Inhibikase Therapeutics Inc

1. Nature of Business

We are a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing protein kinase inhibitor therapeutics to modify the course of Parkinson’s disease (“PD”), Parkinson’s-related disorders and other diseases of the Abelson Tyrosine Kinases. The Company’s multi-therapeutic pipeline has a primary focus on neurodegeneration and its lead program utilizing Risvodetinib (also known as IkT-148009), a selective inhibitor of the non-receptor Abelson Tyrosine Kinases, targets the treatment of Parkinson’s disease inside and outside the brain as well as other diseases that arise from Abelson Tyrosine Kinases. In 2021, we commenced clinical development of Risvodetinib(IkT-148009), which we believe can modify the course of Parkinson’s disease including its manifestation in the gastrointestinal tract, or GI. In January 2023, the Company initiated its Phase 2 program, termed ‘the 201 trial’ (www.the201trial.com), for Risvodetinib(IkT-148009) as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

We are also developing platform technologies to improve delivery of protein kinase inhibitors in patients. One example of our potential ability to improve drug delivery is IkT-001Pro, a prodrug of the anticancer agent imatinib mesylate, which is intended to treat Stable Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, or SP-CML. IkT-001Pro has completed a three-part dose finding/dose equivalence study in 66 healthy volunteers (known as ‘the 501 trial’).

For both IkT-148009 and IkT-001Pro, we have completed clinical batch manufacturing of a film-coated tablet formulation. The bioequivalence studies with IkT-001Pro have already implemented these tablets into the study. A pharmacokinetic bridging study with two different tablet formulations of IkT-148009 was completed in 2023.

Going Concern

The Company has recognized recurring losses. At December 31, 2023, the Company had working capital of $10,772,447, an accumulated deficit of $66,900,725, cash and cash equivalents of $9,165,179, marketable securities of $4,086,873 and accounts payable and accrued expenses of $2,906,722.

The future success of the Company is dependent on its ability to successfully obtain additional working capital, obtain regulatory approval for and successfully launch and commercialize its product candidates and to ultimately attain profitable operations. Historically, the Company has funded its operations primarily through cash received in connection with revenue from its various grant programs. In addition, in December 2020, June 2021 and January 2023 the Company raised approximately $14.6 million, $41.1 million and $8.5 million in net proceeds for working capital from its initial public offering (“IPO”), June 2021 Offering and January 2023 Offering, respectively.

The Company is subject to a variety of risks similar to other early-stage life science companies including, but not limited to, the successful development, regulatory approval, and market acceptance of the Company’s product candidates, development by its competitors of new technological innovations, protection of proprietary technology, and raising additional working capital. The Company has incurred significant research and development expenses, general and administrative expenses related to its product candidate programs and negative cash flows from operations. The Company anticipates costs and expenses to increase in the future as the Company continues to develop its product candidates.

The Company may seek to fund its operations through additional public equity, private equity, or debt financings, as well as other sources. However, the Company may be unable to raise additional working capital, or if it is able to raise additional capital, it may be unable to do so on commercially favorable terms. The Company’s failure to raise capital or enter into such other arrangements if and when needed would have a negative impact on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition and the Company’s ability to continue to develop its product candidates.

The Company estimates that its working capital at December 31, 2023 and funds raised from the February 2024 At the Market Offering is sufficient to fund its normal operations into the first quarter of 2025.

These conditions raise substantial doubt regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of one year after the date the financial statements are issued. Management’s plan to alleviate the conditions that raise substantial doubt may include additional equity raises, suspending or delaying certain research projects and capital expenditures and eliminating certain future operating expenses in order to fund operations at reduced levels for the Company to continue as a going concern.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might result from the outcome of the uncertainties described above.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for financial information, which prescribes elimination of all significant inter-company accounts and transactions in the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, IKT Securities Corporation, which was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in December 2021. In the opinion of management, these consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments which are necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position and results of its operations, as of and for the periods presented. Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative U.S. GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).

