Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
File No. 333-129680
 
OFFERING PROSPECTUS
 


ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
 

 
2,520,632 shares of common stock
 
The selling stockholders identified on page 44 of this prospectus are offering on a resale basis a total of 2,520,632 shares of our common stock. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of these shares by the selling stockholders.
 
Our common stock is quoted on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board under the symbol “ZIOP.” On November 9, 2005, the last sale of our common stock as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board was $4.00 per share.
 
________________
 
The securities offered by this prospectus involve a high degree of risk.
See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5.
 
________________
 
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined that this prospectus is truthful or complete. A representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
 
The date of this prospectus is November 18,  2005
 



TABLE OF CONTENTS
 

   
Page
 
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
   
1
 
         
RISK FACTORS
   
5
 
         
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
   
15
 
         
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
   
16
 
         
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
   
21
 
         
MANAGEMENT
   
30
 
         
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
   
33
 
         
CHANGES IN OUR CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT     37  
         
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
   
38
 
         
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
   
40
 
         
MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
   
43
 
         
USE OF PROCEEDS
   
43
 
         
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
   
44
 
         
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
   
45
 
         
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
   
47
 
         
DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
   
48
 
         
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
   
48
 
         
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
   
48
 
         
VALIDITY OF COMMON STOCK
   
49
 
         
EXPERTS
   
49
 

 



  
 
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
This summary highlights certain information found in greater detail elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary may not contain all of the information that may be important to you. We urge you to read this entire prospectus carefully, including the risks of investing in our common stock discussed under “Risk Factors” and the financial statements and other information that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before making an investment decision. In addition, this prospectus summarizes other documents which we urge you to read. All references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
 
Our Company
 
We are a development-stage company that is seeking to develop and commercialize a diverse, risk-sensitive portfolio of in-licensed cancer drugs that address unmet medical needs. Our management and advisors are focused on licensing proprietary drug candidate families that are related to cancer therapeutics on the market where the application of new biological understanding and our drug development expertise will lead to a lower risk for clinical development failure while expediting clinical registration. We expect to commercialize our products on our own in North America but recognize that promising clinical trial results in cancers with a high incidence and prevalence might also be addressed in a commercial partnership with another company with the requisite financial resources. Currently, we are in U.S. Phase I studies for two product candidates known as ZIO-101 and ZIO-201. We currently intend to continue with clinical development of ZIO-101 for advanced myeloma and ZIO-201 for advanced sarcoma. None of our product candidates have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) or any other regulatory body. Further, we have not received any commercial revenues to date, and until we receive the necessary approvals from the FDA or a similar foreign regulatory authority, we will not have any commercial revenues.
 
·  
ZIO-101 is an organic arsenic compound covered by an issued U.S. patent and applications internationally. A form of commercially available inorganic arsenic (arsenic trioxide (Trisenox®) or ATO) has been approved for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a precancerous condition, and is on the compendia listing for the therapy of multiple myeloma as well as having been studied for the treatment of various other cancers. Nevertheless, ATO has been shown to be toxic to the heart and liver, limiting its use as an anti-cancer agent. Inorganic arsenic has also been shown to cause cancer of the skin and lung in humans. The toxicity of arsenic generally is correlated to its accumulation in organs and tissues. The Company’s preclinical studies demonstrated that ZIO-101 (and organic arsenic in general) is considerably less toxic than inorganic arsenic, particularly with regard to heart toxicity. In vitro testing of ZIO-101 using the National Cancer Institute’s human cancer cell panel detected activity against lung, colon, brain, melanoma, ovarian and kidney cancer. Moderate activity was detected against breast and prostate cancer. In addition to solid tumors, in vitro testing in both the National Cancer Institute’s cancer cell panel and in vivo testing in a leukemia animal model demonstrated substantial activity against hematological cancers (cancers of the blood and blood-forming tissues) such as leukemia, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes and multiple myeloma. Leukemia is a cancer that begins in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of blood cells to be produced and enter the bloodstream. Lymphomas are cancers that begin in cells of the immune system. Myelodysplastic syndromes, also called preleukemia or smoldering leukemia, are diseases in which the bone marrow does not function normally.
        

 

·  
ZIO-201, or isophosphoramide mustard (IPM), is a proprietary stabilized metabolite of ifosfamide that is also related to cyclophosphamide. A patent application for pharmaceutical composition has been filed. Cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide are alkylating agents. Cyclophosphamide is the most widely used alkylating agent in cancer therapy and is used to treat breast cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Ifosfamide has been shown to be effective in high dose by itself, or in combination in treating sarcoma and lymphoma. Although ifosfamide-based treatment generally represents the standard of care for sarcoma, it is not licensed for this indication by the FDA. Our preclinical studies have shown that, in animal and laboratory models, IPM evidences activity against leukemia and solid tumors. These studies also indicate that ZIO-201 has a better pharmacokinetic and safety profile than ifosfamide or cyclophosphamide, offering the possibility of safer and more efficacious therapy with ZIO-201. Ifosfamide is metabolized to IPM. In addition to IPM, another metabolite of ifosfamide is acrolein, which is toxic to the kidneys and bladder. The presence of acrolein can mandate the administration of a protective agent called Mesna®, which is inconvenient and expensive. Chloroacetaldehyde is another metabolite of ifosfamide and is toxic to the central nervous system, causing “fuzzy brain” syndrome for which there is currently no protective measure. Similar toxicity concerns pertain to high-dose cyclophosphamide, which is widely used in bone marrow and blood cell transplantation. Because ZIO-201 is independently active—without acrolein or chloroacetaldehyde metabolites—the Company believes that the administration of ZIO-201 may avoid the toxicities of ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide without compromising efficacy. In addition to anticipated lower toxicity, ZIO-201 may have other advantages over ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide. ZIO-201 likely cross-links DNA differently than ifosfamide or cyclophosphamide metabolites, resulting in a different activity profile. Moreover, in some instances ZIO-201 appears to show activity in ifosfamide- and/or cyclophosphamide-resistant cancer cells.

We were originally incorporated in Colorado in September 1998 (under the name Net Escapes, Inc.) and later changed our name to “EasyWeb, Inc.” in February 1999. We were re-incorporated in Delaware on May 16, 2005 under the same name. On September 13, 2005, we completed a “reverse” acquisition of privately held ZIOPHARM, Inc., a Delaware corporation. To effect this transaction, we caused ZIO Acquisition Corp., our wholly-owned subsidiary, to merge with and into ZIOPHARM, Inc., with ZIOPHARM, Inc. surviving as our wholly owned subsidiary. In accordance with the terms of the merger, the outstanding common stock of ZIOPHARM, Inc. automatically converted into the right to receive an aggregate of approximately 97.3% of our outstanding common stock (after giving effect to the transaction).Following the merger, we caused ZIOPHARM, Inc. to merge with and into us and we changed our name to “ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.”
 
Our executive offices are located at 1180 Avenue of the Americas, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10036, and our telephone number is (646) 214-0700. Our internet site is www.ziopharm.com. None of the information on our internet site is part of the prospectus.
 

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Recent Developments
 
Reverse Stock Split
 
On August 24, 2005, we effected a 1-for-40 share combination (i.e., reverse stock split) of our capital stock. The share combination was approved by our stockholders at a special stockholder meeting held on February 28, 2005. As a result of the share combination, we had 189,922 shares of common stock outstanding immediately prior to the Merger.
 
Acquisition of ZIOPHARM, Inc.

Pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated August 3, 2005 (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among us, ZIO Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and our wholly owned subsidiary, and ZIOPHARM, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ZIOPHARM”), ZIO Acquisition Corp. merged with and into ZIOPHARM, with ZIOPHARM remaining as the surviving corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary. This transaction is referred to throughout this report as the “Merger.” The Merger was effective as of September 13, 2005, upon the filing of a certificate of merger with the Delaware Secretary of State. In consideration for their shares of ZIOPHARM capital stock and in accordance with the Agreement, the stockholders of ZIOPHARM received an aggregate of 6,967,941 shares or approximately 97.3% of our common stock. In addition, all securities convertible into and exercisable for shares of ZIOPHARM capital stock outstanding immediately prior to the Merger were cancelled, and the holders thereof received similar securities convertible into an aggregate of 1,366,846 shares of our common stock.
 
All share and per share data in this prospectus (other than in our financial statements and in Item 26) have been adjusted to give effect to the conversions effected as part of the merger.
 
The Merger Agreement was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2005, and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement and the Merger do not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement.
 
On September 13, 2005, our board of directors approved a transaction pursuant to which ZIOPHARM merged with and into us, leaving us as the surviving corporation. In connection with this parent-subsidiary merger, we relinquished our prior corporate name, EasyWeb, Inc., and assumed in its place the name “ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.” The parent-subsidiary merger and name change became effective on September 14, 2005.
 
Changes in Board of Directors
 
At the effective time of the Merger, our board of directors was reconstituted by the appointment of Jonathan Lewis, Richard Bagley, Murray Brennan, James Cannon, Senator Wyche Fowler, Jr., Gary S. Fragin, Timothy McInerney and Michael Weiser as directors (all of whom were directors of ZIOPHARM immediately prior to the Merger), and the resignations of David C. Olson and David Floor from their roles as our directors.
 
Risk Factors
 
For a discussion of the risks you should consider before purchasing shares of our common stock, you are urged to carefully review and consider the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of this prospectus.
 

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The Offering

The selling stockholders identified on pages 44 of this prospectus are offering on a resale basis a total of 2,520,632 shares of our common stock.
 
         
Common stock offered
   
2,520,632 shares
 
Common stock outstanding before the offering (1)
   
7,248,115 shares
 
Common stock outstanding after the offering
   
7,248,115 shares
 
Common stock OTC Bulletin Board trading symbol
   
ZIOP
 
 
 

(1)
Based on the number of shares outstanding as of October 31, 2005, not including 1,403,959 shares issuable upon exercise of various warrants and options to purchase our common stock.

 
 

 
 

4



RISK FACTORS
 
An investment in our common stock is very risky. You may lose the entire amount of your investment. Prior to making an investment decision, you should carefully review this entire prospectus and consider the following risk factors:
 
We currently have no product revenues and will need to raise additional capital to operate our business.
 
To date, we have generated no product revenues. Until and unless we receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) and/or other regulatory authorities for our product candidates, we cannot sell our drugs and will not have product revenues. Currently, our only product candidates are ZIO-101(organic arsenic) and ZIO-201 (isophosphoramide mustard), and they are not approved by the FDA for sale.
 
We will need to seek additional sources of financing which may not be available on favorable terms, if at all.
 
Currently, we expect that we will have sufficient cash to fund our operations into the second quarter of 2006. However, changes may occur that would consume our existing capital prior to that time, including the progress of our research and development efforts, changes in governmental regulation and acquisitions of additional product candidates. If we do not succeed in raising additional funds on acceptable terms, we may be unable to complete planned preclinical and clinical trials or obtain approval of any product candidates from the FDA and other regulatory authorities. In addition, we could be forced to discontinue product development, reduce or forego sales and marketing efforts or forego attractive business opportunities. Any additional sources of financing will likely involve the issuance of our equity securities, which will have a dilutive effect on our existing stockholders.
 
We are not currently profitable and may never become profitable.
 
We have a history of losses and expect to incur substantial losses and negative operating cash flow for the foreseeable future, and we may never achieve or maintain profitability. Even if we succeed in developing and commercializing one or more product candidates, we expect to incur substantial losses for the foreseeable future and may never become profitable. We expect also to continue to incur significant operating and capital expenditures and anticipate that our expenses will increase substantially in the foreseeable future as we:
 
·  
continue to undertake preclinical development and clinical trials for product candidates;
·  
scale up the formulation and manufacturing of our product candidates;
·  
seek regulatory approvals for product candidates;
·  
implement additional internal systems and infrastructure; and
·  
hire additional personnel.
 
We also expect to experience negative cash flow for the foreseeable future as we fund our operating losses and capital expenditures. This may result in a negative impact on the value of our common stock.
 
We have a limited operating history upon which to base an investment decision.
 
Prior to the Merger, ZIOPHARM was a development-stage company that was incorporated in September 2003. To date, we have not demonstrated an ability to perform the functions necessary for the successful commercialization of any product candidates. The successful commercialization of any product candidates will require us to perform a variety of functions, including:
 

5



 
·  
continuing to undertake preclinical development and clinical trials;
·  
participating in regulatory approval processes;
·  
formulating and manufacturing products; and
·  
conducting sales and marketing activities.

Our operations have been limited to organizing and staffing our Company, acquiring, developing and securing our proprietary product candidates, undertaking preclinical trials and clinical trials of our product candidates ZIO-101 and ZIO-201, and manufacturing ZIO-101 and ZIO- 201. These operations provide a limited basis for you to assess our ability to commercialize our product candidates and the advisability of investing in our securities.
 
We may not obtain the necessary U.S. or worldwide regulatory approvals to commercialize any product candidate.
 
We may not be able to obtain the approvals necessary to commercialize our product candidates, ZIO-101 and ZIO-201, or any product candidate that we may acquire or develop in the future for commercial sale. We will need FDA approval to commercialize our product candidates in the U.S. and approvals from regulatory authorities in foreign jurisdictions equivalent to the FDA to commercialize our product candidates in those jurisdictions. In order to obtain FDA approval of any product candidate, we must submit to the FDA a New Drug Application, or “NDA,” demonstrating that the product candidate is safe for humans and effective for its intended use. This demonstration requires significant research and animal tests, which are referred to as preclinical studies, as well as human tests, which are referred to as clinical trials. Satisfaction of the FDA’s regulatory requirements typically takes many years, depending upon the type, complexity and novelty of the product candidate, and will require substantial resources for research, development and testing. We cannot predict whether our research, development, and clinical approaches will result in drugs that the FDA considers safe for humans and effective for their intended uses. The FDA has substantial discretion in the drug approval process and may require us to conduct additional preclinical and clinical testing or to perform post-marketing studies. The approval process may also be delayed by changes in government regulation, future legislation or administrative action or changes in FDA policy that occur prior to or during our regulatory review. Delays in obtaining regulatory approvals may:
 
·  
delay commercialization of, and our ability to derive product revenues from, our product candidates;
·  
impose costly procedures on us; and
·  
diminish any competitive advantages that we may otherwise enjoy.

Even if we comply with all FDA requests, the FDA may ultimately reject one or more of our NDAs. We cannot be sure that we will ever obtain regulatory clearance for our product candidates, ZIO-101 and ZIO-201. Failure to obtain FDA approval of our product candidates will severely undermine our business by leaving us without a saleable product, and therefore without any potential revenue source, until another product candidate can be developed. There is no guarantee that we will ever be able to develop or acquire another product candidate.
 
In foreign jurisdictions, we similarly must receive approval from applicable regulatory authorities before we can commercialize any drugs. Foreign regulatory approval processes generally include all of the risks associated with the FDA approval procedures described above.
 

6



 
Our product candidates are in early stages of clinical trials, and we cannot be certain when we will be able to file an NDA with the FDA.
 
Our product candidates, ZIO-101 and ZIO-201, are in early stages of development and require extensive clinical testing. In 2005 we initiated two ZIO-101 phase I clinical trials; one in hematological cancers and the other in solid tumors. A phase I trial for ZIO-201 was initiated in 2004. Notwithstanding our current clinical trial plans for each of our existing product candidates, we may not be able to commence additional trials or see results from these trials within our anticipated timelines. As such, we cannot predict with any certainty if or when we might submit an NDA for regulatory approval of our product candidates or whether such an NDA will be accepted.
 
Clinical trials are very expensive, time-consuming and difficult to design and implement.
 
Human clinical trials are very expensive and difficult to design and implement, in part because they are subject to rigorous regulatory requirements. The clinical trial process is also time consuming. We estimate that clinical trials of our product candidates will take at least several years to complete. Furthermore, failure can occur at any stage of the trials, and we could encounter problems that cause us to abandon or repeat clinical trials. The commencement and completion of clinical trials may be delayed by several factors, including:
 
·  
unforeseen safety issues;
·  
determination of dosing issues;
·  
lack of effectiveness during clinical trials;
·  
slower than expected rates of patient recruitment;
·  
inability to monitor patients adequately during or after treatment; and
·  
inability or unwillingness of medical investigators to follow our clinical protocols.

We are hopeful that we may be able to obtain “Fast Track” status from the FDA for one or more of our product candidates. Fast Track status means that the FDA will perform an expedited review of our data upon the completion of clinical trials, which will thereby decrease the amount of time it will take a product candidate that has achieved such designation to reach the commercial market. However, there is no guarantee that any of our product candidates will be granted Fast Track status by the FDA or that, even if such product candidate is granted such status, the product candidate’s clinical development and regulatory approval process will not be delayed or will be successful.
 
In addition, we or the FDA may suspend our clinical trials at any time if it appears that we are exposing participants to unacceptable health risks or if the FDA finds deficiencies in our IND submission or in the conduct of these trials. Therefore, we cannot predict with any certainty the schedule for future clinical trials.
 
The results of our clinical trials may not support our product candidate claims.
 
Even if our clinical trials are completed as planned, we cannot be certain that their results will support approval of our product candidates. Success in preclinical testing and early clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful, and we cannot be sure that the results of later clinical trials will replicate the results of prior clinical trials and preclinical testing. The clinical trial process may fail to demonstrate that our product candidates are safe for humans and effective for indicated uses. This failure would cause us to abandon a product candidate and may delay development of other product candidates. Any delay in, or termination of, our clinical trials will delay the filing of our NDAs with the FDA and, ultimately, our ability to commercialize our product candidates and generate product revenues. In addition, our clinical trials involve small patient populations. Because of small sample size, the results of these clinical trials may not be indicative of future results.
 

7



 
Physicians and patients may not accept and use our drugs. Even if the FDA approves our product candidates, physicians and patients may not accept and use them. Acceptance and use of our products will depend upon a number of factors including:
 
·  
perceptions by members of the health care community, including physicians, regarding the safety and effectiveness of our drugs;
·  
cost-effectiveness of our products relative to competing products;
·  
availability of reimbursement for our products from government or other healthcare payers; and
·  
effectiveness of marketing and distribution efforts by us and our licensees and distributors, if any.

Because we expect sales of our current product candidates, if approved, to generate substantially all of our product revenues for the foreseeable future, the failure of a drug to find market acceptance would harm our business and could require us to seek additional financing in order to fund the development of future product candidates.
 
Our drug-development program materially depends upon third-party researchers who are outside our control.
 
We materially rely upon independent investigators and collaborators, such as universities and medical institutions, to conduct our preclinical and clinical trials under agreements with us. These collaborators are not our employees and we cannot control the amount or timing of resources that they devote to our programs. These investigators may not assign as great a priority to our programs or pursue them as diligently as we would if we were undertaking such programs ourselves. If outside collaborators fail to devote sufficient time and resources to our drug development programs, or if their performance is substandard, the approval of our FDA applications, if any, and our introduction of new drugs, if any, will be delayed. These collaborators may also have relationships with other commercial entities, some of whom may compete with us. If our collaborators assist our competitors to our detriment, our competitive position would be harmed.
 
We rely exclusively on third parties to formulate and manufacture our product candidates.
 
We do not have experience in drug formulation or manufacturing and do not intend to establish our own manufacturing facilities. We lack the resources and expertise to formulate or manufacture our own product candidates. We currently are contracting for the commercial scale manufacture of our product candidates. We intend to contract with one or more manufacturers to manufacture, supply, store and distribute drug supplies for our clinical trials. If a product candidate we develop or acquire in the future receives FDA approval, we will rely on one or more third-party contractors to manufacture our drugs. Our anticipated future reliance on a limited number of third-party manufacturers exposes us to the following risks:
 
·  
We may be unable to identify manufacturers on acceptable terms or at all because the number of potential manufacturers is limited and the FDA must approve any replacement contractor. This approval would require new testing and compliance inspections. In addition, a new manufacturer would have to be educated in, or develop substantially equivalent processes for, production of our products after receipt of FDA approval, if any.
·  
Our third-party manufacturers might be unable to formulate and manufacture our drugs in the volume and of the quality required to meet our clinical needs and commercial needs, if any.
 
 
8

  
·  
Our future contract manufacturers may not perform as agreed or may not remain in the contract manufacturing business for the time required to supply our clinical trials or to successfully produce, store and distribute our products.
·  
Drug manufacturers are subject to ongoing periodic unannounced inspection by the FDA, the Drug Enforcement Administration (the “DEA”), and corresponding state agencies to ensure strict compliance with good manufacturing practices and other government regulations and corresponding foreign standards. We do not have control over third-party manufacturers’ compliance with these regulations and standards.
·  
If any third-party manufacturer makes improvements in the manufacturing process for our products, we may not own, or may have to share, the intellectual property rights to the innovation.

Each of these risks could delay our clinical trials, the approval, if any, of our product candidates by the FDA or the commercialization of our product candidates or result in higher costs or deprive us of potential product revenues.
 
We do not have experience selling, marketing or distributing products and we have no internal capability to do so.
 
We currently have no marketing, sales or distribution capabilities. If and when we become reasonably certain that we will be able to commercialize our current or future products, we anticipate allocating resources to the marketing, sales and distribution of our proposed products in North America However, we cannot assure that we will be able to market, sell and distribute our products successfully. Our future success also may depend, in part, on our ability to enter into and maintain collaborative relationships for such capabilities, the collaborator’s strategic interest in the products under development and such collaborator’s ability to successfully market and sell any such products. Although we intend to pursue collaborative arrangements regarding the sale and marketing of our products, there can be no assurance that we will be able to establish or maintain our own sales operations or affect collaborative arrangements, or that if we are able to do so, our collaborators will have effective sales forces. There can also be no assurance that we will be able to establish or maintain relationships with third party collaborators or develop in-house sales and distribution capabilities. To the extent that we depend on third parties for marketing and distribution, any revenues we receive will depend upon the efforts of such third parties, and there can be no assurance that such efforts will be successful. In addition, there can also be no assurance that we will be able to market and sell our products in the United States or overseas.
 
If we cannot compete successfully for market share against other drug companies, we may not achieve sufficient product revenues and our business will suffer.
 
The market for our product candidates, ZIO-101 and ZIO-201, is characterized by intense competition and rapid technological advances. If a product candidate receives FDA approval, it will compete with a number of existing and future drugs and therapies developed, manufactured and marketed by others. Existing or future competing products may provide greater therapeutic convenience or clinical or other benefits for a specific indication than our products, or may offer comparable performance at a lower cost. If our products fail to capture and maintain market share, we may not achieve sufficient product revenues and our business will suffer.
 
We will compete against fully integrated pharmaceutical companies and smaller companies that are collaborating with larger pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, government agencies and other public and private research organizations. Many of these competitors have products already approved or in development. In addition, many of these competitors, either alone or together with their collaborative partners, operate larger research and development programs or have substantially greater financial resources than we do, as well as significantly greater experience in:
 

9



 
·  
developing drugs;
·  
undertaking preclinical testing and human clinical trials;
·  
obtaining FDA and other regulatory approvals of drugs;
·  
formulating and manufacturing drugs; and
·  
launching, marketing and selling drugs.

If we fail to adequately protect or enforce our intellectual property rights or secure rights to patents of others, the value of our intellectual property rights would diminish.
 
Our success, competitive position and future revenues will depend in part on our ability and the abilities of our licensors to obtain and maintain patent protection for our products, methods, processes and other technologies, to preserve our trade secrets, to prevent third parties from infringing on our proprietary rights and to operate without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties.
 
To date, we have exclusive rights to certain U.S. and foreign intellectual property. We anticipate filing additional patent applications both in the U.S. and in other countries, as appropriate. However, we cannot predict:
 
·  
the degree and range of protection any patents will afford us against competitors, including whether third parties will find ways to invalidate or otherwise circumvent our patents;
·  
if and when patents will issue;
·  
whether or not others will obtain patents claiming aspects similar to those covered by our patents and patent applications; or
·  
whether we will need to initiate litigation or administrative proceedings which may be costly whether we win or lose.

