UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

(Mark One)

Commission file number 001-32001

APTOSE BIOSCIENCES INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Canada

(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

5955 Airport Road, Suite #228

Mississauga, Ontario

L4V 1R9

Canada

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Gregory Chow

Chief Financial Officer

5955 Airport Road, Suite #228

Mississauga, Ontario

L4V 1R9

Canada

Telephone: (647) 479-9828

Facsimile: (905) 234-2120

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

Common Shares, without par value, at December 31, 2016: 15,721,388

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes ☐     No ☒

If this is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes ☐     No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☒     No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes ☐     No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.

Large accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☒

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing.

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

Item 17 ☐     Item 18 ☐

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes ☐     No ☒

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL

On July 10, 2007 (the ”Arrangement Date”), the Company completed a plan of arrangement and corporate reorganization with, among others, 4325231 Canada Inc. (now Global Summit Real Estate Inc.), formerly Lorus Therapeutics Inc. (“Old Lorus”), 6707157 Canada Inc. and Pinnacle International Lands, Inc. (the “Arrangement”). As a result of the plan of arrangement and reorganization, among other things, each common share of Old Lorus was exchanged for one common share (“Common Share”) of the Company and the assets (excluding certain deferred tax assets) and liabilities of Old Lorus (including all of the shares of its subsidiaries) were transferred, directly or indirectly, to the Company and/or our subsidiaries. We continued the business of Old Lorus after the Arrangement Date with the same officers and employees and continued to be governed by the same directors as Old Lorus prior to the Arrangement Date.

On August 28, 2014 (the “Name Change Date”), we changed our name from Lorus Therapeutics Inc. to Aptose Biosciences Inc. In this Annual Report on Form 20-F, all references to “Aptose”, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, “us” and similar expressions, unless otherwise stated, are references to Old Lorus prior to the Arrangement Date, Lorus Therapeutics Inc. after the Arrangement Date and Aptose Biosciences Inc. after the Name Change Date. References to this “Form 20-F” and this “Annual Report” mean references to this Annual Report on Form 20-F dated as of March 28, 2017 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.

We use the Canadian dollar as our reporting and functional currency. All references in this Annual Report to “dollars” or “$” are expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. See also “Item 3. Key Information - Exchange Rate Information” for more detailed currency and conversion information. Our consolidated financial statements, which form part of this Annual Report, are presented in Canadian dollars and are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”), which differ in certain respects from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”).

On October 1, 2014, we consolidated our outstanding Common Shares on the basis of one post-consolidation Common Share for each twelve pre-consolidation Common Shares. Historical trading prices and volumes disclosed are on a post-consolidated basis and reflect the one for twelve.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation). Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to:

The forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others:

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions set out in the section entitled “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” underlying those forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this Annual Report or, in the case of documents incorporated by reference herein, as of the date of such documents, and we do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Such statements may not prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management of the Company to predict all of these factors or to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

PART I

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

The following tables present our selected consolidated financial data. You should read these tables in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Item 18 of this Annual Report and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in Item 5 of this Annual Report.

The selected consolidated financial information set forth below has been derived from the Company's audited consolidated financial statements that are prepared in accordance with IFRS, which differ in certain respects from the principles the Company would have followed had its consolidated financial statements been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The selected audited consolidated financial information should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto.

Effective July 17, 2014, we changed our fiscal year end from May 31 to December 31. As a result of that change, the period ending December 31, 2014 is for a seven month transition period.

The following table presents a summary of our consolidated statements of operations derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the seven months ended December 31, 2014 and fiscal years ended May 31, 2014 and 2013.

Consolidated statements of operations data

The following table presents a summary of our consolidated balance sheets as at December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, May 31, 2014 and 2013.

Consolidated balance sheet data

Exchange Rate Information

The following table sets out the average exchange rates of CDN$1.00 for US$1.00 for the following periods as taken from the Bank of Canada’s website.

The following table sets forth the high and low exchange rates of CDN$1.00 for US$1.00 for each month during the previous six months.

On March 27, 2017, the noon buying rate of CDN$1.00 for US$1.00, as per the Bank of Canada, was CDN$1.00 = US$1.3368.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision with respect to our Common Shares, you should carefully consider the following risk factors, in addition to the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report. Additional risks not currently known by us or that we consider immaterial at the present time may also impair our business, financial condition, prospects or results of operations. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition, prospects or results of operations would likely be materially adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our Common Shares could decline and you may lose all or part of the money you paid to buy our Common Shares. The risks set out below are not the only risks and uncertainties we currently face; other risks may arise in the future.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS

We have a history of operating losses. We expect to incur net losses and we may never achieve or maintain profitability.

We have not been profitable since our inception in 1986. We reported net losses of $18.7 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, $14.6 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, $7.8 million in the 7 months ended December 31, 2014 and $10.6 million in the fiscal year ended May 31, 2014, and as of December 31, 2016, we had an accumulated deficit of $252 million.

We have not generated any significant revenue to date and it is possible that we will never have sufficient product sales revenue (if any) to achieve profitability. We expect to continue to incur losses for at least the next several years as we or our collaborators and licensees pursue clinical trials and research and development efforts. To become profitable, we, either alone or with our collaborators and licensees, must successfully develop, manufacture and market our current product candidates APTO-253 or CG’806 as well as continue to identify, develop, manufacture and market new product candidates. It is possible that we will never have significant product sales revenue or receive royalties on our licensed product candidates. If funding is insufficient at any time in the future, we may not be able to develop or commercialize our products, take advantage of business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures.

We currently do not earn any revenues from our drug candidates and are therefore considered to be in the development stage. The continuation of our research and development activities and the commercialization of the targeted therapeutic products are dependent upon our ability to successfully finance and complete our research and development programs through a combination of equity financing and payments from strategic partners. We have no current sources of significant payments from strategic partners.

We are an early stage development company.

We are at an early stage of development. In the past five years, none of our potential products has obtained regulatory approval for commercial use and sale in any country and as such, no significant revenues have resulted from product sales. Significant additional investment will be necessary to complete the development of any of our product candidates. Preclinical and clinical trial work must be completed before our potential products could be ready for use within the markets that we have identified. We may fail to develop any products, obtain regulatory approvals, enter clinical trials or commercialize any products. We do not know whether any of our potential product development efforts will prove to be effective, meet applicable regulatory standards, obtain the requisite regulatory approvals, be capable of being manufactured at a reasonable cost or be accepted in the marketplace. We also do not know whether sales, license fees or related royalties will allow us to recoup any investment we make in the commercialization of our products.

The product candidates we are currently developing are not expected to be commercially viable for at least the next several years and we may encounter unforeseen difficulties or delays in commercializing our product candidates. In addition, our potential products may not be effective or may cause undesirable side effects.

Our product candidates require significant funding to reach regulatory approval assuming positive clinical results. For example, our clinical candidate APTO-253 began enrolment in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies and was placed on clinical hold by the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) following a voluntary suspension of dosing by us. We are currently working with the FDA to have such hold lifted but significant additional funding or a partnership will be necessary to complete, if required, Phase II or Phase III clinical trials. Such funding for our product candidates may be difficult, or impossible to raise in the public or private markets or through partnerships. If funding or partnerships are not readily attainable, the development of our product candidates may be significantly delayed or stopped altogether. The announcement of a delay or discontinuation of development would likely have a negative impact on our share price.

We need to raise additional capital.

We have an ongoing need to raise additional capital. To obtain the necessary capital, we must rely on some or all of the following: additional share issues, debt issuances (including promissory notes), collaboration agreements or corporate partnerships and grants and tax credits to provide full or partial funding for our activities. Additional funding may not be available on terms that are acceptable to us or in amounts that will enable us to carry out our business plan.

Our need for capital may require us to:

Delays in clinical testing could result in delays in commercializing our product candidates and our business may be substantially harmed.

We cannot predict whether any clinical trials will begin as planned, will need to be restructured or will be completed on schedule, or at all. Our product development costs will increase if we experience delays in clinical testing. Significant clinical trial delays could shorten any periods during which we may have the exclusive right to commercialize our product candidates or allow our competitors to bring products to market before us, which would impair our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates and may harm our financial condition, results of operations and prospects. The recommencement and completion of clinical trials for our products, including the APTO-253 phase I clinical trial and the IND submission for CG’806, may be delayed for a number of reasons, including delays related, but not limited, to:

Our product development costs will increase if we experience delays in testing or approval or if we need to perform more or larger clinical trials than planned. Additionally, changes in regulatory requirements and policies may occur, and we may need to amend study protocols to reflect these changes. Amendments may require us to resubmit our study protocols to regulatory authorities or IRBs or ethics committees for re-examination, which may impact the cost, timing or successful completion of that trial. Delays or increased product development costs may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and prospects.

We rely on contract manufacturers over whom we have limited control. If we are subject to quality, cost or delivery issues with the preclinical and clinical grade materials supplied by contract manufacturers, our business operations could suffer significant harm.

We rely on contract manufacturing organizations, or CMOs, to manufacture our product candidates for some preclinical studies and clinical trials. We rely on CMOs for manufacturing, filling, packaging, storing and shipping of drug product in compliance with cGMP regulations applicable to our products. The FDA ensures the quality of drug products by carefully monitoring drug manufacturers’ compliance with cGMP regulations. The cGMP regulations for drugs contain minimum requirements for the methods, facilities and controls used in manufacturing, processing and packing of a drug product.

We contracted with multiple CMOs for the manufacture of APTO-253 and CG’806 to supply drug supply and then drug product for our clinical trials. The synthesis of CG’806 drug supply is challenging from a scale-up synthetic chemistry perspective. The formulation and manufacture of APTO-253 is a complex process with many variables involved. We pre-qualified CMOs to have the capacity, the systems and the experience to supply CG’806 and APTO-253 for our clinical trials. We have qualified the manufacturing facilities and the FDA has also performed site audits for our selected CMOs. In spite of the efforts to prequalify CMOs, delays and errors may occur, and any such manufacturing failures, delays or compliance issues could cause delays in the completion of our clinical trial programs.

There can be no assurances that CMOs will be able to meet our timetable and requirements. We have contracted with alternate suppliers in the event our current CMOs are unable to scale up production, or if our current CMOs otherwise experience any other significant problems in the manufacture of CG’806 and APTO-253. However, it is possible that all third-party manufacturing sources may experience failure or delays and may demand commercially unreasonable terms, which may lead to further delays in the development of our product candidates. Further, contract manufacturers must operate in compliance with cGMP and failure to do so could result in, among other things, the disruption of product supplies. Our dependence upon third parties for the manufacture of our products may adversely affect our profit margins and our ability to develop and deliver products on a timely and competitive basis.

Clinical trials are long, expensive and uncertain processes and the FDA or Health Canada may ultimately not approve any of our product candidates. We may never develop any commercial drugs or other products that generate revenues.

In the past five years, none of our product candidates has received regulatory approval for commercial use and sale in North America. We cannot market a pharmaceutical product in any jurisdiction until it has completed thorough preclinical testing and clinical trials in addition to that jurisdiction’s extensive regulatory approval process. Approval in one country does not assure approval in another country. In general, significant research and development and clinical studies are required to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of our product candidates before we can submit any regulatory applications.

Clinical trials are long, expensive and uncertain processes. Clinical trials may not be commenced or completed on schedule and the FDA or Health Canada or any other regulatory body may not ultimately approve our product candidates for commercial sale. The clinical trials of any of our drug candidates could be unsuccessful, which would prevent us from advancing, commercializing or partnering the drug.

Even if the results of our preclinical studies or clinical trials are initially positive, it is possible that we will obtain different results in the later stages of drug development or that results seen in clinical trials will not continue with longer term treatment. Positive results in Phase I clinical trials may not be repeated in larger Phase II or Phase III clinical trials.

Our preclinical studies and clinical trials may not generate positive results that will allow us to move towards the commercial use and sale of our product candidates. Furthermore, negative preclinical or clinical trial results may cause our business, financial condition, or results of operations to be materially adversely affected. For example, our Phase Ib clinical trial of APTO-253 in patients with AML was placed on clinical hold by the FDA in November 2015 and since that time the Company has encountered manufacturing setbacks which have further delayed the return of APTO-253 to the clinic. There can be no assurance that the clinical hold will be lifted by the FDA, that the Company will have the resources, or that we will decide, to continue the development of APTO-253. Even if the Phase Ib of APTO-253 is continued, there is a long development path ahead that will take many years to complete and is prone to the risks of failure or delays inherent in drug development. Likewise, our CG’806 product candidate has not yet entered clinical trials and it is expected to undergo many years of testing and regulatory examinations prior to any potential regulatory approvals.

Preparing, submitting and advancing applications for regulatory approval is complex, expensive and time intensive and entails significant uncertainty. A commitment of substantial resources to conduct time-consuming research, preclinical studies and clinical trials is required if we are to complete development of our products.

Clinical trials of our products require that we identify and enroll a large number of patients with the illness under investigation. We may not be able to enroll a sufficient number of appropriate patients to complete our clinical trials in a timely manner, particularly in smaller indications and indications where there is significant competition for patients. If we experience difficulty in enrolling a sufficient number of patients to conduct our clinical trials, we may need to delay or terminate ongoing clinical trials and will not accomplish objectives material to our success. Delays in planned patient enrolment or lower than anticipated event rates in our current clinical trials or future clinical trials also may result in increased costs, program delays, or both.

In addition, unacceptable toxicities or adverse side effects may occur at any time in the course of preclinical studies or human clinical trials or, if any product candidates are successfully developed and approved for marketing, during commercial use of any approved products. The appearance of any unacceptable toxicities or adverse side effects could interrupt, limit, delay or abort the development of any of our product candidates or, if previously approved, necessitate their withdrawal from the market. Furthermore, disease resistance or other unforeseen factors may limit the effectiveness of our potential products.

Our failure to develop safe, commercially viable drugs would substantially impair our ability to generate revenues and sustain our operations and would materially harm our business and adversely affect our share price.

We may not achieve our projected development goals in the time frames we announce and expect.

We set goals for, and make public statements regarding, the expected timing of the accomplishment of objectives material to our success, such as the commencement and completion of clinical trials and our ability to secure the financing necessary to continue the development of our product candidates. The actual timing of these events can vary dramatically due to factors within and beyond our control, such as delays or failures in our clinical trials, issues related to the manufacturing of drug supply, uncertainties inherent in the regulatory approval process, market conditions and interest by partners in our product candidates among other things. Our clinical trials may not be completed; we may not make regulatory submissions or receive regulatory approvals as planned; or we may not secure partnerships for any of our product candidates. Any failure to achieve one or more of these milestones as planned would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we have difficulty enrolling patients in clinical trials, the completion of the trials may be delayed or cancelled.

As our product candidates advance from preclinical testing to clinical testing, and then through progressively larger and more complex clinical trials, we will need to enroll an increasing number of patients that meet our eligibility criteria. There is significant competition for recruiting cancer patients in clinical trials, and we may be unable to enroll the patients we need to complete clinical trials on a timely basis or at all. Certain factors that affect enrollment of patients onto our clinical trials are impacted by external forces that may be beyond our control. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

We rely and will continue to rely on third parties to conduct and monitor many of our preclinical studies and our clinical trials, and their failure to perform as required could cause substantial harm to our business.

