On September 18, 2017, the Court issued an Order setting a schedule for the case.  On January 30, 2018, the parties entered into negotiations with a mediator and on February 1, 2018, the parties entered into a confidential Term Sheet to settle the Class Action. On February 7, 2018, the Court stayed the action for all purposes until May 2, 2018, to provide the parties sufficient time to prepare and submit a stipulation of settlement.
Shareholder Derivative Action in Delaware (Zyontz). On October 17, 2017, a shareholder derivative complaint was filed against certain current and former directors in the Delaware Court of Chancery, entitled Zyontz v. Kriegsman et al., Case No. 2017-0738-JRS. The complaint essentially sets forth the allegations pled in the federal securities class action in California, asserts a claim for breach of fiduciary duty, and seeks damages, fees and costs, and other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. On December 18, 2017, the Company and individual defendants filed motion to dismiss for failure to make a demand on the Board and for failure to state a claim, and a motion to stay the proceedings pending resolution of the federal securities class action.  On January 30, 2018, the parties participated in a mediation. The parties are currently negotiating a settlement agreement comprised of corporate governance reforms that will be submitted to the Court of Chancery for approval.
 Shareholder Derivative Action in Delaware (Patterson). On September 1, 2017, a shareholder derivative complaint was filed against the current directors in the Delaware Court of Chancery, entitled Patterson v. Kriegsman et al., C.A. No. 2017-0636-TMR. The complaint sets forth claims for breach of fiduciary duty for allegedly disseminating false and misleading information, unjust enrichment, gross mismanagement, abuse of control and corporate waste based on allegations concerning various business decisions matters. The complaint seeks damages, corporate governance reforms, restitution, fees and costs, and other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. On September 26, 2017, the Company and individual defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, for which the opening brief in support of such motion was filed on November 3, 2017, the plaintiff's opposition was filed on December 11, 2017, and the defendants' reply was filed on January 5, 2018. The hearing on the motion to dismiss was heard by the Vice-Chancellor on March 8, 2018, and she took the matter under advisement. On March 13, 2018, the Vice-Chancellor ruled that defendants' motion to dismiss was granted, with prejudice.
We intend to vigorously defend against the foregoing complaints. We have directors' and officers' liability insurance, which will be utilized in the defense of these matters. The liability insurance may not cover all of the future liabilities we may incur in connection with the foregoing matters. These claims are subject to inherent uncertainties, and management's view of these matters may change in the future.
 We evaluate developments in legal proceedings and other matters on a quarterly basis. If an unfavorable outcome becomes probable and reasonably estimable, we could incur charges that could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations for the period in which the outcome becomes probable and reasonably estimable.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #24#

 


Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not Applicable.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #25#

 

PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Our common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "CYTR." The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices for our common stock for the periods indicated as reported by The NASDAQ Capital Market:
   
High
   
Low
 
Fiscal Year 2017:
           
Fourth Quarter
 
$
2.94
   
$
1.65
 
Third Quarter
 
$
6.00
   
$
2.40
 
Second Quarter
 
$
5.94
   
$
2.52
 
First Quarter
 
$
3.06
   
$
2.28
 
                 
Fiscal Year 2016:
               
Fourth Quarter
 
$
4.44
   
$
2.16
 
Third Quarter
 
$
16.02
   
$
3.30
 
Second Quarter
 
$
21.96
   
$
12.78
 
First Quarter
 
$
18.48
   
$
9.30
 
                 
Holders
On March 16, 2018, there were approximately 350 holders of record of our common stock. The number of record holders does not reflect the number of beneficial owners of our common stock for whom shares are held by brokerage firms and other nominees.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends since our inception and do not contemplate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Equity Compensation Plans
The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2017, regarding securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans:
 
 
 
Plan Category
 
(a)
 
Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights
   
(b)
 
Number of Issued Shares of Restricted Stock
   
(c)
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Restricted Stock, Warrants and Rights
   
Number of Securities Remaining Available for issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Columns (a) and (b)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by our security holders:
                       
      2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan
   
44,371
     
   
$
34.56
     
 
      2008 Stock Incentive Plan
   
2,821,141
     
775,194
     
8.82
     
1,247,662
 
 
Equity compensation plans not approved by our security holders:
 
                               
      Outstanding warrants (1)
   
3,980,781
     
     
4.26
     
 
Total
   
6,846,293
     
775,194
   
$
6.44
     
1,247,662
 
______________
 
(1) The warrants shown were issued in discrete transactions from time to time as compensation for services rendered by consultants, advisors or other third parties, and do not include warrants sold in capital-raising transactions. The material terms of such warrants were determined based upon arm's-length negotiations with the service providers. The warrant exercise prices approximate the market price of our common stock at or about the date of grant, and the warrant terms range from two to ten years from the grant date. The warrants contain customary anti-dilution adjustments in the event of a stock split, reverse stock split, reclassification or combination of our outstanding common stock and similar events and certain of the warrants contain anti-dilution adjustments triggered by other corporate events, such as dividends.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #26#

 
Comparison of Cumulative Total Returns
The following line graph presentation compares cumulative total stockholder returns of CytRx with The NASDAQ Stock Market Index and The NASDAQ Pharmaceutical Index (the "Peer Index") for the five-year period from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2017. The graph and table assume that $100 was invested in each of our common stock, The NASDAQ Stock Market Index and the Peer Index on December 31, 2012, and that all dividends were reinvested. This data was furnished by Zacks Investment Research.



   
December 31,
 
   
2013
   
2014
   
2015
   
2016
   
2017
 
CytRx Corporation
   
235.20
     
-56.29
     
-3.28
     
-85.97
     
-24.22
 
The NASDAQ Stock Market Index
   
40.12
     
14.75
     
6.96
     
8.87
     
29.64
 
The NASDAQ Pharmaceutical Index
   
64.86
     
30.51
     
5.82
     
-21.99
     
19.62
 

Recent Issuances of Unregistered Securities
None.
Repurchase of Shares
We did not repurchase any of our shares during the year ended December 31, 2017.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #27#

 
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
General
The following selected financial data are derived from our audited financial statements. Our financial statements for these past five years have been audited by BDO USA, LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm. These historical results do not necessarily indicate future results. When you read this data, it is important that you also read our financial statements and related notes, as well as the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections of this Annual Report. Financial information provided below has been rounded to the nearest thousand (except for per share data).
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Statement of Operations Data:
                             
Revenue
                             
Licensing revenue
 
$
100,000
   
$
200,000
   
$
100,000
   
$
100,000
   
$
300,000
 
Total revenue
 
$
100,000
   
$
200,000
   
$
100,000
   
$
100,000
   
$
300,000
 
                                         
Net loss
 
$
(34,986,000
)
 
$
(50,771,000
)
 
$
(58,587,000
)
 
$
(30,118,000
)
 
$
(47,485,000
)
Basic and diluted loss per share applicable to common stock
 
$
(1.46
)
 
$
(3.78
)
 
$
(5.82
)
 
$
(3.30
)
 
$
(8.64
)
`
                                       
Balance Sheet Data:
                                       
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
 
$
37,643,000
   
$
56,959,000
   
$
57,297,000
   
$
77,840,000
   
$
38,568,000
 
Total assets
 
$
48,348,000
   
$
62,770,000
   
$
67,024,000
   
$
85,693,000
   
$
41,500,000
 
Total stockholders' equity
 
$
18,145,000
   
$
24,777,000
   
$
44,079,000
   
$
67,911,000
   
$
10,661,000
 
                                         
Factors Affecting Comparability
In July 2017, we issued 1,969,697 shares of our common stock as part of an exclusive licensing agreement granted to NantCell, Inc.
In May 2017, we completed a public offering of 5.0 million shares of our common stock. Net of underwriting discounts, legal, accounting and other offering expenses, we received proceeds of approximately $14.0 million.
In December 2016, we completed a public offering of 1.9 million shares of our common stock and 550 shares of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and re-priced outstanding July 2016 warrants to purchase 3.2 million shares of our common stock and extended the term of the warrants to July 2018.  Net of underwriting discounts, legal, accounting and other offering expenses, we received proceeds of approximately $7.5 million.
In July 2016, we completed a public offering issuing 4.8 million shares of our common stock and one-year warrants to purchase an equal number of shares of our common stock in a public offering. Net of underwriting discounts, legal, accounting and other offering expenses, the Company received proceeds of approximately $18.3 million
    In July 2015, we completed a $28.7 million underwritten public offering, in which we sold and issued approximately 1.8 million shares of common stock at a price of $16.50 per share. Net of underwriting discounts, legal, accounting and other offering expenses, the Company received proceeds of approximately $26.8 million.
In February 2014, we completed an $86.0 million underwritten public offering, in which we sold and issued 2.2 million shares of common stock at a price of $39.00 per share. Net of underwriting discounts, legal, accounting and other offering expenses, we received proceeds of approximately $80.5 million.
In October 2013, we completed a $25.9 million underwritten public offering, in which we sold and issued 1.9 million shares of common stock at a price of $13.50 per share. Net of underwriting discounts, legal, accounting and other offering expenses, we received proceeds of approximately $24.1 million.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #28#

 
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the discussion under "Selected Financial Data" and our financial statements included in this Annual Report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements, based on current expectations and related to future events and our future financial performance, that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many important factors, including those set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Overview
CytRx Corporation
We are a biopharmaceutical research and development company specializing in oncology.  Our focus is on the discovery, research and clinical development of novel anti-cancer drug candidates that employ novel linker technologies to enhance the accumulation and release of cytotoxic anti-cancer agents at the tumor.  Since 2008, we have worked to develop aldoxorubicin, In July 2017 we entered into an exclusive worldwide license under which NantCell, Inc. took over development of aldoxorubicin, invested in our common stock and agreed to make future milestone and royalty payments upon the successful development and commercialization of aldoxorubicin. We are now actively pursuing new anti-cancer compounds through our drug discovery and research operation at our laboratory facilities in Freiburg, Germany.
LADR Drug Discovery Platform
The LADR™ (Linker Activated Drug Release) technology platform is a discovery engine combining our expertise in linker chemistry and albumin biology to create a pipeline of anti-cancer molecules that will avoid unacceptable systemic toxicity while delivering highly potent agents directly to the tumor. We have created a "toolbox" of linker technologies that have the ability to significantly increase the therapeutic index of ultra-high potency drugs (10-1,000 times more potent than traditional chemotherapies) by controlling the release of the drug payloads and improving drug-like properties. After infusion, these ultra-high potency drug conjugates bind to circulating albumin for transport of the drug to the tumor. Subsequently, due to specific conditions within the tumor, the linkers are cleaved and release the anti-cancer drug payload.

Our current efforts are focused on two classes of ultra-high potency drug conjugates.  Our strategy across these programs is to generate additional pre-clinical data that will allow them to make informed decisions regarding the selection of one or both programs for moving into human clinical trials either independently or on a partnered basis.

We recently entered into an agreement with Destum Partners, Inc., a leading strategic advisory firm serving companies in the life sciences industry, to assist in our pharma partnering activities.  Destum will be our exclusive advisor for the identification of partnership opportunities for LADR™ ultra-high potency drug conjugates.
 
During 2017, our discovery laboratory synthesized and tested over 75 rationally designed drug conjugates with highly potent cytotoxic payloads, and two distinct classes of compounds have been created.  To date, four lead candidates have been selected based on in vitro and animal preclinical studies, stability, and manufacturing feasibility.  Additional animal efficacy and toxicology testing of these lead candidates is underway.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #29#

 

Aldoxorubicin
Until July 2017, we were focused on the research and clinical development of aldoxorubicin, our modified version of the widely-used chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin. Aldoxorubicin combines the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin with a novel linker-molecule that binds specifically to albumin in the blood to allow for delivery of higher amounts of doxorubicin (3½ to 4 times) without several of the major dose-limiting toxicities seen with administration of doxorubicin alone.

On July 27, 2017, we entered into an exclusive worldwide license with NantCell, Inc. ("NantCell"), granting to NantCell the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize aldoxorubicin in all indications, and our company is no longer directly working on development of aldoxorubicin.  As part of the license, NantCell made a strategic investment of $13 million in CytRx common stock at $6.60 per share (adjusted to reflect our 2017 reverse stock split), a premium of 92% to the market price on that date. We also issued NantCell a warrant to purchase up to 500,000 shares of common stock at $6.60 over the following 18 months. We are entitled to receive up to an aggregate of $343 million in potential milestone payments, contingent upon achievement of certain regulatory approvals and commercial milestones. We are also entitled to receive ascending double-digit royalties for net sales for soft tissue sarcomas and mid to high single digit royalties for other indications.

In order to fund our business and operations, we have relied primarily upon sales of our equity securities, including proceeds from the exercise of stock options and common stock purchase warrants and we recently secured long-term financing. We also have received limited funding from our strategic partners and licensees.
At December 31, 2017, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $37.6 million. Under the terms of the loan agreement, however, we are required to maintain cash equal to a minimum of the greater of three months projected cash burn or $10 million. Management believes that its current resources will be sufficient to fund its operations for the foreseeable future. This estimate is based, in part, upon our currently projected expenditures for 2018 and the first three months of 2019 of approximately $27.8 million (unaudited), which includes approximately $1.5 million (unaudited) for its clinical programs, approximately $3.1 million (unaudited) for pre-clinical development of new high potency cytotoxic albumin-binding cancer drugs, approximately $0.7 million (unaudited) for general operation of its clinical programs, approximately $10.1 million (unaudited) for other general and administrative expenses and $12.4 million of interest and principal payments on our outstanding term loan. These projected expenditures are also based upon numerous other assumptions and subject to many uncertainties, and actual expenditures may be significantly different from these projections. While these projections represent our current expected expenditures, we have the ability to reduce the amounts and alter the timing of research and development expenditures as needed to manage our liquidity needs while still advancing our research and development objectives. We will ultimately be required to obtain additional funding in order to execute our long-term business plans, although we do not currently have commitments from any third parties to provide us with long term debt or capital. We cannot assure that additional funding will be available on favorable terms, or at all. If we fail to obtain additional funding when needed, we may not be able to execute our business plans and our business may suffer, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Research and Development
Expenditures for research and development activities related to continuing operations were $19.8 million, $35.9 million and $43.4 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, or approximately 60%, 68% and 68%, respectively, of our total expenses.
Research and development expenses are further discussed below under "Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates" and "Results of Operations."

Our currently projected expenditures for 2018 include approximately $1.5 million for our clinical programs for aldoxorubicin, approximately $3.1 million for pre-clinical development of new high potency cytotoxic albumin-binding cancer drugs, and approximately $0.7 million related to supporting our clinical programs. The actual cost of our clinical programs could differ significantly from our current projections due to any additional requirements or delays, or if actual costs are higher than current management estimates for other reasons. In the event that actual costs of our clinical programs, or any of our other ongoing research activities, are significantly higher than our current estimates, we may be required to significantly modify our planned level of operations.
All of our product candidates in development must be approved by the FDA or corresponding foreign governmental agencies before they can be marketed. The process for obtaining FDA and foreign government approvals is both time-consuming and costly, with no certainty of a successful outcome. A discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties associated with our business is set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of this Annual Report.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #30#

 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management's discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, including those related to stock options, impairment of long-lived assets, including accrued liabilities and certain expenses. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements included in this Annual Report. We believe the following critical accounting policies are affected by our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements:
Revenue Recognition
Revenue consists of license fees from strategic alliances with pharmaceutical companies, as well as service and grant revenues. Service revenue consists of contract research and laboratory consulting. Grant revenues consist of government and private grants.
Monies received for license fees are deferred and recognized ratably over the performance period in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") ASC 605-25, Revenue Recognition – Multiple-element Arrangements ("ASC 605-25"). Milestone payments will be recognized upon achievement of the milestone as long as the milestone is deemed substantive and we have no other performance obligations related to the milestone and collectability is reasonably assured, which is generally upon receipt, or recognized upon termination of the agreement and all related obligations. Deferred revenue represents amounts received prior to revenue recognition.
Revenues from contract research, government grants, and consulting fees are recognized over the respective contract periods as the services are performed, provided there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the fee is fixed or determinable and collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured. Once all conditions of the grant are met and no contingencies remain outstanding, the revenue is recognized as grant fee revenue and an earned but unbilled revenue receivable is recorded.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred for direct and overhead-related research expenses and are expensed as incurred. Costs to acquire technologies, including licenses, that are utilized in research and development and that have no alternative future use are expensed when incurred. Technology developed for use in our product candidates is expensed as incurred until technological feasibility has been established.
Clinical Trial Expenses
Clinical trial expenses, which are included in research and development expenses, include obligations resulting from our contracts with various contract research organizations, or CROs, in connection with conducting clinical trials of our product candidates. We recognize expenses for these activities based on a variety of factors, including actual and estimated labor hours, clinical site initiation activities, patient enrollment rates, estimates of external costs and other activity-based factors. We believe that this method is the best measure of the efforts expended on a clinical trial with the expenses we record. We adjust our rate of clinical expense recognition if actual results differ from our estimates. If our estimates prove to be incorrect, clinical trial expenses recorded in any particular period could vary.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #31#

 
Stock-based Compensation
Our stock-based employee compensation plans are described in Note 13 of the Notes to Financial Statements. We follow the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation ("ASC 718"), which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock-based awards made to employees.
For stock options and stock warrants paid in consideration of services rendered by non-employees, we recognize compensation expense in accordance with the requirements of ASC 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees ("ASC 505-50").
Non-employee option grants that do not vest immediately upon grant are recorded as an expense over the vesting period. At the end of each financial reporting period prior to performance, the value of these options, as calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, is determined, and compensation expense recognized or recovered during the period is adjusted accordingly. Since the fair market value of options granted to non-employees is subject to change in the future, the amount of the future compensation expense is subject to adjustment until the common stock options or warrants are fully vested.
Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per common share attributable to common shareholders is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net loss per common share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding. Potentially dilutive stock options and warrants to purchase approximately 7.6 million, 8.3 million and 3.6 million shares at December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share, because the effect would be anti-dilutive.
Potential Strategic Alternatives
From time to time, we may consider strategic alternatives available to us to enhance shareholder value. Strategic alternatives could include the acquisition of or strategic partnership with one or more parties or the licensing of some of our proprietary technologies. See "Item 1A – Risk Factors – The impact and results of our exploration of strategic alternatives are uncertain and may not be successful."
Liquidity and Capital Resources
General
In order to fund our business and operations, we have relied primarily upon sales of our equity securities, including proceeds from the exercise of stock options and common stock purchase warrants and a long-term loan financing completed in February 2016. We also have received limited funding from our strategic partners and licensees. At December 31, 2017, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $37.6 million. Under the terms of the loan agreement, however, we are required to maintain cash equal to a minimum of the greater of three months projected cash burn or $10 million. Management believes that its current resources will be sufficient to fund its operations for the foreseeable future. This estimate is based, in part, upon our currently projected expenditures for 2018 and the first three months of 2019 of approximately $27.8 million (unaudited), which includes approximately $1.5 million (unaudited) for its clinical programs, approximately $3.1 million (unaudited) for pre-clinical development of new high potency cytotoxic albumin-binding cancer drugs, approximately $0.7 million (unaudited) for general operation of its clinical programs, approximately $10.1 million (unaudited) for other general and administrative expenses and $12.4 million of interest and principal payments on our outstanding Term Loans (defined below). These projected expenditures are also based upon numerous other assumptions and subject to many uncertainties, and actual expenditures may be significantly different from these projections. While these projections represent our current expected expenditures, we have the ability to reduce the amounts and alter the timing of research and development expenditures as needed to manage our liquidity needs while still advancing our research and development objectives. We will ultimately be required to obtain additional funding in order to execute our long-term business plans, although we do not currently have commitments from any third parties to provide us with long term debt or capital. We cannot assure that additional funding will be available on favorable terms, or at all. If we fail to obtain additional funding when needed, we may not be able to execute our business plans and our business may suffer, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
If NantCell obtains marketing approval and successfully commercializes aldoxorubicin, we anticipate it will take two years, and possibly longer, for us to generate significant recurring revenue, and we will be dependent on future financing until such time, if ever, as we can generate significant recurring revenue. We have no commitments from third parties to provide us with any additional financing, and we may not be able to obtain future financing on favorable terms, or at all. Failure to obtain adequate financing would adversely affect our ability to operate as a going concern. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, dilution to stockholders may result and new investors could have rights superior to holders of the shares issued in this offering. In addition, debt financing, if available, may include restrictive covenants. If adequate funds are not available to us, we may have to liquidate some or all of our assets or to delay or reduce the scope of or eliminate some portion or all of our development programs or clinical trials. We also may have to license to other companies our product candidates or technologies that we would prefer to develop and commercialize ourselves.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #32#

 
Effective November 1, 2017, we completed a 1-for-6 reverse stock split of our outstanding shares of common and preferred stock, reduced our authorized shares of both common and preferred stock by one-sixth; no change was made to the per-share par value of the common stock. All share and per share amounts in the accompanying financial statements have been adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split as if it had occurred at the beginning of the earliest period presented.
Discussion of Operating, Investing and Financing Activities
Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $35.0 million, and cash used for operating activities for that period was $27.2 million. The net loss reflects $3.3 million of stock option and warrant expense, interest expense on the Term Loan of $3.8 million and a non-cash gain of $1.4 million on the fair value adjustment of the warrant liability.
Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $50.8 million, and cash used for operating activities for that period was $49.9 million. The net loss reflects $6.7 million of stock option and warrant expense, interest expense on the Term Loan of $2.8 million and a non-cash gain of $3.8 million on the fair value adjustment of the warrant liability.
Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $58.6 million, and cash used for operating activities for that period was $47.6 million. The net loss reflects $7.4 million of stock option and warrant expense, and a non-cash gain of $4.4 million on the fair value adjustment of the warrant liability.
For the year ended December 31, 2017, no money was provided by investing activities, and $0.1 million was used for the purchase of equipment and furnishings.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, $34.0 million was provided by investing activities. This included $35.0 million of net proceeds from the sale of short-term investments partially offset by the purchase of equipment and furnishings of $1.0 million, primarily for our laboratory in Freiburg, Germany.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, $10.3 million was provided by investing activities. This included $10.6 million net proceeds from the sale of short-term investments and the difference for purchase of equipment and furnishings, primarily for our laboratory in Freiburg, Germany.

Cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $8.0 million, which included $14.0 million of net proceeds received from our May 2017 public offering. We also received $6.1 million from the sale of common shares and warrants to NantCell, Inc. We also received net proceeds of $3.2 million from the exercise of stock options and warrants and made principal Term Loan payments of $15.0 million.
Cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $50.5 million, which included $25.8 million of net proceeds received from our December and July 2016 public offerings.  We also received net proceeds of $24.0 million from our Term Loans in February 2016 and $0.7 million from the exercise of stock options and warrants.
Cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $27.4 million, which included $26.8 million of net proceeds received from our July 2015 public offering.
Term Loan Facility
On February 5, 2016, we entered into a loan and security agreement with Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. ("HTGC"), as administrative agent and lender, and Hercules Technology III, L.P., as lender ("Hercules"), pursuant to which the lenders made term loans to us on February 8, 2016 in the aggregate principal amount of $25 million (the "Term Loans").  The Term Loans bear interest at the daily variable rate per annum equal to 6.0% plus the prime rate, or 10.5%, whichever is greater. We are required to make interest-only payments on the Term Loans through February 28, 2017, and beginning on March 1, 2017 blended equal monthly installments of principal amortization and accrued interest until the maturity date of the Term Loans on February 1, 2020. Under the terms of the loan, we are required to maintain a minimum cash balance equal to the greater of (i) $10 million or (ii) forward three months projected cash burn. As security under our obligations, we issued to the lenders warrants to purchase a total of 105,691 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $12.30. These warrants are classified as equity warrants with a fair value of $633,749. All outstanding principal and accrued interest on the term loans will be due and payable in full on the maturity date of February 1, 2020.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #33#

 

On July 28, 2017, we entered into an Amended Loan Services Agreement with the lenders of the Term Loans whereby we agreed to make an immediate payment of $5 million of principal and unpaid interest, a further $5 million payment of principal and unpaid interest by September 30, 2017, and agreed to an updated schedule of monthly payments and a new maturity date of August 1, 2018.

On July 28, 2017, we entered into a First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement providing for our payment, on July 28, 2017, of $5.0 million in outstanding principal and unpaid interest due under the Loan Agreement, and for our potential repayment, on or prior to September 30, 2017, of an additional $5.0 million outstanding principal under the Loan Agreement. We made the First Repayment on July 28, 2017.  Pursuant to the Amendment, the lenders consented to the License Transaction with NantCell and agreed that the License Transaction is deemed a "Permitted Transfer" under the Loan Agreement, and confirmed that the sale of our common stock to NantCell is not an "Equity Event" under the Loan Agreement.

      In connection with the Loan Agreement, we restructured the existing lender warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to approximately 105,691 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $12.30 per share. Pursuant to the Amendment, a portion of the warrants (representing 80% of the total number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants) was amended to change the exercise price of such portion of the warrants from $12.30 per share to the 30-day volume-weighted average price of our common stock over the 30-day period beginning 15 days before the July 28, 2017 announcement of the License Transaction (the "Warrant Amendments").

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have a material current effect or that are reasonably likely to have a material future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources.

Contractual Obligations
We acquire assets still in development and enter into research and development arrangements with third parties that often require milestone and royalty payments to the third-party contingent upon the occurrence of certain future events linked to the success of the asset in development. Milestone payments may be required, contingent upon the successful achievement of an important point in the development life-cycle of the pharmaceutical product (e.g., approval of the product for marketing by a regulatory agency). We also typically have to make royalty payments based upon a percentage of the sales of the pharmaceutical product in the event that regulatory approval for marketing is obtained. Because of the contingent nature of these payments, they are not included in the table of contractual obligations.
These arrangements may be material individually, and in the event that multiple milestones are reached in the same period, the aggregate charge to expense could be material to the results of operations in any one period. In addition, these arrangements often give us the discretion to unilaterally terminate development of the product, which would allow us to avoid making the contingent payments; however, we are unlikely to cease development if the compound successfully achieves clinical testing objectives.
Our current contractual obligations that will require future cash payments are as follows (in thousands):
   
Payments due by periods as of December 31, 2017
 
Contractual Obligations
 
Total
   
Year 1
   
Years 2 and 3
   
Years 4 and 5
   
Years 6 and beyond
 
Operating lease obligations
 
$
710
   
$
373
   
$
337
   
$
   
$
 
  Employment obligations
   
4,848
     
1,678
     
2,113
     
1,057
     
 
  Term loan obligation
   
12,377
     
12,377
     
     
     
 
  R&D contract obligations
   
1,000
     
1,000
     
     
     
 
   Total contractual obligations
 
$
18,935
   
$
15,428
   
$
2,450
   
$
1,057
   
$
 
 
(1)
Operating leases are primarily our facility lease obligations, as well as equipment and software lease obligations with third party vendors.
 
(2)
Employment agreements include management contracts that provide for minimum salary levels, adjusted periodically at the discretion of our Compensation Committee, as well as minimum bonuses and
employee benefits, in some cases.
 
(3)
Term loan obligation includes principal and interest payments and an end fee payment.
   
(4)
Research and development obligations relate primarily to our Reimbursement Agreement with NantCell, Inc.

 We apply the disclosure provisions of ASC 460, Guarantees ("ASC 460"), to our contractual guarantees and indemnities. We have provided contractual indemnities to other parties against possible losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified parties in connection with various types of third-party claims, as well as indemnities to our officers and directors against third party claims arising from the services they provide to us. To date, we have not incurred material costs as a result of these indemnities, and we do not expect to incur material costs in the future; further, we maintain insurance to cover certain losses arising from these indemnities. Accordingly, we have not accrued any liabilities related to these indemnities.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #34#

 
 
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards
At December 31, 2017, we had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $373.7 million and $236.3 million, respectively, available to offset against future taxable income, which expire in 2018 through 2037.
As a result of a change in-control that occurred in the CytRx shareholder base in 2013, approximately $136.8 million in federal net operating loss carryforwards became substantially limited in their annual availability. We currently believe that the remaining $236.9 million in federal net operating loss carryforwards, and the $236.3 million in state net operating loss carryforwards, are unrestricted.
As of December 31, 2017, we also had research and development tax credits for federal and state purposes of approximately $16.6 million and $21.9 million, respectively, available for offset against future income taxes, which expire in 2022 through 2037. Based on an assessment of all available evidence including, but not limited to, our limited operating history in its core business and lack of profitability, uncertainties of the commercial viability of its technology, the impact of government regulation and healthcare reform initiatives, and other risks normally associated with biotechnology companies, we have concluded that it is more likely than not that these net operating loss carryforwards and credits will not be realized and, as a result, a 100% deferred tax valuation allowance has been recorded against these assets.
Results of Operations
We incurred a net loss of $35.0 million, $50.8 million and $58.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
During 2017, 2016 and 2015, we recognized no service revenue and earned an immaterial amount of license fees and grant revenue. All future licensing fees under our current licensing agreements are dependent upon successful development milestones being achieved by our licensees.  In 2017, we recognized deferred revenue of $6.9 million from the exclusive licensing agreement signed with NantCell, Inc.  We anticipate recognizing that revenue in 2018.
Due to the nature of research and development, our operating results may fluctuate from period to period, and the results of prior periods should not be relied upon as predictive of the results in future periods.
Research and Development
   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Research and development expenses
 
$
19,279
   
$
34,107
   
$
41,805
 
Non-cash research and development expenses
   
12
     
     
 
Employee stock and stock option expense
   
549
     
1,823
     
1,591
 
Total
 
$
19,840
   
$
35,930
   
$
43,396
 

Research expenses are expenses incurred by us in the discovery of new information that will assist us in the creation and the development of new drugs or treatments. Development expenses are expenses incurred by us in our efforts to commercialize the findings generated through our research efforts.
Research and development expenses incurred during 2017, 2016 and 2015 relate to our various development programs. In 2017, our research and development expenses decreased substantially over 2016 since our pivotal, global Phase 3 clinical trial for STS with aldoxorubicin wound down in the year. These expenses included $11.7 million for our clinical programs for aldoxorubicin, $3.3 million for our drug discovery laboratory, and approximately $4.3 million for general operations of our clinical program, including licensing fees. In 2016, our research and development expenses decreased over 2015 primarily due to a reduction in costs for our pivotal, global Phase 3 clinical trial for STS with aldoxorubicin. The costs of our global Phase 2b clinical trial in SCLC remained consistent with the prior year. These expenses included approximately $27.1 million for our clinical programs for aldoxorubicin, approximately $2.3 million at our drug discovery laboratory, and approximately $4.3 million for general operation of our clinical programs. In 2015, research and development expenses totaled approximately $37.0 million for our clinical programs for aldoxorubicin, which included a full year of costs in our pivotal, global Phase trial, approximately $1.7 million at our drug discovery laboratory, and approximately $3.6 million for general operation of our clinical programs.
As compensation to consultants, or in connection with the acquisition of technology, we sometimes issue shares of common stock, stock options and warrants to purchase shares of common stock. For financial statement purposes, we value these shares of common stock, stock options, and warrants at the fair value of the common stock, stock options or warrants granted, or the services received, whichever is more reliably measurable. In 2017, we record $11,600 of non-cash expense, as compared to $0 in both 2016 and 2015.  In 2017, we recorded $0.5 million of employee stock and stock option expense, as compared to $1.8 million in 2016 and $1.6 million in 2015.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #35#

 

General and Administrative

   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
   
(In thousands)
 
General and administrative expenses
 
$
9,718
   
$
11,078
   
$
13,871
 
Stock, stock option and warrant expenses to non-employees and consultants
   
874
     
236
     
226
 
Employee stock and stock option expense
   
1,910
     
4,677
     
5,568
 
Total
 
$
12,502
   
$
15,991
   
$
19,665
 

General and administrative expenses include all administrative salaries and general corporate expenses, including legal expenses associated with the prosecution of our intellectual property. Our general and administrative expenses, excluding common stock, stock options and warrants issued, were $9.7 million, $11.1 million and $13.9 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In 2017, the general and administrative expenses decreased by 12.3%, primarily due to a decrease in salaries, since 2016 included pre-commercialization activities in the first half of the year. In 2015, these expenses included litigation settlement expenses of $5.5 million (of which a non-cash amount of $4.5 million was settled through the issuance of our common shares).
From time to time, we issue shares of our common stock or warrants or options to purchase shares of our common stock to consultants and other service providers in exchange for services. For financial statement purposes, we value these shares of common stock, stock options, and warrants at the fair value of the common stock, stock options or warrants granted, or the services received whichever we can measure more reliably. In 2017, we recorded $0.9 million of such expenses, as compared to $0.2 million and $0.2 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively. We recorded employee stock option expense of $1.9 million, $4.7 million and $5.6 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were approximately $0.6 million, $0.5 million and $0.3 million, respectively. The depreciation expense reflects the depreciation of our equipment and furnishings.
Other Income (Expense)
We realized a small foreign exchange loss in 2017, other income of $0.2 million in 2016 from a VAT refund, and a de minimus amount of other income in 2015.
Interest Income
Interest income was $0.4 million in 2017, $0.3 million in 2016 and $0.2 million in 2015. The variances between years are attributable primarily to the amount of funds available for investment each year and, to a lesser extent, changes in prevailing market interest rates.
Interest Expense
On February 5, 2016, we entered into a loan and security agreement with Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. ("HTGC"), as administrative agent and lender, and Hercules Technology III, L.P., as lender. The lenders made term loans on February 8, 2016 in the aggregate principal amount of $25 million, and at an interest rate of 9.5%. The interest rate is pegged to the Prime rate and at December 31, 2017, the interest rate stood at 10.5%. Total interest expense in 2017 was $3.8 million, $2.8 million in 2016 and $0 in 2015.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #36#

 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In January 2017, the FASB issued an ASU entitled "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment." The objective of the ASU is to simplify how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit's goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. We do not believe that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our financial statements.


In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2016-15 "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force)." The objective of ASU No. 2016-15 is to provide specific guidance on eight cash flow classification issues and how to reduce diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows, and other Topics. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are still in the process of determining the impact that the implementation of ASU 2016-15 will have on our financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation ("ASU 2016-09"). ASU 2016-09 includes several areas of simplification to stock compensation including simplifications to the accounting for income taxes, classification of excess tax benefits on the Statement of Cash Flows and forfeitures. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted this Standard on January 1, 2017. The adoption of this Standard did not have a material impact to our financial position or our results of operations.

 In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)," which requires companies to recognize all leases as assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. This ASU retains a distinction between finance leases and operating leases, and the classification criteria for distinguishing between finance leases and operating leases are substantially similar to the classification criteria for distinguishing between capital leases and operating leases in the current accounting literature. The result of retaining a distinction between finance leases and operating leases is that under the lessee accounting model in Topic 842, the effect of leases in a statement of operations and a statement of cash flows is largely unchanged from previous GAAP.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of this ASU will have on our financial statements. Although we have not finalized our process of evaluating the impact of adoption of the ASU on our financial statements, we expect there will not be a material increase to assets and liabilities on our balance sheet for leases currently classified as operating leases.

 In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01 "Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities." ASU 2016-01 amends various aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure for financial instruments. With respect to the Company's financial statements, the most significant impact relates to the accounting for equity investments. It will impact the disclosure and presentation of financial assets and liabilities. ASU 2016-01 is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption by public entities is permitted only for certain provisions. We do not believe that the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our financial statements.
In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17 "Income Taxes: Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes". ASU 2015-17 simplifies the balance sheet classification of deferred taxes and requires that all deferred taxes be presented as noncurrent. ASU 2015-17 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this update did not have a material effect on our financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (Topic 606) "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." Topic 606 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 605, "Revenue Recognition", and requires entities to recognize revenue when they transfer control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. We are currently assessing the method of adoption and the impact this new guidance will have on our financial statements. We expect to adopt these standards using the modified retrospective method. The timing of revenue recognition for variable consideration under our licensing and collaboration agreements may be different as a result of this new guidance. We are reviewing our licensing agreement for variable consideration, and if any such consideration exists, whether it should be estimated and recognized earlier than under the current revenue guidance.
In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASU 2015-14") which deferred the effective date by one year to December 15, 2017 for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after that date and allows for adoption using a full retrospective method, or a modified retrospective method. We will adopt the new standard in our first quarter 2018 using the modified retrospective method and are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on our financial statements.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #37#


 
 
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Historically, our exposure to market risk is limited primarily to interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates, particularly because a significant portion of our investments are in short-term debt securities issued by the U.S. government and institutional money market funds. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal. Due to the short-term nature of our investments, we believe that we are not exposed to any material market risk. We do not have any speculative or hedging derivative financial instruments or foreign currency instruments. If interest rates had varied by 10% in the year ended December 31, 2017, it would not have had a material effect on our results of operations or cash flows for that period.
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Our financial statements and supplemental schedule and notes thereto as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, together with the reports thereon of our independent registered public accounting firm, are set forth beginning on page F-1 of this Annual Report.
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of December 31, 2017, the end of the period covered by this Annual Report. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2017, as described further below.
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2017 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to have a material effect, on our internal control over financial reporting.
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013 Edition) ("the Framework"). Based upon management's assessment using the criteria contained in COSO, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2017.
 Our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 has been audited by BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report below.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #38#


 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Board of Directors and Stockholders
CytRx Corporation
Los Angeles, California
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited CytRx Corporation's (the "Company's") internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the "COSO criteria"). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB"), the balance sheets of the Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and financial statement schedule of valuation and qualifying accounts and our report dated March 16, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying "Item 9A, Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting." Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ BDO USA, LL
Los Angeles, California
March 16, 2018

CytRx 2017 10-K Page #39#


 

Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #40#


 
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The following table sets forth information concerning our directors and executive officers:
Name
 
Age
   
Class of
Director (1)
 
Position
Steven A. Kriegsman
   
76
   
II
 
Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Louis Ignarro, Ph.D.
   
76
     
      I
 
Lead Director (2) (3) (4) (5)
Joel Caldwell
   
62
   
III
 
Director (2) (4) (5)
Earl Brien. M.D.
   
57
   
III
 
Director (2) (3) (4) (5)
John Y. Caloz
   
66
     
 
Chief Financial Officer
Felix Kratz, Ph.D.
   
55
     
 
Senior Vice President-Drug Development
____________

(1)
Our Class I director serves until the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, our Class II directors serve until the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, and our Class III directors serve until the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders.

(2)
Members of our Audit Committee. Mr. Caldwell is Chairman of the Committee.

(3)
Members of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Dr. Ignarro is Chairman of the Committee.

(4)
Members of our Compensation Committee. Dr. Ignarro is Chairman of the Committee.

(5)
Members of our Strategy Committee. Dr. Brien is Chairman of the Committee.