Our success also depends upon the skills, knowledge and experience of our scientific and technical personnel, our consultants and advisors as well as our licensors and contractors. To help protect our proprietary know-how and our inventions for which patents may be unobtainable or difficult to obtain, we rely on trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements. To this end, it is our policy generally to require our employees, consultants, advisors and contractors to enter into agreements which prohibit the disclosure of confidential information and, where applicable, require disclosure and assignment to us of the ideas, developments, discoveries and inventions important to our business. These agreements may not provide adequate protection for our trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information in the event of any unauthorized use or disclosure or the lawful development by others of such information. If any of our trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information is disclosed, the value of our trade secrets, know-how and other proprietary rights would be significantly impaired and our business and competitive position would suffer.
 
If we infringe the rights of third parties we could be prevented from selling products, forced to pay damages, and defend against litigation.
 
If our products, methods, processes or other technologies infringe the proprietary rights of other parties, we could incur substantial costs and we may have to:
 
·  
obtain licenses, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all;
·  
abandon an infringing drug candidate;
·  
redesign our products or processes to avoid infringement;
·  
stop using the subject matter claimed in the patents held by others;
·  
pay damages; or
·  
defend litigation or administrative proceedings which may be costly whether we win or lose, and which could result in a substantial diversion of our valuable management resources.

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Our ability to generate product revenues will be diminished if our drugs sell for inadequate prices or patients are unable to obtain adequate levels of reimbursement.
 
Our ability to commercialize our drugs, alone or with collaborators, will depend in part on the extent to which reimbursement will be available from:
 
·  
government and health administration authorities;
·  
private health maintenance organizations and health insurers; and
·  
other healthcare payers.

Significant uncertainty exists as to the reimbursement status of newly approved healthcare products. Healthcare payers, including Medicare, are challenging the prices charged for medical products and services. Government and other healthcare payers increasingly attempt to contain healthcare costs by limiting both coverage and the level of reimbursement for drugs. Even if our product candidates are approved by the FDA, insurance coverage may not be available, and reimbursement levels may be inadequate, to cover our drugs. If government and other healthcare payers do not provide adequate coverage and reimbursement levels for our products, once approved, market acceptance of such products could be reduced.
 
We may not be able to successfully manage our growth.
 
Our success will depend upon the expansion of our operations and the effective management of our growth, which will place a significant strain on our management and on our administrative, operational and financial resources. To manage this growth, we must expand our facilities, augment our operational, financial and management systems and hire and train additional qualified personnel. If we are unable to manage our growth effectively, our business may be harmed.
 
Our business will subject us to the risk of liability claims associated with the use of hazardous materials and chemicals.
 
Our contract research and development activities may involve the controlled use of hazardous materials and chemicals. Although we believe that our safety procedures for using, storing, handling and disposing of these materials comply with federal, state and local laws and regulations, we cannot completely eliminate the risk of accidental injury or contamination from these materials. In the event of such an accident, we could be held liable for any resulting damages and any liability could have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of hazardous or radioactive materials and waste products may require our contractors to incur substantial compliance costs that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
We rely on key executive officers and scientific and medical advisors, and their knowledge of our business and technical expertise would be difficult to replace.
 
We are highly dependent on our principal scientific, regulatory and medical advisors. We do not have “key person” life insurance policies on any of our officers. The loss of the technical knowledge and management and industry expertise of any of our key personnel could result in delays in product development, loss of customers and sales and diversion of management resources, which could adversely affect our operating results.
 

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If we are unable to hire additional qualified personnel, our ability to grow our business may be harmed.
 
We will need to hire additional qualified personnel with expertise in preclinical testing, clinical research and testing, government regulation, formulation and manufacturing, as well as sales and marketing. We compete for qualified individuals with numerous biopharmaceutical companies, universities and other research institutions. Competition for such individuals is intense, and we cannot be certain that our search for such personnel will be successful. Attracting and retaining qualified personnel will be critical to our success.
 
We may incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of our products in response to product liability lawsuits.
 
The testing and marketing of medical products entail an inherent risk of product liability. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against product liability claims, we may incur substantial liabilities or be required to limit commercialization of our products. Our inability to obtain sufficient product liability insurance at an acceptable cost to protect against potential product liability claims could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of pharmaceutical products we develop, alone or with collaborators. We currently carry clinical trial insurance and product liability insurance.
 
There are certain interlocking relationships among us and certain affiliates of Paramount, which may present potential conflicts of interest.
 
Lindsay A. Rosenwald, M.D., who may be deemed to beneficially own approximately 19.89% of our common stock, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount BioCapital, Inc., an investment banking firm that served as placement agent in connection with a private placement of ZIOPHARM’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock that was completed in May 2005. Paramount also served as a finder in connection with the Company’s option and research agreements with Southern Research Institute. The Company paid fees and issued securities to Paramount or its designees in connection with these transactions and Paramount currently has a right of first refusal to act as the placement agent for the private sale of our securities until May 31, 2008. Dr. Michael Weiser and Timothy McInerney, each of whom is a member of the Company’s board of directors, are also full-time employees of Paramount. See “Certain Transactions and Relationships - ZIOPHARM Transactions and Relationship.”

Paramount, Dr. Rosenwald, Dr. Weiser, and Mr. McInerney are not obligated pursuant to any agreement or understanding with us to make any additional products or technologies available to us, nor can there be any assurance that any biomedical or pharmaceutical products or technologies identified in the future by such parties will be made available to us. In addition, certain of our current officers and directors, as well as officers or directors that may be hereafter appointed, may from time to time serve as officers or directors of other biopharmaceutical or biotechnology companies. There can be no assurance that such other companies will not have interests in conflict with our own.
 
The resale of shares covered by this registration statement could adversely affect the market price of our common stock in the public market, which result would in turn negatively affect the Company’s ability to raise additional equity capital.

The sale, or availability for sale, of common stock in the public market pursuant to this registration statement may adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock and may impair our ability to raise additional capital by selling equity or equity-linked securities. Once effective, this registration statement will register the resale of a significant number of shares of our common stock. In fact, the registration statement will make publicly available for resale an additional 2,520,632 shares of our common stock. This figure represents approximately 35% of the shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after the effectiveness of this registration statement.
 

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As of October 31, 2005, we had 7,248,115 shares of common stock outstanding, and approximately 65% of such shares were available for sale without restriction. When the registration statement that includes this prospectus is declared effective, all 2,520,632 shares being offered hereby will be available for resale. The resale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market pursuant to this offering, and afterwards, could adversely affect the market price for our common stock and make it more difficult for you to sell our shares at times and prices that you feel are appropriate. Furthermore, we expect that, because there is a large number of shares registered hereunder, selling stockholders will continue to offer shares covered by this registration statement for a significant period of time, the precise duration of which we cannot predict. Accordingly, the adverse market and price pressures resulting from this offering may continue for an extended period of time and continued negative pressure on the market price of our common stock could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise additional equity capital.

Because we became public by means of a reverse merger, we may not be able to attract the attention of major brokerage firms.
 
Additional risks may exist as a result of our becoming a public reporting company through a “reverse merger.” Security analysts of major brokerage firms may not provide coverage of the Company. Because we became public through a reverse merger, there is no incentive to brokerage firms to recommend the purchase of our common stock. No assurance can be given that brokerage firms will want to provide analyst coverage of our Company in the future.
 
We are subject to Sarbanes-Oxley and the reporting requirements of federal securities laws, which can be expensive.
 
As a public reporting company, we are subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as the information and reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and other federal securities laws. The costs of compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and of preparing and filing annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC, and furnishing audited reports to stockholders, will cause our expenses to be higher than they would be if ZIOPHARM had remained privately held and did not consummate the Merger.
 
Our common stock trades only in an illiquid trading market.
 
Trading of our common stock is conducted on the over-the-counter bulletin board. This has an adverse effect on the liquidity of our common stock, not only in terms of the number of shares that can be bought and sold at a given price, but also through delays in the timing of transactions and reduction in security analysts’ and the media’s coverage of our Company and its common stock. This may result in lower prices for our common stock than might otherwise be obtained and could also result in a larger spread between the bid and asked prices for our common stock.
 
There is not now, and there may not ever be an active market for shares of our common stock.
 
In general, there has been very little trading activity in shares of the Company’s common stock. The small trading volume will likely make it difficult for our stockholders to sell their shares as and when they choose. Furthermore, small trading volumes generally depress market prices. As a result, you may not always be able to resell shares of our common stock publicly at the time and prices that you feel are fair or appropriate.
 

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Because it is a “penny stock,” you may have difficulty selling shares of our common stock.
 
Our common stock is a “penny stock” and is therefore subject to the requirements of Rule 15g-9 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Under this rule, broker-dealers who sell penny stocks must provide purchasers of these stocks with a standardized risk-disclosure document prepared by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Under applicable regulations, our common stock will generally remain a “penny stock” until and for such time as it meets certain per share price requirements (as determined in accordance with SEC regulations), or until we meet certain net asset or revenue thresholds. These thresholds include the possession of net tangible assets (i.e., total assets less intangible assets and liabilities) in excess of $2,000,000 in the event we have been operating for at least three years or $5,000,000 in the event we have been operating for fewer than three years, and the recognition of average revenues equal to at least $6,000,000 for each of the last three years. We do not anticipate meeting any of the foregoing thresholds in the foreseeable future.
 
The penny stock rules severely limit the liquidity of securities in the secondary market, and many brokers choose not to participate in penny stock transactions. As a result, there is generally less trading in penny stocks. If you become a holder of our common stock, you may not always be able to resell shares of our common stock publicly at the time and prices that you feel are fair or appropriate.
 
We have never paid dividends and do not intend to do so for the foreseeable future.
 
We have never paid dividends on our capital stock and we do not anticipate that we will pay any dividends for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, any return on an investment in our Company will be realized, if at all, only when you sell shares of our common stock.
 
 

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NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
   
Certain statements contained in this prospectus that are forward-looking in nature are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management, including statements related to the markets for our products, general trends in our operations or financial results, plans, expectations, estimates and beliefs. In addition, when used in this prospectus, the words “may,” “could,” “should,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict” and similar expressions and their variants, as they relate to us or our management, may identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our judgment as of the date of this prospectus with respect to future events, the outcome of which is subject to risks, which may have a significant impact on our business, operating results or financial condition. You are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those described herein. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements. The risks identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, among others, may impact forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus.
 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Overview:
 
We are a development-stage company that is seeking to develop and commercialize a diverse, risk-sensitive portfolio of in-licensed cancer drugs that address unmet medical needs. Our management and advisors are focused on licensing proprietary drug candidate families that are related to cancer therapeutics on the market where the application of new biological understanding and our drug development expertise will lead to a lower risk for clinical development failure while expediting clinical registration. We aim to commercialize our products on our own in North America but recognize that promising clinical trial results in cancers with a high incidence and prevalence might also be addressed in a commercial partnership with another company with the requisite financial resources.
 
We currently have two products in development:
 
·
ZIO-101 is an organic arsenic compound covered by an issued U.S. patent and applications internationally. A form of commercially available inorganic arsenic (arsenic trioxide (Trisenox®) or ATO) has been approved for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a precancerous condition, and is on the compendia listing for the therapy of multiple myeloma as well as having been studied for the treatment of various other cancers. Nevertheless, ATO has been shown to be toxic to the heart and liver, limiting its use as an anti-cancer agent. Inorganic arsenic has also been shown to cause cancer of the skin and lung in humans. The toxicity of arsenic generally is correlated to its accumulation in organs and tissues. Our preclinical studies to date have demonstrated that ZIO-101 (and organic arsenic in general) is considerably less toxic than inorganic arsenic, particularly with regard to heart toxicity. In vitro testing of ZIO-101 using the National Cancer Institute’s human cancer cell panel detected activity against lung, colon, brain, melanoma, ovarian and kidney cancer. Moderate activity was detected against breast and prostate cancer. In addition to solid tumors, in vitro testing in both the National Cancer Institute’s cancer cell panel and in vivo testing in a leukemia animal model demonstrated substantial activity against hematological cancers (cancers of the blood and blood-forming tissues) such as leukemia, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes and multiple myeloma.
 
·
ZIO-201, or isophosphoramide mustard (IPM), is a proprietary stabilized metabolite of ifosfamide that is also related to cyclophosphamide. A patent application for pharmaceutical composition has been filed. Cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide are alkylating agents. Cyclophosphamide is the most widely used alkylating agent in cancer therapy and is used to treat breast cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Ifosfamide has been shown to be effective in high dose by itself, or in combination in treating sarcoma and lymphoma. Although ifosfamide-based treatment generally represents the standard of care for sarcoma, it is not licensed for this indication by the FDA. Our preclinical studies have shown that, in animal and laboratory models, IPM evidences activity against leukemia and solid tumors. These studies also indicate that ZIO-201 has a better pharmacokinetic and safety profile than ifosfamide or cyclophosphamide, offering the possibility of safer and more efficacious therapy with ZIO-201. Ifosfamide is metabolized to IPM. In addition to IPM, another metabolite of ifosfamide is acrolein, which is toxic to the kidneys and bladder. The presence of acrolein can mandate the administration of a protective agent called Mesna®, which is inconvenient and expensive. Chloroacetaldehyde is another metabolite of ifosfamide and is toxic to the central nervous system, causing “fuzzy brain” syndrome for which there is currently no protective measure. Similar toxicity concerns pertain to high-dose cyclophosphamide, which is widely used in bone marrow and blood cell transplantation. Because ZIO-201 is independently active—without acrolein or chloroacetaldehyde metabolites—we believe that the administration of ZIO-201 may avoid the toxicities of ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide without compromising efficacy. In addition to anticipated lower toxicity, ZIO-201 may have other advantages over ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide. ZIO-201 likely cross-links DNA differently than ifosfamide or cyclophosphamide metabolites, resulting in a different activity profile. Moreover, in some instances ZIO-201 appears to show activity in ifosfamide- and/or cyclophosphamide-resistant cancer cells.
 
Currently, we are in U.S. Phase I studies for both of these drug candidates. We intend to continue with clinical development of ZIO-101 for advanced myeloma and ZIO-201 for advanced sarcoma. However, the successful development of our product candidates is highly uncertain. Product development costs and timelines can vary significantly for each product candidate and are difficult to accurately predict. Various statutes and regulations also govern or influence the manufacturing, safety, labeling, storage, record keeping and marketing of each product. The lengthy process of seeking these approvals, and the subsequent compliance with applicable statutes and regulations, require the expenditure of substantial resources. Any failure by us to obtain, or any delay in obtaining, regulatory approvals could materially adversely affect our business. To date, we have not received approval for the sale of any drug candidates in any market and, therefore, have not generated any revenues from our drug candidates.
 
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We were originally incorporated in Colorado in September 1998 (under the name Net Escapes, Inc.) and later changed our name to “EasyWeb, Inc.” in February 1999. We were re-incorporated in Delaware on May 16, 2005 under the same name. On September 13, 2005, we completed a “reverse” acquisition of privately held ZIOPHARM, Inc., a Delaware corporation. To effect this transaction, we caused ZIO Acquisition Corp., our wholly-owned subsidiary, to merge with and into ZIOPHARM, Inc., with ZIOPHARM, Inc. surviving as our wholly owned subsidiary. In accordance with the terms of the merger, the outstanding common stock of ZIOPHARM, Inc. automatically converted into the right to receive an aggregate of approximately 97.3% of our outstanding common stock (after giving effect to the transaction). Following the merger, we caused ZIOPHARM, Inc. to merge with and into us and we changed our name to “ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.”
 
Plan of Operation
 
Our plan of operation for the 12-month period commencing on the date of this prospectus, is to continue implementing our business strategy, including the clinical development of our two lead product candidates, ZIO-101 and ZIO-201. We also intend to expand our drug candidate portfolio by seeking additional drug candidates through in-licensing arrangements. We expect our principal expenditures during the next 12 months to include:
 
·
fees and milestone payments required under the license agreements relating to our existing product candidates;
 
·
clinical trial expenses, including the costs incurred with respect to the conduct of clinical trials for ZIO-101 and ZIO-201 and preclinical costs associated with back-up candidates ZIO-102 and ZIO-202;
 
·
costs related to the scale-up and manufacture of ZIO-101 and ZIO-201;
 
·
rent for our facilities; and
 
·
general corporate and working capital, including general and administrative expenses.
 
As part of our plan for additional employees, we anticipate hiring at least three to four additional full-time employees in medical, regulatory and administrative support. In addition, we intend to use senior advisors, consultants, clinical research organizations and third parties to perform certain aspects of product development, manufacturing, clinical and preclinical development, and regulatory and quality assurance functions.
 
At our current and desired pace of clinical development of our two product candidates, over the next 12 months we expect to spend approximately $4.6 million on clinical trials (including milestone payments that we expect to be triggered under the license agreements relating to our product candidates), approximately $3.7 million on manufacturing costs, $215,000 on facilities rent, and approximately $6.8 million on general corporate and working capital. We believe we currently have sufficient capital to fund development and commercialization activities of ZIO-101 and ZIO-201 into the second quarter of 2006. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below.
 
Product Candidate Development and Clinical Trials
 
ZIO-101. ZIO-101, organic arsenic, is being developed presently to treat advanced myeloma. As a follow-on to the ongoing phase I trials, a phase I/II trial in advanced multiple myeloma is in the advanced planning stage. With the completion of this trial in 2006, we expect to initiate a registration trial in advanced multiple myeloma. We will continue to explore the use of ZIO-101 in solid tumors as well as a phase II trial in advanced multiple myeloma. Preclinical development will continue with a back-up compound designated as ZIO-102. Additional compounds are being synthesized under our agreement with the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Texas A&M University System. Technology transfer and scale-up for the commercial manufacture of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, its lyophilization, and final product specification will continue through the period leading to the expected registration trial in the first half of 2007.
 
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ZIO-201. ZIO-201, stabilized isophosphoramide mustard, is being developed presently to treat advanced sarcoma. As follow-on to the ongoing phase I trial, a phase I/II trial and a phase II trial in advanced sarcoma is in the advanced planning stage. With the completion of this trial in 2006, we expect to initiate a registration trial in advanced sarcoma in the first half of 2007. We will explore the potential to test ZIO-201 in pediatric sarcoma in a phase II trial. Preclinical development will continue with back-up analogues, one of which we would expect to be designated ZIO-202. Technology transfer and scale-up for the commercial manufacture of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, its lyophilization, and final product specification will continue through the period leading to the expected registration trial in the first half of 2007.
 
Results of Operations
 
Revenues. We had no revenues for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2005 and 2004.

Research and development expenses. For the three-month period ended September 30, 2005, research and development expenses increased by $893,180, or 210%, to $1,318,608 from $425,428 in the three-month period ended September 30, 2004. The increase is attributable to an increase of $235,546 spent on clinical trials and $672,626 in manufacturing related costs. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2005, research and development expenses increased by $3,854,259, or 906%, to $4,279,687 from $425,428 in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2004. The increase is attributable to an increase of $ 1,012,822 spent on clinical trials, $1,847,889 in manufacturing related costs, $208,288 in preclinical projects, and $390,955 in employee related costs as we built infrastructure to support the research and development efforts. For the remainder of the year, we expect research and development spending to approximate the same level as seen in the third quarter of 2005, as we continue with clinical trials and our manufacturing activities.
 
General and administrative expenses. For the three month period ended September 30, 2005, general and administrative expenses increased by $613,566, or 66%, to $1,541,740 from $928,174 in the three-month period ended September 30, 2004. The increase is attributable to a non-recurring payment of $425,000 due on closing of the merger with EasyWeb, $119,091 in legal and accounting costs, and $104,420 in employee related costs as we built infrastructure to support the research and development efforts. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2005, general and administrative expenses increased by $307,746, or 12%, to $2,953,830 from $2,646,084 in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2004. The increase is primarily attributable to a nonrecurring payment of $425,000 due on closing of the merger. For the remainder of the year, we expect general and administrative spending to approximate the same level as seen in the third quarter of 2005 excluding the $425,000 non-recurring payment as a result of the merger.

Other income (expense). Other income increased by $89,002, or 1702%, to $94,231 in the three-month period ended September 30, 2005 from $5,229 recorded in the three-month period ended September 30, 2004. Other income increased by $162,239, or 1049%, to $177,710 in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2005 from $15,471 recorded in the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2004. Other income during both the three and nine-month period ended September 30, 2005 was comprised of interest income. The increase in both periods is due to higher cash balances available for investing purposes.

Net income (loss). For the reasons described above, the net loss increased by $1,417,744, or 105%, to $2,766,117 in the three month period September 30, 2005 from $1,348,373. Net loss increased by $3,999,766, or 130%, to $7,055,807 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2005.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of September 30, 2005, we had $10,740,639 in cash and cash equivalents. We believe we currently have sufficient capital to fund development and commercialization activities of ZIO-101 and ZIO-201 into the second quarter of 2006. Because our business does not generate any cash flow, however, we will need to raise additional capital to continue development of the product candidates beyond that time. We expect to raise such additional capital by either borrowing money or by selling shares of our capital stock. To the extent additional capital is not available when we need it, we may be forced to abandon our development and commercialization efforts, which would have a material adverse effect on the prospects of our business. Further, our assumptions relating the expected costs of development and commercialization and timeframe for completion are dependent on numerous factors other than available financing, including significant unforeseen delays in the clinical trial and regulatory approval process, which could be extremely costly. In addition, our estimates assume that we will be able to enroll a sufficient number of patients in each clinical trial.
 
Since inception, our primary source of funding for our operations has been the private sale of our securities. During the first nine months of 2005, we received $4,676 proceeds from the exercise of stock options and gross proceeds of $18.1 million ($16.8 net of issuance costs) as a result of the sale of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock in a private placement transaction. During the first nine months of 2004, we received proceeds of $4.5 million as a result of the sale of common stock in a private placement transaction.

At September 30, 2005, working capital was approximately $9.2 million, compared to working capital deficit of $445,096 at December 31, 2004. The increase in working capital reflects net proceeds of $16.8 million as a result of from the sale of our Series A Preferred Stock in the second quarter of 2005, offset by the use of funds for operations.

Capital expenditures were $64,648 for the first nine months of 2005. We anticipate additional capital expenditures will be approximately $80,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.
 
Critical Accounting Policies

Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries and related personnel costs, fees paid to consultants and outside service providers for laboratory development, legal expenses resulting from intellectual property prosecution and organizational affairs and other expenses relating to the design, development, testing, and enhancement of our product candidates. We expense our research and development costs as they are incurred.
 
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related expenses for executive, finance and other administrative personnel, recruitment expenses, professional fees and other corporate expenses, including business development and general legal activities.
 
Our results include non-cash compensation expense as a result of the issuance of stock option grants. We account for stock-based awards to employees using the intrinsic value method as prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations. We follow the provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, for disclosure purposes. All stock-based awards to non-employees are accounted for at their fair value in accordance with SFAS No. 123 and Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments that are Issued to Other than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services. The fair value of each stock option is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. We have adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure - an amendment of SFAS No. 123, for all stock-based awards as of December 31, 2004. Had we applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, our net loss for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2005 would have increased by $33,958 and $176,297, respectively, and our net loss for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2005 would have increased by $60,683 and $340,197, respectively. We expect to record additional non-cash compensation expense in the future, which may be significant.

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, Share-Based Payment ("SFAS No. 123R"). This Statement is a revision of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and its related implementation guidance. SFAS No. 123R focuses primarily on accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. The Statement requires entities to recognize stock compensation expense for awards of equity instruments to employees based on the grant-date fair value of those awards (with limited exceptions). SFAS No. 123R is effective for the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2005. Based on current options outstanding, we anticipate the adoption of this statement to result in approximately $631,823 of additional compensation costs to be recognized in the year of adoption.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We do not have any “off-balance sheet agreements,” as that term is defined by SEC regulation.
 
