Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Nature of Business

v3.20.4
Nature of Business
6 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Nature of Business  
Nature of Business

1.   Nature of Business

iBio, Inc. (“we”, “us”, “our”, “iBio”, “Ibio, Inc” or the “Company”) is a biotechnology company and biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (“CDMO”). The Company applies its licensed and owned technologies to develop novel products to fight fibrotic diseases, cancers, and infectious diseases. The Company uses its FastPharming® Development and Manufacturing System (the “FastPharming System”) to increase “speed-to-clinic” for new candidates. The Company is also using the FastPharming System to create proteins for research and development (“R&D”) as well as further manufacturing uses, including 3D-bioprinting. In addition, the Company makes the FastPharming System available to clients on a fee-for-service basis for the production of proteins.

During the year ended June 30, 2020, the Company operated in two segments: (i) its CDMO segment, operated via its subsidiary iBio CDMO LLC (“iBio CDMO”), and (ii) its biologics development and licensing activities, conducted within iBio, Inc. In the past, the Company’s primary focus was the CDMO business, pursuant to which iBio CDMO provided manufacturing services to collaborators and third-party customers as well as to the Company for its own product development purposes. However, during the second half of 2020 and subsequent to year end, the Company shifted its primary focus to its biologics development programs, including new vaccines and therapeutics.

The Company’s current platforms and programs include: (i) CDMO services using its licensed and owned FastPharming System and GlycaneeringTM Services; (ii) the development of therapeutics, for which the Company intends to conduct preclinical and clinical trials; (iii) the development of vaccines, for which the Company intends to conduct preclinical and clinical trials, and (iv) the production of proteins for research and further manufacturing for use in 3D-bioprinting and other applications. The Company is developing a portfolio of technologies, products, and services driven by the following platforms and programs, which it intends to use individually, and in combination:

CDMO Services

o

Process development and manufacturing of protein products in hydroponically-grown, transiently-transfected plants, (typically Nicotiana benthamiana, a relative of the tobacco plant) using the Company’s proprietary expression technologies, GlycaneeringTM Services, and production know-how (the FastPharming System), deployed in its 130,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Bryan, Texas.

o

“Factory Solutions” for the clients who seek to insource biologics manufacturing using the FastPharming System and instead of outsourcing production to iBio CDMO.

Therapeutics

o

Treatments for fibrotic diseases, including a fusion of the endostatin-derived E4 antifibrotic peptide to the hinge and heavy chain of human IgG1 (“IBIO-100”, formerly described as “CFB-03”) for systemic scleroderma (for which we have received orphan drug designation), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and related conditions.

o

An ACE2-Fc fusion protein as a treatment for COVID-19 and, prospectively, other diseases emanating from the Coronaviridae family, in-licensed from Planet Biotechnology, Inc.

Vaccines

o

A novel virus-like particle antigen being designed for use in a vaccine candidate targeting the SARS-CoV-2 virus (“IBIO-200”).

o

The lichenase (“LicKMTM”)-subunit vaccine for COVID-19 (“IBIO-201”).

o

An E2 antigen, in combination with a selected adjuvant, for vaccination of pigs against classical swine fever (“IBIO-400”).

Research & Bioprocess Products

o

Protein scaffolds for use as bioinks in the development of 3D-bioprinted tissues and organs.

o

Cytokines and growth factors for cell culture applications.

o

Biomaterials for a range of life science research, development, and bioprocessing applications.

Our Platforms and Programs

CDMO Services

Our contract development and manufacturing services include:

 

Process Development

Feasibility assessment and development of manufacturing processes using the FastPharming System Product optimization via our GlycaneeringTM Services that may be used to enhance the quality and performance of therapeutic proteins via plant-based glycosylation controls.

 

 

Manufacturing

Biologics production using the FastPharming System.

 

 

Fill / Finish

Aseptic vial and bottle filling and finishing services.

 

BioAnalytics

Method development and validation, including protein characterization using mass spectrometry.

 

iBio was established as a public company in August 2008 as the result of a spinoff from Integrated BioPharma, Inc., iBio’s wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries are as follows:

iBio CDMO– iBio CDMO is a Delaware limited liability company formed on December 16, 2015 as iBio CMO, LLC to develop and manufacture plant-made pharmaceuticals and provide related services to clients. Effective July 1, 2017, iBio CMO changed its name to iBio CDMO. As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned 100% of iBio CDMO. On January 13, 2016, the Company entered into a contract manufacturing joint venture with an affiliate of Eastern Capital Limited (“Eastern”), a stockholder of the Company (the “Eastern Affiliate”). The Eastern Affiliate contributed $15 million in cash for a 30% interest in iBio CDMO. The Company retained a 70% interest in iBio CDMO and contributed a royalty-bearing license which grants iBio CDMO a non-exclusive license to use the Company’s proprietary technologies for research purposes and an exclusive U.S. license for manufacturing purposes. The Company retained the exclusive right to grant product licenses to those who wish to sell or distribute products made using the Company’s technologies.

On February 23, 2017, the Company entered into an exchange agreement with the Eastern Affiliate, pursuant to which the Company acquired substantially all of the interest in iBio CDMO held by the Eastern Affiliate in exchange for one share of the Company’s iBio CMO Preferred Tracking Stock, par value $0.001 per share. After giving effect to the transaction, the Company owns 99.99% of iBio CDMO. See Note 12 - Stockholders' Equity for a further discussion. At any time, at our election or the election of the Eastern Affiliate, the outstanding share of iBio CMO Preferred Tracking Stock may be exchanged for 29,990,000 units of limited liability company interests of iBio CDMO. Following such exchange, we would own a 70% interest in iBio CDMO and the Eastern Affiliate would own a 30% interest.

iBio CDMO’s operations take place in Bryan, Texas in a facility controlled by another affiliate of Eastern (the “Second Eastern Affiliate”) as sublandlord. The facility is a 130,000‑square foot Class A life sciences building located on land owned by the Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (“Texas A&M”) system, designed and equipped for plant-made manufacture of biopharmaceuticals. The Second Eastern Affiliate granted iBio CDMO a 34‑year lease (the "Sublease") for the facility as well as certain equipment (see Note 11 - Finance Lease Obligations). iBio CDMO commenced commercial operations in January 2016. iBio CDMO expects to operate on the basis of three parallel lines of business: (1) development and manufacturing of third-party products; (2) development and production of iBio’s proprietary products; and (3) commercial technology transfer services including facility design, as needed.

iBIO DO BRASIL BIOFARMACÊUTICA LTDA (“iBio Brazil”) – iBio Brazil is a subsidiary organized in Brazil in which the Company has a 99% interest. iBio Brazil was formed to manage and expand the Company’s business activities in Brazil. The activities of iBio Brazil are intended to include coordination and expansion of the Company’s existing relationship with Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz (“Fiocruz”), with whom we have previously partnered with on a Yellow Fever Vaccine program and development of additional products with private sector participants for the Brazilian market. iBio Brazil commenced operations during the first quarter of the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. iBio Brazil is inactive at this time and management plans to liquidate the legal entity in Q3 of fiscal year 2021.

 

iBio Manufacturing LLC (“iBio Manufacturing”) – iBio Manufacturing, a wholly-owned subsidiary, is a Delaware limited liability company formed in November 2015. iBio Manufacturing has not commenced any activities to date.