We rely and will continue to rely on third parties to conduct a significant portion of our preclinical and clinical development activities. Preclinical activities include in vivo studies providing access to specific disease models, pharmacology and toxicology studies, and assay development. Clinical development activities include trial design, regulatory submissions, clinical patient recruitment, clinical trial monitoring, clinical data management and analysis, safety monitoring and project management, contract manufacturing and quality assurance. If there is any dispute or disruption in our relationship with third parties, or if they are unable to provide quality services in a timely manner and at a feasible cost, our active development programs will face delays. Further, if any of these third parties fails to perform as we expect or if their work fails to meet regulatory requirements, our testing could be delayed, cancelled or rendered ineffective.

We heavily rely on the capabilities and experience of our key executives and scientists and the loss of any of them could affect our ability to develop our products.

The loss of Dr. William G. Rice, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, or other key members of our staff, including Gregory Chow, our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, could harm us. We have employment agreements with Dr. Rice and Mr. Chow, although such employment agreements do not guarantee their retention. We also depend on our scientific and clinical collaborators and advisors, all of whom have outside commitments that may limit their availability to us. In addition, we believe that our future success will depend in large part upon our ability to attract and retain highly skilled scientific, managerial, medical, clinical and regulatory personnel, particularly as we expand our activities and seek regulatory approvals for clinical trials. We routinely enter into consulting agreements with our scientific and clinical collaborators and advisors, key opinion leaders and academic partners in the ordinary course of our business. We also enter into contractual agreements with physicians and institutions who will recruit patients into our clinical trials on our behalf in the ordinary course of our business. Notwithstanding these arrangements, we face significant competition for these types of personnel from other companies, research and academic institutions, government entities and other organizations. We cannot predict our success in hiring or retaining the personnel we require for continued growth. The loss of the services of any of our executive officers or other key personnel could potentially harm our business, operating results or financial condition.

Our employees may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with regulatory standards and requirements, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We are exposed to the risk of employee fraud or other misconduct. Misconduct by employees could include failures to comply with FDA regulations, provide accurate information to the FDA, comply with manufacturing standards we have established, comply with federal and state health-care fraud and abuse laws and regulations, report financial information or data accurately or disclose unauthorized activities to us. In particular, sales, marketing and business arrangements in the healthcare industry are subject to extensive laws and regulations intended to prevent fraud, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, customer incentive programs and other business arrangements. Employee misconduct could also involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of clinical trials, which could result in regulatory sanctions and serious harm to our reputation. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a substantial impact on our business and results of operations, including the imposition of substantial fines or other sanctions.

Exchange rate risk

We are exposed to fluctuations of the Canadian dollar against certain other currencies because we publish our consolidated financial statements and hold most of our investments in Canadian dollars, while we incur many of our expenses in foreign currencies, primarily the United States dollar. Fluctuations in the value of currencies such as the recent depreciation of the Canadian dollar against the United States dollar could cause us to incur currency exchange losses. We do not currently employ a hedging strategy against exchange rate risk. We cannot assert with any assurance that we will not suffer losses as a result of unfavorable fluctuations in the exchange rates between the Canadian dollar, the United States dollar and other currencies.

We may expand our business through the acquisition of companies or businesses or by entering into collaborations or by in-licensing product candidates, each of which could disrupt our business and harm our financial condition.

We may in the future seek to expand our pipeline and capabilities by acquiring one or more companies or businesses, entering into collaborations or in-licensing one or more product candidates. For example, in June 2016, we entered into a definitive agreement with South Korean company, CrystalGenomics, Inc. (CG), granting Aptose an exclusive option to research, develop and commercialize CG026806 (CG’806) in all countries of the world except Korea and China, for all fields of use.

Acquisitions, collaborations and in-licenses involve numerous risks, including, but not limited to:

We have experience in entering collaborations and in-licensing product candidates, however, we cannot provide assurance that any acquisition, collaboration or in-license will result in short-term or long-term benefits to us. We may incorrectly judge the value or worth of an acquired company or business or in-licensed product candidate. In addition, our future success would depend in part on our ability to manage the rapid growth associated with some of these acquisitions, collaborations and in-licenses. We cannot assure you that we would be able to successfully combine our business with that of acquired businesses, manage a collaboration or integrate in-licensed product candidates. Furthermore, the development or expansion of our business may require a substantial capital investment by us.

Negative results from clinical trials or studies of others and adverse safety events involving the targets of our products may have an adverse impact on our future commercialization efforts.

From time to time, studies or clinical trials on various aspects of biopharmaceutical products are conducted by academic researchers, competitors or others. The results of these studies or trials, when published, may have a significant effect on the market for the biopharmaceutical product that is the subject of the study. The publication of negative results of studies or clinical trials or adverse safety events related to our product candidates, or the therapeutic areas in which our product candidates compete, could adversely affect our share price and our ability to finance future development of our product candidates, and our business and financial results could be materially and adversely affected.

As a result of intense competition and technological change in the biotechnical and pharmaceutical industries, the marketplace may not accept our products or product candidates, and we may not be able to compete successfully against other companies in our industry and achieve profitability.

Many of our competitors have:

Consequently, our competitors may obtain FDA, Health Canada and other regulatory approvals for product candidates sooner and may be more successful in manufacturing and marketing their products than we or our collaborators are.

Our competitors’ existing and future products, therapies and technological approaches will compete directly with the products we seek to develop. Current and prospective competing products may be more effective than our existing and future products insofar as they may provide greater therapeutic benefits for a specific problem or may offer easier delivery or comparable performance at a lower cost.

Any product candidate that we develop and that obtains regulatory approval must then compete for market acceptance and market share. Our products may not gain market acceptance among physicians, patients, healthcare payers, insurers, the medical community and other stakeholders. Further, any products we develop may become obsolete before we recover any expenses we incurred in connection with the development of these products. As a result, we may never achieve profitability.

We may be unable to obtain patents to protect our technologies from other companies with competitive products, and patents of other companies could prevent us from manufacturing, developing or marketing our products.

Patent protection

The patent positions of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions. The United States Patent and Trademark Office and many other patent offices in the world have not established a consistent policy regarding the breadth of claims that they will allow in biotechnology patents.

Our pending patent applications may not result in issued patents and our issued patents may not be held valid and enforceable if challenged. Competitors may be able to circumvent any such issued patents by adoption of a competitive, though non-infringing product or process. Interpretation and evaluation of pharmaceutical or biotechnology patent claims present complex and often novel legal and factual questions. Our business could be adversely affected by increased competition in the event that any patent granted to it is held to be invalid or unenforceable or is inadequate in scope to protect our operations.

Allowable patentable subject matter and the scope of patent protection obtainable may differ between jurisdictions. If a patent office allows broad claims, the number and cost of patent interference proceedings in the United States, or analogous proceedings in other jurisdictions and the risk of infringement litigation may increase. If it allows narrow claims, the risk of infringement may decrease, but the value of our rights under our patents, licenses and patent applications may also decrease.

The scope of the claims in a patent application can be significantly modified during prosecution before the patent is issued. Consequently, we cannot know whether our pending applications will result in the issuance of patents or, if any patents are issued, whether they will provide us with significant proprietary protection or will be circumvented, invalidated or found to be unenforceable.

Publication of discoveries in scientific or patent literature often lags behind actual discoveries. Patent applications filed in the United States generally will be published 18 months after the filing date unless the applicant certifies that the invention will not be the subject of a foreign patent application. In many other jurisdictions, such as Canada, patent applications are published 18 months from the priority date. We may not be aware of such literature. Accordingly, we cannot be certain that the named inventors of our products and processes were the first to invent that product or process or that we were the first to pursue patent coverage for our inventions.

In addition, U.S. patent laws may change which could prevent or limit us from filing patent applications or patent claims in the United States to protect our products and technologies or limit the exclusivity periods that are available to patent holders for U.S. patents. For example, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, (the “Leahy-Smith Act”) was signed into law in 2011 and includes a number of significant changes to U.S. patent law. These include changes to transition from a “first-to-invent” system to a “first-to-file” system and to the way issued patents are challenged. These changes may favour larger and more established companies that have more resources to devote to patent application filing and prosecution. It is not clear what, if any, impact the Leahy-Smith Act will ultimately have on the cost of prosecuting our patent applications in the United States, our ability to obtain patents in the United States based on our discoveries and our ability to enforce or defend our U.S. issued patents.

Until such time, if ever, that further patents are issued to us, we will rely upon the law of trade secrets to the extent possible given the publication requirements under international patent treaty laws and/or requirements under foreign patent laws to protect our technology and our products incorporating the technology. In this regard, we have adopted certain confidentiality procedures. These include: limiting access to confidential information to certain key personnel; requiring all directors, officers, employees and consultants and others who may have access to our intellectual property to enter into confidentiality agreements which prohibit the use of or disclosure of confidential information to third parties; and implementing physical security measures designed to restrict access to such confidential information and products. Our ability to maintain the confidentiality of our technology is crucial to our ultimate possible commercial success. The procedures adopted by us to protect the confidentiality of our technology may not be effective, third parties may gain access to our trade secrets or our trade secrets or those of our collaborators may be independently discovered by others. Our collaborators, employees and consultants and other parties may not comply with the terms of their agreements with us, and we might be unable to adequately enforce our rights or obtain adequate compensation for the damages caused by unauthorized disclosure or use of our trade secrets or know how. Further, by seeking patent protection in various countries, it is inevitable that a substantial portion of our technology will become available to our competitors, through publication of such patent applications.

Enforcement of intellectual property rights

Protection of the rights revealed in published patent applications can be complex, costly and uncertain. Our commercial success depends in part on our ability to maintain and enforce our proprietary rights. If third parties engage in activities that infringe our proprietary rights, our management’s focus will be diverted and we may incur significant costs in asserting our rights. We may not be successful in asserting our proprietary rights, which could result in our patents being held invalid or a court holding that the third party is not infringing, either of which would harm our competitive position.

Others may design around our patented technology. We may have to participate in interference proceedings declared by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, European opposition proceedings, or other analogous proceedings in other parts of the world to determine priority of invention and the validity of patent rights granted or applied for, which could result in substantial cost and delay, even if the eventual outcome is favourable to us. Our pending patent applications, even if issued, may not be held valid or enforceable.

We may incur substantial cost in defending our intellectual property.

While we believe that our products and technology do not infringe proprietary rights of others, third parties may assert infringement claims in the future and such claims could be successful. Even if challenges are unsuccessful, we could incur substantial costs in defending ourselves against patent infringement claims brought by others or in prosecuting suits against others. In addition, others may obtain patents that we would need to license, which may not be available to us on reasonable terms. Whether we are able to obtain a necessary license would depend on the terms offered, the degree of risk of infringement and the need for the patent.

Our products and product candidates may infringe the intellectual property rights of others, or others may infringe on our intellectual property rights which could increase our costs.

Our success also depends on avoiding infringement of the proprietary technologies of others. In particular, there may be certain issued patents and patent applications claiming subject matter which we or our collaborators may be required to license in order to research, develop or commercialize APTO-253 or CG’806. In addition, third parties may assert infringement or other intellectual property claims against us. An adverse outcome in these proceedings could subject us to significant liabilities to third-parties, require disputed rights to be licensed from third-parties or require us to cease or modify our use of the technology. If we are required to license third-party technology, a license under such patents and patent applications may not be available on acceptable terms or at all. Further, we may incur substantial costs defending ourselves in lawsuits against charges of patent infringement or other unlawful use of another’s proprietary technology. We may also need to bring claims against others who we believe are infringing our rights in order to become or remain competitive and successful. Any such claims can be time consuming and expensive to pursue.

If product liability, clinical trial liability or environmental liability claims are brought against us or we are unable to obtain or maintain product liability, clinical trial or environmental liability insurance, we may incur substantial liabilities that could reduce our financial resources.

The clinical testing and commercial use of pharmaceutical products involves significant exposure to product liability, clinical trial liability, environmental liability and other risks that are inherent in the testing, manufacturing and marketing of our products. These liabilities, if realized, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

We have obtained limited product liability insurance coverage for our clinical trials on humans; however, our insurance coverage may be insufficient to protect us against all product liability damages. Regardless of merit or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in decreased demand for a future product, injury to reputation, withdrawal of clinical trial volunteers, loss of revenue, costs of litigation, distraction of management and substantial monetary awards to plaintiffs. Additionally, if we are required to pay a product liability claim, we may not have sufficient financial resources to complete development or commercialization of any of our product candidates and our business and results of operations will be adversely affected. In general, insurance will not protect us against some of our own actions, such as negligence.

As the Company’s development activities progress towards the commercialization of product candidates, our liability coverage may not be adequate, and the Company may not be able to obtain adequate product liability insurance coverage at a reasonable cost, if at all. Even if the Company obtains product liability insurance, its financial position may be materially adversely affected by a product liability claim. A product liability claim could also significantly harm the Company’s reputation and delay market acceptance of its product candidates. Additionally, product recalls may be issued at the direction of the FDA, other government agencies or other companies having regulatory control for pharmaceutical sales. If a product recall occurs in the future, such a recall could adversely affect our business, financial condition or reputation.

We may be unable to obtain partnerships for our product candidates, which could curtail future development and negatively affect our share price. In addition, our partners might not satisfy their contractual responsibilities or devote sufficient resources to our partnership.

Our strategy for the research, development and commercialization of our products requires entering into various arrangements with corporate collaborators, licensors, licensees and others, and our commercial success is dependent upon these outside parties performing their respective contractual responsibilities. The amount and timing of resources that such third parties will devote to these activities may not be within our control. These third parties may not perform their obligations as expected and our collaborators may not devote adequate resources to our programs. In addition, we could become involved in disputes with our collaborators, which could result in a delay or termination of the related development programs or result in litigation. We intend to seek additional collaborative arrangements to develop and commercialize some of our products. We may not be able to negotiate collaborative arrangements on favourable terms, or at all, in the future, and our current or future collaborative arrangements may not be successful.

If we cannot negotiate collaboration, license or partnering agreements, we may never achieve profitability and we may not be able to continue to develop our product candidates. Continuing Phase Ib, and commencing Phase II and Phase III clinical trials for APTO-253 would require significant amounts of funding and such funding may not be available to us.

Extensive Government Regulation

Government regulation is a significant factor in the development, production and marketing of the Company’s products. Research and development, testing, manufacture, marketing and sales of pharmaceutical products or related products are subject to extensive regulatory oversight, often in multiple jurisdictions, which may cause significant additional costs and/or delays in bringing products to market, and in turn, may cause significant losses to investors. The regulations applicable to the Company's product candidates may change. Even if granted, regulatory approvals may include significant limitations on the uses for which products can be marketed or may be conditioned on the conduct of post-marketing surveillance studies. Failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements can, among other things, result in warning letters, the imposition of civil penalties or other monetary payments, delay in approving or refusal to approve a product candidate, suspension or withdrawal of regulatory approval, product recall or seizure, operating restrictions, interruptions of clinical trials or manufacturing, injunctions or criminal prosecution. In addition, regulatory agencies many not approve the labeling claims that are necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of the Company’s product candidates.