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DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
 
General
 
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. is a development-stage company that is seeking to develop and commercialize a diverse, risk-sensitive portfolio of in-licensed cancer drugs that address unmet medical needs. Our management and advisors are focused on licensing proprietary drug candidate families that are related to cancer therapeutics on the market where the application of new biological understanding and our drug development expertise will lead to a lower risk for clinical development failure while expediting clinical registration. We expect to commercialize our products on our own in North America but recognize that promising clinical trial results in cancers with a high incidence and prevalence might also be addressed in a commercial partnership with another company with the requisite financial resources. Currently, we are in U.S. Phase I studies for two product candidates known as ZIO-101 and ZIO-201. We currently intend to continue with clinical development of ZIO-101 for advanced myeloma and ZIO-201 for advanced sarcoma.
 
Our corporate office is located at 1180 Avenue of the Americas, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10036, and our telephone number is (646) 214-0700. Our business and development operations are located in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
 
Cancer Overview
 
Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by either the runaway growth of cells or the failure of cells to die normally. Often, cancer cells spread to distant parts of the body, where they can form new tumors. Cancer can arise in any organ of the body and, according to the American Cancer Society, strikes one of every two American men and one of every three American women at some point in their lives.
 
It is reported that there are more than 100 different varieties of cancer divided into six major categories. Carcinomas, the most common type of cancer, originate in tissues that cover a surface or line a cavity of the body. Sarcomas begin in tissue that connects, supports or surrounds other tissues and organs. Lymphomas are cancers of the lymph system, the circulatory system that bathes and cleanses the body’s cells. Leukemias involve blood-forming tissues and blood cells. As their name indicates, brain tumors are cancers that begin in the brain, and skin cancers, including dangerous melanomas, originate in the skin. Cancers are considered metastatic if they spread via the blood or lymphatic system to other parts of the body to form secondary tumors.
 
Cancer is caused by a series of mutations, or alterations, in genes that control cells’ ability to grow and divide. Some mutations are inherited; others arise from environmental factors such as smoking or exposure to chemicals, radiation, or viruses that damage cells’ DNA. The mutations cause cells to divide relentlessly or lose their normal ability to die.
 
The cost of cancer to the healthcare system is significant. The National Institute of Health estimates that the overall cost of cancer in 2003 was $189.5 billion. This cost includes an estimate of $64.2 billion in direct medical expenses, $16.3 billion in indirect morbidity costs, and $109 billion in indirect mortality costs.
 
Cancer Treatments
 
Major treatments for cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. There are many different drugs that are used to treat cancer, including cytotoxics or antineoplastics, hormones, and biologics. There are also many experimental treatments under investigation including radiation sensitizers, vaccines, gene therapy and immunotoxins. We believe cancer treatment represents a significant unmet medical need.
 

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Radiotherapy. Also called radiation therapy, radiotherapy is the treatment of cancer and other diseases with ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation deposits energy that injures or destroys cells in the area being treated - the target tissue - by damaging their genetic material, making it impossible for these cells to continue growing. Although radiation damages both cancer cells and normal cells, the latter are able to repair themselves and regain proper function. Radiotherapy may be used to treat localized solid tumors, such as cancers of the skin, tongue, larynx, brain, breast, or uterine cervix. It can also be used to treat leukemia and lymphoma.
 
Scientists are also looking for ways to increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy. Two types of investigational drugs are being studied for their effect on cells exposed to radiation. Radiosensitizers increase the damage done to tumor cells by radiation; and radioprotectors protect normal tissues from the effects of radiation.
 
Cytotoxics. Cytotoxics are anticancer drugs that destroy cancer cells by stopping them from multiplying. Healthy cells can also be harmed with the use of cytotoxics, especially those that divide quickly. Harm to healthy cells is what causes side effects. These cells usually repair themselves after chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can be used for different purposes which include curing cancer (when the patient remains free of evidence of cancer cells), controlling cancer (by preventing the cancer from spreading), and to relieving symptoms of cancer (such as pain, helping patients live more comfortably).
 
Cytotoxic agents act primarily on macromolecular synthesis, repair or activity, which affects the production or function of DNA, RNA or protein. Although there are many cytotoxic agents, there is a considerable amount of overlap in their mechanisms of action. As such, the choice of a particular agent or group of agents is generally not a consequence of a prior prediction of antitumor activity by the drug, but instead the result of empirical clinical trials.
 
Supportive Care. The treatment of a cancer may include the use of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biologic response modifiers, surgery, or some combination of all of these or other therapeutic options. All of these treatment options are directed at killing or eradicating the cancer that exists in the patient’s body. Unfortunately, the delivery of many cancer therapies adversely affects the body’s normal organs. The undesired consequence of harming an organ not involved with cancer is referred to as a complication of treatment or a side effect.
 
Side effects, or complications of treatment cause inconvenience, discomfort, and occasionally, may even be fatal. Additionally and perhaps more importantly, side effects may also prevent doctors from delivering the prescribed dose of therapy at the specific time and schedule of the treatment plan. Therefore, side effects not only cause discomfort, but may also limit a patient’s ability to achieve the best outcome from treatment by preventing the delivery of therapy at its optimal dose and time.
 
In addition to anemia, fatigue, hair-loss, reduction in blood platelets and white and red blood cells, and bone pain, one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy is nausea and vomiting. Several drugs have been developed to help prevent and control chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, which have led to improvements in the management of symptoms associated with this cancer treatment, allowing for greater accuracy and consistency concerning the administration of cancer treatment. Nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy are treated by drugs such as 5HT3 receptor antagonists, like ondansetron, which is a selective blocking agent of the hormone serotonin.
 
Product Candidates
 
ZIO-101
 
General. ZIO-101 is an organic arsenic compound covered by an issued U.S. patent and applications internationally. A form of commercially available inorganic arsenic (arsenic trioxide (Trisenox®) or ATO) has been approved for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a precancerous condition, and is on the compendia listing for the therapy of multiple myeloma as well as having been studied for the treatment of various other cancers. Nevertheless, ATO has been shown to be toxic to the heart and liver, limiting its use as an anti-cancer agent. Inorganic arsenic has also been shown to cause cancer of the skin and lung in humans. The toxicity of arsenic generally is correlated to its accumulation in organs and tissues. Our preclinical studies demonstrated that ZIO-101 (and organic arsenic in general) is considerably less toxic than inorganic arsenic, particularly with regard to heart toxicity.
 

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In vitro testing of ZIO-101 using the National Cancer Institute’s human cancer cell panel detected activity against lung, colon, brain, melanoma, ovarian and kidney cancer. Moderate activity was detected against breast and prostate cancer.
 
In addition to solid tumors, in vitro testing in both the National Cancer Institute’s cancer cell panel and in vivo testing in a leukemia animal model demonstrated substantial activity against hematological cancers (cancers of the blood and blood-forming tissues) such as leukemia, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes and multiple myeloma. Leukemia is a cancer that begins in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of blood cells to be produced and enter the bloodstream. Lymphomas are cancers that begin in cells of the immune system. Myelodysplastic syndromes, also called preleukemia or smoldering leukemia, are diseases in which the bone marrow does not function normally.
 
Clinical Lead Indications: Multiple Myeloma. Multiple myeloma, a common hematological malignancy, is among a group of plasma cell cancers associated with the overproduction of monoclonal immunoglobulin (M-protein). Primary treatment for multiple myeloma is systemic chemotherapy. Approximately 15-20% of patients who have the disease are resistant to aggressive primary treatment. Even with prompt institution of systemic treatment, the drug-sensitive phase of the disease usually lasts only two to three years for most patients before resistance appears (although in a small patient population sensitivity to systemic therapy can last for five to ten years). The median survival of patients with progressive or resistant disease is three to four years.
 
The standard of care for progressive or resistant multiple myeloma may be in transition. Recent clinical trials offer evidence supporting the use of thalidomides and proteosome inhibitors, either alone or in combination with other agents. Unfortunately, neither treatment is universally effective, each can be quite toxic, and all patients who receive them will likely develop progressive disease. As a result, we expect that the medical community will continue to embrace new agents that provide incremental benefit to patients without undue toxicity. We are hopeful that the novel mechanism of action of ZIO-101, combined with its anticipated safety profile, will encourage its use in the treatment of advanced myeloma and possibly a variety of other tumors. Currently, we expect that advanced myeloma will be the indication for which it is most likely to seek initial regulatory approval for ZIO-101.
 
Clinical Development Plan for ZIO-101. We have commenced two phase I clinical trials (hematological and solid tumor) at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center using ZIO-101 in refractory disease. Phase I testing is primarily focused on assessing drug safety; however, one patient in the solid tumor trial has evidenced a response without toxicity (as reported by the investigator). The starting dose in both phase I trials was about 14 times the labeled dose of inorganic arsenic. The dose has been escalated to the next level in one trial, and to date has been well tolerated.
 
The goal of the phase I trials are to determine dose-limiting toxicity and maximum tolerated dose. In addition, assessments of pharmacokinetic data will be obtained along with any indication of efficacy. We expect to follow these phase I trials with a phase I/II trial in advanced myeloma. We currently anticipate reporting some phase I/II trial results in the first half of 2006. A second phase II trial in myeloma is under consideration for initiation in early 2006. It is expected that a pivotal trial in multiple myeloma would begin in the first half of 2007.
 

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The solid tumor trial is seeking to confirm data collected during preclinical studies that indicated activity in a variety of solid tumors. While the current focus for product registration is myeloma, these phase I study results will be instructive for further development plans in solid tumors.
 
ZIO-201
 
General. ZIO-201, or isophosphoramide mustard (IPM), is a proprietary stabilized metabolite of ifosfamide that is also related to cyclophosphamide. A patent application for pharmaceutical composition has been filed. Cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide are alkylating agents. Cyclophosphamide is the most widely used alkylating agent in cancer therapy and is used to treat breast cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Ifosfamide has been shown to be effective in high dose by itself, or in combination in treating sarcoma and lymphoma. Although ifosfamide-based treatment generally represents the standard of care for sarcoma, it is not licensed for this indication by the FDA.
 
Our preclinical studies have shown that, in animal and laboratory models, IPM evidences activity against leukemia and solid tumors. These studies also indicate that ZIO-201 has a better pharmacokinetic and safety profile than ifosfamide or cyclophosphamide, offering the possibility of safer and more efficacious therapy with ZIO-201.
 
Ifosfamide is metabolized to IPM. In addition to IPM, another metabolite of ifosfamide is acrolein, which is toxic to the kidneys and bladder. The presence of acrolein can mandate the administration of a protective agent called Mesna®, which is inconvenient and expensive. Chloroacetaldehyde is another metabolite of ifosfamide and is toxic to the central nervous system, causing “fuzzy brain” syndrome for which there is currently no protective measure. Similar toxicity concerns pertain to high-dose cyclophosphamide, which is widely used in bone marrow and blood cell transplantation. Because ZIO-201 is independently active—without acrolein or chloroacetaldehyde metabolites—the Company believes that the administration of ZIO-201 may avoid the toxicities of ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide without compromising efficacy.
 
In addition to anticipated lower toxicity, ZIO-201 may have other advantages over ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide. ZIO-201 likely cross-links DNA differently than ifosfamide or cyclophosphamide metabolites, resulting in a different activity profile. Moreover, in some instances ZIO-201 appears to show activity in ifosfamide- and/or cyclophosphamide-resistant cancer cells.
 
Potential Lead Indications for ZIO-201: Sarcomas. Sarcomas are cancers of the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Soft tissue sarcomas, the expected lead indication for ZIO-201, are relatively rare; there are 8,000 to 10,000 new cases each year in adults in the United States. On the other hand, in children, soft tissue sarcomas account for approximately 10% of all childhood cancers. There are more than 50 histological or tissue types of soft tissue sarcomas. The prognosis for patients with adult soft tissue sarcomas depends on several factors, including the patient’s age, size of the primary tumor, histological grade, and stage of the tumor. Factors associated with a poorer prognosis include age greater than 60 years, tumors larger than five centimeters, and high-grade histology. While small, low-grade tumors are usually curable by surgery alone, higher-grade or larger sarcomas are associated with higher local treatment failure rates and increased metastatic potential. Ifosfamide-based chemotherapy is a frequent standard of care for the treatment of metastatic tumors. It may also used in the adjuvant setting for high-risk primary tumors.
 
ZIO-201 may be a useful agent that, either alone or in combination, can deliver therapeutic activity with fewer to no side effects of the type that have been associated with ifosfamide. In the United States, ifosfamide is regularly included in combination regimens for the treatment of sarcomas, testicular cancers, head and neck cancer and some types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. We believe that ZIO-201 may be able to replace ifosfamide in any or all of these combination protocols.
 

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Clinical Development Plan for ZIO-201. A phase I clinical trial is being conducted at two centers with the objective of establishing maximum tolerated dose. The current dose level in this phase I trial is believed to be comparable to a relatively high dose of ifosfamide. The drug is being administered without Mesna®. Furthermore, one patient has evidence of stable disease. We intend to initiate a phase I/II trial in advanced sarcoma and expects early results in the first half of 2006. We are also planning to implement a high dose phase I study in sarcoma and is exploring a phase II study in pediatric sarcoma. These trials would support the design and implementation of a phase III registration study in the first half of 2007.
 
Competition
 
The development and commercialization for new products to treat cancer is highly competitive, and there will be considerable competition from major pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and specialty cancer companies. Many of our competitors have substantially more resources than the Company, including both financial and technical. In addition, many of these companies have more experience than the Company in preclinical and clinical development, manufacturing, regulatory, and global commercialization. The Company is also competing with academic institutions, governmental agencies and private organizations that are conducting research in the field of cancer. Competition for highly qualified employees is intense.
 
There are a number of companies developing chemotherapies for cancer and in particular for multiple myeloma and sarcoma. Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Celgene Corporation have marketed products to treat multiple myeloma, and many other product candidates are in clinical trials and preclinical research. There are a more limited number of competitors developing new approaches to treat sarcoma, Ariad Pharmaceuticals principal among them.
 
In addition to competitive companies, treatments for cancer that compete with our product candidates are summarized under the caption “Cancer Treatments.”
 
License Agreements and Intellectual Property
 
Our goal is to obtain, maintain and enforce patent protection for our products, formulations, processes, methods and other proprietary technologies, to preserve our trade secrets, and to operate without infringing the proprietary rights of other parties, both in the United States and in other countries. Our policy is to actively seek the broadest possible intellectual property protection for our product candidates through a combination of contractual arrangements and patents, both in the United States and abroad.
 
Patent and Technology License Agreement — University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Texas A&M University System. On August 24, 2004, the Company entered into a Patent and Technology License Agreement with The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System, acting on behalf of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Texas A&M University System (collectively, the “Licensors”). Under this agreement, the Company was granted an exclusive, worldwide license to rights (including rights to U.S. and foreign patent and patent applications and related improvements and know-how) for the manufacture and commercialization of two classes of organic arsenicals (water- and lipid-based) for human and animal use. The class of water-based organic arsenicals includes ZIO-101.
 
In October 2004, we received a notice of allowance for U.S. Patent Application No. 10/337969, entitled “S-dimethylarsino-thiosuccinic acid S-dimethylarsino-2-thiobenzoic acid S-(simethylarsino) glutathione as treatments for cancer.” The patent was granted on June 28, 2005. The patent application claims both therapeutic uses and pharmaceutical compositions containing a novel class of organic arsenicals, including ZIO-101, for the treatment of cancer.
 

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As partial consideration for the license rights obtained by us, we paid the Licensors an upfront, nonrefundable $125,000 fee and issued 250,487 shares of our common stock to University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and granted it an option to purchase an additional 50,222 shares of our common stock for approximately $0.002 per share (such share amounts and option exercise price have been adjusted to reflect to the Merger). The option will vest and become exercisable with respect to 50% of its shares upon completion of the dosing of the last patient for both the blood and solid tumor phase I trials for ZIO-101. Another 25% of the shares subject to the option will vest upon enrollment of the first patient in a multi-center pivotal clinical trial (i.e., a human clinical trial intended to provide the substantial evidence of efficacy necessary to support the filing of an approvable New Drug Application (“NDA”) for ZIO-101, with the remaining 25% vesting upon the filing of an Investigational New Drug (“IND”) for ZIO-101. As additional consideration for the license, the Licensors are entitled to receive up to an aggregate of $4.85 million in cash payments, payable in varying amounts, upon the achievement of certain milestones, including $100,000 that we paid upon the commencement of the phase I clinical trial for ZIO-101 in May 2005. The Licensors are entitled to receive royalty payments from sales of a licensed product (should such a product be approved for commercial sale), as well and a portion of any fees that we may receive from a sublicensee. Finally, the license agreement provides that we will enter into two separate sponsored research agreements with the Licensors, each of which will require that we make annual payments of $100,000 for no less than two years. We will have the exclusive right to all intellectual property rights resulting from such research pursuant to the terms of the agreements.
 
The agreement also contains other provisions customary and common in similar agreements within the industry, such as our right to sublicense our rights under the agreement. Nevertheless, if we sublicense our rights prior to the commencement of a pivotal clinical trial (i.e., a human clinical trial intended to provide the substantial evidence of efficacy necessary to support the filing of an approvable NDA), the Licensors will generally be entitled to receive a share of the payments we receive in exchange for the sublicense (subject to certain exceptions).
 
License Agreement with DEKK-Tec, Inc. On October 15, 2004, we entered into a license agreement with DEKK-Tec, Inc., pursuant to which we were granted an exclusive, worldwide license to the second of our lead product candidates, ZIO-201.

As partial consideration for the license rights obtained by us, we paid DEKK-Tec an upfront, non-refundable $50,000 fee. In addition, DEKK-Tec is entitled to receive cash payments in the aggregate amount of up to $3.9 million, which are payable in varying amounts upon the occurrence of certain milestone events. The majority of these milestone payments will be creditable against future royalty payments, as referenced below. We also issued DEKK-Tec an option to purchase up to 27,616 shares of our common stock for approximately $0.02 per share (such share amount and option exercise price have been adjusted to reflect to the Merger), which option vested with respect to 6,904 post-Merger shares upon the execution of the license agreement. DEKK-Tec has since exercised such vested portion of the option. The option will vest with respect to the remaining shares upon certain milestone events culminating with final FDA approval of the first NDA submitted by us (or by our sublicensee) for ZIO-201. Finally, DEKK-Tec also is entitled to receive royalty payments on the sales of ZIO-201 should it be approved for commercial sale. The license agreement also contains other provisions customary and common in similar agreements within the industry.

Option and Research Agreements with Southern Research Institute (“SRI”). On December 22, 2004, we entered into an Option Agreement with SRI, pursuant to which we were granted an exclusive option to obtain an exclusive license to SRI’s interest in certain intellectual property, including exclusive rights related to certain isophosphoramide mustard analogs. Also on December 22, 2004, we entered into a Research Agreement with SRI pursuant to which we agreed to spend a sum not to exceed $200,000 between the execution of the agreement and December 21, 2006, including a $25,000 payment that we made simultaneously with the execution of the agreement, to fund research and development work by SRI in the field of isophosphoramide mustard analogs. Under the terms of the option agreement, our exclusive right to exercise the option will expire 60 days after the termination or expiration of the SRI’s research and development work in the field of isophosphoramide mustard analogs, and the delivery of the certain required reports.
 

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Other Intellectual Property Rights and Protection. We depend upon the skills, knowledge and experience of our scientific and technical personnel, as well as those of our advisors, consultants and other contractors, none of which is patentable. To help protect proprietary know-how, which is not patentable, and for inventions for which patents may be difficult to enforce, we currently rely, and in the future will continue to rely, on trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements to protect our interests. To this end, we generally require employees, consultants, advisors and other contractors to enter into confidentiality agreements that prohibit the disclosure of confidential information and, where applicable, require disclosure and assignment to us of the ideas, developments, discoveries and inventions important to our business.
 
Governmental Regulation
 
The research, development, testing, manufacture, labeling, promotion, advertising, distribution, and marketing, among other things, of our products are extensively regulated by governmental authorities in the United States and other countries. In the United States, the FDA regulates drugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or the “FDCA,” and its implementing regulations. Failure to comply with the applicable U.S. requirements may subject us to administrative or judicial sanctions, such as FDA refusal to approve pending New Drug Applications, warning letters, product recalls, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, and/or criminal prosecution.
 
Drug Approval Process. None of our drugs may be marketed in the U.S. until the drug has received FDA approval. The steps required before a drug may be marketed in the U.S. include:
 
·  
preclinical laboratory tests, animal studies, and formulation studies;
·  
submission to the FDA of an IND for human clinical testing, which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin;
·  
adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of the drug for each indication;
·  
submission to the FDA of an NDA;
·  
satisfactory completion of an FDA inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities at which the drug is produced to assess compliance with current good manufacturing practices, or “cGMPs”; and
·  
FDA review and approval of the NDA.

Preclinical tests include laboratory evaluation of product chemistry, toxicity, and formulation, as well as animal studies. The conduct of the preclinical tests and formulation of the compounds for testing must comply with federal regulations and requirements. The results of the preclinical tests, together with manufacturing information and analytical data, are submitted to the FDA as part of an IND, which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin. An IND will automatically become effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless before that time the FDA raises concerns or questions about issues such as the conduct of the trials as outlined in the IND. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding FDA concerns or questions before clinical trials can proceed. The Company cannot be sure that submission of an IND will result in the FDA allowing clinical trials to begin.
 
Clinical trials involve the administration of the investigational drug to human subjects under the supervision of qualified investigators. Clinical trials are conducted under protocols detailing the objectives of the study, the parameters to be used in monitoring safety, and the effectiveness criteria to be evaluated. Each protocol must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND.
 

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Clinical trials typically are conducted in three sequential phases, but the phases may overlap. The study protocol and informed consent information for study subjects in clinical trials must also be approved by an Institutional Review Board for each institution where the trials will be conducted. Study subjects must sign an informed consent form before participating in a clinical trial. Phase I usually involves the initial introduction of the investigational drug into people to evaluate its short-term safety, dosage tolerance, metabolism, pharmacokinetics and pharmacologic actions, and, if possible, to gain an early indication of its effectiveness. Phase II usually involves trials in a limited patient population to (i) evaluate dosage tolerance and appropriate dosage; (ii) identify possible adverse effects and safety risks; and (iii) evaluate preliminarily the efficacy of the drug for specific indications. Phase III trials usually further evaluate clinical efficacy and test further for safety by using the drug in its final form in an expanded patient population. There can be no assurance that phase I, phase II, or phase III testing will be completed successfully within any specified period of time, if at all. Furthermore, a company or the FDA may suspend clinical trials at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the subjects or patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk.
 
The FDCA permits FDA and the IND sponsor to agree in writing on the design and size of clinical studies intended to form the primary basis of an effectiveness claim in an NDA application. This process is known as Special Protocol Assessment. These agreements may not be changed after the clinical studies begin, except in limited circumstances.
 
Assuming successful completion of the required clinical testing, the results of the preclinical studies and of the clinical studies, together with other detailed information, including information on the manufacture and composition of the drug, are submitted to the FDA in the form of an NDA requesting approval to market the product for one or more indications. The testing and approval process requires substantial time, effort, and financial resources. The agencies review the application and may deem it to be inadequate to support the registration, and companies cannot be sure that any approval will be granted on a timely basis, if at all. The FDA may also refer the application to the appropriate advisory committee, typically a panel of clinicians, for review, evaluation and a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved. The FDA is not bound by the recommendations of the advisory committee.
 
The FDA has various programs, including fast track, priority review, and accelerated approval, that are intended to expedite or simplify the process for reviewing drugs, and/or provide for approval on the basis surrogate endpoints. Generally, drugs that may be eligible for one or more of these programs are those for serious or life-threatening conditions, those with the potential to address unmet medical needs, and those that provide meaningful benefit over existing treatments. A company cannot be sure that any of its drugs will qualify for any of these programs, or that, if a drug does qualify, that the review time will be reduced.
 