Steven A. Kriegsman has been CytRx's Chief Executive Officer and a director since July 2002. In October 2014, he was elected Chairman of the Board. Mr. Kriegsman served on the boards of directors of Galena Biopharma, Inc. from 2009 until 2016 and Catasys, Inc. from November 2013 to August 2015. He previously served as Director and Chairman of Global Genomics from June 2000 until 2002. Mr. Kriegsman is an inactive Chairman and the founder of Kriegsman Capital Group LLC, a financial advisory firm specializing in the development of alternative sources of equity capital for emerging growth companies in the healthcare industry. During his career, he has advised such companies as SuperGen Inc., Closure Medical Corporation, Novoste Corporation, Miravant Medical Technologies, and Maxim Pharmaceuticals. In the past, Mr. Kriegsman has also served on the Board of Directors of Bradley Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Hythiam, Inc. Mr. Kriegsman has a B.S. degree with honors from New York University in Accounting and completed the Executive Program in Mergers and Acquisitions at New York University, The Management Institute. Mr. Kriegsman is a graduate of the Stanford Law School Directors' College
Mr. Kriegsman was formerly a Certified Public Accountant with KPMG in New York City. In February 2006, Mr. Kriegsman received the Corporate Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the ALS Association and in October 2006, he received the Lou Gehrig Memorial Corporate Award from the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Mr. Kriegsman has been a guest speaker and lecturer at various universities including California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Brown University, and New York University. He also was an instructor at York College in Jamaica (Queens), NY, where he taught business to a diverse group of students in York's adult education program. Mr. Kriegsman has been active in various charitable organizations including the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the California Health Institute, the ALS Association, the Los Angeles Venture Association, the Southern California Biomedical Council, the American Association of Dance Companies and the Palisades-Malibu YMCA.
Mr. Kriegsman's extensive history as a member of management is vital to the board of directors' collective knowledge of our day-to-day operations. Mr. Kriegsman also provides great insight as to how CytRx grew as an organization and his institutional knowledge is an invaluable asset to the board of directors in effecting its oversight of CytRx's strategic plans. Mr. Kriegsman's presence on the board of directors also allows for a flow of information and ideas between the board of directors and management.
Louis Ignarro, Ph.D. has been a director since July 2002. He previously served as a director of Global Genomics from November 2000 until 2002. Dr. Ignarro serves as the Jerome J. Belzer, M.D. Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology in the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology at the UCLA School of Medicine. Retired in 2013, Dr. Ignarro had been at the UCLA School of Medicine since 1985 as a professor, acting chairman and assistant dean. Dr. Ignarro received the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1998.
Dr. Ignarro received a B.S. in pharmacy from Columbia University and his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Ignarro is a Nobel Laureate and an esteemed medical researcher whose experience enables him to offer importance scientific guidance to our Board of Directors. In December 2016, Dr. Ignarro was appointed Lead Director.
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Joel Caldwell joined our Board of Directors on July 12, 2017. He brings more than 30 years of experience in tax matters, finance, and internal auditing. He retired from Southern California Edison, one of the nation's largest public utilities, where he had been employed for 28 years in various executive-level accounting and finance positions covering Internal Audits, Executive Compensation, Long Term Finance, Employee Benefits and, most recently prior to his retirement, Sarbanes-Oxley Internal Controls Compliance. He also worked in public accounting at the firm of Arthur Andersen & Co. In 1980, Mr. Caldwell earned his MBA with a major in finance from the University of California at Berkeley. Prior to that, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance, also from the University of California at Berkeley. He has been a Certified Public Accountant in California since 1982 and a Certified Internal Auditor since 1986. Mr. Caldwell volunteers his business skills, serving as a financial advisor on the board of trustees of a charitable organization, and continues his involvement with track and field sports by volunteering as a meet official at Pacific Palisades Charter High School. He is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Mr. Caldwell's diverse background in accounting, auditing and finance, along with his accreditation as a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants will provide the board with a balanced perspective to enhance its stewardship and fulfill his role as the named financial expert on our Audit Committee.
Earl Brien, M.D. joined our board of directors in December 2016. He is a renowned orthopedic and sarcoma surgeon who has served as a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and as the Surgical Director of the Sarcoma Service at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California since February 2008. After completing his matriculation as a Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Hospital for Special Surgery in musculoskeletal tumors and metabolic bone disease respectively, he became the Director of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Program and Metabolic Bone Disease Center at Orthopedic Hospital. Dr. Brien is the recipient of numerous grants, with an extensive bibliography of peer-reviewed articles spanning more than twenty years to his credit. He has also represented at national and international meetings for the past twenty years. From 1993 until 2004, he served as the Cancer Commission Chairman and Cancer Liaison Physician for the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer at Orthopedic Hospital.
John Y. Caloz joined us in October 2007 as our Chief Accounting Officer. In January of 2009 Mr. Caloz was named Chief Financial Officer. He has a history of providing senior financial leadership in the life sciences sector, as Chief Financial Officer of Occulogix, Inc, a NASDAQ listed, medical therapy company. Prior to that, Mr. Caloz served as Chief Financial Officer of IRIS International Inc., a Chatsworth, CA based medical device manufacturer. He served as Chief Financial Officer of San Francisco-based Synarc, Inc., a medical imaging company, and from 1993 to 1999 he was Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Phoenix International Life Sciences Inc. of Montreal, Canada, which was acquired by MDS Inc. in 1999. Mr. Caloz was a partner at Rooney, Greig, Whitrod, Filion & Associates of Saint Laurent, Quebec, Canada, a firm of Chartered Accountants specializing in research and development and high-tech companies, from 1983 to 1993. Mr. Caloz, a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Accountant, holds a degree in Accounting from York University, Toronto, Canada.
Felix Kratz, Ph.D. joined CytRx in 2014 as Vice President, Drug Discovery. He is a medicinal chemist with more than 25 years of pertinent experience in the preclinical development of anticancer drugs, prodrugs and protein conjugation chemistry and profound knowledge of translational research from the laboratory to the clinic. He has successfully transferred aldoxorubicin, CytRx clinical lead compound, from bench to bedside that is based on an innovative drug delivery platform exploiting circulating albumin as a tumor-specific drug carrier. Felix Kratz graduated in Chemistry from the University of Heidelberg with Magna Cum Laude. Prior to joining CytRx Corporation he established the Division of Macromolecular Prodrugs at the Tumor Biology Center Freiburg. He serves on the Editorial Board for Bioconjugate Chemistry, Current Medicinal Chemistry, Current Bioactive Compounds, and Pharmacology & Pharmacy and has authored approximately 260 scientific publications, book articles and proceedings and is the inventor of over 20 patents and patent applications. He heads the CytRx Drug Discovery Branch located in the Innovation Center Freiburg, Germany.
Diversity
Our board of directors, acting through the Nomination and Governance Committee, is responsible for assembling for stockholder consideration director-nominees who, taken together, have appropriate experience, qualifications, attributes, and skills to function effectively as a board. The Nomination and Governance Committee periodically reviews the composition of the board of directors in light of our changing requirements, its assessment of the board of directors' performance, and the input of stockholders and other key constituencies. The Nomination and Governance Committee looks for certain characteristics common to all board members, including integrity, strong professional reputation and record of achievement, constructive and collegial personal attributes, and the ability and commitment to devote sufficient time and energy to board service. In addition, the Nomination and Governance Committee seeks to include on the board of directors a complementary mix of individuals with diverse backgrounds and skills reflecting the broad set of challenges that the board of directors confronts. These individual qualities can include matters such as experience in our company's industry, technical experience (i.e., medical or research expertise), experience gained in situations comparable to the company's, leadership experience, and relevant geographical diversity.
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Committees
Our business, property and affairs are managed by or under the direction of the board of directors. Members of the board are kept informed of our business through informal discussions with our chief executive and financial officers and other officers, by reviewing materials provided to them and by participating at meetings of the board and its committees.
Our board of directors currently has four committees. The Audit Committee consists of Mr. Caldwell, Dr. Ignarro and Dr. Brien. The Compensation Committee consists of Dr. Ignarro, Mr. Caldwell and Dr. Brien; the Nomination and Governance Committee consists of Dr. Ignarro and Dr. Brien, and the Strategy Committee consists of Dr. Brien, Dr Ignarro and Mr. Caldwell. Such committees operate under formal charters that govern their duties and conduct. Copies of the charters are available on our website at www.cytrx.com.
Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Caldwell, one of the independent directors serving on our Audit Committee, is an "audit committee financial expert" as defined by the SEC's rules. Our board of directors has determined that Dr. Ignarro, Mr. Caldwell and Dr. Brien are "independent" under the current independence standards of both The NASDAQ Capital Market and the SEC.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Each of our executive officers and directors and persons who own more than 10% of our outstanding shares of common stock is required under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock and to furnish us with copies of those reports. Based solely on our review of copies of reports we have received and written representations from certain reporting persons, we believe that our directors and executive officers and greater than 10% shareholders for 2014 complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to all employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, a copy of which is available on our website at www.cytrx.com. We will furnish, without charge, a copy of our Code of Ethics upon request. Such requests should be directed to Attention: Corporate Secretary, 11726 San Vicente Boulevard, Suite 650, Los Angeles, California, or by telephone at 310-826-5648.
Board Leadership Structure
 On October 15, 2014, our board of directors appointed Mr. Kriegsman as Chairman of the Board.  The Chairman of the Board presides at all meetings of our board of directors (but not at its executive sessions) and exercises and performs such other powers and duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the board or prescribed by our amended and restated bylaws.
Our board of directors has no established policy on whether it should be led by a Chairman who is also the Chief Executive Officer, but periodically considers whether combining, or separating, the role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is appropriate. At this time, our board is committed to the combined role given the circumstances of our company, including Mr. Kriegsman's knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and our company's strategy.  Our board believes that having a Chairman who also serves as the Chief Executive Officer allows timely communication with our board on company strategy and critical business issues, facilitates bringing key strategic and business issues and risks to the board's attention, avoids ambiguity in leadership within the company, provides a unified leadership voice externally and clarifies accountability for company business decisions and initiatives.  In December 2016, Dr. Ignarro was appointed as an independent Lead Director to act as a liaison between the Chairman of the Board and the independent directors. The board will continue to assess whether this leadership structure is appropriate and will adjust it as it deems appropriate
Board of Directors Role in Risk Oversight
In connection with its oversight responsibilities, our board of directors, including the Audit Committee, periodically assesses the significant risks that we face. These risks include, but are not limited to, financial, technological, competitive, and operational risks. Our board of directors administers its risk oversight responsibilities through our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer who review and assess the operations of our business, as well as operating management's identification, assessment and mitigation of the material risks affecting our operations.
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Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Overview of Executive Compensation Program
The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors has responsibility for establishing, implementing and monitoring our executive compensation program philosophy and practices. Generally speaking, the Compensation Committee determines the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and other named executive officers with the approval of our Board of Directors.
The Compensation Committee seeks to ensure that the total compensation paid to our named executive officers is fair, reasonable and competitive. Generally, the types of compensation and benefits provided to the named executive officers are similar to those provided to our other officers.
The Compensation Committee operates under a formal charter, a copy of which is available on our website at www.cytrx.com that governs its duties and conduct.
At the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, the stockholders on a non-binding, advisory basis, approved the compensation of our executive officers as disclosed in our 2017 proxy statement. Based upon the results of this stockholder advisory vote, the Compensation Committee determined to continue its compensation policies and procedures.
Throughout this Annual Report, the individuals included in the Summary Compensation Table below are referred to as our "named executive officers."
Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
The components of our executive compensation consist of salary, annual and special cash bonuses awarded based on the Compensation Committee's subjective assessment of the achievement of corporate goals and each individual executive's job performance, stock option grants to provide executives with longer-term incentives, and occasional special compensation awards (either cash, stock or stock options) to reward extraordinary efforts or results.
The Compensation Committee believes that an effective executive compensation program should provide base annual compensation that is reasonable in relation to individual executive's job responsibilities and reward the achievement of strategic goals of our company. We use annual and other periodic cash bonuses to reward an officer's achievement of specific goals, including goals related to the development of our drug candidates and replenishment and management of our working capital. We use employee stock options as a retention tool and as a means to align the executive's long-term interests with those of our stockholders, with the ultimate objective of affording our executives an appropriate incentive to improve stockholder value. The Compensation Committee evaluates both performance and compensation to maintain our company's ability to attract and retain excellent employees in key positions and to assure that compensation provided to key employees remains competitive relative to the compensation paid to similarly situated executives of comparable companies.
Each of the corporate goals established and subsequently reviewed by the Compensation Committee results from a collaboration among our named executive officers, including the leadership of our Chief Executive Officer and the support of our principal legal, financial, clinical, medical, commercial and business development officers. The Compensation Committee's assessment of the relative contribution of each named executive officer is based on periodic reports to our full Board of Directors regarding the progress of these business accomplishments and the individual efforts of our named executive officers, and year-end consultations, which include discussions of performance reviews, with our Chief Executive Officer that are a normal part of the Compensation Committee's compensation determinations. The Compensation Committee employs no objective measure of any individual's contribution.
The bonus amounts awarded to our eligible named executive officers are a function of their office and total compensation relative to the total compensation of our Chief Executive officer, based upon their employee evaluations, and with consideration given to comparable companies for similarly-situated employees. The bonus amounts awarded to each named executive officer is set forth in the Summary Compensation Table.
Because of the size of our company, the small number of executive officers in our company, and our company's financial priorities, the Compensation Committee has not implemented any pension benefits, deferred compensation plans or other similar plans for our named executive officers.
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Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions
The Compensation Committee annually determines the compensation of our named executive officers. Mr. Kriegsman, our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, typically attends all meetings of the Compensation Committee, except for executive sessions at which his compensation is discussed. At the request of the Compensation Committee, Mr. Kriegsman provides his assessment of the performance of our named executive officers, other than himself. Mr. Kriegsman also takes an active part in the discussions of the compensation of named executive officers other than himself and assists in the development of a review matrix of each executive's contributions to the goals of the company that forms the basis for some compensation determinations. The Compensation Committee grants due consideration to Mr. Kriegsman's assessments when making determinations regarding the compensation of our named executive officers. All Compensation Committee deliberations and determinations regarding the compensation of Mr. Kriegsman are made outside his presence.
Setting Executive Compensation
Based on the foregoing objectives, the Compensation Committee has structured the company's annual cash and incentive-based cash and non-cash executive compensation to seek to motivate our named executives to achieve our company's business goals, including goals related to the development of our drug candidates and management of working capital, to reward the executives for achieving such goals, and to retain the executives. In doing so, the Compensation Committee historically has not employed outside compensation consultants or legal advisors. During 2017, the Compensation Committee used two industry compensation surveys in its compensation deliberations regarding cash and equity compensation for our executive officers. The surveys used were Radford Global Life Sciences Survey, which is a survey of public and private life sciences companies of all sizes, including those companies with under fifty employees and a survey of public and private companies in Los Angeles provided by salary.com (which the Compensation Committee uses to consider geographic differences in cost of living).
The Compensation Committee utilized this data to set annual salary increases and bonus amounts for our executive officers at levels targeted at or around the third quartile of compensation amounts provided to executives at comparable companies, considering each individual's experience level related to their position with us. The Compensation Committee has no policy regarding the use of benchmarks, and we have no established policy or target for the allocation between cash and non-cash incentive compensation.
The Compensation Committee is authorized to retain its own independent advisors to assist in carrying out its responsibilities, but has not relied upon outside compensation consultants or legal advisors.
Performance-driven Compensation
We emphasize performance in annually reviewing and setting our executive officers' base salaries, bonuses and equity incentive compensation. This emphasis on performance is intended to motivate our executive officers to pursue our corporate goals, reward them for achievement of these goals and align their interests with those of our stockholders.
Each year, we determine goals that we hope to achieve in the coming year, both on a company and individual basis. Our overall corporate performance as compared to these goals, and an individual's performance compared to his or her individual goals, primarily drive the recommendations that the Compensation Committee with respect to each executive officer's base salary, cash bonus and equity incentive compensation. Other factors, such as larger macroeconomic conditions of the industry and market in which we compete, as well as strategic business decisions and issues related to key employee retention, also influence compensation decisions.
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Individual performance goals for each year initially are identified and developed by senior executives through a self-evaluation and goal-setting process, and our CEO refines and documents those goals in conjunction with the Compensation Committee. At the end of the year, the Compensation Committee reviews each performance goal and determines the extent to which we achieved such goals, and our CEO assesses the achievement of specific performance goals relating to our other executive officers.
In establishing performance goals, the Compensation Committee considers whether the goals could possibly result in an incentive for any executives to take unwarranted risks in our company's business and seeks to avoid creating any such incentives.
 
Company Performance Goals
 
For 2017, the Compensation Committee and our board of directors approved the following performance goals:
·
Analyze the primary endpoint from the Phase 2 SCLC clinical trial;
·
Completion of drug substance and drug product registration batches for aldoxorubicin;
·
Meet with the FDA re 505(b)(2) NDA submission;
·
Submit two ASCO abstracts;
·
Identify an in vivo proof of concept for at least one ultra-potent albumin-binding drug candidate, and file provisional patent applications; and
·
Raise additional capital.
For 2017, the Compensation Committee determined that, with the exception of the completion of registration batches for aldoxorubicin and the analysis of the Phase 2 SCLC clinical trial, both of which became no longer applicable with the execution of the licensing agreement with NantCell, each of the corporate goals had been achieved, and noted the particular contributions of executive officers to the achievement of those goals.
Individual Performance
The Compensation Committee reviews our executive officers' performance based on overall achievement of the corporate goals and a review of individual goals developed for each executive officer every year. The Compensation Committee, with the assistance of our Chief Executive Officer, determines the relative achievement of the performance goals applicable to each executive officer, and assigns a performance rating based on a set of criteria set forth in an evaluation form. No specific formula is used with respect to setting any particular element of compensation based on the individual performance metrics. The score assigned to each officer was based on a subjective assessment by our Compensation Committee members of the officer's performance against the scoring standards of:
5 – Consistently Exceeds Expectations
4 – Sometimes Exceeds Expectations
3 – Meets Expectations
2 – Sometimes Meets Expectations
1 – Needs Improvement
The numerical job scores, with a 5.0 being the best and 1.0 being the worst, are determined based on an initial self-assessment by the officer, which is subject to change based on an evaluation of the self-assessment by the officer's direct supervisor and on the Compensation Committee's own assessment of the officer's job performance.
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For 2017, our Compensation Committee determined that the individual performance scores indicated below were merited by the officer's respective contributions to our key business achievements discussed above, as well as the performance of their day-to-day responsibilities. On an officer-by-officer basis, our Compensation Committee also considered the following:
Mr. Kriegsman's individual performance goals relate primarily to overall corporate objectives, including building stockholder value as reflected in our market capitalization and our working capital, managing and directing the executive management team, and successfully developing our company's operations and personnel for future success. Based on those criteria, and the fact the Company was able to sign an exclusive licensing agreement with NantCell, the Compensation Committee gave a rating of 4.8 to Mr. Kriegsman.
Mr. Caloz's individual performance goals relate primarily to achievement of key financial objectives, such as managing and raising working capital, controlling spending, managing accounting personnel and maintaining regulatory compliance. Based on those criteria, the Compensation Committee noted Mr. Caloz's role in obtaining needed working capital, his efforts to control expenditures, the continued improvement of our accounting department, and our compliance with filing deadlines, and gave a rating of 4.7 to Mr. Caloz.
Dr. Kratz's individual performance goals relate primarily to the execution of the objectives related to our drug discovery unit, including identifying at least one ultra-potent albumin-binding drug candidate, managing the drug discovery laboratory within budget and maintaining a strong scientific team. Based on those criteria, the Compensation Committee gave a rating of 4.0 to Dr. Kratz.
2017 Executive Compensation Components
For 2017, as in recent years, the principal components of compensation for the named executive officers were:
·
base salary;
·
annual bonuses; and
·
equity incentive compensation.
Base Salary
We provide named executive officers and other employees with base salary to compensate them for services rendered during the year. Generally, the base salary element of compensation is used to recognize the experience, skills, knowledge and responsibilities required of each named executive officer, and reflects our executive officers' overall sustained performance and contributions to our business.
During its review of base salaries for executives, the Compensation Committee primarily considers:
·
the negotiated terms of each executive's employment agreement, if any;
·
each executive's individual performance;
·
an internal review of the executive's compensation, both individually and relative to other named executive officers; and
·
to a lesser extent, base salaries paid by comparable companies.
Salary levels are typically considered annually as part of our company's performance review process, as well as upon a change in job responsibility. Merit-based increases to salaries are based on our company's available resources and the Compensation Committee's assessment of the individual's performance. This assessment is based upon written evaluations of such criteria as job knowledge, communication, problem solving, initiative, goal-setting, and expense management. In 2017, the Compensation Committee considered our successful achievement or substantial progress towards our corporate performance goals, and with consideration of the challenging financial environment, awarded no increases in base salary for 2018. Base salaries were also reviewed in light of the Radford and salary.com survey data to validate that they were within acceptable ranges based on market salaries.
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Annual and Special Bonuses
As we do not generate significant revenue and have not commercially released any products, the Compensation Committee bases its discretionary annual bonus awards on the achievement of corporate and individual goals, efforts related to extraordinary transactions, effective fund-raising efforts, effective management of personnel and capital resources, and bonuses paid by comparable companies, among other criteria. Mr. Kriegsman's employment agreement entitles him to an annual cash bonus in an amount to be determined in our discretion, but not less than $150,000. Any cash bonuses to our other named executive officers are entirely in our discretion.
During 2017, the Compensation Committee granted Mr. Kriegsman an annual cash bonus of $150,000, and granted the other named executive officers ranging from $75,000 to $100,000, principally based on their efforts in achieving the Company's corporate goals. In December 2017, the Compensation Committee approved an award to Mr. Kriegsman of a $0.7 million restricted stock grant, or 387,597 shares of our common stock based on the closing price of the Company's common stock at December 15th, the award date to vest in three equal annual installments.
Equity Incentive Compensation
We believe that strong long-term corporate performance is achieved with a corporate culture that encourages a long-term focus by our executive officers through the use of equity awards, the value of which depends on our stock performance. We have established equity incentive plans to provide all of our employees, including our executive officers, with incentives to help align those employees' interests with the interests of our stockholders and to enable them to participate in the long-term appreciation of our stockholder value. Additionally, equity awards provide an important retention tool for key employees, as the awards generally are subject to vesting over an extended period of time based on continued service with us.
Historically, equity awards have been granted annually at the end of each year based primarily on corporate performance as a whole during the preceding year. In addition, we may grant equity awards upon the occurrence of certain events during the year, for example, upon an employee's hire or achievement of a significant business objective such as positive results or other progress of our clinical trials or successful capital-raising efforts.
The Compensation Committee has established December 15 as the date for the annual grant of stock options. The December 15 date correlates to the approximate dates of our historical annual stock option grants, but otherwise was not based upon any particular methodology.  All stock option grants, other than initial stock option grants to new employees, are made at a meeting, whether in-person or telephonic, of the Compensation Committee and not by unanimous written consent, and the Compensation Committee determines the grantees, amounts, dates, and prices of all stock options and do not delegate these responsibilities.
No formula is used in setting equity award grants and the determination of whether to grant equity awards, or the size of such equity awards, to our executive officers; rather, it involves subjective assessments by our board of directors, Compensation Committee and, with respect to executive officers other than Mr. Kriegsman. Generally, annual equity awards are intended to encourage retention of experienced employees, and we consider individual performance and contributions during the preceding year to the extent our board of directors and Compensation Committee believe such factors are relevant. As with base salary and cash bonuses, for 2017 our board of directors and Compensation Committee also considered data from two surveys in determining equity award grants to our executive officers.
At a meeting of the Compensation Committee on December 15, 2017, the Compensation Committee granted to Mr. Kriegsman nonqualified stock options to purchase 208,334 shares of our common stock at a price of $1.75 per share, which equaled the closing market prices on December 15, 2017, the specified grant date. The options vest monthly over three years, provided that Mr. Kriegsman remains in our employ throughout such monthly vesting periods, unless Mr. Kriegsman's employment agreement is not renewed by us or by him upon expiration of its term on December 31, 2021, or his employment is terminated by us without "cause," or by reason of his "disability", upon FDA approval of aldoxorubicin, or by Mr. Kriegsman for "good reason," or due to his death. In any one of these events, the options will vest immediately and will remain exercisable for their full term. In addition, in connection with the annual review of our other named executive officers, at its December 15, 2017 meeting, the Compensation Committee granted to our other named executive officers nonqualified stock options to purchase an aggregate of 83,334 shares of our common stock. All of the stock options had an exercise price equal to $1.75, the closing market price on December 15, 2017, the specified grant date, and vest either bi-monthly over two years or monthly over three years, provided that such executives remain in our employ through such vesting periods unless, with respect to Mr. Caloz, his employment is terminated by us without "cause" or by reason of his "disability," or due to his death, in which cases the vested options will remain exercisable for their full term.
Generally speaking, we have not taken into consideration any amounts realized by our named executive officers from prior stock option or stock awards in determining whether to grant new stock options or stock awards. No named executive officers have exercised options since 2003.
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Retirement Plans, Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits
Our executive officers are eligible to participate in the same group insurance and employee benefit plans as our other salaried employees. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and disability benefits and life insurance.
We have adopted a tax-qualified employee savings and retirement plan, our 401(k) Plan, for eligible U.S. employees, including our named executive officers. Eligible employees may elect to defer a percentage of their eligible compensation in the 401(k) Plan, subject to the statutorily prescribed annual limit. We may make matching contributions on behalf of all participants in the 401(k) Plan in an amount determined by our board of directors. We made matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan for 2017 of $78,000. Matching contributions immediately vest, as do all employee contributions. We intend the 401(k) Plan, and the accompanying trust, to qualify under Sections 401(k) and 501 of the Internal Revenue Code so that contributions by employees to the 401(k) Plan, and income earned (if any) on plan contributions, are not taxable to employees until withdrawn from the 401(k) Plan, and so that we will be able to deduct our contributions, if any, when made. The trustee under the 401(k) Plan, at the direction of each participant, may invest the assets of the 401(k) Plan in any of a number of investment options.
We generally do not provide any of our named executive officers with any other perquisites or personal benefits, other than benefits to Mr. Kriegsman provided for in his employment agreement. We are required by his employment agreement to carry a life insurance policy for Mr. Kriegsman in the amount of not less than $1.4 million under which Mr. Kriegsman's designee is the beneficiary. We purchased a policy with a face value of $2 million, for which we pay the premium, and Mr. Kriegsman immediately reimburses us for the premium relating to the $0.6 million of additional coverage. We periodically review the levels of perquisites and other personal benefits provided to our named executive officers. No changes to these benefits were made during 2017.
Employment Agreements and Severance Arrangements
We have entered into written employment agreements with each of our named executive officers. The main purpose of these agreements is to protect the company from business risks such as competition for the executives' service, loss of confidentiality or trade secrets, and solicitation of our other employees, and to define our right to terminate the employment relationship. The employment agreements also protect the executive from termination without "cause" (as defined) and, in Mr. Kriegsman's case, entitle them to resign for "good reason" (as defined). Each employment agreement was individually negotiated, so there are some variations in the terms among executive officers. Generally speaking, however, the employment agreements provide for termination and severance benefits that the Compensation Committee believes are consistent with industry practices for similarly situated executives. The Compensation Committee believes that the termination and severance benefits help the company retain the named executive officers by providing them with a competitive employment arrangement and protection against unknowns such as termination without "cause" that go along with the position.
In the event of termination without "cause," the named executive officers will be entitled to a lump-sum payment equal to six months' base salary (24 month's base salary and minimum annual bonus under his employment agreement in the case of Mr. Kriegsman). The named executive officers' agreements also provide for our continuation of medical benefits during the severance period (including, for Mr. Kriegsman, payments for life insurance). If a named executive officer's employment is terminated by us without "cause" (or by Mr. Kriegsman for "good reason") within two years following a change of control of the company, the named executive officers will be entitled to a lump-sum payment equal to 12 months' base salary (36 month' base salary and minimum annual bonus in the case of Mr. Kriegsman), and Mr. Kriegsman also would be entitled under his employment agreement to receive a "gross-up" payment equal to the sum of any excise tax on termination benefits (including any accelerated vesting of his options under our Plans as described below) plus any penalties and interest.
On January 10, 2017, we entered into an amendment with Mr. Kriegsman, under which the term of his employment agreement was extended by three years to December 31, 2021. We agree in Mr. Kriegsman's employment agreement that if there is a change in control and his employment agreement is either not renewed by either us or Mr. Kriegsman or, following the expiration of the employment agreement, we terminate Mr. Kriegsman's employment other than for "cause" or he resigns for "good reason," he will be entitled to the lump-sum severance and continuation of benefits described in the preceding paragraph for a change in control.
We agree in the employment agreements with our named executive officers (other than Mr. Kriegsman) that if we do not offer to renew or extend the officer's employment agreement, and we had not theretofore terminated their employment, we will continue to pay the officer his annual salary thereunder during the period commencing upon expiration of his employment agreement and ending on June 30, 2019, or the date of his re-employment with another employer, whichever is earlier.
In the event we terminate Mr. Kriegsman's employment without "cause," Mr. Kriegsman resigns for "good reason" or his employment terminates due to his "disability" (each as defined in the employment agreement) or death, he will be entitled to full and immediate vesting of his restricted stock and stock options and any other equity awards based on our securities and all such awards will remain exercisable for their full term notwithstanding the termination of his employment (other than a termination by the company for "cause" or their resignation without "good reason").
Change of Control Arrangements
In addition to the severance and benefits payable to our named executive officers in the event of a termination of their employment following a change of control of the company, our 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan and 2008 Plan provide generally that, upon a change of control of the company, all unvested stock options and awards under the Plans held by plan participants, including the named executive officers, will become immediately vested and exercisable immediately prior to the effective date of the transaction. The Compensation Committee believes that such "single trigger" change of control policy is consistent with the objective of aligning the interests of the named executive officer's and of the company's stockholders by allowing the executives to participate equally with stockholders in the event of a change of control transaction.
The foregoing severance and change of control arrangements, including the quantification of the payments and benefits provided under these arrangements, are described in more detail elsewhere in this Annual Report under the heading "Executive Compensation – Employment Agreements and Potential Payment Upon Termination or Change in Control."
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #49#