On June 30, 2023, we effected a reverse stock split at the ratio of 1 post-split share for every 6 pre-split shares. All common stock, options, warrant amounts, per share information and references have been retroactively adjusted for all figures presented to reflect this split unless specifically stated otherwise.

Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, IKT Securities Corporation. The Company has eliminated all inter-company transactions for the years presented.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The Company utilizes certain estimates in the determination of our liquidity and working capital adequacy, the fair value of its stock options and warrants, deferred tax valuation allowances and revenue recognition, to record expenses relating to research and development contracts and accrued expenses. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and other market-specific or other relevant assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from such estimates.

Off-Balance Sheet Risk and Concentrations of Credit Risk

The Company has no significant off-balance sheet risks, such as foreign exchange contracts, option contracts, or other foreign hedging arrangements. Financial instruments that subject the Company to credit risk primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents. The Company maintains deposits in federally insured financial institutions in excess of federally insured limits. The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of a default by the financial institutions holding its cash to the extent recorded on the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and management believes that the Company does not have significant credit risk with respect to such cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities.

For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company derived 100% of its total revenue from a single source, the United States Government, in the form of federal research grants.

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash with original maturities of three months or less at date of purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $9.17 million and $7.19 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Accounts receivable

The Company makes judgments as to its ability to collect outstanding receivables and provides an allowance for receivables when collection becomes doubtful. Provisions are made based upon a specific review of all significant outstanding invoices and the overall quality and age of those invoices. To date, the Company has not had any write‑offs of bad debt, and the Company didnot have an allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Leases

The Company accounts for its leases under ASU 2021-09, ASU 2018-10, and ASC Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”). ASC 842 requires a lessee to record a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability for most lease arrangements on the Company's balance sheet. Under the standard, disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements to assist users of the financial statements with assessing the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases is required.

Leases are classified as either finance leases or operating leases. A lease is classified as a finance lease if any one of the following criteria are met: the lease transfers ownership of the asset by the end of the lease term, the lease contains an option to purchase the asset that is reasonably certain to be exercised, the lease term is for a major part of the remaining useful life of the asset or the present value of the lease payments equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the asset. A lease is classified as an operating lease if it does not meet any of these criteria.

For all leases at the lease commencement date, a right-of-use asset and a lease liability are recognized. The right-of-use asset represents the right to use the leased asset for the lease term. The lease liability represents the present value of the lease payments under the lease.

The right-of-use asset is initially measured at cost, which primarily comprises the initial amount of the lease liability, plus any initial direct costs incurred if any, less any lease incentives received. All right-of-use assets are reviewed for impairment. The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, the secured incremental borrowing rate for the same term as the underlying lease.

Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability comprise the following: the fixed noncancelable lease payments, payments for optional renewal periods where it is reasonably certain the renewal period will be exercised, and payments for early termination options unless it is reasonably certain the lease will not be terminated early.

Lease cost for operating leases consists of the lease payments plus any initial direct costs, primarily brokerage commissions, and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Included in lease cost are any variable lease payments incurred in the period that are not included in the initial lease liability and lease payments incurred in the period for any leases with an initial term of 12 months or less. Lease cost for finance leases consists of the amortization of the right-of-use asset on a straight-line basis over the lease term and interest expense determined on an amortized cost basis. The lease payments are allocated between a reduction of the lease liability and interest expense.

The Company has made an accounting policy election to not recognize leases with an initial term of 12 months or less within our consolidated balance sheets and to recognize those lease payments on a straight-line basis in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss over the lease term.

Equipment and Improvements

Equipment and improvements are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. For financial reporting purposes, depreciation is recognized using the straight-line method, allocating the cost of the assets over their estimated usefulness from threeto five years for network equipment, office equipment, and furniture classified as fixed assets.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company has certain financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value which have been classified as Level 1, 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy as described in the accounting standards for fair value measurements.