Section 505(b)(2) of the FDCA allows the FDA to approve a follow-on drug on the basis of data in the scientific literature or a prior FDA approval of an NDA for a related drug. This procedure potentially makes it easier for generic drug manufacturers to obtain rapid approval of new forms of drugs based on proprietary data of the original drug manufacturer.
 
Before approving an NDA, the FDA usually will inspect the facility or the facilities at which the drug is manufactured and will not approve the product unless cGMP compliance is satisfactory. If the FDA evaluates the NDA and the manufacturing facilities as acceptable, the FDA may issue an approval letter, or in some cases, an approvable letter followed by an approval letter. Both letters usually contain a number of conditions that must be met in order to secure final approval of the NDA. When and if those conditions have been met to the FDA’s satisfaction, the FDA will issue an approval letter. The approval letter authorizes commercial marketing of the drug for specific indications. As a condition of NDA approval, the FDA may require post-marketing testing and surveillance to monitor the drug’s safety or efficacy, or impose other conditions.
 

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After approval, certain changes to the approved product, such as adding new indications, making certain manufacturing changes, or making certain additional labeling claims, are subject to further FDA review and approval. Before a company can market products for additional indications, it must obtain additional approvals from FDA. Obtaining approval for a new indication generally requires that additional clinical studies be conducted. A company cannot be sure that any additional approval for new indications for any product candidate will be approved on a timely basis, or at all.
 
Post-Approval Requirements. Often times, even after a drug has been approved by the FDA for sale, the FDA may require that certain post-approval requirements be satisfied, including the conduct of additional clinical studies. If such post-approval conditions are not satisfied, the FDA may withdraw its approval of the drug. In addition, holders of an approved NDA are required to: (i) report certain adverse reactions to the FDA, (ii) comply with certain requirements concerning advertising and promotional labeling for their products, and (iii) continue to have quality control and manufacturing procedures conform to cGMP after approval. The FDA periodically inspects the sponsor’s records related to safety reporting and/or manufacturing facilities; this latter effort includes assessment of compliance with cGMP. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money, and effort in the area of production and quality control to maintain cGMP compliance. We intend to use third party manufacturers to produce our products in clinical and commercial quantities, and future FDA inspections may identify compliance issues at the facilities of our contract manufacturers that may disrupt production or distribution, or require substantial resources to correct. In addition, discovery of problems with a product after approval may result in restrictions on a product, manufacturer, or holder of an approved NDA, including withdrawal of the product from the market.
 
Employees

As of the date of this current report, we have 11 employees, all of which are full-time employees. We intend to hire an additional five to six employees prior to the end of 2005.

Description of Property
 
Our corporate office is located at 1180 Avenue of the Americas, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10036. The New York office space is subject to a five-year lease agreement that expires in June 2010. Under the terms of the lease, we lease approximately 2,580 square feet and are required to make monthly rental payments of approximately $10,100 until December 31, 2007, with such payments increasing to approximately $11,000 thereafter through the remainder of the term of the lease. Our business and development operations are located as 197 Eighth Street, Suite 300, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129. The Charlestown office space is subject to a five-year lease agreement that expires in October 2009. Under the terms of the lease, we lease approximately 2,800 square feet and are required to make monthly rental payments that range from $4,200 during the first year of the lease to $4,900 during the last year of the lease. Effective November 2005, we amended our lease in Charlestown, Massachsuetts to expand our commercial space by approximately 830 square feet.
 
Legal Proceedings
 
We are not currently involved in any material legal proceedings.
 

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MANAGEMENT
 
 
Directors and Executive Officers
 
At the effective time of the Merger, our board of directors was reconstituted by the appointment of Jonathan Lewis, Richard Bagley, Murray Brennan, James Cannon, Senator Wyche Fowler, Jr., Gary S. Fragin, Timothy McInerney and Michael Weiser as directors (all of whom were directors of ZIOPHARM immediately prior to the Merger), and the resignations of David C. Olson and David Floor from their roles as our directors. Our executive management team was also reconstituted and David C. Olson resigned from his positions as our President, Treasurer and Secretary. The following table sets forth the name, age and position of each of our directors and executive officers as of the date of this prospectus.
 
Name
 
Age
 
Positions
Jonathan Lewis, M.D., Ph.D. 
 
47
 
Director & Chief Executive Officer
Richard Bagley
 
62
 
Director, President, Chief Operating Officer & Treasurer
Robert Peter Gale, M.D., Ph.D, DSc. 
 
60
 
Senior Vice President Research
Murray Brennan, M.D. 
 
65
 
Director
James Cannon 
 
67
 
Director
Senator Wyche Fowler, Jr., JD
 
65
 
Director
Gary S. Fragin 
 
59
 
Director
Timothy McInerney 
 
45
 
Director
Michael Weiser, M.D., Ph.D. 
 
42
 
Director

The biographies of the directors and executive officers listed above are set forth below, all of whom began serving us in their respective positions at the effective time of the Merger.
 
Jonathan Lewis is our Chief Executive Officer and a director, and has served as Chief Executive Officer and a director of ZIOPHARM since January 2004. From July 1994 until June 2001, Dr. Lewis served as Professor of Surgery and Medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and he served as Chief Medical Officer and Chairman of the Medical Board at Antigenics, Inc. from June 2000 until November 2003. He serves as a director on the Board of POPPA (the Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance) of the New York Police Department (NYPD).
 
Richard Bagley serves as our President, Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer and Director and has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of ZIOPHARM since July 2004 and as ZIOPHARM’s Treasurer since March 2005. Prior to that, he served as a consultant to ZIOPHARM while serving as a senior advisor to The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Mr. Bagley served in several capacities at Squibb Corporation from 1985-1990, including as President E. R. Squibb & Sons, U.S. in 1988 and 1989.  He served as Director, Chief Executive Officer and President of ImmuLogic Pharmaceutical Corporation from 1990 to 1994, as Director, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of ProScript, Inc. from 1994 to 1998, as Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of AltaRex Corp. from 1998 to May 2003, and thereafter as a part time consultant and advisor in life sciences until joining ZIOPHARM full time. Mr. Bagley initiated a career in pharmaceuticals in 1968 with Smith Kline and French Laboratories, leaving in 1985 after serving as President of the consumer products division.
 
Robert Peter Gale is our Senior Vice President Research and has served ZIOPHARM in that capacity since January 2004. Dr. Gale is also on the medical staff of UCLA School of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology and is Visiting Professor of Hematology at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London. Dr. Gale served as Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs at Antigenics, Inc. from April 2001 until May 2002 and as a consultant to that company from May 2002 through May 2004.
 

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Murray Brennan is a director of the Company and has served as a member of ZIOPHARM’s board of directors since December 22, 2004. Dr. Brennan has been Chairman of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s Department of Surgery since 1985, and is a former Vice President of the American College of Surgeons, a position he held from 2004 to 2005. Dr. Brennan is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences. He served as director of the American Board of Surgery from 1984 to 1990, Chairman of the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer from 1992 to 1994, President of the Society of Surgical Oncology from 1995 to 1996, and President of the American Surgical Association from 2002 to 2003.
 
James Cannon is a director of the Company and has served as a member of ZIOPHARM’s board of directors since December 22, 2004. Mr. Cannon is Vice Chairman, Chief Financial Officer and a member of the board of directors of BBDO Worldwide. Mr. Cannon joined BBDO in 1967, was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the agency in 1984, and was elected to its board of directors in 1985. In 1986, Mr. Cannon was appointed Comptroller and a member of the board of directors of Omnicom, a company affiliated with BBDO Worldwide, and served in those capacities through May 2002. In 1987, Mr. Cannon also served as Director of Financial Operations of the Omnicom Group from 1987 to 1989, when he rejoined BBDO Worldwide as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Cannon was appointed Vice Chairman of BBDO Worldwide in 1990.
 
Senator Wyche Fowler, Jr. is a director of the Company and has served as a member of ZIOPHARM’s board of directors since December 22, 2004. Senator Fowler has been engaged in an international business and law practice since May 2001, and has served as chairman of the board of the Middle East Institute, a non-profit foundation in Washington, DC, since September 2001. Senator Fowler served as U.S. Senator from Georgia from January 1987 to January 1993, and had previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 until his senatorial election. During his time in the U.S. Senate, Senator Fowler served as a member of the Senate Appropriations, Budget, Energy and Agriculture Committees. While in the U.S. House of Representatives, he was a member of the House Ways and Means and Foreign Affairs Committees, as well as the Select Committee on Intelligence. President Clinton appointed Senator Fowler as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1996, where he served through 2001. Senator Fowler is a member of the board of directors of Brandywine Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
 
Gary S. Fragin is a director of the Company and has served as a member of ZIOPHARM’s board of directors since December 22, 2004. Mr. Fragin is currently managing partner of Osborn Partners, LP and managing partner of Fragin Asset Management, LP, positions. Mr. Fragin was the General Partner and Chief Administrative/Operating Officer of Steinhardt Organization, prior to which he  was a partner, Director of Trading and member of the Management Committee and Executive Committee at Oppenheimer and Co.
 
Timothy McInerney is a director of the Company and has served on ZIOPHARM board of directors since July 20, 2005. Since 1992, Mr. McInerney has been a Managing Director of Paramount BioCapital, Inc. where he oversees the overall distribution of Paramount’s private equity product. Prior to 1992, Mr. McInerney was a research analyst focusing on the biotechnology industry at Ladenburg, Thalman & Co. Prior to that, Mr. McInerney held equity sales positions at Bear, Stearns & Co. and Shearson Lehman Brothers, Inc. Mr. McInerney also has worked in sales and marketing for Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Michael Weiser is a director of the Company and has served on ZIOPHARM’s board of directors since ZIOPHARM’s inception. Dr. Weiser is the Director of Research of Paramount BioCapital. In addition to serving on the boards of directors of several privately-held companies, Dr. Weiser currently serves on the board of directors of Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Hana BioSciences, Inc., Emisphere Technologies, Inc., and Chelsea Therapeutics, Inc., all publicly-traded biotechnology companies.

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There are no family relationships among our executive officers or directors.
 
Audit Committee
 
Effective as of the Merger, we formed an audit committee of the board of directors. The current members of the audit committee are Mr. James Cannon, who serves as the committee’s Chairman, and Messrs. Fragin and Bagley. The audit committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibilities of ensuring that management is maintaining an adequate system of internal controls such that there is reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded and that financial reports are properly prepared; that there is consistent application of generally accepted accounting principles; and that there is compliance with management’s policies and procedures. In performing these functions, the audit committee will meet periodically with the independent auditors and management to review their work and confirm that they are properly discharging their respective responsibilities. In addition, the audit committee recommends the independent auditors for appointment by the board of directors. Prior to the Merger, the Company did not have an audit committee. Two members of the audit committee are independent, as independence is defined in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the Nasdaq listing standards and Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
The board of directors has determined that each of the audit committee members is able to read and understand fundamental financial statements. In addition, the board of directors has determined that at least one member of the audit committee, Mr. James Cannon, is an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined in Item 401(e)(2) of Regulation S-B promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Mr. Cannon’s relevant experience includes his current service as the Chief Financial Officer of BBDO Worldwide, a position he has held for the past 20 years, and his past service as director of financial operations of the Omnicom Group.
 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
Summary Compensation Table
 
The following table sets forth the cash and non-cash compensation for awarded to or earned by (i) each individual serving as our chief executive officer during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004; and (ii) each other individual that served as an executive officer of us or of ZIOPHARM, Inc. as of December 31, 2004 and who received in excess of $100,000 in the form of salary and bonus during such fiscal year (collectively, the “named executives”).
 

       
Annual Compensation
 
Long-Term Compensation Awards
 
Name and Principal Position
 
Year
 
Salary ($)
 
Bonus ($)
 
Other Annual Compensation ($)
 
Securities Underlying Options (#)
 
                       
Dr. Jonathan Lewis,
                     
Chief Executive Officer (1)
   
2004
   
344,167
   
500,000
(2)
 
9,099
 
268,653
 
                                 
Richard Bagley,
                               
President, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer (3)
   
2004
   
43,750
   
75,000
(4)
 
4,057
   
150,668
 
                                 
Dr. Robert Peter Gale,
                               
Senior Vice President Research (5)
   
2004
   
239,583
   
150,000
(6)
 
2,543
   
25,110
 
                                 
David C. Olson
                               
Former Chief Executive Officer (7)
   
2004
   
0
   
   
   
 
     
2003
   
0
   
   
   
 
     
2002
   
0
   
   
   
 


(1)
 
Dr. Lewis became our Chief Executive Officer effective as of the Merger. Prior to the Merger, Dr. Lewis served as Chief Executive Officer of ZIOPHARM, Inc. since January 8, 2004.
 
(2)
 
Includes a signing bonus of $250,000 paid on February 23, 2004 and a guaranteed bonus of $250,000 for work performed in fiscal 2004 that was paid on April 22, 2005.
 
(3)
 
Mr. Bagley became the President, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer of the Company effective as of the Merger. Prior to the Merger, Mr. Bagley served President and Chief Operating Officer of ZIOPHARM, Inc. since July 21, 2004 and as Treasurer of ZIOPHARM, Inc. since March, 2005.
 
(4)
 
Mr. Bagley received a signing bonus of $50,000 on July 15, 2004 and was due $25,000, a portion of his guaranteed bonus, as of December 31, 2004.
 
(5)
 
Dr. Gale became the Company’s Senior Vice President Research effective as of the Merger. Prior to the Merger, Dr. Gale served as Senior Vice President Research of ZIOPHARM, Inc. since January 15, 2004.
 
(6)
 
Includes a guaranteed bonus of $150,000 for work performed in fiscal 2004 that was paid on April 16, 2005.
 
(7)
 
During fiscal year 2004, Mr. Olson received no cash compensation for services rendered in his capacity as our President, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Olson resigned as an executive officer effective upon the Merger and, in connection with the Merger, we paid Mr. Olson a one-time fee of $57,500 pursuant to his December 9, 2004 employment agreement.
 

33



 
Stock Options

Upon the Merger, we assumed ZIOPHARM’s 2003 Stock Option Plan as our Stock Option Plan. Since January 1, 2005, there have been 257,612 stock options awarded to the named executives through October 31, 2005, and all such grants have been made under the 2003 Stock Option Plan. Prior to the Merger, we had an Incentive Stock Option Plan of EasyWeb, Inc. under which 175,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance. That stock option plan was terminated effective as of the Merger.
 
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
 
The following table sets forth the information concerning individual grants of stock options made by us or ZIOPHARM to the named executives during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. All share numbers and dollar amounts are set forth on a post-Merger basis.
 

Name
 
Number of Securities Underlying Options Granted (#)
 
Percent of Total Options Granted to Employees In Fiscal Year
 
Exercise of Base Price ($/share)
 
Expiration Date(s)
 
Dr. Jonathan Lewis (1)
   
25,674
   
5.2%
 
 
$0.08
   
1/8/14
 
Dr. Jonathan Lewis (1)
   
242,979
   
48.9%
 
 
$0.08
   
1/27/14
 
Richard Bagley (2)
   
150,668
   
30.4%
 
 
$1.70
   
7/1/14
 
Dr. Robert Peter Gale
   
2,567
   
0.5%
 
 
$0.44
   
1/15/14
 
Dr. Robert Peter Gale
   
22,543
   
4.5%
 
 
$0.44
   
1/27/14
 
David C. Olson
   
0
   
0%
 
 
   
 
 

(1)
The number of securities underlying options is subject to an anti-dilution provision pursuant to which Dr. Lewis is entitled to purchase no less than 5% of the Company’s common stock until such time as the Company has raised $25 million in financing.
 
(2)
The number of securities underlying options is subject to an anti-dilution provision pursuant to which Mr. Bagley is entitled to purchase no less than 3% of the Company’s common stock until such time as the Company has raised $25 million in financing.
 

34


Aggregated Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
 
The following table sets forth the total amount of shares acquired by the named executives upon exercises of stock options during fiscal year 2004, the aggregate dollar value realized upon such exercise, the total number of securities underlying unexercised options held at the conclusion of fiscal year 2004 (separately identifying then-exercisable and unexercisable options), and the aggregate dollar value of in-the-money, unexercised options held at the conclusion of fiscal year 2004 (separately identifying then-exercisable and unexercisable options). All share numbers and dollar amounts with respect to Dr. Lewis and Gale and Mr. Bagley have been adjusted to reflect the exchange of ZIOPHARM, Inc. securities in the Merger.

Name
 
Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)
 
Value Realized ($)
 
Number of Unexercised Securities Underlying Options at FY-End (#) Exercisable / Unexercisable
 
Value of Unexercised In-the-Money Options at FY-End ($) Exercisable / Unexercisable(1)
 
Dr. Jonathan Lewis
   
0
   
0
   
0 / 268,653
   
0 / 1,136,873
 
Richard Bagley
   
0
   
0
   
0 / 150,668
   
0 /   393,982
 
Dr. Robert Peter Gale
   
0
   
0
   
0 / 25,110
   
0 /     97,237
 
David C. Olson
   
0
   
0
   
0 / 0
   
0 / 0
 
 

(1)
Value of unexercised in-the-money options on December 31, 2004 is based on a $2.16 per share value of ZIOPHARM, Inc. stock ($4.31 per share of the Company's common stock on a post-Merger basis), as determined by the ZIOPHARM, Inc. Board of Directors at such time. As of December 31, 2004, no trades of the Company’s common stock had been conducted on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board.
 
Employment and Change-in-Control Agreements
 
On December 9, 2004, we entered into an employment agreement with David C. Olson. Under the terms of the agreement, we agreed to pay Mr. Olson a one-time fee of $100,000 if and when we completed a merger, acquisition, or related transaction. In connection with the Merger, Mr. Olson agreed to reduce this amount to the extent that our unconsolidated liabilities immediately following the Merger exceeded $425,000. On December 10, 2004, we entered into a management consulting services agreement with David Floor. Under the terms of the agreement, we agreed to pay Mr. Floor a one-time fee of $10,000 plus expenses, upon the closing of any transaction leaving us with a positive business direction and available finances. In connection with the Merger, we paid Messrs. Olson and Floor $57,500 and $100,000, respectively, under the terms of their agreements with us. Each such agreement was terminated in its entirety in connection with the Merger.
 
On January 8, 2004, ZIOPHARM entered into a three-year employment agreement with Dr. Jonathan Lewis, under which we succeeded to ZIOPHARM’s rights and obligations upon the Merger. Under the agreement, Dr. Lewis receives an annual base salary of $350,000 and a guaranteed annual bonus of $250,000. In addition, Dr. Lewis is eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus of up to 100% of his base salary, as determined by our board of directors. ZIOPHARM also paid Dr. Lewis a one-time bonus of $250,000 upon execution of his employment agreement. Depending upon the events surrounding a possible termination of Dr. Lewis’ employment, he may continue to receive his base salary and, in certain circumstances, his guaranteed bonus for one year following such termination. In addition, the vesting of Dr. Lewis’ stock options may accelerate in whole or in part upon such termination. Dr. Lewis has agreed not to compete with us during the term of the employment agreement and for a one-year period thereafter, provided that we continue to pay his base salary and guaranteed bonus for that one-year period.
 

35



 
Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, we have granted Dr. Lewis options to purchase up to 410,603 shares of common stock at $0.08 per share (adjusted to give effect to the Merger). The options vest in three equal annual installments, the first of which vested on January 8, 2005, with the remaining installments vesting on January 8, 2006 and January 8, 2007. The option is subject to anti-dilution protection from the issuance of equity securities in financing transactions to the extent that Dr. Lewis will maintain potential equity ownership of at least 5% of our stock until such time as we have received $25 million in gross proceeds from such transactions. The options are governed by our 2003 Stock Option Plan.
 
On July 21, 2004, ZIOPHARM entered into a three-year employment agreement with Mr. Richard Bagley, under which we succeeded to ZIOPHARM’s rights and obligations upon the Merger. Under the agreement, Mr. Bagley receives an annual base salary of $250,000 and a guaranteed annual bonus of $50,000. In addition, Mr. Bagley is eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus, as determined by our board of directors. ZIOPHARM also paid Mr. Bagley a one-time bonus of $50,000 upon execution of his employment agreement. Depending upon the events surrounding a possible termination of Mr. Bagley’s employment, he may continue to receive his base salary and, in certain circumstances, his guaranteed bonus for one year following such termination. In addition, the vesting of Mr. Bagley’s stock options may accelerate in whole or in part upon such termination. Mr. Bagley has agreed not to compete with us during the term of the employment agreement and for a one-year period thereafter, provided that we continue to pay his base salary for that one-year period.
 
Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, we granted Mr. Bagley options to purchase up to 241,282 shares common stock at $1.70 per share (adjusted to give effect to the Merger). The options vest in three equal annual installments, the first of which vested on July 1, 2005, with the remaining installments vesting on July 1, 2006 and July 1, 2007. The option is subject to certain anti-dilution protections from the issuance of equity securities in financing transactions so that Mr. Bagley will maintain potential equity ownership of at least 3% of our stock until such time as we have received $25 million in gross proceeds from such transactions. The options are governed by our 2003 Stock Option Plan.
 
On January 14, 2004, ZIOPHARM entered into a three-year employment agreement with Dr. Robert Peter Gale, under which we succeeded to ZIOPHARM’s rights and obligations upon the Merger. Under the agreement, Dr. Gale receives an annual base salary of $250,000 and a guaranteed annual bonus of $150,000. In addition, Dr. Gale is eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus, as determined by our board of directors. Depending upon the events surrounding a termination of Dr. Gale’s employment, he may continue to receive his base salary and, in certain circumstances, his guaranteed bonus for one year following such termination. In addition, the vesting of Dr. Gale’s stock options may accelerate in whole or in part upon such termination. Dr. Gale has agreed not to compete with us during the term of the employment agreement and for one-year following the expiration of his employment agreement.
 
Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, we granted Dr. Gale options to purchase up to 25,110 shares of common stock at $0.44 per share, respectively (adjusted to give effect to the Merger). The options vest in three equal annual installments, the first of which vested on January 15, 2005, with the remaining installments vesting on January 15, 2006 and January 15, 2007. The options are governed by our 2003 Stock Option Plan.
 

36


Compensation of Directors
 
Prior to the Merger, our directors received no compensation pursuant to any standard arrangement for their services as directors. Nevertheless, during the year ended December 31, 2004, we issued Mr. David Floor 5,000 shares of our common stock (adjusted to reflect to the 1-for-40 share combination effected immediately prior to the Merger) in exchange for directors fees.
 
Our Board of Directors currently schedules monthly telephonic board meetings and quarterly in-person meetings held at our principal corporate office. Each director receives quarterly compensation of $3,000 in arrears. The non-management members of the Board also receive stock options as granted from time to time and as recommended by the Compensation Committee.
 
CHANGES IN OUR CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
 
On November 9, 2005, we, upon the recommendation and approval of our audit committee, dismissed Cordovano and Honeck, P.C., independent registered public accounting firm, as our principal independent accountant. On the same date, we engaged Vitale, Caturano & Company, Ltd., independent registered public accounting firm, to serve as our principal independent accountant.
 
Cordovano and Honeck’s reports on our financial statements for the past two years did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
 
During the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, and subsequently through the date of Cordovano and Honeck’s dismissal, there were no disagreements with Cordovano and Honeck on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to Cordovano and Honeck’s satisfaction, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter in connection with its report on our financial statements for such fiscal years.
 
We provided Cordovano and Honeck with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and requested that Cordovano and Honeck furnish us with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the above statements and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of such letter was filed as Exhibit 16.1 to our Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 2005, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 10, 2005.
 
Vitale, Caturano served as the accountant for the ZIOPHARM, Inc., a Delaware corporation that became our wholly-owned subsidiary on September 13, 2005 and merged with and into us on September 14, 2005, since the date of that corporation’s inception in September 2003. During the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, and subsequently through November 9, 2005, neither we nor anyone acting on our behalf consulted with Vitale, Caturano regarding any of the matters or events set forth in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-B.
 