 
Ownership Guidelines
The Compensation Committee has no requirement that named executive officers maintain a minimum ownership interest in our company.
Our long-term incentive compensation consists solely of periodic grants of stock options to our named executive officers. The stock option program:
·
links the creation of stockholder value with executive compensation;
·
provides increased equity ownership by executives;
·
functions as a retention tool, because of the vesting features included in all options granted by the Compensation Committee; and
·
helps us to maintain competitive levels of total compensation.
We normally grant stock options to new executive officers when they join our company based upon their position with us and their relevant prior experience. The options granted by the Compensation Committee generally vest monthly over the first three years of the ten-year option term. Vesting and exercise rights generally cease upon termination of employment (unless such termination is without cause or is a resignation for good reason), except in the case of death (subject to a one-year limitation), disability or retirement. Prior to the exercise of an option, the holder has no rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares subject to such option, including voting rights and the right to receive dividends or dividend equivalents. In addition to the initial option grants, our Compensation Committee may grant additional options to retain our executives and reward, or provide incentive for, the achievement of corporate goals and strong individual performance.
On an annual basis, the Compensation Committee assesses the appropriate individual and corporate goals for our executives and provides additional option grants based upon the achievement by the new executives of both individual and corporate goals. We expect that we will continue to provide new employees with initial option grants in the future to provide long-term compensation incentives and will continue to rely on performance-based and retention grants to provide additional incentives for current employees. Additionally, in the future, the Compensation Committee may consider awarding additional or alternative forms of equity incentives, such as grants of bonus stock, restricted stock and restricted stock units.
It is our policy to award stock options at an exercise price equal to The Nasdaq Capital Market's closing price of our common stock on the date of the grant. In certain limited circumstances, the Compensation Committee may grant options to an executive at an exercise price in excess of the closing price of the common stock on the grant date. The Compensation Committee will not grant options with an exercise price that is less than the closing price of our common stock on the grant date, nor will it grant options which are priced on a date other than the grant date. For purposes of determining the exercise price of stock options, the grant date is deemed to be the first day of employment for newly hired employees. Among our corporate governance practices, we will grant stock options to directors, officers and employees only on pre-set dates established by the Compensation Committee prior to the fiscal year in which the options are to be granted.  The Compensation Committee has established December 15 as the date for the annual grant of stock options.  The December 15 date correlates to the approximate dates of our historical annual stock option grants, but otherwise was not based upon any particular methodology.  We also publicly disclose the method used to determine the pre-set stock option grant dates and any future changes thereto at least 90 days before they become effective.  All stock option grants, other than initial stock option grants to new employees, will be made at a meeting, whether in-person or telephonic, of the Compensation Committee and not by unanimous written consent, and that the Compensation Committee will determine the grantees, amounts, dates and prices of all stock options and will not delegate these responsibilities.
We have no program, practice or plan to grant stock options to our executive officers, including new executive officers, in coordination with the release of material nonpublic information. We also have not timed the release of material nonpublic information for the purpose of affecting the value of stock options or other compensation to our executive officers, and we have no plan to do so. We have no policy regarding the adjustment or recovery of stock option awards in connection with the restatement of our financial statements, as our stock option awards have not been tied to the achievement of specific financial goals.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #50#


 
Tax and Accounting Implications
Deductibility of Executive Compensation
As part of its role, the Compensation Committee reviews and considers the deductibility of executive compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, which provides that corporations may not deduct compensation of more than $1,000,000 that is paid to certain individuals. We believe that compensation paid to our executive officers generally is fully deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Accounting for Share-Based Compensation
Beginning on January 1, 2006, we began accounting for share-based compensation in accordance with the requirements of ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. This accounting treatment has not significantly affected our compensation decisions. The Compensation Committee takes into consideration the tax consequences of compensation to the named executive officers, but tax considerations are not a significant part of the company's compensation policy.
These policies remained in place throughout 2017, and we expect to continue to follow them for the foreseeable future.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation in Compensation Decisions
There are no "interlocks," as defined by the SEC, with respect to any member of the Compensation Committee. Louis Ignarro, Ph.D. and Dr. Brien served as members of the Compensation Committee for all of 2017. Anita Chawla, Ph. D. and Eric Selter served as members of the Compensation Committee in 2017 until July 2017. In July 2017, Joel Caldwell was appointed to the Compensation Committee when he joined the Board. 

Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K and, based on such review and discussions, has recommended to our board of directors that the foregoing "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" be included in this Annual Report.
Louis Ignarro, Ph.D.
Chairman
 
Earl Brien, M.D.
 
Joel Caldwell, CPA
 
 
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #51#


 

 
Summary Compensation Table
The following table presents summary information concerning all compensation paid or accrued by us for services rendered in all capacities during 2017, 2016 and 2015 by Steven A. Kriegsman and John Y. Caloz, who are the only individuals who served as our principal executive and financial officers during the year ended December 31, 2017; our one other most highly compensated executive officer who was serving as an executive officer as of December 31, 2017 and two former executive officers who would have been our other most highly compensated executive officers as of December 31, 2017 but for the fact that they were not serving as executive officers on that date:
Summary Compensation Table
 
Name and Principal Position
 Year
Salary ($)
   
Bonus
($) (1)
   
Option
Awards
($) (2)
   
All Other
Compensation ($)(3)
   
Total
($)
 
Steven A. Kriegsman
                             
Chief Executive Officer
 2017  
850,000
     
150,000
     
953,300
     
13,700
     
1,967,000
 
 
 2016  
850,000
     
150,000
     
1,388,750
     
13,700
     
2,402,450
 
 2015  
825,000
     
150,000
     
1,593,000
     
13,700
     
2,606,700
 
John Y. Caloz
                                       
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
 2017  
400,000
     
100,000
     
77,000
     
     
577,000
 
 2016  
400,000
     
135,000
     
108,850
     
     
643,850
 
 
 2015  
375,000
     
135,000
     
477,900
     
     
987,900
 
Daniel Levitt, M.D., Ph.D.
                                       
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer (4)
 2017  
430,600
     
702,300
     
     
     
1,132,900
 
  
 2016  
625,000
     
512,500
     
124,400
     
     
1,261,900
 
 
 2015  
625,000
     
150,000
     
796,500
     
     
1,571,500
 
                                         
Scott Wieland, Ph.D.,
                                       
Senior Vice President – Drug Development (4)
 2017  
254,100
     
     
     
     
254,100
 
 
 2016  
400,000
     
50,000
     
46,650
     
     
496,650
 
 
 2015  
400,000
     
75,000
     
159,300
     
     
634,300
 
                                         
Felix Kratz, Ph.D.,
                                       
Vice President – Drug Development
                                       
 
 2017  
222,400
     
76,000
     
33,000
     
     
331,400
 
 
 2016  
194,500
     
33,000
     
31,100
     
     
258,600
 
 
 2015  
182,000
     
49,000
     
119,500
     
     
350,500
 
 
_______________________________

 
(1)
Bonuses to the named executive officers reported above were paid in December of the applicable year, with the exception of Dr. Levitt, who received a signing bonus in January 2017.
(2)
The values shown in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of equity-based awards granted during the fiscal year, inclusive of Mr. Kriegsman's restricted stock award, in accordance with ASC 718, "Share Based-Payment." The fair value of the stock options at the date of grant was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, based on the assumptions described in Note 13 of the Notes to Financial Statements included in this Annual Report.
(3)
Represents life insurance premiums.

(4)
Dr. Levitt and Dr. Wieland resigned in July and June 2017, respectively.
 
 
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #52#


 
2017 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
In 2017, we granted stock options and restricted stock to our named executive officers under our 2008 Stock Incentive Plan as follows:
2017 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

Name 
 
Grant Date
   
All Other
Option Awards
(# of CytRx
Shares)
   
Exercise Price of
Option Awards
($/Share)
   
Grant Date
Fair Value of Stock and
Option Awards
($)
 
Steven A. Kriegsman
 
12/15/2017
     
595,931(1
)(2)
 
$
1.75
   
$
953,300
 
Chief Executive Officer
                             
                               
John Y. Caloz
 
12/15/2017
     
58,334(1
)
 
$
1.75
   
$
77,000
 
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
                             
                               
Daniel Levitt, M.D., Ph.D.
   
     
     
     
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
                               
                                 
Scott Wieland, Ph.D.
   
     
     
     
 
Senior Vice President – Drug Development
                               
 
Felix Kratz, Ph.D.
  Vice President – Drug Discovery
 
12/15/2017
     
25,000(1
)
 
$
1.75
   
$
33,000
 

___________________________________

(1)
Options vest in 36 equal monthly installments, subject to the named executive officer's remaining in our continuous employ through such dates, except in the case of Dr. Kratz, which vest bi-monthly over 24 months, and except that in the case of  Mr. Kriegsman, the unvested options will vest, in full, upon termination of his employment by us without "cause", or by reason of his "disability" or by him for "good reason" or upon his death.
(2)
Includes the award of 387,597 restricted shares of our common stock which will vest in three equal annual instalments.

2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan and 2008 Stock Incentive Plan
The purpose of our 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan, or 2000 Plan, and our 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, or 2008 Plan, is to promote our success and enhance our value by linking the personal interests of our employees, officers, consultants and directors to those of our stockholders. The 2000 Plan was originally adopted by our board of directors on August 24, 2000 and by our stockholders on June 7, 2001, with certain amendments to the Plan having been subsequently approved by our board of directors and stockholders. On May 11, 2009, our board of directors approved an amendment to the 2000 Plan to allow for a one-time stock option re-pricing program for our employees. The 2008 Plan was adopted by our board of directors on November 21, 2008 and by our stockholders on July 1, 2009 with certain amendments to that Plan having been subsequently approved by our board of directors and stockholders.
2000 Plan and 2008 Plan Descriptions
The 2000 Plan and the 2008 Plan, or the Plans, are administered by the Compensation Committee of our board of directors. The Compensation Committee has the power, authority and discretion to:
·
designate participants;
·
determine the types of awards to grant to each participant and the number, terms and conditions of any award
·
establish, adopt or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan; and
·
make all other decisions and determinations that may be required under, or as the Compensation Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer, the Plan.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #53#


 
Awards under the 2000 Plan
The 2000 Plan expired on August 6, 2010, and thus no shares are available for future grant under the 2000 Plan.
Awards under the 2008 Plan
The following is a summary description of financial instruments that may be granted to participants in our 2008 Plan by the Compensation Committee of our board of directors. The Compensation Committee to date has only granted stock options to participants in the 2008 Plan.
Stock Options. The Compensation Committee is authorized to grant both incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options. The terms of any incentive stock option must meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. The exercise price of an option may not be less than the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant, and no option may have a term of more than 10 years from the grant date.
Restricted Stock. The Compensation Committee may make awards of restricted stock, which will be subject to forfeiture to us and other restrictions as the Compensation Committee may impose.
Stock Bonus Awards. The Compensation Committee may make awards of stock bonus awards in consideration for past services actually rendered, which will be subject to repurchase by us and such other terms as the Compensation Committee may impose.
Limitations on Transfer; Beneficiaries. Stock Option awards under the 2008 Plan may generally not be transferred or assigned by participants other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Awards of Restricted Stock or Stock Bonus awards may be transferred or assigned only upon such terms and conditions as set forth in the award agreement or as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion.
Acceleration Upon Certain Events. In the event of a "Corporate Transaction" as defined in the 2008 Plan, all outstanding options will become fully vested, subject to the holder's consent with respect to incentive stock options, and exercisable and all restrictions on all outstanding awards will lapse.  Unless the surviving or acquiring entity assumes the awards in the Corporate Transaction or the stock award agreement provides otherwise, the stock awards will terminate if not exercised at or prior to the Corporate Transaction.
Termination and Amendment
Our board of directors or the Compensation Committee may, at any time and from time to time, terminate or amend the 2000 Plan or the 2008 Plan without stockholder approval; provided, however, that our board or the Compensation Committee may condition any amendment on the approval of our stockholders if such approval is necessary or deemed advisable with respect to tax, securities or other applicable laws, policies or regulations. No termination or amendment of the Plans may adversely affect any award previously granted without the written consent of the participants affected. The Compensation Committee may amend any outstanding award without the approval of the participants affected, except that no such amendment may diminish or impair the value of an award.
Holdings of Previously Awarded Equity
Equity awards held as of December 31, 2017 by each of our named executive officers were issued under our 2000 Plan and 2008 Plan. The following table sets forth outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2017:
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #54#


 
2017 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

   
Option Awards
 
   
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
             
Name 
 
Exercisable
         
Unexercisable
   
Option Exercise Price ($)
   
Option Expiration Date
 
 Steven A. Kriegsman    
     
(1
)
   
208,334
     
1.75
   
12/14/27
 
       President and Chief Executive Officer
   
129,199
     
(4
)
   
     
n/a
     
n/a
 
         
   
69,445
     
(1
)
   
138,889
     
2.58
   
12/14/26
 
     
111,111
     
(1
)
   
55,555
     
14.64
   
12/14/25
 
     
100,000
     
(1
)
   
     
12.90
   
12/09/24
 
     
154,167
     
(3
)
   
     
27.96
   
12/09/23
 
     
12,363
             
     
14.76
   
3/07/23
 
     
83,334
             
     
10.98
   
12/10/22
 
     
23,810
             
     
13.02
   
12/11/21
 
     
17,858
             
     
42.42
   
12/14/20
 
     
17,858
             
     
44.10
   
12/10/19
 
     
7,143
             
     
15.54
   
11/21/18
 
     
10,715
             
     
48.30
   
4/07/18
 
                                         
John Y. Caloz
   
     
(1
)
   
58,334
     
1.75
   
12/14/27
 
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
   
19,444
     
(1
)
   
38,889
     
2.58
   
12/14/26
 
     
33,334
     
(1
)
   
16,666
     
14.64
   
12/14/25
 
     
33,334
             
     
12.90
   
12/14/24
 
     
25,000
     
(3
)
   
     
27.96
   
12/09/23
 
     
16,667
             
     
10.98
   
12/10/22
 
     
4,762
             
     
13.02
   
12/11/21
 
     
1,191
             
     
42.42
   
12/14/20
 
     
2,976
             
     
44.10
   
12/10/19
 
     
1,191
             
     
12.60
   
01/02/19
 
     
1,191
             
     
15.54
   
11/21/18
 
     
595
             
     
48.30
   
04/07/18
 
                                         
Felix Kratz, Ph.D.
                                       
Vice-President – Drug Discovery
   
     
(2
)
   
25,000
     
1.75
   
12/14/27
 
     
8,333
     
(2
)
   
8,334
     
2.58
   
12/14/26
 
     
12,500
     
(2
)
   
     
14.64
   
12/09/25
 
     
10,000
             
     
12.90
   
12/10/24
 
     
16,667
             
     
24.90
   
3/14/24
 

____________
 
(1)
These options vest in 36 equal monthly installments, subject to the named executive officer's remaining in our continuous employ through such dates. All stock options held by Mr. Kriegsman and Dr.
Levitt provide for (a) vesting, in full, of the stock options in the event of, and upon, FDA approval to market aldoxorubicin and in the event of the termination of his employment by us without "cause" or due
to his "disability," his resignation for "good reason" or his death and (b) the extended exercisability for their full term of all vested options in the event of the termination of his employment other than
a termination by us with "cause" or his resignation without "good reason."
   
(2)
These options vest in equal bi-monthly installments, subject to the named executive officer's remaining in our continuous employ through such dates.
   
(3)
The options were re-priced from $14.34 to $27.96 on June 1, 2015, with no change to the expiration date of the options.
   
(4)
Represents restricted stock fully-vested at December 31, 2017. On December 15, 2016, Mr. Kriegsman was granted 387,597 shares of restricted stock, which vest over three years in equal annual amounts.
   


CytRx 2017 10-K Page #55#


 

Employment Agreements and Potential Payment upon Termination or Change in Control
Employment Agreement with Steven A. Kriegsman
Mr. Kriegsman is employed as our Chief Executive Officer pursuant to a fourth amendment dated as of January 10, 2017 to his fourth amended and restated employment agreement, as amended. The employment agreement will expire on December 31, 2021, but will automatically renew following the expiration date for successive additional one-year periods, unless either Mr. Kriegsman or we elect not to renew it.
Under his employment agreement, Mr. Kriegsman is currently entitled to receive a base salary of $850,000. Our board of directors (or its Compensation Committee) reviews the base salary annually and may increase (but not decrease) it in its sole discretion. In addition to his annual salary, Mr. Kriegsman is eligible to receive an annual bonus as determined by our board of directors (or its Compensation Committee) in its sole discretion, but not to be less than $150,000.
Mr. Kriegsman is eligible to receive grants of options to purchase shares of our common stock. The number and terms of those options, including the vesting schedule, will be determined by our board of directors (or its Compensation Committee) in its sole discretion. In his employment agreement, however, we have agreed that all stock options held by Mr. Kriegsman will provide for (a) vesting, in full, of the stock options in the event of, and upon, FDA approval to market aldoxorubicin and in the event of the termination of Mr. Kriegsman's employment by us without "cause" or due to his "disability," his resignation for "good reason" or his death and (b) ) the extended exercisability for their full term of all vested options in the event of the termination of his employment by us without "cause," his resignation for "good reason," due to his disability or his death.
In Mr. Kriegsman's employment agreement, we have agreed that, if he is made a party, or threatened to be made a party, to a suit or proceeding by reason of his service to us, we will indemnify and hold him harmless from all costs and expenses to the fullest extent permitted or authorized by our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or any resolution of our board of directors, to the extent not inconsistent with Delaware law. We also have agreed to advance to Mr. Kriegsman such costs and expenses upon his request if he undertakes to repay such advances if it ultimately is determined that he is not entitled to indemnification with respect to the same. These employment agreement provisions are not exclusive of any other rights to indemnification to which Mr. Kriegsman may be entitled and are in addition to any rights he may have under any policy of insurance maintained by us.
If his employment agreement is not renewed by us or by Mr. Kriegsman, or in the event we terminate Mr. Kriegsman's employment without "cause" (as defined), or if Mr. Kriegsman terminates his employment with "good reason" (as defined), in either case whether during or following the term of his employment agreement (i) we have agreed to pay Mr. Kriegsman a lump-sum equal to his salary and prorated minimum annual bonus through to his date of termination, plus his salary and minimum annual bonus for a period of two years (three years if such termination occurs within two years following a change of control of the company) after his termination date, or until the expiration of the  employment agreement, whichever is later, (ii) he will be entitled to immediate vesting of all stock options or other awards based on our equity securities, and (iii) he will also be entitled to continuation of his life insurance premium payments and continued participation in any of our health plans through to the later of the expiration of the amended and restated employment agreement or  two years (three years if such termination occurs within two years following a change of control) following his termination date. Mr. Kriegsman will have no obligation in such events to seek new employment or offset the severance payments to him by any compensation received from any subsequent reemployment by another employer.
Under Mr. Kriegsman's employment agreement, he and his affiliated company, The Kriegsman Group LLC, are to provide us during the term of his employment with the first opportunity to conduct or take action with respect to any acquisition opportunity or any other potential transaction identified by them within the biotech, pharmaceutical or health care industries and that is within the scope of the business plan adopted by our board of directors. Mr. Kriegsman's employment agreement also contains confidentiality provisions relating to our trade secrets and any other proprietary or confidential information, which provisions shall remain in effect for five years after the expiration of the employment agreement with respect to proprietary or confidential information and for so long as our trade secrets remain trade secrets.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #56#


 
Potential Payment upon Termination or Change in Control for Steven A. Kriegsman
Mr. Kriegsman's employment agreement contains no provision for payment to him upon the event of a change in control of the company. If, however, a change in control (as defined in our 2000 Plan or our 2008 Plan) occurs and within two years after the date on which the change in control occurs, Mr. Kriegsman's employment is terminated by us without "cause" or by him for "good reason" (each as defined in his employment agreement), in either case, whether during or following the term of his employment agreement, then, in addition to the severance benefits described above, to the extent that any payment or distribution of any type by us to or for the benefit of Mr. Kriegsman resulting from the termination of his employment is or will be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, we have agreed to pay Mr. Kriegsman, prior to the time the excise tax is payable with respect to any such payment (through withholding or otherwise), an additional amount that, after the imposition of all income, employment, excise and other taxes, penalties and interest thereon, is equal to the sum of (i) the excise tax on such payments plus (ii) any penalty and interest assessments associated with such excise tax.
Employment Agreement with John Y. Caloz
John Y. Caloz is employed as our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer pursuant to an employment agreement dated as of February 26, 2018 that is to expire on December 31, 2018. Mr. Caloz is paid an annual base salary of $400,000 and is eligible to receive an annual bonus as determined by our board of directors (or our Compensation Committee) in its sole discretion. In the event we terminate Mr. Caloz's employment without cause (as defined), we have agreed to pay him a lump-sum equal to his accrued but unpaid salary and vacation, plus an amount equal to six months' salary under his employment agreement.
We agree in Mr. Caloz's employment agreement that if we do not offer to renew or extend his employment agreement, and that his employment had not theretofore been terminated, we will continue to pay him his annual salary thereunder during the period commencing upon expiration of his employment agreement and ending on June 30, 2019.
Employment Agreement with Felix Kratz, Ph.D.
Felix Kratz is employed as our Vice President — Drug Discovery pursuant to an employment agreement dated as of March 16, 2017 that is to expire on March 15, 2018. Dr. Kratz is paid an annual base salary of 185,000 Euros ($222,400) and is eligible to receive an annual bonus as determined by our board of directors (or our Compensation Committee) in its sole discretion. In the event we terminate Dr. Kratz's employment without "cause" (as defined), we have agreed to pay him a lump-sum equal to his accrued but unpaid salary and vacation, plus an amount equal to six months' base salary.
We agree in Dr. Kratz's employment agreement that if we do not offer to renew or extend his employment agreement, and that his employment had not theretofore been terminated, we will continue to pay him his annual salary thereunder during the period commencing upon expiration of his employment agreement and ending on September 15, 2019.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #57#


 

Quantification of Termination Payments and Benefits
The table below reflects the amount of compensation to each of our named executive officers in the event of termination of such executive's employment without "cause" or his resignation for "good reason," termination following a change in control and termination upon the executive's death of permanent disability. The named executive officers are not entitled to any payments other than accrued compensation and benefits in the event of their voluntary resignation. The amounts shown in the table below assume that such termination was effective as of December 31, 2017, and thus includes amounts earned through such time, and are estimates only of the amounts that would be payable to the executives. The actual amounts to be paid will be determined upon the occurrence of the events indicated.

