HEMISPHERX BIOPHARMA INC
10-Q, 2000-05-15
DRUGS, PROPRIETARIES & DRUGGISTS' SUNDRIES
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<PAGE>1
                               UNITED STATES
                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                 FORM 10-Q

             Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2000

Commission File Number: 0-27072

                        HEMISPHERx BIOPHARMA, INC.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                                    52-0845822
- ------------------------------                    -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                  (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                    Identification No.)

1617 JFK Boulevard, Suite 660, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)

(215) 988-0080
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
report)

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 for 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.
            /X/ Yes        / / No
29,129,310 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2000.

<PAGE> 2
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1:   Financial Statements

               HEMISPHERx BIOPHARMA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               (Unaudited)
                                                December 31,    March 31,
                                                    1999          2000
                                                 -----------   -----------
<S>                                               <C>           <C>
                              ASSETS

Current assets:

  Cash and cash equivalents                      $ 6,396,423   $ 9,893,354
  Short Term Investments                           2,152,966     2,235,753
  Accounts Receivable                                 75,350        94,700
  Stock subscription receivable                    2,250,000           -
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets          142,950       122,257
                                                 -----------    ----------
    Total current assets                          11,017,689    12,346,064

  Property and equipment, net                        333,360       366,205
  Patent and trademark rights, net                 1,362,709     1,326,233
  Investments in unconsolidated affiliates         1,413,000     1,449,000
  Other assets                                        40,982       574,768
                                                 -----------    ----------
      Total assets                               $14,167,740   $16,062,270
                                                 ===========    ==========

                LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:

  Accounts payable                               $ 1,091,023   $ 1,026,836
  Accrued expenses                                   419,853       154,508
                                                 -----------    ----------
    Total current liabilities                      1,510,876     1,181,344

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders' equity:
  Common stock                                        27,975        29,537
  Additional paid-in capital                      84,875,289    91,785,756
  Deferred compensation                             (310,455)     (155,228)
  Treasury stock
     (167,935 and 408,235 shares respectively     (1,018,712)   (3,889,850)
  Accumulated deficit                            (70,917,233)  (72,889,289)
                                                 -----------    ----------
    Total stockholders' equity                    12,656,864    14,880,926
                                                 -----------    ----------
     Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $14,167,740   $16,062,270
                                                 ===========    ==========


</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE> 3
               HEMISPHERx BIOPHARMA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                                           (Unaudited)
                                              For the Three months ended
                                                      March 31
                                               --------------------------
<S>                                             <C>             <C>
                                                  1999            2000
                                               ----------      ----------

Revenues:
 Cost recovery - clinical treatment programs  $   131,728     $   210,062
 Cost recovery - other                                -            97,504
                                               ----------      ----------
    Total revenues                                131,728         307,566
                                               ----------      ----------

Costs and expenses:
  Research and development                      1,535,498       1,363,176
  General and administrative                    1,265,114         913,242
  Stock compensation expense                      378,079         155,227
                                               ----------      ----------
    Total cost and expenses                     3,178,691       2,431,645
Interest and other income                         146,910         152,023
                                               ----------      ----------
   Net loss                                   $(2,900,053)    $(1,972,056)
                                               ==========      ==========


Basic loss per share                           $   (0.11)    $     (0.07)
                                               ==========      ==========

Weighted average shares outstanding            26,273,707      28,253,028
                                               ==========      ==========

Diluted loss per share                         $   (0.11)    $     (0.07)
                                               ==========      ==========

Weighted average common and dilutive
  equivalent shares outstanding                26,273,707      28,253,028
                                               ==========      ==========


</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE> 4
                               HEMISPHERx BIOPHARMA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                         CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY(DEFICIT)
                                For the three months ended March 31, 2000
<TABLE>                                                                                             Total
<CAPTION>                                                                                        stockholders'
                  Common       C/S .001   Additional      Deferred      Accumulated   Treasury      equity/
                  stock shares Par value  paid-in capital Compensation  deficit       stock        (deficit)
                  ------------ ---------  --------------- ------------  -----------   --------   -------------
<S>                 <C>           <C>         <C>            <C>         <C>            <C>        <C>
Balance 12/31/99   27,974,507    $27,975     $84,875,289    $(310,455) $(70,917,233) $(1,018,712)  $12,656,864

Common stock
issued              1,561,495      1,560       7,003,993                                 122,906     7,128,459

Common stock
issued in settlement
of debt                 1,543          2          19,296                                                19,298