Requirements for regulatory approval vary widely from country to country. Whether or not approved in Canada or the United States, regulatory authorities in other countries must approve a product prior to the commencement of marketing the product in those countries. The time required to obtain any such approval may be longer or shorter than in Canada or the United States. Approved drugs, as well as their manufacturers, are subject to continuing and ongoing review, and discovery of problems with these products or the failure to adhere to manufacturing or quality control requirements may result in regulatory restrictions being imposed.

Data security incidents and privacy breaches could result in important remediation costs, increased cyber security costs, litigation and reputational harm.

Cyber security incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. Cyber-attacks and security breaches could include unauthorized attempts to access, disable, improperly modify or degrade the Company’s information, systems and networks, the introduction of computer viruses and other malicious codes and fraudulent “phishing” emails that seek to misappropriate data and information or install malware onto users’ computers. Cyber-attacks in particular vary in technique and sources, are persistent, frequently change and are increasingly more targeted and difficult to detect and prevent against. Our network security and data recovery measures and those of third parties with which we contract, many not be adequate to protect again cyber-attacks.

Disruptions due to cyber security incidents could adversely affect Aptose’s business. In particular, a cyber security incident could result in the loss or corruption of data from Aptose’s research and development activities, including clinical trials, which may cause significant delays to some or all of the Company’s clinical programs. Also, the Company’s trade secrets, including unpatented know-how, technology and other proprietary information could be disclosed to competitors further to a breach, which would harm the Company’s business and competitive position. We expect that risks and exposures related to cyber security attacks will remain high for the foreseeable future due to the rapidly evolving nature and sophistication of these threats. While we have invested in the protection of data and information technology, there can be no assurance that our efforts to implement adequate security measures would be sufficient to protect the Company against cyber-attacks.

Risks Related to Our Common Shares

Our share price has been and is likely to continue to be volatile and an investment in our Common Shares could suffer a decline in value.

You should consider an investment in our Common Shares as risky and invest only if you can withstand a significant loss and wide fluctuations in the market value of your investment. The market price of our Common Shares has been highly volatile and is likely to continue to be volatile. This leads to a heightened risk of securities litigation pertaining to such volatility. Factors affecting our Common Share price include but are not limited to:

Future sales of our Common Shares by us or by our existing shareholders could cause our share price to fall.

The issuance of Common Shares by us could result in significant dilution in the equity interest of existing shareholders and adversely affect the market price of our Common Shares. Sales by existing shareholders of a large number of our Common Shares in the public market and the issuance of Common Shares in connection with strategic alliances, or the perception that such additional sales could occur, could cause the market price of our Common Shares to decline and have an undesirable impact on our ability to raise capital.

We are susceptible to stress in the global economy and therefore, our business may be affected by the current and future global financial condition.

If the increased level of volatility and market turmoil that have marked recent years continue, our operations, business, financial condition and the trading price of our Common Shares could be materially adversely affected. Furthermore, general economic conditions may have a great impact on us, including our ability to raise capital, our commercialization opportunities and our ability to establish and maintain arrangements with others for research, manufacturing, product development and sales.

An active trading market in our Common Shares may not be sustained.

Our Common Shares are listed for trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market (“NASDAQ”) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”). However, an active trading market in our Common Shares on the stock exchanges may not be sustained and we may not be able to maintain our listings.

It may be difficult for non-Canadian investors to obtain and enforce judgments against us because of our Canadian incorporation and presence.

We are a corporation existing under the laws of Canada. Some of our directors and officers, and many of the experts named in this Annual Report and the documents incorporated by reference into this Annual Report, are residents of Canada, and all or a substantial portion of their assets, and a substantial portion of our assets, are located outside the United States. Consequently, although we have appointed an agent for service of process in the United States, it may be difficult for holders of our Common Shares who reside in the United States to effect service within the United States upon our directors and officers and experts who are not residents of the United States. It may also be difficult for holders of our Common Shares who reside in the United States to realize in the United States upon judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon our civil liability and the civil liability of our directors, officers and experts under the United States federal securities laws. Investors should not assume that Canadian courts (i) would enforce judgments of United States courts obtained in actions against us or our directors, officers or experts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the United States federal securities laws or the securities or “blue sky” laws of any state within the United States or (ii) would enforce, in original actions, liabilities against us or our directors, officers or experts predicated upon the United States federal securities laws or any such state securities or “blue sky” laws.

We are likely a “passive foreign investment company” which may have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences for U.S. shareholders.

U.S. investors in our Common Shares should be aware that the Company believes it was classified as a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) during the tax year ended December 31, 2016 and based on the nature of our business, the projected composition of our gross income and the projected composition and estimated fair market value of our assets, the Company expects to be a PFIC for the current tax year ending December 31, 2017 and may be a PFIC in subsequent tax years. If the Company is a PFIC for any year during a U.S. shareholder’s holding period, then such U.S. shareholder generally will be required to treat any gain realized upon a disposition of Common Shares, or any so-called “excess distribution” received on its Common Shares, as ordinary income, and to pay an interest charge on a portion of such gain or distributions, unless the shareholder makes a timely and effective “qualified electing fund” election (“QEF election”) or a “mark-to-market” election with respect to the Common Shares. A U.S. shareholder who makes a QEF election generally must report on a current basis its share of the Company’s net capital gain and ordinary earnings for any year in which the Company is a PFIC, whether or not the Company distributes any amounts to its shareholders. However, U.S. shareholders should be aware that we do not intend to satisfy record keeping requirements that apply to a qualified electing fund, and we do not intend to supply U.S. shareholders with information that such U.S. shareholders require to report under the QEF election rules, in the event that we are a PFIC and a U.S. shareholder wishes to make a QEF election. Thus, U.S. shareholders should assume that they will not be able to make a QEF election with respect to their Common Shares. A U.S. shareholder who makes the mark-to-market election generally must include as ordinary income each year the excess of the fair market value of the Common Shares over the taxpayer’s basis therein. This paragraph is qualified in its entirety by the discussion below under the heading “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations.” Each U.S. shareholder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, U.S. local, and foreign tax consequences of the PFIC rules and the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of our Common Shares.

We are an “emerging growth company,” and we cannot be certain if the reduced reporting requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common shares less attractive to investors

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the U.S. Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. For as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

We will cease to be an emerging growth company upon the earliest of:

We cannot predict if investors will find our common shares less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our Common Shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Common Shares and our share price may be more volatile.

Any failure to maintain an effective system of internal controls may result in material misstatements of our consolidated financial statements or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations or fail to prevent fraud; and in that case, our shareholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business and could negatively impact the price of our common shares.

Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, or SOX, requires that our management assess and report annually on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting and identify any material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting. Although Section 404(b) of the SOX requires our independent registered public accounting firm to issue an annual report that addresses the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, we have opted to rely on the exemptions provided to us by virtue of being a foreign private issuer and an emerging growth company, and consequently will not be required to comply with SEC rules that implement Section 404(b) of SOX until we lose our emerging growth company status.

Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and prevent fraud. If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we might not be able to report our financial results accurately or prevent fraud; and in that case, our shareholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business and could negatively impact the price of our common shares. While we believe that we have sufficient personnel and review procedures to allow us to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we cannot assure you that we will not experience potential material weaknesses in our internal control. Even if we conclude that our internal control over financial reporting provides reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect fraud or misstatements. Failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our results of operations or cause us to fail to meet our future reporting obligations.

If we fail to timely achieve and maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to produce reliable financial reports or help prevent fraud. Our failure to achieve and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could prevent us from complying with our reporting obligations on a timely basis, which could result in the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our consolidated financial statements, harm our business and negatively impact the trading price of our common shares.

As a foreign private issuer, we are not subject to certain United States securities law disclosure requirements that apply to a domestic United States issuer, which may limit the information which would be publicly available to our shareholders.

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act that impose disclosure requirements as well as procedural requirements for proxy solicitations under Section 14 of the Exchange Act. In addition, our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and “short-swing” profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Moreover, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as a company that files as a domestic issuer whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act, nor are we generally required to comply with the SEC’s Regulation FD, which restricts the selective disclosure of material non-public information. For as long as we are a “foreign private issuer” we intend to file our annual financial statements on Form 20-F and furnish our quarterly updates on Form 6-K to the SEC for so long as we are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(g) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. However, the information we file or furnish is not the same as the information that is required in annual and quarterly reports on Form 10-K or Form 10-Q for U.S. domestic issuers. Accordingly, there may be less information publicly available concerning us than there is for a company that files as a domestic issuer.

Old Lorus was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on September 5, 1986 under the name RML Medical Laboratories Inc. On October 28, 1991, RML Medical Laboratories Inc. amalgamated with Mint Gold Resources Ltd., resulting in Old Lorus becoming a reporting issuer (as defined under applicable securities law) in Ontario, on such date. On August 25, 1992, Old Lorus changed its name to IMUTEC Corporation. On November 27, 1996, Old Lorus changed its name to Imutec Pharma Inc., and on November 19, 1998, Old Lorus changed its name to Lorus Therapeutics Inc. On October 1, 2005, Old Lorus continued under the Canada Business Corporations Act.

On the Arrangement Date, Old Lorus completed a plan of arrangement and corporate reorganization with, among others, 6650309 Canada Inc. (“New Lorus”), 6707157 Canada Inc. and Pinnacle International Lands, Inc. As a result of the plan of arrangement and reorganization, each Common Share of Old Lorus was exchanged for one Common Share of New Lorus. New Lorus continued the business of Old Lorus after the Arrangement Date with the same officers and employees and continued to be governed by the same board of directors as Old Lorus prior to the Arrangement Date.

On August 28, 2014, New Lorus changed its name from Lorus Therapeutics Inc. to Aptose Biosciences Inc. and on October 1, 2014 we consolidated our outstanding Common Shares on the basis of one post-consolidation Common Share for each twelve pre-consolidation Common Shares.

The address of the Company’s head and registered office is 5955 Airport Road Suite #228, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L4V 1R9 and our phone number is (647) 479-9828. Our corporate website is www.aptose.com. The contents of the website and items accessible through the website are specifically not incorporated in this Annual Report by reference.

Aptose has three subsidiaries: Aptose Biosciences U.S. Inc. (“Aptose USA”), a company incorporated under the laws of Delaware, USA, Aptose Suisse GmbH (“Aptose Suisse”) a company incorporated under the laws of Zug, Switzerland and NuChem Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“NuChem”), a company incorporated under the laws of Ontario, Canada. Aptose owns 100% of the issued and outstanding voting share capital of Aptose USA and Aptose Suisse and 80% of the issued and outstanding voting share capital of NuChem.

Our Common Shares are listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol “APTO” and on the TSX under the symbol “APS”.

Aptose Biosciences is a science-driven biotechnology company advancing highly differentiated agents to treat unmet medical needs in life-threatening cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and other hematologic malignancies. Based on insights into the genetic and epigenetic profiles of certain cancers and patient populations, Aptose is building a pipeline of novel and targeted oncology therapies directed at dysregulated processes and signaling pathways in cancer cells, and this strategy is intended to optimize efficacy and quality of life by minimizing the cytotoxic side effects associated with conventional therapies. Our product pipeline includes cancer drug candidates that exert potent activity as stand-alone agents and that enhance the activities of other anticancer agents without causing overlapping toxicities. Indeed, we believe our targeted products can emerge as first-in-class or best-in-class agents that deliver single agent benefit and may serve as part of a combination therapeutic strategy for specific populations of cancer patients.

We believe the future of cancer treatment and management lies in the prospective selection and treatment of patients having malignancies that are genetically or epigenetically predisposed to response based on a drug’s unique mechanism of action. We are of the view that many drugs currently approved for the treatment and management of cancer are not selective for the specific genetic alterations (targets) that cause the patient’s tumor and hence lead to significant toxicities due to off-target effects. Aptose’s strategy is to develop agents that target underlying disease-promoting mutations or altered pathways within a patient population, and we intend to apply this strategy across several therapeutic indications in oncology, including hematologic malignancies and solid tumor indications.

Aptose Biosciences has two preclinical/clinical-stage programs, and a third program that is discovery-stage and positioned for partnering. Aptose’s pan-FLT3 / BTK program, CG’806, is currently in preclinical development and moving toward IND submission, with anticipation of commencing a Phase 1 trial the first half of 2018. APTO-253 is Aptose’s second program and at the Phase 1b clinical stage for the treatment of patients with relapsed / refractory blood cancers, including AML and high-risk MDS under an IND allowed by the U.S. FDA to evaluate APTO-253 as a therapeutic agent dosed on a weekly administration schedule for the treatment of certain hematologic malignancies. The APTO-253 program is currently on clinical hold while attempts are made to manufacture a newly formulated and stable clinical supply.

The following table sets forth various product conditions in our pipeline and their respective stages of development.

CG026806 (CG’806) is a highly potent first-in-class pan-FLT3/BTK inhibitor. This small molecule therapeutic agent, exhibits a picomolar IC₅₀ toward the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 with the Internal Tandem Duplication (FLT3-ITD) and significant potency against other mutant forms of FLT3. Because of the potency of CG’806 against the FLT3 enzyme, it may become an effective therapy for AML patients, including the subset of patients having the FLT3-ITD, which occurs in approximately 30% of patients with AML and is associated with poor prognosis. Importantly, CG’806 targets other oncogenic kinases which may also be operative in AML, thereby potentially allowing the agent to become an important therapeutic option for a difficult-to-treat patient population.

In addition to potent inhibition of wild type and mutant forms of the FLT3 enzyme, CG’806 is a highly potent, reversible, non-covalent inhibitor of the wild type and mutant forms of the BTK enzymes. Overexpression of BTK drives certain B cell malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and others. Treatment of such B cell malignancies with covalent BTK inhibitors that target the cysteine residue in the active site of BTK can lead to drug resistance via mutation of the cysteine amino acid residue to a serine residue (BTK-C481S mutant). CG’806 targets the ATP-binding pocket of BTK through a reversible, non-covalent mechanism, thereby allowing CG’806 to retain low nM potency against the BTK-C481S mutant enzyme. Thus, CG’806 may serve as a novel therapeutic agent to treat B cell malignancy patients that are refractory, resistant or intolerant to covalent BTK inhibitors.

In June 2016, we announced an exclusive global option and license agreement focused on the development of CG’806 of up to US$303 million, inclusive of development, regulatory and commercial-based milestones.

APTO-253, the Company’s second program, is a small molecule therapeutic agent that inhibits expression of the c-Myc oncogene without causing general myelosuppression of the healthy bone marrow. The c-Myc oncogene is overexpressed in hematologic cancers, including AML. C-Myc is a transcription factor that regulates cell growth, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, and overexpression amplifies new sets of genes to promote oncogenesis. APTO-253 dramatically down-regulates expression of the c-Myc oncogene in AML cells and depletes those cells of the c-Myc oncoprotein, leading to apoptotic cell death in AML cells. Thus APTO-253 may serve as safe and effective c-Myc inhibitor for AML that combines well with other agents and does not impact the normal bone marrow.