· Level 1 — Fair values are determined utilizing quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access;

· Level 2 — Fair values are determined by utilizing quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in active markets or other market observable inputs such as interest rates, yield curves and foreign currency spot rates; and

· Level 3 — Inputs are unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The Company’s financial assets, which include cash equivalents and marketable securities, have been initially valued at the transaction price, and subsequently revalued at the end of each reporting period, utilizing third-party pricing services. The pricing services utilize industry standard valuation models, including both income and market based approaches, to determine valueand improvements are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation.

Marketable Securities

The Company's marketable securities consist of U.S. Treasury securities with maturities of less than one year which are classified as available-for-sale and included in current assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Available-for-sale debt securities are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of stockholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive income. Realized gains and losses, if any, are included in other income, net in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Available-for-sale securities are reviewed for possible impairment at least quarterly, or more frequently if circumstances arise that may indicate impairment. When the fair value of the securities declines below the amortized cost basis, impairment is indicated and it must be determined whether it is other than temporary. Impairment is considered to be other than temporary if the Company: (i) intends to sell the security, (ii) will more likely than not be forced to sell the security before recovering its cost, or (iii) does not expect to recover the security’s amortized cost basis. If the decline in fair value is considered other than temporary, the cost basis of the security is adjusted to its fair market value and the realized loss is reported.

Revenue Recognition

The Company generates revenue from research and development grants under contracts with third parties that do not create customer-vendor relationships. The Company’s research and development grants are non-exchange transactions and are not within the scope of ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). Contribution revenue earned from activities performed pursuant to research and development grants is reported as grant revenue in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Revenue from these grants is recognized as the Company incurs qualifying expenses as stipulated by the terms of the respective grant. Cash received from grants in advance of incurring qualifying expenses is recorded as deferred revenue. The Company records revenue and a corresponding receivable when qualifying costs are incurred before the grants are received.

Research and Development Costs

Costs incurred in the research and development of the Company’s product candidates are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses consist of costs incurred in performing research and development activities, including activities associated with performing services under grant revenue contracts and include salaries and benefits, stock compensation, research-related subcontractors and consultants, supplies and overhead costs. Advance payments made to suppliers and contract research organizations are classified as prepaid research and development and are expensed as research and development as the supplies are consumed and the contract services are provided. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 the company incurred expenses of approximately $33 thousand and $23 thousand, respectively with a related party vendor included in research and development expenses. As at the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 the company had a payable balance with a related party vendor of approximately $14 thousand and $16 thousand, respectively included in accounts payable.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has a stock-based compensation plan which is more fully described in Note 9. The Company records stock-based compensation for options granted to employees and to members of the board of directors for their services on the board of directors, based on the grant date fair value of awards issued, and the expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the applicable service period, which is generally one to two years. The Company accounts for non-employee stock-based compensation arrangements based upon the fair value of the consideration received or the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. Stock-based compensation costs for non-employee awards are recognized as services are provided, which is generally the vesting period.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options. The use of the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model requires management to make assumptions with respect to the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of the common stock consistent with the expected life of the option, risk-free interest rates and expected dividend yields of the common stock. The Company has concluded that the historical share option exercise experience does not provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate expected term. Therefore, the expected term was determined according to the simplified method, which is the average of the vesting tranche dates and the contractual term. Due to the lack of Company specific historical and implied volatility data, we have based our estimate of expected volatility primarily on the historical volatility of a group of similar companies that are publicly traded. For these analyses, companies with comparable characteristics are selected, including enterprise value and position within the industry, and with historical share price information sufficient to meet the expected life of the stock-based awards. The Company computes the historical volatility data using the daily closing prices for the selected companies’ shares during the equivalent period of the calculated expected term of its stock-based awards. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with remaining maturities similar to the expected term of the options. The Company has not paid, and does not anticipate paying, cash dividends on shares of common stock.

Income Taxes

The Company provides for income taxes using the asset and liability method. The Company provides deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the Company’s financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that will more likely than not be realized.