We provided Vitale, Caturano with a copy of the foregoing disclosures and provided Vitale, Caturano the opportunity to furnish a letter containing any new information, clarification of the above disclosures, or disagreements with the statements made herein.
 

37


SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF
CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table summarizes certain information regarding the beneficial ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of our outstanding common stock as of October 31, 2005 by (i) each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, (ii) each of our directors, (iii) each of the named executives, and (iv) all current executive officers and directors as a group. Except as indicated in the footnotes below, the persons listed below possess sole voting and investment power with respect to their shares.  Except as otherwise indicated, the address of the persons listed below is 1180 Avenue of the Americas, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
 
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
 
Shares of
Common Stock
Beneficially Owned (#)(1)
 
Percentage of
Common Stock
Beneficially Owned (%)
 
Dr. Jonathan Lewis (2)
   
136,868
   
1.85%
 
Richard Bagley (3)
   
80,428
   
1.10%
 
Robert Peter Gale (4)
   
8,371
   
*
 
Murray Brennan (5)
   
7,515
   
*
 
James Cannon (5)
   
7,515
   
*
 
Hon. Wyche Fowler (5)
   
7,515
   
*
 
Gary S. Fragin (5)
   
7,515
   
*
 
Timothy McInerney (6)
   
79,972
   
1.10%
 
Michael Weiser (7)
   
126,526
   
1.74%
 
All current executive officers and directors
as a group (8)
   
462,225
   
6.11%
 
Mibars, LLC
365 West End Avenue
New York, NY 10024
   
1,214,456
   
16.76%
 
Lindsay A. Rosenwald (9)
787 Seventh Avenue, 48th Floor
New York, NY 10019
   
1,498,087(9)
 
 
19.89%
 
Atlas Equity I, Ltd.
181 W. Madison, Suite 3600
Chicago, IL 60602
   
695,797
   
9.60%
 
Lester E. Lipschutz
1650 Arch Street, 22nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
   
463,864(10)
 
 
6.40%
 
David C. Olson (11)
6025 South Quebec Street, Suite 135
Englewood, CO 80111
   
60,980(11)
 
 
*
 
 

* Less than 1%
 
(1)
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with SEC rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the security or stockholder has sole or shared voting power or investment power, and also any shares which the security or stockholder has the right to acquire within 60 days of the date hereof, whether through the exercise or conversion of any stock option, convertible security, warrant or other right. The indication herein that shares are beneficially owned is not an admission on the part of the security or stockholder that he, she or it is a direct or indirect beneficial owner of those shares.
 
(2)
Includes 136,868 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within the next 60 days.
 

38

  
(3)
Includes 80,428 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within the next 60 days.
 
(4)
Includes 8,371 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within the next 60 days.

(5)
Includes 7,515 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within the next 60 days.
 
(6)
Includes 20,767 shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within the next 60 days.
 
(7)
Includes 35,566 shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants and 7,515 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within the next 60 days.
 
(8)
Includes 319,575 shares issuable upon the exercise of convertible securities that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within the next 60 days.
 
(9)
Excludes 463,864 shares held by certain trusts for the benefit of Dr. Rosenwald and his family for which Dr. Rosenwald disclaims beneficial ownership. Includes 221,011 shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants granted to Dr. Rosenwald and 62,621 shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants granted to Paramount BioCapital Investments, LLC, of which Dr. Rosenwald is the managing member, both such warrants are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within the next 60 days. Also includes 737,777 shares that Dr. Rosenwald has the right to acquire from existing stockholders under certain circumstances pursuant to the terms of pledge agreements between Dr. Rosenwald and such stockholders.
 
(10)
Includes 463,864 shares held by separate trusts for the benefit of Dr. Rosenwald or his family with respect to which Mr. Lifschutz is either trustee or investment manager and has investment and voting power. Dr. Rosenwald disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.
 
(11)
Mr. Olson served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer for the full fiscal years indicated until the consummation of the Merger. Share amounts include 50 shares held by Associate Capital Consulting Inc. and 17,314 shares held by Summit Financial Relations Inc., each of which corporation is wholly-owned by Mr. Olson.

39


 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
   
Pre-Merger Company Transactions and Relationships
 
Because of their previous management positions, organizational efforts and/or percentage share ownership (prior to the Merger), Messrs. David C. Olson and Robert J. Zappa may be deemed to be “promoters,” as those terms are defined in the Securities Act of 1933 and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder. Because of the above-described relationships, transactions between and among us and Messrs. Olson and Zappa, such as the sale of our common stock to each of them as described herein, should not be considered to have occurred at arm’s-length.
 
Common Stock Transactions
 
During July 2005, we sold 333,333 shares of our common stock to David Floor for $10,000, or $.03 per share.
 
In August and December 2004, David Olson loaned us a total of $1,300 for working capital. During May 2005, Mr. Olson advanced us an additional $788. The loans carried no interest rate and were due on demand. On June 28, 2005, we issued Mr. Olson 69,600 shares of common stock as full repayment of the amounts stated above. The shares were valued at $.03 per share, or $2,088, based on contemporaneous common stock sales to unrelated third parties.
 
On May 13, 2004, the Company issued 400,000 shares of common stock to Summit Financial Relations, Inc. (“Summit”) valued at $10,000, at $.025 per share as repayment for expenses paid on behalf of us. The shares were valued based on contemporaneous sales to unrelated third party investors. David Olson, who was then our President, Treasurer and one of our directors, is also Summit’s President, director and sole stockholder.
 
During May 2004, we issued 200,000 shares of common stock to Thomas Olson, the brother of David Olson, in exchange for corporate governance services. The shares were valued based on contemporaneous sales to unrelated third party investors, at $.025 per share. The Company recorded stock-based compensation of $5,000 related to the transaction.
 
During May 2004, we issued 200,000 shares of common stock to David Floor in exchange for director fees. The shares were valued based on contemporaneous sales to unrelated third party investors, at $.025 per share. We recorded stock-based compensation of $5,000 related to the transaction.
 
At December 31, 2004, we owed Summit $12,268 for professional fees and other administrative expenses paid on our behalf. David Olson, who was then our President, Treasurer and one of our directors, is also Summit’s President, director and sole stockholder. During the six months ended June 30, 2005, Summit paid an additional $1,007 in expenses on our behalf. On February 4, 2005, the Company repaid Summit $7,000 and on June 28, 2005 the Company issued Summit 209,180 shares of common stock as full repayment of all amounts stated above. The shares issued to Summit were valued at $.03 per share, or $6,275, based on contemporaneous common stock sales to unrelated third parties.
 
During January 2002, we sold 33,333 and 16,667 shares of our common stock to David Olson and Barbara Petrinsky, respectively, at $.03 per share (gross proceeds totaling $1,500). At the time of issuance, both Mr. Olson and Ms. Petrinsky were our officers.
 

40


Office Space and Administrative Support
 
Summit has contributed the use of office space and administrative support (including reception, secretarial and bookkeeping services) to us for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003. David Olson, who was our President, Treasurer and one of our directors prior to the Merger, is also the President, director and sole stockholder of Summit.
 
The office space and administrative support contributed by Summit has a fair market value of approximately $500 and $1,000 per month, respectively. We have recognized expenses for rent and administrative support based on fair market value. Any period in which the amount paid to Summit for office space and administrative support was below the fair market value, the remaining balance was considered contributed by Summit and recorded as a credit to additional paid-in capital in our financial statements. During the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, we did not pay Summit for office space and we paid Summit $173 and $510, respectively, for administrative support. Accordingly, Summit contributed the remaining fair values for the use of the office space and administrative support. Contributed office space totaled $6,000 and $6,000, and contributed administrative support totaled $11,827 and $11,490 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
 
Related Party Liabilities
 
In August and December 2004, Mr. Olson loaned us a total of $1,300 for working capital. The loans carried no interest rate and were due on demand.
 
At December 31, 2003, the Company owed Summit $18,111 for professional fees and other administrative expenses it paid on our behalf. During the year ended December 31, 2004, Summit paid expenses totaling $4,187 on our behalf. A portion of the May 13, 2004 issuance of 400,000 restricted common described above under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions - Common Stock Transactions” was used to repay Summit for these fees. As of December 31, 2004, we owed Summit $12,298.
 
We owed Barbara Petrinsky, our former Secretary and Treasurer, $10,000 for the work she performed over the previous five years to keep our books and records, assist in all of our filings with regulatory authorities, states and the Internal Revenue Service, among others.
 
All of the above-referenced liabilities were satisfied in their entirety immediately following the Merger.
 
In connection with the Merger, we paid Messrs. Olson and Floor $57,000 and $100,000, respectively, pursuant to a December 9, 2004 employment agreement with David Olson and a December 10, 2004 management consulting services agreement with David Floor.
 
Consulting Agreement with Summit Financial
 
On December 10, 2004, we entered into a consulting services fee agreement under which Summit provided certain services to us including, but not limited to, consultation related to mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations and divestitures. Pursuant to the agreement, Summit lent us funds and helped us raise funds at no extra cost. Under the terms of the agreement, we paid Summit a one-time fee of $106,697.90 in connection with the closing of the Merger.
 

41


ZIOPHARM Transactions and Relationships
 
In connection with a private placement of its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock that terminated in May 2005, ZIOPHARM and Paramount BioCapital, Inc. (“Paramount”) entered into an introduction agreement in January 2005. Upon the Merger, we succeeded to ZIOPHARM’s rights and obligations under such agreement. Pursuant to the introduction agreement, ZIOPHARM agreed to compensate Paramount or its designees for their services through the payment of (a) cash commissions equal to 7% of the gross proceeds from the offering, and (b) warrants to acquire an aggregate of 837,956 share of ZIOPHARM’s Series A Convertible preferred Stock per share exercise price of $2.38. Upon the Merger, this warrant was exchanged for a warrant to purchase an aggregate of 419,772 shares of our common stock at a per share exercise price of $4.75. Cash commissions will also be payable by us if we sell additional of our securities, prior to May 31, 2006, to investors introduced to ZIOPHARM by the Paramount. Pursuant to the introduction agreement, Paramount has the right of first refusal to act as the placement agent for the private sale of our securities until May 31, 2008.
 
In connection with ZIOPHARM’s December 22, 2004 Option Agreement with Southern Research Institute (“SRI”), ZIOPHARM entered into an Finders Agreement dated December 23, 2004 with Paramount, pursuant to which ZIOPHARM agreed to compensate Paramount for services in connection with the ZIOPHARM’s introduction to SRI through the payment of (a) a cash fee of $60,000 and (b) a warrant to purchase 125,000 shares of ZIOPHARM’s common stock at a price of $2.38 per share. Upon the Merger, this warrant was exchanged for a warrant to purchase an aggregate of 62,619 shares of our common stock at a per share exercise price of $4.75.

Lindsay A. Rosenwald, M.D., who may beneficially own approximately 19.89% of our common stock, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount and its affiliates. Dr. Michael Weiser and Timothy McInerney, each of whom is a director of the Company (and director of ZIOPHARM), are also full-time employees of Paramount.

 

42

MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
 
Prior to the consummation of the Merger, our common stock traded on the over-the-counter bulletin board under the symbol “ESWB.” As a result of the Company’s name change to ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc., our common stock now trades under the symbol “ZIOP.” The following table sets forth the high and low bid prices for our common stock as reported by the over-the-counter bulletin board since our common stock began trading over the counter in 2004. These quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail markup, markdown or commission, and may not represent actual transactions. Throughout the periods indicated below, only one trade in our common stock was consummated. Prices set forth below do not reflect the 1-for-40 share combination effected on August 24, 2005.
 
 
 
Price Range 
 
Fiscal Year 2005 (Quarter Ended)
 
High 
 
Low 
 
September 30,2005    0.40    $ 0.00  
June 30, 2005
 
$
0.05
 
$
0.00
 
March 31, 2005
 
$
0.05
 
$
0.00
 
               
Fiscal Year 2004 (Quarter Ended)
   
High
   
Low
 
December 31, 2004
 
$
0.00
 
$
0.00
 
September 30, 2004
 
$
0.00
 
$
0.00
 
June 30, 2004
 
$
0.00
 
$
0.00
 
March 31, 2004
 
$
0.00
 
$
0.00
 
 
The approximate number of stockholders of record of our common stock as of October 31, 2005 was 308. We have never declared or paid a cash dividend on our common stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

USE OF PROCEEDS
 
We will not receive any proceeds from the resale of any of the shares offered by this prospectus by the selling stockholders.
 

43


SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

This prospectus covers the resale by the selling stockholders identified below of 2,520,632 shares of our common stock, including 2,437,284 shares of our common stock issued to former stockholders of ZIOPHARM, Inc. in connection with the Merger and 83,348 shares of our common stock issued to a previous EasyWeb, Inc. stockholder upon the exercise of a stock option. The following table sets forth the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the selling stockholders as of October 31, 2005, and after giving effect to this offering.
 
 
Shares
Number of
Percentage
 
Beneficially
Outstanding Shares
Bedeficial
 
Owned Before
Offered by Selling
Ownership After
Selling Stockholder
Offering (1)
Stockholder
Offering (2)
Lindsay A. Rosenwald (3)
1,498,087
476,678
13.56%
Michael Weiser
126,526
83,445
*
Jason Stein
83,445
83,445
-
Jeffrey Serbin
91,036
91,036
-
Stephen Rocamboli
40,677
40,677
-
Jay Lobell
59,156
59,156
-
Jillian Hoffman
7,590
7,590
-
William Corcoran
12,145
12,145
-
Kyle Kuhn
6,072
6,072
-
David Butera
60,723
60,723
-
Peter Barber
3,036
3,036
-
Anil Chenthitta
3,036
3,036
-
Matthew Wyckoff
3,036
3,036
-
David Nussbaum
3,036
3,036
-
Timothy McInerney
69,972
59,205
*
Michael Rosenman
31,854
12,145
*
John Knox
9,108
9,108
-
Jennifer McNealy
5,465
5,465
-
John Cipriano
5,465
5,465
-
Elena Ridloff
5,465
5,465
-
Louis Smookler
12,145
12,145
-
Donna Lozito
6,072
6,072
-
Scott Katzmann
28,817
9,108
*
John Papadimitropoulos
3,036
3,036
-
Basil Christakos
6,072
6,072
-
Eric Lee
3,036
3,036
-
Timothy Shands
3,036
3,036
-
Claudia Donat
3,036
3,036
-
John Best
1,822
1,822
-
Elbert Chu
1,822
1,822
-
Allison Robbins
1,518
1,518
-
Jamie Cabibihan
1,768
1,768
-
Bernard Gross
10,285
1,518
*
Peter Kash
83,445
83,445
-
David Tanen
12,145
12,145
-
Jill Meleski
19,674
3,036
*
Aaron Rollins
3,036
3,036
-
Delores Ferraro
1,518
1,518
-
Kristen Plonisch
1,518
1,518
-
Marion Birch
1,518
1,518
-
Nicole Netolicky
1,518
1,518
-
Elizabeth Marrero
1,518
1,518
-
Gabriel Pilaloa
1,518
1,518
-
Demitrios Marras
1,518
1,518
-
Kathleen Fogerty
1,518
1,518
-
Danielle Flatly
1,518
1,518
-
Jeana Sommers
1,808
1,518
-
Karl Ruggeberg
9,368
1,518
*
Mibars, LLC
1,214,456
1,214,456
-
Joshua Kazam and Joia Kazam JTWROS
12,145
12,145
-
Mark O. Thornton
8,370 
8,370
-
Chase Financing, Inc.
83,348
83,348
 
Total
 
2,520,632
 


*
Less than 1%
 
(1)
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with SEC rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the security or stockholder has sole or shared voting power or investment power, and also any shares which the security or stockholder has the right to acquire within 60 days of the date hereof, whether through the exercise or conversion of any stock option, convertible security, warrant or other right. The indication herein that shares are beneficially owned is not an admission on the part of the security or stockholder that he, she or it is a direct or indirect beneficial owner of those shares.
 
(2)
Assumes sales of all shares by such selling stockholder.
 
(3)
In addition to 476,678 shares of common stock being offered hereunder, this amounts includes to 221,011 shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by Dr. Rosenwald, 62,621 shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants granted to Paramount BioCapital Investments, LLC, of which Dr. Rosenwald is the managing member, and 737,777 shares that Dr. Rosenwald has the right to acquire from existing stockholders under certain circumstances pursuant to the terms of pledge agreements between Dr. Rosenwald and such stockholders. Excludes 463,864 shares held by certain trusts for the benefit of Dr. Rosenwald and his family for which Dr. Rosenwald disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
44

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
We are registering the resale of certain shares of common stock offered by this prospectus on behalf of the selling stockholders. As used in this prospectus, the term “selling stockholders” include donees, pledges, transferees and other successors in interest selling shares received from the selling stockholders after the date of this prospectus, whether as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other form of transfer. All costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the shares of common stock offered hereby will be borne by the Company. Brokerage commissions and similar selling expenses, if any, attributable to the sale of shares of common stock will be borne by the selling stockholders.
 
Sales of shares of common stock offered hereby may be effected by the selling stockholders from time to time in one or more types of transactions (which may include block transactions):
 
·  
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
 
·  
block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
 
·  
purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
 
·  
an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;
 
·  
privately negotiated transactions;
 
·  
short sales;
 
·  
through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;
 
·  
broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholder to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
 
·  
a combination of any such methods of sale; and
 
·  
any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
 
The selling stockholders may effect sales of shares of common stock offered hereby at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at privately negotiated prices. Any of these transactions may or may not involve brokers or dealers. Any such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders and/or the purchaser(s) of shares of common stock for whom those broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they sell as principals, or both (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions). The selling stockholders have advised us that they have not entered into any agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding the sale of their securities, nor is there any underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of shares of common stock by the selling stockholders.
 

45



 
The selling stockholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them and registered hereby and, if any such selling stockholder defaults in the performance of its secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock, from time to time, under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus or other applicable provision of the Securities Act amending the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The selling stockholders also may transfer the shares of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.
 
In connection with the sale of our common stock or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities, which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
 
The aggregate proceeds to the selling stockholders from the sale of the common stock offered by them will be the purchase price of the common stock less discounts or commissions, if any. The selling stockholders reserve the right to accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of common stock to be made directly or through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering.
 
The selling stockholders may also resell all or a portion of the shares in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule.
 
The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers that act in connection with the sale of securities might be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act, and any commissions received by such broker-dealers and any profit on the resale of the securities sold by them while acting as principals might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. In addition, each broker-dealer selling under this prospectus for its own account or the account of an affiliate is an “underwriter” under Section 2(11) of the Securities Act.
 
To the extent required, the shares of our common stock to be sold, the name of the selling stockholders, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agents, dealer or underwriter, any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.
 
In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the common stock may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the common stock may not be sold unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.
 
We have advised the selling stockholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the activities of the selling stockholders and their affiliates. In addition, we will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time) available to the selling stockholders for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus-delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The selling stockholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
 

46



 
We are unable to predict with certainty the effect which sales of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus might have upon our ability to raise additional capital. Nevertheless, it is possible that the resale of shares offered hereby could adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.
 
Shares Eligible For Future Sale
 
Upon completion of this offering , there will be 7,248,115 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding. The shares purchased in this offering will be freely tradable without registration or other restriction under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by an “affiliate” of our Company (as defined under the Securities Act).
 
Our currently outstanding shares issued in connection with the Merger are deemed “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Restricted securities may not be sold unless they are registered under the Securities Act or are sold pursuant to an applicable exemption from registration, including an exemption under Rule 144. Assuming that all of the other requirements of Rule 144 are then satisfied, then the 6,967,941 restricted shares of our common stock that were issued in connection with the Merger will first be eligible for resale without registration in September, 2006.
 
In general, under Rule 144, any person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) including persons deemed to be affiliates, whose restricted securities have been fully paid for and held for at least one year from the later of the date of issuance by us or acquisition from an affiliate, may sell such securities in broker’s transactions or directly to market makers, provided that the number of shares sold in any three-month period may not exceed the greater of one percent of the then-outstanding shares of our common stock or the average weekly trading volume of our shares of common stock in the over-the-counter market during the four calendar weeks preceding the sale. Sales under Rule 144 are also subject to certain notice requirements and the availability of current public information about our Company. After two years have elapsed from the later of the issuance of restricted securities by us or their acquisition from an affiliate, persons who are not affiliates under the rule may sell such securities without any limitation.
 
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
Our authorized capital stock consists of 280,000,000 shares of common stock, $.001 value per share. All shares of common stock have equal voting rights and are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by our stockholders. The shares of common stock have no preemptive, subscription, conversion or redemption rights and may be issued only as fully-paid and non-assessable shares. Cumulative voting in the election of directors is not permitted. In the event of our liquidation, each holder of our common stock is entitled to receive a proportionate share of our assets available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of liabilities. All shares of our common stock issued and outstanding are fully-paid and non-assessable.
 
Holders of our common stock are entitled to share pro rata in dividends and distributions with respect to the common stock when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor. We have not paid any dividends on our common stock and intend to retain earnings, if any, to finance the development and expansion of our business. Future dividend policy is subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon a number of factors, including future earnings, capital requirements and our financial condition.
 

47



The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer and Trust, 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11219. As of October 31, 2005, we had 7,248,115 shares of common stock outstanding held by approximately 308 holders of record. Our common stock is eligible for trading on the over-the-counter bulletin board under the symbol “ZIOP.OB.”

DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON
INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
 
Pursuant to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, we may indemnify an officer or director who is made a party to any proceeding, because of his position as such, to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended. In certain cases, we may advance expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding.
 
To the extent that indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling our company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. If a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by us of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of our company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by any of our directors, officers or controlling persons in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of that issue.
 
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
 
This prospectus is not an offer or solicitation in respect to these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful. This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The registration statement that contains this prospectus (including the exhibits to the registration statement) contains additional information about our company and the securities offered under this prospectus. That registration statement can be read at the SEC web site or at the SEC’s offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information or additional information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, or any supplement or amendment to this prospectus, is accurate at any date other than the date indicated on the cover page of such documents.
 
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
 
Federal securities law requires us to file information with the SEC concerning our business and operations. Accordingly, we file annual, quarterly, and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can inspect and copy this information at the Public Reference Facility maintained by the SEC at Judiciary Plaza, 450 5th Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549. You can receive additional information about the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Facilities by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies that, like us, file information electronically with the SEC.
 
 
 

48


VALIDITY OF COMMON STOCK
 
Legal matters in connection with the validity of the shares offered by this prospectus will be passed upon by Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
 
EXPERTS
 
The consolidated financial statements of ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and for the years then ended and for the period from August 6, 2001 (date of inception) to December 31, 2004, included in this prospectus, have been included herein in reliance on the report, dated March 18, 2005, of Cordovano and Honeck, P.C., independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The financial statements of ZIOPHARM, Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004 and as of December 31, 2003 and for the period from inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004 included in this prospectus have been audited by Vitale, Caturano & Company, Ltd., independent registered public accounting firm, as indicated in its report with respect to such statements are included herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

49



INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
   
Page
Audited Financial Statements of ZIOPHARM, Inc.:
   
Report of Vitale, Caturano & Company
 
F-1
Balance Sheets as at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003
 
F-2
Statements of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2004 and For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004
 
F-3
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the Year Ended December 31, 2004 and For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004
 
F-4
Statements of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2004 and For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004
 
F-5
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
F-7
     
Audited Financial Statements of EasyWeb, Inc.:
   
Report of Cordovano and Honeck, P.C.
 