Termination Payments and Benefits

   
Termination w/o Cause or, for Mr. Kriegsman, for Good Reason
                   
Name 
 Benefit
Before Change in
Control ($)
   
After Change
in
Control ($)
   
Death ($)
   
Disability ($)
   
Change in
Control ($)
 
Steven A. Kriegsman
 Severance Payment (4)  
4,250,000
     
4,250,000
     
1,700,000
     
1,700,000
     
 
Chief Executive Officer
 Stock Options (1)  
     
     
     
     
 
 
 Health Insurance (2)  
89,500
     
134,200
     
89,500
     
89,500
     
 
 
 Life Insurance (2)  
27,400
     
41,100
     
     
27,400
     
 
 
 Bonus  
750,000
     
750,000
     
300,000
     
300,000
     
 
 
 Tax Gross Up (3)  
     
     
     
     
 
                                         
John Y. Caloz
 Severance Payment (4)  
200,000
     
400,000
     
     
     
 
Chief Financial Officer
 Stock Options (1)  
     
     
     
     
 
 
 Health Insurance  
     
     
21,500
     
21,500
     
 
                                         
Felix Kratz, Ph.D.
 Severance Payment (4)  
111,000
     
222,000
     
     
     
 
Vice President, Drug Discovery
 Stock Options (1)                                      
____________
 (1)
Represents the aggregate value of stock options that vest and become exercisable immediately upon each of the triggering events listed as if such events took place on December 31, 2017, determined by the aggregate difference between the stock price as of December 31, 2017 and the exercise prices of the underlying options.
(2)
Represents the cost as of December 31, 2017 for benefits provided to Mr. Kriegsman for a period of two years, or in the event of a change in control, a period of three years.
(3)
Mr. Kriegsman's employment agreement provides that if a change in control (as defined in our 2000 Plan or our 2008 Plan) occurs during the term of the employment agreement, and if, during the term and within two years after the date on which the change in control occurs, Mr. Kriegsman's employment is terminated by us without "cause" or by him for "good reason" (each as defined in their respective employment agreement), then, to the extent that any payment or distribution of any type by us to or for the benefit of Mr. Kriegsman resulting from the termination of his respective employment is or will be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, we will pay Mr. Kriegsman prior to the time the excise tax is payable with respect to any such payment (through withholding or otherwise), an additional amount that, after the imposition of all income, employment, excise and other taxes, penalties and interest thereon, is equal to the sum of (i) the excise tax on such payments plus (ii) any penalty and interest assessments associated with such excise tax. Based on Mr. Kriegsman's past compensation and the estimated payment that would result from a termination of employment following a change in control, we have estimated that a gross-up payment would not be required. "Good reason" as defined in Mr. Kriegsman's employment agreement includes any change in Mr. Kriegsman's duties or title, as applicable, that are inconsistent with his respective positions. Mr. Kriegsman's employment agreement provides that, if the employment agreement is not renewed by us or by Mr. Kriegsman upon the expiration of its term on December 31, 2021, Mr. Kriegsman will be entitled to the termination payments and benefits described above.
(4)
Severance payments are prescribed by our employment agreements with the named executive officers and represent a factor of their annual base compensation ranging from six months to two years, except for Mr. Kriegsman, which is the later of December 2021, the expiry of his agreement, or three years.

CytRx 2017 10-K Page #58#


 
Pay Ratio
   
     
Annual total compensation of the median employee for 2017
 
$
81,000
 
Annual total compensation of the CEO for 2017
 
$
1,967,000
 
Ratio of annual total compensation of the median employee to the annual total compensation of CEO for 2017
1:24.3
 

The Company chose December 31, 2017 as the date for establishing the employee population used in identifying the median employee and used fiscal 2017 as the measurement period. The Company identified the median employee using a consistently applied compensation measure which includes annual base salary or wages, target annual performance-based cash bonuses, and long-term equity awards based on their grant date fair values. All U.S. and non-U.S. employees employed as of December 31, 2017 were captured. No cost-of-living adjustments were made. The annual total compensation of the median employee and the annual total compensation of the CEO were calculated in accordance with the requirements of Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S-K.

Compensation of Directors
We use a combination of cash and stock-based compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on our board of directors. Directors who also are employees of our company currently receive no compensation for their service as directors or as members of board committees. In setting director compensation, we consider the significant amount of time that directors dedicate to the fulfillment of their director responsibilities, as well as the competency and skills required of members of our board. The directors' current compensation schedule has been in place since December 2013. The directors' annual compensation year begins with the annual election of directors at the annual meeting of stockholders. The annual retainer year period has been in place for directors since 2003. Periodically, our board of directors reviews our director compensation policies and, from time to time, makes changes to such policies based on various criteria the board deems relevant.
Our non-employee directors receive a quarterly retainer of $6,000 (plus an additional $5,000 for the Chairmen of the Audit, Compensation and Strategy Committees, and $1,500 for the Chairman of the Nomination and Governance Committee), a fee of $3,000 for each board meeting attended ($750 for board actions taken by unanimous written consent), $2,000 for each meeting of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee attended, and $1,000 for each meeting of the Nomination and Governance Committee meeting attended. Non-employee directors who serve as the chairman of a board committee receive an additional $2,000 for each meeting of the Nomination and Governance Committee attended and an additional $2,500 for each meeting of the Audit, Compensation or Strategy Committees attended. During 2017, we granted ten-year stock options to purchase 30,000 shares of our common stock to our newly appointed non-employee director, Mr. Joel Caldwell at an exercise price equal to the market value of our common stock on the date of grant. In December 2017, we also granted ten-year stock options to purchase 30,000 shares of our common stock to each non-employee director at an exercise price equal to the market value of our common stock on the date of grant. In addition, Dr. Earl Brien was appointed Chairman of the Strategy Committee, for which he was awarded an additional grant of 40,000 shares. The options vested, in full, upon grant.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #59#


 
The following table sets forth the compensation paid to our directors other than our Chief Executive Officer for 2017:
Director Compensation Table

Name (1) 
 
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) (2)
   
Option Awards ($) (3)
   
   Total
($)
 
Louis Ignarro, Ph.D., Lead Director
   
135,250
     
45,600
     
180,850
 
Earl Brien, M.D., Director
   
97,450
     
106,400
     
203,850
 
Joel Caldwell, Director
   
67,300
     
150,000
     
217,300
 
Eric Selter, Director
   
42,250
     
     
42,250
 
Anita Chawla, Ph.D., Director
   
24,250
     
     
24,250
 
____________

(1)
Steven A. Kriegsman does not receive additional compensation for his role as Chairman of the Board. For information relating to Mr. Kriegsman's compensation as Chief Executive Officer, see the Summary Compensation Table above.

(2)
The amounts in this column represent cash payments made to Non-Employee Directors for annual retainer fees, committee and/or chairmanship fees and meeting fees during the year.
 
(3)          In July 2017, we granted stock options to purchase 30,000 shares of our common stock to newly-appointed non-employee director, Joel Caldwell at an exercise price equal to the current market value of
               our common stock on the date of grant, which had an aggregate grant date fair value respectively of $104,400, and in December 2017, we granted newly-appointed Chairman of the Strategy Committee,
               Dr. Earl Brien stock options to purchase 40,000 shares of our common stock on the date of grant, which had an aggregate grant date fair value respectively of $60,800, both calculated in accordance with
               FASB ASC Topic 718.
 
        The amount recognized for these awards was calculated using the Black Scholes option-pricing model, and reglect grants from our 2008 Stock Incentive Plan. In December 2017, we granted stock options to purchase 30,000 shares of our common stock to each non-employee director at an exercise price equal to the current market value of our common stock on the date of grant, which had an aggregate grant date fair value of $45,600. The amount recognized for these awards was calculated using the Black Scholes option-pricing model, and reflect grants from our 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, which is described in Note 13 of the Notes to Financial Statements. Eric Selter and Anita Chawla both departed from the Board in July 2017, prior to the annual granting of stock options.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #60#


 


Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Based solely upon information made available to us, the following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 16, 2018 by (1) each person who is known by us to beneficially own more than five percent of our common stock; (2) each of our directors; (3) the named executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table under Item 11 who were serving as named Executive Officers as of March 16, 2018; and (4) all of our executive officers and directors as a group. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the SEC rules. Shares of common stock subject to any warrants or options that are presently exercisable, or exercisable within 60 days of March 16, 2018 (which are indicated by footnote) are deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding the warrants or options, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. The percentage ownership reflected in the table is based on 28,037,501 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 16, 2018. Except as otherwise indicated, the holders listed below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown, subject to applicable community property laws. An asterisk represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.
   
Shares of
Common Stock
       
Name of Beneficial Owner 
 
Number
   
Percent
       
                      Named Executive Officers and Directors
                 
Louis Ignarro, Ph.D.
   
174,212
     
*
     
(1
)
Steven A. Kriegsman
   
1,552,819
     
5.5
%
   
(2
)
Joel Caldwell
   
60,000
     
*
     
(3
)
Felix Kratz, Ph.D.
   
54,445
     
*
     
(4
)
Earl Brien, M.D.
   
140,247
     
*
     
(5
)
John Y. Caloz
   
163,588
     
*
     
(6
)
All executive officers and directors as a group (six persons)
   
2,145,312
     
7.7
%
   
(7
)
                         
                      5% Beneficial Owners
                       
NantCell, Inc.
   
2,469,697
     
8.8
%
   
(8
)
                         
                         
_______
1)
Includes 172,024 shares subject to options or warrants.
(2)
Includes 678,107 shares subject to options or warrants.
(3)
Includes 60,000 shares subject to options or warrants.
(4)
Includes 54,445 shares subject to options or warrants.
(5)
Includes 130,000 shares subject to options or warrants.
(6)
Includes 162,831 shares subject to options or warrants.
(7)
Includes 1,257,406 shares subject to options or warrants.
(8)
Includes 500,000 shares subject to warrants.
Equity Compensation Plans
The information required is incorporated herein by reference to Item 5 of this Annual Report relating to our Equity Compensation Plans as set forth on page 26.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #61#


 
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS, RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Director Independence
Our board of directors has determined that Messrs. Ignarro, Brien and Caldwell are "independent" under the current independence standards of both The NASDAQ Capital Market and the SEC, and have no material relationships with us (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of any entity) that are inconsistent with a finding of their independence as members of our board of directors. Our board has determined that Messrs. Ignarro, Brien and Caldwell also are "independent" for purposes of service as the members of our Audit Committee. In making these determinations, our board of directors has broadly considered all relevant facts and circumstances, recognizing that material relationships can include commercial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, and familial relationships, among others.
Transactions with Related Persons
General
Our Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving, as appropriate, all transactions with related persons, in accordance with its Charter and NASDAQ Marketplace Rules.
Transactions between us and one or more related persons may present risks or conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest. Our Code of Ethics requires all employees, officers and directors to avoid activities or relationships that conflict, or may be perceived to conflict, with our interests or adversely affect our reputation. It is understood, however, that certain relationships or transactions may arise that would be deemed acceptable and appropriate so long as there is full disclosure of the interest of the related parties in the transaction and review and approval by disinterested directors to ensure there is a legitimate business reason for the transaction and that the transaction is fair to us and our stockholders.
As a result, the procedures followed by the Audit Committee to evaluate transactions with related persons require:
·
that all related person transactions, all material terms of the transactions, and all the material facts as to the related person's direct or indirect interest in, or relationship to, the related person transaction must be communicated to the Audit Committee; and
·
that all related person transactions, and any material amendment or modification to any related person transaction, be reviewed and approved or ratified by the Audit Committee, as required by NASDAQ Marketplace Rules.
Our Audit Committee will evaluate related person transactions based on:
·
information provided by members of our board of directors in connection with the required annual evaluation of director independence;
·
pertinent responses to the Directors' and Officers' Questionnaires submitted periodically by our officers and directors and provided to the Audit Committee by our management;
·
background information on nominees for director provided by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of our board of directors; and
·
any other relevant information provided by any of our directors or officers.
·
In connection with its review and approval or ratification, if appropriate, of any related person transaction, our Audit Committee is to consider whether the transaction will compromise standards included in our Code of Ethics. In the case of any related person transaction involving an outside director or nominee for director, the Audit Committee also is to consider whether the transaction will compromise the director's status as an independent director as prescribed in the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules.
There were no related person transactions in 2017.
Applicable Definitions
For purposes of our Audit Committee's review:
·
"related person" has the meaning given to such term in Item 404(a) of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K ("Item 404(a)"); and
·
"related person transaction" means any transaction for which disclosure is required under the terms of Item 404(a) involving us and any related persons.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #62#


 
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
BDO USA, LLP, or BDO, serves as our independent registered public accounting firm and audited our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
Audit Fees
The fees for 2017 and 2016 from BDO for professional services rendered in connection with the audits of our annual financial statements and internal controls over financial reporting and reviews of our unaudited quarterly financial statements and Form S-3 registration statements were $425,210 and $436,609, respectively.

Tax Fees
The aggregate fees billed by BDO for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning were $17,511 and $45,550 for 2017 and 2016, respectively.
All Other Fees
No other services were rendered by BDO in either 2017 or 2016.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
It is the policy of our Audit Committee that all services to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, including audit services and permitted audit-related and non-audit services, must be pre-approved by our Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee pre-approved all services, audit and non-audit, provided to us by BDO for 2017 and 2016.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #63#


 
PART IV
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this 10-K:
(1) Financial Statements
Our financial statements and the related report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon are set forth on pages F-1 to F-22 of this Annual Report. These financial statements are as follows:
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016
Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(2) Financial Statement Schedule
The following financial statement schedule is set forth on page F-24 of this Annual Report.
Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
All other schedules are omitted because they are not required, not applicable, or the information is provided in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(b) Exhibits
See Exhibit Index to this Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.
 
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #64#


 
 
CytRx Corporation
Form 10-K Exhibit Index
 
 
 
   
Incorporated By Reference to
 
Exhibit
Number
Description
 
Form
 
Exhibit
Filing Date
Filed / Furnished
Herewith
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 6, 2008, among CytRx Corporation, CytRx Merger Subsidiary, Inc., Innovive Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Steven Kelly
8-K
2.1
6/9/2008
 
3.1
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of CytRx Corporation, as amended
10-K
3.1
3/13/2012
 
3.2
Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation
8-K
3.1
5/15/2012
 
3.3
Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, Pursuant to Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
8-K
3.1
12/14/2016
 
3.4
Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation
8-K
3.1
11/1/2017
 
3.5
Restated By-Laws of CytRx Corporation, as amended
8-K
3.2
7/16/2013
 
4.1
Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement dated April 16, 1997 between CytRx Corporation and American Stock Transfer &Trust Company, as Rights Agent
8-K
99.1
4/17/1997
 
4.1.1
Amendment No. 1 to Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated February 11, 2002
10-K
4.2
4/1/2002
 
4.1.2
Amendment No. 2 to Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated March 30, 2007
10-K
4.3
4/2/2007
 
4.1.3
Amendment No. 3 to Shareholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated July 12, 2016
10-Q
4.1
11/9/2016
 
           
4.2
Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued by CytRx Corporation to Alexander Capital, L.P.
10-K
4.5
3/11/2016
 
4.3
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued by CytRx Corporation, dated July 20, 2016
10-K
4.6
3/15/2017
 
4.4
Contingent Common Stock Purchase Warrant Agreement dated as of December 5, 2016 issued by CytRx Corporation to Bristol Capital Advisors, LLC on February 10, 2017
10-K
4.7
3/15/2017
 
4.5
Warrant Agreement dated as of February 5, 2016 issued by CytRx Corporation to Hercules Technology Growth Capital, LLC
8-K
10.2
2/9/2016
 
4.5.1
First Amendment to Warrant Agreement, dated July 28, 2017, issued by CytRx Corporation to Hercules Capital, Inc. 
8-K
10.5
8/1/2017
 
4.6
Warrant Agreement dated as of February 5, 2016 issued by CytRx Corporation to Hercules Technology III, L.P.
8-K
10.3
2/9/2016
 
4.6.1
First Amendment to Warrant Agreement, dated July 28, 2017, issued by CytRx Corporation to Hercules Technology III, L.P. 
8-K
10.6
8/1/2017
 
4.7
Warrant, dated as of July 27, 2017, issued by CytRx Corporation to NantCell, Inc. 
8-K
10.3
8/1/2017
 
 
 
 
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #65#


 
 
   
Incorporated By Reference to
 
Exhibit
Number
Description
 
Form
 
Exhibit
Filing Date
Filed / Furnished
Herewith
10.1.1*
Amendment No. 2 to CytRx Corporation 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan
14A (proxy)
Annex C
6/11/2002
 
10.1.2*
Amendment No. 3 to CytRx Corporation 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan
10-K
10.14
5/14/2004
 
10.1.3*
Amendment No. 4 to CytRx Corporation 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan
10-K
10.15
5/14/2004
 
10.2*
CytRx Corporation Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Incentive Plan
10-K
10.6
3/13/2012
 
10.2.1*
Sixth Amendment to Amended and Restated CytRx Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan
14A
(proxy)
Annex B
5/5/2015
 
10.2.2*
Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated CytRx Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan
14A
(proxy)
Annex A
5/20/2016
 
10.2.3*
Eighth Amendment to Amended and Restated CytRx Corporation 2008 Stock Incentive Plan
14A
(proxy)
Annex B
5/20/2016
 
10.2.4*
Form of Non-qualified Stock Option for grants to non-employee directors under Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Incentive Plan.
10-K
10.11
3/11/2016
 
10.2.5*
Form of Non-qualified Stock Option for grants to executive officers under Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Incentive Plan.
10-K
10.12
3/11/2016
 
10.3*
Form of Non-qualified Stock Option for grants to Steven A. Kriegsman and Daniel J. Levitt, M.D., Ph.D., under Amended and Restated 2008 Stock Incentive Plan.
10-K
10.13
3/11/2016
 
10.3.1*
Amendment No. 1 to Stock Option Agreements of Daniel J. Levitt, M.D., Ph.D., dated December 31, 2015.
10-K
10.14
3/11/2016
 
10.3.2*
Amendment No. 1 to Stock Option Agreements (2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan) of Steven A. Kriegsman, dated March 8, 2016.
10-K
10.15
3/11/2016
 
10.3.3*
Amendment No. 1 to Stock Option Agreements (2008 Stock Incentive Plan) of Steven A. Kriegsman, dated March 8, 2016
10-K
10.16
3/11/2016
 
10.4†
License Agreement, dated December 7, 2001, by and between CytRx Corporation and Vical Incorporated
8-K
99
12/21/2001
 
10.5
Office Lease between The Kriegsman Capital Group, LLC and Douglas Emmett Joint Venture, dated April 13, 2000
10-K
10.63
5/14/2004
 
10.5.1
Assignment, Assumption and Consent, effective July 1, 2003, by and among CytRx Corporation, The Kriegsman Capital Group, LLC and Douglas Emmett Joint Venture, concerning Office Lease dated April 13, 2000
10-K
10.64
5/14/2004
 
10.5.2
First Amendment to Office Lease dated October 14, 2005, by and between CytRx Corporation and Douglas Emmett 1993, LLC
8-K
10.1
10/20/2005
 
 10.5.3 Second Amendment to Office Lease dated June 30, 2008, by and between CytRx Corporation and Douglas Emmett 1993, LLC  10-K  10.29  3/13/2009  
 10.5.4 Third Amendment to Office Lease dated December 1, 2009, by and between CytRx Corporation and Douglas Emmett 1993, LLC 10-Q   10.1  12/4/2009  
 10.5.5 Fourth Amendment to Office Lease dated February 10 2014, by and between CytRx Corporation and Douglas Emmett 1993, LLC 8-K   10.1  2/13/2014  

CytRx 2017 10-K Page #66#


 
      Incorporated By Reference to  
 
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 Form  Exhibit  Filing Date  Filed/Furnished Herewith
10.6†
License Agreement dated April 17, 2006 between Innovive Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and KTB Tumorforschungs GmbH
10-Q
10.15
11/14/2006
 
10.6.1
Amendment dated March 14, 2014 to License Agreement between CytRx Corporation and KTB Tumorforschungs GmbH
8-K
1.1
3/17/2014
 
10.7*
Employment Agreement dated January 1, 2017, between CytRx Corporation and Daniel J. Levitt, M.D., Ph.D.
10-K
10.26
3/15/2017
 
10.8*
Employment Agreement dated January 1, 2017, between CytRx Corporation and Scott Wieland
10-K
10.29
3/15/2017
 
10.9*
Employment Agreement dated January 10, 2017, between CytRx Corporation and John Y. Caloz
10-K
10.30
3/15/2017
 
10.10*
Employment Agreement dated February 26, 2018, between CytRx Corporation and John Y. Caloz
     
**
10.11*
Fourth Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated May 10, 2012, by and between CytRx Corporation and Steven A. Kriegsman
8-K
10.1
10/19/2012
 
10.11.1*
First Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between CytRx Corporation and Steven A. Kriegsman, dated March 4, 2014
10-K
10.32
3/5/2014
 
10.11.2*
Second Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between CytRx Corporation and Steven A. Kriegsman, dated January 1, 2015
10-K
10.31
3/10/2015
 
10.11.3*
Third Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between CytRx Corporation and Steven A. Kriegsman, dated March 8, 2016
10-K
10.36
3/11/2016
 
10.11.4*
Fourth Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between CytRx Corporation and Steven A. Kriegsman dated January 10, 2017
10-K
10.38
3/15/2017
 
10.12*
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement by and between CytRx Corporation and Steven A. Kriegsman, dated January 11, 2017
10-K
10.39
3/15/2017
 
10.13*
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement by and between CytRx Corporation and Steven A. Kriegsman, dated January 30, 2018
     
**
10.14
Loan and Security Agreement dated February 5, 2016 among CytRx Corporation, the Lender referred to therein, and Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc., as Agent
8-K
10.1
2/9/2016
 
10.14.1
First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated July 28, 2017, among CytRx Corporation, the lenders parties thereto, and Hercules Capital, Inc., as collateral agent for itself and the lenders 
8-K
10.4
8/1/2017
 
10.15†
Exclusive License Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2017, by and between CytRx Corporation and NantCell, Inc. 
8-K
10.1
8/1/2017
 
10.16
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2017, by and between CytRx Corporation and NantCell, Inc. 
8-K
10.2
8/1/2017
 
23.1
Consent of BDO USA, LLP
     
**
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 7241, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
**
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 7241, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
**
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
***
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
***
 
 
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #67#


 
 
       Incorporated By Reference to  
 Exhibit
Number
Description   Form Exhibit  Filing Date   Filed/Furnished Herewith
101.INS++
XBRL Instance Document.
     