The Company does not have any material uncertain tax positions for which reserves would be required. The Company will recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, if any, in income tax expense.

Net Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss applicable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted net loss per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents outstanding for the period, determined using the treasury-stock method. For purposes of the diluted net loss per share calculation, warrants to purchase common stock and stock options are considered to be common stock equivalents, but have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share, as their effect would be anti-dilutive for all periods presented. Therefore, basic and diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders were the same for all periods presented.

Recent Accounting Standards

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or other standard setting bodies and are generally adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, the Company believes that the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations upon adoption.

The Company qualifies as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended, or the JOBS Act. The JOBS Act permits an emerging growth company such as the Company to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. The Company has elected not to “opt out” of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company will adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard and will do so until such time that it either (i) irrevocably elects to “opt out” of such extended transition period or (ii) no longer qualifies as an emerging growth company.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 will change how companies account for credit losses for most financial assets and certain other instruments. For trade receivables, loans and held-to-maturity debt securities, companies will be required to recognize an allowance for credit losses rather than reducing the carrying value of the asset. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates to amend the effective date of ASU 2016-13, for entities eligible to be “smaller reporting companies,” as defined by the SEC, to be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 as of January 1, 2023, on a prospective basis. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options(Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40) (“ASU 2020-06”). ASU 2020-06 simplifies the accounting for convertible debt instruments by reducing the number of accounting models and the number of embedded features that could be recognized separately from the host contract. Consequently, more convertible debt instruments will be accounted for as a single liability measured at its amortized cost, as long as no other features require bifurcation and recognition as derivatives. ASU 2020-06 also requires use of the if-converted method in the diluted earnings per share calculation for convertible instruments. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years for smaller reporting companies, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2020-06 as of January 1, 2023, on a prospective basis. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Issued, Not Yet Adopted

In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures which is intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, and early adoption is permitted. The guidance is to be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Upon transition, the segment expense categories and amounts disclosed in the prior periods should be based on the significant segment expense categories identified and disclosed in the period of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this new guidance on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

3. Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following:

4. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following table summarizes cash equivalents and marketable securities measured at their fair value on a recurring basis as of:

5. Marketable Securities

Marketable securities consisted of the following:

As of December 31, 2023, the Company held three U.S. Treasury debt securities that were in an unrealized gain position totaling $877. As of December 31, 2022, the Company held three U.S. Treasury debt securities that were in an unrealized gain position totaling $104,718. All U.S. treasury obligations were due to mature inless than one year for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The Company received proceeds of $41.1 million from maturities of marketable securities for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company received proceeds of $4.96 million from maturities of marketable securities for the year ended December 31, 2022

6. Equipment and Improvements

Depreciation expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $177,398. Depreciation expense for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $6,723.

7. Insurance Premium Financing Payable

Future principal payments on the insurance premium financing payable as of December 31, 2023, are as follows:

Insurance premium financing Payable to AON

In December 2023, the Company entered into an insurance premium financing and security agreement with AON Premium Finance, LLC (“AON”). Under the agreement, the Company financed $381,784 of certain premiums at an 8.59% annual interest rate. As of December 31, 2023, the outstanding principal of the loan was $381,784 and is included on the balance sheet in Insurance premium financing payable. The final payment is due in December 2024.

8. Stockholders’ Equity

Each share of common stock is entitled toone vote. The holders of common stock are also entitled to receive dividends whenever funds are legally available and when declared by the board of directors, subject to the prior rights of holders of all classes of stock outstanding. As of December 31, 2023, a total 1,127,245 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants under the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan and the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.