F-21
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2004
 
F-22
Statements of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2004, and December 31, 2003
 
F-23
Statement of Stockholders’ Deficit for the Year Ended December 31, 2004
 
F-24
Statement of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2004, and December 31, 2003
 
F-25
Notes to Financial Statements
 
F-26

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements of ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.:
   
Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2005 (unaudited) and December 31, 2004
 
F-32
Statement of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 and for the period from inception (September 9, 2003) to September 30, 2005
 
F-33
Statement of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 and for the period from inception (September 9, 2003) to September 30, 2005
 
F-34
Statement of changes in Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity/(Deficit) for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 (unaudited) and for the year ended December 31, 2004 and for the period from inception (September 9, 2003) to December 31, 2003
 
F-35
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
 
F-36
 

 

 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
Charlestown, Massachusetts
 

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of ZIOPHARM, Inc. (a development stage enterprise) as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2004 and the periods from inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of ZIOPHARM, Inc. as of December 31, 2004, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2004 and for the periods from inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Boston, Massachusetts
August 5, 2005
(except for Note 10, as to which the date is September 13, 2005)

F-1


     
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
   
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
   
Balance Sheets
   
December 31, 2004 and 2003
   
 
 
 
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
ASSETS
         
Current assets:
         
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,026,656
 
$
402,363
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
117,571
   
 
Total current assets
   
1,144,227
   
402,363
 
               
Property and equipment, net
   
240,733
   
 
               
Deposits
   
60,046
   
 
               
   
$
1,445,006
 
$
402,363
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
             
Current liabilities:
             
Accounts payable
 
$
709,947
 
$
62,499
 
Accrued expenses
   
879,376
   
 
Total current liabilities
   
1,589,323
   
62,499
 
               
Commitments and contingencies
             
               
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
             
Series A convertible preferred stock,
             
$.001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; no
             
shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2004
             
and December 31, 2003, respectively
   
   
 
Common stock, $.001 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized;
             
5,512,500 and 500,000 shares issued and outstanding
             
at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively
   
5,513
   
500
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
5,697,603
   
499,500
 
Deficit accumulated during the development stage
   
(5,847,433
)
 
(160,136
)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)
   
(144,317
)
 
339,864
 
               
   
$
1,445,006  
$
402,363  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
F-2


 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Statements of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004
 
 
       
For the Period
 
For the Period
 
       
from Inception
 
from Inception
 
       
(September 9, 2003)
 
(September 9, 2003)
 
   
Year Ended
 
through
 
through
 
   
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
               
Research contract revenue
 
$
 
$
 
$
 
                     
Operating expenses:
                   
Research and development, including
                   
costs of research contracts
   
2,126,607
   
   
2,126,607
 
General and administrative
   
3,581,959
   
160,634
   
3,742,593
 
Total operating expenses
   
5,708,566
   
160,634
   
5,869,200
 
                     
Loss from operations
   
(5,708,566
)
 
(160,634
)
 
(5,869,200
)
                     
Interest income
   
21,269
   
498
   
21,767
 
                     
Net loss
 
$
(5,687,297
)
$
(160,136
)
$
(5,847,433
)
                     
Basic and diluted net loss per share
 
$
(1.19
)
$
(1.02
)
     
                     
Weighted average common shares outstanding
                   
used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share
   
4,794,692
   
156,336
       
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
F-3

 
 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004
 
 
                       
Deficit
     
   
Series A
             
Accumulated
 
Total
 
   
Convertible
         
Additional
 
during the
 
Stockholders'
 
   
Preferred Stock
 
Common Stock
 
Paid-in
 
Development
 
Equity
 
   
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Capital
 
Stage
 
(Deficit)
 
                               
Stockholders' contribution, September 9, 2003
   
 
$
   
500,000
 
$
500
 
$
499,500
 
$
 
$
500,000
 
Net loss
   
   
   
   
   
   
(160,136
)
 
(160,136
)
Balance at December 31, 2003
   
   
   
500,000
   
500
   
499,500
   
(160,136
)
 
339,864
 
Issuance of common stock
   
   
   
4,500,000
   
4,500
   
4,495,500
   
   
4,500,000
 
Issuance of common stock for services
   
   
   
512,500
   
513
   
438,326
   
   
438,839
 
Fair value of options/warrants issued for nonemployee services
   
   
   
   
   
264,277
   
   
264,277
 
Net loss
   
   
   
   
   
   
(5,687,297
)
 
(5,687,297
)
                                             
Balance at December 31, 2004
   
 
$
   
5,512,500
 
$
5,513
 
$
5,697,603
 
$
(5,847,433
)
$
(144,317
)
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-4

 
 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Statements of Cash Flows
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004
 
 
       
For the Period
 
For the Period
 
       
from Inception
 
from Inception
 
       
(September 9, 2003)
 
(September 9, 2003)
 
   
Year Ended
 
through
 
through
 
   
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
             
Net loss
 
$
(5,687,297
)
$
(160,136
)
$
(5,847,433
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
                   
used in operating activities:
                   
Depreciation and amortization
   
33,953
   
   
33,953
 
Stock-based compensation
   
703,116
   
   
703,116
 
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
                   
(Increase) in:
                   
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
(117,571
)
 
   
(117,571
)
Increase (decrease) in:
                   
Accounts payable
   
647,448
   
62,499
   
709,947
 
Accrued expenses
   
879,376
   
   
879,376
 
Deposits
   
(60,046
)
 
   
(60,046
)
Net cash used in operating activates
   
(3,601,021
)
 
(97,637
)
 
(3,698,658
)
                     
Cash flows from investing activities:
                   
Purchases of property and equipment
   
(274,686
)
 
   
(274,686
)
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(274,686
)
 
   
(274,686
)
                     
Cash flows from financing activities:
                   
Stockholders' capital contribution
   
   
500,000
   
500,000
 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
   
4,500,000
   
   
4,500,000
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
4,500,000
   
500,000
   
5,000,000
 
                     
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
   
624,293
   
402,363
   
1,026,656
 
                     
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
   
402,363
   
   
 
                     
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
1,026,656
 
$
402,363
 
$
1,026,656
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5

 
 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Statements of Cash Flows…continued
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004
 
 
       
For the Period
 
For the Period
 
       
from Inception
 
from Inception
 
       
(September 9, 2003)
 
(September 9, 2003)
 
   
Year Ended
 
through
 
through
 
   
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
Supplementary disclosure of cash flow information:
             
Cash paid for interest
 
$
 
$
 
$
 
                     
Cash paid for income taxes
 
$
 
$
 
$
 
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6

 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004

 
1.    ORGANIZATION
 
ZIOPHARM, Inc. (the “Company”) is a development stage biopharmaceutical company that seeks to acquire, develop and commercialize, on its own or with other commercial partners, products for the treatment of important unmet medical needs in cancer.

The Company has operated at a loss since its inception in 2003 and has no revenues. The Company anticipates that losses may continue for the foreseeable future. At December 31, 2004, the Company’s accumulated deficit was approximately $5.8 million. The Company’s ability to continue operations after its current cash resources are exhausted depends on its ability to obtain additional financing and achieve profitable operations, as to which no assurances can be given. Cash requirements may vary materially from those now planned because of changes in the focus and direction of our research and development programs, competitive and technical advances, patent developments or other developments. Additional financing will be required to continue operations after we exhaust our current cash resources and to continue our long-term plans for clinical trials and new product development.

On June 6, 2005, the Company completed an offering of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (Series A Stock) offering. The Company issued 8,379,564 shares at $2.16 per share for gross proceeds of approximately $18.1 million. In connection with the Series A Preferred Stock Offering, the Company compensated Paramount, an affiliate for its services in connection with the Offering through the payment of (a) cash commissions equal to 7% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and (b) placement warrants to acquire 837,956 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (the Series A Stock Warrants), exercisable for a period of 7 years from the Closing Date at a per Share exercise price equal to 110% of the price per Share sold in the Offering. These commissions are also payable on additional sales by the Company of securities (other than in a public offering) to investors introduced to the Company by Paramount during the twelve (12) month period subsequent to the final closing of the Offering. The Company also paid Paramount an expense allowance of $50,000 to reimburse Paramount for its out-of-pocket expenses (the “Expense Allowance”). Also, for a period of 36 months from the final Closing, Paramount has the right of first refusal to act as the placement agent for any private sale of the Company’s securities. Lastly, the Company has agreed to indemnify Paramount against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The net proceeds were $16.8 million have been allocated between the Series A Stock and the Series A Stock warrants, based on their relative fair value. The Company has valued the warrants using the Black-Scholes model recording a cost of $1,682,683. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used for research and development, licensing fees and expenses, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.
 
None of the share or per share data included herein have been adjusted to effect for the conversions effected as part of the merger (see Note 10).

F-7

 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004


2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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 the 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.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of short-term, highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash accounts in commercial banks, which may, at times, exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. The Company believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair value because of their short-term nature. Short-term investments are carried at aggregate fair value. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, there were no short-term investments.

Income Taxes

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon the difference between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect in the year(s) in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided against deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which is three years.

F-8

 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004

 
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES…continued

Research and Development Costs

Costs related to research and development are charged to expense when incurred. Such costs include proprietary research and development activities and expenses associated with research and development contracts, whether performed by the Company or contracted with independent third parties.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based awards to employees using the intrinsic value method as prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations. The Company follows the provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, for disclosure purposes (Note 9). All stock-based awards to nonemployees are accounted for at their fair value in accordance with SFAS No. 123 and Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments that are Issued to Other than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services. The Company has adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation  Transition and Disclosure – an amendment of SFAS No. 123, for all stock-based awards as of December 31, 2004.

The following illustrates the effect on net loss had the Company applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123:

   
2004
 
2003
 
Net loss:
         
As reported
 
$
(5,687,297
)
$
(160,136
)
Stock-based compensation expense included in reported net loss
   
703,116
   
 
Stock-based compensation expense under the fair value-based method
   
(813,095
)
 
 
Pro forma net loss
 
$
(5,797,276
)
$
(160,136
)
               
Basic and diluted net loss per share:
             
As reported
 
$
(1.19
)
$
(1.02
)
Pro forma
 
$
(1.21
)
$
(1.02
)
 
F-9

 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004

 
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES…continued

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation...continued

The fair value of each stock option is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The estimated weighted average fair value of stock options granted to employees in 2004 was approximately $0.66 per share. The following table summarizes the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model:
 
 
2004
 
2003
Expected life
5 years
 
Expected volatility
134%
 
Dividend yield
3.6%
 
Weighted average risk-free interest rate
0 %
 

Recently Issued Pronouncements

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, Share-Based Payment ("SFAS No. 123R"). This Statement is a revision of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and its related implementation guidance. SFAS No. 123R focuses primarily on accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. The Statement requires entities to recognize stock compensation expense for awards of equity instruments to employees based on the grant-date fair value of those awards (with limited exceptions). SFAS No. 123R is effective for the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2005. Based on current options outstanding, the Company anticipates the adoption of this statement to result in approximately $313,009 of additional compensation costs to be recognized in the year of adoption.

3.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment at December 31, 2004 and 2003 consisted of the following:

   
Estimated
         
   
Useful Life
 
       
   
(Years)
 
2004
 
2003
 
               
Computer equipment
   
3
 
$
78,914
 
$
 
Office equipment
   
3
 
 
179,193
   
 
Software
   
3
   
16,579
   
 
           
274,686
   
 
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
 
   
33,953
   
 
         
$
240,733
 
$
 
 
F-10

 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004

 
3.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT...continued

Depreciation and amortization expense was $33,953 and $0 for the year ended December 31, 2004 and for the period from inception (September 9, 2003) to December 31, 2003, respectively.

4.
ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accrued expenses at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, consisted of the following:

   
2004
 
2003
 
           
Employee compensation
 
$
506,391
 
$
 
Professional services
   
42,767
   
 
Research and development consulting services
   
258,218
   
 
Founders Fee
   
60,000
   
 
Other
   
12,000
   
 
               
   
$
879,376
 
$
 

5.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company has engaged Paramount BioCapital, Inc. (“Paramount”) to assist in placing shares of Series A Preferred Stock on a “best efforts” basis (see Note 10). Lindsay A. Rosenwald, M.D. is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount. Dr. Rosenwald is also managing member of Horizon BioMedical Ventures, LLC (“Horizon”). On December 30, 2004, Horizon authorized the distribution of 4,848,376 shares of Common Stock (such shares, the “Horizon Distributed Shares”), in equal installments of 2,424,188 shares of Common Stock to Mibars, LLC (“Mibars”) and to Dr. Rosenwald and his designees (the “Designated Shares”). The disposition of the Designated Shares will be subject to certain restrictions as agreed to among Dr. Rosenwald and Dr. Rosenwald’s designees. Among other things, under certain circumstances set forth in pledge agreements between Dr. Rosenwald and his designees, Dr. Rosenwald has the right to re-acquire the Designated Shares from his designees. As a result of those rights, Dr. Rosenwald may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Company.

In connection with the December 22, 2004 Option Agreement with Southern Research Institute (“SRI”), the Company entered into a Finders Agreement, dated December 23, 2004, with Paramount pursuant to which the Company has agreed to compensate Paramount, for services in connection with the Company’s introduction to SRI through the payment of (a) a cash fee of $60,000 and (b) warrants to purchase 125,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a price equal to $2.38 per share. The Company has estimated the fair value of such warrants using the Black-Scholes model, using an assumed risk-free rate of 3.93%, and expected life of 7 years, volatility of 134% and dividend yield of 0%. In December 2004, the Company expensed the $60,000 that was payable to Paramount and recognized compensation expense in the amount of $251,037 for the issuance of the warrants.

F-11

 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004


5.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS...continued

In connection with the Series A Preferred Stock Offering (see Note 10), the Company and Paramount entered into an Introduction Agreement in January 2005 (the “Introduction Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to compensate Paramount for its services in connection with the Offering through the payment of (a) cash commissions equal to 7% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and (b) placement warrants to acquire a number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock equal to 10% of the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued in the Offering, exercisable for a period of 7 years from the Closing Date at a per Share exercise price equal to 110% of the price per Share sold in the Offering. These commissions are also payable on additional sales by the Company of securities (other than in a public offering) to investors introduced to the Company by Paramount during the twelve (12) month period subsequent to the final closing of the Offering. The Company also agreed to pay to Paramount a non-accountable expense allowance of $50,000 to reimburse the Paramount for its out-of-pocket expenses (the “Expense Allowance”). Also, for a period of 36 months from the final Closing, Paramount has the right of first refusal to act as the placement agent for the private sale of the Company’s securities. Lastly, the Company has agreed to indemnify Paramount against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

Dr. Michael Weiser, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, is also a full-time employee of Paramount. In addition, David M. Tanen, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, was a full-time employee of Paramount from July 1996 through August 2004. Mr. John Knox, our treasurer, is a full time Paramount employee.

6.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Lease Commitment

The Company leases office space in two locations under agreements expiring in 2009. The leases includes payment increases over the term of the agreements. The total amount of the lease payments is being charged to expense using the straight-line method over the term of the agreement.

Future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating and capital leases as of December 31, 2004, were as follows:
 
   
Operating
 
   
Leases
 
2005
 
$
93,318
 
2006
   
103,434
 
2007
   
114,103
 
2008
   
121,455
 
2009
   
87,699
 
         
   
$
520,009
 

F-12

 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004


6.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES...continued

License Agreement

Patent and Technology License Agreement- University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Texas A&M University System.

On August 24, 2004, the Company entered into a patent and technology license agreement with The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System, acting on behalf of the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Texas A&M University System (collectively, the “Licensors”). Under this agreement, the Company was granted an exclusive, worldwide license to rights (including rights to US and foreign patent and patent applications and related improvements and know-how) for the manufacture and commercialization of two classes of organic arsenicals (water - and lipid-based) for human and animal use. The class of water-based organic arsenicals includes ZIO-101.

In October 2004, the Company received a notice of allowance for US Patent Application No. 10/337969, entitled “S-dimethylarsino-thiosuccinic acid S-dimethylarsino-2-thiobenzoic acid S-(simethylarsino) glutathione as treatments for cancer.” The patent application claims both therapeutic uses and pharmaceutical compositions containing a novel class of organic arsenicals, including ZIO-101, for the treatment of cancer.

As partial consideration for the license rights obtained, the Company made an upfront payment of $125,000 and granted the Licensors 500,000 shares of our Common Stock, as well as options to purchase up to an additional 100,250 shares of our Common Stock for $0.001 per share, following the successful completion of certain clinical milestones (the “Anderson Options”). The Company expensed the $125,000 upfront payment and recognized research and development compensation expense of $426,339 in connection with the issuance of the Common Stock in the year ended December 31, 2004. The Anderson Options will vest and become immediately exercisable with respect to 25,063 shares of our Common Stock upon the filing of an Investigational New Drug Application (“IND”) for ZIO-101, will vest and become exercisable with respect to an additional 50,125 shares upon the completion of dosing of the last patient for both Phase I clinical trials, and will vest and become exercisable with respect to an additional 25,062 shares upon the commencement of a pivotal clinical trial. In addition, the Licensors are entitled to receive certain milestone payments (the “Anderson Milestones”), including $100,000 to be paid upon the commencement of phase I clinical trial. The Company may be required to make additional payments upon achievement of certain other milestones, in varying amounts which on a cumulative basis may total $4,850,000. In addition, the Licensors are entitled to receive royalty payments on sales from a licensed product should such a product be approved for commercial sale and sales of a licensed product be effected in the United States, Canada, the European Union or Japan. The Licensors also will be entitled to receive a portion of any fees that the Company may receive from a possible sublicensee. Finally, the Company agreed to remit to the Licensors $100,000 for at least each of the next two years to be used by the Licensors to conduct scientific research funding. The Company will have the exclusive right to all intellectual property rights resulting from such research pursuant to the terms of the license agreement.

F-13

 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004


6.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES...continued

License Agreement...continued

The license agreement also contains other provisions customary and common in similar agreements within the industry, such as the right to sublicense our rights under the agreement. However, if we sublicense our rights prior to the commencement of a pivotal study (i.e., a human clinical trial intended to provide the substantial evidence of efficacy necessary to support the filing of an approvable NDA), the Licensors will be entitled to receive a share of the payments we receive in exchange for the sublicense (subject to certain exceptions).

License Agreement with DEKK-TEC, Inc.

On October 15, 2004, the Company entered into a license agreement with DEKK-TEC, Inc., pursuant to which it was granted an exclusive, worldwide license to the second lead product candidate, ZIO-201. As part of the signing of license agreement with DEKK-TEC, the Company expensed a $50,000 up-front payment in the year ended December 31, 2004.

In consideration for our license rights, DEKK-TEC is entitled to receive milestone payments upon the occurrence of certain events. In consideration for our license rights, DEKK-TEC is entitled to receive milestone payments upon the occurrence of certain events. The Company may be required to make payments upon achievements of certain milestones, in varying amounts which on a cumulative basis may total $3,900,000. Of the aggregate milestone payments, most of the total amount will be creditable against future royalty payments, as referenced below. The Company also issued DEKK-TEC an option to purchase 55,125 shares of our Common Stock for $0.01 per share, which option vested with respect to 13,781 shares upon the execution of the license agreement. The Company has estimated the fair value of such options using the Black-Scholes model, using an assumed risk-free rate of 3.35%, and expected life of 5 years, volatility of 134% and dividend yield of 0%. The Company recorded a charge of $12,190 to research and development expense for the vested options. The option will vest with respect to the remaining shares upon certain milestone events, culminating with final FDA approval of the first NDA submitted by us (or by our sublicensee) for ZIO-201. Finally, DEKK-TEC also is entitled to receive royalty payments on the sales of ZIO-201 should it be approved for commercial sale.

The license agreement also contains other provisions customary and common in similar agreements within the industry.
 
Option Agreement with Southern Research Institute (“SRI”)

On December 22, 2004, the Company entered into an Option Agreement with SRI (the “Option Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company was granted an exclusive option to obtain an exclusive license to SRI’s interest in certain intellectual property, including exclusive rights related to certain isophosphoramide mustard analogs (the “SRI Option”).

F-14

 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004


6.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES...continued

Option Agreement with Southern Research Institute (“SRI”)...continued

Also on December 22, 2004, the Company entered into a Research Agreement with SRI pursuant to which the Company agreed to spend a sum not to exceed $200,000 between the execution of the agreement and December 21, 2006, including a $25,000 payment that we made simultaneously with the execution of the agreement, to fund research and development work by SRI in the field of isophosphoramide mustard analogs (the “SRI Research Program”). Under the terms of the Option Agreement, the Company’s exclusive right to exercise the SRI Option will expire sixty days after the termination or expiration of the SRI Research Program and the delivery of the reports required thereunder.

Guarantees and indemnification Obligations

Certain officers and employees have agreements with the company that call for a guarantee bonus that is payable 30 days after employee’s anniversary date. Certain officer and employees also have specific severance agreements.

7.
INCOME TAXES

The components of the net deferred tax asset (liability) are as follows:

   
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
Net operating loss carryforwards
 
$
494,881
 
$
26,118
 
Start-up and organizational costs
   
1,502,217
   
 
Research and development credit carryforwards
   
81,670
   
 
Accrued bonus
   
200,343
   
 
Depreciation
   
(4,102
)
 
 
Other
   
8,816
   
 
Net deferred tax assets
   
2,283,825
   
26,118
 
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
   
(2,283,825
)
 
(26,118
)
 
  $
 
$
 

8.
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

We have authorized capital of 50,000,000 shares, of which 30,000,000 shares have been designated as common stock, par value $.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 20,000,000 shares have been designated as preferred stock, par value $.001 per share.

F-15

 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004


8.
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY...continued

Convertible Preferred Stock

Voting Rights

The holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to vote together with all other holders of the Company’s voting stock on an “as-converted” basis on all matters submitted to a vote of holders generally. The holders of Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, will also have the right to approve by a 66% supermajority certain actions proposed to be taken by the Company.

Dividend Rights

The holders of Series A Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive dividends on an equal basis with the holders of Common Stock when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors.

Liquidation Preferences

The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank senior to the Common Stock and any future class of junior securities, and will be entitled to a liquidation preference equal to the Stated Value, subject to adjustment (as defined in the Certificate of Designations), upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or upon a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy of the Company. 

Conversion Rights

Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will be convertible into Common Stock at any time at the option of the holder thereof (the Series A Preferred Stock and the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock are sometimes herein collectively referred to as the “Securities”). All of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock will automatically convert into Common Stock upon the first date (the “Trading Date”) on which the Common Stock (or securities received in exchange for Common Stock) trades on a national securities exchange or on NASDAQ, including the Over the Counter Bulletin Board (a “Trading Event”). The rate at which shares of Series A Preferred Stock will convert into Common Stock will initially be one-for-one, subject to adjustment in connection with certain anti-dilution protections and other adjustments.

F-16

 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004


8.
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY...continued

Convertible Preferred Stock...continued

Conversion Rights...continued

In the event of a reclassification, capital reorganization or other similar change in the outstanding shares of Common Stock, a consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another entity (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Corporation is the continuing entity and which does not result in a reclassification, capital reorganization or other change of outstanding shares of Common Stock other than the number thereof), or a sale of the property of the Company as, or substantially as, an entirety (other than a sale/leaseback, mortgage or other financing transaction), the Series A Preferred Stock will become convertible into the kind and number of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) that the holders of Series A Preferred Stock would have received if the Series A Preferred Stock had been converted into Common Stock immediately prior to such reclassification, capital reorganization or other change, consolidation, merger or sale.

Common Stock

We currently have issued and outstanding 5,512,500 shares of Common Stock and no shares of preferred stock.

In September 2003, the Company issued 2,000,000 (before the split discussed below) shares of Common Stock at $0.25 per share for gross proceeds of $500,000.

In January 2004, the Company issued 18,000,000 (before the split discussed below) shares of Common Stock at $0.25 per share for gross proceeds of $4,500,000.

In February 2004, the Company amended its articles of incorporation to provide for the combination of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share on a 1-for-4 basis (all other share amounts presented reflect the reverse split).