In November 2015, Aptose’s phase 1b trial of APTO-253 in patients with AML was placed on clinical hold. Since that time, the Company has actively evaluated multiple formulation and production methodologies with the goal of developing a superior IV formulation. In January 2017, we have announced that after successfully manufacturing multiple non-cGMP batches of a new drug product formulation for APTO-253, including a batch that has been stable and soluble for over six months, the Company encountered an additional manufacturing setback which further delayed the return of APTO-253 to the clinic. While Aptose has made significant advances in understanding the novel c-Myc inhibitory mechanism of APTO-253, additional time will be required to define the cause of the cGMP manufacturing delay and to potentially restore APTO-253 to a state it can be developed clinically and partnered. Further, we announced that we would prioritize our resources toward the development of CG’806 and temporarily delay clinical activities with APTO-253.

Aptose’s leadership team comprises accomplished industry, financial and clinical research professionals who are dedicated to building a comprehensive anticancer drug pipeline and clinical development programs focused on targeted therapeutics directed against dysregulated oncogenic processes in patients with life-threatening hematologic malignancies.

Capital Expenditures and Divestitures

Not applicable.

As noted above, Aptose is committed to the development of anticancer drugs that target aberrant oncologic signaling that underlie a particular life-threatening malignancy. This targeted approach is intended to impact the disease-causing events in cancer cells without affecting normal processes within cells. Such an approach requires that we first identify critical underlying oncogenic mechanisms in cancer cells and then develop a therapeutic that selectively impacts such oncogenic mechanisms. As a multi-kinase pan-FLT3 / BTK inhibitor, CG’806 targets multiple critical pathways that overlap to lead to the proliferation of cancer cells, including the B-cell receptor signaling pathway and FLT3 receptor pathways that converge at various points in the signaling cascade. Further, Aptose created the APTO-253 small molecule targeted drug that inhibits expression of the c-Myc oncogene and is under development as a novel therapy for AML and the related MDS.

CG’806

In June 2016, Aptose entered into a definitive agreement with South Korean company, CrystalGenomics, Inc. (CG), granting Aptose an exclusive option to research, develop and commercialize CG026806 (CG’806) in all countries of the world except Korea and China, for all fields of use. CG’806 is a highly potent, non-covalent small molecule therapeutic agent, exhibiting a picomolar IC50 toward the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 with the Internal Tandem Duplication (FLT3-ITD and single-digit nanomolar IC50’s against Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) and its C481S mutant (BTK-C481S)). Further, CG’806 is a multi-targeted BTK / FLT3-ITD inhibitor as it impacts other relevant oncogenic targets, including the Aurora kinases (AURK), RET, MET, DDR2, and SRC kinases.

As a potent inhibitor of FLT3-ITD and other mutant forms of FLT3, CG’806 may become an effective therapy in this subset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. FLT3-ITD occurs in approximately 30% of patients with AML. Importantly, CG’806 targets other oncogenic kinases which may also be operative in FLT3-ITD AML, thereby potentially allowing the agent to become an important therapeutic option for a difficult-to-treat patient population.

The C481S mutation of BTK arises from therapy with covalent, irreversible BTK inhibitors that target the active site cysteine residue of BTK, thereby conferring resistance to other covalent BTK inhibitors. As a non-covalent, reversible inhibitor, CG’806 does not rely on the cysteine 481 residue (Cys481) for binding in the active site of BTK. Consequently, patients relapsed or refractory to other commercially approved or development stage BTK inhibitors with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) may continue to be sensitive to CG’806 therapy.

Role of BTK in B-cell signaling

BTK, a member of the TEC family kinase, is an essential element of B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, which is required for B-cell maturation, survival and proliferation. It is an upstream activator of multiple pro-survival / anti-apoptotic pathways, including the NF-KB, mTOR-AKT and ERK pathways. BTK is overexpressed in malignant cells from patients with various B-cell malignancies, such as CLL, MCL, AML, and diffuse large b-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Disruption of BCR signaling via inhibition of BTK, has been shown to lead to clinical remissions in these patients.

CG’806 as a Non-covalent, Reversible Kinase Inhibitor

Binding studies of CG’806 have confirmed non-covalent, reversible inhibition of BTK, FLT3-ITD and Aurora Kinase A. Commercially-approved, covalent BTK inhibitors possess a Michael acceptor to react with Cys481 in BTK and irreversibly inactivate the BTK enzyme. In contrast, CG’806 does not require reactivity with the Cys481 residue for inhibition of the BTK enzyme, thereby allowing CG’806 to inhibit the wild type and Cys481 mutant form of the BTK enzyme.

Preclinical In Vitro Evaluation of CG’806

CG’806 is a potent inhibitor of BTK and FLT3 wild types, as well as the BTK C481S and FLT3-ITD mutants, which represent major sources of therapy relapse or are negative prognostic signals in patients. In enzymatic assays, CG’806 has demonstrated best-in class potency against the BTK C481S mutant with an IC50 of 2.5 nM. CG’806 also has potent activity against the FLT-ITD mutation, occurring in 30-35% of AML patients, with an IC50 against the purified enzyme of 0.8 nM (800pM). Similarly, CG’806 demonstrated picomolar potency against Aurora A (IC50 0.4 nM). Notably, CG’806 is a potent inhibitor of interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase (ITK), at approximately 4 nM. ITK is speculated to play a role in suppressing activated T-cell function, hence inhibition of ITK alleviates this suppression, and provide for a potential immunomodulatory anti-tumor mechanism. Finally, CG’806 does not exhibit any inhibition of EGFR. EGFR inhibition has been speculated to contribute to the toxicity observed from the commercially approved BTK inhibitor.

BTK is overexpressed in the blast cells of approximately 80% of AML patients as compared to normal PBMCs in healthy subjects. Researchers have shown that BTK inhibition attenuates the proliferation and survival of FLT3-ITD primary AML blasts and AML cell lines, as well as inhibits the downstream activation FLT3-ITD-dependent Myc and STAT5 kinases. CG’806 is the only drug in development that inhibits both FLT3-ITD and BTK pathways reported to synergize to drive the proliferation and survival of AML.

CG’806 Xenograft Studies

In vivo subcutaneous AML tumor models of anti-cancer efficacy revealed CG’806 induced rapid and sustained tumor eradication (Figure 1). CG’806 was administered orally once daily, for 14 days. Moreover, CG’806 exhibited the sustained tumor elimination post therapy, while demonstrating no impact to murine body weight, no impacts to hematology cell counts or visible organ toxicities – necropsy and clinical pathology findings did not reveal any abnormal observations. A maximum tolerated dose has not yet been identified with murine xenograft studies, having been performed up to 450 mg/kg orally for 14 days (CrystalGenomics preliminary toxicity data).

Figure 1. Efficacy of CG’806 in MV4-11 xenograft model.

MV4-11 tumor bearing mice were administered an oral suspension once daily for 14 days of CG’806 at 2 mg/kg (blue line), 10 mg/kg (green line) or 100 mg/kg (red line), Ibrutinib, 12 mg/kg (turquoise line), or vehicle (Control; black line) with 7-day post-treatment follow-up. Tumor volumes and body weights were measured 3 times weekly.

CG’806 Intellectual Property

A PCT application providing composition of matter and use protection for CG’806 was filed in late-2013, with a potential expiry in 2033 before extension opportunities, across all major geographies.

CG’806 Status

CG’806 is currently in IND-enabling studies and Aptose expects to file an IND for a first-in-human clinical trial by late-2017. CG’806 is being developed as a once-daily, oral therapeutic.

APTO-253

APTO-253 is a novel small molecule that inhibits expression of the c-Myc oncogene, leading to cell cycle arrest and programmed cell death (apoptosis) in human-derived solid tumor and hematologic cancer cells. Likewise, in nonclinical pharmacology studies APTO-253 demonstrates in vivo anti-tumor activity against xenograft models of solid tumors and hematologic cancers, with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells exhibiting a particular sensitivity to APTO-253. A Phase 1 study with APTO-253 was completed and demonstrated modest clinical activity in patients with advanced solid tumors, and APTO-253 is currently under evaluation in a Phase 1b trial in patients with acute leukemias (including AML) and high-risk MDS. The original formulation of APTO-253 led to filter-clogging in the Phase 1b trial, and since that time Aptose has developed an improved formulation speculated to avoid such events moving forward. Further, manufacturing delays of a clinical supply with the new drug product formulation led to delays in the Phase 1b clinical trial, and Aptose is now performing studies to determine the root cause and corrective action of the manufacturing delay. It is possible that these issues can be resolved during the second half of 2017 such that the clinical supply of APTO-253 can be manufactured with confidence and the program can be positioned for a return to the clinical trial and/or partnering.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

AML is a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of dysfunctional myeloblasts that do not mature into healthy blood cells. It is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be approximately 19,950 new cases of AML and approximately 10,430 deaths from AML in the U.S. in 2016. Standard induction therapy with chemotherapy is successful in many AML patients, but the majority of these patients will relapse with treatment refractory disease. The average age of a patient with AML is 67 years.  Approximately 48% patients less than age 60, and 34% of patients greater than or equal to age 60, with residual disease after induction therapy will achieve a remission, as reported by Datamonitor.

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

MDS are a group of blood and bone marrow disorders. In MDS, stem cells do not mature normally, and the number of blasts (immature cells) and dysplastic (abnormally developed) cells increases. Also, the number of healthy mature cells decreases, meaning there are fewer normal red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The numbers of blood cells are often called blood cell counts. Because of the decrease in healthy cells, people with MDS often have anemia (a lowered blood cell count), and may have neutropenia (a low white blood cell count) and thrombocytopenia (a low platelet count). Also, the chromosomes (long strands of genes) in the bone marrow cells may be abnormal. According to the American Cancer Society, there are approximately 13,000 new cases of MDS annually in the US. Additionally, Datamonitor Healthcare reports median survival in higher risk MDS patients may range between five months and two years. There are several subtypes of MDS, and some subtypes of MDS may eventually turn into AML.

Solid Tumors

Phase I data with APTO-253 in patients with solid tumors and preclinical data in solid tumor cells, including non-small cell lung cancer (“NSCLC”), identified an opportunity for APTO-253 in patients possessing cancers with reduced Klf4 Gene expression. Our prior Phase 1 study with APTO-253 also revealed a favorable safety profile for APTO-253. Various solid tumors have exhibited suppressed levels of Klf4 Gene in scientific publications, including colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, prostate and cervical cancers, as well as NSCLC. NSCLC is an indication that we consider to have a large market potential and important unmet need worldwide, in which the Klf4 Gene is a tumor suppressor that is present in case-matched normal cells but depressed in NSCLC tumor cells. Aptose may in the future evaluate the clinical utility of APTO-253 in additional studies in a subset of NSCLC patients that may be predisposed to a response with a therapeutically activating the Klf4 Gene.

In January 2011, Aptose announced the first patient enrolment in a Phase I dose-escalation study for APTO-253 in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors who are unresponsive to conventional therapy or for which no effective therapy is available. The study was initially being conducted at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and later added MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston as a second site. Objectives of the study included determination or characterization of the safety profile, maximum tolerated dose, and antitumor activity of APTO-253, as well as pharmacokinetics and a recommended Phase II dose for subsequent clinical trials.

In June 2012, Aptose announced the addition of MD Anderson Cancer Center as a second site in the then ongoing APTO-253 Phase I clinical trial, under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Wheler as the principal investigator. In addition, Aptose announced that the study had successfully completed the accelerated drug dose escalation stage (Stage 1), with further escalation under way in the non-accelerated dose escalation stage (Stage 2) for the purpose of determining the maximal tolerated dose level and recommended Phase II dose. The addition of a second site expanded patient availability for enrollment.

In January 2013, Aptose announced that Phase I clinical study of APTO-253 has successfully escalated to the target dose level based on predicted and observed clinical effects without limitation by toxicity. The success of this study allowed Aptose to initiate a biomarker clinical investigation to further explore the effects of the drug at relevant doses determined in the clinical trial.

In April 2013, Aptose announced the presentation of preclinical data at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (“AACR”), held in Washington, DC from April 6, 2013 through April 10, 2013. The poster presentation titled “Utilization of KLF4 as a pharmacodynamic biomarker for in vivo anticancer activity of a novel small molecule drug APTO-253” covered data from preclinical studies on anticancer activity and tumor biomarker analysis for APTO-253 in animal models of human NSCLC. The studies demonstrate that APTO-253 has antitumor activity with a dose-response effect in NSCLC that is associated with a dose dependent increase of the KLF4 gene.

In July 2013, Aptose announced the results of the Phase 1 clinical trial of APTO-253. In this first-in-man, dose-escalation clinical study, APTO-253 demonstrated a favorable safety profile, as well as encouraging signs of antitumor activity. The design of this trial consisted of APTO-253 as a single agent in patients with advanced solid tumors resistant to multiple standard therapies. The study enrolled 27 patients, all of which had failed a median of four prior chemotherapies. Although this was primarily a dose-escalation safety study, efficacy and pharmacokinetics were also explored.

The clinical trial enrolled patients at seven dose levels ranging from 20 to 229 mg/m2. Of the 27 patients enrolled, 17 were evaluable for efficacy. Of these 17 patients, seven (41%) achieved stable disease by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (“RECIST”). This included patients with colorectal, lung, appendiceal, liver and uterine cancers. Dose related activity was demonstrated at the higher dose levels (176 and 229 mg/m2). At these two highest dose levels, four of five evaluable patients (80%) achieved sustained stable disease by RECIST ranging from 5.6 months to 8 months, representative of disease control. Of these, a patient with non-small cell lung cancer at the highest dose level additionally demonstrated non-index tumor shrinkage.

The safety assessment indicated that APTO-253 was well tolerated at all dose levels tested in this trial. The dose escalation was not limited by toxicity. The most common adverse event was Grade 1 or 2 fatigue seen in three patients. There was one Grade 3 toxicity, asymptomatic low blood phosphate level that was reversible by supplementation with phosphates. The pharmacokinetic profile was consistent with the predictive profile seen preclinically, and the elimination profile and half-life in patients were suggestive of a very rapid distribution phase and prolonged retention.

Multi-Targeting Bromodomain Program

In November 2015, Aptose entered into a definitive agreement with Moffitt Cancer Center for exclusive global rights to potent, multi-targeting, single-agent inhibitors for the treatment of hematologic and solid tumor cancers. These small molecule agents are inhibitors of the Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal motif (BET) protein family members, which simultaneously target specific kinase enzymes. The molecules developed by Moffitt exhibited potency against the BET family members and specific oncogenic kinases which, when inhibited, are synergistic with BET inhibition. Under the agreement, Aptose would gain access to the drug candidates developed by Moffitt and the underlying intellectual property covering the chemical modifications enabling potent bromodomain (BRD) inhibition on the chemical backbone of a kinase inhibitor.