Share Issuances

On January 25, 2023, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement in connection with a registered direct offering and concurrent private placement with an institutional investor. The Company also entered into a securities purchase agreement and a registration rights agreement in connection with a concurrent private placement with the same institutional investor(collectively the "January 2023 Offering"). The January 2023 Offering consisted of (i)466,799 shares of Common Stock sold at $5.16 per share, (ii) Common Warrants to purchase up to 1,937,985 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $5.16, and (iii) Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase up to 1,471,187 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $0.06, all issued to Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd ("Armistice"). The warrants will expire on January 27, 2028. As part of the January 2023 Offering, the Company further issued warrants to H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (“Placement Agent Warrants”) to purchase up to 67,830 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $6.45 and an expiration date of January 25, 2028. As of December 31, 2023 the institutional investor has exercised all 1,471,187 Pre-Funded Warrants.

The Company received net proceeds from the January 2023 Offering of approximately $8.5 million. Effective January 25, 2023, the Company terminated the Equity Distribution Agreement with Piper Sandler & Co. by providing a notice of termination in accordance with the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement (see Note 10).

In September 2023 and December 2023, the Company issued 12,000 shares respectively of its stock in exchange for digital media consulting services. The fair value of the stock was $17,280 and $14,280 respectively based upon the closing price of the shares on the date of the transaction. Issuance costs were not material. No additional rights or options were granted to this accredited investor in connection with this issuance. This issuance is exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering.

In January 2022, the Company issued 3,643 shares of its common stock in connection with the exercise of non-qualified stock options with a strike price of $12.12 per share. Issuance costs were not material. No additional rights or options were granted to this accredited investor in connection with this issuance. This issuance was exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering.

In February 2022, a corporate accredited investor subscribed for, and the Company issued,8,334 shares of its common stock in exchange for consulting services. The fair value of the common stock was $67,000 based upon the closing price of the shares on the date of the transaction. Issuance costs were not material. No additional rights or options were granted to this accredited investor in connection with this issuance. This issuance was exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering.

9. Stock-Based Compensation

2020 Equity Incentive Plan

On July 21, 2020, the Company’s board of directors and its stockholders approved the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”). The 2020 Plan became effective immediately prior to the closing of the Company’s December 2020 IPO. The 2020 Plan provides for the granting of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or restricted stock units to any of its employees, directors, consultants and other service providers or those of its affiliates. The board of directors has initially designated the compensation committee to administer the 2020 Plan. The compensation committee has broad authority to administer the plan and to determine the vesting conditions for awards. Neither the compensation committee nor the board of directors are authorized to reprice outstanding options or stock appreciation rights without shareholder consent. In addition, any amendments to increase the total number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2020 Plan or modification of the classes of participants eligible to awards requires ratification by the stockholders. Subject to certain adjustments, the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the 2020 Plan in connection with awards is limited to 1,441,667 shares.

Following the effectiveness of the 2020 Plan, the Company ceased making grants under the 2011 Plan. However, the 2011 Plan continues to govern the terms and conditions of the outstanding awards granted under the 2011 Plan. Shares of common stock subject to awards granted under the 2011 Plan that cease to be subject to such awards by forfeiture or otherwise after the effective date of the 2020 Plan will become available for issuance under the 2020 Plan.

2011 Equity Incentive Plan

Prior to the closing of its IPO, the Company maintained the 2011 Plan, pursuant to which the Company made grants of non-qualified stock options to eligible employees and other service providers.

Stock Options

During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company granted options with an aggregate fair value of $338,738 and $536,965, respectively, which are being amortized to expense over the vesting period of the options as the services are being provided.

The following is a summary of option activity under the 2011 Plan and the 2020 Plan:

As of December 31, 2023, the intrinsic value of options outstanding was $0.0 million and 100% of the intrinsic value of options was exercisable. Intrinsic value is calculated based on the aggregate difference between the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the last trading day of 2023 and the exercise price of each in the money stock option award. We adjust for actual forfeitures as they occur.

There wereno options to purchase stock that vested upon the achievement of performance conditions at December 31, 2023 or December 31, 2022.

The weighted-average fair values of options granted in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were $3.03 and $3.84 , per share, respectively, and were calculated using the following estimated assumptions:

The total fair values of stock options that vested during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were $608,539 and $618,157, respectively.