F-17

 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004


9.
STOCK OPTION PLAN

We have adopted the 2003 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”), under which we have reserved for the issuance of 2,500,000 shares of our Common Stock. The Plan was approved by our stockholders on December 21, 2004. The Company has issued under its 2003 Stock Option Plan 1,170,826 shares that are issuable upon exercise of outstanding options to purchase Common Stock. To date, we have issued to our employees options to purchase up to 990,326 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. In addition, we have issued to our directors options to purchase up to 180,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, as well as options to a consultant in connection with services rendered to purchase up to 500 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The Company has estimated the fair value of such options using the Black-Scholes model, using an assumed risk-free rate of 4.23%, and expected life of 10 years, volatility of 134% and dividend yield of 0%. The options issued to the consultant were valued at $1,050, and recorded as a charge to compensation expense. We have also reserved an aggregate of 155,375 additional shares for issuance under options granted outside of the 2003 Stock Option Plan and warrants to purchase 125,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock to the Paramount as compensation for services rendered in connection with our entering into an option agreement with Southern Research Institute. In connection with the warrants issued, the Company recorded a charge of $251,037 to general and administrative expense. The Company has valued the options using the Black-Scholes model as of the issue date of the warrants. There are no other securities of the Company currently issued or outstanding.

Transactions under the Plan for the year December 31, 2004 were as follows:

   
 
 
Weighted-
 
   
 
 
Average
 
   
Number of
 
Exercise
 
   
Shares
 
Price
 
           
Outstanding, January 1, 2004
   
 
$
 
Granted
   
1,170,826
   
0.63
 
Exercised
   
   
 
Canceled
   
   
 
Outstanding, December 31, 2004
   
1,170,826
 
$
0.63
 
               
Options available for future grants
   
1,329,174
       

F-18

 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004


9.    STOCK OPTION PLAN…continued

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2004:

   
Options Outstanding
 
Options Exercisable
 
Exercise Price
 
Number
Outstanding
 
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Years)
 
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Number
Exercisable
 
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
 
                       
$0.04
   
536,263
   
9.03
 
$
0.04
   
 
$
 
$0.22
   
100,250
   
9.08
 
$
0.22
   
 
$
 
$0.85
   
353,813
   
9.51
 
$
0.85
   
 
$
 
$2.16
   
180,500
   
9.98
 
$
2.16
   
500
 
$
2.16
 
     
1,170,826
   
9.33
 
$
0.63
   
500
 
$
2.16
 

10.

On August, 3, 2005 the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 3, 2005 (as may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”) with EasyWeb, Inc., a Delaware corporation (OTC:ESYW.OB) (“EasyWeb”), and ZIO Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of EasyWeb (“ZIO Acquisition”). EasyWeb is a company that was incorporated in September 1998 and has been in the business of designing, marketing, selling and maintaining customized and template turnkey sites on the Internet that are hosted by third parties. Currently, however, EasyWeb has no operating business and has limited assets and liabilities. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, ZIO Acquisition merged with and into ZIOPHARM, with ZIOPHARM remaining as the surviving company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of EasyWeb (the “Merger”). In connection with the Merger, which was effective as of September 13, 2005, ZIO Acquisition ceased to exist and the surviving company changed its corporate name to ZIOPHARM, Inc. In exchange for all of their shares of capital stock in ZIOPHARM, the Stockholders received a number of shares of Common Stock of EasyWeb such that, upon completion of the Merger, the then-current Stockholders held approximately 96.8% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of EasyWeb on a fully-diluted basis. Upon completion of the Merger, EasyWeb ceased all of its remaining operations, and adopted and continued implementing the business plan of ZIOPHARM. Further, upon completion of the Merger, the current officers and directors of EasyWeb resigned, the current officers and directors of ZIOPHARM were appointed officers and directors of EasyWeb, and EasyWeb changed its name to ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. In conjunction with the Merger, ZIOPHARM made certain payments not to exceed $425,000 to certain affiliates of EasyWeb.
 
Although EasyWeb is the legal acquirer in the transaction, ZIOPHARM becomes the registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Under generally accepted accounting principles, the transaction will be accounted for as a reverse acquisition, whereby ZIOPHARM will be considered the acquirer of EasyWeb for financial reporting purposes since ZIOPHARM’s shareholders control more than 50% of the post-transaction combined entity, the management is that of ZIOPHARM after the transaction, EasyWeb had no operations, assets or liabilities as of the transaction date and the continuing operations of the entity are those of ZIOPHARM.

Accordingly, the equity of EasyWeb will be adjusted to reflect a recapitalization of the stock and the equity of ZIOPHARM will be adjusted to reflect a financing transaction with the proceeds equal to the net asset value of EasyWeb immediately prior to the Merger. The historical financial statements of ZIOPHARM will become the historical financial statements of the Company. The historical stockholders’ equity will be retroactively restated to adjust for the exchange of shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
 
F-19

 
ZIOPHARM, Inc.
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended December 31, 2004 and
For the Periods from Inception (September 9, 2003) through December 31, 2003 and 2004


10.   SUBSEQUENT EVENTS…continued

On June 6, 2005, the Company completed its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock offering. (see Note 1).

On May 26, 2005, the Company signed a lease for five years with USP 1180 Avenue of the Americas to lease approximately 2,580 square feet of office space.

On April 25, 2005, the company entered into a Surrender and Termination Agreement and an Escrow agreement with WE George Street, L.L.C and Cohm Birnbaum & Shea P.C. relating to the escrow of a termination fee for $90,000, for an early termination to the New Haven, Connecticut office space.
 
F-20

 
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders:
EasyWeb, Inc.
 
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of EasyWeb, Inc. as of December 31, 2004, and the related statements of operations, shareholders’ deficit and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of EasyWeb, Inc. as of December 31, 2004, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has a net capital deficit at December 31, 2004 and has suffered significant operating losses since inception. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans regarding those matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 
Cordovano and Honeck, LLP
Denver, Colorado
February 19, 2005
 
F-21

 
EASYWEB, INC.
Balance Sheet
 
 
Assets
Current Assets:
     
Cash
 
$
21
 
         
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Deficit
 
Current Liabilities:
       
Accounts payable
 
$
63
 
Accrued liabilities
   
7,385
 
Due to officer (Note 2)
   
1,300
 
Due to affiliate (Note 2)
   
12,298
 
Total current liabilities
   
21,046
 
         
Shareholders’ deficit (Notes 4 and 6):
       
Common stock, no par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized,
       
5,746,200 shares issued and outstanding
   
156,050
 
Stock options outstanding
   
20,600
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
87,808
 
Retained deficit
   
(285,483
)
         
Total shareholders’ deficit
   
(21,025
)
         
   
$
21
 
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements
 
F-22

 
EASYWEB, INC.
Statements of Operations

   
For the Years Ended
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
           
Operating expenses:
         
Stock-based compensation (Note 2):
         
Director fees
 
$
5,000
 
$
 
Related party
   
5,000
   
 
Contributed rent (Note 2)
   
6,000
   
6,000
 
Administrative support
   
173
   
510
 
Contributed administrative
             
support (Note 2)
   
11,827
   
11,490
 
Professional fees
   
8,535
   
12,812
 
Web site consulting and maintenance
   
150
   
120
 
Dues and subscriptions
   
1,200
   
2,975
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
   
486
 
Other
   
1,281
   
1,449
 
Total operating expenses
   
39,166
   
35,842
 
               
Loss before income taxes
   
(39,166
)
 
(35,842
)
               
Income tax provision (Note 3)
   
   
 
               
Net loss
 
$
(39,166
)
$
(35,842
)
               
Basic and diluted loss per share
 
$
(0.01
)
$
(0.01
)
               
Basic and diluted weighted average
             
common shares outstanding
   
5,439,533
   
4,672,867
 
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements
 
F-23

 
EASYWEB, INC.
Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Deficit

           
Outstanding
 
Additional
         
   
Common Stock
 
Stock
 
Paid-In
 
Retained
     
   
Shares
 
Amount
 
Options
 
Capital
 
Deficit
 
Total
 
                           
Balance at January 1, 2003
   
4,506,200
 
$
120,050
 
$
20,600
 
$
52,491
 
$
(210,475
)
$
(17,334
)
                                       
March 2003, sale of common stock
                                     
($.05/share) (Note 4)
   
200,000
   
10,000
   
   
   
   
10,000
 
Office space and administrative support
                                     
contributed by an affiliate (Note 2)
   
   
   
   
17,490
   
   
17,490
 
Net loss, year ended December 31, 2003
   
   
   
   
   
(35,842
)
 
(35,842
)
                                       
Balance at December 31, 2003
   
4,706,200
   
130,050
   
20,600
   
69,981
   
(246,317
)
 
(25,686
)
                                       
March 2004, sale of common stock
                                     
($.025/share) (Note 4)
   
240,000
   
6,000
   
   
   
   
6,000
 
May 2004, common stock issued to an
                                     
affiliate to repay obligations ($.025/share)
                                     
(Note 2)
   
400,000
   
10,000
   
   
   
   
10,000
 
May 2004, common stock issued to a
                                     
related party in exchange for services
                                     
($.025/share) (Note 2)
   
200,000
   
5,000
   
   
   
   
5,000
 
May 2004, common stock issued to a
                                     
director in exchange for director fees
                                     
($.025/share) (Note 2)
   
200,000
   
5,000
   
   
   
   
5,000
 
Office space and administrative support
                                     
contributed by an affiliate (Note 2)
   
   
   
   
17,827
   
   
17,827
 
Net loss, year ended December 31, 2004
   
   
   
   
   
(39,166
)
 
(39,166
)
                                       
Balance at December 31, 2004
   
5,746,200
 
$
156,050
 
$
20,600
 
$
87,808
 
$
(285,483
)
$
(21,025
)

 
See accompanying notes to financial statements
 
F-24

 
EASYWEB, INC.
Statements of Cash Flows

   
For the Years Ended
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2004
 
2003
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
         
Net loss
 
$
(39,166
)
$
(35,842
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
             
used by operating activities:
             
Depreciation and amortization
   
   
486
 
Stock-based compensation
   
10,000
   
 
Office space and administrative support
           
contributed by an affiliate (Note 2)
   
17,827
   
17,490
 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
           
Accounts payable, accrued expenses
             
and due to affiliate
   
4,027
   
8,534
 
Net cash used in
           
operating activities
   
(7,312
)
 
(9,332
)
               
Cash flows from financing activities:
             
Proceeds on loans from related parties
   
1,300
   
 
Repayment of related party loans
   
   
(650
)
Proceeds from the sale of common stock
   
6,000
   
10,000
 
Net cash provided by
           
financing activities
   
7,300
   
9,350
 
             
 Net change in cash
   
(12
)
 
18
 
             
Cash, beginning of period
   
33
   
15
 
               
Cash, end of period
 
$
21
 
$
33
 
               
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
             
Cash paid during the year for:
             
Income taxes
 
$
 
$
 
Interest
 
$
 
$
 

See accompanying notes to financial statements
 
F-25

EASYWEB, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements

(1)    Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies With Basis of Presentation

Organization

EasyWeb, Inc. (referenced as “we”, “us”, “our” in the accompanying footnotes) was incorporated in Colorado on September 24, 1998 under the name NetEscapes, Inc. Our name was changed to EasyWeb, Inc. on February 2, 1999. We design, market, sell and maintain web sites on the Internet, which are built and hosted by third party consultants. Our operations were very limited during the year ended December 31, 2003. We did not perform any services or earn any revenue during 2004 due to the lack of working capital.

As of December 31, 2004, we have a net capital deficit and have suffered significant operating losses since inception, which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern. Inherent in our business are various risks and uncertainties, including our limited operating history, historical operating losses, and dependence upon our officers and strategic alliances. We are currently dependent upon an affiliate, Summit Financial Relations, Inc. (“Summit”), which has paid expenses on our behalf, in order to maintain our limited operations. Our president has also advanced us working capital to maintain our limited operations. There is no assurance that Summit or our president will continue to pay our expenses in the future.

Our future success will be dependent upon our ability (1) to locate and consummate a merger or acquisition with an operating company, (2) to finance Internet opportunities and, ultimately, (3) to attain profitability. There is no assurance that we will be successful in consummating a merger or acquisition with an operating company, financing Internet investments, or attaining profitability. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Cash equivalents and fair value of financial instruments

For the purposes of the statement of cash flows, we consider all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. We had no cash equivalents at December 31, 2004.

The carrying amounts of cash, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of the instruments.

Use of estimates

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principals requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts of assets and liabilities; 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. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.

Intangible assets and amortization

Our intangible assets consist of computer software and web site development costs. We capitalize internal and external costs incurred to develop its web site during the application development stage in accordance with Statement of Position 98-1, “Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use”. Capitalized web site development costs are amortized over an estimated life of three years commencing on the date the software is ready for its intended use. We commenced amortization of our web site development costs on April 11, 2000. The web site development costs were fully amortized as of December 31, 2003. Amortization expense totaled $-0- and $486, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003.

F-26

EASYWEB, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
 
In addition, we have adopted the Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 00-2 (“EITF 00-2”), “Accounting for Web Site Development Costs”. EITF 00-2 requires the implementation of SOP 98-1 when software is used by a vendor in providing a service to a customer but the customer does not acquire the software or the right to use it.

Impairments on long-lived assets

We evaluate the carrying value of our long-lived assets under the provisions of SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”. Statement No. 144 requires impairment losses to be recorded on long-lived assets used in operations when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted future cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets’ carrying amount. If such assets are impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying value or fair value, less costs to sell.

Loss per common share

We account for loss per share under the provisions of SFAS No. 128, “Earnings Per Share”. Under SFAS No. 128, net loss per share-basic excludes dilution and is determined by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Net loss per share-diluted reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities and other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. Common stock options outstanding at December 31, 2004 were not included in the diluted loss per share as all 100,000 options were anti-dilutive. Therefore, basic and diluted losses per share at December 31, 2004 were equal.

Advertising barter transactions

We report our advertising barter transactions in accordance with EITF 99-17, “Accounting for Advertising Barter Transactions”. Under EITF 99-17, revenue and expense should be recognized at fair value from an advertising barter transaction only if the fair value of the advertising surrendered in the transaction is determinable based on the entity’s own historical transactions involving cash. We did not recognize any revenues or expenses in connection with our advertising barter transactions for the periods presented.

Stock-based Compensation

We account for stock-based compensation arrangements in accordance with SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” which permits entities to recognize as expense, over the vesting period, the fair value of all stock-based awards on the date of grant. Alternatively, SFAS No. 123 allows entities to continue to apply the provisions of Accounting Principle Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25 and provide pro forma net earnings (loss) disclosures for employee stock option grants as if the fair value-based method defined in SFAS No. 123 had been applied. We have elected to continue to apply the provisions of APB Opinion No. 25 and provide the pro forma disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123. We did not report pro forma disclosures in the accompanying financial statements as the Company did not grant any employee stock options as of December 31, 2004.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in the financial statements and consist of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes related primarily to differences between the recorded book basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities for financial and income tax reporting. The deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax return consequences of those differences, which will either be taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. Deferred taxes are also recognized for operating losses that are available to offset future taxable income and tax credits that are available to offset future federal income taxes.

F-27

EASYWEB, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
 
Recent accounting standards

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets - an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29." This Statement eliminates the exception for nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replaces it with a general exception for exchanges of nonmonetary assets that do not have commercial substance. A nonmonetary exchange has commercial substance if the future cash flows of the entity are expected to change significantly as a result of the exchange. This Statement is effective for nonmonetary asset exchanges occurring in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005. We do not expect the application of SFAS No. 153 to have a material affect on our financial statements.

In December 2004, the FASB issued a revision to SFAS No. 123, “Share-Based Payment." This Statement supercedes APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" and its related implementation guidance. It establishes standards for the accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services. It also addresses transactions in which an entity incurs liabilities in exchange for goods or services that are based on the fair value of the entity's equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of those equity instruments. This Statement does not change the accounting guidance for share-based payment transactions with parties other than employees provided in Statement No. 123 as originally issued and EITF Issue No. 96-18. This Statement is effective for public entities that file as small business issuers as of the beginning of the first fiscal period that begins after December 15, 2005. We do not expect the application of SFAS No. 123 (revised) to have a material affect on our financial statements.

(2)    Related Party Transactions

Liabilities

In August and December 2004, an officer loaned us a total of $1,300 for working capital. The loans carry no interest rate and are due on demand. The $1,300 is included in the accompanying financial statements as “Due to officer”.

At December 31, 2003, the Company owed Summit $18,111 for professional fees and other administrative expenses paid on behalf of the Company. During the year ended December 31, 2004, Summit paid expenses totaling $4,187 on behalf of the Company. On May 13, 2004, the Company issued 400,000 restricted common shares to Summit valued at $10,000, or $.025 per share. The shares were valued based on contemporaneous sales to unrelated third party investors. As of December 31, 2004, the Company owed the affiliate $12,298, which is included in the accompanying financial statements as “Due to affiliate”.

Common stock

During May 2004, the Company issued 200,000 to the brother of the Company’s principal executive officer in exchange for corporate governance services. The shares were valued based on contemporaneous sales to unrelated third party investors, or $.025 per share. The Company recorded stock-based compensation of $5,000 related to the transaction.

During May 2004, the Company issued 200,000 to a director in exchange for director fees. The shares were valued based on contemporaneous sales to unrelated third party investors, or $.025 per share. The Company recorded stock-based compensation of $5,000 related to the transaction.

F-28

EASYWEB, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
 
Rent and administrative support

Rent
Summit contributed office space to us during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003. Our management has estimated the fair market value of the office space at $500 per month, which is included in the accompanying financial statements as “Contributed rent” with an offsetting credit to “Additional paid-in capital”.

Administrative support
Summit contributed administrative services to the Company during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003. Our management has estimated the fair market value of the services at $1,000 per month, which is included in the accompanying condensed financial statements as “Contributed administrative support” with an offsetting credit to “Additional paid-in capital”. We paid Summit $173 and $510, respectively, for services during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003; therefore, contributed administrative support totaled $11,827 and $11,490 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

Service Agreements

The Company entered into three service agreements with an officer, director and an affiliate (see Note 5).

(3)    Income Taxes

A reconciliation of U.S. statutory federal income tax rate to the effective rate is as follows:

 
Years Ended
 
December 31,
 
2004
 
2003
       
U.S. statutory federal rate
15.00%
 
15.00%
State income tax rate, net of federal benefit
3.94%
 
3.94%
Permanent differences
-8.62%
 
-9.24%
Net operating loss for which no tax
     
benefit is currently available
-10.32%
 
-9.70%
 
0.00%
 
0.00%
 
At December 31, 2004, deferred taxes consisted of a net tax asset of $41,983 due to operating loss carryforwards of $209,315, which was fully allowed for, in the valuation allowance of $41,983. The valuation allowance offsets the net deferred tax asset for which there is no assurance of recovery. The changes in the valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 were $4,041 and $3,475, respectively. Net operating loss carryforwards will expire through 2024.

The valuation allowance will be evaluated at the end of each year, considering positive and negative evidence about whether the asset will be realized. At that time, the allowance will either be increased or reduced; reduction could result in the complete elimination of the allowance if positive evidence indicates that the value of the deferred tax asset is no longer impaired and the allowance is no longer required.

Should we undergo an ownership change, as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, our net tax operating loss carryforwards generated prior to the ownership change will be subject to an annual limitation which could reduce or defer the utilization of those losses.

F-29

EASYWEB, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
 
(4)    Shareholders’ Deficit

Sale of common stock

During March 2004, we sold 240,000 shares of our common stock to an unrelated investor for $6,000, or $.025 per share.

During March 2003, we sold 200,000 shares of our common stock to an unrelated investor for $10,000, or $.05 per share.

Stock option plan

We have adopted an incentive stock option plan for the benefit of key personnel and others providing significant services. An aggregate of 175,000 shares of common stock has been reserved under the plan. Options granted pursuant to the plan will be exercisable at a price no less than 100 percent of fair market value of a common share on the date of grant.

Following is a schedule of changes in our outstanding stock options for years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003:

           
Weighted
 
Weighted Avg
 
       
Options
 
Avg
 
Remaining
 
Description
 
Options
 
Exercisable
 
Exercise Price
 
Life
 
Outstanding at January 1, 2003
   
100,000
   
100,000
 
 
$0.25
   
9 years
 
Granted
   
   
   
   
 
Exercised
   
   
   
   
 
Expired/Cancelled
   
   
 
 
   
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2003
   
100,000
   
100,000
 
 
$0.25
   
8 years
 
Granted
   
   
   
   
 
Exercised
   
   
   
   
 
Expired/Cancelled
   
   
   
   
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2004
   
100,000
   
100,000
 
 
$0.25
   
7 years
 
 
(5)    Commitments

On October 1, 2004, the Company entered into a management consulting services agreement whereby the consultant will provide services including, but not limited to:

a.  
Mergers and acquisition;
b.  
Due diligence studies, reorganizations, divestitures;
c.  
Capital structures, banking methods and systems;
d.  
Periodic reporting as to the developments concerning the general financial markets and public securities markets and industry which may be relevant or of interest or concern to the Company or the Company’s business;
e.  
Guidance and assistance in available alternatives for accounts receivable financing and/or other asset financing; and
f.  
Structural recommendations to assist the Company’s capability to finance.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Company has agreed to pay the consultant a one-time fee of $120,000 on the date of closing of any of the above business transactions or any transaction giving the Company a valid financial direction.

F-30

EASYWEB, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
 
On December 9, 2004, the Company entered into an employment agreement with its president/CEO. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company has agreed to pay its president/CEO a one-time fee of $100,000 if and when the Company completes a merger, acquisition, reverse merger, financing, or any other related transaction non-detrimental to the immediate future of the Company, that leaves the Company in a position and direction better than it was prior to the transaction.

On December 10, 2004, the Company entered into a management consulting services agreement with a director. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company has agreed to pay the director a one-time fee of $10,000 plus expenses, upon the closing of any transaction leaving the Company with a positive business directive and available finances, non-detrimental to the survival of the Company.

On December 10, 2004, the Company entered into a consulting services agreement whereby Summit will provide services including, but not limited to:

a.  
Mergers and acquisition;
b.  
Due diligence studies, reorganizations, divestitures;
c.  
Capital structures, banking methods and systems;
d.  
Periodic reporting as to the developments concerning the general financial markets and public securities markets and industry which may be relevant or of interest or concern to the Company or the Company’s business;
e.  
Guidance and assistance in available alternatives for accounts receivable financing and/or other asset financing; and
f.  
Conclude business and transactions necessary to keep the Company current in all public filings, a-float and in business until an aforementioned business transaction is closed, to include lending funds to the Company when absolutely necessary as has been done over the prior three years at no charge, allowing the Company to survive.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Company has agreed to pay Summit a one-time fee of $120,000 on the date of closing of any transaction leaving the Company with a positive business directive and available finances, non-detrimental to the survival of the Company.

(6)    Subsequent Events

On February 28, 2005, the Company’s shareholders approved the following proposals:

a.  
Reincorporate the Company in the State of Delaware;
b.  
Authorize the Board of Directors to implement a reverse stock split at a ratio no greater than 40:1;
c.  
Increase the Company’s authorized capital by 250,000,000 shares (from 30,000,000 to 280,000,000);

As of the date of this report, the Company’s re-incorporation in the State of Delaware had not yet been finalized and no reverse stock split had yet been implemented.

During January 2005, the Company sold 430,000 shares of its common stock to unrelated investors for $13,200, or $.03 per share.

On January 18, 2005, the Company sold a common stock option to an unrelated third party for $1,800. Under terms of the option agreement, the holder may purchase, for an additional $1,000, 1% of the Company’s outstanding common stock as of the exercise date. The option expires on June 7, 2005.
 
