Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v3.20.1
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Nature of Operations [Policy Text Block]
a.
Organization and Nature of Operations:
Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Navidea,” the “Company,” or “we”), a Delaware Corporation (NYSE American: NAVB), is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of precision immunodiagnostic agents and immunotherapeutics. Navidea is developing multiple precision-targeted products based on our Manocept™ platform to enhance patient care by identifying the sites and pathways of undetected disease and enable better diagnostic accuracy, clinical decision-making and targeted treatment.
 
Navidea’s Manocept platform is predicated on the ability to specifically target the
CD206
mannose receptor expressed on activated macrophages. The Manocept platform serves as the molecular backbone of
Tc99m
tilmanocept, the
first
product developed and commercialized by Navidea based on the platform.
 
In
July 2011,
we established a European business unit, Navidea Biopharmaceuticals Limited, to address international development and commercialization needs for our technologies, including
Tc99m
tilmanocept. Navidea owns
100%
of the outstanding shares of Navidea Biopharmaceuticals Limited.
 
In
January 2015,
Macrophage Therapeutics, Inc. (“MT”) was formed specifically to explore immuno-therapeutic applications for the Manocept platform. Navidea owns
99.9%
of the outstanding shares of MT.
 
In
March 2017,
pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company completed the sale to Cardinal Health
414,
LLC (“Cardinal Health
414”
) of its assets used, held for use, or intended to be used in operating its business of developing, manufacturing and commercializing the Company’s radioactive diagnostic agent marketed under the Lymphoseek
®
trademark in Canada, Mexico and the United States (the “Asset Sale”).  Our consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations have been reclassified, as required, for all periods presented to reflect the Lymphoseek business sold to Cardinal Health
414
as a discontinued operation.  Cash flows associated with the operation of this business have been combined with operating, investing and financing cash flows, as appropriate, in our consolidated statements of cash flows. 
 
Other than
Tc99m
tilmanocept, which the Company has a license to distribute outside of Canada, Mexico and the United States,
none
of the Company’s drug product candidates have been approved for sale in any market.
 
On
April 26, 2019,
the Company effected a
one
-for-
twenty
reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding shares of its common stock, par value
$.001
per share (“Common Stock”).  As a result of the reverse split, each
twenty
pre-split shares of Common Stock outstanding automatically combined into
one
new share of Common Stock.  The number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reduced from approximately
201.0
million to approximately
10.1
million shares.  The authorized number of shares of Common Stock was
not
reduced and remains at
300.0
million.  The par value of the Company’s Common Stock remained unchanged at
$0.001
per share after the reverse split.  Our consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, statements of stockholders’ (deficit) equity, and accompanying notes to the financial statements have been restated, as required, for all periods presented to reflect the reverse stock split as if it had occurred on
January 1, 2018. 
Our consolidated statements of cash flows were
not
impacted by the reverse stock split.
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]
b.
Principles of Consolidation:
Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Navidea and our wholly-owned subsidiary, Navidea Biopharmaceuticals Limited, as well as those of our majority-owned subsidiary, MT. All significant inter-company accounts were eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]
c.
Use of Estimates:
The preparation of 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 reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]
d.
Financial Instruments and Fair Value:
In accordance with current accounting standards, the fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value, giving the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level
1
measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level
3
measurements). The
three
levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
 
Level
1
– Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
 
Level
2
– Quoted prices in markets that are
not
active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly; and
 
Level
3
– Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
 
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. In determining the appropriate levels, we perform a detailed analysis of the assets and liabilities whose fair value is measured on a recurring basis. At each reporting period, all assets and liabilities for which the fair value measurement is based on significant unobservable inputs or instruments which trade infrequently and therefore have little or
no
price transparency are classified as Level
3.
See Note
5.
 
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments:
 
 
(
1
)
Cash
and cash equivalents
,
available-for-sale securities,
accounts and other receivables,
and
accounts payable:
The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.
 
 
(
2
)
Notes payable:
The carrying value of our debt at
December 31, 2019
and
2018
primarily consisted of the face amount of the notes plus accrued interest. At
December 31, 2019
and
2018,
the fair value of our notes payable was approximately
$306,000
and
$316,000,
respectively, both amounts equal to the carrying value of the notes payable. See Notes
5
and
12.
 