As of December 31, 2023, there was $173,738 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options granted under the 2011 Plan and the 2020 Plan. The Company expects to recognize that cost over a remaining weighted-average period of 2.37 years as of December 31, 2023.

Restricted Stock Units

During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, there wereno restricted stock units issued or outstanding.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The following table summarizes the stock-based compensation expense for stock options granted to employees and non-employees:

10. ATM Program

On May 16, 2022, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Piper Agreement”) with Piper Sandler & Co. as sales agent (the “Agent”), pursuant to which the Company may, from time to time, issue and sell shares of its common stock, at an aggregate offering price of up to $9.8 million (the “Shares”) through the Agent. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Agent may sell the Shares at market prices by any method that is deemed to be an “ATM” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, as amended.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, the Agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares from time to time, based upon the Company’s instructions. The Company has no obligation to sell any of the Shares, and may at any time suspend sales under the Agreement or terminate the Agreement in accordance with its terms. The Company has provided the Agent with customary indemnification rights, and the Agent will be entitled to a fixed commission of 3.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds from the Shares sold. The Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, and the Company is required to deliver customary closing documents and certificates in connection with sales of the Shares. As of December 31, 2022, no Shares have been sold under the Agreement.

Effective January 25, 2023, the Company terminated the Piper Agreement by providing a notice of termination to the Agent in accordance with the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement.

11. Warrants

On January 25, 2023, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement in connection with a registered direct offering and concurrent private placement with an institutional investor. The Company also entered into a securities purchase agreement and a registration rights agreement in connection with a concurrent private placement with the same institutional investor(collectively the "January 2023 Offering"). The January 2023 Offering consisted of (i)466,799 shares of Common Stock sold at $5.16 per share, (ii) Common Warrants to purchase up to 1,937,985 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $5.16, and (iii) Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase up to 1,471,187 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $0.06, all issued to Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd ("Armistice"). The warrants will expire on January 27, 2028. As part of the January 2023 Offering, the Company further issued warrants to H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (“Placement Agent Warrants”) to purchase up to 67,830 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $6.45 and an expiration date of January 25, 2028. As of December 31, 2023 the institutional investor has exercised all of their 1,471,187 Pre-Funded Warrants.

No warrants were entered in to orex ercised for the year ended December 31, 2022.

12. Net Loss Per Share

The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders:

The following shares were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders, prior to the application of the treasury stock method, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented:

13. Income Taxes

No provision or benefit for federal or state income taxes has been recorded, as the Company has incurred a net loss for all of the periods presented, and the Company has provided a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets.

At December 31, 2023, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $1.6 million which will begin to expire in varying amounts annually beginning in 2030 and $33.1 million of federal net operating losses with no expiration. At December 31, 2023, the Company had state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $30.2 million which will begin to expire in varying amounts annually beginning in 2030. Utilization of net operating losses may be subject to substantial annual limitations due to the “change in ownership” provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, and similar state provisions. The annual limitations may result in the expiration of net operating losses & tax credits before utilization. The Company has not yet conducted a study to determine if any such changes, including its 2020 IPO or 2021 underwritten public offering, have occurred that could limit the Company’s ability to use the net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. As of December 31, 2023, the Company also has federal tax credits of $1.1 million which begin to expire in 2042.

The reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory rate to the Company’s effective tax rate is as follows:

On October 4, 2023, Massachusetts enacted tax law changes which included the adoption of a single sales apportionment factor effective on January 1, 2025. As required under ASC 740, the Company has accounted for the deferred tax impacts of this tax law change in the period the tax law was enacted, which has the impact of increasing its state deferred tax assets. The impact of the tax law change is offset by a change in valuation allowance.