In January 2017, Aptose terminated the collaboration with Moffitt Cancer Center for the development of the dual BRD4 / JAK2 inhibitor program.

Multi-Targeting Epigenetic Program

In November 2015, Aptose also announced an exclusive drug discovery partnership with Laxai Avanti Life Sciences (LALS) for their expertise in next generation epigenetic-based therapies. Under the agreement, LALS will be responsible for developing multiple clinical candidates, including optimizing candidates that exert dual BRD4 / kinase inhibitory activity. Based on available resources, Aptose halted further investment in the collaboration with LALS in late 2016. However, the program delivered novel IP and hit molecules for further optimization. As a consequence, Aptose may choose to out-license the program.

Discontinued Programs

In January 2016, Aptose provided notification of termination to Genentech for the intellectual property for IL-17E, and will cease further development activities for APTO-500 (MELK inhibitor), as the programs fall outside of the scope of Aptose’s pipeline and vision.

Clinical Indications for Aptose Programs

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

AML is a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of dysfunctional myeloblasts that do not mature into healthy blood cells. It is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be approximately 19,950 new cases of AML and approximately 10,430 deaths from AML in the U.S. in 2016. Standard induction therapy with chemotherapy is successful in many AML patients, but the majority of these patients will relapse with treatment refractory disease. The average age of a patient with AML is 67 years.  Approximately 48% patients less than age 60, and 34% of patients greater than or equal to age 60, with residual disease after induction therapy will achieve a remission, as reported by Datamonitor.

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

MDS are a group of blood and bone marrow disorders. In MDS, stem cells do not mature normally, and the number of blasts (immature cells) and dysplastic (abnormally developed) cells increases. Also, the number of healthy mature cells decreases, meaning there are fewer normal red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The numbers of blood cells are often called blood cell counts. Because of the decrease in healthy cells, people with MDS often have anemia (a lowered blood cell count), and may have neutropenia (a low white blood cell count) and thrombocytopenia (a low platelet count). Also, the chromosomes (long strands of genes) in the bone marrow cells may be abnormal. According to the American Cancer Society, there are approximately 13,000 new cases of MDS annually in the US. Additionally, Datamonitor Healthcare reports median survival in higher risk MDS patients may range between five months and two years. There are several subtypes of MDS, and some subtypes of MDS may eventually turn into AML.

Business OF THE COMPANY

NASDAQ listing

On October 21, 2014, Aptose announced that its Common Shares were approved for listing on NASDAQ under the symbol “APTO” and began trading on NASDAQ on October 23, 2014. Aptose has retained its listing on the TSX under the symbol “APS”.

Reverse Stock Split

On October 1, 2014, Aptose filed articles of amendment to give effect to the reverse stock split (consolidation) of its Common Shares on the basis of one post-consolidation Common Share for each 12 pre-consolidation Common Shares (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The number of Common Shares outstanding as of the time of the announcement was 139,324,451. The number of Common Shares outstanding immediately following the Reverse Stock Split was 11,610,402.

Name and year end change

On September 2, 2014, we announced that we had changed our name to Aptose Biosciences Inc. from the previous name of Lorus Therapeutics Inc. The new name reflects our new focus and clinical-stage pipeline strategy, as an oncology research and development organization advancing new therapeutics and molecular diagnostics based on insights into the genetic profiles of certain cancers and patient populations.  Our lead product candidate APTO-253 exerts its antitumor effects by activating a key apoptotic pathway in tumor cells. The term "apoptosis" represents the innate self-killing capacity of cells triggered upon the onset of cellular damage, and cancer cells employ various mechanisms to avoid apoptosis. For these reasons, "apoptosis" is the intuitive root of the name of "Aptose Biosciences." In addition, our stated goal with respect to the name change is to align the product portfolio and product development with the strategic course set by its new management team.

Effective July 17, 2014, we changed our fiscal year end from May 31 to December 31. As a result of that change the reference period for 2014 is for the seven months ended December 31, 2014 while the following periods are for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and therefore not directly comparable to the seven month period.

Changes in Management

On October 28, 2013, William G. Rice, Ph.D., was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board while Dr. Aiping Young continued as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company until she departed the Company on March 18, 2014. Aptose also appointed Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., to serve as a special advisor to fulfill the functions of the Company’s Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs. Dr. Von Hoff is an independent contractor and advisor but is not an employee of Aptose. The Board, after receiving the recommendation of a special committee composed of independent directors formed in September 2013 to review strategic alternatives available to the Company, designed to secure the long-term financial and operational sustainability of the Company with a view to enhance shareholder value, unanimously approved the appointments. In doing so, the Board determined that such appointments were in the best interest of Aptose, as they were considered to enhance the management team and advisory team with the addition of two seasoned and experienced biotechnology executives bringing extensive clinical development and capital raising experience and improving the awareness and presence of the Company in the United States. On April 10, 2014, Dr. Rice was additionally appointed as President of the Company.

On October 29, 2013, Brian Druker, M.D., was appointed as the Chair of the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board. Like Dr. Von Hoff, Dr. Druker is an independent contractor and advisor but not an employee of Aptose.

On December 2, 2013, Avanish Vellanki was appointed as Chief Business Officer of the Company, to manage global business development, licensing and corporate strategy, and Gregory K. Chow was appointed as Chief Financial Officer, with responsibility for corporate finance and accounting functions for the Company. On April 10, 2014, Messrs. Vellanki and Chow were additionally appointed as Senior Vice Presidents of the Company.

On September 8, 2014, Stephen B. Howell was appointed Chief Medical Officer of the Company.

Mr. Vellanki resigned from Aptose Biosciences Inc. effective March 24, 2017.

Financial Strategy

To meet our future financing requirements, we intend to finance our operations through some or all of the following methods: public or private equity financings, collaborative and licensing agreements. We intend to pursue financing opportunities as they arise. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” above.

At-The-Market (“ATM”) Facility

On April 2, 2015, we entered into an ATM equity facility with Cowen and Company, LLC, acting as sole agent. Under the terms of this facility, we may, from time to time, sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering value of up to US$20 million through Cowen and Company, LLC on the Nasdaq Capital Market. We determine, at our sole discretion, the timing and number of shares to be sold under this ATM facility. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, the Company issued 3,673,933Common Shares under the ATM at a price of US$1.65 per share for gross proceeds of approximately Cdn $7.97 million.

April 2014 Public Offering

In April 2014, we completed a public offering in Canada and a simultaneous private placement in the United States of Common Shares. Aptose issued 4,708,334 (56,500,000 pre-consolidation) Common Shares at a purchase price of $6.00 ($0.50 pre-consolidation) per Common Share including 541,667 (6,500,000 pre-consolidation) Common Shares pursuant to the partial exercise of an over-allotment option, for aggregate gross proceeds of $28,250,000. The total costs associated with the transaction were approximately $2,665,914 which includes a cash commission of $1,977,500 based on 7% of the gross proceeds received as part of the offering.

December 2013 Public Offering

In December 2013, Aptose completed a public offering of Common Shares. Aptose issued 1,060,833 (pre-consolidation 12,730,000) common shares at a price of $6.60 (pre-consolidation $0.55) per common share and an additional 159,125 (pre-consolidation 1,909,500) common shares upon the exercise of the overallotment option for aggregate gross proceeds of $8.1 million.

The total costs associated with the transaction were approximately $1.1 million which include a cash commission of $483 thousand based on 6% of the gross proceeds received as part of the offering, and the issuance of 73,198 (pre-consolidation 878,370) broker warrants with an estimated fair value of $350 thousand. The fair value of these warrants was determined using the Black Scholes model with a 24 month time to maturity, an assumed volatility of 130% and a risk free interest rate of 1.5%. Each broker warrant was exercisable into one common share of the Company at a price of $6.60 (pre-consolidation $0.55) for a period of twenty four months following closing of the offering.

June 2013 Promissory Notes and Warrants

In June 2013, we completed a private placement of units at a price of $1,000 per unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $918,000. Each unit consisted of (i) a $1,000 principal amount of unsecured promissory note and (ii) 1,000 Common Share purchase warrants. The promissory notes bore interest at a rate of 10% per annum, payable monthly and were due June 19, 2014. Each warrant entitled the holder to purchase one Common Share of Aptose at a price per Common Share equal to $3.00 ($0.25 pre-consolidation) at any time until June 19, 2015. These notes and any interest accrued thereon were repaid in full in April 2014.

September 2013 Convertible Promissory Notes

In September 2013, we completed a private placement of convertible promissory notes for aggregate gross proceeds of $600,000. Each convertible promissory note consisted of a $1,000 principal amount of unsecured promissory note convertible into Common Shares of the Company at a price per share of $3.60 ($0.30 pre-consolidation). The promissory notes bore interest at a rate of 10% per annum, payable quarterly and were due September 26, 2015. At December 31, 2015, all of the convertible promissory notes had been converted into Common Shares of the Company.

September 2013 Loans payable

In September 2013, we entered into loan agreements for proceeds of $150,000. The loan agreements were unsecured, bore interest at a rate of 10% per annum payable quarterly and were due September 30, 2015. We repaid the loans and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon on April 25, 2014.]

Warrant Exercises

During the year ended December 31, 2015, 81,000 Common Share purchase warrants were exercised for proceeds of $348,000.

In addition to the cash proceeds received, the original fair value related to these warrants of $155 thousand was transferred from warrants to share capital. This resulted in a total amount of $503 thousand credited to share capital.

During the seven months ended December 31, 2014, 1,231,000 Common Share purchase warrants were exercised for proceeds of $6,648,000.

During the year ended May 31, 2014, 868,000 Common Share purchase warrants were exercised for proceeds of $4,458,000.

Agreements

Manufacturing Agreements

We currently rely upon subcontractors for the manufacture of our drug candidates. The subcontractors manufacture clinical material according to current Good Manufacturing Practices, or GMPs, at contract manufacturing organizations that have been approved by our quality assurance department staff, after having conducted audits to ensure such manufacturers meet the requirements of the relative regulatory authorities.

Manufactured product for clinical purposes is tested for conformance with product specifications prior to release by our quality assurance staff. GMP batches of our drug candidates are subjected to prospectively designed stability test protocols.

License Agreements

CrystalGenomics

In June 2016, Aptose entered into a definitive agreement with South Korean company, CrystalGenomics, Inc. (CG), granting Aptose an exclusive option to research, develop and commercialize CG026806 (CG’806) in all countries of the world except Korea and China, for all fields of use. CG’806 is a highly potent, non-covalent small molecule therapeutic agent, exhibiting single-digit nanomolar IC50’s against Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) and its C481S mutant (BTK-C481S) and a picomolar IC50 toward the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 with the Internal Tandem Duplication (FLT3-ITD).

Moffitt Cancer Center

In November 2015, Aptose entered into a definitive agreement with Moffitt Cancer Center for exclusive global rights to potent, multi-targeting, single-agent inhibitors for the treatment of hematologic and solid tumor cancers. Under the agreement, Aptose will gain access to the drug candidates developed by Moffitt and the underlying intellectual property covering the chemical modifications enabling potent bromodomain (BRD) inhibition on the chemical backbone of a kinase inhibitor. In January 2017, Aptose terminated the collaboration with Moffitt Cancer Center and halted further investment into the program.

Laxai Avanti Life Sciences (LALS)

In November 2015, Aptose also announced an exclusive drug discovery partnership with Laxai Avanti Life Sciences (LALS) for their expertise in next generation epigenetic-based therapies. Under the agreement, LALS would be responsible for developing multiple clinical candidates, including optimizing candidates derived from Aptose's relationship with the Moffitt Cancer Center. Aptose will own global rights to all newly discovered candidates characterized and optimized under the collaboration, including all generated intellectual property. Aptose halted further efforts with LALS in late 2016.

Other

From time to time, we enter into other research and technology agreements with third parties under which research is conducted and monies expended. These agreements outline the responsibilities of each participant and the appropriate arrangements in the event the research produces a product candidate.

Intellectual Property and Protection of Confidential Information and Technology

We believe that our issued patents and pending applications are important in establishing and maintaining a competitive position with respect to our products and technology.

APTO-253

We have been issued 21 patents and have 16 pending patents worldwide for our in-house small molecules.  These patents cover APTO-253 composition of matter and methods of treating different cancers with APTO-253, including solid tumors and leukemia.   Composition of matter patents expire in 2028 in the United States and 2026 in other countries.  Our patents also include several compounds that are similar to APTO-253, which provide protection from competitors seeking to develop anticancer products that are related in chemical structure to APTO-253.

Regulatory Strategy

Our overall regulatory strategy is to work with the appropriate government departments which regulate the use and sale of therapeutic drug products. This includes Health Canada in Canada, the Food and Drug Administration in the United States, the European Medicines Agency in Europe, and other local regulatory agencies with oversight of preclinical studies, clinical trials and marketing of therapeutic products. Where possible, we intend to take advantage of opportunities for accelerated development of drugs designed to treat rare and serious or life-threatening diseases. We also intend to pursue priority evaluation of any application for marketing approval filed in Canada, the United States or the European Union and to file additional drug applications in other markets where commercial opportunities exist. We may not be able to pursue these opportunities successfully.

Revenues

The Company has not earned substantial revenues from its drug candidates and is therefore considered to be in the development stage.

Employees

The business of the Company requires personnel with specialized skills and knowledge in oncology. Researchers must be able to design and implement studies to assess the efficacy of anticancer drugs. Specialized knowledge and skills relating to chemistry and formulation process development are also needed. Such knowledge and skills are needed to develop product specific analytical methods and formulation processes. The Company’s business also requires clinical and regulatory expertise and knowledge. The Company has trained scientists and personnel with broad experience in these fields.

As at December 31, 2016, we employed 21 full-time persons and 2 part-time persons in research and drug development and administration activities. Subsequent to December 31, 2016, and as a result of the Company’s reprioritization of its pipeline, we executed a reduction in workforce bringing the total to 14 full-time persons and 3 part-time research persons in research and drug development and administrative activities. Four of our employees hold Ph.D.’s and numerous others hold degrees and designations such as MSc, BSc, CPA (CA), CPA (California) and MBA.

To encourage a focus on achieving long-term performance, employees and members of the Board have the ability to acquire an ownership interest in the Company through Aptose’s share option and alternate compensation plans. See Item 6.B – Compensation.

None of our employees are unionized, and we consider our relations with our employees to be good.

Office Facilities

Our head office, which occupies 5,300 square feet, is located 5955 Airport Road Suite #228, Mississauga, Ontario. The leased premise is office space. Our current lease expires in April, 2020.

We have executive offices in San Diego and have entered into a lease agreement for office space, located at 12770 High Bluffs Drive, San Diego, California which occupies approximately 2,204 square feet. This leased premise is used for administrative purposes only. This lease expires January, 2020. In December 2016, we terminated the lease early, at no cost, on our administrative offices in San Francisco located at 3 Lagoon Drive, Redwood City, California. The original lease was to expire in June 2018. Finally, we have leased laboratory space in San Diego at 3550 General Atomics Court. The lease is for 1,386 square feet and the lease expires in February 2018.