 
(
3
)
Derivative liabilities:
Derivative liabilities are related to certain outstanding warrants which are recorded at fair value. Derivative liabilities totaling
$0
and
$63,000
as of
December 31, 2019
and
2018,
respectively, were included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The assumptions used to calculate fair value as of
December 31, 2019
and
2018
included volatility, a risk-free rate and expected dividends. In addition, we considered non-performance risk and determined that such risk is minimal. Unrealized gains and losses on the derivatives are classified in other expenses as a change in the fair value of financial instruments in the statements of operations. See Note
5.
 
 
(
4
)
Warrants:
In
June 2019,
in connection with an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) between the Company and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (the “Underwriter”) related to a public offering, the Company issued to the Underwriter warrants to purchase
600,000
shares of Common Stock, representing
7.5%
of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock sold in the offering (the “Series OO Warrants”). The Series OO Warrants had an estimated fair value of
$261,000
at the date of issuance, which was recorded in additional paid-in capital as a reduction of the gross proceeds raised in the public offering. The assumptions used to calculate fair value of the Series OO Warrants included volatility of
88.6%,
a risk-free rate of
1.8%
and expected dividends of
$0.
See Note
15
(b).
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Policy Text Block]
e.
Stock-Based Compensation:
At
December 31, 2019,
we had instruments outstanding under
two
stock-based compensation plans; the Fourth Amended and Restated
2002
Stock Incentive Plan (the
“2002
Plan”) and the Amended and Restated
2014
Stock Incentive Plan (the
“2014
Plan”). Currently, under the
2014
Plan, we
may
grant incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, and restricted stock awards to full-time employees and directors, and nonqualified stock options and restricted stock awards
may
be granted to our consultants and agents. Total shares authorized under each plan are
12
million shares and
15
million shares, respectively. Although instruments are still outstanding under the
2002
Plan, the plan has expired and
no
new grants
may
be made from it. Under both plans, the exercise price of each option is greater than or equal to the closing market price of our Common Stock on the date of the grant.
 
Stock options granted under the
2002
Plan and the
2014
Plan generally vest on an annual basis over
one
to
four
years. Outstanding stock options under the plans, if
not
exercised, generally expire
ten
years from their date of grant or up to
90
days following the date of an optionee’s separation from employment with the Company. We issue new shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of stock options.
 
Stock-based payments to employees and directors, including grants of stock options and restricted stock, are recognized in the statements of operations based on their estimated fair values on the date of grant, subject to an estimated forfeiture rate. The fair value of each option award with time-based vesting provisions is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The determination of fair value using the Black-Scholes option pricing model is affected by our stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables, including expected stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected dividends and projected employee stock option behaviors. The fair value of each option award with market-based vesting provisions is estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation. The determination of fair value using a Monte Carlo simulation is affected by our stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables, including expected stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected dividends and projected employee stock option behaviors.
 
Expected volatilities are based on the Company’s historical volatility, which management believes represents the most accurate basis for estimating expected future volatility under the current circumstances. Navidea uses historical data to estimate forfeiture rates. The expected term of stock options granted is based on the vesting period and the contractual life of the options. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time of the grant. The assumptions used to calculate the fair value of stock option awards granted during the years ended
December 31, 2019
and
2018
are noted in the following table:
 
   
201
9
   
201
8
 
Expected volatility
   
76%
-
93%
     
64%
-
76%
 
Weighted-average volatility
   
 
86%
 
     
 
69%
 
 
Expected forfeiture rate
   
15.1%
-
15.5%
     
 
18.7%
 
 
Expected term (in years)
   