The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets consist of the following at December 31, 2023 and 2022:

The Company has maintained a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets in all periods presented. A valuation allowance is required to be recorded when it is not more likely than not that some portion or all of the net deferred tax assets will be realized. Since the Company cannot determine that it is more likely than not that it will generate taxable income, and thereby realize the net deferred tax assets, a full valuation allowance has been provided. The valuation allowance increased $6.4 million and $4.9 million for the years ended December 31,2023 and 2022, respectively. The increases in 2023 and 2022 are primarily related to each year’s taxable loss. The Company hasno uncertain tax positions at December 31,2023 and 2022 that would affect its effective tax rate. Since the Company is in a loss carryforward position, the Company is generally subject to U.S. federal and state income tax examinations by tax authorities for all years for which a loss carryforward is available. As of December 31, 2023, the Company was open to examination in the U.S. federal and certain state jurisdictions for all of the Company’s tax years since the net operating losses may potentially be utilized in future years to reduce taxable income. Since the Company is in a loss carryforward position, it is generally subject to examination by the U.S. federal, state, and local income tax authorities for all tax years in which a loss carryforward is available.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("TCJA") resulted in significant changes to the treatment of research and developmental (R&D) expenditures under Section 174. For tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2021, taxpayers are required to capitalize and amortize all R&D expenditures that are paid or incurred in connection with their trade or business. Specifically, costs for U.S.-based R&D activities must be amortized over five years and costs for foreign R&D activities must be amortized over 15 years—both using a midyear convention. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company capitalized for tax purposes $12.6 million and $0.7 million of domestic and foreign R&D expenses, respectively.

14. Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

On April 18, 2022, the Company entered into an operating lease agreement for office space at its new location in Lexington, Massachusetts (the "Office Lease"). On August 8, 2022, the Company commenced occupancy of the leased space. The lease runs through September 30, 2025 or a remaining lease period of 1.5 years. We have an option to extend the lease term for an additional three (3) years thereafter.

The Company accounts for the Office Lease under the provisions of ASU No. 2021-09, ASU 2018-10, and ASC 842. We recorded a right-of-use asset and a corresponding operating lease liability on the Company's consolidated balance sheets upon the accounting commencement date in August 2022. The lease liability was measured at the accounting commencement date utilizing 12% which is the Company's incremental borrowing rate. The right-of-use asset had a balance of $222,227 at December 31, 2023. The operating lease obligations totaled $240,219 at December 31, 2023, of which $150,095 is included under current liabilities and $90,124 is included under non-current liabilities. The Company recorded lease expense relating to the Office Lease of $141,182 and short-term payments of $23,281 for the year ended December 31, 2023 and lease expense relating to the Office Lease of $56,114 and short-term payments of $58,756 for the year ended December 31, 2022 included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

The Office Lease contains escalating payments during the lease period. Upon execution of the Office Lease, the Company prepaid one month of rent and a security deposit, one of which will be held in escrow and credited at the termination of the lease and the other of which will be applied to the first month’s rent. As of December 31, 2023, a security deposit of approximately $25,000 was included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets related to the Office Lease.

Future minimum lease payments under these leases at December 31, 2023, are presented by calendar year as follows:

Guarantees

As permitted under Delaware law, the Company indemnifies its officers and directors for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was, serving at the Company’s request in such capacity. The term of the indemnification is for the officer’s or director’s lifetime. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make is unlimited; however, the Company has directors’ and officers’ insurance coverage that limits its exposure and enables it to recover a portion of any future amounts paid.

The Company leases office space on a month-to-month basis. The Company has standard indemnification arrangements under the lease that require it to indemnify the landlord against all costs, expenses, fines, suits, claims, demands, liabilities, and actions directly resulting from any breach, violation or nonperformance of any covenant or condition of the Company’s lease.

In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into indemnification agreements with certain suppliers and business partners where the Company has certain indemnification obligations limited to the costs, expenses, fines, suits, claims, demands, liabilities and actions directly resulting from the Company’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, and in certain instances, breaches, violations or nonperformance of covenants or conditions under the agreements.