Components and Raw Materials

Standard raw materials, component parts, and products required by the Company in pursuing its activities are supplied from reputable companies active in the biotechnology industry. Pricing is predictable as there are many alternatives of such supplies that are readily available.

Competition

The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are characterized by rapidly evolving technology and intense competition. There are numerous companies in these industries that are focusing their efforts on activities similar to ours. Some of these are companies with established positions in the pharmaceutical industry and may have substantially more financial and technical resources, more extensive research and development capabilities, and greater marketing, distribution, production and human resources than Aptose. In addition, we face competition from other companies for opportunities to enter into partnerships with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions.

Competition with our potential products may include chemotherapeutic agents, monoclonal antibodies, antisense therapies, small molecules, immunotherapies, vaccines and other biologics with novel mechanisms of action. These drugs may kill cancer cells indiscriminately, or through a targeted approach, and some have the potential to be used in non-cancer indications. We also expect that we will experience competition from established and emerging pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that have other forms of treatment for the cancers that we target, including drugs currently in development for the treatment of cancer that employ a number of novel approaches for attacking these cancer targets. Cancer is a complex disease with more than 100 indications requiring drugs for treatment. The drugs in competition with our potential drugs have specific targets for attacking the disease, targets which are not necessarily the same as ours. These competitive drugs, however, could potentially also be used together in combination therapies with our drugs to manage the disease. Other factors that could render our potential products less competitive may include the stage of development, where competitors’ products may achieve earlier commercialization, as well as superior patent protection, better safety profiles, or a preferred cost-benefit profile.

Environmental Compliance

The Company’s research and development activities involve the controlled use of hazardous and radioactive materials and, accordingly, the Company is subject to federal, provincial and local laws and regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of such materials and certain waste products. To the knowledge of the Company, compliance with such environmental laws and regulations does not and will not have any significant impact on its capital spending, profits or competitive position within the normal course of its operating activities. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will not be required to incur significant costs to comply with environmental laws and regulations in the future or that its operations, business or assets will not be materially adversely affected by current or future environmental laws or regulations.

Government Regulation

Overview

Regulation(s) by government authorities in Canada, the United States, and the European Union are significant factors in guiding our current research and drug development activities. To clinically test, manufacture and market drug products for therapeutic use, we must be in compliance with guidance and regulations established by the regulatory agencies in the countries in which we currently operate or intend to operate.

The laws of most of these countries require the licensing of manufacturing facilities, carefully controlled research and the extensive testing of products. Biotechnology companies must establish the safety and efficacy of their new products in clinical trials; they must establish and comply with current GMP(s) for the manufacturing of the product and control over marketing activities before being allowed to market a product. The safety and efficacy of a new drug must be shown through human clinical trials of the drug carried out in accordance with the guidance and regulations established by local and federal regulatory agencies.

The process of completing clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval for a new drug takes a number of years and requires the expenditure of substantial resources. Once a new drug or product license application is submitted, regulatory agencies may not review the application in a timely manner and may not approve the product. Even after an NDA submission has occurred and or approval has been obtained, further studies, including post-marketing studies, may be required to provide additional data on efficacy and safety necessary to confirm the approved indication or to gain approval for the use of the new drug as a treatment for clinical indications other than those for which the new drug was initially tested. Also, regulatory agencies require post-marketing surveillance programs to monitor a new drug’s side effects, safety and long term effects of the product. A serious safety or effectiveness problem involving an approved new drug, may result in a regulatory agency mandating a withdrawal of the new drug from the market and possible civil action. It is possible that we could encounter such difficulties or excessive costs in our efforts to secure necessary approvals, which could delay or prevent us from manufacturing or marketing our products.

In addition to the regulatory product approval framework, biotechnology companies, including Aptose, are subject to regulation under local, provincial, state and federal law, including requirements regarding occupational safety, laboratory practices, environmental protection and hazardous substance control, and may be subject to other present and future local, provincial, state, federal and foreign regulation, including possible future regulation of the biotechnology industry.

Regulation in Canada

In Canada, the manufacture and sale of new drugs are controlled by Health Canada. New drugs must pass through a number of testing stages, including pre-clinical testing and human clinical trials. Pre-clinical testing involves testing the new drug’s chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology in vitro and in vivo. Successful results (that is, potentially valuable pharmacological activity combined with an acceptable low level of toxicity) enable the developer of the new drug to file a clinical trial application to begin clinical trials involving humans.

To study a drug in Canadian patients, a clinical trial application submission must be filed with Health Canada. The clinical trial application submission must contain specified information, including the results of the pre-clinical tests completed at the time of the submission and any available information regarding use of the drug in humans. In addition, since the method of manufacture may affect the efficacy and safety of a new drug, information on manufacturing methods and standards and the stability of the drug substance and dosage form must be presented. Production methods and quality control procedures must be in place to ensure an acceptably pure product, essentially free of contamination, and to ensure uniformity with respect to all quality aspects.

In addition, all federally regulated trials must be approved and monitored by an independent committee of doctors, scientists, advocates and others to ensure safety and ethical standards. These committees are called Institutional Review Boards (“IRBs”) or Ethics Review Boards (“ERBs”). The review boards study and approve all study-related documents before a clinical trial begins and also carefully monitor data to detect benefit or harm, and validity of results.

Provided Health Canada does not reject a clinical trial application submission and IRB or ERB approval has been obtained, clinical trials can begin. Clinical trials for product candidates in Canada, as in the U.S. generally are carried out in three phases. Phase I involves studies to evaluate toxicity and ideal dose levels in healthy humans. The new drug is administered to human patients who have met the clinical trial entry criteria to determine pharmacokinetics, human tolerance and prevalence of any adverse side effects. Phases II and III involve therapeutic studies. In Phase II, efficacy, dosage, side effects and safety are established in a small number of patients who have the disease or disorder that the new drug is intended to treat. In Phase III, there are controlled clinical trials in which the new drug is administered to a large number of patients who are likely to receive benefit from the new drug. In Phase III, the effectiveness of the new drug in patients is compared to that of standard accepted methods of treatment in order to provide sufficient data for the statistical proof of safety and efficacy for the new drug.

If clinical studies establish that a new drug has value, the manufacturer submits a new drug submission application to Health Canada for marketing approval. The new drug submission contains all information known about the new drug, including the results of pre-clinical testing and clinical trials. Information about a substance contained in new drug submission includes its proper name, its chemical name, and details on its method of manufacturing and purification, and its biological, pharmacological and toxicological properties. The new drug submission also provides information about the dosage form of the new drug, including a quantitative listing of all ingredients used in its formulation, its method of manufacture, manufacturing facility information, packaging and labelling, the results of stability tests, and its diagnostic or therapeutic claims and side effects, as well as details of the clinical trials to support the safety and efficacy of the new drug. Furthermore, for biological products, an on-site evaluation is completed to assess the production process and manufacturing facility. It is required prior to the issuance of a notice of compliance. All aspects of the new drug submission are critically reviewed by Health Canada. If a new drug submission is found satisfactory, a notice of compliance is issued permitting the new drug to be sold for the approved use. In Canada, an establishment license must be obtained prior to marketing the product.

Health Canada has a policy of priority evaluation of new drug submissions for all drugs intended for serious or life-threatening diseases for which no drug product has received regulatory approval in Canada and for which there is reasonable scientific evidence to indicate that the proposed new drug is safe and may provide effective treatment.

The monitoring of a new drug does not cease once it is on the market. For example, a manufacturer of a new drug must report any new information received concerning serious side effects, as well as the failure of the new drug to produce desired effects. If Health Canada determines it to be in the interest of public health, a notice of compliance for a new drug may be suspended and the new drug may be removed from the market.

A post surveillance program involves clinical trials conducted after a drug is marketed (referred to as Phase IV studies in the United States) and is an important source of information on as yet undetected adverse outcomes, especially in populations that may not have been involved in the premarketing trials (e.g., children, the elderly, pregnant women) and the drug’s long-term morbidity and mortality profile. Regulatory authorities may require companies to conduct Phase IV studies as a condition of market approval. Companies often conduct post-marketing studies in the absence of a regulatory mandate.

An exception to the foregoing requirements relating to the manufacture and sale of a new drug is the limited authorization that may be available in respect of the sale of new drugs for emergency treatment. Under the special access program, Health Canada may authorize the sale of a quantity of a new drug for human use to a specific practitioner for the emergency treatment of a patient under the practitioner’s care. Prior to authorization, the practitioner must supply Health Canada with information concerning the medical emergency for which the new drug is required, such data as is in the possession of the practitioner with respect to the use, safety and efficacy of the new drug, the names of the institutions at which the new drug is to be used and such other information as may be requested by Health Canada. In addition, the practitioner must agree to report to both the drug manufacturer and Health Canada the results of the new drug’s use in the medical emergency, including information concerning adverse reactions, and must account to Health Canada for all quantities of the new drug made available.

The Canadian regulatory approval requirements for new drugs outlined above are similar to those of other major pharmaceutical markets. While the testing carried out in Canada is often acceptable for the purposes of regulatory submissions in other countries, individual regulatory authorities may request supplementary testing during their assessment of any submission. Therefore, the clinical testing conducted under Health Canada authorization or the approval of regulatory authorities of other countries may not be accepted by regulatory authorities outside Canada or other countries.

Regulation in the United States

In the United States, the FDA controls and investigates the investigation, manufacturing, and sale of new drugs. New drugs require FDA approval of a New Drug Application prior to commercial sale. In the case of certain biological products, a Biological License Application must be obtained prior to marketing and batch releasing. As in Canada, to obtain marketing approval, data from adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials, demonstrating to the FDA’s satisfaction a new drug’s safety and effectiveness for its intended use, are required. Data are generated in studies conducted pursuant to an IND submission, similar to that required for a clinical trial application in Canada. Clinical trials with human subjects are characterized as Phase I, Phase II and Phase III trials or a combination thereof. In a marketing application, the manufacturer must also demonstrate the identity, potency, quality and purity of the active ingredients of the new drug involved, and the stability of those ingredients. Further, the manufacturing facilities, equipment, processes and quality controls for the new drug must comply with the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations for drugs or biological products both in a pre-licensing inspection before product licensing and in subsequent periodic inspections after licensing. An establishment license grants the sponsor permission to fabricate, package, label, distribute, import, wholesale or test of the newly approved drug.

Federally regulated trials must be approved and monitored by an independent committee of doctors, scientists, advocates and others to ensure safety and ethical standards. These committees are called Institutional Review Boards (“IRBs”) or Ethics Review Boards (“ERBs”). The review boards study and approve all study-related documents before a clinical trial begins and also carefully monitor data to detect benefit or harm, and validity of results.

The above describes briefly what is necessary for a new drug to be approved for marketing in North America. The European Medicines Agency and Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency are also important regulatory authorities in drug development. Together with the FDA, they are the three International Conference on Harmonization parties which oversee the three largest markets for drug sales.

Old Lorus was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on September 5, 1986 under the name RML Medical Laboratories Inc. On October 28, 1991, RML Medical Laboratories Inc. amalgamated with Mint Gold Resources Ltd., resulting in Old Lorus becoming a reporting issuer (as defined under applicable securities law) in Ontario, on such date. On August 25, 1992 Old Lorus changed its name to IMUTEC Corporation. On November 27, 1996, Old Lorus changed its name to Imutec Pharma Inc., and on November 19, 1998, Old Lorus changed its name to Lorus Therapeutics Inc. On October 1, 2005, Old Lorus continued under the Canada Business Corporations Act.

On the Arrangement Date, Old Lorus completed a plan of arrangement and corporate reorganization with, among others, New Lorus, 6707157 Canada Inc. and Pinnacle International Lands, Inc. As a result of the plan of arrangement and reorganization, each Common Share of Old Lorus was exchanged for one Common Share of New Lorus. New Lorus continued the business of Old Lorus after the Arrangement Date with the same officers and employees and continued to be governed by the same board of directors as Old Lorus prior to the Arrangement Date.

On August 28, 2014, New Lorus changed its name from Lorus Therapeutics Inc. to Aptose Biosciences Inc. and on October 1, 2014, we consolidated our outstanding Common Shares on the basis of one post-consolidation Common Share for each twelve pre-consolidation Common Shares.

The address of the Company’s head and registered office is 5955 Airport Road, Suite #228, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L4V 1R9 and our phone number is (647) 479-9828. Our corporate website is www.aptose.com. The contents of the website and items accessible through the website are specifically not incorporated in this Annual Report by reference.

Aptose has three subsidiaries: Aptose USA, a company incorporated under the laws of Delaware, USA, Aptose Suisse a company incorporated under the laws of Zug, Switzerland and NuChem, a company incorporated under the laws of Ontario, Canada. Aptose owns 100% of the issued and outstanding voting share capital of Aptose USA and Aptose Suisse and 80% of the issued and outstanding voting share capital of NuChem.

Our Common Shares are listed on the TSX under the symbol “APS” and on NASDAQ under the symbol “APTO.”

Our head office, which occupies 5,300 square feet, is located 5955 Airport Road Suite #228, Mississauga, Ontario. The leased premise is office space. Our current lease expires in April, 2020.

We have executive offices in San Diego and have entered into a lease agreement for office space, located at 12770 High Bluffs Drive, San Diego, California that occupies approximately 2,204 square feet. This leased premise is used for administrative purposes only. This lease expires January, 2020. In December 2016, we terminated the lease early, at no cost, on our administrative offices in San Francisco located at 3 Lagoon Drive, Redwood City, California. The original lease was to expire in June 2018. Finally, we have leased laboratory space in San Diego at 3550 General Atomics Court. The lease is for 1,386 square feet and the lease expires in February 2018.

Not applicable.

Please see our Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 in Exhibit 15.1, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Please see our Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 in Exhibit 15.1, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Certain information concerning research and development and intellectual property is set forth in Item 4, “Information on the Company”.

We have a history of operating losses and have not been profitable since our inception in 1986. We expect to continue to incur losses for at least the next several years as we and our collaborators and licensees pursue clinical trials and research and development efforts. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” above.

As at December 31, 2016, we had not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements.

As December 31, 2016 

The Company has entered into various contracts with service providers with respect to the clinical development of APTO-253 and for its CG’806 development program. As at December 31, 2016, these contracts will result in future payments of approximately $430 thousand.

The Company enters into research, development and license agreements in the ordinary course of business where the Company receives research services and rights to proprietary technologies. Milestone and royalty payments that may become due under various agreements are dependent on, among other factors, clinical trials, regulatory approvals and ultimately the successful development of a new drug, the outcome and timing of which is uncertain. Under its license agreement with CrystalGenomics, the Company has future contingent milestones payable totaling US$2.0 million relating to the filing of an IND, $16 million on the initiation of Phase II and Pivotal clinical trials, and regulatory milestones totaling $44 million. In addition, the Company also has a contingent future obligation to make royalty payments on future sales of the commercialized product. The Company does not anticipate making any payments under this license agreement in 2017.

Please see “Forward Looking Statements” beginning on page 1 above.