**
101.SCH++
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
     
**
101.CAL++
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
     
**
101.DEF++
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
     
**
101.LAB++
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
     
**
101.PRE++
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
     
**
 
______________
 
*
Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
**
Filed herewith.
***
Furnished herewith.
Confidential treatment has been requested or granted for certain portions which have been blanked out in the copy of the exhibit filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The omitted information has been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
++
Pursuant to applicable securities laws and regulations, the Registrant is deemed to have complied with the reporting obligation relating to the submission of interactive data files in such exhibits and is not subject to liability under any anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws as long as the Registrant has made a good faith attempt to comply with the submission requirements and promptly amends the interactive data files after becoming aware that the interactive data files fails to comply with the submission requirements. These interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under these sections.

 
 
Item 16. SUMMARY

None
CytRx 2017 10-K Page #68#


 
SIGNATURES
In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
  Company Name  
       
Date: March 16, 2018
By:
/s/ STEVEN A. KRIEGSMAN  
    Steven A. Kriegsman  
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer  
       

In accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ STEVEN A. KRIEGSMAN
 
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
 
March 16, 2018
 Steven A. Kriegsman
 (Principal Executive Officer)  
 
 
 
     
/s/ JOHN Y. CALOZ 
Chief Financial Officer
March 16, 2018
John Y. Caloz
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
/s/ LOUIS IGNARRO 
 
Director
 
March 16, 2018
Louis Ignarro, Ph.D.
   
     
     
/s/ EARL BRIEN 
Director
March 16, 2018
EARL Brien, M.D.
   

/s/ JOEL CALDWELL 
Director
March 16, 2018
Joel Caldwell
   

CytRx 2017 10-K Page #69#


 
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE


CytRx Corporation
     
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
   
F-1
 
Balance Sheets
   
F-2
 
Statements of Operations
   
F-3
 
Statements of Stockholders' Equity
   
F-4
 
Statements of Cash Flows
   
F-5
 
Notes to Financial Statements
   
F-6
 
Financial Statement Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
   
F-22
 
                                                                                                                                                                    
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-iii#


 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of Directors and Stockholders
CytRx Corporation
Los Angeles, California
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of CytRx Corporation (the "Company") as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and the financial statement schedule of valuation and qualifying accounts (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB"), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") and our report dated March 16, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.



/s/ BDO USA, LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2004.
Los Angeles, California
March 16, 2018
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-1#


 


CYTRX CORPORATION
BALANCE SHEETS

   
December 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
 
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
37,643,404
   
$
56,959,485
 
Receivables
   
7,529,032
     
183,703
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
1,914,077
     
3,434,238
 
Total current assets
   
47,086,513
     
60,577,426
 
Equipment and furnishings, net
   
1,042,892
     
1,959,667
 
Goodwill
   
183,780
     
183,780
 
Other assets
   
34,334
     
48,911
 
 Total assets
 
$
48,347,519
   
$
62,769,784
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
 
$
4,122,017
   
$
6,406,445
 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
   
8,029,274
     
3,830,498
 
Deferred revenue
   
6,924,353
     
 
Term loan, net - current
   
10,599,795
     
5,481,656
 
Warrant liabilities
   
527,025
     
3,789,391
 
Total current liabilities
   
30,202,464
     
19,507,990
 
                 
Long term loan, net
   
     
18,484,510
 
Total liabilities
   
30,202,464
     
37,992,500
 
Commitment and contingencies
 
               
Stockholders' equity (2016 restated to reflect a 1-6 reverse stock split, see Note 1):
               
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 833,334 shares authorized, including 4,167 shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock; no shares issued and outstanding
   
     
 
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, stated value $1,000, 650 shares authorized of Series B Convertible Preferred Shares at $2.52 per share, 550 issued, 0 outstanding at December 31, 2017, 518 outstanding at December 31, 2016.
   
     
518,000
 
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 41,666,667 shares authorized; 28,037,501 and 18,553,817 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively
   
28,037
     
18,553
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
468,969,445
     
440,106,726
 
Accumulated deficit
   
(450,852,427
)
   
(415,865,995
)
Total stockholders' equity
   
18,145,055
     
24,777,284
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
48,347,519
   
$
62,769,784
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-2#


 
CYTRX CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
Revenue:
                 
Licensing revenue
 
$
100,000
   
$
200,000
   
$
100,000
 
                         
Expenses:
                       
Research and development
   
19,840,106
     
35,930,212
     
43,395,574
 
General and administrative
   
12,502,042
     
15,990,789
     
19,664,904
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
629,312
     
536,631
     
317,649
 
     
32,971,460
     
52,457,632
     
63,378,127
 
Loss before other income (expense)
   
(32,871,460
)
   
(52,257,632
)
   
(63,278,127
)
Other income (expense):
                       
Interest income
   
365,584
     
255,123
     
233,958
 
Interest expense
   
(3,831,211
)
   
(2,754,677
)
   
 
Other income (expense), net
   
(16,322
)
   
159,148
     
20,151
 
Gain on warrant liabilities
   
1,367,777
     
3,827,617
     
4,437,628
 
                         
Loss before provision for income taxes
   
(34,985,632
)
   
(50,770,421
)
   
(58,586,390
)
Provision for income taxes
   
(800
)
   
(800
)
   
(800
)
Net loss
 
$
(34,986,432
)
 
$
(50,771,221
)
 
$
(58,587,190
)
 
Basic and diluted loss per share
 
$
(1.46
)
 
$
(3.78
)
 
$
(5.82
)
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
   
24,042,293
     
13,510,629
     
10,080,526
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-3#


 
CYTRX CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

   
Series B Preferred Shares Issued
   
Common Shares Issued
   
Preferred Stock Amount
   
Common Stock Amount
   
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
   
Accumulated Deficit
   
Treasury Stock
   
Total
 
Balance at January 1, 2015
   
     
9,320,331
   
$
   
$
9,321
   
$
377,022,587
   
$
(306,507,584
)
 
$
(2,612,861
)
 
$
67,911,463
 
Issuance of stock options/warrants for compensation and services
   
     
     
     
     
7,384,656
     
     
     
7,384,656
 
Common stock issued in connection with a public offering
   
     
1,744,167
     
     
1,744
     
26,778,324
     
     
     
26,780,068
 
Options and warrants exercised
   
     
48,726
     
     
48
     
589,953
     
     
     
590,001
 
Retirement of treasury stock
   
     
(33,213
)
   
     
(33
)
   
(2,612,828
)
   
     
2,612,861
     
 
Net loss
   
     
     
     
     
     
(58,587,190
)
   
     
(58,587,190
)
Balance at December 31, 2015
   
     
11,080,011
             
11,080
     
409,162,692
     
(365,094,774
)
   
     
44,078,998
 
Issuance of stock options/warrants for compensation and services
   
     
     
     
     
6,735,576
     
     
     
6,735,576
 
Stock issued in connection with a public offering
   
550
     
6,685,362
     
550,000
     
6,685
     
25,220,572
     
     
     
25,777,257
 
Warrants issued in connection with a public offering
   
     
     
     
     
(6,923,551
)
   
     
     
(6,923,551
)
Preferred stock conversion
   
(32
)
   
76,191
     
(32,000
)
   
76
     
31,924
     
     
     
 
Issuance of restricted stock grant
   
     
387,597
     
     
388
     
1,937
     
     
     
2,325
 
Warrants issued in connection with term loan
   
     
     
     
     
633,749
     
     
     
633,749
 
Beneficial conversion feature – Series B preferred stock
   
     
     
(314,286
)
   
     
314,286
     
     
     
 
Series B preferred stock deemed dividend
   
     
     
314,286
     
     
(314,286
)
   
     
     
 
Options and warrants exercised
   
     
64,393
     
     
64
     
744,087
     
     
     
744,151
 
Class action settlement share issuance
   
     
260,263
     
     
260
     
4,499,740
             
     
4,500,000
 
Net loss
   
     
     
     
     
     
(50,771,221
)
   
     
(50,771,221
)
Balance at December 31, 2016
   
518
     
18,553,817
     
518,000
     
18,553
     
440,106,726
     
(415,865,995
)
   
     
24,777,284
 
Options and warrants exercised
   
     
880,788
     
     
881
     
3,012,779
     
     
     
3,013,660
 
Stock issued in connection with a public offering
   
     
5,000,000
     
     
5,000
     
13,946,218
     
     
     
13,951,218
 
Preferred stock conversion
   
(518
)
   
1,233,334
     
(518,000
)
   
1,233
     
516,767
     
     
     
 
Issuance of restricted stock grant
   
     
387,597
     
     
388
     
     
     
     
388
 
Warrants repriced to term loan lender
   
     
     
     
     
76,549
     
     
     
76,549
 
Shares issued in connection with licensing sale
   
     
1,969,697
     
     
1,970
     
6,073,677
     
     
     
6,075,647
 
1 – 6 reverse stock split fractional shares
   
     
12,268
     
     
12
     
(12
)
   
     
     
 
Issuance of stock options/warrants for compensation and services
   
     
     
     
     
3,344,520
     
     
     
3,344,520
 
Warrant liability exercises
   
     
     
     
     
1,894,589
     
     
     
1,894,589
 
Banking fee on warrant exercises
   
     
     
     
     
(2,368
)
   
     
     
(2,368
)
Net loss
   
     
     
     
     
     
(34,986,432
)
   
     
(34,986,432
)
Balance at December 31, 2017
   
     
28,037,501
   
$
   
$
28,037
   
$
468,969,445
   
$
(450,852,427
)
 
$
   
$
18,145,055
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-4#


 
CYTRX CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                 
Net loss
 
$
(34,986,432
)
 
$
(50,771,221
)
 
$
(58,587,190
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
   
629,312
     
536,631
     
317,649
 
Loss on retirement of equipment and furnishings
   
424,049
     
12,276
     
2,614
 
Gain on warrant liabilities
   
(1,367,777
)
   
(3,827,617
)
   
(4,437,628
)
Amortization of loan cost and discount
   
1,923,816
     
587,837
     
 
Stock-based compensation expense
   
3,344,520
     
6,735,576
     
7,384,656
 
Non-cash litigation settlement due in common stock
   
     
     
4,500,000
 
Changes in assets and liabilities:
                       
Receivable
   
(7,344,941
)
   
4,412,097
     
(2,574,182
)
Interest receivable
   
     
28,130
     
76,497
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
1,534,738
     
(28,569
)
   
1,118,931
 
Accounts payable
   
(2,286,416
)
   
(1,672,631
)
   
916,919
 
Deferred revenue
   
6,924,353
     
     
 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
   
4,007,210
     
(5,862,861
)
   
3,699,287
 
Net cash used in operating activities
   
(27,197,568
)
   
(49,850,352
)
   
(47,582,447
)
                         
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
Proceeds from matured short-term investments
   
     
35,035,420
     
76,544,319
 
 Purchase of short-term investments
   
     
     
(65,958,146
)
Purchases of equipment and furnishings
   
(134,598
)
   
(1,020,441
)
   
(331,328
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
   
(134,598
)
   
34,014,979
     
10,254,845
 
                         
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
Proceeds from common stock issued in public offering, net of fees
   
13,951,218
     
25,777,257
     
26,780,068
 
Proceeds from term loan, net
   
     
24,012,078
     
 
Proceeds from sale of common shares and warrants related to NantCell
   
6,075,647
     
     
 
Loan amendment fee payment
   
(200,000
)
   
     
 
Term loan principal repayment
   
(15,013,638
)
   
     
 
Net proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants
   
3,202,858
     
744,151
     
590,001
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
8,016,085
     
50,533,486
     
27,370,069
 
                         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
   
(19,316,081
)
   
34,698,113
     
(9,957,533
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
   
56,959,485
     
22,261,372
     
32,218,905
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
 
$
37,643,404
   
$
56,959,485
   
$
22,261,372
 
                         
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash financing/investing activities:
                       
Warrant liability exercises
 
$
1,894,589
   
$
   
$
3
 
Warrants repriced in connection with the sale of licenses
 
$
76,549
   
$
   
$
 
Receivable from issuance of restricted stock
 
$
388
   
$
2,325
   
$
 
Equipment and furnishings purchased but not paid
 
$
1,988
   
$
20,452
   
$
485,743
 
Retirement of treasury stock
   
   
$
   
$
2,612,861
 
Warrants issued in connection with the term loan
 
$
   
$
633,749
   
$
 
1 – 6 reverse stock split
 
$
12
   
$
4,500,000
   
$
 
Series B Preferred stock beneficial conversion feature and deemed dividend
 
$
   
$
314,286
   
$
 
Warrants issued/amended in connection with the public offering
 
$
   
$
6,923,551
   
$
 
Series B Preferred stock conversion
 
$
1,233
   
$
457
   
$
 
                         
Supplemental disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
                       
Cash paid during the year for income taxes
 
$
800
   
$
800
   
$
800
 
Cash paid during the year for interest
 
$
2,025,468
   
$
1,959,375
   
$
 
                         

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-5#


 
CYTRX CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Nature of Business
CytRx Corporation ("CytRx" or "the Company") is a biopharmaceutical research and development company specializing in oncology.  Our focus is on the discovery, research and clinical development of novel anti-cancer drug candidates that employ novel linker technologies to enhance the accumulation and release of cytotoxic anti-cancer agents at the tumor.  CytRx has an active drug discovery and research operation at its laboratory facilities in Freiburg, Germany.
The LADR™ (Linker Activated Drug Release) technology platform is a discovery engine combining CytRx's expertise in linker chemistry and albumin biology to create a pipeline of anti-cancer molecules that will avoid unacceptable systemic toxicity while delivering highly potent agents directly to the tumor.  The Company has created a "toolbox" of linker technologies that have the ability to significantly increase the therapeutic index of ultra-high potency drugs (10-1,000 times more potent than traditional chemotherapies) by controlling the release of the drug payloads and improving drug-like properties. After infusion, these ultra-high potency drug conjugates bind to circulating albumin for transport of the drug to the tumor.  Subsequently, due to specific conditions within the tumor, the linkers are cleaved and release the anti-cancer drug payload.

CytRx's current efforts are focused on two classes of ultra-high potency drug conjugates.  The Company's strategy across these programs is to generate additional pre-clinical data that will allow them to make informed decisions regarding the selection of one or both programs for moving into human clinical trials either independently or on a partnered basis.

During 2017, CytRx's discovery laboratory synthesized and tested over 75 rationally designed drug conjugates with highly potent cytotoxic payloads, and two distinct classes of compounds have been created.  To date, four lead candidates have been selected based on in vitro and animal preclinical studies, stability, and manufacturing feasibility.  Additional animal efficacy and toxicology testing of these lead candidates is underway.
On July 27, 2017, CytRx entered into an exclusive worldwide license with NantCell, Inc. ("NantCell"), granting to NantCell the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize aldoxorubicin in all indications, and it is no longer directly working on development of aldoxorubicin.  As part of the license, NantCell made a strategic investment of $13 million in CytRx common stock at $6.60 per share (adjusted to reflect its 2017 reverse stock split), a premium of 92% to the market price on that date. CytRx also issued NantCell a warrant to purchase up to 500,000 shares of common stock at $6.60 over the following 18 months.  The Company is entitled to receive up to an aggregate of $343 million in potential milestone payments, contingent upon achievement of certain regulatory approvals and commercial milestones.  CytRx is also entitled to receive ascending double-digit royalties for net sales for soft tissue sarcomas and mid to high single digit royalties for other indications.

Aldoxorubicin is a conjugate of the commonly prescribed chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin that binds to circulating albumin in the bloodstream and is believed to concentrate the drug at the site of the tumor. Aldoxorubicin, the Company's lead clinical candidate, has been tested in over 600 patients with various types of cancer. Specifically, it is comprised of (6-maleimidocaproyl) hydrazine, an acid-sensitive molecule that is conjugated to doxorubicin.  The initial indication for aldoxorubicin is for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas (STS).
 
Aldoxorubicin has received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of STS. ODD provides several benefits including seven years of market exclusivity after approval, certain R&D related tax credits, and protocol assistance by the FDA.  European regulators granted aldoxorubicin Orphan designation for STS which confers ten years of market exclusivity among other benefits.

In the first quarter of 2018, CytRx announced that NantCell was expanding aldoxorubicin' s use by combining it with immunotherapies and cell based treatments, specifically in metastatic pancreatic cancer and in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck or non-small cell lung cancer.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-6#


 

Currently, the Company's only research and development activities are at its laboratory facilities in Freiburg, Germany. For this reason and others, its operating expenses are expected to be significantly lower in the near future. Therefore, period to period comparisons should not be relied upon as predictive of the results in future periods.

At December 31, 2017, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $37.6 million. Under the terms of the loan agreement, however, the Company is required to maintain cash equal to a minimum of the greater of three months projected cash burn or $10 million. Management believes that its current resources will be sufficient to fund its operations for the foreseeable future. This estimate is based, in part, upon the Company's currently projected expenditures for 2018 and the first three months of 2019 of approximately $27.8 million (unaudited), which includes approximately $1.5 million (unaudited) for its clinical programs, approximately $3.1 million (unaudited) for pre-clinical development of new high potency cytotoxic albumin-binding cancer drugs, approximately $0.7 million (unaudited) for general operation of its clinical programs, approximately $10.1 million (unaudited) for other general and administrative expenses and $12.4 million of interest and principal payments on our outstanding term loan. These projected expenditures are also based upon numerous other assumptions and subject to many uncertainties, and actual expenditures may be significantly different from these projections. While these projections represent the Company's current expected expenditures, the Company has the ability to reduce the amounts and alter the timing of research and development expenditures as needed to manage its liquidity needs while still advancing its research and development objectives. The Company will ultimately be required to obtain additional funding in order to execute its long-term business plans, although it does not currently have commitments from any third parties to provide it with long term debt or capital. The Company cannot assure that additional funding will be available on favorable terms, or at all. If the Company fails to obtain additional funding when needed, it may not be able to execute its business plans and its business may suffer, which would have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Effective November 1, 2017, the Company completed a 1-for-6 reverse stock split of the Company's outstanding shares of common and preferred stock, reduced its authorized shares of both common and preferred stock by one-sixth; no change was made to the per-share par value of the common stock. All share and per share amounts in the accompanying financial statements have been adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split as if it had occurred at the beginning of the earliest period presented.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation — The accompanying Financial Statements are prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP").
Revenue Recognition — Revenue consists of license fees from strategic alliances with pharmaceutical companies.
Since 2011, the Company has followed the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codifications ("ASC") ASC 605-25, Revenue Recognition – Multiple-Element Arrangements ("ASC 605-25" to determine the recognition of revenue under license and collaboration agreements. The ASC provides guidance relating to the separation of deliverables including an arrangement into different units of accounting and the allocation of consideration to the units of accounting. The allocated consideration for each unit of accounting is recognized over the related obligation period in accordance with the applicable revenue recognition criteria. Revenue is considered realizable and earned when the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; (3) the price is fixed or determinable; and (4) collection of the amounts due are reasonably assured. Amounts received prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria are recorded as deferred revenue in the Company's balance sheets. Amounts expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as current liabilities.
Other Income (Expense) — The Company realized a small foreign exchange loss in 2017, other income of $0.2 million in 2016 from a VAT refund, and a de minimus amount of other income in 2015.
Cash Equivalents — The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of amounts invested in money market accounts.
Equipment and Furnishings — Equipment and furnishings are stated at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives (generally three to five years for equipment and furniture) of the related assets. Whenever there is a triggering event that might suggest impairment, management evaluates the realizability of recorded long-lived assets to determine whether their carrying values have been impaired. The Company records impairment losses on long-lived assets used in operations when events and circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired and the non-discounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amount of those assets. Any impairment loss is measured by comparing the fair value of the asset to its carrying amount. There are no impairment losses recognized in each of 2017, 2016 and 2015.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-7#


 
Fair Value Measurements — Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on the balance sheets are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure the fair value. Level inputs are as follows:

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs for the assets or liabilities through corroboration with market data at the measurement date.

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs that reflect management's best estimate of what market participants would use to price the assets or liabilities at the measurement date.