F-31

 
           
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
         
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
         
Balance Sheets
         
           
           
           
           
   
September 30, 2005
 
December 31, 2004
 
 
 
Unaudited
 
           
ASSETS
         
Current assets:
         
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
10,740,639
 
$
1,026,656
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
209,816
   
117,571
 
Total current assets
   
10,950,455
   
1,144,227
 
               
Property and equipment, net
   
232,862
   
240,733
 
               
Deposits
   
36,032
   
60,046
 
Other non current assets
   
92,812
   
-
 
               
Total assets
 
$
11,312,161
 
$
1,445,006
 
               
               
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
             
Current liabilities:
             
Accounts payable
 
$
477,389
 
$
709,947
 
Accrued expenses
   
1,270,624
   
879,376
 
Total current liabilities
   
1,748,013
   
1,589,323
 
               
 
     -    
-
 
               
Commitments and contingencies
             
               
Stockholders' deficit:
             
Common stock, $.001 par value; 280,000,000 shares authorized;
             
 7,241,211 and 2,761,621 shares issued and outstanding
             
at September 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively
   
7,241
   
2,761
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
22,460,147
   
5,700,355
 
Deficit accumulated during the development stage
   
(12,903,240
)
 
(5,847,433
)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)
   
9,564,148
   
(144,317
)
               
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)
 
$
11,312,161
 
$
1,445,006
 

F-32

 
                       
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
                     
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
                     
Statements of Operations
                     
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 and for the period from inception (September 9, 2003) through September 30, 2005 (unaudited)
 
                       
                       
                       
                       
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Period
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
from Inception
 
For the three
 
For the three
 
For the nine
 
For the nine
 
(September 9,
   
 months
 
months
 
months
 
months
 
2003)
 
 
 
ended
 
ended
 
ended
 
ended
 
through
 
 
 
September 30, 2005
 
September 30,
 2004
 
September 30,
2005
 
September 30,
 2004
 
September 30,
2005
 
                       
Revenue
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
                                 
Operating expenses and other income:
                               
Research and development, including
                               
costs of research contracts
   
1,318,608
   
425,428
   
4,279,687
   
425,428
   
6,406,294
 
General and administrative
   
1,541,740
   
928,174
   
2,953,830
   
2,646,084
   
6,696,423
 
Total operating expenses
   
2,860,348
   
1,353,602
   
7,233,517
   
3,071,512
   
13,102,717
 
                                 
Loss from operations
   
(2,860,348
)
 
(1,353,602
)
 
(7,233,517
)
 
(3,071,512
)
 
(13,102,717
)
                                 
Interest income
   
94,231
   
5,229
   
177,710
   
15,471
   
199,477
 
Net loss
 
$
(2,766,117
)
$
(1,348,373
)
$
(7,055,807
)
$
(3,056,041
)
$
(12,903,240
)
                                 
                                 
Basic and diluted net loss per share
 
$
(0.77
)
$
(0.52
)
$
(2.32
)
$
(1.34
)
     
                                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding used to 
                               
compute basic and diluted net loss per share
   
3,593,109
   
2,611,873
   
3,041,829
   
2,280,832
       
                                 
 
F-33


               
               
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
             
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
             
Statements of Cash Flows
             
For the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 and for the period from inception(September 9, 2003) through September 30, 2005 (unaudited)
             
               
               
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Period
 
   
For the
 
For the
 
from Inception
 
 
 
Nine  months
 
Nine months
 
(September 9, 2003)
 
 
 
ended
 
ended
 
through
 
 
 
September 30, 2005
 
September 30, 2004
 
September 30, 2005
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
             
Net loss
 
$
(7,055,807
)
$
(3,056,041
)
$
(12,903,240
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
                   
used in operating activities:
                   
Depreciation and amortization
   
72,519
   
25,177
   
106,472
 
Stock-based compensation
   
-
     -    
703,116
 
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
                   
Increase in:
                   
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
(92,245
)
 
(52,054
)
 
(209,816
)
Other noncurrent assets
   
(92,812
)
 
-
   
(92,812
)
Increase (decrease) in:
                   
Deposits
   
24,014
   
(69,246
)
 
(36,032
)
Accounts payable
   
(232,558
)
 
202,673
   
477,389
 
Accrued expenses
   
391,248
   
387,103
   
1,270,624
 
Net cash used in operating activates
   
(6,985,641
)
 
(2,562,388
)
 
(10,684,299
)
                     
Cash flows from investing activities:
                   
Purchases of property and equipment
   
(64,648
)
 
(133,077
)
 
(339,334
)
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(64,648
)
 
(133,077
)
 
(339,334
)
                     
Cash flows from financing activities:
                   
Stockholders' capital contribution
   
-
   
-
   
500,000
 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net
   
4,676
   
4,500,000
   
4,504,676
 
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net
   
16,759,596
   
-
   
16,759,596
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
16,764,272
   
4,500,000
   
21,764,272
 
                     
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
   
9,713,983
   
1,804,535
   
10,740,639
 
                     
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
   
1,026,656
   
402,363
   
-
 
                     
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
10,740,639
 
$
2,206,898
 
$
10,740,639
 
                     
Supplementary disclosure of cash flow information:
                   
Cash paid for interest
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
                     
Cash paid for income taxes
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
                     
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and
                   
financing activities:
                   
Warrants issued to placement agent, in connection with
                   
preferred stock issuance
 
$
1,682,863
 
$
-
 
$
1,682,863
 
                     
 
F-34

 
                                   
                                   
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
                                 
(A Development Stage Enterprise)
                                 
Statement of Changes in Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)                 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2005 (unaudited), For the Year ended December 31, 2004 and                  
For the Period from Inception (September 9, 2003) to December 31, 2003
                                   
           
   
Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrants
 
Stockholder's Equity (Deficit)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Warrants to
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase
Series A
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deficit
 
 
 
 
 
Series A
 
Convertible
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated
 
Total
 
 
 
Convertible 
 
Preferred
     
Additional
 
during the
 
Stockholders' 
 
 
 
Preferred Stock
 
Stock
 
Common Stock
 
Paid-in
 
Development
 
Equity/
 
 
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Warrants
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Capital
 
Stage
 
(Deficit)
 
                                   
Stockholders' contribution, September 9, 2003
   
-
 
$
-
 
$
-
   
250,487
 
$
250
 
$
499,750
 
$
-
 
$
500,000
 
Net loss
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(160,136
)
 
(160,136
)
Balance at December 31, 2003 (audited)
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
250,487
   
250
   
499,750
   
(160,136
)
 
339,864
 
Issuance of common stock
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
2,254,389
   
2,254
   
4,497,746
   
-
   
4,500,000
 
Issuance of common stock for services
                     
256,749
   
257
   
438,582
   
-
   
438,839
 
Fair value of options/warrants issued for nonemployee services
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
264,277
   
-
   
264,277
 
Net loss
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(5,687,297
)
 
(5,687,297
)
                                                   
Balance at December 31, 2004 (audited)
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
2,761,625
   
2,761
   
5,700,355
   
(5,847,433
)
 
(144,317
)
                                                   
Issuance of Series A convertible preferred stock
   
8,379,564
   
15,076,733
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Fair value of warrants to purchase Series A convertible preferred stock
   
-
   
-
   
1,682,863
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Issuance of Common stock to EasyWeb Shareholders
                     
189,922
   
190
   
(190
)
 
-
   
-
 
Conversion of Series A convertible preferred stock @ $0.001 into $0.001 common stock on September 13, 2005 at an exchange ratio of .500974
   
(8,379,564
)
 
(15,076,733
)
 
(1,682,863
)
 
4,197,946
   
4,198
   
16,755,398
   
-
   
16,759,596
 
Issuance of common stock due to exercise of stock options
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
91,718
   
92
   
4,584
   
-
   
4,676
 
Net loss
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(7,055,807
)
 
(7,055,807
)
                                                   
Balance at September 30, 2005 (unaudited)
   
-
 
$
-
 
$
-
   
7,241,211
 
$
7,241
 
$
22,460,147
 
$
(12,903,240
)
$
9,564,148
 
 
 
F-35

ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004


1.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND OPERATIONS

The financial statements included herein have been prepared by ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (“ZIOPHARM” or the “Company”) without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company at the dates and for the periods indicated. The unaudited financial statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in ZIOPHARM Oncology Inc.’s Form 8-K filed on September 19, 2005 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.

ZIOPHARM is a development stage biopharmaceutical company that seeks to acquire, develop and commercialize, on its own or with other commercial partners, products for the treatment of important unmet medical needs in cancer.

The Company has operated at a loss since its inception in 2003 and has no revenues. The Company anticipates that losses may continue for the foreseeable future. At September 30, 2005, the Company’s accumulated deficit was approximately $12.9 million. The Company’s ability to continue operations after its current cash resources are exhausted depends on its ability to obtain additional financing and achieve profitable operations, as to which no assurances can be given. Cash requirements may vary materially from those now planned because of changes in the focus and direction of our research and development programs, competitive and technical advances, patent developments or other developments. Additional financing will be required to continue operations after we exhaust our current cash resources and to continue our long-term plans for clinical trials and new product development.

On August, 3, 2005 the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 3, 2005 (as may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”) with EasyWeb, Inc., a Delaware corporation (OTC:ESYW.OB) (“EasyWeb”), and ZIO Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of EasyWeb (“ZIO Acquisition”). EasyWeb was a company that was incorporated in September 1998 and had been in the business of designing, marketing, selling and maintaining customized and template turnkey sites on the Internet that are hosted by third parties. At the time of the Merger (as defined below), however, EasyWeb had no operating business and had limited assets and liabilities. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, ZIO Acquisition merged with and into ZIOPHARM, with ZIOPHARM remaining as the surviving company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of EasyWeb (the “Merger”). In connection with the Merger, which was effective as of September 13, 2005, ZIO Acquisition ceased to exist and the surviving company changed its corporate name to ZIOPHARM, Inc. Based upon an Exchange Ratio, as defined in the Merger Agreement, in exchange for all of their shares of capital stock in ZIOPHARM, the Stockholders received a number of shares of Common Stock of EasyWeb such that, upon completion of the Merger, the then-current Stockholders held approximately 96.8% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of EasyWeb on a fully-diluted basis. Upon completion of the Merger, EasyWeb ceased all of its remaining operations and adopted and continued implementing the business plan of ZIOPHARM. Further, effective upon the Merger, the then current officers and directors of EasyWeb resigned, and the then current officers and directors of ZIOPHARM were appointed officers and directors of EasyWeb and EasyWeb changed its name to ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. In conjunction with the Merger, ZIOPHARM made payments of approximately $425,000 to certain affiliates of EasyWeb.

F-36

 
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004
 
Although EasyWeb is the legal acquirer in the transaction, ZIOPHARM becomes the registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Under generally accepted accounting principles, the transaction will be accounted for as a reverse acquisition, whereby ZIOPHARM will be considered the acquirer of EasyWeb for financial reporting purposes since ZIOPHARM’s shareholders control more than 50% of the post-transaction combined entity, the management and the board are that of ZIOPHARM after the transaction, EasyWeb had no operations, assets or liabilities as of the transaction date and the continuing operations of the entity are those of ZIOPHARM.

Accordingly, the equity of EasyWeb has been adjusted to reflect a recapitalization of the stock and the equity of ZIOPHARM has been adjusted to reflect a financing transaction with the proceeds equal to the net asset value of EasyWeb immediately prior to the Merger. The historical financial statements of ZIOPHARM have become the historical financial statements of the Company. The historical stockholders’ equity has been retroactively restated to adjust for the exchange of shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement. All share and per share information included in the accompany financial statements and notes give effect to the exchange, except as otherwise stated.

On June 6, 2005, the Company completed an offering (the “Offering”) of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”). The Company issued 4,197,944 (8,379,564 - pre-merger) shares at $4.31 ($2.16 per share, pre-merger) for gross proceeds of approximately $18.1 million. In connection with the Offering, the Company compensated Paramount BioCapital, Inc., placement agent for the Offering (“Paramount”), or its affiliates for its services through the payment of (a) cash commissions equal to 7% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and (b) placement warrants to acquire 419,794 (837,956 - pre-merger) shares of Series A Preferred Stock (the Series A Stock Warrants), exercisable for a period of 7 years from the Closing Date at a per share exercise price equal to 110% of the price per share sold in the Offering. These commissions are also payable on additional sales by the Company of securities (other than in a public offering) to investors introduced to the Company by Paramount during the twelve (12) month period subsequent to the final closing of the Offering. The Company also paid Paramount an expense allowance of $50,000 to reimburse Paramount for its out-of-pocket expenses (the “Expense Allowance”). Also, for a period of 36 months from the final Closing, Paramount has the right of first refusal to act as the placement agent for any private sale of the Company’s securities. Lastly, the Company has agreed to indemnify Paramount against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

F-37

 
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004

The Company has valued the warrants using the Black-Scholes model and recorded a charge of  $1,682,683. The Company has estimated the fair value of such warrants using the Black-Scholes model, using an assumed risk-free rate of 3.93% and expected life of 7 years, volatility of 134% and dividend yield of 0%. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used for research and development, licensing fees and expenses, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The results disclosed in the Statement of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

2.
STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based awards to employees using the intrinsic value method as prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations. The Company follows the provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, for disclosure purposes. All stock-based awards to nonemployees are accounted for at their fair value in accordance with SFAS No. 123 and Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments that are Issued to Other than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services. The Company has adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure - an amendment of SFAS No. 123, for all stock-based awards as of December 31, 2004.

The following illustrates the effect on net loss had the Company applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123:


   
Three months ended
September 30,
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Net loss:
                 
As reported
 
$
(2,766,117
)
$
(1,348,373
)
$
(7,055,807
 
$
(3,056,041
)
Stock-based compensation expense included in reported net loss
   
---
   
---
   
---
   
---
 
Stock-based compensation expense under the fair value-based method
   
(176,297
)
 
(33,958
)
 
(340,197
)
 
(60,683
)
Pro forma net loss
 
$
(2,942,414
)
$
(1,382,331
)
$
(7,396,004
)
$
(3,116,724
)
                           
Basic and diluted net loss per share:
                         
As reported
 
$
(0.77
)
$
(0.52
)
$
(2.32
)
$
(1.34
)
Pro forma
 
$
(0.82
)
$
(0.53
)
$
(2.43
)
$
(1.37
)
 
 
F-38

 
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004
 

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation...continued

The fair value of each stock option is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The following table summarizes the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model:
 
 
Three months ended
September 30,
 
Nine months ended
September 30,
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
Expected life
5 years
 
5 years
 
5 years
 
5 years
Expected volatility
172%
 
134%
 
172%
 
114%
Dividend yield
0%
 
0%
 
0%
 
0%
Weighted average risk-free interest rate
4.01%
 
3.60%
 
4.01%
 
3.60%
 
Recently Issued Pronouncements

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, Share-Based Payment ("SFAS No. 123R"). This Statement is a revision of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and its related implementation guidance. SFAS No. 123R focuses primarily on accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. The Statement requires entities to recognize stock compensation expense for awards of equity instruments to employees based on the grant-date fair value of those awards (with limited exceptions). SFAS No. 123R is effective for the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2005. Based on current options outstanding, the Company anticipates the adoption of this statement to result in approximately $573,604 of additional compensation costs to be recognized in the year of adoption.

3.
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

On June 6, 2005, the Company completed its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock Offering (see Note 1). As a result of the Merger, all shares of the Series A Preferred Stock were automatically converted into the number of shares of Common Stock that the holders of Series A Preferred Stock would have received if their shares of Series A Preferred Stock had been converted into Common Stock immediately prior to the Merger.

After the Merger, the Company has authorized capital stock of 280,000,000 shares which has been designated as common stock, par value $.001 per share (the “Common Stock”)

Prior to the Merger, the Company had authorized capital stock of 50,000,000 shares, of which 30,000,000 shares were designated as common stock, par value $.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and 20,000,000 shares designated as preferred stock, par value $.001 per share.
 
F-39

 
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004

 
Convertible Preferred Stock

Voting Rights

The holders of Series A Preferred Stock would have been entitled to vote together with all other holders of the Company’s voting stock on an “as-converted” basis on all matters submitted to a vote of holders generally. The holders of Series A Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class, would also had the right to approve by a 66% supermajority certain actions proposed to be taken by the Company.

Dividend Rights

The holders of Series A Preferred Stock had been entitled to receive dividends on an equal basis with the holders of Common Stock when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors.
 
Liquidation Preferences

The Series A Preferred Stock would have rank senior to the Common Stock and any future class of junior securities, and would have been entitled to a liquidation preference equal to the Stated Value, subject to adjustment (as defined in the Certificate of Designations), upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or upon a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy of the Company. 

Conversion Rights

Each share of Series A Preferred Stock would have convertible into Common Stock at any time at the option of the holder thereof (the Series A Preferred Stock and the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock are sometimes herein collectively referred to as the “Securities”). All of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock would have automatically convert into Common Stock upon the first date (the “Trading Date”) on which the Common Stock (or securities received in exchange for Common Stock) trades on a national securities exchange or on NASDAQ, including the Over the Counter Bulletin Board (a “Trading Event”). The rate at which shares of Series A Preferred Stock will convert into Common Stock will initially be one-for-one, subject to adjustment in connection with certain anti-dilution protections and other adjustments.

In the event of a reclassification, capital reorganization or other similar change in the outstanding shares of Common Stock, a consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another entity (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Corporation is the continuing entity and which does not result in a reclassification, capital reorganization or other change of outstanding shares of Common Stock other than the number thereof), or a sale of the property of the Company as, or substantially as, an entirety (other than a sale/leaseback, mortgage or other financing transaction), the Series A Preferred Stock will become convertible into the kind and number of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) that the holders of Series A Preferred Stock would have received if the Series A Preferred Stock had been converted into Common Stock immediately prior to such reclassification, capital reorganization or other change, consolidation, merger or sale.

F-40

 
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004
 
 
Common Stock

At the time of this report, the Company currently have issued and outstanding 7,248,115 shares of Common Stock.

In September 2003, the Company issued 2,000,000 (before the split discussed below and pre-merger) shares of Common Stock at $0.25 per share for gross proceeds of $500,000.

In January 2004, the Company issued 18,000,000 (before the split discussed below and pre-merger) shares of Common Stock at $0.25 per share for gross proceeds of $4,500,000.

In February 2004, the Company amended its articles of incorporation to provide for the combination of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share on a 1-for-4 basis (all other share amounts presented reflect the reverse split).

4.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company engaged Paramount BioCapital, Inc. (“Paramount”) to assist in placing shares of Series A Preferred Stock on a “best efforts” basis (see Note 1). Lindsay A. Rosenwald, M.D. is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount. Dr. Rosenwald is also managing member of Horizon BioMedical Ventures, LLC (“Horizon”). On December 30, 2004, Horizon authorized the distribution of 2,428,910 (4,848,376 - pre-Merger) shares of Common Stock (such shares, the “Horizon Distributed Shares”), in equal installments of 1,214,455 (2,424,188 - pre-Merger) shares of Common Stock, to Mibars, LLC (“Mibars”) and to Dr. Rosenwald and his designees (the “Designated Shares”). The disposition of the Designated Shares will be subject to certain restrictions as agreed to among Dr. Rosenwald and Dr. Rosenwald’s designees. Among other things, under certain circumstances set forth in pledge agreements between Dr. Rosenwald and his designees, Dr. Rosenwald has the right to re-acquire the Designated Shares from his designees. As a result of those rights, Dr. Rosenwald may be deemed to be an affiliate of the Company.

In connection with the December 22, 2004 Option Agreement with Southern Research Institute (“SRI”), the Company entered into a Finders Agreement, dated December 23, 2004, with Paramount pursuant to which the Company had agreed to compensate Paramount, for services in connection with the Company’s introduction to SRI through the payment of (a) a cash fee of $60,000 and (b) warrants to purchase 62,621 (125,000 - pre-Merger) shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a price equal to $4.75 ($2.38 - pre-Merger) per share. The Company has estimated the fair value of such warrants using the Black-Scholes model, using an assumed risk-free rate of 3.93%, and expected life of 7 years, volatility of 134% and dividend yield of 0%. In December 2004, the Company expensed the $60,000 that was payable to Paramount and recognized compensation expense in the amount of $251,037 for the issuance of the warrants.

In connection with the Series A Preferred Stock Offering (see Note 1), the Company and Paramount entered into an Introduction Agreement in January 2005 (the “Introduction Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to compensate Paramount for its services in connection with the Offering through the payment of (a) cash commissions equal to 7% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and (b) placement warrants to acquire a number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock equal to 10% of the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued in the Offering, exercisable for a period of 7 years from the Closing Date at a per Share exercise price equal to 110% of the price per Share sold in the Offering. These commissions are also payable on additional sales by the Company of securities (other than in a public offering) to investors introduced to the Company by Paramount during the twelve (12) month period subsequent to the final closing of the Offering. The Company also agreed to pay to Paramount a non-accountable expense allowance of $50,000 to reimburse the Paramount for its out-of-pocket expenses (the “Expense Allowance”). Also, for a period of 36 months from the final Closing, Paramount has the right of first refusal to act as the placement agent for the private sale of the Company’s securities. Lastly, the Company has agreed to indemnify Paramount against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

F-41

 
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004
 
 
Dr. Michael Weiser, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, is also a full-time employee of Paramount. In addition, David M. Tanen, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, was a full-time employee of Paramount from July 1996 through August 2004.

5.
STOCK OPTION PLAN

The Company has adopted the 2003 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”), under which we have reserved for the issuance of 1,252,435 (2,500,000 - pre-Merger) shares of our Common Stock. The Plan was approved by our stockholders on December 21, 2004.

As of December 31, 2004, there were 586,553 (1,170,826 - pre-merger) shares that are issuable under its 2003 Stock Option Plan upon exercise of outstanding options to purchase Common Stock. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had issued to our employees options to purchase up to 496,127 (990,326 - pre-Merger) shares of the Company’s Common Stock. In addition, the Company has issued to our directors options to purchase up to 90,175 (180,000 - pre-Merger) shares of the Company’s Common Stock, as well as options to a consultant in connection with services rendered to purchase up to 250 (500 - pre-Merger) shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The Company had estimated the fair value of such options using the Black-Scholes model, using an assumed risk-free rate of 4.23%, and expected life of 10 years, volatility of 134% and dividend yield of 0%. The options issued to the consultant were valued at $1,050, and recorded as a charge to compensation expense in December 2004. The Company has also reserved an aggregate of 77,839 (155,375 - pre-Merger) additional shares for issuance under options granted outside of the 2003 Stock Option Plan and warrants to purchase 62,621 (125,000 - pre-Merger) shares of the Company’s Common Stock to Paramount as compensation for services rendered in connection with our entering into an option agreement with Southern Research Institute. In connection with the warrants issued, the Company recorded a charge of $251,037 to general and administrative expense in December 2004. The Company had valued the options using the Black-Scholes model as of the issue date of the warrants. The Company has estimated the fair value of such warrants using the Black-Scholes model, using an assumed risk-free rate of 3.93% and expected life of 7 years, volatility of 134% and dividend yield of 0%.

During nine months ended September 30, 2005, 586,966 options were granted and 91,718 options were exercised and 32,563 options were cancelled under the 2003 Stock Option plan.

F-42

 
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Financial Statements
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004
 

6.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTIGENCIES

On May 26, 2005, the Company entered into a five-year lease agreement for its corporate office located in New York that expires in June 2010. Under the terms of the lease, the Company leases approximately 2,580 square feet of office space and is required to make monthly rental payments of approximately $10,100 until December 31, 2007, with such payments increasing to approximately $11,000 thereafter through the remainder of the term of the lease.

On April 25, 2005, the Company entered into a Surrender and Termination Agreement and an Escrow agreement with WE George Street, L.L.C and Cohm Birnbaum & Shea P.C. relating to the escrow of a termination fee for $90,000, for an early termination to the New Haven, Connecticut office space.

Effective November, 1, 2005, we amended our lease in Charlestown, Massachusetts to expand our commercial space by approximately 830 square feet.
 
F-43


 
ZIOPHARM ONCOLOGY, INC.
 
 
2,520,632 shares of common stock



 
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PROSPECTUS
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November 18, 2005