Purchase of
warrants             (112,822)                                                                        (112,822)

Treasury stock                                                                        (2,994,044)   (2,994,044)

Stock compensation                                            155,227                                  155,227

Net loss                                                                  (1,972,056)               (1,972,056)
                  ------------ ---------  --------------- ------------  -----------    --------   -------------
Balance 3/31/00    29,537,545    $29,537     $91,785,756    $(155,228)  $(72,889,289)$(3,889,850)  $14,880,926
                  ============ =========  =============== ============  ============   =========  =============
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


<PAGE> 5
              HEMISPHERx BIOPHARMA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           (Unaudited)
                                                  For the three months ended
                                                  --------------------------
                                                             March 31
<S>                                                  <C>            <C>
                                                        1999         2000
                                                   ----------      ----------


Cash flows from operating activities:

 Net loss                                            $(2,900,053) $(1,972,056)
 Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
   used in operating activities:
 Depreciation of property and equipment                   20,440       29,375
 Amortization of patents rights                           51,835       63,377
 Write-off of patent rights                                7,962        2,144
 Stock option compensation expense                       378,079      155,227
 Changes in assets and liabilities:
  Accounts receivable                                      1,400      (19,350)
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets              (15,769)      20,693
  Accounts payable                                       620,587      (44,889)
  Accrued expenses                                       (73,998)    (265,345)
  Other assets                                            (2,520)    (500,000)
                                                       ---------     ---------
  Net cash used in operating activities               (1,912,037)  (2,530,824)
                                                       ---------    ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
 Purchase of property and equipment                     (118,573)     (62,220)
 Additions to patent rights                              (69,764)     (29,045)
 Marketable securities matured                         1,591,054    2,152,966
 Purchase of marketable securities                      (500,000)  (2,235,753)
 Other investments                                           -        (69,786)
                                                       ---------    ---------
  Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities    902,717     (243,838)
                                                       ---------    ---------
Cash flows from financing activities:
 Proceeds from issuance of common stock                        -    2,250,000
 Exercise of warrants                                    208,000    7,128,459
 Purchase of warrants                                          -     (112,822)
 Purchase of treasury stock                             (674,186)  (2,994,044)
                                                       ---------    ---------
  Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   (466,186)   6,271,593
                                                       ---------    ---------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  (1,475,506)   3,496,931
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period      12,025,073    6,396,423
                                                       ---------    ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period           $10,549,567  $ 9,893,354
                                                       =========    =========

</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


<PAGE> 6
           HEMISPHERx BIOPHARMA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
  NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


NOTE 1: BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
Hemispherx BioPharma, Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation and all its
wholly owned subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany accounts and transac-
tions have been eliminated. The Company's interim consolidated financial
statements are unaudited.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation
of such consolidated financial statements have been included.  Such adjustments
consist of normal recurring items.  Interim results are not necessarily
indicative of results for a full year.

The interim consolidated financial statements and notes thereto are presented as
permitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and do not contain
certain information which will be included in the Company's annual consolidated
financial statements and notes thereto.

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the
Company's 1999 consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Form
10K statement filed with the SEC on March 29, 2000.


NOTE 2: STOCK COMPENSATION:

The Company recorded stock/warrant compensation expense of $155,227 during the
quarter ended March 31, 2000 and $378,079 during the quarter ended March 31,1999
for warrants granted to purchase Common stock to non-employees of the Company.
This expense had no effect on shareholder equity as it was offset by an increase
in additional paid-in capital.

In 1999, the Company granted 250,000 stock warrants to the Members of the Board
of Directors in recognition of services performed and services to be performed.
These warrants are exercisable at the fair value price on the date of issuance
ranging from $6.50-$8.00 per share.  The Company applies APB Opinion No. 25 in
accounting for stock-based compensation of its employees and, accordingly, no
compensation expense has been recognized for stock purchase rights issued to
employees in the financial statements.

NOTE 3:  COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:

In January, 1998,the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income ("Statement 130"), Statement 130
establishes new rules for the reporting and display of comprehensive income and
its components; however, the adoption of this Statement had no impact on the
Company's net loss or stockholders' equity.  Comprehensive income is defined as
the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions
and other events and circumstances from nonowner sources.  It includes all
changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by
owners and distributions to owners. The term "other comprehensive income" refers
to revenues, expenses, gains and losses that under generally accepted accounting
principles are included in comprehensive income but excluded from net income.
For the three months ended March 31, 1999 and 2000 the Company had no "other
comprehensive income." The total comprehensive loss equals the net loss for each
of the three months ended March 31, 1999 and 2000.