3.5
-
6.0
     
5.5
-
6.0
 
Risk-free rate
   
2.4%
-
2.5%
     
2.6%
-
2.7%
 
Expected dividends
   
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
The portion of the fair value of stock-based awards that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as compensation expense over either (
1
) the requisite service period or (
2
) the estimated performance period. Restricted stock awards are valued based on the closing stock price on the date of grant and amortized ratably over the estimated life of the award. Restricted stock
may
vest based on the passage of time, or upon occurrence of a specific event or achievement of goals as defined in the grant agreements. In such cases, we record compensation expense related to grants of restricted stock based on management’s estimates of the probable dates of the vesting events. Stock-based awards that do
not
vest because the requisite service period is
not
met prior to termination result in reversal of previously recognized compensation cost. See Note
6.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]
f.
Cash and Cash Equivalents:
Cash equivalents are highly liquid instruments such as U.S. Treasury bills, bank certificates of deposit, corporate commercial paper and money market funds which have maturities of less than
three
months from the date of purchase.
Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]
g.
Available-for-Sale Securities:
Available-for-sale securities are liquid instruments such as U.S. Treasury bills, bank certificates of deposit, corporate commercial paper and money market funds which have maturities of
three
months or more from the date of purchase.
Receivable [Policy Text Block]
h
.
Accounts
and Other
Receivable
s
:
Accounts and other receivables are recorded net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. We estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts based on a review and assessment of specific accounts and other receivables and write off accounts against the allowance account when deemed uncollectible.  See Note
8.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]
i
.
Property and Equipment:
Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is generally computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the depreciable assets. Depreciation and amortization related to equipment under capital leases and leasehold improvements is recognized over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the leased asset or the term of the lease. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, while renewals and improvements are capitalized. See Note
9.
Intangible Assets, Finite-Lived, Policy [Policy Text Block]
j
.
Intangible Assets:
Intangible assets consist primarily of license agreements, and patent and trademark costs. Intangible assets are stated at cost, less accumulated amortization. License agreements and patent costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the license agreements and patents of approximately
5
to
15
years. Patent application costs are deferred pending the outcome of patent applications. Costs associated with unsuccessful patent applications and abandoned intellectual property are expensed when determined to have
no
recoverable value. We evaluate the potential alternative uses of all intangible assets, as well as the recoverability of the carrying values of intangible assets, on a recurring basis. During
2019
and
2018,
we capitalized patent and trademark costs of
$57,000
and
$0,
respectively. During
2019
and
2018,
we abandoned patents with previously-capitalized patent costs of
$58,000
and
$0,
respectively.
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]
k
.
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets:
Long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset
may
not
be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets.
No
impairment was recognized during the years ended
December 31, 2019
or
2018.
Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.
Lessee, Leases [Policy Text Block]
l
.
Leases:
All of our leases are operating leases and are included in right-of-use lease assets, current lease liabilities and noncurrent lease liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. These assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of remaining lease payments over the lease term using the Company’s incremental borrowing rates or implicit rates, when readily determinable. Short-term operating leases which have an initial term of
12
months or less are
not
recorded on the consolidated balance sheets. Lease expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, and is included in selling, general and administrative expenses on our consolidated statements of operations. See Note
13.
Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]
m
.
Derivative Instruments:
Derivative instruments embedded in contracts, to the extent
not
already a free-standing contract, are bifurcated from the debt instrument and accounted for separately. All derivatives are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value in accordance with current accounting guidelines for such complex financial instruments. Derivative liabilities with expiration dates within
one
year are classified as current, while those with expiration dates in more than
one
year are classified as long term. We do
not
use derivative instruments for hedging of market risks or for trading or speculative purposes.
Revenue [Policy Text Block]
n
.
Revenue Recognition:
We currently generate revenue primarily from grants to support various product development initiatives. We generally recognize grant revenue when expenses reimbursable under the grants have been paid and payments under the grants become contractually due.
 
We also earn revenues related to our licensing and distribution agreements. The consideration we are eligible to receive under our licensing and distribution agreements typically includes upfront payments, reimbursement for research and development costs, milestone payments, and royalties. Each licensing and distribution agreement is unique and requires separate assessment in accordance with current accounting standards. See Note
4.
Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]
o
.
Research and Development Costs:
Research and development (“R&D”) expenses include both internal R&D activities and external contracted services. Internal R&D activity expenses include salaries, benefits, and stock-based compensation, as well as travel, supplies, and other costs to support our R&D staff. External contracted services include clinical trial activities, manufacturing and control-related activities, and regulatory costs. R&D expenses are charged to operations as incurred. We review and accrue R&D expenses based on services performed and rely upon estimates of those costs applicable to the stage of completion of each project.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]
p
.
Income Taxes:
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the realization of the deferred tax assets in future tax returns, all of the deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance at
December 31, 2019
and
2018.
 
Current accounting standards include guidance on the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements. Such standards also prescribe a recognition threshold and measurement model for the financial statement recognition of a tax position taken, or expected to be taken, and provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company believes that the ultimate deductibility of all tax positions is highly certain, although there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility. As a result,
no
liability for uncertain tax positions was recorded as of
December 31, 2019
or
2018
and we do
not
expect any significant changes in the next
twelve
months. Should we need to accrue interest or penalties on uncertain tax positions, we would recognize the interest as interest expense and the penalties as a selling, general and administrative expense. As of
December 31, 2019,
tax years
2016
-
2019
remained subject to examination by federal and state tax authorities. See Note
16.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]
q
.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards:
In
February 2016,
the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)
No.
2016
-
02,
Leases (Topic
842
)
. ASU
2016
-
02
requires the recognition of right-of-use lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under previous U.S. GAAP. The core principle of Topic
842
is that a lessee should recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases. A lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term.
 