The following table summarizes fair value measurements by level at December 31, 2017 for assets and liabilities measured
at fair value on a recurring basis:

(In thousands)
 
Level I
   
Level II
   
Level III
   
Total
 
Cash equivalents
 
$
35,834
   
$
   
$
   
$
35,834
 
Warrant liabilities
   
     
     
(527
)
   
(527
)

The following table summarizes fair value measurements by level at December 31, 2016 for assets and liabilities measured
at fair value on a recurring basis:

(In thousands)
 
Level I
   
Level II
   
Level III
   
Total
 
Cash equivalents
 
$
56,276
   
$
   
$
   
$
56,276
 
Warrant liabilities
   
     
     
(3,789
)
   
(3,789
)

There were no transfers between Levels I, II and III during 2017 or 2016.
The changes in carrying amounts of the warrant liability for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:
(In thousands)
 
2017
   
2016
 
Beginning balance
 
$
3,789
   
$
693
 
Issued
   
     
6,933
 
Exercised
   
(1,895
)
   
(9
)
Net changes in valuation
   
(1,367
)
   
(3,828
)
Ending balance
 
$
527
   
$
3,789
 
 
Liabilities measured at fair market value on a recurring basis include warrant liabilities resulting from recent debt and equity financing. In accordance with ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity's Own Equity ("ASC 815-40"), the warrant liabilities are being marked to fair value each quarter-end until they are completely settled. The warrants are valued using the Black-Scholes method, using assumptions consistent with the Company's application of ASC 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees ("ASC 505-50"). See Warrant Liabilities below.
 
The Company considers carrying amounts of accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and term loan, net to approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.
 
Patents and Patent Application Costs — Although the Company believes that its patents and underlying technology have continuing value, the amount of future benefits to be derived from the patents is uncertain. Patent costs are therefore expensed as incurred.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-8#


 
     Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share — Basic net income (loss) per common share is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net income (loss) per common share is computed using the weighted-average number of common share and common share equivalents outstanding. Potentially dilutive stock options and warrants to purchase approximately 7.6 million, 8.3 million and 3.6 million shares at December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share, because the effect would be anti-dilutive.
Warrant Liabilities —Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis include warrant liabilities resulting from the Company's July 2016 equity financings. In accordance with ASC 815-40, the warrant liabilities are being marked to fair value each quarter-end until they are completely settled. The warrants are valued using the Black-Scholes method, using assumptions consistent with CytRx's application of ASC 505-50. The gain or loss resulting from the fair value calculation is shown on the Statements of Operations as gain (loss) on warrant liabilities. See "Note 10 – Warrant Liabilities" for additional information related to the determination of fair value of warrants.
Stock-based Compensation — The Company's stock-based employee compensation plans are described in Note 13. The Company has adopted the provisions of ASC 718, which requires the fair value measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock-based awards made to employees.
For stock options and stock warrants paid in consideration of services rendered by non-employees, the Company recognizes compensation expense in accordance with the requirements of ASC 505-50, Equity ("ASC 505"), as amended. Non-employee option grants that do not vest immediately upon grant are recorded as an expense over the vesting period. At the end of each financial reporting period prior to performance, the value of these options, as calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, is determined, and compensation expense recognized or recovered during the period is adjusted accordingly. Since the fair market value of options granted to non-employees is subject to change in the future, the amount of the future compensation expense is subject to adjustment until the common stock options or warrants are fully vested.
Research and Development Expenses — Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred for direct and overhead-related research expenses and are expensed as incurred. Costs to acquire technologies, including licenses and drugs, that are utilized in research and development and that have no alternative future use are expensed when incurred. Technology developed for use in its products is expensed as incurred until technological feasibility has been established.
Clinical Trial Expenses — Clinical trial expenses, which are included in research and development expenses, include obligations resulting from the Company's contracts with various clinical research organizations in connection with conducting clinical trials for its product candidates. The Company recognizes expenses for these activities based on a variety of factors, including actual and estimated labor hours, clinical site initiation activities, patient enrollment rates, estimates of external costs and other activity-based factors. The Company believes that this method best approximates the efforts expended on a clinical trial with the expenses it records. The Company adjusts its rate of clinical expense recognition if actual results differ from its estimates. If its estimates are incorrect, clinical trial expenses recorded in any particular period could vary. Non-refundable advance payments for goods and services that will be used in future research and development activities are expensed when the activity has been performed or when the goods have been received rather than when the payment is made.

Income Taxes — The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 740-10, Income Taxes, ("ASC 740") which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets for deductible temporary differences and operating loss carry-forwards using enacted tax rates in effect in the years the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred income tax benefit or expense is recognized as a result of changes in net deferred tax assets or deferred tax liabilities. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some or all of any deferred tax assets will not be realized.
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the 2017 Tax Act) was enacted reducing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% which is effective on January 1, 2018. The carrying value of the Company's deferred tax assets is also determined by the enacted U.S. corporate income tax rate. Consequently, any changes in the U.S. corporate income tax rate have impacted the carrying value of the Company's deferred tax assets. Under the new corporate income tax rate of 21%, deferred income taxes decreased but there is a corresponding decrease to the valuation allowance. Therefore, the 2017 Tax Act is expected to have no impact on the Company's 2017 earnings. In accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, as of December 31, 2017, the Company has not completed its accounting for the tax effects of the enactment of the 2017 Tax Act; however, the Company has made a reasonable estimate of the effects on its existing deferred tax balances.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-9#


 
The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. The Company's policy is to recognize any interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expenses.
Concentrations of Risks — Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents in large well-capitalized financial institutions and the Company's investment policy disallows investment in any debt securities rated less than "investment-grade" by national ratings services. The Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash or cash equivalents or its short-term investments. Cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions and, at times, balances may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has never experienced any losses related to these balances.
Use of Estimates — The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates include the accrual for research and development expenses, valuation on deferred tax assets, contingent liabilities and the estimate of expense arising from the common stock options and warrants granted to employees and non-employees. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements — In January 2017, the FASB issued an ASU entitled "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment." The objective of the ASU is to simplify how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit's goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not believe that the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on its financial statements.

In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued ASU No. 2016-15 "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force)." The objective of ASU No. 2016-15 is to provide specific guidance on eight cash flow classification issues and how to reduce diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows, and other Topics. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is still in the process of determining the impact that the implementation of ASU 2016-15 will have on its financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation ("ASU 2016-09"). ASU 2016-09 includes several areas of simplification to stock compensation including simplifications to the accounting for income taxes, classification of excess tax benefits on the Statement of Cash Flows and forfeitures. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted this Standard on January 1, 2017. The adoption of this Standard did not have a material impact to the Company's financial position or its results of operations.
 
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)," which requires companies to recognize all leases as assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. This ASU retains a distinction between finance leases and operating leases, and the classification criteria for distinguishing between finance leases and operating leases are substantially similar to the classification criteria for distinguishing between capital leases and operating leases in the current accounting literature. The result of retaining a distinction between finance leases and operating leases is that under the lessee accounting model in Topic 842, the effect of leases in a statement of operations and a statement of cash flows is largely unchanged from previous GAAP.  The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier adoption is permitted. Although the Company has not finalized its process of evaluating the impact of adoption of the ASU on its financial statements, the Company expects there will not be a material increase to assets and liabilities on the Company's balance sheet for leases currently classified as operating leases.
 
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01 "Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities." ASU 2016-01 amends various aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure for financial instruments. With respect to the Company's financial statements, the most significant impact relates to the accounting for equity investments. It will impact the disclosure and presentation of financial assets and liabilities. ASU 2016-01 is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption by public entities is permitted only for certain provisions. The Company does not believe that the adoption of this guidancewill have a material impact on its financial statements.
 
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-10#


 
In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17 "Income Taxes: Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes." ASU 2015-17 simplifies the balance sheet classification of deferred taxes and requires that all deferred taxes be presented as noncurrent. ASU 2015-17 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this update did not have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (Topic 606) "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." Topic 606 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 605, "Revenue Recognition", and requires entities to recognize revenue when they transfer control of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The Company is currently assessing the method of adoption and the impact this new guidance will have on its financial statements. The Company expects to adopt these standards using the modified retrospective method. The timing of revenue recognition for variable consideration under our licensing and collaboration agreements may be different as a result of this new guidance. The Company is reviewing its licensing agreement for variable consideration, and if any such consideration exists, whether it should be estimated and recognized earlier than under the current revenue guidance.
In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASU 2015-14") which deferred the effective date by one year to December 15, 2017 for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after that date and allows for adoption using a full retrospective method, or a modified retrospective method. The Company will adopt the new standard in its first quarter 2018 using the modified retrospective method and is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its financial statements.
3. Foreign Currency Remeasurement
The U.S. dollar has been determined to be the functional currency for the net assets of the Company's laboratory in Freiburg, Germany. The transactions are recorded in the local currencies and are remeasured at each reporting date using the historical rates for nonmonetary assets and liabilities and current exchange rates for monetary assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date. Exchange gains and losses from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities are recognized in other income (loss). The Company recognized a loss of approximately $23,000, $18,000 and $6,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
4. Receivables
At December 31, 2017, the Company had a receivable of $7.5 million as compared to $0.2 million at December 31, 2016, primarily related to amounts recoverable from its insurance carrier, associated with ongoing legal proceedings. Of this amount, approximately $1.7 million and $0.2 million relate to recoverable legal costs and approximately $5.8 million and $0 relate to recoverable legal settlements accrued by the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively (See Note 11). Due to the likelihood of the collectability of the accounts receivable, no allowance was recorded.
5. Prepaid and Other Assets
At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had $1.9 million and $3.4 million, respectively, of prepaid and other current assets, which consist primarily of deposits on contracts for research and development, prepaid insurance and leases for its facility.
6. Equipment and Furnishings
Equipment and furnishings at December 31, 2017 and 2016 consist of the following (in thousands):
   
2017
   
2016
 
Equipment and furnishings
 
$
2,212
   
$
2,811
 
Less — accumulated depreciation
   
(1,169
)
   
(851
)
Equipment and furnishings, net
 
$
1,043
   
$
1,960
 
                 
Depreciation and amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $629,312, $536,631 and $317,649, respectively.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-11#


 
7. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities at December 31, 2017 and 2016 are summarized below (in thousands)

   
2017
   
2016
 
Professional fees
 
$
209
   
$
193
 
Research and development costs
   
223
     
2,208
 
Litigation settlement
   
6,450
     
700
 
Wages, bonuses and employee benefits
   
396
     
487
 
Royalties
   
626
     
 
Other
   
125
     
242
 
Total
 
$
8,029
   
$
3,830
 

8. Deferred Revenues
We primarily generate revenue through licensing arrangements of our intellectual property. The Company recognizes revenue when amounts are realized or realizable and earned. Revenue is considered realizable and earned when the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; (3) the price is fixed or determinable; and (4) collection of the amounts due are reasonably assured. Amounts received prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria are recorded as deferred revenue in the Company's balance sheets. Amounts expected to be recognized as revenue within the 12 months following the balance sheet date are classified as current liabilities.
Deferred revenue represents amounts received prior to revenue recognition. On October 3, 2017, CytRx entered into a Reimbursement Agreement with NantCell, Inc. whereby the Company agreed to reimburse them for payment obligations under certain of the contracts under the NantCell licensing agreement up to a maximum of $4.2 million plus one half of any amounts in excess thereof. Once all conditions of the agreement are met and no contingencies remain outstanding, the revenue will be recognized as licensing fee revenue. CytRx recognized $6.9 million of deferred revenue from the NantCell licensing agreement and anticipates recording this as revenues in 2018, once the Company's cost reimbursement obligations are met.
9. Term Loan
On February 5, 2016, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement with Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. ("HTGC"), as administrative agent and lender, and Hercules Technology III, L.P., as lender, pursuant to which the lenders made long-term loans to the Company on February 8, 2016 in the aggregate principal amount of $25 million.
The Term Loans bear interest at the daily variable rate per annum equal to 6.0% plus the prime rate, or 10.5%, whichever is greater.  CytRx was required to make interest-only payments on the Term Loans through February 28, 2017, and beginning on March 1, 2017 blended equal monthly installments of principal amortization and accrued interest until the maturity date of the Term Loans on February 1, 2020.  Under the terms of the loan, CytRx is required to maintain a minimum cash balance equal to the greater of (i) $10 million or (ii) forward three months projected cash burn. As security under their obligations, the Company issued to the lenders warrants to purchase a total of 105,691 shares of its common stock at an exercise price of $12.30. These warrants are classified as equity warrants with a fair value of $633,749.  All outstanding principal and accrued interest on the term loans will be due and payable in full on the maturity date of February 1, 2020.
On July 28, 2017, CytRx entered into a First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement with Hercules to amend its existing long-term loan facility (the "Loan Agreement"). The amendment provided for payment, on July 28, 2017, of $5.0 million in outstanding principal and unpaid interest due under the Loan Agreement, plus a $100,000 prepayment charge, and for repayment, on or prior to September 30, 2017, of an additional $5.0 million outstanding principal and unpaid interest due under the Loan Agreement, plus a second $100,000 prepayment charge. CytRx also agreed to an updated schedule of monthly payments and a new maturity date of August 1, 2018. Pursuant to the amendment, a portion of the warrants (representing 80% of the total number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants) was amended to change the exercise price of that portion of the warrants from $12.30 per share to $4.62 per share, which was calculated based upon the 30-day volume-weighted average price of our common stock over the 30-day period beginning 15 days before the July 28, 2017 announcement of the NantCell license transaction. CytRx evaluated the amended debt agreement under ASC 470 and determined it to be a modification and that in accordance with accounting guidance for debt modifications, the incremental fair value of the repriced warrants of $77,000 and the $200,000 fee paid to the lender was recorded as additional loan discount to be recognized using the interest method over the remaining life of the loan.  The payment schedule was changed, and the loan will mature in 2018.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-12#


 

As security for the Company's obligations under the loan and securities agreement, the Company granted HTGC, as administrative agent, a security interest in substantially all of its existing and after-acquired assets except for its intellectual property and certain other excluded assets.
   
December 31,
2017
   
December 31,
2016
 
Term Loan Principal – Current
 
$
9,986,362
   
$
6,214,057
 
End Fee Payable
   
1,771,250
     
 
Issuance Cost/Loan Discount – Current
   
(1,157,817
)
   
(732,401
)
Term Loan, Net – Current
 
$
10,599,795
   
$
5,481,656
 
                 
Long Term Loan Principal
 
$
   
$
18,785,943
 
End Fee Payable
   
     
1,771,250
 
Long Term Loan Discount/Issuance Cost
   
     
(2,072,683
)
Long Term Loan, Net
 
$
   
$
18,484,510
 

10. Warrant Liabilities
Warrants issued in connection with the Company's July 2016 equity public offering and modified in the Company's December 2016 equity public offering are classified as liabilities as opposed to equity due to their settlement terms. These warrants are non-cash liabilities and the Company is not required to expend any cash to settle these liabilities. The fair value of these warrants were recorded on the balance sheet at issuance and the warrants were marked to fair value at each financial reporting period, with changes in the fair value recorded as a gain or loss in the statement of operations. The fair value of the warrants is determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires the use of significant judgment and estimates for the inputs used in the model. The warrants issued in connection with the Company's August 2011 equity public offering expired in August 2016. The following reflects the weighted-average assumptions for each of the periods indicated:
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
                   
Risk-free interest rate
   
1.53
%
   
0.90
%
   
0.57
%
Expected dividend yield
   
0
%
   
0
%
   
0
%
Expected lives
   
0.55
     
1.23
     
0.59
 
  Expected volatility
   
96.7
%
   
119.1
%
   
61.7
%
Number of warrants classified as liabilities
   
2,834,246
     
4,752,512
     
1,061,976
 
Gain on warrant liabilities
 
$
1,367,777
   
$
3,827,617
   
$
4,437,628
 

The dividend yield assumption of zero is based upon the fact the Company has never paid cash dividends and presently has no intention of paying cash dividends. The risk-free interest rate used for each grant is equal to the U.S. Treasury rates in effect at the time of the grant for instruments with a similar expected life. The expected lives are based on the remaining contractual lives of the related warrants at the valuation date. The Company's computation of expected volatility is based on the historical daily volatility of its publicly traded stock.
In 2017, 1.2 million warrants expired, and 0.9 million warrants were exercised resulting in the issuance of 0.9 million shares of the Company's common stock. In 2016, 4.8 million warrants in connection with the July 2016 equity offering were issued.
11. Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments
The Company acquires assets still in development and enters into research and development arrangements with third parties that often require milestone and royalty payments to the third-party contingent upon the occurrence of certain future events linked to the success of the asset in development. Milestone payments may be required, up to an aggregate of $7.5 million, contingent upon the successful achievement of an important point in the development life-cycle of the pharmaceutical product (e.g., approval of the product for marketing by a regulatory agency). If required, CytRx may also have to make royalty payments, based upon a percentage of the sales of the pharmaceutical product. In respect of aldoxorubicin, it agreed to pay up to a maximum amount of approximately $18.3 million, payable in shares of its common stock, in the event that regulatory approval for marketing is obtained.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-13#


 
   These arrangements may be material individually, and in the unlikely event that milestones for multiple products covered by these arrangements were reached in the same period, the aggregate charge to expense could be material to the results of operations in any one period. In addition, these arrangements often give CytRx the discretion to unilaterally terminate development of the product, which would allow CytRx to avoid making the contingent payments; however, CytRx is unlikely to cease development if the compound successfully achieves clinical testing objectives.
CytRx's current contractual obligations that will require future cash payments are as follows (in thousands):
   
Operating
Leases (1)
   
Employment Agreements (2)
   
Research and Development (3)
   
Total
 
2018
 
$
373
   
$
1,678
   
$
1,000
   
$
3,051
 
2019
   
278
     
1,057
     
     
1,335
 
  2020
   
59
     
1,057
     
     
1,116
 
  2021
   
     
1,057
     
     
1,057
 
2022
   
     
     
     
 
  Thereafter
   
     
     
     
 
Total
 
$
710
   
$
4,849
   
$
1,000
   
$
6,559
 
____________


(1)
Operating leases are primarily facility lease related obligations, as well as equipment lease obligations with third party vendors. The Company recognized rent expenses of $420,106, $358,247, and $351,075 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

(2)
Employment agreements include management contracts which have been revised from time to time. The employment agreement for the Company's executive officers provide for minimum salaries, which are adjusted annually at the discretion of the Company's Compensation Committee, and in some cases provide for minimum annual bonuses and employee benefits, as well.  New employment agreements for the Company's other executive officers are usually entered into annually or biennially.

(3)
Research and development obligations relate primarily to the Reimbursement Agreement with NantCell. All of these purchase obligations are cancelable.
 

Contingencies
The Company applies the disclosure provisions of ASC 460, Guarantees ("ASC 460") to its agreements that contain guarantees or indemnities by the Company. The Company provides (i) indemnifications of varying scope and size to certain investors and other parties for certain losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party in connection with various types of third-party claims; and (ii) indemnifications of varying scope and size to officers and directors against third party claims arising from the services they provide to the Company.

Shareholder Derivative Actions in Delaware.  There are two competing derivative complaints pending in the Delaware Court of Chancery alleging claims related to the Company's alleged retention of DreamTeamGroup and MissionIR.  On December 14, 2015, a shareholder derivative complaint, captioned Niedermeyer et al. v. Kriegsman et al., C.A. No. 11800, was filed against certain of the Company's officers and directors, for which a second amended complaint was filed on October 12, 2016.  On September 6, 2016, one of the plaintiffs in the California litigation (discussed above) effectively refiled his complaint in the Delaware Court of Chancery, with the case captioned Taylor v. Kriegsman, C.A. No. 12720.   Following competing motions for appointment of a lead plaintiff and lead counsel, on February 22, 2017, the Court of Chancery appointed Niedermeyer et al.as lead plaintiffs in the complaint. On May 3, 2017, the parties entered into negotiations with a mediator and on June 2, 2017, the parties entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") to settle the entire action. On June 15, 2017, the MOU was submitted to the Court and the parties are now seeking Court approval. The Stipulation of Settlement was filed with the Court on January 22, 2018, which was preliminarily approved by the Court.  A final approval hearing is scheduled for April 19, 2018.  Any petition for an attorney fee award to the Plaintiff's counsel will also be considered by the Court at the April 19, 2018 hearing.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-14#