<PAGE> 7
 ITEM 2:   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
          Results of Operations.


BACKGROUND

The Company is using it's proprietary nucleic acid pharmaceutical technologies
to develop therapeutic products for the treatment of viral diseases, immune
system dysfunction and certain cancers.  The Company's technology is the result
of years of research and development.  The Company's first generation drug
technology utilizes specifically configured double-stranded ribonucleic  acid
("RNA").  The first RNA drug product based on this technology, tradenamed
Ampligen, is an investigational drug in advanced clinical testing in the United
States and Europe.  The Company believes that Nucleic Acid pharmaceuticals
represent a potentially new class of pharmaceutical products designed to act at
the molecular level for the treatment of various human diseases.  The Company is
developing Ampligen in clinical tests for chronic, incurable diseases, several
of which presently have limited or no alternative therapy such as Myalgic
Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Chronic Hepatitis B Virus
(HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).  The Company is presently focused
on obtaining regulatory approval for Ampligen in the treatment of patients
afflicted with ME/CFS.  Ampligen is presently undergoing confirmatory, pivotal,
clinical trials in the United States and Europe for treating ME/CFS patients.

The Company's research, development, clinical trials and the manufacturing and
marketing of its products are subject to extensive regulation by numerous
governmental agencies in the United States and other countries.  None of the
Company's products have been approved for commercial sale by the Food and Drug
Administration ("FDA") or other foreign regulatory authorities.  The process of
obtaining regulatory approvals is rigorous, lengthy and will continue to require
the expenditure of substantial resources.  The Company's current revenues are
derived from the sale of Ampligen on a pre-approval cost recovery basis to
certain patients afflicted with ME/CFS.  Such Cost Recovery Programs have been
approved on a limited basis in the United States, Canada, Belgium and Austria.
The Company's other major source of income comes from interest earned on the
short term investment of surplus funds.  The Company has also been dependent on
equity financing to provide a major portion of operating funds and there can be
no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain the necessary regulatory
approvals.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

An FDA authorized, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III
clinical trial is currently underway at multiple locations in the United States
to test the efficacy of Ampligen in the treatment of 230 patients afflicted with
ME/CFS.  As of March 31, 2000, more than 130 patients were receiving the study
medication/placebo at nine investigator locations.  Counting patients already
identified and/or discontinued, overall enrollment is greater than 80%.  Each
patient is to participate in the double-blind segment of the program for forty
weeks.  Patient accrual, including 'drop-out' rates are within the Company's
projections, derived when the original protocol was developed, in order to
achieve outcomes sufficient to support statistical and medical significance of
this confirmatory, Phase III pivotal study.  Upon completion, the Company will
evaluate the clinical data collected and submit the results to the FDA for
review.  The Company and its representatives are presently in discussions with
regulatory authorities regarding an"interim analysis" of the ongoing test during
year 2000.  The Company plans to convene an independent data safety monitoring
board (DSMB).  This independent body would report results directly to the
regulatory authorities in order to accelerate final review and decision making.


<PAGE> 8

In addition, the FDA has authorized a Phase II/III Cost Recovery Clinical Trial
at multiple locations throughout the United States to enroll and treat up to 100
ME/CFS patients with Ampligen.  This program allows the Company to charge the
patients for the cost of the drug.  As of March 31, 2000, some 75 patients have
been or are being treated in this program.  Similar Cost Recovery Treatment
Programs have been initiated in several European countries.  These programs are
producing valuable scientific data which will be presented at international
clinical research conferences later in the year.

Recent laboratory studies show that Ampligen is highly synergistic with many of
the FDA approved HIV medications. These lab results were presented at the Immune
Based Therapy and Search for a Cure Conferences in Boston last December and more
recently at the International Virology Congress, Baltimore, Maryland in April,
2000.  This new information created new interest in the potential of using
Ampligen in combination with highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART).  The
Company plans to support investigator initiated clinical programs in this area
during quarters 2, 3 and 4 of this year.

Manufacturing

Until recently, the Company has distributed Ampligen in the form of a freeze-
dried powder to be formulated by pharmacists at the site of use. The Company has
perfected a production process to produce ready to use liquid Ampligen in dosage
form which will mainly be used upon commercial approval of Ampligen. The Company
has engaged the services of Schering-Plough Products to mass produce ready to
use Ampligen doses.  Schering-Plough has completed several successful pilot
production runs which meet the required product specifications.  Larger
production runs are planned for the future.