In
July 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
No.
2018
-
10,
Codification Improvements to Topic
842,
Leases
, and ASU
No.
2018
-
11,
Targeted Improvements to Topic
842,
Leases
. ASU
2018
-
10
updates Topic
842
in order to clarify narrow aspects of the guidance issued in ASU
2016
-
02,
Leases (Topic
842
)
. ASU
2018
-
11
provides entities with an additional (and optional) transition method to adopt the new leases standard. Under this new transition method, an entity initially applies the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Consequently, an entity’s reporting for the comparative periods presented in the financial statements in which it adopts the new leases standard will continue to be in accordance with current U.S. GAAP (Topic
840,
Leases
). An entity that elects this transition method must provide the required Topic
840
disclosures for all periods that continue to be in accordance with Topic
840.
The amendments in ASU
2018
-
10
and ASU
2018
-
11
are effective when ASU
2016
-
02
is effective, for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2018.
 
The Company adopted ASU
2016
-
02,
ASU
2018
-
10
and ASU
2018
-
11
effective
January 1, 2019
using the cumulative-effect adjustment transition method, which applies the provisions of the standard at the effective date without adjusting the comparative periods presented. Related to the adoption of these standards, the Company made a short-term lease accounting policy election allowing lessees to
not
recognize right-of-use assets and liabilities for leases with an initial term of
12
months or less.
 
The adoption of ASU
2016
-
02
resulted in the recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities of approximately
$407,000
on the consolidated balance sheet as of
January 1, 2019
related to our leases that were previously classified as operating leases, primarily for office space. The adoption of ASU
2016
-
02
did
not
materially impact our operating results or liquidity. Disclosures related to the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases are included in Note
13.
 
In
June 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
No.
2018
-
07,
Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic
718
)
:
Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting
. ASU
2018
-
07
expands the scope of Topic
718
to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. An entity should apply the requirements of Topic
718
to nonemployee awards except for specific guidance on inputs to an option pricing model and the attribution of cost. ASU
2018
-
07
specifies that Topic
718
applies to all share-based payment transactions in which a grantor acquires goods or services to be used or consumed in a grantor’s own operations by issuing share-based payment awards, and that Topic
718
does
not
apply to share-based payments used to effectively provide (
1
) financing to the issuer or (
2
) awards granted in conjunction with selling goods or services to customers as part of a contract accounted for under Topic
606,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
. ASU
2018
-
07
is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2018,
including interim periods within that fiscal year. The adoption of ASU
2018
-
07
did
not
have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
In
July 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
No.
2018
-
09,
Codification Improvements
. ASU
2018
-
09
updates a variety of topics in order to clarify, correct errors, or make minor improvements to the Codification, making it easier to understand and easier to apply by eliminating inconsistencies and providing clarifications. Certain amendments in ASU
2018
-
09
were effective upon issuance, others are effective for annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2018
for public business entities, and some have been made to recently issued guidance and will be subject to the effective dates within the relevant guidance. The adoption of ASU
2018
-
09
did
not
have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
 
r
.
Recent
ly Issued
Accounting
Standards
:
In
August 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
No.
2018
-
13,
Fair Value Measurement (Topic
820
):
Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement
. ASU
2018
-
13
is intended to improve the effectiveness of disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic
820.
ASU
2018
-
13
modifies certain disclosure requirements and will be effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after
December 15, 2019.
We do
not
expect the adoption of ASU
2018
-
13
to have any impact on our consolidated financial statements, however it
may
have an impact on our fair value disclosures.
 
In
December 2019,
the FASB issued ASU
No.
2019
-
12,
Income Taxes (Topic
740
)
:
Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes
. ASU
2019
-
12
is intended to improve consistent application and simplify the accounting for income taxes. ASU
2019
-
12
removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic
740
and clarifies and amends existing guidance. ASU
2019
-
12
is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after
December 12, 2020,
with early adoption permitted. We do
not
expect the adoption of ASU
2019
-
12
to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.