 
Class Action in California.  On July 25 and 29, 2016, nearly identical class action complaints were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, titled Crihfield v. CytRx Corp., et al., Case No. 2:16-cv-05519 and Dorce v. CytRx Corp., Case No. 2:16-cv-05666 alleging that the Company and certain of its officers violated the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by allegedly making materially false and/or misleading statements, and/or failing to disclose material adverse facts to the effect that the clinical hold placed on the Phase 3 trial of aldoxorubicin for STS would prevent sufficient follow-up for patients involved in the study, thus requiring further analysis, which could cause the trial's results and/or FDA approval to be materially adversely affected or delayed.  The plaintiffs allege that such wrongful acts and omissions caused significant losses and damages to a class of persons and entities that acquired the Company's securities between November 18, 2014 and July 11, 2016, and seek an award of compensatory damages, costs and expenses, including counsel and expert fees, and such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. On October 26, 2016, the Court entered an Order consolidating the actions titled In re: CytRx Corporation Securities Litigation, Master File No. 16-cv-05519-SJO and appointing a Lead Plaintiff and Lead Counsel. Following the filing of a first amended complaint on January 13, 2017, on March 14, 2017 the Company and the individual defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss.  Plaintiff filed an Opposition thereto on April 28, 2017.  The Company and the individual defendants filed a Reply on May 30, 2017 and the matter was heard by the Court on June 12, 2017. On June 14, 2017, the Court issued an Order granting the Motion to Dismiss with leave to amend. Plaintiff filed a Second Amended Complaint and the Individual Defendants filed a renewed Motion to Dismiss. Plaintiff filed an Opposition thereto on July 24, 2017. The Company and the Individual Defendants filed a Reply on July 31, 2017. On August 14, 2017, the Court issued an Order granting in part and denying in part the motion to dismiss. On September 18, 2017, the Court issued an Order setting a schedule for the case.  On January 30, 2018, the parties entered into negotiations with a mediator and on February 1, 2018, the parties entered into a confidential Term Sheet to settle the Class Action. On February 7, 2018, the Court stayed the action for all purposes until May 2, 2018, to provide the parties sufficient time to prepare and submit a stipulation of settlement.
Shareholder Derivative Action in Delaware (Zyontz). On October 17, 2017, a shareholder derivative complaint was filed against certain current and former directors in the Delaware Court of Chancery, entitled Zyontz v. Kriegsman et al., Case No. 2017-0738-JRS. The complaint essentially sets forth the allegations pled in the federal securities class action in California, asserts a claim for breach of fiduciary duty, and seeks damages, fees and costs, and other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. On December 18, 2017, the Company and individual defendants filed a motion to dismiss for failure to make a demand on the Board and for failure to state a claim, and a motion to stay the proceedings pending resolution of the federal securities class action.  On January 30, 2018, the parties participated in a mediation.  The parties are currently negotiating a settlement agreement comprised of corporate governance reforms that will be submitted to the Court of Chancery for approval.
 Shareholder Derivative Action in Delaware (Patterson). On September 1, 2017, a shareholder derivative complaint was filed against the current directors in the Delaware Court of Chancery, entitled Patterson v. Kriegsman et al., C.A. No. 2017-0636-TMR. The complaint sets forth claims for breach of fiduciary duty for allegedly disseminating false and misleading information, unjust enrichment, gross mismanagement, abuse of control and corporate waste based on allegations concerning various business decisions matters. The complaint seeks damages, corporate governance reforms, restitution, fees and costs, and other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. On September 26, 2017, the Company and individual defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, for which the opening brief in support of such motion was filed on November 3, 2017, the plaintiff's opposition was filed on December 11, 2017, and the defendants' reply was filed on January 5, 2018.  The hearing on the motion to dismiss was heard by the Vice-Chancellor on March 8, 2018, and she took the matter under advisement. On March 13, 2018, the Vice-Chancellor ruled that defendants' motion to dismiss was granted, with prejudice.  
The Company intends to vigorously defend against the foregoing complaints. CytRx has directors' and officers' liability insurance, which will be utilized in the defense of these matters. The liability insurance may not cover all of the future liabilities the Company may incur in connection with the foregoing matters. These claims are subject to inherent uncertainties, and management's view of these matters may change in the future.
The Company evaluates developments in legal proceedings and other matters on a quarterly basis. The Company records accruals for loss contingencies to the extent that the Company concludes that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the related loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company has accrued $6.5 million of litigation settlements related to legal actions.
12. Equity Transactions
As of December 31, 2017, the Company has reserved approximately 1.2 million of its authorized but unissued shares of common stock for future issuance pursuant to its employee stock option plans issued to employees and consultants.
In December 2017, the Company issued an additional 12,268 fractional shares of its common stock as a result of is 1 to 6 reverse stock split and issued 387,597 shares in restricted common stock (see Note 13).
In the second and third quarters of 2017, a total of 880,788 shares of the Company's common stock were issued from the exercise of warrants and options.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-15#


 
   On July 27, 2017, the Company issued 1,969,697 shares of its common stock and 500,000 warrants to purchase common stock as part of an exclusive licensing agreement granted to NantCell, Inc.
On May 2, 2017, the Company issued 5 million of its common stock in a public offering.
In the first quarter of 2017, the Company converted 518 shares of its Series B preferred stock in exchange for 1,233,334 shares of its common stock.
In 2016, the Company issued 55,000 shares of its common stock resulting from the exercise of employee stock options and issued 387,597 shares in restricted common stock.
On December 16, 2016, the Company issued 1,923,457 shares of its common stock and 550 convertible preferred shares at a stated value of $1,000, and repriced 3,232,981 warrants from the July 2016 financing, from $4.20 to $3.06 per common stock, along with extending their term through July 2018, all in respect of a public offering. As a result of the Series B conversion price of $2.52 being less than the common stock price at the closing date, a beneficial conversion feature was recognized in the amount of $0.3 million. Since the preferred stock was immediately convertible, the entire beneficial conversion feature was recognized as a deemed dividend on December 16, 2016. In December 2016, 32 preferred shares were converted at their conversion rate of $2.52 in exchange for 76,191 common shares.
On July 20, 2016, the Company issued 4,761,905 shares of its common stock and one-year warrants to purchase an equal number of shares of its common stock in a public offering.
On October 26, 2015, the Company retired 33,213 shares of its treasury stock at cost ($2.6 million).
On July 24, 2015, the Company issued 1,744,167 shares of common stock in a public offering.
13. Stock Options and Equity-Classified Warrants
Stock Options
The Company has a 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan under which 233,334 shares of common stock were originally reserved for issuance. As of December 31, 2017, there were 44,371shares subject to outstanding stock options. This plan expired on August 6, 2010, and thus no further shares are available for future grant under this plan.
The Company also has a 2008 Stock Incentive Plan under which 5 million shares of common stock are reserved for issuance. As of December 31, 2017, there were 2.8 million shares subject to outstanding stock options and 0.8 million shares outstanding related to restricted stock grants issued from the 2008 Plan and 1.2 million shares available for future grant under this plan.
The Company follows the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock-based awards made to employees.
The fair value of the stock options at the date of grant was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, based on the following assumptions:
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
Risk-free interest rate
   
2.04% - 2.35
%
   
1.20% - 2.26
%
   
1.74% - 2.12
%
Expected volatility
   
86% - 92
%
   
74% - 88
%
   
74% - 85
%
Expected lives (years)
   
6 - 10
     
6 - 10
     
6 - 10
 
Expected dividend yield
   
0.00
%
   
0.00
%
   
0.00
%

The Company's computation of expected volatility is based on the historical daily volatility of its publicly traded stock. For option grants issued during years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company used a calculated volatility for each grant. The Company lacks adequate information about the exercise behavior at this time and has determined the expected term assumption under the simplified method provided for under ASC 718, which averages the contractual term of the Company's options of ten years with the average vesting term of three years for an average of six years. The dividend yield assumption of zero is based upon the fact the Company has never paid cash dividends and presently has no intention of paying cash dividends. The risk-free interest rate used for each grant is equal to the U.S. Treasury rates in effect at the time of the grant for instruments with a similar expected life. Based on historical experience, for each of the two years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company has estimated an annualized forfeiture rate of 10% for options granted to its employees, 2% for options granted to senior management and 0% for options granted to directors. Compensation costs will be adjusted for future changes in estimated forfeitures. The Company will record additional expense if the actual forfeitures are lower than estimated and will record a recovery of prior expense if the actual forfeiture rates are higher than estimated. On January 1, 2017, the Company adopted ASU 2016-09 and made a policy election to recognize forfeitures as they occur. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 did not have a material impact to the Company's financial condition or results of operations. No amounts relating to stock-based compensation have been capitalized. No amounts relating to employee stock-based compensation have been capitalized.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-16#


 
At December 31, 2017, there remained approximately $1.8 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock options granted to current employees and directors, to be recognized as expense over a weighted-average period of 1.15 years. Presented below is the Company's stock option activity for employees and directors:
   
Stock Options
   
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
Outstanding — beginning of year
   
2,813,280
     
2,263,977
     
1,559,765
   
$
14.14
   
$
18.66
   
$
16.98
 
Granted
   
591,369
     
809,500
     
765,000
     
1.87
     
3.54
     
15.66
 
Exercised
   
(19,213
)
   
(55,000
)
   
(47,857
)
   
2.58
     
12.84
     
12.30
 
Forfeited
   
(874,210
)
   
(196,054
)
   
     
13.11
     
20.94
     
 
Expired
   
(19,047
)
   
(9,143
)
   
(12,931
)
   
56.88
     
48.18
     
33.48
 
Outstanding — end of year
   
2,492,179
     
2,813,280
     
2,263,977
     
11.35
     
14.14
     
18.66
 
Exercisable at end of year
   
1,701,445
     
1,811,320
     
1,336,694
   
$
14.85
   
$
17.70
   
$
20.70
 
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted during the year:
 
$
1.47
   
$
2.58
   
$
11.28
                         


For stock options paid in consideration of services rendered by non-employees, the Company recognizes compensation expense in accordance with the requirements of ASC 505-50.
Non-employee option grants that do not vest immediately upon grant are recorded as an expense over the vesting period. At the end of each financial reporting period prior to performance, the value of these options, as calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, is determined, and compensation expense recognized or recovered during the period is adjusted accordingly. Since the fair market value of options granted to non-employees is subject to change in the future, the amount of the future compensation expense is subject to adjustment until the common stock options are fully vested.
The Company recorded approximately $422,000, $0 and $0 of non-cash charges related to the issuance of stock options to certain consultants in exchange for services during 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
At December 31, 2017, there was no unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested non-employee stock options. Presented below is the Company's non-employee stock option activity:
   
Stock Options
   
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
Outstanding — beginning of year
   
100,000
     
105,952
     
115,357
   
$
16.41
   
$
18.12
   
$
20.82
 
Granted
   
273,333
     
     
     
1.78
     
     
 
Exercised
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Expired/Forfeited
   
     
(5,952
)
   
(9,405
)
   
     
46.62
     
51.24
 
Outstanding — end of year
   
373,333
     
100,000
     
105,952
     
5.70
     
16.41
     
18.12
 
Exercisable at end of year
   
373,333
     
100,000
     
105,952
   
$
5.70
   
$
16.41
   
$
18.12
 
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted during the year:
 
$
1.54
   
$
   
$
                         

The fair value of the stock options at the date of grant was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, based on the following assumptions:
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
Risk-free interest rate
   
2.30% - 2.35
%
   
     
 
Expected volatility
   
92.00
%
   
     
 
Expected lives (years)
   
10
     
     
 
Expected dividend yield
   
     
     
 

CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-17#


 
 The following table summarizes significant ranges of outstanding stock options under the two plans at December 31, 2017:
 
Range of
Exercise Prices
   
Number of Options
   
Weighted Average
Remaining Contractual Life
(years)
   
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
   
Number of
Options
Exercisable
   
Weighted Average
Contractual Life
   
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
 
$
1.50 — 1.75
     
829,702
     
9.96
   
$
1.75
     
400,000
     
9.96
   
$
1.75
 
$
1.76 —11.00
     
720,970
     
7.98
     
4.76
     
469,910
     
7.47
     
5.92
 
$
11.01 — 15.00
     
776,290
     
7.20
     
13.92
     
667,290
     
7.07
     
13.80
 
$
15.01 — 195.30
     
538,550
     
5.44
     
27.36
     
537,578
     
5.43
     
27.36
 
                                                     
         
2,865,512
     
7.86
   
$
10.62
     
2,074,778
     
7.29
   
$
13.21
 

There was no aggregate intrinsic value to the outstanding options, options vested, and options exercised during 2017.
The following table sets forth the total stock-based compensation expense resulting from stock options included in the Company's Statements of Operations:
   
Years Ended December 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
Research and development - employee
 
$
549,315
   
$
1,822,508
   
$
1,590,267
 
General and administrative - employee
   
1,909,729
     
4,661,795
     
5,568,537
 
       Total employee stock-based compensation
 
$
2,459,044
   
$
6,484,303
   
$
7,158,804
 
                         
Research and development – non-employee
 
$
11,600
   
$
   
$
 
General and administrative – non-employee
   
410,400
     
235,764
     
225,852
 
      Total non-employee stock-based compensation
 
$
422,000
   
$
235,764
   
$
225,852
 

Restricted Stock
In December 2017, the Company granted to Steven Kriegsman, Chief Executive Officer, 387,597 shares of restricted common stock, pursuant to the 2008 Plan. This restricted stock vests in equal annual instalments over three years.  The fair value of the restricted stock is based on the market price of the Company's shares on the grant date less the par value received as consideration.  The fair value of the restricted stock on the grant date was $679,000. In December 2016, the Company granted to Steven Kriegsman, Chief Executive Officer, 387,597 shares of restricted common stock, pursuant to the 2008 Plan. This restricted stock vests in equal annual instalments over three years.  The fair value of the restricted stock is based on the market price of the Company's shares on the grant date less the par value received as consideration.  The fair value of the restricted stock on the grant date was $1,000,000.  The Company did not issue any restricted stock for the year ended December 31, 2015. The Company recorded an employee stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock of approximately $344,000, $15,000 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-18#


 
Equity-Classified Warrants
In July 2017, pursuant to a Loan amendment (see Note 9), a portion of the warrants (representing 80% of the total number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants) was amended to change the exercise price of 84,554 warrants to $12.30 per share from $4.62 per share.
In July 2017, the Company issued 500,000 warrants to purchase common stock as part of an exclusive licensing agreement granted to NantCell, Inc.
In December 2016, the Company issued to a consultant an eighteen-month contingent warrant to purchase 333,334 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $4.20. No expense was recorded due to the performance contingent nature of the warrants.
In February 2016, in connection with a loan and security agreement with Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. and Hercules Technology III, L.P. ("lenders") (see Note 9), the Company issued to the lenders warrants to purchase a total of 105,691 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $12.30. These warrants had a fair value of $633,749 on the date of issuance and were recorded as a loan discount.
In February 2016, the Company also issued a warrant to a consultant to purchase 83,334 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $10.44. These warrants will be fully vested by February 2018. The warrant expense in 2017 and 2016, recognized as non-employee stock-based compensation expenses, was $41,865 and $157,797, respectively.
A summary of the Company's warrant activity and related information for the years ended December 31 are shown below.
   
Warrants
   
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
Outstanding — beginning of year
   
5,417,155
     
1,204,245
     
1,224,960
   
$
4.08
   
$
25.68
   
$
25.62
 
Granted
   
584,554
     
5,284,263
     
     
6.31
     
3.72
     
 
Exercised
   
(861,581
)
   
(9,393
)
   
(1,667
)
   
3.66
     
4.20
     
15.00
 
Forfeited
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Expired
   
(1,159,347
)
   
(1,061,960
)
   
(19,048
)
   
4.92
     
26.88
     
22.92
 
Outstanding — end of year
   
3,980,781
     
5,417,155
     
1,204,245
     
4.26
     
4.08
     
25.68
 
Exercisable at end of year
   
3,626,613
     
5,031,715
     
1,204,245
   
$
4.23
   
$
4.02
   
$
25.68
 
Weighted average fair value of warrants granted during the year:
 
$
1.65
   
$
1.56
   
$
                         

The following table summarizes additional information concerning warrants outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2017:

                 
Warrants Outstanding
                   
Range of
Exercise Prices
   
Number of Shares
   
Weighted Average
Remaining Contractual Life
(years)
   
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
   
Number of
Warrants
Exercisable
   
Weighted Average
Contractual Life
   
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
 
$
3.00 — 6.00
     
3,252,137
     
0.60
   
$
3.19
     
2,918,803
     
0.62
   
$
3.08
 
$
6.01 — 9.00
     
500,000
     
1.07
     
6.60
     
500,000
     
1.07
     
6.60
 
$
9.01 — 12.00
     
83,335
     
3.11
     
10.44
     
62,501
     
3.11
     
10.44
 
$
12.01 — 33.60
     
145,309
     
1.19
     
16.65
     
145,309
     
1.19
     
16.65
 
                                                     
         
3,980,781
     
0.74
   
$
4.26
     
3,626,613
     
0.75
   
$
4.23
 

CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-19#


 
14. Stockholder Protection Rights Plan
Effective April 16, 1997, the Company's board of directors declared a distribution of one right ("Rights") for each outstanding share of the Company's common stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 15, 1997 and for each share of common stock issued by the Company thereafter and prior to a Flip-in Date (as defined below). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one-ten thousandth (1/10,000th) of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, at an exercise price of $30. The Rights are generally not exercisable until 10 business days after an announcement by the Company that a person or group of affiliated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Company's then outstanding shares of common stock (a "Flip-in Date").
In the event the Rights become exercisable as a result of the acquisition of shares, each Right will enable the owner, other than the Acquiring Person, to purchase at the Right's then-current exercise price a number of shares of common stock with a market value equal to twice the exercise price. In addition, unless the Acquiring Person owns more than 50% of the outstanding shares of common stock, the Board of Directors may elect to exchange all outstanding Rights (other than those owned by such Acquiring Person) at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock per Right. All Rights that are owned by any person on or after the date such person becomes an Acquiring Person will be null and void.
The Rights have been distributed to protect the Company's stockholders from coercive or abusive takeover tactics and to give the Board of Directors more negotiating leverage in dealing with prospective acquirers. In July 2016, the Company extended the stockholder rights plan through April 2022.
15. Income Taxes
At December 31, 2017, the Company had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $373.7 million and $236.3 million, respectively, available to offset against future taxable income, which expire in 2018 through 2037.
As a result of a change in-control that occurred in the CytRx shareholder base in 2013, approximately $136.8 million in federal net operating loss carryforwards became substantially limited in their annual availability. Management currently believes that the remaining $236.9 million in federal net operating loss carryforwards, and the $236.3 million in state net operating loss carryforwards, are unrestricted.
As of December 31, 2017, CytRx also had research and development tax credits for federal and state purposes of approximately $16.6 million and $21.9 million, respectively, available for offset against future income taxes, which expire in 2022 through 2037. Based on an assessment of all available evidence including, but not limited to, the Company's limited operating history in its core business and lack of profitability, uncertainties of the commercial viability of its technology, the impact of government regulation and healthcare reform initiatives, and other risks normally associated with biotechnology companies, the Company has concluded that it is more likely than not that these net operating loss carryforwards and credits will not be realized and, as a result, a 100% deferred tax valuation allowance has been recorded against these assets.
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the 2017 Tax Act) was enacted reducing the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% which is effective on January 1, 2018. The carrying value of the Company's deferred tax assets is also determined by the enacted U.S. corporate income tax rate. Consequently, any changes in the U.S. corporate income tax rate have impacted the carrying value of the Company's deferred tax assets. Under the new corporate income tax rate of 21%, deferred income taxes decreased but there is a corresponding decrease to the valuation allowance. Therefore, the 2017 Tax Act is expected to have no impact on the Company's 2017 earnings. Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 ("SAB 118") was issued to address the application of US GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Act. In accordance with SAB 118, the Company has determined that the $27.3 million of deferred tax expense recorded in connection with the remeasurement of certain deferred tax assets and liabilities.
The Company implemented ASU 2016-09 during the first quarter of 2017 as stipulated in the FASB guidance for publicly-traded entities. To account for the implementation of ASU 2016-09, the Company accounted for previously unrecognized excess tax benefits by recognizing those benefits. Due to the Company's full valuation allowance, this recognition has no effect on the net accrual after the valuation allowance.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net effect of temporary differences between the financial reporting carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and income tax carrying amounts of assets and liabilities. The components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities, all of which are long-term, are as follows (in thousands):
   
December 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
 
Deferred tax assets:
           
Net operating loss carryforwards
 
$
66,251
   
$
126,244
 
Tax credit carryforwards
   
33,899
     
29,970
 
Equipment, furnishings and other
   
4,909
     
9,297
 
Total deferred tax assets
   
105,059
     
165,511
 
Deferred tax liabilities
   
     
(301
)
Net deferred tax assets
   
105,059
     
165,210
 
Valuation allowance
   
(105,059
)
   
(165,210
)
   
$
   
$
 
For all years presented, the Company did not recognize any deferred tax assets or liabilities. The net change in valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $60.2 million and $21.4 million, respectively.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-20#


 
The provision for income taxes differs from the provision computed by applying the Federal statutory rate to net loss before income taxes as follows (in thousands):
   
Years ended December 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
Federal benefit at statutory rate
 
$
(11,895
)
 
$
(17,262
)
 
$
(19,919
)
State income taxes, net of Federal taxes
   
(2,073
)
   
(3,086
)
   
(3,556
)
State credits
   
(506
)
   
(1,031
)
   
(1,324
)
Warrant liabilities
   
(465
)
   
(1,301
)
   
(1,509
)
Other permanent differences
   
11
     
40
     
16
 
Provision related to change in valuation allowance
   
(60,358
)
   
21,601
     
20,142
 
Federal rate adjustment
   
27,314
     
     
 
NQ Options
   
47
     
     
 
Current year tax credit
   
(665
)
   
(1,119
)
   
(2,050
)
NOL Adjustments
   
45,521
     
     
 
Termination/Cancellation of Equity Compensation Awards
   
2,983
     
2,274
     
5,960
 
Return to provision
   
84
     
(118
)
   
2,238
 
Other, net
   
3
     
3
     
3
 
   
$
1
   
$
1
   
$
1
 

There have been no changes to the Company's liability for unrecognized tax benefits during the year ended December 31, 2017.
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. As of the year ended December 31, 2017, the tax returns for 2013 through 2017 remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and various state tax authorities.
The Company's policy is to recognize any interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. As of the date of adoption of ASC 740 and the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company had accrued no interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions.

16. Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)
Summarized quarterly financial data for 2017 and 2016 is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
   
Quarters Ended
 
   
March 31
   
June 30
   
September 30
   
December 31
 
   
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
2017
                       
Total revenues
 
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
100
 
Net loss
 
$
(11,044
)
 
$
(14,358
)
 
$
(5,124
)
 
$
(4,460
)
Basic and diluted loss per share applicable to common stock
 
$
(0.60
)
 
$
(0.60
)
 
$
(1.14
)
 
$
(0.16
)
                                 
2016
                               
Total revenues
 
$
   
$
100
   
$
   
$
100
 
Net loss
 
$
(12,643
)
 
$
(18,280
)
 
$
(12,175
)
 
$
(7,672
)
Basic and diluted loss per share applicable to common stock
 
$
(1.14
)
 
$
(1.62
)
 
$
(0.78
)
 
$
(0.48
)

Quarterly and year-to-date loss per share amounts are computed independently of each other. Therefore, the sum of the per share amounts for the quarters may not agree to the per share amounts for the year.
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-21#


 


CYTRX CORPORATION
SCHEDULE II — VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
For the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

         
                 Additions
             
 
 
Description
 
Balance at
Beginning of Year
   
Charged to
Costs and
Expenses
   
Charged to Other
Accounts
   
Deductions
   
Balance at
End of Year
 
Reserve Deducted in the Balance Sheet from the Asset to Which it Applies:
                             
Allowance for Deferred Tax Assets
                             
Year ended December 31, 2017
 
$
165,210,000
   
$
   
$
(60,151,000
)
 
$
   
$
105,059,000
 
Year ended December 31, 2016
 
$
143,609,000
   
$
   
$
21,601,000
   
$
   
$
165,210,000
 
Year ended December 31, 2015
 
$
123,466,000
   
$
   
$
20,143,000
   
$
   
$
143,609,000
 
 
 
 
CytRx 2017 10-K Page # F-22#