Pharmaceutical Inspectors for the European Medical Evaluation Agency ("EMEA"),
a central committee for approving new medications on a pan-European basis,
inspected the Company's Ampligen Processing Center in Rockville, Maryland in
February, 2000 and recently issued a favorable report, namely that the facility
operates at a satisfactory level of Good Manufacturing Practices ("GMP")
consistent with registering and marketing a new medicinal product for
therapeutic use in humans within the European community.

Europe

In January, 2000, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary Hemispherx Biopharma
Europe S.A. ("HBE") was awarded a research and development grant from the major
European Pharmaceutical Company, Rhone-Poulenc S.A.  Under the terms of the
grant,HBE will confer on the ongoing developments of its nucleic acid technology
and the resultant potential therapeutic benefits with Rhone-Poulenc SA and/or
its successor company, Aventis Pharma.

HBE recently temporarily withdrew its ME/CFS treatment application in order to
change the application for two reasons based on economics of the
manufacturing/marketing process.  The application, which was filed in December
1998, prescribed a freeze-dried product that was manufactured in small quantity
lots in small capacity facilities.  Meanwhile, the Company was working with
Schering-Plough to produce an easier to use, more economic, liquid form product
in large quantities at their drug manufacturing plant in Puerto Rico.  Also, in
December 1999,the European Parliament officially established new regulations for
orphan medicinal products which creates important economic incentives for
certain manufacturers including a marketing exclusivity, possible financial
support, etc.  Under European Union law, pending marketing applications cannot
be amended without withdrawing such and resubmitting them.  Management believes
that the advantages of changing the application to the new manufacturing
platform and also utilizing the new regulations which allow market exclusivity
offer longer term economic advantages that outweigh any attendant delay in the
overall review process.


<PAGE> 9
Strategic Alliances

In March, 2000, the Company initiated a letter of understanding regarding an
investment in Chronic Biomedical, as well as, an alliance in developing human
genomics diagnostics.  Chronix's technology is based on molecular identification
of the changes in the human genome as a result of viruses or other toxic
environmental exposures.  Chronic has filed patents on the platform technology
of detecting these "reshuffled" genes.  Under the strategic agreement being
envisioned, the Company and Chronix will jointly develop intellectual property
on new products for diagnosing the various stages of gene reshuffling.
Hemispherx also has certain rights of first refusal on new therapeutic products
which may derive from the genomic analysis technology and will receive royalties
on certain diagnostic products related to Gulf War Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome.

The Company met with the Canadian Health Ministry in Ottawa, with its strategic
partner, Crystaal Corp.(a division of Biovail) to discuss a product registration
strategy for the Canadian market.  The Company believes that this strategic
alliance will significantly enhance its abilities to operate within the Canadian
ethical pharmaceutical arena.

Recent Developments

On May 10, 2000, the Company announced that it was commencing legal action
against the France based pharmaceutical company, Beaufour Ipsen (Beaufour), for
patent infringement in the European Union (EU).  This action was precipitated by
the recent aggressive Pan-European patent filing efforts of Beaufour for the
drug, polyadenur as an effective treatment of chronic hepatitis.  Some months
ago, Beaufour filed patent applications in France which are being contested as
infringing on patents held by the Company.  Independent EU examiners have raised
objections to the novelty and potential validity of the Beaufour applications
and have cited six different patents held by the Company as being examples of
prior art against the therapeutic claims of Beaufour.  The Company's patents are
already issued and recognized in may parts of the world including the European
Union.

<PAGE> 10
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three months ended March 31, 2000 versus Three months ended March 31, 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
The company's net loss was $927,997 less for the three month period ended March
31, 2000 versus the same three month period in 1999.  The Company reported a net
loss of $1,972,056 for the three months ended March 31, 2000 versus a net loss
of $2,900,053 for the same period in 1999. Several factors contributed to the
reduction in losses in 2000.

Revenues from the Company's ME/CFS Cost Recovery Treatment Programs underway in
the United States and Europe were up $78,334 (59%).  In addition, the Company
received $97,504 in new research funding.  Revenues were up $175,838.

In the first quarter of 1999, manufacturing incurred costs of $654,529 for the
purchase of raw material to be used in drug production.  In the first quarter of
2000, there were no raw material purchases thereby reducing manufacturing costs
accordingly.  All raw material, and dose production costs are expensed when
acquired.  Therefore the Company does not carry the inventory on its books.