As of December 31, 2023, and 2022, the Company had not experienced any material losses related to these indemnification obligations, and no material claims with respect thereto were outstanding. The Company does not expect significant claims related to these indemnification obligations and, consequently, concluded that the fair value of these obligations is negligible, and no related reserves were established.

License Agreements

Sphaera Pharma Pte. Ltd.

On March 2, 2012, we entered into a collaborative research and development agreement, or the Sphaera Agreement, with Sphaera Pharma Pte. Ltd., or Sphaera, to collaborate on the development of the prodrug technology to be applied to protein kinase inhibitors for oncology and non-oncology indications. Under the terms of the Sphaera Agreement, each party would retain its pre-existing intellectual property, but any intellectual property conceived or reduced to practice under and certain results arising from the Sphaera Agreement would be assigned to us. On October 5, 2012, we and Sphaera amended the Sphaera Agreement to reflect joint patent applications in the U.S. and India by us and Sphaera for a series of novel compounds. While the underlying intellectual property would be jointly owned, we have the exclusive right to commercialize thirteen of the twenty-four linkers detailed in the filed patent applications, collectively, the Company Compounds, including the linker attached to imatinib that comprises IkT-001Pro, with the remaining nine linkers owned by Sphaera, collectively, the Sphaera Compounds. Sphaera has the right to develop the Company Compounds for oncology indications but may not commercialize the Company Compounds unless we abandon the Company Compounds. We have notified Sphaera that we do not intend to abandon the Company Compounds. We do not currently have the right to develop the Sphaera Compounds. Additionally, if either party files an IND for a Company Compound that has been abandoned by the other party for an oncology indication in humans, the non-filing party is prohibited from developing such Company Compound. In 2023, Sphaera liquidated and transferred its interests to Pivot Holding LLC, a U.S. entity.

The prosecution of patents related to the Company Compounds, which includes the prodrug technology, is the responsibility of the Company.

As consideration for its services, Sphaera has received a fixed fee of $160,000 and may be entitled to certain milestone payments, none of which have yet to have been reached, and single-digit royalty payments of a percentage of annual net sales and sublicenses were a compound covered by this agreement ever commercialized:

Litigation

From time to time, the Company may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings which arise in the ordinary course of business. When the Company is aware of a claim or potential claim, it assesses the likelihood of any loss or exposure. If it is probable that a loss will result and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated, the Company will record a liability for the loss. In addition to the estimated loss, the recorded liability would include probable and estimable legal costs associated with the claim or potential claim. Litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm the Company’s business. We are not currently a party to any material litigation or legal proceedings.

15. Simple Retirement Account for Employees (the “Simple IRA”)

The Company established an individual retirement plan for employees effective January 1, 2013 under Section 408(p) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Simple IRA covers substantially all employees of the Company who received at least $5,000 in compensation from the Company during any two preceding years and are reasonably expected to receive at least $5,000 in compensation from the Company in the current year of participation. Subject to certain overall statutory limitations, the Company must match employee contributions up to 3% of employees’ qualified compensation for the year. Company contributions under the Simple IRA were $59,511 and $48,408 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

16. Subsequent Events

On February 1, 2024, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Wainwright Agreement”) with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC as sales agent (the “Agent”), pursuant to which the Company may, from time to time, issue and sell shares of its common stock, at an aggregate offering price of up to approximately $5.7 million (the “Shares”) through the Agent. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Agent may sell the Shares at market prices by any method that is deemed to be an “ATM” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, as amended.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, the Agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares from time to time, based upon the Company’s instructions. The Company has no obligation to sell any of the Shares, and may at any time suspend sales under the Agreement or terminate the Agreement in accordance with its terms. The Company has provided the Agent with customary indemnification rights, and the Agent will be entitled to a fixed commission of 3.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds from the Shares sold. The Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, and the Company is required to deliver customary closing documents and certificates in connection with sales of the Shares. As of the day of this Report,290,564 Shares have been sold under the Agreement with net proceeds from the Agent of $777,910 to the Company.