The following table and notes thereto provide the name, province or state and country of residence, positions with the Company and term of office of each person who serves as a director or executive officer of Aptose as at the date hereof.

Each director has been elected or appointed to serve until the next annual meeting or until a successor is elected or appointed. We have an Audit Committee, a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and a Compensation Committee, the members of each such committee are shown below.

As at December 31, 2016, our directors and executive officers, as a group, beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, or exercised control over, approximately 57,699 Common Shares or approximately 0.4% of our outstanding Common Shares.

(1)       Member of Audit Committee.

(2)       Member of the Compensation Committee.

(3)       Member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

The principal occupation and employment of each of the foregoing persons for the past five years is set forth below:

Dr. Denis Burger: Dr. Burger currently is the Chief Scientific Officer and member of the board of directors of Cytodyn Inc. (a biotechnology company) as well as Chairman of AMES Devices (a medical device company). Dr. Burger co-founded Trinity Biotech plc, based in Dublin, Ireland, in June 1992 and acted as Chairman from 1992 to 1995 and now serves on the board of directors of the company. Dr. Burger was the past Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a director of AVI Biopharma Inc., an Oregon based biotechnology company, from 1992 to March 2007. Dr. Burger is also a partner in Sovereign Ventures, a healthcare consulting and funding firm based in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Burger received his MSc and Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Arizona.

Dr. Erich Platzer: Dr. Platzer is a board certified physician in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology. Previously, Dr. Platzer served as the business director of oncology, as well as the global strategic marketing and therapeutic area head of oncology at Roche, Basel. He was also the medical director in oncology and global development project leader and was responsible for various strategic corporate partnerships. Dr. Platzer is a director of Swiss Business Angel Groups, StartAngels and BioBAC, and has served as a pharmaceutical industry expert on the board of directors of multiple biotech companies in both the U.S. and Europe such as Probiodrug, AOT, Léman Micro Devices, Credentis, and Viroblock. Dr. Platzer co-founded HBM Healthcare Investments (formerly HBM BioVentures) a global leader in healthcare investing. He has over 12 years of experience in academic medicine and research and was a key member of the team at MSKCC that purified human G-CSF in 1983 (recombinant form: Neupogen®). He earned his M.D. from the Medical School and the Institute of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology of the University of Erlangen, where he also received his “Dr. med. habil.” (M.D.,Ph.D.). 

Dr. William G. Rice: Dr. Rice joined Aptose as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in October 2013. Prior to joining Aptose, Dr. Rice served as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of Cylene Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a private biotechnology company (“Cylene”). Prior to Cylene, Dr. Rice was the founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He also served as Senior Scientist and Head of the Drug Mechanism Laboratory at the National Cancer Institute-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, and served as a faculty member in the division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Rice received his Ph.D. from Emory University Department of Biochemistry. He continues to serve as the Chairman of the board of Cylene and is a member of the board of directors of Oncolytics Biotech Inc.

Dr. Brad Thompson:. Dr. Thompson is an experienced biotechnology professional who is CEO of Kickshaw Ventures Ltd. from December 2016. Prior to his role with Kickshaw, Dr. Thompson was Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. from April 1999 to November 2016 and Chief Executive Officer of Synsorb Biotech from 1994 to 1999. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Western Ontario in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. 

Dr. Mark Vincent: Dr. Mark Vincent is a Professor of Oncology at the University of Western Ontario and a staff medical oncologist at the London Regional Cancer Program, where he has been since 1990. Dr. Vincent is also the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sarissa, Inc. since 2000.

Mr. Warren Whitehead: Mr. Whitehead is a CPA (CMA) who has held senior financial management positions in several biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Most recently Mr. Whitehead was the Chief Financial Officer of ProMIS Neurosciences Inc. (formerly Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd.). Prior to this, he served as Chief Financial Officer of ARIUS Research Inc., providing financial guidance and leadership during the acquisition of ARIUS by Roche in 2008. Prior to ARIUS, Mr. Whitehead was Chief Financial Officer at Labopharm Inc., where he completed a series of public equity financings and a listing on NASDAQ. He is currently the Chairman of the board of directors of PlantForm Corporation.

Gregory Chow: Mr. Chow joined Aptose as Chief Financial Officer in December 2013. Previously, Mr. Chow served as Managing Director, Director of Private Placements at Wedbush Securities, where he led the private placement capital activities within the Life Sciences Investment Banking Group. Prior to joining Wedbush, he was a Director in the Private Placements / Equity Capital Markets Group at RBC Capital Markets, where he led life science private capital activities. Previously, he led the Private Capital Group at Wells Fargo Securities and was a Senior Auditor at BDO Seidman, LLP in their Century City, CA office. Mr. Chow is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in the State of California.  Mr. Chow received his MBA in Finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and his BA in Business Economics with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Avanish Vellanki: Mr. Vellanki became Aptose’s Chief Business Officer in December 2013, having most recently served as Senior Vice President, Investment Banking at Wedbush Securities focusing on the biotechnology sector. Prior to Wedbush Securities, Mr. Vellanki held the position of Senior Director of Corporate Development at Proteolix, Inc. (acquired by Onyx Pharmaceuticals), a biotechnology company focused on the development of oncology therapeutics. Previously, Mr. Vellanki served as Vice President in the Global Healthcare Investment Banking team at Citigroup’s Global Healthcare Investment Banking, where he focused on large cap global biopharma strategic and financial advisory. Mr. Vellanki began his career at Bear Stearns as an equity research analyst covering the small/mid-cap biotechnology sector, and held the title of Vice President as a publishing analyst. Mr. Vellanki holds a BA from Carleton College, an MBS in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota and MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.

There are no family relationships among the persons named above and there are no arrangements or understanding with major shareholders, customers, suppliers or others pursuant to which any person was selected as a director or member of senior management.

Summary of Executive Compensation

The following table details the compensation information for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 of the Company, for the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and the Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer (“Named Executive Officers”). The figures are in Canadian dollars.

Dr. Rice, Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki are paid in US dollars. Amounts are shown in Canadian dollars translated from US dollars based on the exchange rates prevailing on the date of the transaction. The average exchange rate was $1USD = $1.3248CDN.

Directors’ Compensation

The following table details the compensation received by each director for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016:

Dr. Rice did not receive any compensation for his role as a director of the Company.

In January 2015, the Board approved certain changes related to the compensation of directors effective for the fiscal year 2015. As of January 1, 2015, directors were entitled to an annual fee of US$30,000 with no per meeting fees. The lead director will be entitled to an additional annual fee of US$30,000. The chair of each committee will be entitled to an annual fee of US$10,000 with each committee member receiving an annual fee of US$6,000 per committee. Upon appointment to the Board a director will be entitled to an option grant of 10,000 options and each year thereafter an additional grant of 6,000 options. Non-executive directors are reimbursed for any out-of-pocket travel expenses incurred in order to attend meetings. Executive directors are not entitled to directors’ compensation.

In the year ended December 31, 2016, all directors received a grant of 10,000 options. The options vest 50% after one year, 16 2/3 for each of the second, third and fourth years.

Management Contracts

The employment agreements of Dr. Rice, Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki provide that if their employment is terminated by the Company other than for cause, each of Dr. Rice, Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki shall be entitled to a payment equivalent to 12 months of their respective annual base salaries at the time of termination (Dr. Rice’s current annual base salary represents US$509,334, Mr. Chow’s current annual base salary represents US$334,184 and Mr. Vellanki’s current annual base salary represents US$334,184), plus an amount equal to the average bonus remuneration received from the Company during the last three years of employment completed prior to the termination date, prorated based on the number of days the executive worked during the year of the termination. In addition, the employment agreements of Dr. Rice, Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki provide that certain payments related to health benefits will continue to be made for a period of 12 months following termination of their employment.

If the employment agreements are terminated by the Company other than for cause, then all unexercised options then held by each are governed by the terms of the share option plan of the Company (“Share Option Plan”).

The employment agreements of Dr. Rice, Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki provide that, in the event their employment with the Company is terminated within three months immediately preceding or 12 months immediately following the consummation of a change of control, each of Dr. Rice, Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki would be eligible, subject to certain conditions, to receive a payment equivalent to 18 months of their annual base salaries at the time of termination, plus an amount equal to 150% of the average bonus remuneration received from the Company during the last three years of employment completed prior to the termination date, prorated based on the number of days the executive worked during the year of the termination, as well as continuation of the payments related to health benefits for a period of 12 months following the termination following a change of control.

The following table sets out the amount that would have been payable to each Named Executive Officer had there been a change of control of the Company on December 31, 2016 and the severance payment that would have been payable to each Named Executive Officer had the Company terminated employment of the Named Executive Officer without cause on December 31, 2016:

Equity Compensation Plans

The following table sets forth certain details as at the end of the year ended December 31, 2016 with respect to compensation plans pursuant to which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance.

Share Option Plan

The Share Option Plan was established to advance the interests of Aptose by:

The Compensation Committee, as authorized by the Board, administers the Share Option Plan. The maximum total number of Common Shares available for issuance from treasury under the Share Option Plan, together with the Stock Incentive Plan (“SIP”) and any other security based compensation arrangement is 17.5% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Shares at any given time. Any exercise of options pursuant to the Share Option Plan will make new option grants available under the Share Option Plan, provided that the maximum number of Common Shares reserved for issuance collectively under the Share Option Plan and the SIP may not exceed 17.5% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Shares at any given time.

Under the Share Option Plan, options may be granted to any executive officer, employee, subsidiary of an executive officer or employee, or consultant or consultant entity (“Eligible Persons”). The exercise price of options granted under the Share Option Plan is established by the Board and will be equal to the closing market price of the Common Shares on the TSX on the last trading day preceding the date of grant. If there is no trading on that date, the exercise price will be the average of the bid and ask on the TSX on the last trading date preceding the date of grant. If not otherwise determined by the Board, an option granted under the Share Option Plan will vest as to 50% on the first anniversary of the date of grant of the option and 16.66% on the second, third and fourth anniversaries after the date of grant. The Board fixes the term of each option when granted, but such term may not be greater than 10 years from the date of grant. If the date on which an option expires pursuant to an option agreement occurs during, or within 10 days after the last day of, a black out period or other restriction period imposed on the trading of Common Shares by the Company, the expiry date for the option will be the last day of the 10-day period. Options are personal to the participant and a participant may not transfer an option except in accordance with the Share Option Plan.

The Board may, in its sole discretion, amend, suspend or terminate the Share Option Plan or any portion of it at any time in accordance with applicable legislation, without obtaining the approval of Shareholders. Any amendment to any provision of the Share Option Plan is subject to any required regulatory or Shareholder approval. The Company is, however, required to obtain the approval of the Shareholders for any amendment related to (i) the maximum number of Common Shares reserved for issuance under the Share Option Plan, and under any other security based compensation arrangements of the Company; (ii) a reduction in the exercise price for options held by insiders of the Company; and (iii) an extension to the term of options held by insiders of the Company.

If an option holder is terminated without cause, resigns or retires, each option that has vested will cease to be exercisable three months after the option holder’s termination date. Any portion of an option that has not vested on or prior to the termination date will expire immediately. If an option holder is terminated for cause, each option that has vested will cease to be exercisable immediately upon the Company’s notice of termination. Any portion of an option that has not vested on or prior to the termination date will expire immediately.

Stock Incentive Plan

The Company adopted the SIP following shareholder approval on June 10, 2015 pursuant to which the Board may grant stock-based awards comprised of restricted stock units (the “Restricted Stock Units”) or dividend equivalents (the “Dividend Equivalents” and collectively with the Restricted Stock Units, the “Awards”) to employees, officers, consultants, independent contractors, advisors and non-employee directors of the Company or any affiliate (the “SIP Participants”).

The maximum total number of shares available for issuance under the SIP and any other security based compensation arrangement of the Company (including the Share Option Plan) is 17.5% of the number of issued and outstanding shares. Any issuance of shares covered by an award or to which an award relates will make new grants available under the SIP. Since the adoption of the SIP, no awards have been granted.

Under the SIP, the Board may also grant Dividend Equivalents to SIP Participants under which the Participant shall be entitled to receive payments (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property as determined in the discretion of the Committee) equivalent to the amount of cash dividends paid by the company to holders of Shares with respect to a number of shares determined by the Board.

The SIP does not limit insider participation and does not provide a maximum number of Shares which may be issued to an individual under the SIP. However, no director of the company who is not also an employee of the company or an affiliate may be granted any awards that exceed in the aggregate $150,000 (such value computed as of the date of grant in accordance with applicable financial accounting principles) in any calendar year.

Subject to the express provisions of the SIP and to applicable law, the Board shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate SIP Participants; (ii) determine the type of Awards to be granted to each SIP Participant under the SIP and the number of Shares to be covered by each Award; (iii) determine the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement, including any terms relating to the forfeiture of any Award and the forfeiture, recapture or disgorgement of any cash, Shares or other amounts payable with respect to any Award; (iv) amend the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement, subject to the limitations under Section 7 of the SIP; and (v) accelerate the exercisability of any Award or the lapse of any restrictions relating to any Award, subject to the limitations in Section 7 of the SIP.

The Board may from time to time amend, suspend or terminate the SIP, and the Board may amend or alter any previously granted Award, as applicable, without obtaining the approval of Shareholders in order to: (i) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the SIP or in any Award or award agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to implement or maintain the effectiveness of the SIP; (ii) amend the eligibility for, and limitations or conditions imposed upon, participation in the SIP; (iii) make changes that are necessary or desirable to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies of any applicable governmental entity or stock exchange; (iv) amend any terms relating to the administration of the SIP, including the terms of any administrative guidelines or other rules related to the SIP; or (v) make any other amendment, whether fundamental or otherwise, not requiring Shareholders’ approval under TSX Company Manual, the rules or regulations of the United States SEC or any other securities exchange that are applicable to the Company.

Prior approval of the shareholders shall be required for any amendment to the Plan or an Award that would: (i) require shareholder approval under the TSX Company Manual, the rules or regulations of the SEC or any other securities exchange that are applicable to the Company; (ii) increase the maximum number of shares authorized under the SIP; (iii) increase the annual limit on Awards granted to non-employee directors; or (iv) amend the amendment provision of the SIP.

Deferred Share Units Plan

The Company had a Deferred Share Unit Plan (“DSU Plan”) which was terminated on June 10, 2015.

During the period from January 1, 2015 to June 10, 2015, nil deferred share units were outstanding under the DSU Plan. No units have been outstanding under the DSU Plan since April 2014.

Employee Share Purchase Plan

We have an Employee Share Purchase Plan (“ESPP”), the purpose of which is to assist the Company in retaining the services of its employees, securing and retaining the services of new employees and providing incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company. The ESPP provides a means by which employees of the Company and its affiliates may purchase Common Shares on the stock market at a 15% discount through accumulated payroll deductions. Eligible participants in the ESPP include all employees, including executive officers, who work at least 20 hours per week and are customarily employed by the Company or an affiliate of the Company for at least six months per calendar year. Generally, each offering is of three months’ duration with purchases occurring every quarter. Participants may authorize payroll deductions of up to 15% of their base compensation for the purchase of Common Shares under the ESPP.