Clinical and R&D costs were up $560,448 in the first quarter of 2000 versus the
first quarter of 1999.  Clinical trial costs were up due to the increased
enrollment of patients in the Company's ME/CFS clinical trial in the United
States.  Also costs were increased in Europe due to efforts to expand the ME/CFS
Cost Recovery Treatment Program in Europe and related market development
programs.

General and Administrative expenses were down $351,872 primarily due to reduced
legal fees, outside consultants and public relations expenses.  These expenses
were down a total of $282,444.  Costs to evaluate the possible spin-off of a
wholly owned subsidiary were incurred in 1999 and not repeated in 2000.  Wages
and related were basically flat on a quarter to quarter basis.

Stock compensation expense was down by $222,852.  Stock compensation expenses
reflect the fair value of the common stock including warrants granted to non-
employees of the Company for services provided.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company's overall cash position increased $3,579,718 in the period of
December 31, 1999 to March 31, 2000.  Cash, cash equivalents and short term
investments at March 31, 2000 were $12,129,107 compared to $8,549,389 at
December 31, 1999.

In the first quarter, cash proceeds received from warrantholders exercising
common stock warrants totaled $7,128,459.  In addition, Biovail International
acquired 285,714 shares of the Company's common stock for $2,250,000 in a
private transaction pursuant to the terms of their Licensing Agreement.

Revenues from the ME/CFS clinical treatment cost recovery programs underway in
the United States, Canada and Belgium produced $210,063 in revenues for the
first three months of 2000, substantially higher than in previous quarters.
Interest income on the short term investment of surplus funds produced $140,545,
a slight decrease from the prior year.  A research grant to the Company produced
$97,504.

Cash used for operations in the first quarter of 2000 totaled $2,530,824. Non-
operating cash used included $2,994,044 to acquire 185,000 shares of the
Company's common stock pursuant to a share buy back program authorized by the
Company's Board of Directors.


<PAGE> 11

All clinical trial drug products were fully expensed although some are expected
to be sold under the expanded access, cost-recovery, pre-marketing programs
authorized by FDA and various regulatory bodies in other countries.  As the
clinical testing effort in the United States accelerates and the European market
development activity increases, the operating burn rate may increase
periodically.  However, certain of the operating, as well as the non-operating
cash outlays are of a one time nature and are expected to decline significantly.
Also revenues from expanded access product sales is expected to continue to
increase in the coming months.

The Company expects warrant holders to continue exercising the Class A
redeemable warrants and private warrants from time to time depending on the
trading price of the Company common stock.  As of March 31, 2000, the Company
has 4,385,748 Class A redeemable warrants outstanding.  These warrants can be
exercised at $4.00 per share.  In addition, there are 462,000 Class A redeemable
warrants outstanding at an exercise price of $6.60 per share.  Non-public
warrants outstanding total 7,679,770 with a weighted average exercise price of
$3.85. The Class A Redeemable Warrants must be exercised or redeemed by November
2, 2000 as these Warrants expire on that date.

Because of the Company's long-term capital requirements, it may seek to access
the public equity market whenever conditions are favorable, even if it does not
have an immediate need for additional capital at that time. Any additional
funding may result in significant dilution and could involve the issuance of
securities with rights which are senior to those of existing stockholders. The
Company may also need additional funding earlier than anticipated, and the
Company's cash requirements in general may vary materially from those now
planned, for reasons including, but not limited to, changes in the Company's
research and development programs, clinical trials,competitive and technological
advances, the regulatory process, and higher than anticipated expenses and lower
than anticipated revenues from certain of the Company's clinical trials for
which cost recovery from participants has been approved.

ITEM 3:   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

For a description of the Company's market risks, see Item 7a "Quantitative and
Qualitative Market Risk" in the Company's Annual Report of Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.

Part II   OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1:   Legal Proceedings

On September 30, 1998, the Company filed a multi-count complaint against Manuel
P. Asensio, Asensio & Company, Inc., and others in the United States District
Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. On October 22, 1998, the Company
amended the complaint to add additional counts and to conform the complaint to
agreed upon dismissals without prejudice as to certain of the defendants.  On
August 13, 1999, the Company amended and supplemented the complaint for a second
time to conform the complaint to court ordered dismissals of certain counts of
the complaint and parties, to add Asensio.com, Inc. (formerly known as Asensio
Holdings, Inc.), the holding company of defendant Asensio Company Inc., and to
add a conspiracy charge against the remaining defendants and certain unnamed
John Does.

