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CELSION CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
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PART II
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PART III
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PART IV
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ITEM 1.
Certain of the statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are forward-looking and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, from time to time we may publish forward-looking statements relating to such matters as anticipated financial performance, business prospects, technological developments, new products, research and development activities and other aspects of our present and future business operations and similar matters that also constitute such forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things, unforeseen changes in the course of research and development activities and in clinical trials; possible changes in cost and timing of development and testing, capital structure, and other financial items; changes in approaches to medical treatment; introduction of new products by others; possible acquisitions of other technologies, assets or businesses; possible actions by customers, suppliers, strategic partners, potential strategic partners, competitors and regulatory authorities, as well as those listed under “Risk Factors” below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “plan”, “believe” and words of similar import regarding the Company’s expectations. Forward-looking statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially. Although we believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of our knowledge of our industry, business and operations, we cannot guarantee that actual results will not differ materially from our expectations. In evaluating such forward-looking statements, you should specifically consider various factors, including the risks outlined under “Risk Factors.” The discussion of risks and uncertainties set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is not necessarily a complete or exhaustive list of all risks facing the Company at any particular point in time. We operate in a highly competitive, highly regulated and rapidly changing environment and our business is in a state of evolution. Therefore, it is likely that new risks will emerge, and that the nature and elements of existing risks will change, over time. It is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors or changes therein, or to assess either the impact of all such risk factors on our business or the extent to which any individual risk factor, combination of factors, or new or altered factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We disclaim any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf.
Unless the context requires otherwise or unless otherwise noted, all references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “Celsion” and to the “Company”. “we”, “us”, or “our” are to Celsion Corporation.
Trademarks
The Celsion brand and product names, including but not limited to Celsion®, contained in this document are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of Celsion Corporation in the United States (U.S.) and certain other countries. This document also contains references to trademarks and service marks of other companies that are the property of their respective owners.
Celsion Corporation is an innovative oncology drug development company focused on the development of treatments for those suffering with difficult to treat forms of cancer. We are working to develop and commercialize more efficient, effective, targeted chemotherapeutic oncology drugs based on our proprietary heat-activated liposomal technology. The promise of this drug technology is to maximize efficacy while minimizing side-effects common to cancer treatments.
Our lead product ThermoDox® is being evaluated in a Phase III clinical trial for primary liver cancer (the HEAT study), a Phase II clinical trial for colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) and a Phase II clinical trial for recurrent chest wall breast cancer. ThermoDox® is a liposomal encapsulation of doxorubicin, an approved and frequently used oncology drug for the treatment of a wide range of cancers. Localized heat at mild hyperthermia temperatures (greater than 40 degrees Celsius) releases the encapsulated doxorubicin from the liposome enabling high concentrations of doxorubicin to be deposited preferentially in and around the targeted tumor.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted our pivotal Phase III HEAT study for ThermoDox®, in combination with radiofrequency ablation a Special Protocol Assessment and has designated it as a Fast Track Development Program. We have received written guidance from the FDA stating that, assuming the results of our ongoing studies are adequate, we may submit our New Drug Application (NDA) for ThermoDox® pursuant to Section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. A 505(b)(2) NDA provides that some of the information from the reports required for marketing approval may come from studies that the applicant does not own or for which the applicant does not have a legal right of reference and permits a manufacturer to obtain marketing approval for a drug without needing to conduct or obtain a right of reference for all of the required studies. The availability of Section 505(b)(2) and the designation of ThermoDox® as a Fast Track Development Program may provide us with an expedited pathway to approval. There can be no assurance, however, that the results of our ongoing studies will be adequate to obtain approval of ThermoDox® under Section 505(b)(2). Drug research and development is an inherently uncertain process and there is a high risk of failure at every stage prior to approval and the timing and the outcome of clinical results is extremely difficult to predict. Clinical development successes and failures can have a disproportionate positive or negative impact on our scientific and medical prospects, financial prospects, financial condition, and market value.