During the year ended December 31, 2016, under the ESPP, Named Executive Officers, as a group, and employees did not purchase any Common Shares pursuant to the ESPP. Since December 31, 2016, there have been no Common Shares purchased pursuant to the ESPP.

Option Grants During The Year Ended December 31, 2016

The following tables set forth the options granted to and exercised by each of the Named Executive Officers during the year ended December 31, 2016:

Option/SAR Grants During the Most Recently Completed Financial Year

Incentive Compensation Plans

Outstanding Share-Based Awards and Option-Based Awards

The following table shows all awards outstanding to each Named Executive Officer as at December 31, 2016:

Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises During the Year Ended December 31, 2016 

and Financial Year-End Option/SAR Values

Aptose is authorized to have a board of at least one director and no more than ten. Aptose currently has six

directors. Directors are elected for a term of approximately one year, from annual meeting to annual meeting, or until an earlier resignation, death or removal. For the dates our current directors assumed their directorships, see Item 6.A. – “Directors and Senior Management” above.

Each officer serves at the discretion of the Board or until an earlier resignation or death. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or officers.

Our non-management directors have no service contracts with us or our subsidiaries that provide for benefits upon termination of employment. See “—Management Contracts” above for a summary of key employment agreements.

Committees of the Board of Directors

The Company has an Audit Committee, a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and a Compensation Committee.

The members of these committees during the year ended December 31, 2016, were as follows:

On January 16, 2015, Bradley Thompson was appointed to the Audit Committee and Erich Platzer was appointed to the Compensation Committee.

Compensation Committee

Composition of the Compensation Committee

The Board, upon the advice of the Compensation Committee, determines executive compensation. The Compensation Committee is currently comprised of independent Board members Dr. Burger, Dr. Platzer and Dr. Thompson. Dr. Burger is chair of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee met 4 times during the period from January 1, 2016, until December 31, 2016.

Members of the Compensation Committee each have direct experience relevant to compensation matters resulting from their respective current and past activities. The members of the Compensation Committee have experience dealing with compensation matters in comparable organizations, including public companies, as well as companies with a strong emphasis on governance in their current and former roles as principal executives.

Compensation Objectives and Philosophy

The Compensation Committee’s mandate is to review and advise the Board on the recruitment, appointment, performance, compensation, benefits and termination of executive officers. The Compensation Committee also administers and reviews procedures and policies with respect to the Share Option Plan, the SIP, employee benefit programs, pay equity and employment equity and reviews executive compensation disclosure where it is publicly disclosed.

Aptose’s executive compensation program is designed to:

These objectives are achieved by offering executives and employees a compensation package that is competitive and rewards the achievement of both short-term and long-term objectives of the Company. As such, our compensation package consists of three key elements:

The Compensation Committee reviews each of these items on a stand-alone basis and also reviews compensation as a total package. Adjustments to compensation are made as appropriate following a review of the compensation package as a whole.

Base Salary — Initial Share Options

In establishing base salaries, the objective of the Compensation Committee is to establish levels that will enable Aptose to attract and retain executive officers that can effectively contribute to the long-term success of the Company. Base salary for each executive officer is determined by the individual’s skills, abilities, experience, past performance and anticipated future contribution to the success of Aptose. The members of the Compensation Committee use their knowledge of the industry and of industry trends as well as independent third party consultants to assist with the determination of an appropriate compensation package for each executive officer. In certain cases, the Compensation Committee may recommend inclusion of automobile allowances, fitness allowances and the payment of certain professional dues as a component of an overall remuneration package for executives.

In certain cases, executive officers may be granted share options on the commencement of employment with Aptose in accordance with the responsibility delegated to each executive officer for achieving corporate objectives and enhancing shareholder value in accordance with those objectives.

Short-Term Compensation Incentives

The role of short-term compensation incentives at Aptose is to motivate our executive officers to achieve specified performance objectives for 2016 and to reward them for their achievement in the event that those objectives are met. Each year, the Compensation Committee approves the annual corporate objectives encompassing scientific, clinical, regulatory, business and corporate development and financial criteria. The annual cash bonus for the executive officers is based, at least in part, on the level of achievement of these annual objectives, assuming these objectives are still relevant at the time of evaluation.

All corporate and executive officer objectives are reviewed by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board. The Compensation Committee recommends to the Board the awarding of bonuses, payable in cash, stock or share options, to reward extraordinary individual performance.

For each executive officer, during the year ended December 31, 2016, the annual cash bonuses ranged from 20% to 25% of base salary.

Cash bonuses are determined as soon as practicable after the end of the fiscal year and, for the Named Executive Officers (as defined hereinafter), are included in the Summary Compensation Table in the year in respect of which they are earned.

Long-Term Incentive Plan

The role of long-term compensation incentives at Aptose is to reward an executive’s contribution to the attainment of Aptose’s long-term objectives, align an executive’s performance with the long-term performance of Aptose and to provide an additional incentive for an executive to enhance shareholder value. Long-term incentive compensation for directors, officers, employees and consultants is reviewed annually and is accomplished through the grant of share options under our Share Option Plan or SIP.

The number of options granted for certain executives of Aptose for the year ended December 31, 2016, was based on achievement of both corporate and executive officer objectives. The Compensation Committee approves the allocation of options and options are priced using the closing market price of the Common Shares on the TSX on the last trading day prior to the date of grant. Options to purchase Common Shares expire ten years from the date of grant and vest over a term determined by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee takes into account previous grants of options when considering new grant of options.

The granting of options to Named Executive Officers is included in the Summary Compensation Table in the year in which they are earned.

Performance Metrics

The performance of the Named Executive Officers for the period ended December 31, 2016 was measured with respect to the following objectives:

Each of the above objectives is weighted at 40%, 30%, 20% and 10% respectively in relation to assessment of satisfaction of overall corporate objectives and determination of any general corporate bonuses.

Hedge or Offset Instruments

Named Executive Officers or directors are not permitted to purchase financial instruments that are designed to hedge or offset a decrease in market value of equity securities granted as compensation or held, directly or indirectly, by Named Executive Officers or directors, including, for greater certainty, prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, or units of exchange funds.

Risk Assessment of Compensation

The implications of the risks associated with the Company’s compensation practices were not considered by the Board or a committee of the Board.

Audit Committee

The charter of our Audit Committee is attached as Exhibit 11.2. The current members of the Audit Committee are Bradley Thompson, Denis Burger and Warren Whitehead. Mr. Warren Whitehead is the Chairman of the Audit Committee and has been considered to be the Financial Expert. Pursuant to Canadian securities laws, the Board has determined that Messrs. Thompson, Burger and Whitehead are financially literate as all have experience in reviewing and analyzing the financial reports and ascertaining the financial position of a corporation. Mr. Burger, in his previous position as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AVI Biopharma, is educated and experienced in reading and analyzing financial statements. Mr. Burger has also served on the audit committee of three other publicly listed biotechnology companies. Dr. Thompson has experience reading and interpreting financial statements through his former role as Chairman and CEO of a publicly listed biotechnology company as well as through his extensive experience serving on various company boards.  Mr. Whitehead is a CPA (CMA) and has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Arius Research Inc. and Labopharm Inc. Additionally, we believe Mr. Thompson, Mr. Whitehead and Mr. Burger qualify as “independent” as that term is defined in the relevant securities laws relating to the composition of the audit committee.

Audit Committee Mandate

The Audit Committee’s mandate is to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities. In particular, the Audit Committee:

The Audit Committee is also responsible for implementing and overseeing our whistle-blowing procedures.

As at December 31, 2016, we employed 21 full-time persons and 2 part-time persons in research and drug development and administration activities. Subsequent to December 31, 2016, and as a result of the Company’s reprioritization of its pipeline, we executed a reduction in workforce bringing the total to 14 full-time persons and 3 part-time research persons in research and drug development and administrative activities. Of our employees four hold Ph.D.’s and numerous others hold degrees and designations such as MSc, BSc, CPA (CA), CPA (California) and MBA. To encourage a focus on achieving long-term performance, employees and members of the Board have the ability to acquire an ownership interest in the Company through Aptose’s share option and alternate compensation plans. See Item 6.B – Compensation.

Our ability to develop commercial products and to establish and maintain our competitive position in light of technological developments will depend, in part, on our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel. There is a significant level of competition in the marketplace for such personnel. We believe that to date we have been successful in attracting and retaining the highly skilled personnel critical to our business. We have also chosen to outsource activities where skills are in short supply or where it is economically prudent to do so.

None of our employees are unionized, and we consider our relations with our employees to be good.

The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our Common Shares as of December 31, 2016 with respect to our Named Executive Officers and also with respect to our executive officers and directors individually and as a group.

(+) calculated on a partially diluted basis excluding options.

See Item 6.B for a description of arrangements pursuant to which employees may become involved in the capital of Aptose.

To the knowledge of our directors and officers, as of the date hereof, no person or company beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, or exercises control or direction over, 5% or more of the outstanding Common Shares, other than those discussed below.

As at February 28, 2017, approximately 67% of our ordinary Common Shares are held in Canada, and there are 286 record holders of our Common Shares in Canada and 84 record holders in the United States. All of our shareholders have equal voting rights.

The following table is based upon information supplied by officers, directors and principal Stockholders and Schedules 13D and 13G filed with the SEC.

(1) Based on 15,721,388 Common Shares outstanding as of December 31, 2016.

(2) This information is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 9, 2017.

(3) This information is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2017.

(4) This information is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 17, 2017

In March 2015, the Company entered into an agreement with the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) to provide pharmacology lab services to the Company. Dr. Stephen Howell is the Acting Chief Medical Officer of Aptose and is also a Professor of Medicine at UCSD and will be overseeing the laboratory work. The research services will be provided from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2017 and will be billed monthly for services rendered. The total amount for services provided under the agreement is not to exceed US$200 thousand.

There were no related party transactions in the seven month transition period ended December 31, 2014.

Certain related parties participated in the June 2013 private placement described above. Directors and officers, including former president and chief operating officer Dr. Aiping Young, former director Dr. Jim Wright and current director Dr. Mark Vincent, acquired an aggregate of $68,000 of the promissory notes. A company related to Mr. Hebert Abramson, a former director of the Company, acquired $250,000 of the promissory notes and Mr. Inwentash and his joint actors (“Mr. Inwentash”), a former related party of the Company by virtue of having exercised control or direction over more than 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company, acquired $100,000 of the promissory notes. These promissory notes were repaid by the Company in April 2014.

Executive Contracts

On October 25, 2013, the Company entered into an executive employment agreement with William G. Rice, Ph.D., in connection with his appointment as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the Company. On August 19, 2014, the Company entered into an amended executive employment agreement with William G. Rice, Ph.D.

On November 29, 2013, the Company entered into an executive employment agreement with each of Gregory K. Chow and Avanish Vellanki in connection with their appointments as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer, respectively, of the Company. 

The employment agreements for each of Dr. Rice, Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki provide that if they are terminated by the Company other than for cause, each of Dr. Rice, Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki would be entitled under their respective agreements to a payment equivalent to 12 months of their respective annual base salaries at the time of termination.  Dr. Rice’s current annual base salary represents U.S. $524,064, Mr. Chow’s current annual base salary represents U.S. $334,200, and Mr. Vellanki’s current annual base salary represents U.S. $334,200.  They are each additionally entitled to an amount equal to the average bonus remuneration received from the Company during the last three years of employment completed prior to the termination date, prorated based on the number of days the executive worked during the year of the termination.  In addition, the employment agreements for each of Dr. Rice, Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki provide that certain payments related to health benefits continue to be made for a period of 12 months following termination of their employment.

The employment agreements of each of Dr. Rice, Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki also provide for the grant of options to purchase Common Shares of the Company, at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the shares on the dates of grant.  In connection with the execution of his executive employment agreement, Dr. Rice received an initial grant of a fully vested option to purchase 35,417 (425,000 pre-consolidation) Common Shares at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Common Shares on the date of grant.  Pursuant to the terms of his executive employment agreement, upon satisfaction of the conditions in his agreement, Dr. Rice received additional grants of options to purchase 5,281 (63,367 pre-consolidation), 65,136 (781,633 pre-consolidation) and 140,000 (1,680,000 pre-consolidation) Common Shares on December 10, 2013, January 29, 2014 and April 10, 2014, respectively, at exercise prices equal to the fair market value of the Common Shares on the dates of grant.  The options vest in accordance with the Company’s standard three year vesting term, at a rate of 50% of the shares subject to the option vest on the one-year anniversary of the date of grant and 25% vest on each one-year anniversary thereafter.

In addition to the option grants to Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki described below, Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki each received two additional grants of options to purchase 35,417 (425,000 pre-consolidation) Common Shares pursuant to the terms of their respective executive employment agreements, on December 10, 2013 and April 10, 2014.  Of the 35,417 (425,000 pre-consolidation) options granted on December 10, 2013 to Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki, 16,667 (200,000 pre-consolidation) vested immediately and the remaining 18,750 (225,000 pre-consolidation) options vest 50% after one year, 25% after two years and 25% after three years from the date of grant. The options granted in April 10, 2014 vest in equal monthly installments over 36 months from the date of grant.

The employment agreements of Dr. Rice, Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki also provide that, in the event of a change of control (as defined in the agreements), each of Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki would be eligible to receive a payment equivalent to 18 months of their respective annual base salaries at the time of termination, plus an amount equal to 150% of the average bonus remuneration received from the Company during the last three years of employment completed prior to the termination date, prorated based on the number of days the executive worked during the year of the termination, as well as continuation of the payments related to health benefits for a period of 12 months following the termination following a change of control.

Prior to the Company entering into the executive employment agreements with Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki, Aptose entered into a consulting agreement with each of Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki, on November 4, 2013.  Pursuant to the consulting agreements, Mr. Chow provided services to the Company as acting Chief Financial Officer prior to the date of his executive employment agreement and Mr. Vellanki provided services as acting Chief Business Officer prior to the date of his executive employment agreement.  Mr. Chow and Mr. Vellanki each were compensated at the monthly rate of $20,833 for their services and each were granted a fully vested option to purchase 35,417 (425,000 pre-consolidation) Common Shares at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant. 

Not applicable.

See Item 18 for our consolidated financial statements and other financial information.

Dividends on our Common Shares are declared at the discretion of our board of directors. To date, we have not paid any dividends and do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future.

On March 31, 2016, 381,900 options were granted to Eligible Persons at an exercise price of CA$3.82.

Not applicable, except for Item 9.A.4. and Item 9.C.

Price Range of Common Stock and Trading Markets

Our Common Shares, without par value, are currently listed on the TSX under the symbol “APS” and NASDAQ under the symbol “APTO.” The following table sets out the price ranges and trading volumes of our Common Shares on the TSX for the periods indicated below.

The following table sets out the price ranges and trading volumes of our Common Shares on NASDAQ following the initial listing on October 23, 2014.

NASDAQ

(US$ and adjusted for post-consolidation)