The complaint presently contains claims of defamation, disparagement, tortious
interference with existing and prospective business relations and conspiracy,
arising out of the current defendants' false and defamatory statements.  The
complaint further alleges that defendants defamed and disparaged the Company in
furtherance of a manipulative, deceptive and unlawful short-selling scheme
between August, 1998, and the present.


<PAGE> 12

On April 19, 1999, defendants Asensio and Asensio & Company, Inc., filed an
answer and counterclaim against the Company.  The counterclaim alleges that on
or about September, 1998, and in response to defendants' strong sell
recommendation and other press releases about Hemispherx and its officers and
directors, the Company made defamatory statements about defendants, including
that defendants' attacks and manipulative short-selling scheme may have
constituted criminal wrongdoing on the part of defendants.  The Company has
denied the material allegations of the counterclaim and is vigorously defending
against the counterclaim.  In August, 1999, several of the short sellers in
Hemispherx were indicted by the U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New
York for money laundering and manipulation in another non-Hemispherx matter. The
trial date has been rescheduled for the September 2000 trial pool.

On March 6, 2000, Cook Imaging Corp, et al,filed a complaint against the Company
in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Cook Imaging Corp. asserts that the Company refuses to pay for certain Ampligen
manufacturing efforts by Cook.  The Company has responded to the complaint.  In
essence, the Company maintains that Cook Imaging Corp. did not perform as
required by the contract under GMP (Good Maintenance Practices) conditions.  The
Company does not believe that Cook Imaging Corp. will prevail in this matter.

ITEM 2:   Changes in Securities

In February, 1998,the Company filed a Registration Statement with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC) to register the common stock placed in the
September 1997 private placements.  The statement included common stock
underlying certain stock purchase warrants with registration rights.

In July, 1998,the Company's Common Stock and Class A Warrants were listed on the
Berlin Stock Exchange.  The shares and warrants will trade under the symbols HXB
and HXBA respectively.  The listing on the Berlin Stock Exchange has been
facilitated by Berliner Freiverkehr, a major German investment banking and
brokerage firm, with assistance from Value Management & Research, GmbH, a
European based Research and Investment Firm.

In April, 1999, the Company filed a Registration Statement with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC) to register the common stock privately placed in
July, 1998.  In addition, certain warrants and underlying common stock was
included in the Registration.

In June 1999,the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC
registering certain warrants and the shares of Common Stock underlying those
warrants on behalf of certain warrantholders.  The Company has entered into
agreements with certain of the warrantholders providing for, among other things,
(a) an escrow and conditional lockup of one year from the effective date of the
registration statement; and (b) the sale of such warrantholders' warrants during
such one-year lockup through an agent or by the Company at prices set by the
warrantholders.  On September 19, 1999, the Registration Statement was amended.
This amended document became effective October 1, 1999.

In 1999, the Company acquired 290,811 shares of Common Stock on the open market
at an average cost of $6.76 per share. This acquisition is part of the share buy
back program authorized by the Board of Directors.  These shares may be retired
in part thereby reducing the number of shares outstanding. Certain shares of the
Company's Treasury Stock may be utilized to fund acquisitions, strategic
alliances, or to obtain equity positions in other companies in order to
potentially increase the breadth and depth of the Company's drug technology
portfolio including the Company's potential position in the emerging area of
human genomics.

In January, February, and March, 2000 the Company acquired 220,300 shares of
Common Stock on the open market at an average cost of $11.92 per share.  This
acquisition is part of the share buy back program authorized by the Board of
Directors.


<PAGE> 13

The foregoing private offerings were private transactions and exempt from
registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act pursuant to Regulation D
of the Act.  All investors in these transactions are accredited.


ITEM 3:   Defaults in Senior Securities

None



ITEM 4:   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None



ITEM 5:   Other Information

The Company's Annual Meeting is scheduled to be held in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania at the Crowne Plaza in Center City on Wednesday, July 26, 2000 at
10:00 am.  Only shareholders of record at the close of business on May 19, 2000
are entitled to receive notice of, and vote at the annual meeting.



ITEM 6:   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8K

On May 10, 2000 the Company filed Form 8K notifying the SEC of a change in
Registrant's Independent Auditors.


<PAGE> 14
                             SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                      HEMISPHERx BIOPHARMA, INC.



                                     ---------------------------
Date: May 12, 2000                   William A. Carter, M.D.
                                     Chief Executive Officer & President




                                     --------------------------
Date: May 12, 2000                   Robert E. Peterson
                                     Chief Financial Officer


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